Poetry For Kids

Poetry For Kids Where Can You Find Poetry Resources For Kids ChaptersPoetry Books For KidsPoems For KidsNursery Rhymes For KidsHaving strong English skills is a crucial part of your child’s development. Although, understandably, a lot of focus is given to English language learning during a child’s early years, there are certain aspects of the English Fcurriculum that can often go overlooked.One of those areas is the realm of poetry and prose. Whether it’s due to the fact that poetry is often misunderstood, mistakenly perceived as boring, or simply not allocated enough teaching time in a curriculum, much more emphasis is placed on reading and learning from longer narrative fiction or non-fiction works.However, poetry has a lot to offer when it comes to learning the English language. Below outlines some of those benefits and suggests some great works that you can use to increase your child’s awareness, feelings for,  and appreciation of poetry.Poems for kids can teach children new skills when it comes to language learning. (Image: CC0 1. 0, geralt, Pixabay)Poetry helps children understand grammatical rules that form the English language, helping them learn how to write; andPoems tend to take less time to read compared to works of fiction or non-fiction, so they’re a great learning tool for kids who struggle to hold their interest in written works, such as a book of poems.Given all the benefits that poetry can bring to a child’s English education, not least the improvement to their poetry writing skills, it’s worth making sure that you take the time to find poems that will most appeal to your child and resonate with them most, whether they are free verse poems, silly or nonsense poems, a haiku, or poems with a lot of rhyming words or alliteration.Look up for the best poetry classes in the UK.This is because, when a child is engaged with a poem and the story it is telling, they are more likely to pay attention to the poem in its entirety and get the most out of the poem’s pronunciation, syllables, sentence str ucture, and word order as possible.As a result, when looking for poetry books, try to think about the types of poems your child would like, whether they have a preferred poet or poet laureate, and whether they seem to enjoy shorter or longer poems. Also, think about whether you'd be happy to read the poem out loud.By taking such considerations into account, you can choose a poetry book or piece of verse that will really appeal to your child, whether that’s a long poetry book by A.A. Milne or a short collection of beautifully written  limericks.Equally, if you’re struggling to find some inspiration when looking for new poems or famous poems, or want to know which poetry books would be suitable for your child, you can always reach out to your child’s preschool or primary school teacher for their hints and tips on what poetic books could appeal.Look up for poetry classes London now.Additionally, you could ask an English tutor on sites such as Superprof for their input. Superprof has a wide range of tutors that specialise in a range of subjects, including English. This means that if you’re looking for an English specialist that has experience teaching young children about literature and poetry, a search on Superprof should match you with a relevant tutor.For some initial ideas of poetry books you could read with your child, however, try the following:The Complete Poems of Winnie-The-Poo by A.A. MilneRevolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl; orWhere the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein.Once you’ve gone through an initial selection of books, you can then progress on to other poetry books, or maybe even move on to individual poems by a specific poet, such as the Jabberwocky by  Lewis Carroll.Poems for kids can help develop a child's grammatical awareness. (Image: CC0 1.0, X posid, Public Domain Pictures)Poems For KidsWhile poetry books may be a great way to introduce kids to poetry and improve their literacy, it’s by no means the only way of doing so.Indeed, if yo u’re not sure whether your child will love poetry, or are looking to start introducing them to a range of poems, then sometimes it may be better to just read one or two individual poems  or tales with your child, rather than have them progress through a whole book, which some children may find overwhelming.When it comes to finding individual poems that your child might enjoy, there are a few ways you can help pick out a suitable selection:Think about whether your child enjoys particular types of poems, whether that’s funny poems, short poems,  a sonnet or two, a limerick, or haiku poems;Take into account whether your child would enjoy poems about a particular subject, such as dinosaurs; orConsider whether your child would respond well to particularly famous poems crafted by renowned poets.When it comes to poetry for kids, it may be good to read your child works such as:Macavity, the Mystery Cat by T.S. Eliot;The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear; andNow We Are Six by A.A. Miln eNaturally, these poems are famous for a reason, and they are often engaging, well-written, and tell an interesting story. What’s more, you may have read some of these poems when you were young yourself, which means that there should be an added incentive to endear your child to the poem when you do recite it to them.Write your own, look up for poetry courses online.Alternatively, if your child has shown a preference for particular types of poems, such as funny poems, then some good poems to try could include The Dentist and the Crocodile by Roald Dahl or Mrs Mitchell’s Underwear by Dennis Lee.Find poetry courses London now.Of course, if you’re looking for more inspiration for other poems suitable for children, then you could also reach out to a Superprof English tutor for their advice on which poems would best suit your child’s needs and help develop their English skills.The Owl and the Pussycat is one of the most famous nursery rhymes for kids. (Image: CC0 1.0, jeanvdmeule n, Pixabay)Nursery Rhymes For KidsAs an alternative to poems, one great way to help develop your child’s listening skills is through the use of nursery rhymes.Typically sung to young children, nursery rhymes are a great way to promote English language learning and the art of wordplay, while also encouraging social cohesion by singing nursery rhymes as a group, whether that’s as a family, or in a group at preschool.Nursery rhymes were a common feature of many of our childhoods and for good reason. Nursery rhymes have been around for a very long time, with some even going back as far as the 13th  century. Of course, there are some more modern nursery rhymes that have become popular over the past century or so, but the most common and popular nursery rhymes were generally written between the 16th  and 18th  century.As such, singing nursery rhymes can be a great way to share in a piece of musical and linguistic history, and it’s always a wonderful feeling to pass on knowledge of a nursery rhyme that you were sung as a child to your own kid.Nursery rhymes also come with their own set of educational benefits for children. Although they still have the short length and unique sentence structure that many poems have, nursery rhymes also offer educational benefits through the repetition that is present in them.Repetition can be a great way for children to remember specific words and is a fantastic way to build your child’s vocabulary.If you’re looking for inspiration on which nursery rhymes would be good to sing to your children, then some of the most popular nursery rhymes are:Baa, Baa, Black Sheep;Ring A Ring O’Roses;Row, Row, Row Your Boat; andTwinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.You can also find many more popular nursery rhymes online through a quick google search, so there are plenty of opportunities to introduce your child to different nursery rhymes.If you are looking for ways to improve your child’s English language skills, whether that’s their reading , writing, listening, or speaking skills, then it may be worthwhile reaching out to an English tutor at Superprof for some extra help. Superprof has tutors with experience in teaching young children who understand the learning needs of primary school age children and beyond.Just enter your postcode and the subject you would like help with to be matched with local tutors in your area. So why not give it a try today?

What To Know About The Updated SSAT

What To Know About The Updated SSAT The SSAT (Secondary School Admissions Test) is one of two admissions tests for private / independent schools. The other is the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam), but they are not exactly interchangeable. Some private schools favor the SSAT, while others favor the ISEE. All schools will publish their preference online. The SSAT is the first major test your child will be taking. There can be pressure; there can be stress and even anxiety. First, you need to know what you and your child are up against. And Varsity Tutors is here to help. See more from us on how to improve your SSAT score and comparing the ISEE and the SSAT. Or see our entire section on SSAT Test Strategies. The Admission Organization (creator and administrator of the SSAT) has made some fairly significant test updates that will impact your SSAT prep. New Elementary Level Test: The biggest change is the addition of the new Elementary Level Test, which will be used for admissions to 4th or 5th grade. Previously, there was no 4th or 5th grade admissions test. The Lower Level was the earliest test students could take for admission into grades 5-7. The SSAT is now renaming the Lower Level the Middle Level. The Upper Level will not change, and will still be used for admission into grades 8-11. Scoring updates: The SSAT is not changing its scoring policy; however, it will change what those scores mean. Most private schools will still consider percentile scores and not actual test scores. Actual scores can range from 1320-2400 (depending on test level), but they are ignored. Previously, the SSAT lumped all students into one scoring group (for each level). But, now they are establishing norm groups for international students. International students scores will not be directly compared to those in America/Canada. Question updates: Previously, some of the SSAT questions were taken from corporate test writers question banks. However, the test has realized that these questions do not adequately depict the material in independent/private schools. Now, 100% of the questions on the test will be written by independent/private school teachers. Experimental section: Each SSAT test will now contain experimental questions. These questions will not be scored, and will be analyzed to see if they are relevant for future tests. New Writing Prompt: Each writing prompt will still be 25 minutes; however, the test has again called on independent/private school teachers to update the writing prompts. Now, for the Middle Level, students will be presented two creative prompts and will choose to write one. On the Upper Level, students will be presented a creative prompt and an essay prompt and choose one. Also, students can now write on two pages instead of one. Visit the official SSAT site for updated SSAT prompts. These are the biggest changes to the new SSAT. In addition, the test has made minor updates, such as: increasing security, updating online score delivery (for no additional cost), eliminating standby testing (meaning students must register ahead of time and can no longer show up on test day and take it), considering computer-based testing. In 2012, the SSAT will not be computer-based, but test administrators are looking into it. Preparing for the new SSAT can be a confusing process. But, Varsity Tutors can help. Call us today for any questions on the new SSAT or to see how a private SSAT Tutor could help your child. Tutors are available and fully understand how to maximize your childs potential.

Why The Dept Of Education Is Investing In Early Childhood Education

Why The Dept Of Education Is Investing In Early Childhood Education The government is investing heavily in early childhood education, trying to get students school-ready earlier. This will then cut down on catching up time, making class time more efficient, according to an article in the District Administration. The U.S. Department of Education has collaborated with the Department of Health and Human Services to create a $500 million grant for early childhood education. The government is also throwing in incentives to encourage states to promote early childhood education. Under Obamas Race to the Top, states can earn extra funding if they create better early childhood education programs that close the school readiness gap for young children. Jacqueline Jones, senior adviser on early learning for the Department of Education, told the District Administration that the school readiness gap can appear as early as one year of age. Data shows real differences in math, language and literacy achievement scores in kindergarten for children coming from homes of poverty, where English isnt the first language, where the mothers education is less than a high school diploma, single parent homesall of these are major risk factors, Jones said. This is the exact group that the Department of Education is trying to target because it believes that the school readiness gap will only widen if the problems are not addressed early. It says the gap can widen to a point where it will be almost impossible for young students to catch up. The Department of Education said the funding will help states build more coordinated and structured early childhood education programs. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced this funding on May 25, 2011. The money will help states create various head start programs for early childhood development. Currently, these programs are funded through grassroots organizations, and funding can be very inconsistent. Because of that many of these programs go under. But, the Department of Education is trying to provide consistent funding to stabilize these programs. Were not just adding to the array of early learning. Were trying to leverage the funds and bring Head Start, Title I, special education and other programs together in a coordinated manner, Jones said. These programs will be geared toward low-income students to help narrow the school-readiness gap. These programs will also be aligned with K12 standards to cut down on training students to be school-ready. Obama created the Promise Neighborhoods initiative, a similar plan in 2010. This initiative funded similar programs in urban communities to help ensure those students are not already lagging behind when school starts. These grants can range from $50 million to $100 million, depending on the state and will be awarded at the start of 2012.

5 Productivity Tips for Already Busy People - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 5 Productivity Tips for Already Busy People - Introvert Whisperer 5 Productivity Tips for Already Busy People Julie B June 3, 2015 Career Development No responses Go to top Being extremely busy does not mean that some things have to be left undone. These tips show you how it is possible to accomplish more in less time by preparing to deal with tasks, avoid time-wasting distractions, handle emails efficiently, manage staff and save time on meetings. 1. Divide Your Tasks Be realistic about how much you can get done in a day. Break up a big project into separate tasks when making a list of jobs to be completed, and consider if any of them can be delegated or outsourced. A good way to deal with a big workload is to decide on completing one major task in the morning, followed by three medium-sized tasks and five shorter ones. With one big task completed, you should feel a sense of achievement and find it easier to get through less time-consuming tasks. 2. Manage Your Time Make a list of tasks that you can get through quickly, such as report reading and answering emails, and allocate small chunks of time for getting these done. Space in between meetings or while waiting for an appointment can be ideal times to get odd jobs done. You will increase productivity by setting strict deadlines for each primary task that you need to complete, whether or not these already have a fixed completion date. You can manage staff with HR software. This will allow you time to spend less time on admin and more time on pro-active management. 3. Become Email Efficient Restrict the number of times you check your emails during the day by setting specific points in the day for doing this. Rather than spending time on responding first thing in the morning, try to leave this task until you have completed something on your to-do list. (Tweet this!) Set up an automatic filter that will send things like newsletters into a separate folder, so you can look at them when you have more time available. If you regularly receive queries that involve frequently asked questions, use an autoresponder to send out an instant response with a set of answers or relevant information. Keeping your responses short will save time. If you take too long to respond to emails you will have to begin each one with an apology for the delay. You can save time by answering emails with a brief message stating that the sender can expect to get a response from you within the next 48 hours. 4. Cut Down on Meetings Efficient management of meetings will help you to be more productive when you have a big project to work on. Try to keep at least one day a week entirely free from meetings, so you can focus more on what needs to be done. When possible, arrange meetings in groups, so you can go directly from one to another, and take control to ensure that each meeting stays on topic and reaches a conclusion within its allotted time. When a meeting has to be arranged outside your workplace, consider whether it is really necessary to be there in person or whether a conference call or video conference would save time and accomplish the same result. 5. Take Action to Avoid Distractions Prevent other people from distracting you with non-urgent questions or trivial chatter when you need to wall yourself off. Make sure your office door stays closed or wear headphones while you work. Even if you are not listening to anything, people are less likely to try telling you anything that is not important when they can see that you have headphones on. If you use an internal messaging system, send a ‘Do Not Disturb’ message stating when you will be available again. Stay offline when doing work that does not require use of the Internet. When you do need to be online, disable your auto-logins for the social media sites you use, or get an app that you can set to block access to your favourite social network during your hours of work. Switch off your mobile phone and turn off any device that pings when you receive a message. Keep your workspace free from clutter. You will achieve more by staying focused on one thing at a time, instead of trying to multitask. Go to top What are some of your best productivity tips? Share with us in the comments! Image: Photobucket Personal Branding starts with how well you speak about YOU.   I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook â€" The Definitive Guide to Creating and Using an Elevator Speech.   In this guide, I give you simple to follow instructions for creating a “wardrobe” of ways to talk about you â€" to leave a lasting impression.   Get your copy now: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

In-Person, Online, or DIY Whats the Best Way to Learn Guitar

In-Person, Online, or DIY What’s the Best Way to Learn Guitar Sign up successful Pros: Due to the plethora of materials and teachers, you can sample many media and teaching styles easily to find what works best for you. Lessons can happen any place or time you find convenient. You can decide precisely what you would like to learn, and take as much time as is needed to master it. In most cases, DIY is the least expensive option for beginners. Cons: If you are practicing incorrectly, there’s no one to correct you. Progress can be slow due to not being motivated by a teacher and not having a set schedule. Important skill building may be missed when you are creating your own lesson plan ad-hoc. Remote Instruction Online guitar lessons via video calls provide an alternative to in person lessons, where you can communicate in real time with your teacher without leaving your home. Pros: Great for students with mobility issues or tight schedules. Assistance is available as you learn, and you progress at your own pace. The selection of teachers is not limited to those in your geographical area. Often this option is cheaper than private lessons. Cons: Internet connections and software are not always reliable. It can be quite difficult to learn guitar when your only model is a reverse image of what you’re trying to play. It may be difficult to catch subtle mistakes when your teacher is not actually there with you. Group Instruction In larger towns and cities, group lessons are sometimes offered at community  centers  or after hours in schools. Often high school or college students, or retired musicians, provide weekly lessons to a small group. Pros: Learning with others can be enjoyable, especially if you find a group which fits your age and skill level. Unlike online guitar lessons, there is a teacher on-site to help you correct mistakes. Cons: There is little personal attention. Your teacher may not catch your mistakes, leaving your skills sloppy and incomplete. There can be many distractions as it’s easy for a group to get off topic. Much of your time may be devoted to solving other people’s problems. You have little input into what you’re learning. Everyone moves at the same pace, even if you are capable of learning more quickly, or need more time. Private Lessons in-Person One-on-one learning with a skilled teacher focused on you, your interests, and your progress. Pros: Your teacher is a professional who can bring all the benefits of years of practice to you. All of their technical skills and tricks are at your disposal. You set the pace. You can choose between styles and methods, notation or  tablature, and which songs you want to play. Regular lessons and homework keep you on track and motivated to do your best. The education you receive will be complete, and will give you the skills you need to become truly talented. Cons: One-on-one lessons are generally the most expensive option. You’ll need to find someone in your area whose schedule is compatible with your own. Whether you choose online guitar courses or a more tailored experience, learning guitar is a rewarding and enjoyable pursuit. Remember to take pride in your accomplishments and have fun. The best way to learn guitar depends on your goals and what will best help you to achieve them. Good luck! 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 Photo  by  bennylin0724

Jumpstarting Your Music Career 5 Tips Nobody Talks About

Jumpstarting Your Music Career 5 Tips Nobody Talks About Suzy S. If youre one of the many with dreams of scoring a record deal, embarking on a world tour, or gracing the Broadway stage or maybe even the big screen, youve probably received a wealth of advice from teachers and mentors. You know the importance of working hard, practicing a ton, acing your auditions and networking. But theres actually much more to it. When it comes to making it in the entertainment field and getting the opportunity to do what you love, the path to success can be filled with frustration and unpredictable outcomes. So how do you survive the ups and downs? New York, NY teacher Natalie W. recently gave us her 5 tips for survival that arent always mentioned in the career guidebooks. Here are her words of wisdom, coming from years of experience as a professional opera singer: 1) Dont go to school for the performing arts.   No one truly cares where (or whether) you went to school; they just want to see what you can do.   You will get far better training studying privately with teachers and coaches and designing your own curriculum than you will get in pretty much any program.   With few exceptions, the best teachers dont teach in universities, because they can make far more money teaching privately in a city like New York. 2) Do go to school and study something that interests you.   Study philosophy, psychology, art history, political science, biology, whatever.   Broaden your world.   Make yourself a more complex, well-rounded person.   This will serve you as an artist, and help prepare you for my next piece of advice: 3) Prepare for a parallel career.   I was always told I would need a fall-back career, something to do if I didnt make it.   Well, of course, I was going to make it, so I didnt need one.   In fact, I didnt want a fall-back career, because then I knew I would end up falling back on it.   If I gave myself no option except to make it, then Id have to make it right?   (wrong)   Heres the reality: except for the most miniscule percentage of people, even highly successful performers those who have had national tours, performed on Broadway or at the Met, have made blockbuster movies or been on Law Order have times when they are not making money as performers.   Even if you make it, you will have to support yourself by other means at times.   If you dont want to spend the largest chunks of your life temping or waiting tables, figure out something you would like to do that allows you some flexibility for your artistic pursuits and train yourself for that.   I have found that for myself wit h my teaching the only reason Im glad I have a Masters degree in voice performance (even though nothing of what I learned in grad school gets passed on to my students). 4) Make time for friends and family.   It is so easy to say I cant, I have rehearsal (my mom actually bought me a t-shirt with this on it once, and I wore it with pride), and then wake up years later when your career is stalled to realize you have no friends and your marriage is on the rocks.   There is no one audition, no one show, no one opportunity that will be the deciding factor in your career.   You cant always sacrifice your career dreams for your friends and family, but you also cant always sacrifice your friends and family for your career dreams.   In the end, your relationships are what sustain you, what nourish you, what make you a whole person, and are what you can count on when the dream eludes you.   Besides, who are you going to thank when you win your Tony? 5) Lastly, if there is anything else in life that will make you happy, do that.   It is rare that the moments of joy outnumber the moments of pain and frustration in this business, so it is only worth doing if you are miserable not doing it. Natalie W. teaches piano, singing, Broadway singing, music performance, music theory, opera voice, and acting lessons to students of all ages in New York, NY. She joined the TakeLessons team in October 2012, with over 20   years of teaching experience. Find out more about Natalie, or visit TakeLessons to search for a teacher near you! Photo by Emz.watson

16 Phrasal Verbs with Down ?? - Learn English with Harry

16 Phrasal Verbs with Down ?? - Learn English with Harry Hi there.Were now going to look at some  aspects about phrasal verbs and in particular phrasal verbs with DOWN.Theyre  going to be quite a few phrasal verbs for the next  four sections.Phrasal verbs  are made up by a normal verb,  usually  quite a simple verb like take,look  or come followed by a preposition or even  two prepositions.  When phrasal verbs have  two  prepositions,  theyre called multi verb  phrases.Phrasal verbs  are used in English a lot.  So theres something that you need to be aware of and how to use them particularly in your speaking English and also in your written English.  If you  are doing exams like IELTS or the first  certificate,  there will be a requirement  that you  know phrasal verbs,  you know  how to use them and you know where to or  not to include them.   10 Phrasal Verbs with Down Often its advised that phrasal verbs are informal language.And, of course, they are. Any phrasal verb can be replaced by a more formal verb quite easily.But its be wrong to think that phrasal verbs can only be used in an informal capacity.Often when I read business letters or business reports, they will include from time to time phrasal verbs. So you can use them if it is appropriate to use them in the correct and right context.Phrasal verbs will appear more frequently in informal books and writings and, of course, letters and now emails as people’s preferred choice of communication. Emails in themselves are much more informal now and therefore the English language that you see both in personal use and business use is of a more informal nature anyway so phrasal verbs come to the force. I wouldnt get too hung up about them.You dont have to learn thousands and thousands of phrasal verbs because literally there are quite a lot.  But you do  need to know how and when to use them.  So w hat Im going to give you in these sections are a number of quite common popular English verbs and prepositions to form the phrasal verbs.Ill also give you examples with each of them so by the end of each of these sections hopefully you would have a better understanding of what a phrasal verb is, how to use it so that you can introduce it into both your written and your spoken English. 10 Phrasal Verbs with Down I  will also give you  some examples  and some  exercises that you can practise yourself.So lets move on so the first  phrasal verb and I am going to  cover in this  particular section are those phrasal  verbs with the preposition DOWN.  Ive  got a number of verbs that were going  to use.  The first one is TO BREAK DOWN.  When  we look at and use break down,  you can  use it to talk about some calculation,  some mathematical equation.  You can also  use it in any other situation,  formal or  informal,  where you want to break down a  letter into its individual paragraphs,  where you want to break down any type of  calculation formula,  any booklet  concerning numbers,  statistics,  everything  connected with that.  BREAK DOWN  also has another  meaning.  When we talk about to break down  a wall,  to break down barriers  perhaps.  For example, were  trying to break down the barriers that  exist between different communities.Or  if youre trying to do  some repairs or renovation to your home,  you might also be talking about breaking  down some walls to create more open  space in your apartment or your home.  Next  one TO CALM DOWN.To calm down  usually means to take things easy.  Particularly we use  to calm down  when somebodys getting  very excited.  They may be shouting and  screaming.  So a mother might say to a  child:  Just calm down, take it easy well talk about it. Everything is going to be okay.So youre trying to introduce an  element of peace and quiet  when  somebodys getting rather excited  shouting and screaming.  We ask them  to calm down.  We can also use to calm down  to  describe the weather.  So there may have been a stormy night or day. Thunder, lightning, strong winds and when you come to the window, look out and you say:Oh the weather has calmed down a little bit. We now only have a gentle breeze and theres no further thunder or no further rain.Next one TO COME DOWNTo  come down is an  instruction,  an order,  a command  somebody  might give to another person.Please come down from that wall, youre going to fall.For example, a parent says to a child:  Come down at about eight oclock and Ill cook you dinner.We can also say:Come down to the city later on.For example,  if youre living on a  hill overlooking the city or some other  place somebody you might say:Ill come down later on to the pub and Ill buy you a drink. 10 Phrasal Verbs with Down - Image to share The next one is TO CUT DOWNThis as it  says would suggest something being  brought down in size,  perhaps a tree or a  fence or something that is no longer  required.He cut down the trees in his  back garden so that there was more light  coming in.I  will cut down that fence because it is  certainly blocking  out the light.  We  can also use to cut down  a slightly different way.To cut somebody down means to try and  get them away from being a little bit  pompous or a little bit superior.You might make a comment that  will cut them down to size.  Meaning make  them feel a little bit smaller,  a little  bit like the rest of us rather than  being pompous and overbearing.He  quickly made a comment that cut him down  in size and everybody laughed.  The next one we  have is TO DIE DOWNTo die  down refers to situations where they may have  been some trouble.  So weve been watching a lot of  problems in Paris France where these  yellow vests people have been protesting  against various issu es to do with the  government and they have been blocking  the streets,  breaking windows and has  been generally a situation of unrest.However,  after a period of days or weeks  the unrest disappears,  discussions take  place and the heat of the situation dies  down.  So when something dies  down,  it becomes lower or it reduces in  its intensity.Like a  fire that you like to  keep yourself warm during the winter.  We  build it up during the day,  put plenty of  wood or whatever we are using as a fuel  and then as the evening gets late  we let the fire die down.  There could be  situation,  rumours in the newspaper about  some business thats is in trouble or  somebody that has been doing something  they shouldnt have been doing.  But when  the journalist digs further,  theres no  information or no truth to the rumours  and eventually those rumours die down or  go away. Next one is TO GET DOWNAgain  to get down is about some instructions so its usually  said with a little bit of harshness in  the voice.Get down from that wall. Get down out of that tree.A  parent might insist  that their son or daughter stop doing  what theyre doing and get down immediately.  So these are very strong or said in a  strong way to give emphasis to the fact  that its not really a request.  We can also use get down to instruct somebody else to do  something that perhaps they dont  want to do.Get down to your studies!HOLD DOWN  Hold down means to  stop something  moving. You might be talking that say  about a sport fixture,  lets say a rugby  match which is very popular in the  northern hemisphere particularly in  those countries like Ireland England,Scotland,  Wales and France where they  play rugby to a high intensity.  During  the rugby match one player held down  another player and prevented him from  releasing the ball.Somebody might just ask you simply could  you hol d down something to stop it from moving.Hold down that lid of the box whilst  I tie some string around it.We can also use hold down when were describing somebody whos got a particular job. We mentioned that hes been in this position for several years so we could say it quite informally:He has held down  a senior position in this company now  for 10 years.Meaning he’s well  accepted,  he is quite experienced and he  has been in the company for some time,  so  he managed to hold down a job even  though his bosses didnt like him.  KEEP DOWN  is the next oneTo keep  down can have several meanings.  When  were not feeling so well and we  might be feeling nausea sand we might  think were going to be sick,  we might  say to the doctor:I find it very  difficult to keep down food these days.  Every time I eat I vomit. Its always difficult  for me to keep food down.To keep down  you can also use it again as an  instruction.In a war zone the captain  or person in charge of the soldiers may   shout an order to keep their heads down.  To keep the heads down means to bend  it sufficiently low not to make  themselves a target for enemy and  gunfire.  We  can also say to keep your head down  where when were talking metaphorically. It doesnt literally mean to keep  your head down but it means to keep out  of trouble,  not to let anybody notice.My recommendation and advice to you is  to keep your head down for a few months,  just get on with the work and everything  would be okay. TO LET DOWN is  our next phrasal verb.Let down again has  a number of meanings.You can be let down  by a colleague or a friend or a family  member.  Meaning they have disappointed  you.  They promise to do something and at  the last minute they didnt follow  through and you feel let down.For  example,  you were hoping to go to the big  rugby match or football match and your  colleague said that he would be able to get you tickets. However, the  day before the match you find out that he didn’t keep his promise. So he let you down.Oh  dear, youve really let me down.  I  promised my son that I would take him  to this game.We  can also use to let down  when we’re referring  to  clothes alterations.For example, your son has grown several  centimetres and you need to make his trousers longer. So you take them to the the  tailor and say:Is there any chance you  could let down the hem of  these trousers? They are too short.The last  one in this particular section is TO SETTLE DOWNSo agai n settle down has a few different  meanings.  It can be used when somebody  finally decides that their life is about  the family or that job or the career,  so  they decide its time to settle down.  Means to stop acting like young man, stop travelling  around the  world, stop changes jobs.Its  time for you to settle down,  get yourself a  permanent job,think about getting married and make  something of your life.We can also use settle down  as an  instruction where the teacher in a  classroom comes in and theres a lot of  noise before the beginning of the the  class.  The kids are a little bit excited  so  she says:Come on,  settle down.  Time to get your books out and start the  work.Okay.  So theres a number of phrasal  verbs with DOWN.Join me  again for the next  section of my English phrasal verbs course.  Thank  you.              

Todays English Phrasal Verb Get Out!

Todays English Phrasal Verb Get Out! Heres one of the many English phrasal verbs whose meaning is nearly impossible to guess from the two words, or particles, that create it: get out. Get out of there!Normally   get means to obtain something (among many other possible meanings), and out means to be outside, as in not inside of a building, or to be out of something, as in lacking something. However when you combine these to make get out, youve got something completely new.Click here to take an English class on phrasal verbs with a live native speaker.1. Get Out = To Leave This can be both a statement and a command. For instance:We got out of the building when we smelled smoke. = We left the building when we smelled smoke.Get out of there! = An order to leave the location immediately.Below is a video montage of people being told to get out of there from famous movies. Scroll past the video for more meanings.2. Get Out (+of) = Receive/Learn/Gain from something. For example:What do you get out of this? = What are you recei ving, or what advantage do you get from this? This can have a negative connotation. If someone offers to help you, and you suspect they are doing it to benefit themselves, you would ask them this question.I got a lot out of that meeting. = I learned a lot, or benefited a lot, from that meeting. Notice that in this instance the verb is split.3. Get Out (+of) = To avoid something.How did Jim get out of the meeting? = How was Jim able to avoid attending the meeting?4. Get Out! = Expression of surprise. See video for example made famous by the American television show Seinfeld.