An Ideal Gift Idea For Chinese New Year

An Ideal Gift Idea For Chinese New YearThe Chinese New Year is a time for many things and if you are looking for that perfect gift for your loved one then why not try the Chinese Gwu Tutor. The Gwu is a big event in China and everyone wants to make sure they do their part to celebrate it properly. The Chinese New Year lasts until mid-January and the Gwu celebrations continue from mid to late January until early March. It is a very special time for all the family and friends in China and if you can make it to China you should be able to attend some of the great Gwu activities.If you want to make it to a Gwu then you will need to find yourself a Chinese tutor. If you want to look for one online you will find lots of opportunities. You should look for one that is going to be teaching someone for a longer period of time as they will be able to give you good quality lessons and will be a good teacher in general.A good tutor will be able to give you a good reputation by helping you with yo ur Chinese vocabulary and pronunciation. Some of the other lessons that you can take from a Chinese tutor include simple games and fun activities.You will be able to use these to help you learn the different types of Chinese greetings that you can say for the New Year and will be able to help you feel more at ease during the various ceremonies that are held throughout the month. This will also help you get used to Chinese greetings at a basic level. After you have had a chance to spend some time with a Chinese tutor you will soon feel comfortable with your own level of fluency.It is a good idea to pick a tutor who is also someone who has been studying Mandarin or Cantonese so that you can see their level of understanding. A tutor that is Chinese should also be able to help you get used to the different accents and dialects in the Chinese language. If you can't find someone you trust with whom you can converse in Mandarin then this might be a good option for you.You will also be able to find one that will be able to help you have a good time as well. This is a good way to bond with the person you are studying with, so you will be able to enjoy the New Year and all the other events that take place.One of the reasons that the Chinese tutor is such a good idea is because of the time you will be able to spend with them. You will be able to communicate with your tutor in a fast paced environment where you can learn a great deal from your mistakes. If you do make mistakes, you can quickly make them up before you go back to class and make those mistakes again.If you want to learn Chinese this New Year then it is worth getting yourself a Chinese tutor. A great tutor will be able to help you learn the different greetings for the New Year and will be able to teach you to talk more effectively.

How to Find a Berkeley Computer Science Tutor

How to Find a Berkeley Computer Science TutorThe job of a Berkeley computer science tutor can be a very rewarding experience. To this end, it pays to do the homework before choosing a Berkeley tutor.First, consider if you have the time and the interest to go to Berkeley full time. Many of these schools are full time and require quite a bit of traveling for students. If you are working in an office and doing the work from home, that is an option. However, some programs will not allow you to go home for the summer.Second, check to see what the Berkeley faculty has to say about their tutors. A good example of this is in the game 'Hide and Seek.' The game involves hidden figures and the players solve the clues. Many of the clues require certain numbers, and this has implications for how the game is played.For instance, if the figures are called out to be six or seven, the game involves something like: the number that the clue refers to can either be six or seven. The teacher would explai n the rules to the student and help to help the student to solve the clues in a way that works best for him or her.Third, determine how long you are willing to commit to a Berkeley tutor. Some of these programs have tutors that require you to get to class and back on time each day. This is not a feasible option for many students, but the tutor may have the time.Fourth, consider your own schedule. As mentioned above, many of these programs require students to meet a certain number of classroom hours, while leaving for the rest of the day to attend the activities at Berkeley. Obviously, if you cannot do this on a regular basis, then you may have to look elsewhere. While this may be the case, most of these programs offer tutors that are available for weekend sessions, which may be more possible for you.Finally, it pays to be sure that the Berkeley computer science tutor you choose has a degree from one of the world's top programs. A level of certification is not required by these progr ams, but certification from a premier institution such as the National Association of College Advisors or the Association for Computing Machinery would be very beneficial.

What is it Like to Attend Syracuse University

What is it Like to Attend Syracuse University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Erin is a 2012 graduate of Syracuse University where she studied English and Communications. She currently tutors in New York City and specializes in many subjects including Essay Editing tutoring, Literature tutoring, and Phonics tutoring. See what she had to say about her alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Erin: Everything on main campus is within a 20-minute walk. The school uses some facilities for design students downtown known as The Warehouse; there are both school buses and city buses students can take to get here if they opt out of using their own transportation. Additionally, there is a series of apartments known as South Campus which students can rent approximately 2 miles from the university there are regularly scheduled buses to these that circulate once every ten minutes during class hours and once every 20 minutes during later or weekend hours. Personally, I had my car there since freshman year. While you certainly dont need it for school, you get to enjoy much more of the area if you have one and for that, I would recommend bringing one if possible. Additionally, for students living off campus, there are few local grocery options and having a car makes these trips much more convenient. Lastly, I was able to secure several internships and jobs strictly because I had my own vehicle on campus. However, most of my friends did not have a car their entire college careers and were able to use the resources on campus, use the bus systems or carpool. Syracuse University is almost always a safe campus. Any crime that occurs happens in the off-campus areas, which police are cracking down on. There are usually several armed robberies per academic year that happen to students walking solo in late hours of the night. To help combat this issue, Syracuse City Police and Syracuse University Department of Safety established a system where students who need a ride or walking escort to get them home safely can call for one at any hour and have police offers provide them with one. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Erin: I think this varies tremendously by college and professor. I was technically enrolled in 3 different colleges within Syracuse Newhouse, the School of Communications, The College of Arts and Sciences, and Whitman School of Management (to receive a major in Communications, English, and minor in Business). Based on my experiences with these, some professors are much more available than others. I double majored and minored in school and can only think of perhaps 3-5 professors who were particularly absent. I had wonderful success with my advisers and TAs. The professors who were absent were usually this way not out of laziness but because they were also hired full-time elsewhere. If students run into issues with this, there are almost always other professors, TAs, and faculty members whom they can seek for academic assistance. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Erin: I personally loved living in the dorms. Syracuse mandates students must live in the dorms for the first 2 years unless the student is commuting and living at home. For my freshman year, I lived in a dorm called Lawrinson, which was 21 floors and the tallest building on campus. It sits next to the famous Carrier Dome (making getting to sports games very easy) and adjacent to the SUNY ESF Campus. Not all dorms have dining halls in them but they are all close to one. Lawrinson sits next to Sadler, which includes its own dining hall. There are no all-freshman dorms but with the exception of Watson, all dorms include freshman. There are certainly advantages and disadvantages to each dorm (the campus sits on a hill so some dorms require steep uphill walking, others include 100+ stairs to access them, while others sit near noisy highways; on the flip side, some include the nicest facilities, their own gyms, libraries, restaurants, cafes, and other perks). The room types vary among dor ms and within dorms. Some include singles, quads, suites, open doubles, closed doubles, and other layouts. You can request for whichever top two choices youd like when you enter school. I lucked out with a single my freshman year. My second year, I worked as an RA (Resident Advisor) in Watson, which helped me financially as it paid for both my room and board. This dorm is the only all-upperclassman dorm of the campus. Like Lawrinson, it does not have its own dining hall but sits across the street from a dorm that does (Ernie Davis). Typically for freshman, the floor/wing Resident Advisor plans community-building events to get students socializing most of which take place first semester and in Orientation Week. The biggest event is within freshmen students first week on campus a night called Home to the Dome in which all the freshmen students go to the Carrier Dome for a night of music, fun, entertainment, and memories. After Orientation Week, there is always an abundance of activities in which students can participate. My one critique of the school is the price of dining meal plans range between having 14 meals per week to 21 per week with extra cash for on-campus cafes and guest meal passes with the cost of these ranging from $2,000 to $3,000 and are mandatory for all dorm residents. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Erin: Syracuse is known for several programs. Its most popular major is Psychology, however it is most renown for the Newhouse School of Communications and several programs within the Whitman School of Management, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and the School of Architecture (for undergrads). Newhouse was recently ranked the #1 Communications school and every year, it always makes the top 3-5 among different lists. Whitman and VPA boast several majors that are revered nationwide including VPAs film program and Whitmans entrepreneurial department. When I was in high school, I was interested in journalism and staying in New York, my home state. Id grown up hearing about Syracuse but was never particularly interested (it was arguably too close to home) until I did a campus tour my junior year. I fell in love with the school and applied Early Decision in November of my senior year to Newhouses print journalism department. At the time, Newhouse had about 340 spots open for its incoming class and an expectation of 3,000 applicants. I was obviously nervous I wouldnt make the cut but I did and I couldnt have been happier. Second semester of my freshman year, I changed my major to what is called Television, Radio, Film a blend of media forms and the most popular major in Newhouse. I did this after realizing there were many elements of the print journalism field I didnt enjoy and some in which I didnt excel. The major is considered one of the best programs of its kind in the country with alumni using it to pursue jobs with major studi os, distributors, production companies, talent agencies, and everything in between. Students can focus this major in screenwriting, television production, film production, management, or radio (or get a sampling of each like I did). During my sophomore year, I opted for a second major, English, in the College of Arts and Sciences. Id always loved writing and sure enough, I loved the second major. I also picked up a minor in business as I felt it would help prepare me for The Real World. From the 3 different programs, I was kept very busy but rarely too busy to enjoy school, socializing, and extracurricular activities. The school did an arguably excellent job of supporting Newhouse, TRF, and me. When I compared experiences with students in other colleges, I dont think every student got the same treatment as Newhouse students did. That being said, there are drawbacks to Newhouse, one being finances to pay for the cameras, computers, and high quality technology that communication students use, every Newhouse student had to pay a higher communications fee per semester than any other colleges student body. VT: 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? Erin: I found making friends very easy and encouraged in Syracuse. By the end of my second day there, Id already made several friends and by my second week there, Id made the best friends Id have in college. Im certain my experiences arent typical of every student, however, I do know these friendships were due in part to the social atmosphere of the freshmen-dominated dorms and the work Syracuse does to build these friendships. Greek life does play a significant role at Syracuse I believe 1 in 3 people is involved in it. I was never interested in participating but many students do and find wonderful friendships through it. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Erin: As a Newhouse student, I didnt use the main Career Center but Newhouses specific one known as the Career Development Center which focused strictly on Communications students. I adored the CDC and still do. They made finding internships and finding jobs infinitely easier for students and recent grads. Many companies do recruit at Syracuse NBC Universal, Ogilvy, JP Morgan Chase, GE, Turner Broadcasting, Ernst and Young, and many others. As a TRF student, few entertainment companies recruit at any school (because they simply dont need to) so I rarely used these options. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Erin: I never had a problem getting a seat in any of these places there are so many on campus that I cant imagine it ever being an issue. I personally used the Carnegie Math Library to study in, as it was the quietest and used a lounge in Maxwell for reading. The only spaces that I do know get overly crowded are the dining halls. At peak hours (12:30pm, 6:30pm) it can difficult to find a seat and students sometimes opt instead to take their food to go (containers are provided by the school). An easy remedy for this is to simply avoid these hours, but student schedules dont always permit this luxury. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Erin: Like most college students, Syracuse students experiences depend on how much effort students put into them. I was very invested in making sure I explored the area and constantly tried new things (indeed, having my own car made this easy). Near Syracuse University, there is a wonderful downtown area, made famous by Armory Square, the citys restaurant capital that Guy Fieri has featured multiple times. There are several lakes nearby including Green Lakes, Oneida Shores, and the Jamesville Reservoir. Additionally, there is the newly renovated Destiny USA Mall (to which SU buses students) and other nearby shopping outlets. I personally think Syracuse, NY helped make my college experience the best possible from all these nearby attractions. That being said, I appreciated the medium-sized city feel and the ease of it which as a result, meant there werent as many as attractions as a city like New York, Boston, or Los Angeles could boast. Students who find themselves only satisfied by the energy of large cities may find Syracuse too small or too isolated. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Erin: Syracuse University, like the city, is a medium sized school with an undergrad population a little under 15,000 students. I found this to be a perfect size as I could invariably see a familiar face on a daily basis and always have new people to meet. Some classes are huge (400-person lectures) and some are small (6 people) it completely depends on the class and college. I rarely had an issue with class size and always felt like I could be heard in my classes. The largest classes are those that are required of every student and typically taken by freshmen like entry-level math, science, and seminar classes. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Erin: I had lots of memorable experiences with professors, however my most memorable relationship is one with an English professor I had. She consistently challenged me (I had her for 2 different classes) and opened my eyes to the joys of writing in entirely new ways. She was always reachable by email and in her office hours and proved to be a defining element of my college experience. I greatly attribute my deep love of writing to her. However, she was certainly only one of many professors whom I adored and I think the high quantity of high quality professors is one of Syracuses defining highlights. Check out Erins tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Study Skills for High School 5 Crucial Steps to Succeed

Study Skills for High School 5 Crucial Steps to Succeed Suzy S. When it comes to essential study skills for high school, what do you need to know to be successful? Here are the 5 most important skills, as outlined by tutor Matthew H.: High school can seem like such a scary place. After all, we often hear that the choices we make in high school will ultimately shape who we become as adults. Major stressors include the pressure to do well so that you’ll get into a good college, so that you will land an even better job. These are understandably important issues to consider, but they seem much less intimidating and much more manageable when you have the right study skills for high school to guide you. 1. Identify what learning style works best for you. This may seem like a no-brainer, yet many students (regardless of age) are not in tune with how they individually learn best. You could be one of many different types of learners: visual, auditory, reading-based, kinesthetic, and so on. Some people may even be a mix of various styles. The trick is to isolate what works best for you and not confuse it with what you like to do. In other words, you may be an excellent artist, but you retain information better by hearing someone say it first. If you aren’t sure what learning style you fall under, many guidance counselors know of quick tests you can take to determine what works best for you. Also, similar quizzes are available online, although those may not be as accurate. 2. Organize more efficiently. Organization is super important. In most cases, high schools supply each student with a personal agenda at the beginning of the academic year. You may choose to purchase a larger planner for yourself, especially if you have a ton of extracurriculars on top of different homework assignments due, projects to turn in, presentations to give, and tests to take. Having everything written down in one central location will make it much easier for you to complete all of the necessary tasks in as stress-free a way as possible, and avoid procrastination. 3. Prioritize your time and determine what is essential. Now that you have an easy-to-follow list of upcoming assignments, rank them in order of importance, difficulty, and due date. For instance, if you have a presentation due the same week as an exam for a different class, factor in how much of each final grade those are worth. If the presentation is 15% of your History grade and the exam is a midterm worth 20% of your Math grade, then maybe dedicate a little more time for the exam. But if you are more confident in math and need to bolster your history grade, then adjust accordingly. Flexibility is an important trait to have! 4. Incorporate your own interests into your studying habits. Earlier I mentioned the importance of separating your interests from the way you learn in developing good study skills for high school. However, that does not mean you should never consider what you like to do. If you discover that you are a kinesthetic learner but have a passion for music, bridge the two together in some way. This can be as simple as playing your favorite band’s album while studying geography by moving around index cards, or as sophisticated as creating your own music by playing an instrument (specifically one with a lot of tactile contact) to accompany your history project. Be creative! 5. Connect what you’re learning to other subjects. Don’t think Algebra and foreign language have anything in common? Guess again. Neurological studies have shown that math and language skills are kept relatively close to each other in the same hemisphere of the brain. This is in part due to the importance of the structure of patterns in language similar to those found in diverse math subjects (geometry, probability, etc.). The truth is virtually everything you learn can be connected in some way. Once you draw your own comparisons between different subjects, you will retain the information from both classes much easier. Perhaps the most important study skill for high school (or for any grade level, really) is the ability to relate to what you are learning. When you can relate to the material on some level, you will be able to apply the concepts in a more effective way. Topics will make more sense and you will feel better about yourself. Use the skills not just in high school, but for the rest of your life! Matthew H. provides tutoring in various subjects both online and in New Milford, NJ.  He recently received his MA from NYU with a background in Sociolinguistics and related research. Learn more about Matthew 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 Photo  by  UTC Library

SAT Test Results Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

SAT Test Results Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace SAT test is thepopular test recognized by colleges and universities throughout the United States. High school students aim to get good scores in SAT as it helps their admission application look striking and impressive. SAT test examines the students academic knowledge and capability to handle college level academics once accepted into a college. This test is a standardized test and it analyzes if the student is ready to learn and understand college level material. SAT test examines the students in Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing sections. However, SAT subject tests examine students only in selected specific subjects. Therefore students can choose the type of test they prefer to take. Since the SAT test date and the SAT Subject test date usually coincide, it is not possible for the students to take both the tests on the same day. The official test results are sent to the student and the students respective high school usually after 5 weeks of taking the test. Students receive the test result online and for those who wish to receive the paper test score by mail as well must request it when they register online. Accordingly, if the student does not have a College Board online account, then the student will receive the paper test result through mail. Additionally, students can get the test result by phone as well by calling the customer service center and extra fees would apply to it. These test results can then be sent to the desired colleges and universities for the admission process.

13 Must-Read Tips to Ensure a 5 on the AP Spanish Test

13 Must-Read Tips to Ensure a 5 on the AP Spanish Test Suzy S. Gearing up for the AP Spanish exam? Check out these 13 helpful tips from tutor Jason N.  to increase your confidence Spanish continues to prevail as the second language of the United States. It is also the most frequently studied second language in high schools, colleges, and graduate schools. If you are preparing for the AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam, it probably means that your Spanish is already strong, and you are on track to becoming fluent. Congratulations! This AP Spanish test is designed to measure how well you communicate with others in Spanish, how well you can present, and how well you can interpret (and respond to) what you read and hear. This includes your ability to think critically, your overall fluency, and how accurate your grammar is, especially your ability to form coherent sentences. You should pass if you can comprehend Spanish close to how a native speaker would in many different contexts, most of which come from various Spanish-speaking milieu. The exam also gauges your cultural knowledge of Spanish-speaking countries and peoples. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, bear with me. It may sound daunting, but you can do it! Similar to any standardized or AP test, the key is anxiety management and preparing well in advance.  Here are 13 tips that will help you prepare for and defeat the AP Spanish exam: Get a Spanish tutor!  There are tons of study booklets and materials available to help you practice, but a tutor can help you find the best ones, plus provide tips for helping you organize and channel your time. For a limited time, you can also check out one of TakeLessons live, online Spanish classes for free. Practice Spanish on mobile applications.  These can help make learning fun and dynamic, where textbooks may fail. Manage your anxiety! Your fear about bombing the test may become a significant barrier, potentially bigger than the studying and the test’s difficulty itself! Remember, you got this far already. Mindfulness techniques can help it’s no coincidence that students who believe in their ability to pass usually do. Begin studying early preferably four months before.  Our brains absorb information the best when it’s presented relatively briefly but consistent over a large time span, such as 30-60 minutes of studying 3-6 times weekly. This is particularly true of language learning this is why many Spanish classes are scheduled daily for an hour, whereas non-language classes are often scheduled in two-hour blocks once or twice weekly. Don’t underestimate the importance of practice tests. Kaplan and the Princeton Review both offer practice tests online. There are also many practice tests for the AP Spanish exam available for free online. Know how to conjugate most verbs, especially the most commonly used ones, like tener, poder, and hablar. Know the difference between por and para, ser and estar, and  conocer and saber. The multiple choice part, which is half the test, tends to focus on this and is formulaic and straightforward to learn and practice. Know the basic formulas of certain grammatical structures, such as superlatives (Él es el más…). Know the time tenses, like el imperfecto, perterito, el plusperfecto, condicional,  and futuro. Know plural and singular, and masculine vs. feminine. I cannot tell you how many people have incorrectly answered certain multiple questions, or were dinged in the writing sections due to a silly mistake here. Remember that many nouns don’t follow the basic rule that nouns ending in -a are feminine and nouns that end in -o are masculine. There are many exceptions to this rule, such as el tema and la mano. Keep your general Spanish skills fresh by practicing regularly! Keep in touch with friends you meet from Spanish-speaking countries and practice with people you know who also speak Spanish. Watch telenovelas. They can be funny, but corny. If they hook you, they make for great practice! Download Pandora and listen to Spanish music on your smartphone. Many of them are catchy and learning the lyrics can give your Spanish a great lift! In conclusion, you can do it! Systematic and early practice is the key. Set up a consistent study schedule, consult your Spanish tutor for additional study tips and conversation practice, and stay positive! Need help with additional AP tests? Check out our tips for the: AP World History Exam AP Environmental Science Exam AP Statistics Exam AP Calculus Exam AP Language and Composition Exam Jason N. tutors English and Spanish in Fairfax, CA.  He majored in Spanish at UC Davis, lived in Mexico for 3 years where he completed a Masters degree in Counseling, and studied Spanish Literature and Psychology at the University of Costa Rica. Learn more about Jason 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 Photo by biologycorner

The Little-Known Difficulties Of Playing Beginner Guitars

The Little-Known Difficulties Of Playing Beginner Guitars Suzy S. If youre in the market for a guitar, youve likely seen beginner models and packages offered. But are they worth it? Find out in this guest post by Austin, TX teacher  Samuel B... Recently some of my beginner students have requested shopping tips for more advanced models of guitars. Though my familiarity with standard models for various genres is considerable, I dont train aspiring musicians to master one specific genre. Although jazz sounds best when played on a hollow-bodied electric with f holes on either side of the strings (just as blues-rock is played best on a Fender Stratocaster, electric Chicago-based blues on its cousin the Telecaster, and so forth), I dont recommend that you purchase one of these models for the reason cited above. Beginners frequently learn to play “beginner” guitar models (miniature instruments made by obscure companies). If youre a beginner, I recommend that your brand of purchase instead be recognizable. It need not be brand new or first-hand, but it should be a model of some note. Martin is one name of repute. So are Fender, Yamaha, Washburn, and Epiphone. These models are known not only for their sound, but for their relatively uncomplicated maintenance. While inexpensive, the beginner guitar models you see have multiple drawbacks: Beginner guitars produce a poor sound My first acoustic guitar (a “beginner” model) did. This is not an issue when youre being introduced to the instrument, but will likely become one once you reach an understanding of your potential as a musician. You want an instrument that broadcasts (not simply delivers) your sound. You might as well start with one. Beginner guitars are generally more difficult to re-string than their mainstream counterparts Im remembering several bridge-related hiccups with my first electric (another obscure model), some of which required the use of Allen wrenches. At one point, I even lost a weak tuning peg on it and had to resort to an ill-fitting replacement during the rest of the instruments shelf life. If memory serves, the pickup itself wobbled as it appeared to have been poorly fastened. Recognizable Plug-In Acoustics Give You the Most Options I can only recommend the genre-specific models listed at the beginning of the article if youve made your desire to master only one technique unequivocal. Otherwise, recognizable plug-in acoustics give you the most leverage, whatever your aspiration be it to perform, record, lead singing, teach singing, or even embark on a musicological endeavor like collecting and learning little-known folk songs. Theyre durable, sonically pleasing, and are proper equipment for anything from Kum Ba Ya around a campfire to a CSNY reunion show at the Hollywood Bowl in that the simple element of electricity (or lack thereof) determines the role theyll play. So, What Type of Guitar Should Beginners Purchase? As a performer, my act falls within the singer-songwriter category, which typically involves the use of an acoustic guitar plugged into a sound system. I own two: a Yamaha (purchased from some former housemates for less than $100) and a Takamine (which I obtained roughly 10 years ago upon trading in both my first black electric model and my Telecaster imitation model I may have even sacrificed an inexpensive amplifier or two in the exchange as well). My Takamine has been a faithful sidekick during innumerable sets at local coffeehouses here in Austin. Its also one of the most recognizable acoustic-electric brand names. I always have it in my lap when I teach and I believe it to be among the top user-friendly models; it has proved itself the most versatile and reliable guitar Ive ever owned or played. It sounds cleaner and is more robust than any other model familiar to me. Its durability has allowed me to serve the multiple roles of performer, teacher, and independent recording artist. I can also maintain my relatively low-consumption lifestyle the backpack straps on its case (a separate purchase) make for easy transport on bike, bus, and even plane. Be Patient And Open-Minded While Shopping The best shopping advice, of course, is to explore multiple options. Despite my mainstream-oriented advice about the brands, I recommend that you seek your model in a pawn shop or locally-owned music store, as these outlets tend to have better deals than large chains. You might even have luck on Craigslist. I also recommend that you compare prices as much as possible. Just as you need a reliable vehicle to carry you long distances, you need a sturdy, versatile, and aurally-attractive instrument to accompany the ongoing development of your musical knowledge and enthusiasms â€" preferably from the very start. That way, you wont have to anticipate replacing your instrument down the line. Samuel B. teaches beginner  guitar lessons in Austin, TX. He teaches lessons face-to-face without sheet music, which is his adaptation of Japanese instruction (involving a call-and-response method).  Learn more about Samuel 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 Photo by rosipaw