Crepes for Beginners

Crepes for Beginners How to Cook Real Crepes! ChaptersThe History of CrepesHow to Make Crepe BatterCooking CrepesHow to Make Savoury CrepesCooking Vegan CrepesToppings for CrepesBreton Crepes“Pancakes were meant to be flipped!” - Anthony T. HincksInterested in cooking for yourself?rAccording to a 2015 study by Gfk, “After the Chinese, the French enjoy cooking food the most”. Nearly two-thirds of French people cook at least once a week and nearly a third cook for themselves every day.With recipes like crepes, who can blame them?In this article, we’ve got some recipes for you to try out yourself. GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (12) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all ou r tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe History of CrepesWhile crepes are quintessentially French, they’re also pretty global. Pancake day is a celebration of them, albeit with a religious background. The first ever crepes were far thicker than they're made today. (Source: Bru-nO)How much do you know about the history of them, though?Traditionally, they’re cooked on a pancake maker, a large edgeless hotplate, and made from a batter of milk and flour. They’re generally very thin, unlike American pancakes, and eaten as a dessert. However, you can enjoy both sweet and savoury crepes and eat them either hot or cold.Crepes are usually eaten with toppings. You can enjoy them with sugar, chocolate, jam, or vegetables, meats, or fish if you prefer savoury crepes.Crepes are probably old than you think. The first crepes date back to around 7,000BCE. That said, crepes back then were quite different from the crepes we eat nowadays. They were made from water and crushed cereals, resulting in a thicker batter. They were cooked on a flat stone, too.  Many years later, during the 13th century, the Breton crepe appeared.After all, the Bretons would have to wait until buckwheat arrived in Franc e following crusades in Asia. These crepes were much thinner than their ancient counterparts and became known as buckwheat pancakes or galettes. Galettes are gluten-free and can be enjoyed with all sorts of vegetables as an entire dish. Breton tradition dictates that you should hold a coin in your hand when tossing the galette to bring you good fortune throughout the whole year.Galettes are different from typical crepes and pancakes as they’ve got a different consistency. After all, galettes are made using buckwheat whereas crepes use wheat flour. Crepes then became popular all over France.Nowadays, the crepe has become international. With pancakes in the English-speaking world, blinis in the East, and tortillas in Mexico, there are variations on the crepe all over the world. Each nation cooks a version of something akin to crepes according to the ingredients they have on hand.Find out more about easy recipes for beginners.How to Make Crepe BatterNow that you know the history of t he crepe, it’s time to make some for yourself. Crepes are made from batter and nothing else. If you don't get it right, your crepes won't be any good. (Source: RitaE)For a good crepe, you need to make a good batter. If the batter is bad, there’s no way your crepe will be good. They’ll either be too sticky, too thick, too floury, etc.For around a dozen crepes:250g of flour2 tablespoons of sugar5g of salt4 eggs450ml of milk50g of melted butterMaking crepe batter isn’t that complicated; it’s really easy. The important thing is to get the consistency right.To start, grab a large mixing bowl or salad bowl. To make sure it’s not lumpy, you’ll want to sieve the flour before pouring it in.  Make a well in the centre of the flour and start mixing in the eggs.With a whisk, mix the eggs and flour. Slowly pour in the milk while whisking. Finally, sprinkle in the salt and sugar. A small pinch should suffice.  Add the softened butter and add in the rest of the milk. You can also reduce the amount of milk by using warm water.Mix unt il you get a homogeneous batter. Your batter needs to be a smooth liquid. However, it needs to be thicker than water. The more you make crepes, the better you’ll know the ideal consistency.Let it sit in the fridge for an hour or two.Looking to make something more substantial?Learn how to make a quiche.Cooking CrepesOnce you’ve got the batter right, it’ll be hard to mess up cooking your crepes. However, crepes are traditionally made on a special hotplate. If you don’t have one, though, you can always use a non-stick frying pan. Once you've got a good batter, you need to cook it correctly to get good crepes. (Source: RitaE)Heat the empty pan first. If the pan isn’t hot enough when you add the first crepe, you run the risk of it sticking. Once your pan’s up to heat, add the oil using a paper towel or rag. You need to do this between each crepe so that they don’t stick to the pan.You can use a ladle to pour the batter into the centre of the pan. Tilt the pan to help the batter to spread across it.  Cook each crepe for a minute or two on one side. If your pan is hot enough, the crepe should cleanly come off the pan.Now it’s time to flip your crepe.  If you’re brave enough, you can do this with just the pan and no other utensils. This is the fun part. If you don’t feel like flipping the crepe, you can always turn it over using a spatula.Cook the other side for around a minute, serve and add your toppings.  Your first crepe is ready!Find out how to make your own pizza. GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (1 2) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow to Make Savoury CrepesIf you feel like making some traditional Breton savoury crepes, here’s how.Ingredients for Breton galettes:330g of buckwheat flour10g of coarse salt750ml of cold water1 eggYou’ve probably noticed that there’s no milk here. Water is the main ingredient in galettes.Mix the flour and salt like you would for crepes.  Slowly add the water, mixing with a whisk. Mix until you get a homogeneous batter. Fina lly, add an egg and mix.You can cover with a tea towel put the mix in the fridge for a couple of hours. Now you can cook them the same way you would a crepe. Make sure you regularly grease your pan.After something savoury?Learn how to make a Croque monsieur.Cooking Vegan CrepesIf you want to enjoy crepes while still sticking to a vegan diet, here’s how.Ingredients:500g of flour1 litre of soy milk3 tablespoons of vegetable oil100ml of beer or ciderTo make vegan crepe batter, mix the flour and vegetable oil in a large bowl. Lightly warm your soy milk.  Mix the soy milk in with the flour.Add the beer or cider. You can also use sparkling water. The goal is to use the bubbles to aerate the batter.  Mix one last time before letting the batter sit for 20 minutes.You just need to cook it like you would any other crepe or galette.Toppings for CrepesThe batter isn’t the only place you can change the recipe for crepes. You can also choose what you put on them.Sweet CrepesSweet crepes are o ften served with chocolate, butter, sugar, or jam. However, you can also add ice cream, caramel, or other dessert ingredients.You could also add some cheese, like brie, with jam, for a sweet-savoury mix.Savoury CrepesThe most popular savoury crepe is arguably the cheese and ham crepe. You can also crack an egg onto it just as you’re finishing the crepe so that the egg cooks but the crepe doesn’t burn.Breton CrepesThere are plenty of variations of crepes in Brittany. One of the most popular is the rum crepe. You can add a few tablespoons of rum once you’ve finished making your crepe batter. Savoury crepes are very popular in Brittany and northern France. (Source: congerdesign)You can also add olive oil, beer, cider, etc.  You can let your imagination run wild with crepes.Now it’s over to you!If you'd like to learn how to cook, consider getting private tutorials from one of the many talented private tutors on Superprof. There are three main types of cooking tutorial available: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials.Face-to-face tutorials involve just you and your tutor. These are usually the most expensive tutorials as you're paying for an individual tutor's time and all the bespoke preparation that goes into your tutorials. However, these are also the most cost-effective.Online tutorials tend to be cheaper as the tutor doesn't have to travel and can schedule more tutorials per week. Of course, it can be trickier to learn without a tutor in the room with you.Finally, if you're looking to save some money, group tutorials tend to be the cheapest pe r hour. While you won't get your tutor's undivided attention, the cost of the lesson is divided between all the students in attendance.Think carefully about your budget and how you like to learn before choosing your tutor and keep in mind that many of the tutors offer the first hour of tutoring for free.

Do You Need to Add to Your Perspective at Work - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Do You Need to Add to Your Perspective at Work - Introvert Whisperer Do You Need to Add to Your Perspective at Work? In art, perspective is a very important thing to focus on.   You could look at an object such as a car and you see all the things you’d expect to see.   However, if you looked at that car lying on the ground, some things on the car would disappear and other things appear larger.   What you’d see about the car if you looked at it from the 5th floor of a building would also be different.   That is perspective and how it changes. Each perspective is different and also true. I bring this up because, on our job, its important to look at issues from different perspectives.   By doing that it helps you in countless ways.   It can help you see how certain decisions were made all the way to why someone might do things the way they do.   In other words, you may “see things” a certain way but there are other factors that you know nothing about that are at play or to consider before becoming too stuck on your own perspective. Having a different perspective can be the difference between reacting negatively or positively to a person or situation.   It gives you broader thinking about any given situation and allows you to be more objective.   If you are making decisions, taking different perspectives as you move through the process will create a better outcome as it allows you to understand where possible issues might exist.   It allows you to mitigate those issues and to treat others with greater sensitivity and respect.   If you will, perspective gives you maturity about how you proceed through work and life. “Don’t believe everything you think.” Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Benefit From Increased Creativity by Developing Drama Skills

Benefit From Increased Creativity by Developing Drama Skills Drama Skills Can Increase Your Overall Creativity ChaptersWhat Does It Mean To Be Creative?Happiness Is... Performing Through The Creative ArtsUsing Drama To Rid Oneself Of Negative EmotionsHow To Boost Creativity: Using Acting Techniques To Your Advantage In The WorkplaceHow To Improve Creativity Within The Team: Suggestions For The Next Corporate Team Building ActivityThe subject of Drama is classed by the National Curriculum as a broad creative arts subject and taught by many secondary schools and colleges as a formal subject, so it comes as no surprise that learning about acting techniques helps you to become more experimental with your core approaches, like thinking, performing, and your conversation skills (i.e. speaking and listening). But what is creativity and what examples of increased imagination and greater innovation can you expect to see in yourself after attending drama workshops?Keep reading to discover how your personal, social and professional lives can be changed by exploring creativity and bringing fundamental ha ppiness into it with well rounded lesson plans and skills training. Being a learner in the classroom will help you to put things into perspective and see how you can focus on, enhance and demonstrate your musical abilities, your poetry skills or you literary expertise and use this as a foundation to seek excellence in your communication and your interaction with creativity.Good organisation and a relevant framework set up by your faculty in line with the curriculum will contribute to your academic journey, from registration as a prospective student assessment and preparation for the implementation of practical and academic skills learned.happy in that particular moment in time. Although still using the feelings to transfer into their piece of engaging art, the practitioner is usually able to detach themselves from the emotions and become almost like a spectator in the audience of the experiences being presented to them (this can be applied to situations whereby the subject is using artistic or performing methods).The feeling of escape and therefore an insight into euphoria can often last long after the act of being creative and turn into excitement in preparation for the next time that they paint, sculpt, draw, sing, dance or take to the stage to present and to build on their talents.Keep your happiness alight with the help of Drama lessons. Photo on VisualHunt.comCreativity as a term is quite hard to define, as we have discovered, but most agree that it is linked to the ability to come up with and work with unique ideas, create intelligent links between ideas, and find inspired solutions to problems. Research also suggests that those who live creatively, welcoming the arts into numerous aspects of their lives (including basic principles like problem solving), are actually happier than everyone else in their communities.Experts are also led to believe that creativity has strong links to emotional outcome and physical well being, so if you have the sharpness an d perseverance to take a journey down a creative route then you are likely to continue down a road of life satisfaction. When you are positive and in good spirits, your mind becomes broader as you aren't focusing your attention on certain things and putting up barriers. To achieve this strong viewpoint will certainly benefit you in your professional life as well as interpersonal areas such as your romantic relationships and social life.Just like doing creative activities can make someone feel happier, such distractions can also play a part in preventing someone from feeling sad or stressed. Research by Boston College has shown that acting classes can help people prone to depression or unhealthy behaviours to understand and spark recognition of their problem and use strategic policies to adopt healthier attitudes and more positive emotions.The benefits of acting classes have shown to be quite varied. CarlActing Teacher 5.00 (5) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaAc ting Teacher 5.00 (8) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ElifActing Teacher 5.00 (10) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CalumActing Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChristopherActing Teacher 5.00 (9) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriActing Teacher 5.00 (8) £85/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielActing Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CiaranActing Teacher 5.00 (5) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsUsing Drama To Rid Oneself Of Negative EmotionsMany people of all ages suffering from anxiety or depression showcase introvert traits and characteristics, almost as if they are being suppressed or inhibited. By learning how to act as part of a theater arts program or private tutoring, these people, young and old, can turn this situation around for themselves with intervention and counter negative feelings by learning from techniques they have learned from thei r acting instructor and even the characters that they are portraying.Other reports have shown that teenagers in acting classes for kids not only became more confident in their own skin, but they were seen improving in a number of other ways. For example, they became more intellectual in their interpretation, in turn making them more sympathetic to other people, giving back much more than they had before they started to learn about critical soft skills. They not only broadened their junior social skills, they were able to adapt the way they thought and thus allowed themselves to get in touch with their inner  creativity and imagination. This competence and awareness taught to them by drama school is something they will take with them from childhood through their time as a youth in school and to adulthood.Other skills and qualities that can be gained from high school drama or courses at universities relate to teamwork, writing, speaking, presenting, performing, directing, engagement, behaviour, audience participation, vocabulary, literature, programming events and improvisation. Moreover, there's the opportunity to gain an educational certificate or qualifications in arts education so that they can leave the campus with new knowledge and skills, continuing their undergraduate journey towards a Bachelor's degree or another certificate program that enables them to work in a theatrical environment.They may choose to be a playwright writing plays or tragedies about conflict, get a teachers qualification in order to become an educator so that they can teach theater skills or they may want to consider directing to allow them to participate in all aspects of drama theatre, like playwriting, developing, leadership, audition, rehearsal, guidance and tuition.Acting can be very important for rehabilitation. Photo credit: Jlhopgood on VisualhuntHow To Boost Creativity: Using Acting Techniques To Your Advantage In The WorkplaceBut will adult acting classes have as much effec tiveness as after school activities has on helping teens? I'm sure of it! Experiencing mentoring at an arts center can do nothing but facilitate your readiness to pursue professional development and your expectation of what it is you want to be achieving. People skills don't just enhance your integrating, they help you on a daily basis by clarifying how to solve problems, to voice opinions, understanding criticism, identify ways of collaborating and to build on behavioral ethics to improve outreach and how we work with each other to succeed at what we do.Drama skills are a fantastic addition to anyone's life, and a particularly impressive hobby to have on one's resume. By displaying your talent in other fields and your passion for something outside of their line of business,  you are not only showing your employer that you have individual interests outside of the workplace, but they also highlight to them that you have the potential to bring a range of additional, versatile (and ver y useful) skills to their company.Acting classes can teach individuals about the art of listening, but they also encourage self-expression, confidence and creativity, all of which can really benefit most workplaces. Regardless of whether your prospective employer knows just how valuable you could be to their department, there's no harm in telling them a bit more about yourself, even if only to help them understand you better.Be sure to tell them at your job interview about your interests outside of work, like attending drama workshops. Photo credit: Alex France on Visualhunt.comWhat your managers will eventually realise is that your sharp, intuitive and creatively-tuned mind can come up with better thought out ideas and smart yet logical suggestions for improvements. What's more, as someone who is a creative thinker, you could be far  more influential  over your peers and be able to inspire those around you during staff meetings.This is why so many corporate team building activities involve role-play - this and acting are one and the same!What's more, the interaction necessary when learning how to act will help make you a better listener and negotiator.How To Improve Creativity Within The Team: Suggestions For The Next Corporate Team Building ActivitySo if you are impressed by the astounding knock-on effects that a bit of drama training can have on your work life, then why not go to your manager and suggest that the company considers booking a creative activity like acting workshops to help staff to improve their productivity and creativity?By searching online or by contacting events teams in your area, you will find a number of tailor-made activities for specific corporate teams that are designed to bring out the best in them whilst also teaching them valuable skills that can be used well into the future. The entire day may not be geared around playing out scenes, but your trainer will most likely use their knowledge of acting techniques to their advantage by helping you to interact freely and learn to share ideas more creatively.Alternatively, you could use your own initiative and get yourself down to your nearest drama class to see and experience the full effects for yourself here and now!

How Much Do French Lessons Cost

How Much Do French Lessons Cost Megan L. If you want to learn how to speak French, you probably already know that the best way to learn is by practicing speaking French. Books, apps, and audio programs are all great resources, but they are primarily teaching you passive comprehension skills. Being able to understand French  and being able to say something in French are two distinct skills. Taking private French lessons is one of the best ways to practice speaking in French, and as a result, is is one of the best ways to learn to speak the language. Unfortunately, many students do not pursue French tutoring because they wrongfully assume that these lessons are too expensive for their budgets. However, there are many tutoring options available for students at all price points.  Fluent and native French speakers have even begun to  offer online tutoring using video chat programs like Skype, which tend to be less expensive than more traditional lessons. If youre wondering, how much do French lessons cost?, read on to  find out what price range you can expect and factors that  affect the cost. How Much Do French Lessons Cost? Most private French lessons cost  $20 to $50 per hour, although you may find some teachers that charge significantly more or less than that. Most students choose to take one to three French lessons per week.  Here are just a few factors that may influence a teachers rate for French lessons: Is the Teacher a Native or Fluent Speaker? Generally speaking, teachers that are native French speakers charge more per hour than a fluent, non-native  French instructor.  Because they grew up speaking French, a native speaker will have a proper French accent, as well as in-depth knowledge of the language and culture. On the other hand, a fluent speaker of French was once a beginner as well, and understands the struggles you face when trying to learn French. This lets them  provide advice based on what worked best for them when they were learning French. Does the Teacher Have a Formal Education in Teaching French? Some people that give French lessons do so simply because they love the language. Others have received training or degrees in the French language and how to teach it. Someone with a formal education in French will usually charge more than someone who does not. However, training does not inherently make someone a good teacher. There are many French tutors without training that are just as good as those that have formal training. Is the Lesson Format Formal or Informal? How much time a teacher must spend preparing for your lesson will also play a factor in the price they charge per hour. If you are looking for formal French lessons like you might receive in a traditional classroom, you can expect the tutor to charge  more. This extra cost covers the additional time they  spend  gathering materials and developing lesson plans in preparation for your tutoring session. Other teachers offer informal French lessons. Instead of preparing a lesson in advance, they will simply start having a conversation with you. As you talk, they will offer corrections or address any questions you have. Both of these teaching methods are effective in improving your French speaking skills. You have to decide which  format best fits your learning style and goals. Does the Teacher Offer Discounts? When contacting a tutor to ask  How much do French lessons cost from you?, you might want to ask whether or not they offer any discounts. Some teachers will offer discounts when you book multiple sessions or refer a friend. When choosing your French tutor,  look for one that fits your learning style and objectives. While price is one factor, their personality and style are also very important. Want to learn more? Search for a  French tutor to get started! Photos by redjar,  francois schnell,  NTU Graduation Week 2014,  Ryan Tyler Smith,  Ged Carroll 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

Math Tutoring-Providing the Best Access for Facing Challenges in Life

Math Tutoring-Providing the Best Access for Facing Challenges in Life 0SHARESShare Math is a subject that demands creative thinking, combined with logical analysis of the problems it puts forth before the students. Having given the rules, norms, formulas, concepts and equations, Math expects the students to solve the queries it brings forth and thereby tests the intelligence and reasoning capacities of students. If so, it is the subject that opens up opportunities for the students to match real life situations through its ideas and concurrent questions to be answered by students. Math tutoring online picks up suitable solutions for the challenges wrought by Math-which can be used by students in real life situations. Abilities provided by online tutors in Math to face real life challenges! • An online Math tutor makes a student efficient enough to manage his credit card and other bank dealings, buying and selling aspects of any material or good like car or old furniture with his proper teaching of Math concepts. • He encourages a student to think positively and creatively to find out answers for a query. This promotes a student to attend to the challenges he faces in his life with focus and find out solutions in an independent way Online tutoring in Math is a blessing for needy students as they learn to handle both Math and life from the hands of tutors in Math. Tutor Pace with its wonderful set of Math tutors prepares student minds to think individually to face life challenges. Get  Math Tutor Online  Now! [starbox id=admin]

Makeup for Dancers

Makeup for Dancers The Stage Makeup for Dancers Guide ChaptersDancers’ Makeup: The Products You Should HaveBallet Makeup: Start with the EyesFoundation for Ballet DancersMakeup for Ballet Dancers’ MouthsThe Finishing Touches for Makeup for Ballet Dancers“Life is the dancer and you are the dance.” - Eckhart TolleThe cosmetics industry is worth around 70 billion dollars according to Statista. In a small way, dancers have contributed to this worth.  Firstly, you should know that stage makeup is less subtle than the makeup you might wear around town.Dancers are usually far from their audience and if you don’t highlight your complexion, eyes, or mouth, you’ll look sickly under the bright lights focusing on you.  Before you put any makeup on, make sure that you remove any other makeup and clean your skin.Ready? Here’s our guide to stage makeup for dancers? SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDancers’ Makeup: The Products You Should HaveBefore you get started, make sure that you have a few basic products to hand:Foundation: a tone closest to your skin colour or one shade darker (you often appear paler on stage).Matte foundation powder: to matte your complexion.Blush: pink for paler skin tones and brown blush for darker tones.Several shades of eye shadow: 3 shades should be enough. White, beige, and brown tend to the most common.Mascara: Waterproof might be a good call (you’ll sweat).Black eyeliner: Also waterproof.Matte lipstick: opt for a red or dark pink. Shiny colours don’t work well on stage and tend to look too pale.Eyebrow pencil: the shade closest to your natural colour.Cotton buds and makeup remover in the event you make a mistake.A brush for your eyes and a foundation brush for the powder. Since you'll be seen from afar, your makeup needs to be heavier than what you'd usually wear. (Source: skeeze)You can also add glitter, fake lashes, highlighter, corrector and concealer, and a lip pencil. Now you should have everything you need to get started. Of course, you’re free to add and change things.So how can you choose your leotard?Find out more about leotards.Ballet Makeup: Start with the EyesYou’ll often get told to start with your complexion. Not this time! Start by doing your eyes as your eyeshadow can leave pigment below your eyes. You’d then have to clean this off and redo your foundation so it’s better to start with your eyes. As for eye makeup, you want it to be bold and solid. You don't want it to run during your performance, either. (Source: Bru-nO)Start by applying a white eye shadow across your whole eyelid from the lashes to your brow. This will catch the light nicely. This layer will also act as the foundation for the subsequent layers.  If you have a foundation layer for your eyelids, don’t hesitate to use it before adding this layer.Next, add a darker layer of shadow onto the moving part of your eyelid starting from the outside and working inwards. The idea is to have a gradient that’s darker on the outside than on the inside. Finally, add the darkest layer to the outside of your eyelids to add depth.With the remaining pigment on your brush, add it to the base of your eyelashes.  Apply your eyeliner along your lashes and extend the line beyond them, drawing an accentuated “comma” at the end. Your eyeliner needs to be thicker than what you’d usually wear as your audience needs to see it.D on’t let the eyeliner collect at the edge of your eyes as this will make your gaze look smaller. You’ll want to use a white eye pencil to make your gaze look bigger. We’re not looking for a natural look here as it won’t show up on stage.  Add a generous helping of mascara.Don’t hesitate to ask your teacher if they have a particular look in mind for your show. You might want intense smoky eyes or something lighter.Find out more about clothing for dancing. SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsFoundation for Ballet DancersNow let’s apply some foundation.  If you tend to have dry skin, you might want to add some moisturiser or a BB cream. Move your hair out of the way and wear a deep neckline so that you can apply the foundation to your neck, too. With a lot of stage lights shining on you, you'll want to opt for a matte foundation. (Source: fotostrobi)You can also add a corrector and concealer to any blemishes or spots. Add a liquid foundation starting at the centre of your face and working your way outwards. Don’t forget to also apply this to your neck so that you don’t have a discoloured oval for a face. Some prefer to add foundation by hand but if you want to use a brush, make sure you use a foundation brush with a liquid foundation in mind.You might also want to use a foundation for dark circles. If you don’t have one, you can apply your foundation from under your eyes outwards.  You then need to matte your foundation to stop it shining under the stage lights. Opt for a foundation that’s a little darker than the previous one so that you can contour a bit. Avoid foundation with sun protection as they tend to appear white when filmed or photographed.Find out how much dance outfits cost.Makeup for Ballet Dancers’ Mo uthsFor the mouth, you might want to follow the contours with a clear pencil. This will stop your lipstick from running into the corners of your mouth. Since your mouth is an important facial feature, you'll need a bold colour so that the audience can see it. (Source: annca)Using the tip of your lipstick isn’t very practical and requires some skill. It’s much easier to use a special brush to apply your lipstick.  Blot the lipstick against a tissue to remove the excess before you add a second layer.You can also add a bit of gloss to the centre of your lips but this isn’t necessary and it does tend to stick.  You might want to keep your gloss on hand backstage so you can retouch. Similarly, you’ll be thirsty and your lipstick will fade when you drink.The Finishing Touches for Makeup for Ballet DancersNow that you’ve got a perfect complexion and your eyes and lips done, you can add the finishing touches.BlushThis can help add relief to your face and accentuate parts of the face. To apply it, smile and apply it diagonally across your cheeks.EyebrowsYou can highlight your expression by using an eyebrow pencil. Blondes can defin e their eyebrows. However, brunettes can also use it. After all, even the most obvious features may be hard to see on stage.Eyebrow pencils are useful if you have thin or fair eyebrows.  Apply the pencil from the beginning of your eyebrow to the end working from the inside.Tip:  Line up your eyebrow pencil with the bridge of your nose and the edge of your eye. Your eyebrow should come up to the pencil. If your eyebrow doesn’t reach the pencil, then you should apply the makeup to this point.Place your eyebrow pencil on the bridge of your nose and line it up with the outside edge of your eye, your eyebrow shouldn’t go below the pencil at any point.Learn more about ballet footwear.Setting or FixerA setting or fixer spray works a lot like hairspray and you can put it on once you’re done. It works similarly as a hairspray in that it holds everything in place.Don’t forget to put your costume on before your makeup as you don’t want to have to pull anything on over your head. You can always wear something over the top that you can unbutton and take off so that your costume doesn’t get stained.Don’t hesitate to look for tutorials on YouTube to help you with applying your makeup or for inspiration.If you need more help with ballet, think about getting in touch with the talented and experienced tutors on Superprof. You can get either face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials and since each comes with its pros and cons, make sure you carefully consider which one will work best for you, your preferred learning style, and your budget.Face-to-face tutorials tend to be more costly than the other types of tutorials but they're also the most cost-effective since you're getting a bespoke service with a personal tutor.Online tutorials are usually cheaper but aren't as effective when it comes to hands-on subjects like dancing. However, if you're on a budget or are struggling to find tutors in your local area, online tutors could save the day.Group tutorials are cheaper per person per hour since you're all sharing the cost of the tutor's time. If you and a few friends would like to learn how to dance, group tutorials could be the way to go. Furthermore, you won't always have to dance with the same person.

Breaks, Mini-Tests, and Multi-Task Avoidance Three Ways to Study Better

Breaks, Mini-Tests, and Multi-Task Avoidance Three Ways to Study Better Improving Academic Performance Few people like to do homework or study for a test. But it’s obviously important to do these things to perform well in school. And if you must engage in these activities, you might as well be as efficient and productive as possible. You want to get as much benefit from each hour you invest in studying as possible. In this article I’ll share three very practical, yet science-backed ways to get more out of every hour you invest in studying. #1 Know when to take a break. I’m not sure if it is widely understood that the brain has two main “modes” of thinking: Focused and Diffuse. I first learned about this concept in an online course called Learning How to Learn. When most people think about the process of studying for a test or going to a course lecture, they are envisioning “focused learning” where there is conscious effort to pay attention to a fact or concept and understand how it works. This is absolutely the primary way in which we learn. We apply reason and logic to understand how the pieces of a puzzle fit together, whether that “puzzle” is about history or algebra. However, there is another mode of learning called “Diffuse.” To understand this mode, which operates in the “background” of your brain, imagine you are struggling with a difficult math problem. You’ve been at it for 15 minutes, but there are 15 other problems you need to do for homework, so you just let it go and move on because you literally don’t have any more time. In the diffuse mode of learning you are not consciously thinking about a problem, but without realizing it, your mind is still working on it (in a sense). You know it’s something you’d like to solve or understand, and sub-consciously, your brain connects dots in the background and sort of “tests” a large number of potential linkages that might shed some light on the problem for you. It’s unlikely that the answer to the math problem will magically come to you at 9PM that night. However, when you crack open the book to do homework or sit down in the next class lecture, you may be surprised to somewhat quickly realize that you now understand the concept. The moral of the story here is that instead of continuing to struggle with a problem, sometimes it makes sense to take break and do something else, or at least move on to a different problem. #2 Stop underlining, start summarizing and testing yourself The brain retains more information when it is truly “activated.” Put differently, more learning occurs when you engage in “active” vs. “passive” studying. And, a great example of a “passive” activity is reading. Obviously, reading, as far as activities go, is a good thing to be doing and a very important part of learning and doing well in school. But, it’s important to try to get the most out of the time you invest in reading. Many studies have shown that simply reading about something is not a great way to learn or remember it. Reading passages and underlining them often feels good, because it seems like you are accomplishing something. But studies show little benefit. In this article on effective studying techniques by Annie Murphy Paul, she discusses several more effective alternatives to underlining. I will cover or have covered some of these ideas in other posts, but two strategies that are better than underlining include summarizing key ideas in your own words. This forces your brain to “activate” and re-formulate the idea before writing it down. Even better than summarizing, according to the article, is to use flashcards or other means to quiz yourself. Quizzing yourself is the ultimate way to truly engage with the material vs. passively absorbing it. This process of engaging is what researchers believe leads to higher levels of retention and learning. #3 Stop multi-tasking and start focusing You will learn a lot less and will find it more difficult and time consuming to understand and complete assignments if you multi-task. It’s as simple and clear as that. In an article in Inc. magazine, Larry Kim (@larrykim) writes about how multi-tasking lowers work quality and efficiency because it “makes it more difficult to organize thoughts and filter out irrelevant information.” He references a study at the University of London that suggest multi-tasking while performing cognitive tasks experienced IQ drops that were similar to subjects who hadn’t slept for an entire night or who had smoked marijuana. Multi-tasking is another topic written about very well by Annie Murphy Paul in her article You’ll Never Learn in Slate. On the one hand, you don’t need to overthink this one. Of course, when you try to do more than one thing at once, you are paying less attention to each thing. You’ll be more likely to miss important points altogether or not fully understand any given point you are hearing or reading about. Paul quotes a psychology professor at the University of Michigan who says “Under most conditions, the brain simply cannot do two complex tasks at the same time. It can only happen when two tasks are very simple and when they don’t complete with each other for the same resources…an example would be folding laundry and listening to a weather report on the radio. That’s fine…but listening to a lecture while texting or doing homework while being on Facebook â€" each of these tasks is very demanding.” Here are five research-backed results of trying to multi-task: Assignments/tasks take longer to complete, both because of time spent on the distracting activity and the need to re-familiarize yourself every time you re-engage You’ll experience mental fatigue from switching back and forth, and that will lead to mistakes Your memory of what you’re learning will be worse, as a direct result of having been switching back and forth across tasks when originally formulating the memory Our brains process information less efficiently when we are multi-tasking. In one study, students who multi-tasked remembered facts as well as non-multi-taskers, but were far less adept at extrapolating key themes to different contexts. Finally, some studies have simply shown that students who, in general, do more multi-tasking, simply have lower GPAs overall. Most likely as a result of all of the other issues we’ve already discussed. Summary There are many ways to start becoming a better student and a more efficient studier. Three important ones include: Knowing when to take a break Choosing more “active” ways to engage with what you are reading than simple underlining, and Avoiding multi-tasking at all costs when you are trying to learn or study something.

English Reading Exercise Interview With Stephen Hawking

English Reading Exercise Interview With Stephen Hawking Trying to improve your English reading skills? Heres an English reading exercise with questions based on an interview about life, the universe and everything with Stephen Hawking.English Reading ExerciseIs there a heaven and an afterlife? Do we only have the here and now? These are questions that have people have pondered since the dawn of time.To what do you believe we should attribute the universe?Do you think we should give this matter a little more thought than we actually do?Well-known physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking explained his take on these issues to the UK’s Guardian newspaper this week.Let’s read the text of the interview and then answer the questions afterwards:Interview with Stephen Hawking Photograph: Solar Heliospheric Observatory/Discovery Channel Ian Sample, science correspondent, Sunday 15 May, 2011 What is the value in knowing Why are we here?The universe is governed by science. But science tells us that we cant solve the equations, directly in th e abstract. We need to use the effective theory of Darwinian natural selection of those societies most likely to survive. We assign them higher value.Youve said there is no reason to invoke God to light the blue touchpaper. Is our existence all down to luck?Science predicts that many different kinds of universe will be spontaneously created out of nothing. It is a matter of chance which we are in.So here we are. What should we do?We should seek the greatest value of our action.You had a health scare and spent time in hospital in 2009. What, if anything, do you fear about death?I have lived with the prospect of an early death for the last 49 years. Im not afraid of death, but Im in no hurry to die. I have so much I want to do first. I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.What are the things you find most beautiful in science?Scienc e is beautiful when it makes simple explanations of phenomena or connections between different observations. Examples include the double helix in biology, and the fundamental equations of physics.QuestionsWhat is the role to which Hawkins attributes science in the creation of the universe?What can we do when faced with this fact, according to Hawking? Are we powerless as a result?What is Hawking’s view of death?What is his view of the afterlife? Do you think it  can be considered  bleak or positive?Do you think Hawking’s perception of science is positive, negative or neutral?Did you find this blog helpful? Please share it on Facebook and Twitter.