Internet Marketing Strategies for Your Successful Computer Tutoring Business

Internet Marketing Strategies for Your Successful Computer Tutoring BusinessStarting a computer tutoring business in Edmonton is easier than you think and they will have no problem finding an Internet platform to advertise their programs. There are now several resources online, including free computer tutoring websites, community computer centers, and even specialized Internet-based agencies.These programs offer specialized computer classes for senior citizens and students that are in financial trouble. You might have also come across a networking website offering tutoring services.These websites offer videos, audio and support online. The training can be done at home or with the help of the tutor. With the help of such websites you can get a number of references from friends and family members.Some of these websites offer PC or Mac software that allows the tutor to use the Internet to get the information needed and a system to distribute the same to a number of people. Some of the t utors also have knowledge of Internet marketing to promote the tutoring services. Internet marketing is a great business tool because it can be used to attract potential clients and enhance the size of your database.There are many ways to market the business, but most of them involve a business plan. You must first find out if there is a need for your services, how much you can charge and how often you can tutor. Your skills and experience must match the needs of your clients.Marketing strategies are a crucial aspect of any businesses because it will determine the amount of money you earn and the kind of success you will have. If you are not sure about your business idea or want to broaden your network of referrals you might want to consider enrolling in one of the tutoring services.A lot of free tutoring websites offer programs like online tutoring for seniors. There are sites where you can have the use of a computer, speakers and an Internet connection at no cost. These tutoring w ebsites are good opportunities for people looking for extra cash as well as anyone who need additional assistance and ideas in learning a new language.

Find Sewing Jobs as a Teacher

Find Sewing Jobs as a Teacher How to Find Sewing Jobs ChaptersTeaching Sewing Classes as Part of a GroupTeaching Sewing at a Fashion SchoolTeaching Sewing in Private TutorialsTeaching Sewing Classes OnlineSewing Tutorial Definitions“Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” - Rachel ZoeSinger sewing machines are doing well. In recent years, the brand has seen an increase in sales thanks to more people getting into arts and crafts and wanting to learn a new skill.Not that many people know how to use a sewing machine, do stitches, or even thread a needle.  That’s why more and more people are deciding to get sewing tutorials and learn more about embroidery, customising clothes, knitting, and sewing, of course. It's always easier to find work in growing industries as there are more job openings.If you’re fashion designer, why not offer your services to the newbies wanting to make their own clothes, sew on a button, fix the hole in their jeans, or look for sewing jobs in schools and colleges?If you're stitching clot hes full time in a warehouse or factory, why not look for a job posting, change your career, and start networking so that you can find jobs in haute couture?Before you start your job search, make sure that you're skilled and qualified!In this article, we're going to show you what a recruiter might be searching for and how you can improve your career with work at a fashion school or how to get a new job doing what you love!they just need to keep an eye open for job opportunities and vacancies, be a diligent worker and good sewer, be good at advertising their tutorials, and, one of the most important things when entering the world of private tutorials, be good with people.

The Loog Guitar Revolution Guitar Lessons for Kids Will Never be the Same

The Loog Guitar Revolution Guitar Lessons for Kids Will Never be the Same ksurmacewicz As a music educator and performer, I’m always interested in learning about new products and tools that can help students succeed.   When I discovered the Loog Guitar, a 3-string interchangeable guitar designed with children in mind, I immediately took notice. I was excited to find out more about the Loog because I took guitar lessons when I was 8 years old, and it proved to be easier said than done. The guitar was added to the list of instruments that were uncomfortable for my tiny hands (which I thought would grow eventually, but never did â€" to this day, I still struggle to reach the octave on the piano!). I became discouraged and quit after about 6 months, and eventually took up the ukulele many years later â€" which has been much easier for me to maneuver but even now, the ¾ size guitar is problematic for me. Many of our TakeLessons instructors prefer not to teach guitar to young children for this very reason.  Now, with the Loog Guitar in the picture, instead of teachers having to focus on finding alternate fingerings and keeping a frustrated student focused on the difficult task of mastering an adult-sized instrument, they can focus on teaching the child to make music!   And isn’t that really what it’s all about? I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to interview Rafael Atijas, the creator of the Loog Guitar, who provided insight into how his concept came about and what the benefits will be for children who want to learn the guitar. ______________________________________________________________________________________ When did you realize that there was a need for a guitar made especially for kids? I saw my 6 year old niece trying to make music with one of those $30 guitars when I thought There has to be a better way. It was then that I realized that kids’ guitars are usually just cheap, scaled-downed replicas of classical guitars.   They are not really designed with kids’ needs, comfort or even safety in mind. Where does your knowledge of guitars come from? I studied guitar and was in different bands during high school and college (as was almost every other kid I knew). I was very much into rock music and at some point I just fell in love with guitars especially vintage electric guitars. What age group do you feel would benefit the most from the Loog Guitar? Time will tell, but I think kids ages 6 to 9 will be the ones that will get the most out of the Loog Guitar, since this is the guitar that allows them to build chords without the need to form complicated shapes with their little hands. Where did you get the idea to call it the “Loog?” It is my subtle but very meaningful homage to Andrew Loog Oldham, the first manager and producer of The Rolling Stones. I always found him to be a fascinating character (Im a rock nerd, as you can see) and back when I had a band, I had a chance to meet him and he was super kind to us. What types of learning materials are you planning on coming out with to assist with the learning process? We plan to include a manual on how to play with three strings, and we will also offer video tutorials on our website. What does this product mean for kids who have an interest in learning guitar? Kids will have a friendlier instrument that will stimulate them to make music and get creative with it. What I like about the Loog Guitar is that it works whether you already know how to play guitar or not. And that’s what I hope it means to kids who have an interest in learning guitar: a fun and easy way to play music. Anything else you wish to add? I am truly humbled by the response the Loog Guitar project got on Kickstarter (the website that helped raise the money to launch the product), and one of the things I like the most is that so many people from the education field have reached out to me and had very positive things to say about the Loog Guitar. I know TakeLessons.com reaches a lot of music teachers, so I want to use this opportunity to extend my thanks to all of them. ______________________________________________________________________________________ There you have it, folks.   I’m personally thrilled that there is now a product out there that will make learning guitar simpler for young children.   For teachers, what have you experienced in teaching guitar to young children? Parents and students, what are some of the challenges that you’ve faced learning guitar yourself or watching your child learn guitar?   I’d love to hear your feedback, so please leave comments below if you feel so inclined!   Now if only I could travel back in time and learn to play guitar on the Loog, maybe I would have stuck with it! To learn more, visit www.loogguitar.com or check out the Loog Guitar in action below: The Loog Guitar in Action from Loog Guitars on Vimeo. Monet Payne is the Community Manager for TakeLessons.com. She is dedicated to providing the latest on music education and technology to those who seek it. By night, Monet is a professional singing actress, starring in musicals, operas, and everything in between. Monet has her Bachelors in Music, with a concentration in Vocal Performance, and enjoys teaching voice, involving herself as Vocal Director in several productions. She proudly co-founded a non-profit organization for Voice Education and her next venture will be to start her own theater production company. 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

A Guide to Common Russian Verbs

A Guide to Common Russian Verbs Verbs in Russian with Tenses: Common Verbs and How to Use Them ChaptersA Few Russian Verb BasicsThe Russian Verb for “to be”Learn Russian Verbs of MotionSome Other Useful Verbs For Studying RussianWhen learning Russian grammar and vocabulary, verbs play an important role. Together with nouns and their pronoun forms, they make up the core of a sentence. Of course, you will need to learn the greetings, cardinal numbers, days of the week and interrogative pronouns, but unless you want to speak in grunts and single Russian words, learning Russian verbs is a must!Now, as much as we would like to give you a list of all the Russian verbs out there, you would probably be better served in that by buying a Russian-English dictionary or downloading a Russian dictionary app.Instead, here are some of the most common verbs used in Russian phrases to help you get around on your next trip to Moscow or St. Peterburg.Discover how you can easily learn Russian London here.several places, used ??????. So as long as you are going somewhere on your own two feet, t his is the verb you should use.However, as soon as you are travelling or taking a form of transportation, you should use ????? for unidirectional motion and ?????? for multidirectional motion. The mode of transportation is irrelevant - whether it is a car, bus or segway, is the verb for going somewhere with it.There are some fun Russian games you can play to help you give directions in Russian.Where to go? Russian verbs of movement can help. Photo credit: Hiro Otake on VisualHunt.comSome Other Useful Verbs For Studying RussianWhen taking Russian language courses, you might find some of these verbs useful. They are among the most common words in spoken Russian. Be careful of the spelling when learning your Russian vocabulary - try learning with flashcards, but instead of just saying the word out loud, write it down as well. That way you will practice the pronunciation of your Russian words and phrases and the Cyrillic alphabet at the same time.You can also use quizzes and games to le arn Russian language skills.Remember to learn the perfective/imperfective pair for the proper Russian verb conjugation! You might also want to say the verb conjugation in some of the tenses out loud when you study, just to make sure you conjugate irregular verbs right and understand how the imperative mood works. This site has a table with the conjugation of frequent Russian verbs.MeaningImperfectivePerfectiveTo speak???????????????To know???????????To like or want?????????????To see?????????????To stand or stand up??????????????To think???????????????To speak??????????????????To give??????????To work??????????????????To love??????????????To answer or reply????????????????To write??????????????To remember????????????????To sit??????????????To eat?????????To read???????????????To have??????????

What is it Like to Attend Ohio University

What is it Like to Attend Ohio University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teachtheyre sharing their college experiences as well. Kedrin is an Atlanta tutor and a 2013 graduate of Ohio University where he studied communications, English, and theater. He currently specializes in math tutoring, English tutoring, and numerous other areas. See what he had to say about his time at Ohio University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Kedrin: The campus setting can be overwhelming at first. Its the first time that you are on your own in a sense. Activity is vast and extensive; its almost as if you dont know exactly what to engage in first. However, its all about catering to your intereststhe campus setting has something for every individual. You will find an eclectic selection of people on campus; its the equivalent of getting your first taste of the real world. It can be both exciting and intimidating; however, everything will be just fine. Campus is both urban and safe. Its like being in a hip, upbeat city with your peers where there is time for fun and academics. Theres always something to do whether it be a gathering, social event or an event hosted by the school itself. Security is always on duty at all hours of the day and night. If you would like someone to escort you back to your dorm late at night, there are security officials on hand for that. Most freshmen are not allowed to have cars; this is where bus es become useful transportation. In addition, you can catch campus buses to/from your classes as well (freshmen or not). You dont need a car/bike on campus, but most upperclassmen like to have one when its allowed. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants at Ohio University? Kedrin: Professors, academic advisers and teaching assistants are very accessible. The most common way to contact these officials would be via email. Most of these individuals are usually very efficient when it comes to responding promptly. In addition, you can always set up appointments to visit with professors, academic advisers and teaching assistants in your spare time. I would recommend this as well. Its always nice to be able to communicate in-person with staff on campus. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Kedrin: Dorm life is something that I think all students should experience. Its not the most glamorous way of living, but its also one that you will always remember. The rooms are usually much smaller than your room at home. I wouldnt suggest bringing everything you own. In addition, you are likely to have a roommate or roommates (unless you request a single room). Dining options usually fall under the category of a meal plan. A meal plan consists of a specific amount that you are given to spend each week on food. This amount is loaded onto a card weekly that you just swipe for purchases. There are small grocery stores on campus, dining halls, food courts, etc. all for food options. There are also always fast food restaurants that you can eat at, but you will have to spend your own money at those places. Meal plans usually dont apply. The location of dormitories is central to everything you will need as a student. In fact, its so central that you will be able to walk to everywhere yo u need to be (class, events, to eat, etc.). Some walks may be longer than others, but its never too bad! The opportunity to socialize with other students is all around you! Dorm life is the perfect opportunity for this. You naturally and organically get to know the people that stay in the same residence hall as you. There are activities and social gatherings specific to your residence hall, which also allows you to socialize with other students. Also, getting involved on campus is a great way to connect with students. I would recommend joining a club or organization that you are interested in. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported at Ohio University? Kedrin: I would say the major or program that is best represented/supported would be anything in the School of Business. Business is a typical and popular area of study for a lot of students. A degree in business opens the door for a range of opportunities in the workforce. Also, communications is well represented and supported at universities (for the same reasons). I studied journalism with a focus in broadcast. Ive always been interested in entertainment and television. I also had minors in Theater and English. I felt these areas of studies reflected my interests. I didnt want to choose another area of study just for the sake of security after college. I recommend studying what interests you and the opportunities will come. The university did a fabulous job of supporting my area of study. The E.W. Scripps School of Journalism is one of the most noted in the country. 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? Kedrin: It wasnt difficult for me to meet people as a freshman. Im a people person and can get along with almost anyone. I think it really depends on the person and his or her personality. Its important to keep an open mind because you will meet several people that are different than you are (which makes the college experience what it is). Greek life is very present on campus. For me, it didnt influence my social life one way or another. At the end of the day, they are students and people just like everyone else. Greek life has just always been something that a certain group of people cater to. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Kedrin: The Career Center is a resource I would suggest all students take advantage of while it is accessible to them. A college campus prepares you for life after college. It would only make sense that resources relating to careers, employment, etc. be reachable for students. There are career fairs and events that several reputable companies come to for the purpose of recruiting students for potential employment. Its a great thing given that students get to see what awaits them post graduation (and options that they have). The Career Center is beneficial for helping you narrow down what you may be interested in as a career. A lot of times students go through their undergraduate years unsure. Career resources on campus help you get rid of some of this uncertainty. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Kedrin: Libraries, the student union and dorm lounges are good for a number of things. Studying, organization meetings, social gatherings, or just to hang out; these are all things that take place in these particular places on campus. As a student, these areas are always easily accessible to you. However, depending on where you are in the semester (or the time of day), the issue of over-crowding could be active. This usually occurs during finals week. A lot of studying takes place during this time. You will find that libraries are full of students when finals are about to take place. Its all part of the college experience. Describe the surrounding town at Ohio University. Kedrin: The surrounding area is a small town. The university is actually the main attraction in Athens, Ohio. However, all of your normal establishments are still there (Walmart, Kroger, McDonalds, a movie theater, bowling alley, etc.). The university itself is what makes Athens fun, and a town to always remember. Athens doesnt have a downtown or city area. The uptown area on campus actually serves as the substitute for what one would consider downtown. Individuals who do not attend the university would sometimes make their way to uptown for entertainment. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Kedrin: The student body is very large at Ohio University. Students love the university given that its like its own little town where memories are created. I was pleased with the typical class size. It really helped create the experience of what its like to be a college student in a college classroom (while also being part of the general student body). If the class size had been too small, it would take away from the experience. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Kedrin: One class I loved the most was a theater/acting class that I took. I am a lover of the arts and entertainment. I enjoyed this class so much that sometimes it didnt even feel like a real class. We were required to go see plays, movies and things relating to the arts. Ill never forget The Addams Family Musical came to campus, and it was our assignment to go see the show and write a review. How cool is that?! Check out Kedrin's tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

The Best Books for History Revision

The Best Books for History Revision Smash those A Levels and GCSEs with these History Revision Guide. ChaptersRevise Right with the Exam Boards’ History TextbooksPerfect Your Knowledge with Access to HistoryThe Classic Books for GCSE Revision: CGP HistoryRely on Cambridge to Prepare for Your International GCSEs and A LevelsReading Outside the Box with Teenage-Friendly History TextsAcademic Journals: Not Quite History Revision BooksConclusion.Nothing beats a good book. And when you are revising, especially, a range of intelligent, comprehensive, and relevant history textbooks are indispensable. Because whilst the new technologies offered by the internet are hugely helpful â€" with some excellent apps and podcasts designed to aid your studying process â€" all knowledge is contained in a book.But the key words in that second sentence above â€" ‘intelligent, comprehensive, and relevant’ â€" are key, as it’s important to know the best, most helpful, and most interesting texts that you are going to take with you into the examination season. Because revising wrongly can be as bad as not revising at all.So, on that thought, we have compiled a list of some of the best history texts available for GCSE and A Level revision. We have books that will introduce you to the central themes and ideas in your syllabus, texts that you will certainly find in your classroom, and tomes that will encourage you to read outside of the curriculum.At whichever stage you are in your secondary school history journey â€" whether you’re preparing for an International Baccalaureate (IB) or an iGCSE â€" you’ll find the texts here that you need,  on modern history, early modern Britain, or world history from across the centuries. Let’s get started. MarkHistory Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JohnHistory Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarjotteHistory Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErinHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChantelleHistory Teacher 5.00 (2) £17/h1 st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyHistory Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterHistory Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SerenaHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsRevise Right with the Exam Boards’ History TextbooksLet’s start with the textbooks designed by the examination boards themselves â€" the examiner company responsible for writing, marking, and setting the specification for your exams. These companies contribute to the production of textbooks for schools and, as you can imagine, they know the content that needs to be included.Learning your subjects from these books is the perfect way to study the basics of your course â€" as you know that they are going to have precisely the correct framework required by your exam.Get studying - with your own pile of history books!AQA AS and A Level LearningAs one of the main exam boards for A Level and GCSE, AQA produces a lot of history revision books itself â€" with the help of Oxford and Cambridge University Presses.The AQA A Level courses start from the eleventh century and the board offers a choice of topics to engage with up until the present day â€" from the rise and power of Hitler to the American and Chinese twentieth centuries, from the religious rebellion in the sixteenth century to revolution and civil war in the seventeenth.They are written in such a way as to make them engaging and they are often crammed full of images, tasks for homework, and primary source exercises. This makes the experience of reading them a little livelier than most other textbooks. And, approval by the exam boards means that you’ll know that you are on the right track.AQA, of course, have GCSE textbooks too â€" on courses including Health and the People and Elizabethan England. Study for Edexcel with Pearson’s A Level History SeriesThe educational publisher, Pearson, provides the bulk of the textbooks for Edexcel â€" another major UK examination b oard. They are great for pictorial analysis and for representations of the events that you are studying â€" as we all know simple text alone can be rather dry. But the images along with the clear and precise timelines â€" with concise and memorable annotations â€" make this a really readable series.Like the AQA series, Edexcel stretches across a huge time-span, engaging with medieval history and movements for civil rights in the modern day. Each module has its own textbook â€" which is developed under the supervision of academics at universities.The GCSE series is just as popular â€" with an incredibly popular Key Stage 4 course in the Tudors â€" and Pearson writes the textbooks for this too. Note that you’ll need to buy the book for teachers if you want to find the answers to the questions in the book for students.OCR’s Range of Revision ResourcesHodder Education offer the resources you’ll need for an OCR history GCSE, whichever modular programme you are studying for â€" Expl aining the Modern World or the Schools History Project.These texts are immensely readable and, in taking important quotations and perspectives from historians, are authoritative and informative, giving you a broad selection of viewpoints and ideas. They are very strong on conceptual clarity and explanation, and they provide you with exactly the information you will need to know for your exams.Put away that laptop and get your books out - if you really want to crack history revision.Perfect Your Knowledge with Access to HistoryThe Access to History series, also by Hodder Education, is a hugely successful range of textbooks exploring all the A Level history topics â€" and ultimately getting students across the country to achieve their desired grades.The books in the series are usually written by secondary education teachers, by historians, and by members of the Royal Historical Society â€" so they are authoritative, deep in their analysis, but properly accessible and even enjoyable to read!Whilst these texts cover the content of courses by Edexcel, OCR, and AQA, they also cover other history syllabuses, including the IB.The Classic Books for GCSE Revision: CGP HistoryEvery student â€" whether they are studying maths, geography, or English Literature â€" should know about CGP revision guides. The chances are that you actually do know about them already.Recognised and used across the country for their fun, interactive strategies for the learner â€" from quizzes and essay questions to lesson plans â€" they are designed to teach and to test you with as little pain as possible. The series are split into two with one with the information to be studied and the other with the quizzes.You should recognise the logo with the little man holding the CGP book, yes. But beyond that, they have everything to get you through your GCSE exams in historical subjects from the industrial revolution to imperialism. MarkHistory Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tu tors JohnHistory Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarjotteHistory Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErinHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChantelleHistory Teacher 5.00 (2) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyHistory Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterHistory Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SerenaHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsRely on Cambridge to Prepare for Your International GCSEs and A LevelsFor those across the world studying the Cambridge International A Levels, you’ll probably know already that Cambridge University Press offers the best-published material for guidance through the course.These courses are designed for those applying for university and the textbooks provide the rigorous preparation that you would expect. The coursebooks on International History 1871-1945, European History 1789-1917 , or History of the USA 1840-1941 walk you through the topics straightforwardly, engagingly, and in all the detail that you would ever need.Reading Outside the Box with Teenage-Friendly History TextsWhat’s incredibly important about studying history at school is that you shouldn’t depend entirely on your textbooks. Whilst they are crucial in providing the organisation and perspective required, it cannot be recommended enough that you read around the subject you are studying â€" and that you read in general!So, just as a taster, here’s a handful of books which might prove handy if you are hoping to get a taste of the history world outside of the course textbook. It’s well worth doing â€" and it will give your grades a boost for sure.John Guy’s Guides to Tudor EnglandIf you’re the sort of person who reads the words ‘Cambridge academic’ and thinks they all must be stuffy and boring, John Guy is here to prove you wrong.If you study the Tudor modules at GCSE or A-Level yo u are sure to come across him at some point, as his two books Tudor England (1998) and The Tudor Monarchy (1997) are heavy-duty, super-readable studies of one of the most fascinating dynasties in English royalty.If you don’t believe that it is indeed readable, be assured that this Guy is a broadcaster too â€" so he knows how to avoid the heavy academic lingo. Oh, and his biography of Mary Queen of Scots has just been made into a film.Robert Service on Soviet RussiaFor those studying the history of Russia in the late-nineteenth and twentieth centuries, you should probably look at Robert Service’s career-long investigation into the subject.He’s written biographies of Lenin, Stalin, and Trotsky, as well as histories of twentieth-century, Tsarist, and post-Soviet Russia. And whilst the books are pretty long, they are perfect introductions to the world of Communist Russia.Robert Service's book on Stalin is an incomparable guide to the communist dictator.Mary Beard’s Ancient World You’ve probably heard of this historian already â€" as, these days, she is probably the most famous one around. Mary Beard works on the ancient world, meaning the Romans and their contemporaries, and she has written plenty of excellent books alongside her frequent appearances on TV.Maybe the best ones are Classics: A Very Short Introduction and the new SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome. For her impeccable reputation and her incredibly no-fuss writing style, she is a must-read for history students.Academic Journals: Not Quite History Revision BooksTo end on a similar note, you can find shorter texts to read to support your secondary school studies in academic journals. Again, these needn’t sound intimidating, as they are hugely helpful resources â€" and some academic writing can actually be quite fun!JStor is the place to start, which is something like a database for academic articles. Search for the subject you are studying and it will return hundreds of different articles. This o ne’s the way to get ahead of your schoolmates.Conclusion.For more information on history revision - from the best history revision websites to the best history resources per se - check out our further articles in the series!

Asian Cooking with a Wok

Asian Cooking with a Wok Why Should You Use a Wok? ChaptersThe Advantages of Cooking with a Wok5 Ways to Cook with a WokPreheating Your WokHot Wok, Cold OilThree Recipes for the WokWhich Wok Should I Buy?Whether it’s to cook tasty Japanese food, Thai food, Vietnamese food, or some Chinese food, the wok should be an essential part of your kitchen setup.Do you want to impress your friends with a tasty stir-fry of rice noodles, coconut milk, lemongrass, and tofu?Get a wok to ensure that you get the most out of every ingredient, be it meat, fish, or veggies when cooking Asian recipes!After reading this article, you’ll want to use a wok every day for not just authentic Eastern cuisine, but also Western, which you'll understand is quite different.Why not get cooking tutorials? GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (12) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teacher £30/h1st les son free!Discover all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Advantages of Cooking with a WokA wok is a Chinese invention (although it’s used all over the world). The word “wok” just means “an instrument used for cooking”. In China, woks have been used for over 2,000 years by farmers who would usually only have one, as that was all they could afford.When cooking with a wok, you won't really need as much oil. (Source: Stevepb)There are three main advantages to using a wok:Fast: food is cooked quickly thanks to the shape of the wok.Economic: the quicker the food cooks, the less energy you’ll use cooking them.Healthy: you don’t need a lot of oil when cooking with a wok. This means that your food will h ave fewer calories. Furthermore, food that’s cooked quickly retains more of its nutritional value, colour, and flavour.A wok is also easy to maintain. You can just rinse it with warm water. Another advantage of using very little oil or grease.Obviously, a wok is great for cooking Asian food, but it can also be used for plenty of other recipes, too. It’s a good investment and you can find them online, in homeware stores, and in Asian markets.Find out more about cooking classes around the UK.5 Ways to Cook with a WokOne of the wok’s biggest advantages is the different ways you can cook using it.There's nothing stopping you from cooking your usual food in the wok, too! (Source: Hans)Sautéing: This is when you cook cut food quickly for one or two minutes while constantly stirring and mixing the food with a wooden spatula. Make sure that the wok is hot before adding your food so that it cooks quickly. You can easily sauté vegetables, as well as beef and onions, before adding soy sauce or sweet and sour sauce once cooked.Frying: In this case, you’re going to have to add a lot of oil. You can use a wok to fry food, too. Of course, this means that it won’t be as healthy. You just have to boil the oil while making sure the wok is only half full so that you don’t burn it. You can then individually place your ingredients, spring rolls, or prawn crackers into the wok so that they don’t stick to each other and come out crunchy. You need to make sure that your food is dry so that the wok doesn’t spit. This is great for Chinese and Vietnamese dishes.Stewing: You can make dishes with sauces like Peking duck or caramelised pork which take longer to cook. You’ll need, you’ll need to cook at a low heat with the lid on while stirring occasionally so that it doesn’t stick to the bottom.Marinating: you can also leave raw meat in the wok for a few hours or overnight before cooking it. You pair it with a marinade of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, or hone y, for example. Don’t forget to store your raw meat in the fridge.Steaming: In order to steam, you’ll need two things: a bamboo steamer and a grill. Put the food you want to steam, like dumplings, seafood, meat, or fish, in the bamboo steamer. Put the bamboo steamer on the grill atop the wok and add water to the wok, ensuring that the water doesn’t reach the basket. Cover and cook. Be careful when removing the food as the steamer will be really hot.Whether you’re cooking healthy steamed food or frying everything, a wok can be really useful!Don't forget that if you're being healthy, you can steam your food, too! (Source: Pietrozj)You should check out this recipe for steamed crystal dumplings on one of favourite Asian food blogs, too. GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (12) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teac her £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsPreheating Your WokFood is often served quickly in Asian restaurants due to how hot woks are.How long does it take to preheat a wok?Until it passes the water test.Not familiar with the water test?Splash a bit of water into your wok! If the water evaporates instantly, your wok is ready to go!Find out more about cooking tutorials around the UK.Hot Wok, Cold OilOnce your wok is hot, add your cold oil.What type of oil?That’s a good question.You’ll need to use oil with high smoke point.  Your oil shouldn’t smoke at all when cooking.  Peanut oil is recommended over vegetable oil since it has a higher smoke point. Olive oil and butter can’ t be used as they’ll reach their smoke point under the high cooking temperature of the wok.Here's a useful article  on the smoke points of different oils.Three Recipes for the WokTo get you started using your wok, what’s better than a few Chinese recipes?Keep in mind that this is just a taster of what you can do with your wok. You can make chicken curry, Cantonese rice, or even chicken noodle soup, and as you get better, move on to more elaborate and complicated Asian dishes.To start, here’s a pretty easy recipe for stir fried shrimp with cashew nuts.To serve two, you’ll need:200g of raw prawns40g of cashew nuts (these are famous in traditional Chinese medicine for healing your kidneys, since they are similar in shape)1 slice of ginger1 slim stem of spring onion1 carrotFor the marinade:1 teaspoon of Shaoxing rice wine1 egg white2 teaspoons of potato starchFor the sauce:1 teaspoon of soy sauce1 teaspoon of Shaoxing wine1/2 teaspoons of potato starchA pinch of saltA bit of wat erPreparation:For the marinade:lightly beat the eggs while making sure that they don’t form peaks.Wet the potato starch with the water.Add the egg white.Add the wine and season with salt before beating again.Put the prawns into the mix.For the sauce:Mix all the ingredients together with a bit of water and stir.To cook:Cut the carrot and the spring onion into slices and dice the ginger. Pour a bit of oil into the wok and add the cashew nuts. Let them cook gently until golden.Add a bit of oil and then add the prawns. Sauté for 2 minutes. Don’t mix them but stir the wok lightly.Take the prawns out once cooked.Add the ginger, carrot, and spring onion for two minutes. Add the prawns again and cook for another 2 minutes.Add the sauce once thickened and then add the cashew nuts.Serve hot.You can prepare some delicious prawns using your new wok. (Source: Sharonang)The second recipe we’ve got for you is a napa cabbage stew with tofu.To serve two, you’ll need the following:Half a nap a cabbage250g block of tofu1 tablespoon of oil1 tablespoon of soy sauce3-4 slices of ginger1 small onionSalt and pepperPreparation:Cut the cabbage into big pieces and separate the green from the white. The white will be used for cooking.Cut the tofu into large cubesCook the onion and the sliced ginger in a bit of oil for a minute. Add the cabbage white and cook for 3-4 minutes before adding the soy sauce.Add the green cabbage leaves and mix. Once the leaves are tender, add a glass of water a mix well.Place the pieces of tofu on the cabbage without mixing. After ten minutes, mix gently, season with salt and pepper, and let the whole thing stew for another 10 minutes.Ready to serve!Since the last recipe is steamed pork dumplings with rice, it’s not suitable for vegetarians.Here are the ingredients you’ll need for 2 or 3 people:300g of pork ribsA packet of rice cakes for making the dumplingsFor the marinade:3-4 slices of ginger2 garlic cloves1 table spoon of black soy bean soup1 ta blespoon of Shaoxing wine2 teaspoons of soy sauceA pinch of sugarFor the sauce:1 tablespoon of soy sauce1 teaspoon of sugar1 teaspoon of soy saucePreparation:Cut the pork ribs between the bones.Finely slice the ginger and crush the garlic with a garlic press.Mix all the ingredients for the marinade with the pork and let it stand for at least 20 minutes.Put the pork ribs on the rice cakes and place everything in a bamboo steamer on top of a grill. Half fill your wok with water and place the grill and steamer on top and put the lid on the steamer.Steam for an hour at a medium heat.Heat up the sauce and pour over the ribs and rice cakes once cooked.Enjoy!You can find more recipes like this on a number of Chinese cooking blogs. You’ll find loads of different ways to use your wok and cook using a variety of different techniques.In short:“Don’t eat too much fat, sugar, or salt”. With a wok, you needn’t worry too much about this as you can make a variety of balanced meals.You loc k in the flavour and nutritional value of your food: be it peppers, bamboo shoots, coriander, basil, soy sprouts, or spice.A wok can be used to cook in a variety of different ways: sautéing, stewing, marinating, frying, or steaming. You can cook almost anything you can imagine, from a beef stir-fry to banana fritters.Get your credit cards ready! A decent wok can be between £25 and £50.Find out more about cooking tutorials around the UK.Which Wok Should I Buy?A good wok is one of the most versatile pans you’ll find in the kitchen.In addition to being a good choice for sautéing, you can also use it for frying, steaming, and stewing.It’s the most common pan used for cooking Asian cuisine. However, not all woks are created equal.You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to sizes, shapes, materials, and handles.Here are a few things to look for when picking a wok.The Different MaterialsYou’ll have to choose between:Steel woksCast iron woksStainless steel woksNon-stick woksThe Ma nufacturing ProcessSome woks are made from a circular piece of carbon steel before being pressed over a mould. They are cheap, but they’re also completely smooth and therefore more fragile. Spun woks are made on a tower, giving them their distinct shape (concentric circles).More Useful InformationTraditional woks have the shape of a deep bowl so that they can be placed into a circular hole over a flame.The best compromise is a wok with a flat base and gently sloping sides.This means you’ll have a lot of space for heating meats and vegetables at high temperatures while still having a lot of space to work with when it comes to mixing everything together.Here are some woks that come highly recommended:WokAvailable At:Size:Dishwasher Safe:Material:Price:Good Housekeeping Institute Score:Carbon Steel WokJohn Lewis24cmNoCarbon Steel £1898Ikea TolerantIkea33cmNoNon-stick £672Ken Hom Carbon Steel Performance WokJohn Lewis31cmNoCarbon Steel £28.9992Carbon Steel Wok (Flat Base)souschef.co .uk33cmNoCarbon Steel £1583Loft Copper Effect WokMarks and Spencer30cmYesNon-stick £29.5075Find out more about Asian cookery.Check if there is a cooking class london you can enrol on.