Penn State World Campus - Academic Tutoring Service

Penn State World Campus - Academic Tutoring ServicePenn State World Campus, one of the largest online universities in the world, offers tutoring services for students. This is not just another college-based tutoring service, however, but a major part of the university's academic program.There are many universities out there offering similar tutoring services for their students, but few offer the kind of support the Penn State tutors provide to their students, especially when it comes to academics. Since this university has had many years of success in the field of education, it knows how to offer help to its students. Their academic tutors specialize in the areas of study for many of their students. The tutors also provide personalized attention to each student, and they make sure that the learning environment is very encouraging and helpful.Although there are many tutoring services available in the Internet, none can match the quality of service that Penn State World Campus provides to its students. The tutors are knowledgeable about the academic requirements of their students, and they know what they need to work on most. They know what questions to ask and how to approach those questions. That means that their tutoring sessions are always enjoyable, because the tutors work hard at making the learning environment productive.The online university offers tutoring services for the elementary, middle, and high school levels. They have educational instructors who guide students through each step of their educational progression. Each teacher has different areas of specialization, and he or she will be able to address the particular needs of each student.Tutoring may be necessary, but students should also be taught proper time management and how to use it well. They are also taught skills like budgeting, teamwork, time management, and other valuable academic concepts. The tutors can help students learn these skills, and they can give them suggestions for homework, projects, and exams.Students have many chances to do their own research. They can download reports from the library and use them as examples when they write essays. They can also read books that have been published by other professors, because they can find out more about their subjects through the teaching materials that are available online.Tutoring is offered after class, or whenever the students need them. The tutors are there when they need them, and they stay until they are needed again. It is an arrangement that fit each student's schedule, and it also gives the students the opportunity to work at their own pace.Penn State World Campus offers tutoring services for all of the types of classes that they offer. Students from various backgrounds and at different levels are receiving tutoring, and they are benefiting from the service. The tutoring provides each student with the ability to be successful in his or her educational program.

Get Some Chemistry Help Free - Avoid Being Cracked Addicted

Get Some Chemistry Help Free - Avoid Being Cracked AddictedAre you looking for some chemistry help free? Or, are you in need of some free advice or a link to a free website that is able to give you some free information about something related to your interest? You may be thinking that you have found the information you are looking for online. Or, you may be searching for a place to get the information you are looking for but did not find the information you wanted.In addition to wanting to know where to get some chemistry help free, you may be looking for advice that can help you avoid being labeled as being a crack addict. Your curiosity may have gone too far. So, in the words of Dr. Mehmet Oz; 'Keep it to yourself, and be honest, or you're a...Crack addict!'If you want to get some chemistry help free, you have to look for them, and pay the money. Is that really such a bad thing? Just what are you afraid of?Anytime someone asks you for help, and you feel that this is something that should not be done, chances are, they are not willing to talk to you on the phone. This may seem petty, but when you are talking to someone and they just want to talk to you; what do you think you are doing? For the sake of discussion, let's assume that you have asked the best-selling author, Richard Branson, for help with your diet. After all, he is the richest man in the world.In any case, let's suppose that you are talking to him and he is going to pay you for what you want to do. Would that really be too much to ask? Yes, it would, because he is asking you to pay him for the information that you need. And, you are probably desperate to get some chemistry help free, right?What is your problem then? For you to be able to get some free information and not pay to get it; that is just silly. And, if you are ever asking somebody else for something of value, they probably wouldn't ask you for money for it either.Please consider all this. Do not let the desire to pay for your chemistry help be your excuse for not getting what you need, and to be honest, it shouldn't be.

Nonviable Chemistry Definition

Nonviable Chemistry DefinitionChemicals are either non volatile. Non volatile means that they do not react with other chemical reactions. They stay the same for as long as they are in their containers.The volatile chemistry definition states that chemicals can be changed from one state to another state by exposing them to a temperature. The change is gradual and can occur at a rate faster than the speed of light. The chemical reaction occurs in a chemical form in which it is known as vapor or gas.It is important to understand the basic differences between these two definitions when dealing with chemicals. In volatile chemicals, it is a slow process. The temperature changes are considered reversible, but the chemical can continue to cause harm at that time. Thus volatile chemicals tend to act more on receptors like small molecules, enzymes, and hormones.A good example of a volatile chemical is chlorine. Chlorine is used in many industries, such as chlorine gas, bleach, steam steriliza tion, and in fluorine-based commercial compounds. Chlorine reacts quickly with moisture and humidity. As soon as chlorine comes into contact with moisture, it will combine with other chemicals.Volatile chemicals react slowly and quickly with oxygen. When exposed to oxygen, it combines with the oxygen forming carbon dioxide and water. Oxygen reacts with the oxygen in water and oxygen reacts with oxygen molecules to form water. This reaction also produces hydrogen, which causes carbon dioxide to be broken down into carbon and oxygen. Carbon dioxide is in the atmosphere around us.Volatile chemicals have been the focus of much research and study. Since 1960's, more than one hundred and fifty different chemical substances have been identified. Among these substances are any number of pollutants, herbicides, synthetic hormones, antibiotics, insecticides, and even explosives. Most of these chemicals are used by large organizations, which may be found using these chemicals on their own or a s part of large complex chemical products.Today there are many companies and people who use complex chemical products in their manufacturing processes. Each of these chemicals reacts differently with their surroundings. The resulting affects can vary greatly from one product to another. A good understanding of the simple non volatile chemistry definition will give you a better appreciation of the importance of knowing how to avoid the use of chemicals in your life.

The Ohio State University A Student Interview

The Ohio State University A Student Interview The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Shane received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fine Art and his Master of Arts in Education from The Ohio State University. He is currently a tutor in Columbus specializing in Art History, GED prep, PARCC prep, and several other subjects. See what he had to say about his experience at The Ohio State University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Shane: The campus is huge, with its own bus system that students use to get around. I sold the car I had in high school before I started college, and I didnt need another car until I graduated. I did have a bike for getting to class every day, but for long distances, the buses were reliable enough. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Shane: It depends on the class. My art and education classes were small, and the professors spent a lot of time with individuals. My biology class had hundreds ofstudents in it, so the professor had no time for individuals, and the teaching assistants didnt always know the answers to questions. How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Shane: I enjoyed living in the dorms. The food was excellent. I was placed with two roommates by the housing program. We didnt get along, but I met someone in my first class who disliked his roommate too. We lived together for the next three years, and that made college much more fun. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Shane: The Ohio State University has a program of distinction in almost every area. I went for Art Education. The art school is highly ranked among public universities, as is the art education department. The Ohio State University also has top-ranked law, business, psychology, social work, engineering, and math programs, among many others, Im sure. The Ohio State University is a public Ivy. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Shane: Greek life is common at The Ohio State University. I didnt involve myself with Greek life in any way, and I still had friends. The people in my program were like me, so we became close. I made friends with people in my dorm, as well. How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services? Shane: I didnt get recruited, and I dont know anyone who did. The Career Center didnt help me one bit, but thats okay. A goal is more meaningful when achieved alone. How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Shane: All of these spaces are available, easy to get to, and big enough to accommodate many students. The library is the best place to study. The student union is more like a mall food court. Dorm lounges can get noisy, but every dorm has a study area in the basement. Describe the surrounding town. Shane: Columbus, Ohio, is the Paris of the Midwest. It was recently ranked as a Smart City by the Intelligent Community Forum, and it is a place of endless diversity and progressivism. Anyone can do anything they please in public, as long as its legal. No one will bat an eye, probably because they saw something weirder five minutes ago. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Shane: In my program, class sizes were small, but I know many of the more profitable programs have fewer professors and many, many students. The student body is very large. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Shane: I took a class on art criticism from Terry Barrett, who has written quite a bit on the subject, and it totally changed how I look at art. It was comforting to know that all this crazy, new stuff I was hearing was coming from the man who changed how art is taught in every classroom in the country. It was like learning physics from Isaac Newton. Check out Shanes tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

5 Guitar Moves That Sound Hard But Are Actually Easy

5 Guitar Moves That Sound Hard But Are Actually Easy Megan L. Have you ever heard a guitar lick that sounded crazy complicated? Guitar teacher  Christopher S.    explains how some of the hardest sounding techniques can actually be easy once you try them When taking up the challenge of learning to play the guitar, I strongly recommend finding the skills and techniques that you are best at and using them  to create the music you love. There is an endless amount of sounds which you can create with the guitar, and if you have the skills to produce them, you will have so many options literally at your fingertips! Below,  I will discuss different techniques that sound hard to play on the guitar, but with time and discipline, they are actually quite simple. I want to emphasis that some of these techniques may come naturally to you, and some may not. In my experience, it is better to take the ones that come naturally, as you will make the best music with them, and to give the others more time for practice. For example, you may be great at fingerpicking guitar licks  on the guitar right away. Or, you may be incredibly fast at picking with a pick after just a few hours. Whatever the technique, I say learn as many songs as you can using that technique. Make the music that works best in your fingers, and don’t fret too much over  a technique that is giving you frustration. So, lets buckle up and get ready to do some “wood-shedding.” 1.  Power Chords (Drop-D Tuning) A power chord is one of the most common  chord shapes on the guitar. It is easy enough to create, it is easy to move on the neck, and it sounds good in almost any style of music. The shape of the power chord looks like this, with your index finger on the low E string and your ring finger on the A string. This happens to be a G power chord. You can also put your pinky on the D string, right below your third finger to give it some more “power.” The rest of the strings are muted. This chord shape is important to learn on the guitar, because it is used to play millions of songs. However, your fingers can get tired in some kinds of music (such as  punk rock or heavy metal) when trying to imitate and play the songs of these experienced guitar players. To help you in playing those quick power chord changes on the guitar, here is a trick that you  can use to make changing power chords a breeze. Known as “Drop-D tuning,” you literally take the low E string and “drop” or tune it down a whole-step, so that it becomes another D string. By doing this, you can play your power chord shape with one finger instead of three! The shape now looks like this. On the recordings of bands that use this tuning, such as The Smashing Pumpkins, Rage Against the Machine, or The Foo Fighters, these  chords sound complicated. However, little did you know that they  were actually playing all of those chords with just one finger! An example of a song which uses a power chord shape with this drop-D tuning is the song Hollywood by Nickelback. This song would be quite difficult if it were all played in standard tuning; however, in drop-D tuning, it is really quite easy to play! Here is the tab to help you learn  it. 2.  Fingerpicking Fingerpicking is something that always boggles people. It is really not as hard as some make it sound; however, it does take some disciplined practice if you want it to sound good. To develop  this technique, I often recommend to my students to learn  songs by The Beatles. Although sometimes they say, “Oh, that song is way beyond my skill level,” the songs are really quite simple to play. Take the song Blackbird, for example. The tune sounds like it is quite a difficult fingerpicking pattern; however, because you rarely change the strings that you are picking, it is actually quite simple to play.  The majority of the song is picked on the A, B, and G strings. The right hand always uses the pattern of thumb  and middle  finger together and then index  finger after. That is the whole picking pattern throughout the entire song. Beyond that, all you have to do is move the left-hand position. Here is the tab to Blackbird.  Try the  picking-pattern, and see how it works throughout the entire song. 3.  Alternate Picking This is a technique that will take some time to really master, but after you learn it, you will be playing the guitar faster than ever! The technique is basically how it sounds. When you are picking a crazy-fast solo on the guitar, your notes will come out much faster if you pick alternatively, rather than picking in one direction all the time. When you pick one note in a downward direction, the next note you should pick in an upward direction.  See the diagram below for a representation of this movement. Snow (Hey Oh)  by The Red Hot Chili Peppers is a good song to see how fast your picking can be, after you get the hang of alternate picking by practicing with scales. The guitar line sounds difficult; however, if you have the alternate picking technique down really well, then this song will be as easy as pie. Here are the tabs to start learning how to play the main riff! -I-I -I-I -44h6h4-444h6h4I-66h8h6I 666-666-I44h6h4488-8-I 67-I-666-6/9-I -I-7I Here is a  link to the entire tab. 4.  The “Pick Squeal” Also known as the “Pick Harmonic,” this  is a common guitar technique that came out of the music from the 80s and 90s and from the abundance of guitar solos in this time period. The sound is a high, screechy sound, but it sounds great if you’ve got the right amount of distortion  when  playing rock’n roll music. Hold  the pick so that there is only a small section of the tip showing. Then, as you pick the note in the same stroke, touch the side of your thumb on the string, but dont hold it there. Continue the stroke so your thumb only touches the string for a second. Where you pick the string has a big effect on the sound that comes out, and every guitar has a different hot spot. Experiment a bit to find your guitars best location. Generally the hot spot is near the pick-ups of your guitar. It will take some time to learn this technique, so dont get discouraged trying to make the sound in the beginning. Just have some fun, and your guitar will soon be squealing! One group that frequently used this technique is the infamous Eddie Van Halen. You can hear Eddie squealing away on the song Jamie’s Cryin’. Here is a video of some awesome pick-squealing solos. Here is also the tab for this song. 5.  Sweep Picking This guitar technique sounds difficult, and in fact it is a bit difficult, at first. However, with the right amount of practice and a loose wrist, you can actually begin  to play awesome-sounding fast sweeps before you know it! Sweep picking is a technique used mainly in heavy metal music, in which you play arpeggios at an incredibly fast speed. This makes your music sound awesome and really makes you sound like a pro with really very little effort. To achieve  this technique, lets begin  with the right hand. Simply take your pick and pick up three, four, or five strings (however big the “sweep” is). Then, when you get to the lowest string, simply pick downward until  you are back at the high string (high E string). And that is it! You are simply  moving the pick upward and then downward on three, four, or five  strings. These are known as 3-string, 4-string, or 5-string sweeps. In the left hand, you make an arpeggio shape, and you generally have a pull-off on the high or low string of the arpeggio. A great example of sweep picking  can be heard in the song  Altitudes by Jason Becker. Here are the tabs to his solo, which occurs at 2:05 in the song. He plays them very fast, and I know they look intimidating, but just take them as exercises. Try playing the first arpeggio very slowly with the right hand technique I described above, and don’t forget to include hammer-on’s and pull-off’s on any consecutive notes on the same string (unless otherwise marked with a slide “/“ marking). Do the exercises slowly at first, and then gradually build up speed and you will soon be sweep picking just like Becker! You can find a site to the complete tab here. Think youve mastered these moves on your guitar? Getting some feedback and advice  from a qualified guitar teacher can be the key to taking your guitar  skills to the next level.  Search for your teacher  today! Post Author:  Christopher S. Christopher S. teaches bass guitar, guitar, and composition in Jamaica Plain, MA. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Humboldt State University  and is currently atttending New England Conservatory for his Master of Music degree. Christopher has been teaching students since 2004.  Learn more about Christopher S. here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Taking Video Guitar Lessons

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Taking Video Guitar Lessons Sign up successful Perhaps the most important aspect of in-person lessons with a guitar teacher is that you have an informed pair of eyes watching you play. When something isn’t going the way it needs to, you have an outside observer who can point it out to you. With a teacher’s guidance, you’ll begin to learn to correct mistakes on your own. Lessons Arent Tailored to Your Individual Needs Pre-recorded video guitar lessons are specifically made to be applicable to thousands of students with different learning styles. But the most effective guitar lessons aren’t one-size-fits-all, cookie cutter plans taken one after another. Each student has different ambitions and will need different “stepping stones” to achieve them.   What one student finds impossible to overcome, another student might breeze through with little thought.  Without a good teacher to help plan a course of action, students frequently jump between pieces that are either too easy or too difficult. They have trouble gradually building their skills.  A teacher will notice where a student’s struggles lie and recommend music to practice that will build those skills. You Might Pick up Bad Habits When learning a new chord or song, beginners tend to play however it feels “right” to them. If playing with a certain fingering feels correct, a student has no reason to think they should be playing it differently. Even if they notice something is off, on their own, they rarely know what to replace the incorrect habit with. This is another reason why it can be dangerous to learn the guitar without any feedback from a live instructor. A teacher is often the sole voice of clarity for students who naturally revert back to motions that their hands are familiar with. If you’re learning from video guitar lessons alone, it can be easy to fall into the habit of playing something the wrong way, just because it “feels easier.” When working with a private teacher, you’ll learn new ways to to master tricky concepts more efficiently. SEE ALSO: 10 Things to Look for in a Guitar Teacher You Might Become Discouraged When attempting to learn the guitar from videos alone, self-taught students are more prone to choosing a song that is too difficult for their skill level. These students often get frustrated and discouraged when their playing doesn’t sound as good as they want it to right off the bat. In the rare case that a student begins with something easy, they frequently move on too soon and jump to something much harder right away. Ninety percent of the time when you speak to people who have given up the guitar, it’s because they tried to teach themselves.   Dont Miss Out on Music Theory! Music theory is a necessity when learning how to play the guitar. Most video guitar lessons either focus on a specific technique, or exclusively on theory. But to really understand music theory, it has to be tied into the music! Students understand theory best if it’s a part of their musical language and expression from the beginning. If as a beginner, you focus on watching YouTube tutorials for all your favorite songs, you are bound to miss out on a deeper understanding of the music itself. Learning music theory is like learning a foreign language. Because music theory can be difficult to understand, it’s best to learn in an interactive environment where you have the ability to ask questions. Try taking online music theory classes from a live instructor and you’ll find yourself learning much quicker than with pre-recorded lessons. In Conclusion With the help of a guitar teacher, you have a much greater shot as musical success. Video guitar lessons are best when used as a supplemental tool in between private lessons. Your teacher can help protect you from bad advice, which is abounding online (some of which can even cause injury). Don’t keep trying to press forward on your own when excellent, reliable help is so readily available! Find a trusted and qualified guitar teacher near you and start your guitar learning journey on the right foot. Post Author:  Kirk R. Kirk is a classical and acoustic guitar instructor in Athens, GA. He holds a Bachelors and Masters of music in Guitar Performance, and has been teaching guitar since 2011 to students of all ages.  Learn more about Kirk  here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

English Spelling Rules for ESOL Learners

English Spelling Rules for ESOL Learners The Most Important Spelling Rules in English to Help You Progress Faster ChaptersThe Logic of English Spelling RulesThe 10 Most Common Spelling Mistakes in EnglishRules of English SpellingLearn English Spelling: UK vs the USChoosing the Right English Dictionary for YouWith its international status and easy conjugation, English is a brilliant language to learn, whether you learn english online or face to face.Gaining reading and writing skills with the possibility of achieving fluency in any language is highly beneficial for the future prospects of the learners, as acquiring valuable language skills is a small step in promoting healthy intercultural relations.However, there is one particularly tricky aspect of the English language, which causes all manner of problems for those learning English as a second language, as well as native English speakers.The offender is English spelling.With its silent letters making new words difficult to pronounce, and several different pronunciations for words ending in o-u-g-h, English spelling is anything but phonetic.The way that ‘tough’ rhymes with ‘rough’, but it doesn’t rhyme with ‘though’ is enough to make anyone dizzy.English also features silent letters, which appear in the spelling of a word but are not said aloud.Some examples of silent letters include the letter ‘K’ in ‘knife’ and ‘knead’, as well as the ‘G’ in ‘gnarl’ and ‘gnat’.Even the many English dictionaries on the market can’t seem to completely agree when it comes to the spelling of certain words, and whether compound words like ‘makeup’ should feature a hyphen to become ‘make-up’.From Westminster to Washington DC and beyond - English is an international language ¦ source: Pixabay - derwikiThe interestingness of English spelling is largely due to the early origins of the English language, as well as more recent variations that have surfaced with English being spoken in North America.English started life as, and still technically is, a part of the Germanic family of languages.But the N orman invasion of 1066 brought a Latin influence across the channel, which had a lasting impact on English language and how language was used within society at that time.When you learn to speak English as a foreign language, it is about more than your conversational English skills, listening comprehension and getting the hang of the latest slang to make an impression in your English lessons.Being able to speak English fluently isn't the be-all and end-all of acing your English course.As a non native English learner, knowing how to read and write in good English is an essential part of using English in every aspect of communication, and will stand you in good stead if you take any written exams in English.Its rich yet somewhat rocky history is what makes some aspects of English challenging, but it is nevertheless a truly unique language and a joy to learn!Shoe ? ShoesPhotograph ? PhotographsAngel ? AngelsHowever, this rule is only general, and there is a whole host of exceptions.Than kfully, since most of these exceptions follow the same pattern, you can easily learn how they work.Rules are made to be broken, and they definitely are in English spelling! ¦ source: Pixabay - MoneyforCoffeeLet’s start with words ending in ‘Y’.For words ending in a consonant followed by ‘Y’, you remove the Y and add ‘i-e-s’:Pony ? PoniesCompany ? CompaniesParties ? PartiesThe exception to this rule is the less common words which end with a vowel before the Y follow the usual rule or simply adding an ‘S’.Bay ? BaysKey ? KeysPlay ? PlaysSo, even though, as a speaker of another language, English spelling may seem to make people bend over backwards with its traps and inconsistencies, they’re not always too difficult to get the hang of.Another exception to standard pluralisation is words which already end in ‘S’, like ‘bus’, for example.The rule for pluralising these words is that you add ‘es’ instead of just ‘S’, and it applies to words ending in ‘ s-s’, ‘Z’, ‘c-h’, ‘s-h’ and ‘X’, too.Bus ? BusesKiss ? KissesWaltz ? WaltzesMatch ? MatchesBrush ? BrushesTax ? TaxesThis part of the pluralisation rule isn’t so difficult to remember since these words are nearly impossible to pronounce without the additional ‘E’ to facilitate a consonant.Learn English Spelling: UK vs the USAs English has become so widely spoken, there are areas where populations have adapted and added to the language to create their own version of English.This is particularly notable in the USA, where variant spellings have gained status as a standardised version of English.According to Oxford Dictionaries, these differences have arisen because British English has kept the original spellings of the words it has acquired from other languages, such as French in particular, whereas American English has adapted spellings to better reflect the way words are pronounced.One of the most noticeable of these variations is in words ending in ‘r-e’ in English, which American English spells ‘e-r’.The reason for this is exactly as Oxford Dictionaries explains: British English has stuck with the French spelling.FrenchBritish EnglishAmerican EnglishCentreCentreCenterThéâtreTheatreTheaterMètreMetreMeterOther examples of spellings that have been altered by US English are words which feature the vowels ‘O’ and ‘U’ side by side British English, but where the ‘U’ has been omitted in the American versions of these words.British EnglishAmerican EnglishColourColorHonourHonorNeighbourNeighborRegarding this phenomenon, BBC America explains that, just like the change in spelling of words ending in ‘r-e’, the omission of the letter ‘U’ was a deliberate change to make words better reflect their pronunciation.Removing the ‘U’ from words such as ‘color’ was to help differentiate them from words containing ‘o-u-r’ but which were pronounced differently, as ‘ower’.For example, ‘colour’ and ‘flour’ end with the same letters, but the ‘o-u-r’ in ‘flour’ is pronounced as ‘ower’.Other words which have been altered to make spelling more phonetic for the American English speaker include ‘plow’, which is spelt as ‘plough’ in British English, ‘catalog’, which was originally ‘catalogue’, and ‘ax’, which the Brits spell with an ‘E’, as ‘axe’.UK spelling vs. US spelling: the great debate ¦ source: Pixabay - ErikaWittliebThe variation in spelling between British and US English is always recognisable, however, it rarely gets in the way of reading comprehension.This is why to learn English is to open up a whole world of reading opportunity, as you can enjoy literature from both sides of the Atlantic!Choosing the Right English Dictionary for YouWhen you’re learning to speak English, you’ll undoubtedly need some kind of dictionary to help with practicing your literacy, vocab and spelling.But dictionaries come in all shapes and sizes: monolingual, b ilingual, rhyming, prescriptive, descriptive, electronic, comprehensive or pocket.However, being spoilt for choice can sometimes be overwhelming.So how do you choose the right English dictionary for you?Since each type of dictionary serves a different purpose, the one you choose will depend on your needs as a learner.Some dictionaries are simply for looking up the spellings of words, and may only have a simple definition, whereas others will have definitions accompanied by related words and their usage.It may surprise you that the dictionaries we know today started life as bilingual glossaries in medieval Europe, which were used by churchgoers to translate biblical texts between Latin and their native language.Similarly, the earliest English dictionaries in Great Britain were used to define Latin, French and Spanish words in English, and later developed to only contain English words with detailed definitions.The alphabetical dictionaries we know today came about in the year 1755, wi th the publication of ‘A Dictionary of the English Language’ by Samuel Johnson.Dictionaries, glossaries and word lists offered a standardisation of English spelling at a time when there were few reference resources.This made the dictionary a powerful tool when it came to influencing the way in which the English language developed, as Noah Webster, as American compiler, realised.Webster began making subtle changes to the spellings used by the Brits to make words better reflect their pronunciation, and these changes subsequently became responsible for what we know today as ‘US English’.The world of dictionaries is far richer and more interesting than anyone ever imagines, and every publication is much more than a simple book of words.The pros and cons of learning English as a native speaker of a foreign language are mainly due to the expanse of the English speaking world, but rest assured that help is never far away and from day one, you can reap the rewards.