The Pressure to Perform Teaching Case About Tutoring For Money

The Pressure to Perform Teaching Case About Tutoring For MoneyMany times people have questions regarding the pressure to perform teaching case about tutoring for money. I want to take the time to explain to you what the problem is and how to solve it.People who are just starting out can sometimes be very confused by the diversity of people they are working with. Some of these people come in under the subheading of adults, while others might not quite make sense as if they were talking to a child. I feel like I am a teacher and yet I have grown up so much during my career that I understand this particular type of learning just fine.These people may know nothing about learning or their teachers may think they do but really they do not. So the teacher will make the rules and expectations of their students but you have to find a way to compromise with the students and make it work for everyone.Your job is to teach. To teach students at their level while making sure the students remain ha ppy and satisfied with what they are learning. You should be happy about the job you are doing, you don't want to hear excuses for why they aren't doing well, all you want to hear is that they want to learn more and get better.For example, a customer calls you saying that they want to teach someone how to fish, but they really don't know where to begin. If you tell them to start with the basics, they will probably get frustrated and want to drop it because they don't know how to get past the first step. Tell them to learn the steps first then apply what they learned.My last tip for the pressure to perform teaching case about tutoring for money is that some of the students who just don't understand where to begin with the basics might not even have a clue. They might say that they were afraid to fail or that they didn't want to make a mistake. If this is the case, go ahead and make them a mistake that they have never seen before.The key to true achievement is learning from mistakes. I'm not trying to tell you that you shouldn't be made to make mistakes but teaching students to make mistakes for you is something you have to practice.

The ESL Experience Teaching Abroad in Paris, France

The ESL Experience Teaching Abroad in Paris, France Kindergarten teacher Beck, 26, from Australia’s Sunshine Coast, spent a year as an ESL teacher at various schools and language centres across Paris, teaching children as young as 9 months and up to 12 years old. Did teaching in France live up to your expectations? How? In every country that you teach, the children are different and learn differently. In France, it took me a while to figure out what types of activities the children enjoy and what kind of lesson content gets their attention. In this case was competitive games and competitions. Once I’d cracked that part, working with the children was amazing. They really love learning English because they can see its relevance everyday through road signs, transport announcements in English and more. Tell us something you found interesting or surprising about schools in France. The days are long for the children. School starts at 9am and doesn’t finish until 6pm. However, when I was teaching in Paris, all the children had Wednesdays off. How long did it take you to find a position? It took a few months to find a good company in Paris that paid well, according to your experience, and a company that was also supportive. What attracted you to Paris to teach English? I love to travel and wanted to explore more of Europe. The UK and Paris are very much in the center of all that. I knew that it would be easy to get to London for the weekend or to Switzerland for a week away skiing. Paris is a long way from Australia... What was the hardest part of French life to adjust to? The general lifestyle was one of the hardest things to get used to. The working day for anyone in Paris is long and tiring. However, it was usual for us to finish the day off at a cafe, with a glass of wine and a plate of bread and cheese, so I’m not complaining... What kinds of lessons did your students enjoy most? Active lessons - we were always moving, playing games and dancing during the lessons. Because the children are in school for a lot of the time, they really respond well to fun activities that allow them to use all that stored up energy. Tell us more about how you teach babies English. The aim of the class was to getting them used to hearing English being spoken through songs and play, which helps them to understand and pick the language up. Mothers and nannies came with their babies and it was as much about teaching them English too! Having experience in teaching young children at a previous job helped me to get this position, as I didn’t need any special training. What did your students find especially challenging about learning English? Pronunciation. My students found it extremely difficult to pronounce some sounds correctly, such as the letter ‘h’ in 'hello'. But we worked on that and they improved so much during the year. How did you spend your free time in Paris? Travelling and sightseeing. We would go away on weekends to North France, Belgium and London or we would stay home and go have a picnic under the Eiffel Tower with friends. Did you get the opportunity to improve your French skills? Absolutely! Even though I was an English teacher and spoke English most of the day, I still had to communicate with parents in French and also do day-to-day things such as buying food and bus fares in French. What did you learn about yourself from your experience? I learnt that language is not an impossible barrier. It shouldn't stop anyone from travelling somewhere or making new connections and friends. I also learnt to enjoy and make the most of the times that you are not working. If you could give one piece of advice to someone heading off to teach English in France, what would it be? Teaching wise, I would suggest that you learn lots of games and activities to play with younger children that encourage them to speak in English and repeat words. Learn every single nursery rhyme you can and plenty of songs. I also want to say 'learn French,' but you will once you arrive, you won't have a choice! So I think I would say, travel and make the most of living in Europe. Go and see the major sights but also travel to the small towns where no one really goes to because that is where you will see the culture and meet some amazing and helpful people.

But she said No (A closer look at rape and sexual assault on college campuses)

But she said No (A closer look at rape and sexual assault on college campuses) gendercommthebomb.wordpress.com College Rape Statistics Lately campus buzz has been revolving around the topic of rape and sexual assault on college campuses. This is much more common than it appears and occurs in some of the most unpredicted places. Laurie Halse Anderson, award-winning novelist, describes the feeling as “I just want to sleep. A coma would be nice. Or amnesia. Anything, just to get rid of this, these thoughts, whispers in my mind. Did he rape my head, too?” in her novel Speak. This feeling, of being powerless has been felt by far too many individuals around the US and it is important to identify and speak out against actions which have left them this way. The AAUW reported in 2009 that 95% of attacks on college campuses are unreported, making sexual assault the silent epidemic. Because of this, sexual assault remains the most drastically underreported crime. Many times victims do not report their attack because of embarrassment, fear of their attacker or fear that they will not be believed when telling their story. Rape happens to men and women however, 3% of college women nationally have experienced rape or attempted rape during the academic year. The AAUW explains that when applying this statistic, a campus with 6,000 coeds will have an average of one rape per day during the school year. When looking at a school the size of Ohio State with its 55,100 students or University of Florida with 50,700 students, more than 9 rapes/attempted rapes happen per day. However, as noted previously most of these attacks go unreported. It is also important to realize that the statistics above are from 2009, but the numbers have not changed very much. On certain campuses, the number of assaults has dropped dramatically in the past four years; however, the presence of assault on campuses remains a constant threat. Campus Safety Magazine reported that 90% of acquaintance rapes involve alcohol and that 1 in 3 sexual assaults the perpetrator was intoxicated. This is extremely significant when looking at the party scene on your own campus. It is important to stay with friends when drinking and to have methods of reaching friends (cell phone, numbers, addresses, cab money) if something does go wrong. Many victims know their attackers. These types of assaults are known as acquaintance rapes, defined by RAINN as “Acquaintance assault involves coercive sexual activities that occur against a persons will by means of force, violence, duress, or fear of bodily injury. These sexual activities are imposed upon them by someone they know (a friend, date, acquaintance, etc.)”. The AAETS says that three-quarters of all rapes on college campuses are forms of acquaintance rape. Rape is a word which is hesitantly used by victims; however, if you said “no”, fought off your attacker, or felt powerless…it is a form of rape. Until next time, please research some information on the statistics on your campus and find ways to protect you and your friends against this silent but extremely dangerous threat.

5 awesome benefits of teaching English online

5 awesome benefits of teaching English online First off, let’s get some context out of the way! Why the huge demand for ESL teachers in China? As the world’s biggest ESL market, the fact that demand for English-speaking teachers is growing at an explosive rate in China is hardly earth-shattering news. Sidenote: If this does, in fact, come as a big surprise to you, then we recommend you check out our previous blogs on teaching English in China to get all caught up! Why teaching English in China is a popular choice for new graduates 5 reasons why you should teach in China But this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to physically relocate to China to land a job teaching Chinese English language learners. Teaching English to Chinese students online: A growing market of opportunity for North American teachers With the exploding demand for native English-speaking teachers in China, there’s probably never been a better time than right now to teach English online. Thousands of new Chinese students are taking English lessons online on a daily basis, and it just so happens that they’re mostly looking to learn English from teachers in the US and Canada. Why’s that? Well, the reality is, right now there’s simply not enough English-speaking teachers living in China to service the millions of students currently learning English there. As a result, many Chinese students are instead turning to learning English online from teachers living in the US and Canada. Due to the surging demand, there’s no shortage of career opportunities for North Americans looking to teach online. Right now, for example, VIPKID, China’s online English education platform, is looking for a whole bunch of Americans and Canadians to join its 30,000-strong North American teacher community. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. If you fit the bill (that is, you have a Bachelor’s degree along with a year of classroom experience), you’ll be teaching 1-1 English lessons online to VIPKID’s more than 200,000 students, ranging in ages from 4 to 12, all across China. We’ve already covered what you need to know to get ready to teach online, but are you still trying to figure out whether teaching English online is the right move for you in the first place? Here are just a few benefits of online English teaching jobs to help you make your mind up! 1. The earning potential can be huge There are a wealth of opportunities to teach English online. VIPKID’s over 200,000 online learners makes it possible to teach abroad, while not actually living abroad! There’s no need to run around applying for teaching jobs abroad and going through the inevitable hoop jumping and hassle involved in packing up and moving to a different country for a new career opportunity. While you can expect to earn around $19 an hour teaching English online, on average, here’s a quick breakdown to give you a better idea of how teaching with VIPKID can help you boost your income: No. of hours teaching English online with VIPKID Monthly salary teaching English online (USD) with VIPKID 1 - 1.5 hours daily $650 3 -5 hours daily $2,000 Like most online teaching jobs, there are very little overheads involved in teaching ESL with VIPKID. You’ll need a stable internet connection, a laptop, a built-in or external webcam, a headset and a quiet, well-lit space to teach English lessons in, all of you which you’ll more than likely have at your disposal anyway! 1. You can have control over your schedule Whether you're a student or working part-time or full-time (as a teacher or otherwise), teaching English online is great for anyone looking for the flexibility to set their own working hours. Depending on where your students are located, you’re not bound by the 9-5 life. You don’t have to take your teaching 100% online from the get-go, either - teaching English online is a great option for certified teachers working full-time who also want to supplement their existing income. You can work the hours that you want - there’s no risk of having your online teaching work interfere with your day job. And if you’re not currently working full-time, you can set and customize your online teaching hours to meet the needs of your personal and family life. For example, not a morning person and hate setting that alarm clock? You can teach English online later in the day. Night owls, rejoice - all you have to do is cut down on your Netflix time in the evenings and teach a few lessons online instead! The early birds among us can slot in a lesson or two before their regular working day. Want to take a long weekend? You can always teach online for a couple extra hours from Monday to Thursday to offset the extra time you need to take off. 2. You can work from home (or from anywhere, really!) We all have different motivating factors for teaching English online but one of the greatest things about it is the freedom it affords you. It can be done from virtually anywhere and anytime. And you’re not necessarily tied to your home, either - anywhere quiet with a decent internet connection will do! There’s no time lost in commuting and the added stress of beating traffic, either. Teaching English online is also ideal for adventure seekers looking to travel around while earning money. You can experience living as many different countries as you like, without the fear of your savings running out looming over you! And bonus, you can skip the hassle of applying for a working visa! 3. You can gain valuable ESL teaching experience Trying to break into the ESL industry abroad and want to build up your English teaching experience for your resume? Teaching English language learners online could be the perfect jumping-off point for you. Take it from us - whether you’re teaching in a physical classroom setting or in a virtual learning environment, you’ll need to hone pretty much the same skills. It’s all firsthand experience that can really help your job applications stand out to prospective employers when you’re trying to secure a full-time job teaching English abroad in the future. 4. You can work in your pajamas Well - from the waist down, at least! Enough said on that particular perk of teaching English online - who doesn’t love stretchy pants?! 5. And last, but by no means least, it’s easy to get started! If you’re an online teacher with VIPKID, they’ll make easy-to-use resources available to you. This means you don’t have to reinvent the wheel and spend hours of your own time creating learning materials for your students. VIPKID also have their own training program to help you hit the ground running if you’re a newbie when it comes to teaching English online. So there you have it, aspiring online ESL teachers - the top 6 reasons why teaching English online is where it’s at! Let us know if you have any questions in the comments section below, and don’t forget to get your VIPKID teaching application in ASAP!

Is a Qualified Art Tutor Sign In Required?

Is a Qualified Art Tutor Sign In Required?Can a qualified art tutor to sign in at your school? A lot of people wonder what is the legal answer to this question. Generally, teachers who give the opportunity to become an art tutor will not need to sign in the student's record. However, teachers can offer their services as an art teacher as long as they have a valid teacher certification.The student who wants to be an art teacher needs to acquire the needed skills first. The art teacher will be a good teacher for his or her students. The teaching will be more engaging for students.Students need to look into the student's budget and ensure that he or she can afford to teach. It is not possible to have an art tutor sign in if there is no requirement for it. A teacher certificate must be obtainable. The student should be free from all sorts of constraints and limitations.The art teacher should be capable enough to give advice and suggestions on matters related to the art. It is important t hat they are free from any sort of political affiliations. The students should check whether the teacher is a licensed art teacher and also a member of a recognized association. If the student is uncertain about a teacher, the student should talk to his or her friends who can guide him or her.It is good to see the art instructor's portfolio. This is a good way to decide whether the teacher has the skills and qualities that the student requires. The art instructor should be capable enough to offer classes and lessons that are related to the subject.There are many art instructors who offer classes to students. In order to find the best art tutor, the student needs to verify the skills of the art instructor. The art instructor needs to be one who is able to teach about art history, composition, drawing, painting, etc.Once the student can actually observe the class, the student can proceed further. He or she can sign in as an art tutor or hire a substitute to go through the lessons. The student should also find out what skills the teacher has and whether he or she is able to offer guidance.

Tutoring Atlanta Georgia

Tutoring Atlanta GeorgiaTutoring in Atlanta Georgia has grown significantly in the past ten years or so. Not only are more students having difficulties finishing their schooling but also the financial outlook for the city as a whole is not so great due to the high unemployment rate, a slower economic recovery and an increased cost of living.There is still a lot of demand for tutors and they seem to be out in force, this makes Atlanta County an ideal place to do some tutoring. It is in Atlanta where you can find teachers who have been working for years and may have had their own students for a while.There are plenty of places where you can find tutors in Atlanta but the best option for those looking for a traditional setup would be in PACE and Atlanta PACE Center in Peachtree City. They offer all services for a full package. This includes tutoring the traditional way, but also provides additional support and services such as in-home study centers, senior programs, gifted programs, and even individualized tutoring.There are two full sized full-time centers located in Peachtree City and both offer tutoring in their respective areas. You can find the Peachtree City center online.The Peachtree City center has a tutor desk and staff members who will meet with you to discuss your needs and work through the details of your plan. You can also request a consultation from them for any questions or concerns that you may have.All tutors who teach at the Peachtree City center are qualified and licensed teachers. This means that you can expect a calm, personal interaction from them. They can help you to make changes if you feel that the one you are tutoring is not ready for tutoring at the center. Whether you have just moved to Atlanta or you've been living there for many years, Peachtree City is an ideal place to do tutoring. They have tutors available to work with all ages and educational levels. It is just a matter of finding a teacher who is willing to be flexible about y our plans for your time and their time.

5 Reasons Students Should Meet with Professors During Office Hours

5 Reasons Students Should Meet with Professors During Office Hours From getting extra help understanding class material to having the opportunity to dive deeper into a professors area of specialty, office hours are helpful in a variety of ways. Theyre one of the most valuable resources college students can use. Yet, office hours are also one of the most underutilized free resources available to students on college campuses. There are many reasons students should meet with professors during office hours, including gaining access to research opportunities, gathering valuable career advice, and getting a deeper understanding of class material. College professors are required to hold office hours weekly. Often, theyll be held at the same time on the same day(s) each week. Sometimes, professors will ask you to book office hours with them by appointment. During office hours, you get one-on-one time with your professor. Have you considered office hours but never attended? Here are five reasons students should meet with professors during office hours: 1. Office hours can help you better grasp course material No one is an expert in every academic subjectwe all need help from time to time. When theres something about a class you dont understand, or something youd like to practice in more depth, your professor can help. Having your own one-on-one session with him or her means youll have plenty of time to get the help you need. Your professor will appreciate your effort in coming in for help, especially when youre struggling. It demonstrates that you care enough about the class and your grade that youre trying to improve. But dont wait until right before an exam to get help, as it can be very busy during this timevisit your professor as soon as you think you need assistance. [RELATED: 10 Study Habits to Avoid] 2. Meeting with your professor during office hours can provide you with access to research opportunities If youre really interested in the same field that your professor is teaching, meeting with him or her during office hours to discuss research opportunities can be very valuable. Professors can discuss with you their own research experiences, which can help guide you toward one that might work for you. A professor may even have existing research opportunities in his or her department that he or she could offer you. [RELATED: How Students Can Improve Their Research Skills] 3. Visiting during office hours gives you the opportunity to receive career advice Interested in a specific academic subject area, but not sure what kind of career youd like to pursue? Meet with your professor during office hours to discuss your opportunities. He or she may be able to provide insight into how you can best use your skills. 4. Office hours can help you get to know your professor better Its important to remember that college professors are people too. They have their own unique interests and talents, and they can be very interesting people to talk to. Attending a professors office hours conveys your interest not only in their class, but also in them as an individual. It can be worthwhile to meet with your professors to chat about their past work and accomplishments. You may find inspiration, or get ideas for your own career. 5. Visiting your professor during office hours can give you the motivation you need to succeed If youre finding a particular class boring or not sufficiently challenging, you may benefit from visiting office hours. By doing so, youll have time to talk to your professor on a more in-depth level, which may increase your attention and focus. You may even find that the class is more interesting than you first believed. [RELATED: What I Wish I Knew Before Freshman Year of College] Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

5 Things to Do the Summer Before College

5 Things to Do the Summer Before College The last summer before starting college is the perfect opportunity for students to check some much needed items off of their to-do list and to get prepared for the journey ahead. Here are a few things that you, as a soon-to-be college student, should squeeze into your schedule as you approach your first day of college: [RELATED: 5 Things to Do the Summer Before High School] Freshen up on the basics Been a few years since you took algebra? Are you forgetting the difference between youre and your, or other grammar rules? And how old do you have to be to be President again? If these are the questions you seem to be asking yourself with no answer on the nearby horizon, it would be wise of you to take the summer before college to refresh on some of those topics that have slipped your mind over the years. You can bet that college will take all these subjects to the next level of difficulty, so the basics are a great place to begin if you do not know where to start your preparation. Buy school supplies This may sound obvious, but make sure to get prepared for the school year by getting all of the supplies you will need (back-to-school shopping isnt just for younger students!). Remember, though, how college is very different from high schoolyou are going to need items not only for your classes, but also for dorm life if you are living on your schools campus. Books are expensive, so begin your research on potentially cheaper ways to obtain them now, versus waiting until the last minute and having to stand in that long line at the school bookstore. Youll also want to make sure youve got other necessities like folders, pens, highlighters, and perhaps even headphones and a laptop or tablet. Getting these things taken care of now, before you make the big move to campus, will save you headache later! Travel College is full of traveling opportunities over spring, winter, and summer breaks, but why not take advantage of this time before youve got new academic responsibilities and fit in some completely stress-free traveling? Gather up your friends and family and take a trip of a lifetime. Take a good hard look at that bucket list of yours and start crossing items off! Road trip across the states? Visit all of the baseball parks in America? European backpacking adventures? The possibilities are endless. Take care of financial aid Getting your finances in order before college starts is essential. If you are opting to take loans in the form of financial aid, make sure you have completed and turned in all of the necessary documentation. Call your colleges financial aid office to obtain information and get any questions you have answered. You do not want to have to deal with a lack of funding halfway through the year because you forgot little financial details that could have been completed easily during the summer months. Set personal goals Once you start school, it can be easy to get wrapped up in everything that is happening at once. Before you start college, it would be wise to step back and think about your priorities for the next four years. Do you know what you want to major in? Is joining many organizations important to you? What types of jobs or internships do you hope to obtain? While the answers to these types of questions will probably change over the next few years, it is important to begin thinking about these important decisions. You will be so much better prepared if you have at least an idea of the things you want to accomplish in college. College is a very exciting time, so the more preparation you can do now, the better. Go into college with an open mind and get ready for a life-changing chapter of your life! Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us atblog@varsitytutors.com.

Learn to write in Chinese using calligraphy

Learn to write in Chinese using calligraphy Learn Chinese calligraphy ChaptersAs a traditional art form, is calligraphy a good way to learn how to write in Chinese?Learn to read Chinese via calligraphy - something that’s available to everyone?Use Chinese calligraphy to break down the lettersWhere can you learn Chinese calligraphy in America?Chinese calligraphy, also known as ??, is one of humanity's most ancient art forms. The mastery of strokes, the quality of the brushes, and the emotions they represent have survived millennia and the style has developed its own unique technique.Artists like Ouyang Xun, Wang Xizhi and Ngan Siu-Mui have helped elevate these ‘noble characters’ to their own popular art form which is increasingly drawing admiration from the West.Some people examine each stroke for clues about the artists' emotions and state of mind. Chinese calligraphy is often - but not always - associated with concepts like relaxation, spiritualness, and escape.An integral part of Chinese culture since antiquity, learning the script can be a grea t way for Chinese students to learn how to write in Chinese while leaving their pencil case at home. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsAs a traditional art form, is calligraphy a good way to learn how to write in Chinese?What’s the difference between the large seal (dazhuan) and the small seal (xiaozhuan)?Considered a true way of life, a quiet moment for reflection on our presence on this earth, or an ode to human dexterity, calligraphy is a truly ancestral art form†¦The historical artifacts and writings left behind by generations of Chinese, whether from the Xia, Han, or Ming dynasty, all show a high appreciation for the beauty of the Chinese script.Just like calligraphy, writing the Chinese characters requires you to follow a number of rules and to make sure your brushstrokes flow in the right order.Plus, all Chinese writing is calligraphy to a certain extent, but writing with a brush elevates it to an art form. Learning this traditional art form is also a great way to learn to write Mandarin Chinese.Styles of Chinese calligraphyToday, there are six main styles of writing calligraphy, and each style has played an important role in the development of the Hanzi over several millennia.Jia Gu Wen - more than 3000 years old, this style was created during the Shang or Yin dynasties and can be seen on bones (and torture tools) discovered in the last century.Seal writing (also known as zhuanshu) - created during the Zhou dynasty, this writing style c an be seen on bronze sculptures from that period known as jinwen. This style is still in use.Official writing from the palace scribes (lishu) - this style of writing was meant to be simpler and faster, more suitable for administrative use by the empire. This style has many similarities with the modern version of hanzi in use in standard simplified Mandarin today.Regular, normal, or kaishu writing - first appearing during the Han dynasty in the 3rd century AD, this style is elegant, standardized, and uniform. This is the style of calligraphy that is taught in schools in the People’s Republic of ChinaModern ‘typical’ writing, or xingshu - this is a bit like the cursive version of the regular kaishu writing. Also first originating during the Han dynasty, this style is based on the need to increase writing speed.Weed writing, or caoshu - there’s definitely no Chinese calligraphy system with any relation to marijuana - no, this style is meant to be a bit free-er and faster to wri te, so the letters are all joined up. It’s often difficult to read, this style is written without the aid of an imaginary box and has spurred other numerous variations.We’ve also got tips on how to learn the Chinese alphabet…Learn to read Chinese via calligraphy - something that’s available to everyone?What are the six main styles of Chinese calligraphy?Learn calligraphy in the WestCalligraphy is a popular art form in North America and Europe, often praised for its virtues of introspection, relaxation, and the meditative process of writing. Chinese art lovers cannot help but be moved by the beauty of Chinese calligraphy as well.In order to practice calligraphy, learning to speak Mandarin Chinese isn’t required, although people who start studying calligraphy also often sign up for Chinese classes to learn how to speak, understand and write Chinese.Like any art form, calligraphy also requires a certain amount of talent and a dedication to practicing almost daily in order to improve.Look up for Mandarin courses London.The necessary tools for Chinese calligraphyAlthough certainly open to everyone, above all calligraphy requires motivation, as well as the resources to purchase the basic tools for practicing your new hobby.Just like football, singing, or playing an instrument (where you’d need, respectively, a ball, microphone, or guitar) calligraphy is the art of writing, and it requires tools and supplies.So called the ‘four treasures’ in Chinese, here are the key tools for practicing calligraphy:The calligraphy brush: the brush, with its bamboo stem and brush fibers should be chosen for the way it fits in your hand and what you’re hoping to create in the realm of calligraphy. The fibers of the brush generally come from the hair of an animal like a goat or a fox. Make sure that you always reshape it into its pointed form before letting it dry.China soy ink: generally a liquid ink, it’s best to invest in a better quality ink that won’t run as much.Rice paper - There are many different sizes, shapes, and forms available. Follow the advice of your calligraphy teacher when buying, as some versions can absorb too much ink. The yellow paper is only meant for practice.An inkwell or stone: this ancient writing tool will let you get ink onto your brush quickly, just by brushing solid ink with water.Use Chinese calligraphy to break down the lettersYou can spend years learning and perfecting the basics of Chinese writing.Technically speaking, Chinese calligraphy is a good option for people interested in Chinese culture who aren’t quite ready to commit to signing up for Chinese language classes but still want to learn the script…In Chinese, you are generally always writing inside an imaginary box, unless you’re a professional calligrapher making some artistic flourishes.The balance and proportions typical of Chinese characters are necessary to maintain as you write out the Hanzi characters. It’s important to keep their regu lar, geometric, and well-proportioned shape as your brush moves across the paper.Each character is made up of several brushstrokes, which follow and set order and system.Now standardized in China, Chinese calligraphy - just like Chinese characters - is written from left to right as well as horizontally. Learning calligraphy is therefore also a great way to learn how to write Chinese characters, whether you’re learning online, or by hand.However, in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, and in some overseas Chinese populations, the typical directions are sometimes abandoned for tradition, and you may find writing going from:high to lowand from right to left(It’s worth noting that this last point is helpful if you’re planning to try and decipher any ancient Chinese texts).During a typical introduction to calligraphy, the teacher will often ask the student to study the 8 base strokes of the character “yong” and break it down. Another learning method often focuses on learning t he different symbols within a Chinese character and breaking down its meaning in order to natural improve a student’s reading comprehension.You might also like to learn how to write Chinese characters...Where can you learn Chinese calligraphy in America?How should you hold a brush in order to perfect your calligraphy?Whether it’s at rehab centers, schools, or museums, it’s easy to find Chinese calligraphy classes in the United States.Find a Chinese calligraphy class in New YorkThe venerable China Institute on Washington Street in New York offers a wide range of calligraphy and brush painting classes for adults, teens, and children.They generally run several calligraphy classes each semester, offering a range of class times for anyone’s schedule. Classes last for two hours and promise a meditative and calm atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of New York City. Materials are provided for the first class, with plenty of advice so you can purchase your own supplies before the next session.Each 10 class session promises to get you going, even if you’re a total beginner with no knowledge of Chinese language. But for those who are also interested in speaking and reading Chinese, the center offers a large selection of classes.Take Chinese calligraphy classes in San FranciscoMing’s Chinese Calligraphy is a San Francisco institution, run by Mr. Mak Ming Chan himself, who was born to an artistic family in Guangdong province before moving to Hong Kong in the 1970s to work as a professional artist. He now offers private calligraphy classes located at his studio in Parkside, at the price of £200 for 4 1.5 hour lessons.Learn Chinese calligraphy in BostonThe Fo Guang Buddhist Temple in Boston, located on Concord Ave in Cambridge, offers weekly calligraphy lessons every Saturday afternoons. Classes last for 1.5 hours, and the temple has been an active member of the Cambridge community since the late 90s.Take Chinese calligraphy lessons with a private tutorFo r the most motivated students who want to improve quickly and have already invested in all the supplies they’ll need to learn calligraphy, a private tutor is a good option.Often Chinese natives or art-school graduates from Taiwan, Singapore, or Hong Kong, these tutors can often come straight to your house.There are plenty of tutors to choose from on Superprof.And of course on Superprof, classes average just £25/hour and your first class is free!Discover the best way to learn how to write Hanzi...