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

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

Coaching Boxing

Coaching Boxing The Practical Guide to Becoming a Boxing Coach ChaptersTraining to Become a Boxing CoachWhere You Can Teach BoxingWhat Training for Boxing Coaches is LikeThe Pros and Cons of Becoming a Boxing CoachThe words “ring” and “gloves” will undoubtedly make you think of the world’s most popular combat sports, boxing. An increasing number of people are turning towards boxing each year to let their fists do the talking in the ring and boxing is becoming more popular.Additionally, many people are putting on boxing gloves to get in shape since a boxing workout is great for a fitness class. While not everyone dreams of becoming a professional boxer, there are plenty of people interested in private training, amateur boxing, or just finding a way to get fit and achieving their fitness goals.A lot of boxers are now looking to pass on their skills and passion for this sport as trainers and coaches. One of the best ways to keep the boxing flame alive is to become a coach and teach the future generation of boxers. In this article, Superpr of is looking at how to become a boxing coach and the pros and cons of doing so. AndreyBoxing Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson 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 tutorsTraining to Become a Boxing CoachThere are a few ways to become a boxing coach and all of them allow you to teach boxing in boxing gyms and clubs. Here are the clearest ways to become a boxing coach. While training is important, without a passion for your discipline, you'll never be a successful coach. (Source: Claudio_Scott)Level 1 Boxing Coaching CoursesThe level 1 coaching qualifications are for those wishing to coach competitive amateur boxing in England Boxing-affiliated clubs.The courses cost £140 and last four days. To receive your certificate, you'll need to register on the Vault to an EB affiliated club, have a valid DBS, attend a safeguarding workshop, hold a first aid qualification, and pass the course.As the name suggests, you'll need this qualification before you can move onto the other levels.Level 2 Boxing Coaching CoursesOnce you've had your level 1 coaching qualification for at least 12 months, you can move onto the level 2 qualification. The level 2 qualification will allow you to supervise sparring and subsequently move onto a level 3 qualification.Before you can do this course, you need to have had your level 1 qualification for 12 months and be a registered member of an England Boxing-affiliated club. Much like the level 1 coaching qualification, you also need to have your safeguarding and first aid certificate, a DBS certificate and be recorded on the England Boxing National Database and England Boxing Vault.Find out more about boxing coaching courses.Where You Can Teach BoxingBeing a boxing coach is all well and good but you’ll need somewhere to teach the future generation of boxers. There are several places where you can teach young boxers and bring them into the world of boxing. Boxing clubs are an ideal place to coach boxing. (Source: skeeze)Teaching in a Boxing Gym or ClubThe most logical place to teach people how to box is in a boxing club. There are hundreds of them across the UK. In these places, you can find everyone from aspiring to experienced boxers. You can also teach boxing in gyms, sports clubs, and fitness clubs or anywhere with the necessary equipment. However, boxing clubs remain the place to go to learn how to box.Becoming an Online Boxing CoachNowadays, there are new ways to teach and work. You can use online platforms to teach boxing. Through private online boxing tutorials, a boxing coach can teach budding boxers from anywhere at any time. Furthermore, you’re the boss!This is a great option if you can’t find any nearby boxing clubs or you’d like to provide tailored boxing tutorials. There are plenty of sites where you can create a profile and start offering tutorials, including Superprof.Keep in mind that it's far more difficult to s upervise your students when you're teaching online so make sure that during your boxing class, you take particular care as your students are working on their cardio, punching bag, jump rope, speed bag technique, or footwork.What Training for Boxing Coaches is LikeTo become a professional boxing coach, you’ll need to study coaching and boxing.So what are the courses like?Here’s what you can expect. Coaching involves a deep understanding of teaching techniques. (Source: skeeze)The Content of a Boxing Coaching CourseThere are two main parts to all coaching training: theory and practical. You’ll learn about safety, organising sessions, and sports philosophy and theory. A coach isn’t just there to help a budding boxer put their gloves on!The practical parts of training are there to give you first-hand experience of training. You’ll often learn from someone who’s done it all before. In many cases, you’ll learn by doing.The Skills You’ll Get from Training“Never give up, which is the lesson I learned from boxing. As soon as you learn to never give up, you have to learn the power and wisdom of unconditional surrender, and that one doesn't cancel out the other; they just exist as contradictions. The wisdom of it comes as you get older.” - Kris KristoffersonOne day, you may even find yourself spouting words of wisdom like these! In the meantime, you might want to learn so me important skills for boxing coaches like:Managing a training sessionAdopting your pedagogy to each studentManaging groups of studentsKnowing how to quickly adapt to different situationsManaging both novice and experienced boxersMost coaching programmes will include all of this and more.Find out more about where boxing coaches can work.The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Boxing CoachIf you’re passionate about boxing, you’ll probably want to coach once you metaphorically hang up your gloves. However, like any line of work, there are pros and cons to boxing coaching. Let’s have a look at the job prospects and wages. A boxing coach needs to be passionate about their discipline. (Source: dfbailey)Wages for Boxing CoachesA boxing coach’s wages depends on several different factors. Who your students are will drastically affect this. If you’re teaching a titleholder, you’ll earn far more than someone teaching amateurs in a boxing club. On average, boxing coaches charge between £45 and £60 per hour of training.You’ll probably earn less if you’re working for a boxing club or gym but you’ll also guarantee more hours per week. A private boxing coach can charge more for their sessions but they need to ensure that their schedule has enough boxing classes in it to make it financially viable.Of course, they can always supplement their income by diversifying their offering and providing fitness classes, fitness boxing, self-defence, boxing training, sparring, kickboxing, and full-body workout sessions, for example.Find out more about becoming a boxing coach.ProspectsThere aren’t many career ad vancement opportunities for boxing coaches as it depends on your students. The better your students, the more famous you’ll become as a coach and the more you can charge. With so few opportunities for advancement, you should make sure that you love boxing before you start.Of course, you can always improve the way you teach. You can look for ways to master your teaching approaches and get the most out of every hour spent with aspiring boxers.“They got no idea what it is. Boxing is about respect: getting it for yourself, and taking it away from the other guy.” - Eddie, Million Dollar BabyThere’s a certain amount of job security you can get from ensuring you provide one of the best coaching services around. Similarly, all types of teaching are incredibly rewarding.Whether you're offering personal training, boxing fitness, fitness training, boxing techniques, kids boxing training, strength training, or just boxing lessons, you have to enjoy what you're doing.Now that you know a bit more about boxing coaching, you can take the next step. To learn even more, you can read our other articles on the subject.Similarly, on Superprof you can get boxing tutorials with qualified and experienced tutors. There are many boxing coaches around the UK and all over the world ready to help you but you need to choose the right one and the right type of tutorials. There are three main types, face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials, and each has its pros and cons.Face-to-face tutorials are between you and a tutor and are a great option if you have very specific requirements since the tutor usually tailors their sessions to you, the student. Since you'll be getting a bespoke service, the tutor will usually put in a lot of hours outside of the sessions planning and preparing and all this extra work comes at a cost, which is why face-to-face tutorials tend to be the most costly type of private tutorials. However, they're also the most cost-effective!Online t utorials are also just between you and the tutor but your tutor won't be physically there in the room with you. Thanks to the internet, anyone with a webcam, microphone, and decent internet connection can get tutorials from tutors all over the world at any time of the day. While these types of tutorials are better for academic subjects, with the right tutors, you can learn almost anything remotely.Finally, group tutorials include several students being taught by a single tutor. Of course, you won't get lessons that are tailored to just you since the tutor has other students to think about. That said, you will benefit from all the other students also paying for their share of the tutor's time, making the lessons cheaper per student per hour on average than face-to-face tutorials or online tutorials.Think carefully about your budget, your goals, and how you like to learn before choosing your private tutor and remember that many of the tutors on Superprof also offer free tuition for th e first hour. While this isn't usually a proper session, it's a good opportunity to meet your potential tutor, find out how they like to teach, see if you get along with each other, and agree on the details of your private tutorials.

Where do you start with an electric piano

Where do you start with an electric piano Learn how to play the electric piano ChaptersDifferent learning methods for the electric pianoWhat’s the best electric piano for performing?Looking forward: learning to play the electric pianoJust as prestigious in the world of music as boxing is in the sporting world, the piano is the preferred instrument for musicians and composers around the world.It’s the 2nd most popular instrument in France - just after the guitar, and far ahead of the violin and saxophone - and also boasts the largest number of players of any instrument, when you combine together everyone playing acoustic uprights, keyboards, electric, and digital pianos.Piano music also seems to have a much longer shelf life than the average pop song - Beethoven was the most played artist in the world in 2016. To general surprise, it also turns out that Vladimir Putin is a pianist and can bust out some old Soviet songs when sat on a piano bench.While we’re still finding hidden treasures in old acoustic pianos across the pond, it’s generally electric pian os on which piano students are discovering chords and octaves for the first time today.In this article we’ll walk you through what you need to do to learn to play an electric piano, list the best electric pianos to buy now, and talk about the future of this popular (and fairly high tech!) instrument. 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 tutorsDifferent learning methods for the electric pianoThe famous guitarist Jimmy Hendrix never learned to read music!There are many ways to lear n to play the piano - you can find free online classes, sign up for evening lessons, or enroll in a summer program.The traditional way to learnLearning the traditional way often includes learning some music theory, and a bit about the history of the piano. This is a common curriculum for those learning how to play the piano, and is generally the way courses at music schools and conservatories are taught. Music teachers at these schools generally have a degree in music.Alternative ways to learnAlternative learning methods usually still include a mix of theory and practical exercises, but the teaching is more hands on during piano lessons, with the goal of progressing the student quickly.When you're beginning piano, you can find paid and free online piano lessons for the budding musician that focus on:the keys and learning the notes by namesimple pieces of music to learn and breaking down piano scales and chords one key at a timethe correct posture and hand position to adopt when faci ng a pianoThe height of the keyboard - learning to position yourself properly and find the right keys - and work on your fingeringLearning your first chords and how to play multiple notes at one time, especially using your left handAn introduction to piano history - from the first acoustic pianos, right up to today’s digital pianosLearning how to use the piano pedals, especially the the soft pedal (or una corda), the sostenuto pedal, and the sustaining pedal (or damper pedal)Learn the different variations on the notes including sharps and flats, how to recognize a wrong note, and learning to play by ear.A method based on inspirationIn contrast to all the other ways to learn the piano this method is often used to free its players of stress and depression via music or piano therapy.It allows the player to express their feelings through music, and to share what's on their mind (and in their hearts) without first taking a class in music theory.This method can be summarized in 3 words: PlayChangeAnd play againThis innovative method places the creativity of the student as paramount and helps them compose their own pieces of music. Without any constraints, the players are freed to let their imagination and hands run free on the keys and work on their improvisation.However, its worth noting that this method would not be appropriate for anyone who’s hoping to become a virtuoso or study classical music. You won't really be learning about reading music, major scale progressions, notation or octaves, so it’s more a way to learn piano for people open to any style of music.Would you like to learn how to play the grand piano?What’s the best electric piano for performing?Can you start playing piano without knowing how to read music?Once you’ve been introduced to the electric piano, your level of playing can quickly progress from beginner to professional, and you'll usually start to want to share your music with others, now that you're a proper piano player.It’s wor th keeping these future performances, concerts, or even jam sessions in mind when you’re considering what kind of piano to buy.Just like with acoustic pianos, there are good and bad electric pianos. Some are perfectly good for playing the piano and practicing in the house, but play poorly in large spaces when their acoustics are complicated by the noise of an audience.Besides the sound, it’s worth considering how easy an electric piano will be to move and cart around to live performances.Discover how to choose the right piano for your playing style...The electric piano Clavia Nord Stage 2 EXConsidered one of the best portable digital pianos for performances, the Nord Stage 2 EX is made by the Clavia brand. And it takes up much less space than a grand piano.This model includes a range of different piano recordings, as well as an additional gigabyte of storage. The factory bank includes:5 grand pianos7 upright pianos11 electric pianosClavinetHarpsichordOrganand a bank of recording s including choral, folk, and string instruments.Looking forward: learning to play the electric pianoMusic teachers must always keep the pleasure and joy of music as their top priority.Whether it’s sports, administration, or journalism, computers have changed and continue to change the way people communicate and work, and improve productivity.Music, and more specifically, pianos, have also been touched by this sea of change, and whether you’re taking music classes at a music school, conservatory, or with a private teacher you’re sure to run into some of the new technology as you begin to learn to play piano.Like any form of teaching and learning, music and piano are now in version 2.0, with some traditional methods being tossed aside for the new and exciting. Before you get too excited though, it's worth pointing out that no new technology can eliminate the need for regular practicing until you can play with your left hand and right hand seamlessly in tune, running across the white and black keys.These technologies include:More interactive - with all the new touch screens now filling our bags, it’s easy to download a piano app for your tablet or cell phone.More analysis - thanks to all the data that’s been accumulated by digital instruments and digitized music.More freedom - which makes it easier to teach yourself. Thanks to online classes, it’s much easier today than it used to be to teach yourself how to play piano.More immersive - all these new technologies help you immerse yourself in the music, whether it’s artificial intelligence, augmented reality, or virtual reality.In order to really understand the sea change that’s taken place, check out some of the new innovations and apps that are reinventing the way we approach music and the electric piano.Would you like to learn how to play the digital piano?SpeechiTouchSpeechi makes those giant interactive learning screens you often see in classrooms, similar to Smart Boards, and they’ve made h elping to teach music one of their key goals. Using their tools a musician can learn:how to read noteswork on their ear for musiclearn about the keybed and keys of a piano.By using their One Smart Piano, which is a physical ‘smart’ piano, learning to play the piano becomes fun, easy, and interactive. One of the One Smart Piano's novel points is that you can connect it to an app on your smart phone or tablet to access even more features while you play, and help you really learn all about octaves, basic chords, and identifying middle C.Teomirn - when augmented reality can immerse you in learning the electric piano.Learning music theory will give you a wider scope of music to choose fromIt’s still in the development phase, but the Teomirn project has the possibility of changing everything about the way we learn and play the electric piano today…It’s the kind of thing that would make Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin turn in their graves!It’s also probably not something for techn ophobes, as it’s the first project which has ever used augmented reality to teach music.It’s being made by a Japanese team, and the electric piano and its associated app offers two different ways to layer 3D elements over your piano keyboard.A ‘watch’ mode, where you can learn how to play the piano through observation. You watch a short piece that you’ve chosen be played by a pianist, and the different keys on the piano are highlighted using different colorsA dynamic mode, in which a virtual keyboard and pair of hands appear on the screen. The Teomirn technology, helps you shadow the hands of the professional, and work through the notes of the piece of music you’ve chosen.It’s important to keep in mind that while Teomirn is focused on making it easier to learn instruments, and specifically how to play the piano, the team behind the app doesn’t have any plan to also include the traditional theoretical part that normally accompanies the practical study of piano, so pia no players will still need to learn how to read sheet music and sight reading on their own.This method may please beginning pianists, but it does fly in the face of the traditional emphasis placed on music theory by music teachers.This project has received considerable attention from budding pianists of any age - adult or child, as well as music fans and technology enthusiasts. It was recently demoed in a YouTube video - learn to play the piano - using Microsoft Hololens.However, the project isn’t yet commercialized and the head of the project Ayato Fujii, is currently searching for investors and partners. So for most of us, it’ll be months and probably even years before we can start learning to play the piano through augmented reality, so it might be a good idea to find a piano teacher in the meantime.Now find out which model piano you should buy for your youngest players...

Where to Find a Photography Course in Leeds

Where to Find a Photography Course in Leeds Take Photography Lessons in Leeds ChaptersLearn About Your DSLR With a Professional PhotographerTaking Pictures with a Photography ClassAttending a Photography Course in LeedsOnline Photography CoursesConsidered the cultural, financial and commercial heart of the West Yorkshire Urban Area, Leeds is the third most populous city in the UK, after London and Birmingham.Leeds' landmarks, both natural and architectural are compelling enough to attract nearly two million travellers each year.Everyone enjoys the food, drink and hospitality, after plying their camera on such diverse sites as Otley Chevin and Morley Town Hall.How much would you bet that a substantial portion of Loiners also own a camera?Are you a Leodensian who wishes to capture your unique city's architectural treasures on film  or memory card?Do you have a special feeling for Roundhay or Temple Newsam? Are you intent on photographing all of Leeds' singular  spaces?It all starts with expanding and polishing your photography skills.Let us now find out where an d how you can learn  to capture all of the sights around the Knightsbridge of the North.If you're a proud Northerner but Leeds is too far to travel, why not consider photography lessons in Liverpool?Leeds Photographic Society, established more than one hundred seventy years ago, has been helping photographers young and old prove, and improve their skill behind the lens.If you have just discovered the heft and feel of the digital shooting instrument in your hands, LPS is ready to introduce you to the latest of photographic techniques.If you have been using an early model film camera for years, you would be equally â€" perhaps most especially, welcome to join them!Although they do not offer any structured lessons, the members' wealth of knowledge about photography permits them to host lectures and illustrated talks.They even invite keynote speakers!Topics include: wildlife photography, how to shoot fireworks, and making the most of your panorama shots.You can also learn about exposure limits, aperture and shutter speed; and how to use them effectively.This convivial group even explores the burgeoning field of drone photography!That would be taking aerial photos using a remote-controlled device, not taking close-up pictures of male bees.Find a photography course in Cardiff!This is the drone meant when engaging in drone photography! Source: Pixabay Credit: AllesAdvanced photographers could benefit from their post-processing tutorials: how to add borders, and processing RAW files.If you are the type to press the shutter button with savage glee, capturing a one-of-a-kind shot, perhaps you would like to enter one of their friendly competitions.Your imagery would compete in-house, against other members of the Society, and externally: in regional and national showings.What we love about this group is their long-standing tradition, coupled with reasonable pricing: a £40 annual membership covers any lecture/tutorial fee, and the cost of outings.Yes, LPS goes on regular outings around the city!What we are less wild about is that their focus seems mainly to be on digital photography and processing â€" rather a letdown, considering how long the Society has been active.Still, evolution is never a bad thing!Another group of photography lovers in Leeds, that is keeping up with the times, is Aireborough Camera Club.They pride themselves on their informality, welcoming beginners to the world of photography, as well as professionals and those with artistic flair seeking an outlet  for their creativity.Their syllabus includes guest lecturers, competitions and members' events, with tutorials sprinkled throughout.They adopt a mentoring style, with more seasoned photographers guiding novices in developing their photographic skills.Joining them for an evening would run you £3, refreshments included.Should there be a tutorial, an extra fee would be levied for the use of the club's equipment and supplies.If you like what Aireborough Camera Club is all about, you can become a member for £40 per year.What we like about this photography club is that they have photo processing equipment available, and such an active programme.What we're less fond of is that their tutorials are done on an ad hoc basis: if you propose a topic that generates enough interest, a knowledgeable person will expound on it... at some point.Of course, that is offset by members' generosity in sharing information informally, so perhaps actual photography workshops are superfluous.If photo courses in Manchester would suit you better, take a look at our article.If you are seeking an education in the art, with the intent of becoming a professional photographer, the next section is for you.Attending a Photography Course in Leedsif you are indeed interested in professional photography, earning a Bachelor's from Leeds Arts University would be the sure bet way to achieve your goal.Their three-year programme will take you through the history of photography to technical skills, an d then drill down to specific aspects of photography as a career.Do you want to specialise in fashion photography? How about documentary photography, or fine art?If you have not yet invested in a camera, they are prepared to lend you a camera body and lenses, and the use of their studio and lighting equipment.Their curriculum includes instruction on 35mm film of various speeds, as well as how to photograph and process images using modern technology.Are you aware there is a healthy debate raging in photographers' circles about the merits of digital versus film photography?Leeds Art University has established itself as one of the foremost photography degree programmes by maximising graduates' employability in the field of professional photography.In the course of your three years with them, you will have the opportunity to build a substantial portfolio, including:black and white photographyportraitsheadshotsfashion shootsgraphic designWait... graphic design?More often than not, these days, photographers are called on to display their talent across several genres; with digital art being just one of them.Leeds Art Institute will prepare you for any branch of photography you hope to make your mark on.If you are undecided about which type of photography you could best express yourself in, or earn your living at, you would be able to try them all out, to see which is the best fit for you.Or, you could consider the photography courses at the University of Leeds.Theirs is also a three-year programme, with an additional focus on movies and film making.In fact, their syllabus prepares students for work in all communications and visual arts industries, from screen writing to advertising.Although their curriculum embraces digital photographic technology, they are much more interested in providing students with history and theory of the disciplines.This allows you to range among the various forms of the art, and choosing one that suits you best.They too foster a supportive environment, even after graduation, in the form of job placement.Who takes the pictures of graduates from photography School? Source: Pixabay Credit: PTKSGCOnline Photography CoursesWhat if, for whatever reason, you could not attend university?And don't have a great deal of time or desire to rush out for club meetings and the like?But you still want to learn photography: maybe as a career change, or simply to capture all of the special moments in your life.And if Leeds is slightly too far away, maybe looking for photography courses in Birmingham would suit you better.If pursuing photography is your greatest ambition, your education could start with The Photography Institute.Their programme runs strictly online photography courses, with no deadlines to meet or classes to attend.Through them you would learn everything from camera components to advanced photography techniques, in twelve compact modules.Do you want to learn how to photograph babies, or would you prefer documentary photo graphy?Their syllabus is self-paced, which removes the obligation to dash to class in the evenings, or on weekends â€" time no doubt reserved  for other pursuits.The expectation of The Photography Institute is that you dedicate at least four hours per week, completing the course in approximately six months â€" in spite of outside obligations.Naturally, it would be possible to extend the course duration, as needed.What if you feel that photography workshops and photography schools reduce this art to so many technical details, with neither heart nor soul?Maybe you contend you only need a few tips â€" loose instruction, to set you on the path of photographic genius.Should that be the case, Superprof boasts a cadre of trained  professionals who are all ready to impart photography tips, one on one, via webcam. Find  a photography course in Leeds. Or if you're in the South, why not ready about learning photography in London?You could even widen your search and look for online photography courses given by teachers all over the world!From questions about exposure timing to how to use Photoshop, our tutors will deliver the instruction you need, when you need it, in the comfort of your own home.Photography is so much more than simply pointing and shooting.If your aim is to make a name for yourself behind the lens, it would be best to understand every feature of your image-capturing  devices, and earn an official certificate for your efforts while you're at it.Should you have a passion for photography, you could learn more about it among those who share your feeling, by joining a camera club.Whether photography is your future or your first love (or both!), now you know where to take photography courses in Leeds.Find out more about photography lessons across the UK  or serach directly for photography courses on our site.

English Listening Exercise President Obama on Between Two Ferns

English Listening Exercise President Obama on Between Two Ferns The video for this weeks English listening exercise is really interesting and funny.President Obama goes on the comedy show, Between Two Ferns which is a really funny and pretty odd type of comedy. It is surprising that he would go on the show and it proves how he is really pushing younger people in the United States to join the health care program he helped create.Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: President Barack Obama from President Barack Obama Try the Listening Exercise:1. Why did he cancel a few times?2. In 2013 you pardoned a turkey. What ___ you ___ planned for 2014?3. Why dont we ______ __?4. What does he compare running 3 times to?5. He kind of ______ that movie didnt he?6. Be short and _____ and ____ like Doritos and try to ___ __ in Hollywood.7. Where are you planning on building your presidential library in _____ or your ___ country of Kenya?8. What would he do if he was president? Why?9. What did Obama go on the show to plug?Writing: Would the leader of your cou ntry go on a show like this? Why or why not? Do you think that stuff like this works?

When to use MAKE and DO in English - Learn English with Harry ??

When to use MAKE and DO in English - Learn English with Harry ?? Here you will learn how and when to use MAKE and DO in English.? You will learn 15 common collocations with DO and 15 common collocations with MAKE.? You will also watch a short video lesson about the difference between MAKE and DO so you can use both confidently in your everyday English.? You will be able to check your understanding of MAKE vs DO with a short interactive quiz. When to use MAKE and DO in English MAKE and DO are 2 commonly confused verbs in English. So today Im going to clear up this confusion for you and you will learn when to use MAKE and DO in English.Both English verbs  MAKE and DO  are used in everyday speech to cover many activities that we carry out daily. Both words are similar in meaning, and it is quite confusing when to use MAKE or DO in English. We often MAKE  mistakes and DO not use them correctly. When to use MAKE and DO in English MAKE is often used when referring to produce, prepare or create.e.g.  I make the products more quickly now as I am better prepared.DO is used when referring to something more general or unspecifiede.g.  If you do that you will regret it.There are many examples when we can use DO and MAKE. Here are some of them: Common English Expressions with DO 1. TO DO A FAVOURMichael asked me if I could do him a favour and lend him some money.2. TO DO AN EXAM Mikhail was preparing to do the examination the next day( you can also say preparing to sit the examination)3. TO DO EXERCISEThe doctor advised him to do some light exercise every day to build up his strength.4. TO DO HOMEWORKMy mother told me to do my homework before dinner.5. TO DO NOTHING He decided to do nothing for the rest of the day.6. TO DO ONES BEST/WORSTIts hard to work on this project part-time but Ill do my best.7. TO DO BUSINESS WITH SOMEBODYWe did business with 145 different retailers across the world in 2016!8. TO DO A CROSSWORDHe did a crossword while the tea brewed. 9. TO DO DAMAGE TO SOMETHINGYour action, regardless of the cause, did damage to school property.10. TO DO GOODDrink this medicine before you go to bed, it will do  you  good.11. TO DO ONES HAIRI was really happy the way she did my hair for the wedding.12. TO DO RESEARCHWe have to do a research on the meaning and explanation of these formulas.13. TO DO THE SHOPPINGI usually do my weekly shopping on Fridays.14. TO DO RIGHT/WRONGIt was one of the few things he did right in his life.15. TO DO A TRANSLATIONHe did a translation of this play first in 1834. Collocations with DO - Infographic Common English Expressions with MAKE 1. TO MAKE A BOOKING We planned to go to the theatre the next week. I made ( to make) a booking over the internet.2. TO MAKE A CAKE It was his birthday in two days. His mother decided to make a cake for the occasion. ( can also say to bake a cake)3. TO MAKE A COMMENT When the company results were announced the reporter asked a representative of the company to make a comment about the losses.4. TO MAKE A FOOL OF YOURSELF He had too much to drink and fell over. He made a fool of himself as all his colleagues were watching.5. TO MAKE A CALLHe excused himself from the meeting and went to his office to make a call to his wife.6. TO MAKE A PRESENTATIONHe was asked to make a presentation to the staff and present the new product before it was launched.7. TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENTLast week I rang to make an appointment with my GP.8. TO MAKE AN EFFORTShe likes that he is really making an effort when it comes to the kids.9. TO MAKE A MISTAKEI made a terrible mistake of not  reading the fine print.   10. TO MAKE THE BEDSThe work is easily done, I had to make the beds and clean the bathrooms and the main room.11. TO MAKE AN EXCUSEI didnt really want to go out yesterday, so I made an excuse.12. TO MAKE CHANGESI had to make changes to my report.13. TO MAKE COFFEEShall I make you coffee?14. TO MAKE AN IMPRESSIONIt is very important in your job interview to make a good first impression.15. TO MAKE TROUBLEHe is a fantastic driver but he always makes trouble.16. MAKE A FORTUNEHe made a fortune selling insurance, and retired in twenty years. Collocations with MAKE - Infographic Difference between MAKE and DO - Video Lesson When to use MAKE and DO - Interactive Quiz Loading...

5 Luscious Languages Spoken in Africa That You Oughta Know

5 Luscious Languages Spoken in Africa That You Oughta Know 5 Luscious Languages Spoken in Africa That You Oughta Know Guys, Africa is a huge continent.I mean, really hugeâ€"more so than you might expect. We’re talking a continent as big as the U.S., India, China and most of Europe combined.For us language enthusiasts, that means more languages than you can count. Africa is a veritable buffet for the language learner. In fact, its estimated that there may be over 3,000 languages spoken in Africa!Unfortunately, I’ve found that, in online language learning communities, African languages are widely overlooked when someone is choosing a second or third language.We’re all familiar with the major European languagesâ€"Spanish, French, German, etc.â€"and East Asian languages like Korean,  Chinese and Japanese. Those are typically the most popular to pick.But African languages are awesome, too. Theyre invaluable for travelers,  professionals in the business world  and anyone with curiosity about the world, its languages and its cultures. We should really all be picking up more of these great languages!S o, let’s take a little trip through Africa and talk about why five of the most-spoken languages there are beyond cool.Of course, English is widely spoken in Africa, too, but we won’t cover that, since you’ve apparently picked up enough English to read this article. 5 Luscious Languages Spoken in Africa That You Oughta Know1. ArabicArabic is a huge language, fit for a huge continent.If you decide to learn Arabic, well, you’ll probably get more bang for your buck than you even thought possible.Arabic is a Semitic language, and it’s spoken by 280 million native speakers worldwide. As far as Africa is concerned, Arabic is an official language in Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Libya, Eritrea the list goes on! Its also widely spoken in countries where it hasnt yet been recognized as an official language.Arabic comes in a number of flavorsâ€"to start out, youll choose between Modern Standard Arabic and colloquial dialects. If you learn Modern Standard Arabic, you’ll be able to communicate with most  Arabic speakers around the world. Modern Standard Arabic is the written form of the languageâ€"this is the Arabic used in news articles, online and in novels. It’s spoken  in newscasts and in some TV shows.However, this is not the form of Arabic that native speakers always learn as children. They learn various dialects of Arabic, unique to their regions. Some of these dialects are more mutually intelligible (speakers of different dialects can understand each other) than others, but learning, say, Moroccan or Egyptian Colloquial Arabic gets you deeply connected with a culture in a way that Modern Standard Arabic can’t.So, if you get really into Arabic, youll want to learn Modern Standard first, and then adopt a colloquial dialect of your choice!How to Learn ArabicSo you wanna get started learning Arabic? Check out Stanford University’s Arabic Department site  for  more information on how to learn all aspects of the language, beginning with the bas ics.If you want to put your efforts into learning a dialect, Egyptian Colloquial Arabic is a great place to start if you don’t have a specific country in mindâ€"it’s the most spoken dialect. Browse  this textbook  for Egyptian Colloquial basics.And what about the script? To readers of the Latin alphabet, Arabic looks incomprehensible. For starters, it’s written only in cursive, there are multiple forms of each letter and there are no vowels! What to do?Well, let me tell you, learning to read Arabic is far easier than it looks. Give it a week, set some time aside to copy each letter down and, believe me, you’ll be sounding out texts before you know it.Youll probably also be pretty psyched to hear that FluentU is developing an Arabic program for the website, Android App and iPhone App. In the meantime, you can follow the FluentU  Arabic Language and Culture Blog  and subscribe to our newsletters for loads of fun, modern language lessons.2. SwahiliSecond on our list is Swahili, known as Kiswahili in the language itself.Swahili  is a Bantu language  widely spoken in the  African Great Lakes region, which comprises of a huge swath of Central, Southern and East African. Theres  also a huge number of Swahili speakers in countries adjacent to the Great Lakes region.With Swahili under your belt, youll be able to visit gorgeous countries like  Tanzania and Kenya, where Swahili is an official language. Swahili will also help you get around parts of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While it’s natively spoken by 15 million people, there are more than 150 million speakers total, and it’s a common second language throughout this region!Swahili is quite appealing  to many language learners due to the fact that it’s widely spoken and for its history. Kiswahili (the name of the language in Swahili) means “coastal language, and it’s a trade language that was created to facilitate communications between a number of So uthern and Eastern Africa’s wide variety of ethnic groups.It’s also not too hard for English speakers to learnâ€"unlike many African languages, Swahili doesn’t use tones and, unlike Arabic and Amharic, it uses the Latin alphabet. If you do know some Arabic then you have a good head start, as there are tons of Arabic loanwords in Swahili.What’s more, I guarantee you already know a handful of Swahili words. Why? The writers of Disney’s The Lion King had a bit of a love affair with Swahili. Hakuna Matata? Thats Swahili for “no worries!” Simba? Swahili for “lion!”How to Learn  SwahiliIf you want to get into the basics of Swahili, try BBC’s guide to pick up some vocabulary and greetings. And here’s a fun song to practice those greetings!3. HausaNext up is this beautiful Chadic language spoken in Nigeria and Niger by a whopping 39 million people.It’s also spoken by plenty of other people in West Africa, and in fact, Hausa serves as a lingua franca for Muslim popula tions in this region. Its widely understood, so itll get you pretty far in West Africa!Hausa is written in both the Arabic script and the Latin alphabet. However, the Latin alphabet, called Boko, tends to be the main script used these days among Hausa speakers.Hausa is a tonal language, but don’t let that put you off. Each of the five vowels (a, e, i, o, u) can either have a high or low pitch. While these tones may be marked in learning materials that use Latin text, everyday writing does not use any diacritics.How to Learn HausaTo get started, begin  loading up on audio and video resources. Plenty of listening can help you manage tones and gain a good sense of how the language sounds.Radio is great for the purpose of learning and reinforcing tonal sounds, and stations like  BBC,  Radio France Internationale,  Voice of America  and  24 Deutsche Welle  broadcast in Hausa.To really take off on your Hausa learning journey, try the basic lessons provided at Teach Yourself Hausa.4. Amh aricAmharic is a rich and ancient Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia.It’s related to Arabic and Hebrew, and with 22 million native speakers it’s the second most widely spoken Semitic language after Arabic.Amharic is gorgeous when spoken, and its even more stunning when written in its unique script. It uses an alphasyllabary called fidelâ€"basically, each “letter” represents a consonant/vowel combination, but the forms of the consonants and vowels change depending on the combinations.Learning to write fidel might take a little longer than learning the Arabic script, but it’s still well within reach of the average learner. Try taking advantage of tools like SRS (Spaced Repetition Systems)  to efficiently memorize each letter and its various combinations.Amharic is also host to a growing body of Ethiopian literature. Poetry and novels are both popular, and learning Amharic will open the door to experiencing literature far different from that of the rest of the world. Once yo u have the basics down, try your hand at reading the most famous Amharic novel, Fiqir Iske Meqabir  (translated into English as Love Unto Crypt) by Haddis Alemayehu.Getting started with Amharic has never been easier. Learn some phrases and basic vocab at Amharic Teacher, and listen to Australia’s SBS Amharic stream here.5. FrenchFrench hardly needs an introduction, since it’s no stranger to the aspiring  language learners eye.However, it’s less well-known that French can get you pretty far in many African countries, especially in North, West and Central Africa, where many countries were French colonies in the past. African French is spoken by 120 million people, and it can be quite different from the French youd be exposed to in Europe and Canada.Even if youre familiar with Parisian or Quebec French, African French has unique features that take some getting used to.  Accent and vocabulary are heavily influenced by surrounding native African languages, and the resulting dialect s are rather distinct.Each African region is home to a variety of French accents and Creoles, and some are difficult to understand from region to region. Central African French differs a lot from West African French, and so on. African countries that make up la Francophonie  each have strong traditions of African-French prose, poetry  and film  that are  as diverse  as the cultures  from which they come.Of course, theres no dearth of basic French resources online or otherwise. You can use FluentU to go from the beginning stages right through native-level fluency, and there are even authentic videos on the site that feature different breeds of the French language.To focus on attuning your ears to new African accents and dialects, try listening to radio from Côte D’Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon  and other nearby countries!Now that you know a little more about some major African languages, theres no excuse to pass them up. Youve seen how much territory they cover, and how many wonderful people you could meet by speaking them.Many of the countries listed here have rapidly growing economies, and are increasingly present in  the world stage in terms of trade  and politics.Furthermore, learning any of these languages is an opportunity to connect with a new culture and  deeply  experience any of the gorgeous countries in which these languages are spoken.With the Internet and a little ingenuity, learning these wonderful languages is not only within reach, but guaranteed to be a rewarding and enriching experience.

Arizona Legislature Passes Discriminatory Religious Freedom Bill

Arizona Legislature Passes Discriminatory Religious Freedom Bill Opponents of SB 1062 protest the bill at a rally at the state Capitol. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press. The Arizona legislature passed a controversial bill that could be a huge step backward for gay rights on Feb. 20. SB 1062, or the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, amends existing provisions “to protect businesses, corporations, and people from lawsuits after denying services based on a sincere religious belief,” according to an ABC15 Arizona article  by Josh Frigerio. The bills fact sheet  states that the bill allows a person to claim free exercise as a defense in legal proceedings, and defines a person as “any individual, association, partnership, corporation, church, estate, trust, foundation or other legal entity.” The bill also outlines requirements that must be met in order for a religious defense to be used in court: a person’s action or refusal to act must be motivated by a religious belief, that religious belief must be “sincerely held,” and the free exercise of the person’s religious belief must be “substantially burdened.” On the surface, this doesn’t sound too bad. This country was founded on freedom of religion. It is protected by the first amendment of the constitution and is essentially part of America’s (figurative) DNA. Do I want to live in a country where people can be forced to act against their religion? As it turns out, maybe I do. It’s no secret that Christianity condemns homosexuality and that many people sincerely believe that gays are sinful people. And they are entitled to those beliefs. But this law would allow those people, businesses, and employers to discriminate against gays with legal protection, essentially sanctioning discrimination. People shouldn’t be treated differently based on their sexual orientation. Period. Being gay is not a choice, it’s something people are born as just like race or ethnicity or gender. Some people may dispute this fact but there is a little thing called science backing me up on this one. So if it is wrong to discriminate against someone based on the color of his skin, why is this any different? It is possible that racial discrimination could be motivated by a person’s sincerely held religious beliefs, no lawmaker in a thousand years would ever consider a bill that brought back segregation. Supporters of the bill  cite that an individual doesn’t forfeit his right to religious freedom just because he goes to work, and that Christian business owners are “simply trying to operate their businesses according to their consciences.” But while having a job shouldn’t threaten your constitutional right to religious freedom, no constitutional right is absolute, and when one person’s religion threatens another person’s rights, there’s a problem. As for acting according to your conscience, I don’t see how anyone with a conscience could advocate for what this bill suggests. What I find most frightening about this bill is the possibility for broad application. The case most often referenced when discussing this bill is Elaine Photography v. Willock, in which a New Mexico photographer refused to work at a same-sex wedding, citing that it violated her religious beliefs. The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled against the photographer  on grounds that she had violated the state’s Human Rights Act. The case is currently pending petition in the U.S. Supreme Court. I have to admit that I see the photographer’s point here (before people start attacking me on social media and forming an angry mob let me refer you to one of my previous articles). If she truly believes the right to marry is reserved exclusively for one man and one woman, going to a same-sex wedding, documenting the event and essentially celebrating their marriage would obviously make her uncomfortable. I don’t agree with her, but it is a logical argument. However, the idea that because of this one, very complicated example, we should allow anyone who has ever been to church to refuse any type of service to gays is ridiculous. The photographer’s case clearly satisfies the three requirements of the bill: her refusal to photograph the wedding was motivated by religious belief, her religious belief was sincerely held, and celebrating a same-sex wedding would substantially burden her free exercise. But who determines whether or not a religious belief is sincerely held, and who is to say what substantially burdens free exercise? A real estate agent could argue that by selling a gay couple a house they condone their living together. A restaurant owner could argue that by serving a gay couple on a date they condone their lifestyle in general. And every judge can just decide for himself whether or not he buys it. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer will have to decide whether or not she buys the bill as it stands; Brewer must either sign the bill into law or veto it, and her decision either way could have huge implications. Brewer has vetoed legislation almost identical to SB 1062, according to CNN, so this entire article might be moot anyway. Still, this issue of religion vs. gay rights isn’t going away anytime soon.   I recently read that Kansas and Idaho are proposing similar laws. But whatever your religion, treating another person like they are worth less than you are for any reason is just wrong. The Bible may say that homosexuality is a sin, one punishable by death, but it also teaches us to hate the sin but love the sinner, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Maybe if we stopped obsessing over the first lesson and tried to live out the second a lot of our problems would be solved. Cheesy, I know, but very true.