The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera The Phantom Brings Opera to the Masses ChaptersSynopsis: Phantom of the OperaThe Story Behind the StoryDeveloping the Show: Baron Lloyd Webber’s ProcessOpening Night: Get Your Phantom of the Opera Tickets!Since the early days of civilisation, societies have been structured around social classes.Indeed, even in the supposedly classless society ideals espoused by Karl Marx and others, inevitably, some would rise above others, if only to oversee the equitability of the masses.This social stratification is seen in all aspects of human life including entertainment.Traditionally, the upper echelons treated themselves (are treated?) to refined pastimes â€" literature, equitation (to do with horses) and, of course, the opera.Generally speaking, people considered the lower echelons had neither time nor money to sit around reading and they certainly had no means to afford the care and feeding of pleasure horses.In a sense, this hypothesis drives home the irony of an erudite man from a well-positioned family taking a literary work and, through music, rendering it appealing to everyone.The Phantom is not just a mysterious, disfigured, masked man with a passion for music.He is the symbol of every muted voice that ever needed to be heard. He is mystery and romance; the universal hope that one redeeming quality can excuse the unmitigated horror of being and the struggle of rising above one’s lot in life.He also underscores the fact that one needs friends â€" or, at least, willing conspirators. Whether they’re tricked into being willing is another story.Baron Andrew Lloyd Webber, through his elegant, intricate musical phrasing, presents this phantom as a sympathetic, romantic yet ultimately dangerous character.Hark! Do you hear the Music of the Night?It is time to take off the masques, part the curtain and let our souls take flight. TraceySinging Teacher 4.92 (13) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PortiaSinging Teacher 4.91 (11) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolaSinging Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JazzSinging Teacher 5.00 (6) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PerrineSinging Teacher 5.00 (3) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TiemSinging Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TomSinging Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MiriamSinging Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsSynopsis: Phantom of the Opera The love never dies - you can purchase tickets to The Phantom in Toronto, too! Source: Wikipedia Credit: S. ShankarThe show opens by looking back.It might seem incomprehensible, at first, why there is an auction of theatre props and fittings going on until spectators realise what is happening on stage; it is the broken chandelier that gives things away.As soon as it is unveiled â€" dusty, derelict and forlorn, we intuit something big is about to happen and we are not disappointed. The chandelier is restored to glory as it rises to the ceiling.Now, the show can begin.Having travelled 30 years back in time, we arrive to find the new owners of the theatre inspecting their purchase.Carlotta, the theatre company’s soprano and quite the prima donna, bursts into song â€" her way of signalling that she is the reason that people buy tickets to their shows.Obviously, somebody is not pleased with her. A backdrop falls to the ground, making a loud clatter and raising a cloud of dust. Carlotta expresses her outrage â€" how dare anyone interfere with her performance! The chorus line trembles in fear.The owners are nonplussed.Why did that backdrop fall? Why are the chorus girls frightened? Is Carlotta so badly injured that she cannot perform on opening night?That’s just what they need! With their mounting debt and expenses climbing ever higher… Quickly, they try to patch over the incident but Carlotta will have none of it. She is tired of these freak occurrences. She storms out, cloaked in righteous indignation.Who, then, will step into her shoes?Ingenue Christine Daaë acquits herself admirably. She is hastily sent for fittings and rehearses songs for the next show, hour after hour, alone in her chambers. Alone?All is well up till now; from this point, the tale takes a darker turn.Someone is lurking in the passages of the old opera house; someone who has an agenda. We don’t yet know what it is but we know for certain that Christine plays a role because of the voice w hispering to her from beyond the walls of her room.Orphaned at a young age, remembering the words of her beloved father, she is sure that it is the Angel of Music guiding her career, the angel that was promised to her.Her fearlessness, indeed her acceptance of this supposed angel emboldens the ghost of the Paris Opera house. He grows bolder in his manifestations, eventually making contact.From there, the show descends â€" into the bowels of Paris and into madness. Unlike the madness on display in the musical Chicago, this derangement is more subtle.No other popular musical takes quite the dark turns that The Phantom does… Much like the Phantom's theatre, Her Majesty's London Theatre also suffered misfortunes Source: WikipediaThe Story Behind the StoryAs with other shows Andrew Lloyd Webber collaborated on such as Jesus Christ Superstar and Cats, this one too has its roots in literature; specifically a book of the same name by French author Gaston Leroux.Were that novel merely a work of fiction â€" like Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, this segment would be very short and we could move on to other aspects of the show â€" how many awards it has won and the legion of devoted fans it has gained.The remarkable backstory of The Phantom deserves its moment in the spotlight.There is indeed an opera house in Paris with a subterranean lake; it is called Palais GarnierFrench firefighters use this lake as a training ground still todayThis Palais is indeed said to have been haunted by a ghost named ErikErik was presumably the son of a builder, born deformed. He travelled the world as a conjurer before establishing himself as a builderHe built many of the secret passages that feature in the story (and the musical)Christine Daaë is based on a real singer named Christina Nilsson, an operatic soprano and rival to the era’s most famous diva, Adelina PattiThe strangeness doesn’t end there.The author, Mr Leroux, came from wealth but squandered his inheritance and was forced to seek employment.As a reporter for a Paris daily, his assigned beat was the courts and the theatre. He travelled often for work but always returned to Paris. On the road for his various assignments, he indulged his passion for macabre and mystery by devouring the works of Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle.He soon turned out a dramatic, mysterious work of his own that met with moderate success but it wasn’t until the story of the Opera Phantom that he gained notoriety.By strange coincidence, Charles Dickens’ second novel, Oliver Twist, also published in instalments in a newspaper, was made into a musical…Developing the Show: Baron Lloyd Webber’s ProcessHot off the West End smash hit Cats, Mr Lloyd Webber approached the producer of that show about mounting another production together, something more romantic. He thought The Phantom story could work but he needed to do more research.Those two geniuses of musical theater sat through both film versions of the story, each of which left them wondering how to turn the story they’d seen into a stage musical. For a while, it seemed the project was doomed.And then, Mr Lloyd Webber got his hands on a copy of the book. Suddenly, the way to make the show come together was clear.Mr Lloyd Webber then suffered a series of setbacks worthy of the Phantom's meddling.He approached American lyricist Jim Steinman but that prolific lyricist was working feverishly on Bonnie Tyler’s new album and couldn’t spare the time.He then invited the legendary Alan Lerner (of the songwriting team Lerner and Loewe), another great name in musical theater circles. Mr Learner became gravely ill soon after signing on to the project and had to abandon it.His work on the song Masquerade, virtually unchanged, is not credited on the playbill.Finally, Richard Stilgoe, with whom Mr Lloyd Webber collaborated on the rock musical Starlight Express, joined in, writing most of the show’s lyrics. With some contributions by Charles Hart â€" who wrote Think of Me, the creative team finally put the show together. One of many odd coincidences of this show: The London Theatre it premiered at was Her Majesty's; the Broadway theatre is called The Majestic Source: Wikipedia Credit: AJ SureshOpening Night: Get Your Phantom of the Opera Tickets!After a trial run â€" just a run-through of the songs at Mr Lloyd Webber’s home, during which the songs were tweaked a bit, the show opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre in October 1986.In fact, it is still playing there; The Phantom is the West End’s second-longest-running show.Across the pond, on Broadway, The Phantom of the Opera previewed at the Majestic Theatre on the 18th of January 1988; it officially premiered on January 26th.Phantom enthusiasts can buy tickets now; that production too is still running. In fact, The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running show in Broadway history.The show’s popularity compelled it to go on the road: not only was there a troupe that toured the UK but the American theatre company mounted a North American tour whi ch included Canada.Since its world premiere over 30 years ago, The Phantom has entertained audiences from Argentina to Korea and practically every place in between â€" it has graced stages in 28 countries and has been translated into multiple languages.Some productions remain true to the original premise while others infuse the story with cultural elements specific to the country it plays in.With all of that popularity, you would think there would be an award bestowed on it… has it garnered as many as The Lion King, do you think?The original London production took every Olivier Award possible save for the Best Show Designer category, for which it was nominated. Two subsequent revivals took awards for Most Popular Show and Magic Radio Audience.The original Broadway production… is so award-laden!It took the Drama Desk Award in every category save Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Actress â€" possibly because Sarah Brightman, who played Christine, was not renowned at the time. St ill, she was nominated for the award.As for Tony Awards, it was nominated for Best Choreography, Best Book of a Musical and Best Score. Phantom won the Tony Award for every other category, from Best Musical to Best Lighting Design.Even people not particularly warm on the idea of musical theatre love Phantom, especially now that it has been made into a film starring the luminous Emmy Rossum as Christine and the surprisingly credible Gerard Butler as The Phantom.Is The Phantom a show for the ages?In spite of its sinister undertones - stalking and obsession, it seems likely, judging by the ongoing audience response. For many, this masterpiece serves as their introduction to musical theatre â€" could there be a better show for that?Maybe Hamilton, the latest Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda…

5 Things to Pack for Move-In Day

5 Things to Pack for Move-In Day It is nearly time for you to move into your dorm for your freshman year of college, and like many new students, you may be wondering what to bring with you. You will most likely have less personal space in your new room than you do at home, so its important to pack with care, and to leave unnecessary items behind. If you are trying to determine what to pack for college, check out the list of essential items below: 1. Seasonal wardrobe One of the most important things to pack for move-in day is your attire. If youre beginning in the fall semester, chances are that you may not need that middle-of-the-summer bathing suit. Pack clothes that you will reasonably wear over the next three months, and remember that you can trade some of your fall semester items for spring semester clothes if you return home for winter break. Avoid bringing your entire wardrobe with you, as it is unlikely to fitin the closet and dresser that are issued to you. These tips may help you better adjust to dorm room life. 2. Sheets, blankets, and pillows It may seem obvious to pack bedding, but many students have trouble determining how many sets they will need. A great rule of thumb is to bring two sets of sheets so that you can swap them out while you wash one set. One comforter and one or two pillows can complete the rest of your bedding. Some dorms have twin XL-size mattresses, while others have standard twin beds. Be sure to find out what size mattress your school uses before you arrive on campus. 3. Fan Stay cool with this must-have item on move-in day. Although some dormshave air conditioning, many do not. It is a wonderful idea to bring a fan with you for those evenings when your room gets too warm, or even for move-in day when youll be carrying boxes. 4. Toiletries At the end of move-in day, you might be craving a hot shower so make sure your supplies are on-hand and ready to go. One of the top-five things to pack for move-in day has to be toiletries. Even if they are available near your campus, bring a starter supply on your first day of school. If you havent purchased a shower caddy yet, now is the time! In addition, remember to bring bath towels with you, as well as hand towels or washcloths if you want them. Three or four bath towels should be sufficient for the year. 5. Cleaning supplies Some schools ensure that their dorms are very clean on move-in day, but cleaning supplies are still a necessity on this things to pack for move-in day list. Be prepared for whatever state your room might be in when you move in by having a few cleaning supplies on hand. A small vacuum will be of use not only on move-in day, but also to keep things tidy throughout the year. Spray disinfectant and paper towels will be necessary to keep the surfaces in your room clean. Dont forget laundry detergent to wash your clothes, as well as a small bottle of dish detergent and a sponge to wash any dishes you may have brought with you. Stocking up on cleaning supplies before move-in day will save you any potential trips to the local grocery store during your first day on campus. Good luck on move-in day and in your classes, and remember don't fear the dorm!

8 Tips to Maximize Your Commute (So You Can Enjoy Every Minute of Summer) - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 8 Tips to Maximize Your Commute (So You Can Enjoy Every Minute of Summer) - Introvert Whisperer 8 Tips to Maximize Your Commute (So You Can Enjoy Every Minute of Summer) Guest Author June 27, 2016 Adaptability, Communication, Emotional Intelligence One response Despite what sitcoms, friends and the people in your daily life want you to believe, commuting can be good for you! Its not a total waste of time, and it shouldnt be a time to feel stressed and unhappy. Whether its on the train, in your car or even on your bike, there are many ways to make the most of your time spent commuting. Turn your daily commute from a frustrating, boring ride into a time of day where you can unwind, think clearly and be yourself! Here are eight tips to hack your commute: Reflect/Unwind Do you have a mental list of goals youd like to accomplish? Sort through which ones need to be addressed for the day during your commute. If an area of your life needs improvement, decide how youll tackle it when youre walking, sitting on the train or driving to work. Your commute can also be your time for rest and relaxation. Allow yourself some time to just chill out for a bit. You need to reenergize so youll be ready to face the next day! Start Your Workday Early Long day full of emails, calls and meetings ahead? If so, give yourself a head start by clocking in before you even reach the office. Answer some emails, make some calls and spend time thinking about your role in the meeting. If you have a presentation, this is the perfect time to rehearse! But maybe your day doesn’t stop there. Dinner reservations, office parties or a night with the kids may await you. Your commute is the perfect time to decide what youll wear to the party or where to take your kids. Learn Something! Why just stare out the window when you can stimulate your brain? Theres an endless amount of information out there, which means theres always something new to learn. You can read some college course materials online, and The Great Courses can be your starting point. You can learn a new language with a quick and fun app like Duolingo, or you can start with something as simple as reading up on your favorite musician on Wikipedia. Power Nap It depends on your commute, but if you can catch a few minutes of shuteye, it will benefit you. Power naps give you an energy boost. 10-15 minutes is all it takes to have a positive impact on your body, leaving you feeling reenergized. Unconvinced? Heres everything you need to know about why naps are awesome. Listen Your favorite band just dropped their new album last night and you HAVE to hear it, front to back. Your friend recently told you to listen to an up-and-coming artist. Use your commute to fully soak in an amazing album or find your latest musical obsession. Not really feeling music on your way to and from work? Audiobooks are still around! Snuggle up with a good book and a soothing voice reading it to you. Read It might be annoying to have someone talking in your ear. Youd rather imagine what youre reading in your own voice. So head to your local library and pick up some good old-fashioned books or magazines. Of course, technology can come to the rescue, too: An e-reader or your phone works just as well. Get Your Social Media Fix Over With Its not necessarily a wise idea to be updating your status or posting a tweet while youre on the job. Temporarily suppress your urge to be a social butterfly by browsing your social media on your commute. Respond to those notifications and check your news feeds now â€" there will always be a brand new set of updates to look forward to when you clock out. Be Inspired! Maybe you have a passion or a hobby that sort of gets stifled by work. Luckily, the things you see and hear on your commute can give you that much-needed spark of creativity. Check out what other people around you are doing. Pay attention to the sights and sounds of your surroundings. They can be the subject of your new poem, song, story or any other creative outlet you practice. Take Your Time Weve all rushed around the house, searching for our lost keys, sunglasses or some other small object. When youre in a rush, youre more likely to be stressed and unhappy. Commuting during less-than-ideal times, like rush hour or long-distance drives, can spike your blood pressure! Leaving early puts you in control. You have time to stop for coffee, take a more scenic route to work or catch up on some reading or social media. If you plan ahead before you leave, youll feel more calm and relaxed on your commute and throughout the day. Sarah Landrum is a business and career writer with a background in Marketing and Economics. Her blog, Punched Clocks, helps professionals find happiness and success in life and at work. Be sure to subscribe to her newsletter and follow her on social media for more great tips! Let me emphasize that Self-Promotion doesn’t have to be obnoxious to be effective. But, if you don’t Self-Promote you, who will? If you ever want to get ahead, you have to learn how to Self-Promote. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that shows you simple, yet effective ways to Self-Promote. Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

ACT Prep Online Tutor Act Test Prep Online ACT Prep Tutorpace

ACT Prep Online Tutor Act Test Prep Online ACT Prep Tutorpace About ACT When preparing for college many high school students decide to take the ACT test. This is a standardized aptitude test designed to illustrate students skill and mastery of subjects including Math, Critical Reading, and Science Reasoning. The ACT test is important to many students who wants to get in to top college. Preparing for ACT test can be stressful and challenging. A well-prepared student is able to take the ACT with confidence and skill. This is why our ACT tutoring services can be an invaluable resource for students planning on taking the test. Why Choose Tutor Pace? Our ACT online tutoring services are unique. Our approach is highly interactive, versatile and personalized, and our ACT tutors work directly with our students on a one to one basis. By logging into their account the students may speak and work with a dedicated ACT tutor. Our ACT tutoring services are designed to be the most adaptable and accessible of any online tutoring services available. ACT tutoring for 1:1 Support Once a student begins working one on one with his or her own dedicated ACT tutor a diagnostic test is administered in order to determine the students particular strengths and challenges. This diagnostic test helps the tutor in personalizing the ACT tutoring sessions to be the most effective possible. The student and tutor work together through our online whiteboard system while communicating via headset through an audio chat. While other online tutoring services may work through an online whiteboard system, the live audio chat is often excluded and renders the tutoring less effective. Here at Tutor Pace we are dedicated to your childs success and by utilizing audio/video chats in tandem with our whiteboard, our ACT tutoring has proven to be the most effective and adaptable to student needs. Our ACT tutors often utilize sample questions similar to what may be expected on the actual test. By familiarizing the student with the kinds of questions they may expect to encounter our students come to the test already familiar with the format. By working directly one to one with our tutors each of our students are given the full attention of their tutor and our multimedia services maximize effectiveness. This direct one on one tutoring with an ACT specialist provides our students with the tools and resources to be successful on the ACT.

Five Great Ways to Support Students

Five Great Ways to Support Students 0SHARESShare In this age of competition, each student requires to perform at the best to accept the challenges that they are going to face in higher education. The student requires some extra help and support besides school academics. Fortunately, there are lots of options available to support students making subject easier and more enjoyable for you. Private Tutoring: Private tutoring is the most sought by children and their parents for ease and convenience. The tutor identifies weak areas of the student and focus on those areas making them more interesting. The tutor can come to home or may go to another location for tuition. Tutoring at Center: Tutoring centers give tutoring sessions for small groups or give private study lessons. You can register with tutoring center for extra help on the subjects of your difficulties. Some tutoring centers provide help on assignment work, test preparation and practice work on email. The students can get short term and long term teaching solutions with wide range of subjects taught. Group Tutoring: Group tutoring is taken by the group of students for the help to meet the difficulties in specific area on the topic or subject. Either the group of students facing difficulties in particular topic/subject approach potential tutor or a tutor expert in particular topic/subject forms a group of students facing difficulties in that same topic/subject. The group meets specific needs at regular times by group accord. Online Tutoring: Online tutoring is available anytime, anywhere for any need. The student can either find qualified online tutor who independently provide online tutoring or avail tutoring services from online tutoring website. The students can take tutoring of each chapter from the school textbooks, seek help on homework, assignments, test preparation etc. Online tutors offer best help to students who can work on odd hours. Drop-in Tutoring: Drop-in tutoring takes place in school or public libraries where tutor sits in the library to solve student’s difficulties. In college education, the students take library tutoring at defined time for different subjects, typically defined in the class syllabus. [starbox id=admin]

Italian Films You Must See

Italian Films You Must See The Best Italian Films to Learn Italian ChaptersThe Last Kiss (L’ultimo bacio)The Girl by the Lake (La ragazza del lago)The Great BeautyThe Good, the Bad and the UglyLife is Beautiful (La vita è bella)Can you remember your language or  Italian lessons from school? You almost certainly had to listen to recordings or watch videos.  Can you learn Italian in the same way by watching films?Of course, you can! While we’re focusing on Italian in this article, this method can work for any foreign language. If you're an amateur filmmaker or critic, you should combine your love of cinema with your language learning.We’ve picked out the 5 best Italian for beginners films that could help you improve your language skills.You should watch them as follows:Firstly, watch the Italian version of the film with English subtitles.Next, watch the film again with Italian subtitles.Finally, watch the film without any subtitles.This will help you work on your reading comprehension and listening. You’ll also pick up some of the grammar, to o.Of course, you can repeat each step multiple times if you aren’t yet comfortable with moving onto the following step. Make sure you take things at your own pace. If you're watching films to learn Italian online, you have to watch actively. This means that if you don't understand something, don't be afraid to rewind the scene and listen to the same piece of dialogue repeatedly until you understand exactly what they said. You can also keep a notepad next to you and write down words to look up later or make a note of expressions you like.With that said, let’s get back to the 5 films you should watch to improve your Italian. DanielaItalian Teacher 5.00 (9) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuciaItalian Teacher 5.00 (4) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarilùItalian Teacher 5.00 (8) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarcoItalian Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £14/h1st lesson free!Dis cover all our tutors GiusyItalian Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EnricoItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FedericaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Last Kiss (L’ultimo bacio)The Last Kiss is a 2001 Italian film directed by Gabriele Muccino. It stars:Stefano AccorsiGiovanna MezzogiornoStefania SandrelliMartina StellaThe original L'Ultimo Bacio is better for your Italian than the remake. (Source: snapwiresnaps.tumblr.com)The Last Kiss was Gabriele Muccino’s 3rd shot at directing and while it didn't take home any Oscars, it did win a number of prizes including five David di Donatello awards which are basically the Italian Oscars, anyway.Best DirectorBest EditingBest SoundBest ProducerBest Supporting Actress (Stefania Sandrelli)NB: There was an American remake of the film also titled “The Last Kiss” starring Zach Braff which wasn't as good.The plot is fairly simple: we follow the story of a couple of 30-somethings in the middle of a crisis. After several years living together, adultery looks set to tear the couple apart.According to critics, the film is a realistic portrayal of modern relationships. You can relate to the characters and their shocking-yet-touching stories.  The film stays away from the trite clichés that tend to plague most films with a romantic plot.You should certainly check it out! You should also check out our list of the most important Italian writers and painters, too.The Girl by the Lake (La ragazza del lago)The Girl by the Lake is Andrea Molaioli’s first feature film. The 2007 film is an adaptation of a novel by the Norwegian author Karin Fossum.It stars:Toni ServilloValeria GolinoFabrizio GifuniAnna BonaiutoOmero AntonuttiIf you like thrillers, you’ll love The Girl by the Lake.The story takes place in a small town in the north of Italy. Anna, a 17-year-old girl, is found drowned by the side of the lake.The film was ba sed on a book by Karin Fossum. (Source: Jonathan Petersson)Other than a blue cover, the girl is completely naked. It seems that the killer put this there.We follow detective Sanzio’s investigation as he attempted to unravel the mystery of the drowned girl. The death of this girl uncovers a lot of secrets.The variety of characters in this film is particularly interesting.  The two suspects said to have been Anna’s lovers despite Anna still seeming to be a virgin.The detective and his family are also fascinating. The detective has neurasthenia and his wife suffers Alzheimer’s, doesn’t recognise their daughter, and is getting worse by the day.The director seems to have used the investigation as a means to introduce us to the interesting people in the film.The film took home 10 David di Donatello awards including:Best FilmBest Actor (Toni Servillo)Best DirectorBest New DirectorBest ScreenplayBest ProducerBest CinematographyBest SoundBest EditingBest Visual EffectsYou can learn m ore about this film on IMdB. DanielaItalian Teacher 5.00 (9) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LuciaItalian Teacher 5.00 (4) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarilùItalian Teacher 5.00 (8) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarcoItalian Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GiusyItalian Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EnricoItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FedericaItalian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Great BeautyThe Great Beauty was directed by Paolo Sorrentino in 2013. It stars Toni Servillo, Carlo Verdone, and Sabrina Ferilli.When it comes to dramatic comedies, you have to watch The Great Beauty.In addition to being nominated at the Cannes Film Festival for the Palme d'Or, this masterpiece won plenty of awards, including:The Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Foreign FilmBAFTA for Best Film not in the English LanguageBest European Film at the Cinema Bloggers Awards in PortugalBest Foreign Language Film at the Golden GlobesBest European Film at the Cinema Bloggers Awards in PortugalDavid di Donatello Award for Best Actor (Toni Servillo)David di Donatello Award for Best DirectorDavid di Donatello Award for Best EditingWe obviously can’t mention them all!This film takes place in Rome and follows the story of Jep Gambardella, an ageing writer who still remains popular and influential in Roman high society.  As a leading socialite, he enjoys Rome's dolce vita and attends all the parties in the city. This is all thanks to his one and only novel. On his 65th birthday, he starts looking for meaning in his life.Loved by critics and viewers alike, The Great Beauty is a mesmerising and witty film.  The protagonist is a modern-day Casanova trying to escape the superficial world of socialites he lives in.The film beautifully portra ys its main character the way the city of Rome has been filmed is incredible.The characters are funny, moving, proud, miserable, and lively at the same time.In short: The Great Beauty is a masterpiece of Italian cinema.You can find out more about the film on IMDb.The Good, the Bad and the UglyItalian filmmaking was at its peak in the 1960s and this film is a fine example of the popular Spaghetti Western movies of the time.Italian directors helped define a genre. (Source: Urbex Clan)Thanks to Sergio Leone’s cinematography, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is timeless. The kind of film you can watch again and again and again.All the actors in the film speak their mother tongues: Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef speak English while Eli Wallach speaks Italian.This means that some people will think that it’s an English film. Others will say it’s an Italian film. Either way, the director was Italian and it’s not hard to find an Italian version of the film.Released in 1966, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is famous for being one of the best Spaghetti Westerns of all time. It’s the last film in the Dollars Trilogy.The film takes place during the American Civil War. Three gunslingers are looking for a hidden treasure: Two of them have important information about where the treasure is buried. One is a bloodthirsty brute who’s willing to do anything it takes.Whether you like Westerns or not, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a masterpiece that you should watch at least once in your life.Excellent dialogue, brilliant music, and a fantastic cast: the film’s a masterpiece.Find out more about the film on IMDb.Life is Beautiful (La vita è bella)Let’s finish with one of Italian cinema’s most moving pieces: La vita è bella.The film came out in 1998 and was directed by and stars Roberto Benigni (is he one of our 16 famous Italians?) and is both a drama and a comedy.We find ourselves in 1939 at the start of the Second World War and Italy under the control of a fa scist government. Since they’re Jewish, Guido and his son are deported to a German concentration camp.Since the protagonist is an optimist, he does everything he can to convince his son that they’re playing a game. This is to hide him from the horrors of the concentration camp.The prize in the fictional game is a tank. (Source: skitterphoto.com)As funny as it is tragic, La vita è bella is a film that you have to see. It’s the kind of film you can watch again and again and critically acclaimed.Find out more on IMDb.Of course, this isn’t every single Italian film you should watch. There are plenty of both older and newer films that you can watch if you’d like to improve your Italian. Whether you like a thriller or or a comedy, there'll be an Italian film director you should check out.However, these 5 are films you should watch as soon as you can. You can kill two birds with one stone by watching a critically-acclaimed films while improving your Italian.Why not learn more wi th Italian tutorials and learn more about Italian culture?Soon you’ll be speaking Italian fluently!Check out Superprof to find your ideal private tutor to help you master the Italian language:Italian lessons LeedsItalian courses LondonLearn Italian online

December - HEART NOTABLES - Heart Math Tutoring

December - HEART NOTABLES - Heart Math Tutoring December HEART NOTABLES December HEART NOTABLES December 15, 2013 Logistics Holiday Take-Home Games: Your students will be receiving a Deck of Cards and some other treats from HEART during the week preceding Winter Break. Please spend 10 minutes practicing the attached games with your students this and next week, so that they will know how to play at home with parents and siblings. In the past, students have improved their math skills over Winter Break as a result of practice at home. Encourage your students to play the games over the break! Winter Break is from December 23rd â€" January 3rd. Tutoring will take place through December 20th and begin again on January 6th. Let me know if your holiday plans interfere with tutoring, and I will make arrangements for your students. Thank you for your patience with the new sign-in computer at Winterfield. School staff and I are working to create an expedited process for HEART volunteers ASAP! Please return any take-home notebooks you no longer need so that others can use them. Tutoring Tips Keep having fun! Your students are very excited to see you each week, and your consistency and encouragement is truly building their confidence. Enjoy it! Make sure your student progress log entries include the key pieces of information: o Concept Notebook Name o Lesson Number o Activity (if you stopped in the middle of a lesson) o Focus Number (only for those working in Combos to 10). More Resources Research shows the importance of passing Algebra on the first take: Students failing algebra rarely recover. Fortunately, there are ways to begin preparing students to think algebraically in elementary school. Theres One Key Difference Between Kids Who Excel at Math and Kids Who Dont (article). “I’m just not a math person” is a self-destructive fallacy. Just for Fun Meet the Parents… o This Friday, December 13th from 7:45 â€" 8:15 AM HEART is hosting our students’ parents to a Holiday Breakfast where we will demonstrate the Holiday Take-Home Games and recognize students for their great work in HEART Tutoring. If any tutors would like to come to this event at Winterfield, please let me know. We would love your help teaching parents the games you have been practicing with their students. o Winterfield Curriculum Nights in January â€" HEART has been invited to attend school-wide Curriculum Nights, where parents learn ways to reinforce students’ learning at home. I will set up booths to demonstrate HEART’s activities. If you are interested in joining me, please let me know. They will take place from 5 â€" 6 PM January 14th, 15th, and 16th. Teachers and Staff say Thank You! o “I just wanted to tell you that as I read the progress report for all of the students, I cried tears of joy for all of the progress our students have made. The Heart Tutoring Math program has been an extremely priceless gift for our students and they enjoy having one-on-one time with an adult. Please know that we are very thankful to you and all of the volunteers for dedicating their precious time to educate our future leaders.” Michelle Johnson, Principal at Billingsville Leadership Academy o “I appreciate your dedication to the students and the program at Winterfield.” Regina Boyd, Principal at Winterfield Elementary

Simple Study Tips to Improve Habits Grades - Private Tutoring

Simple Study Tips to Improve Habits Grades BobbiM Apr 21, 2015 If your child is struggling in school with one particular class or even a few classes, most parents and students are looking for some solutions.     There are several options, including private tutoring. However, that can’t be the only step that you take. Making sure that what is learned in class or with a tutor is really understood is critical to your student’s success. We’ve come up with several tips from experts and tutors that work with us that we thought we’d share with you! Study Tips #1 Ask your kids what they learned while in school or during their tutoring session. This will enhance a student’s critical thinking skills. Critical thinking allows a student to understand a topic, subject or skill in their own words and then being able to explain it to another person. You can ask questions during a casual conversation or over dinner. Have patience at times while they try to put a new concept or skill into words or demonstrate it for you.  Study Tips #2 â€" Make sure to initiate open discussion in a positive and enthusiastic vein. Ask your child what is going on! Find out what they are covering and what he or she is liking or not liking. Make sure that your child is getting what they need and what you are paying for. Communication means you aren’t in the dark or having to guess what is going on or where they might be struggling in school or with their tutor. If you have hired a private tutor and there isn’t progress or the fit doesn’t seem to be working, it’s your option to find a new tutor or discuss it with the tutor you are currently working with. There are different styles in teachers and tutors and the key is to find the right match for your child. You might also enjoy: 4 Basic Principles of Problem Solving Study Tip #3 Teach your child that they need both a healthy mind AND body! Good sleep and the right foods make all the difference in each of our ability to learn and absorb new topics and information. A few tweaks (or a lot of tweaks) to eating habits and sleep habits may be just what the doctor ordered (if you had gone to a doctor…..). Simple steps like a consistent bed time and healthy meals are important habits for a child to learn for life. Incorporating gradual changes into your family’s lifestyle may make a huge and positive difference for everyone. This is especially important before big exams, tests or other brain draining activities. Study Tips #4 â€" Keep an eye on the results of your child’s new study habits and abilities. Whether it’s from a change in studying practices or from having an at home private tutor, see if there’s some improvement in confidence, skills and, of course, grades.     If you’ve initiated several changes and still are not seeing results, there might be other factors that are impacting your child. For more information, search private tutors in your area today!