Find a Tutor - Who Can Teach You How To Learn

Find a Tutor - Who Can Teach You How To LearnIf you are looking for a tutor, I can understand if you're very worried. Not only that, but you don't know who to ask or even where to find them. The internet can sometimes be a great help in locating someone to meet with but it doesn't always make the right decisions.Finding a perfect teacher isn't as easy as turning on your computer. Sure, you can look online and type in 'teacher' and see all of the names that pop up. However, these teachers may not be what you're looking for and most likely won't meet your needs. So how do you know if a teacher is perfect for you?Trust your gut instincts. It's always best to have someone be honest and tell you that they are perfect. You should never settle for someone you aren't completely happy with. But there are times when you need a little push to make you take the step.Be careful of someone that seems too eager to work with you. The one thing that you shouldn't do is sign a contract to work with th em. Sometimes you need to get all of the facts first before signing anything. And if there is a line that you can't cross, do it now.Experience is always important. Some people will find a mentor or find an experienced teacher that knows exactly what they're doing. That's great but I've found that some teachers might be better than others.Be open minded. There are so many different types of education and disciplines to choose from. Look at your reasons for needing a tutor and then determine which one works for you.Finding the right tutor shouldn't be hard. Just be sure that you find someone who can actually help you in your goals, and you'll be able to reach them faster.

The Dynamic Duo Music and Language Learning Join Forces

The Dynamic Duo Music and Language Learning Join Forces Music and language learning is the best combo since peanut butter and jelly.I boosted my  Spanish to fluency by listening to Enrique Iglesias, Marc Anthony and Shakira at full blast.  I got truly passionate about Portuguese after discovering Joao Gilberto. Im brushing up on some dusty Japanese skills these days by cranking up the J-Pop.True story.If only I knew sooner just how scientific my off-key singing and  salsa  dancing actually is!As it turns out, theres a reason why so many language learners swear by  studying with music.Whether its  foreign music in the background  to get you in the learning zone,  music and lyrics paired for active learning or just  dance tracks played at full volume for fun times, music can supercharge your learning. What Science Is Telling Us About Music and LanguageMusic Improves Overall  Brain PowerChildren whove been musically trained start out in life with tons of great advantages. For the better part of a century, psychological research has continu ally pointed to music lessons being a key element of early childhood education.By playing or listening to music, many regions of the brain are activatedâ€"even some pretty unexpected regions, ones that are seemingly unrelated to music and listening comprehension.If you can play or are learning to play an instrument, more power to you.  Musical training has been shown to significantly impact brain development.  Playing an instrument exercises your brain, ultimately getting it to make stronger neural  connections and start firing faster. All in all, a nimbler brain can tackle language lessons with greater ease.This is exactly why music is often used as therapy for people facing brain damage and linguistic challenges.Music Puts the Memory Pedal to the MetalIt has been straight-up proven that music aids memory in language learning.  In one recent study, research participants made bigger strides in acquiring Hungarian when they sang their new language.One prominent psychology researcher has devoted his career to the study of memory and music.  But, for Dr. Roediger, the issue isnt so much getting information into your brain as it is  getting information out.  Have you ever spent a huge chunk of time cramming vocabulary or grammar, only to struggle with recalling what you just taught yourself? Then youve experienced this firsthand. Memory is about informative storage  and  retrieval. What good is it to learn anything if you can never access that information again?According to Dr. Roedigers research (along with the work of numerous other intrigued psychologists) music creates a sticky structure that gloms to key information and helps it all get extracted neatly when you need it. Its kind of like when youre trying to remember the order of the alphabet and need to sing a chunk of the alphabet song you learned in kindergarten to help you. I know Id personally be unable to list all 50 United States without the 50 Nifty United States song I learned in elementary school.Mu sic is so darn powerful in memory recall that many medical professionals suggest music as therapy for elderly patients with Alzheimers, dementia and other degenerative memory loss conditions. Hearing songs that held some  sentimental value for them allows them to rediscover  long lost memories, things locked away in parts of their brains which have been extensively damaged by their medical conditions.This beautiful idea brings me to the next benefit music has for  language learning.Music Makes Us HappyWhen youre learning a language, attitude counts. Singing, dancing and music brings joy. The key is to be uninhibited while singing along to your musicâ€"enjoy the experience without any pressure about technique, accuracy or sound.Especially when listening to music that you love, your brain releases dopamine in response.  Plus, its even been shown to  aid those coping with mild to severe depression, lessening feelings of sadness, hopelessness and despair.Singing and Speaking Are One and the SameBut the benefits of music for language learners dont  just end with general brain-boosting effects. Oh, noâ€"music and language learning are inextricably linked.In the first years of our lives, it turns out that our soft, squishy baby brains cant tell the difference between lullabies and nursery rhymes.  Our natural sense for syntax comes from every word we hear in the crib, whether its sung or spoken. Music and language are all one and the same for us. Lullabies impact the way we start speaking and, likewise, the speech we absorb impacts our singing and musical sensibilities.Music Defines YouEven if you dont consider yourself a music-aficionado, you probably know what you do and dont like. The type of music we enjoy is strongly connected to our personalities.No matter what kind of music you like, its most likely out there in your target language. Choose to learn with the music you like best, and youll give yourself a boost of personal satisfaction and enjoyment. This keeps language learning fun and personalized, as it always should be. Thats whatll give you the momentum and motivation to keep practicing!Why Music and Language Are a Dynamic DuoPut simply: Music is  a language.  Think about it. Even when there arent any words set to a tune (or when the song is accompanied by foreign words that you cant understand at all), you can still grasp what the tune intends to express. Is it a happy, upbeat song meant to make you smile? A love song that makes your heart flutter? A blues song about heartbreak that conjures up rainclouds around your head?Bottom line, we can communicate through music. While each culture, society and individual has their own spin on music, music is truly a universal human language. Its a uniquely beautiful form of human expression. Its only natural that we want to channel music into our language learning.There are tons of language and culture lessons that can be learned from the diverse music out there:Culture.  Youll start to hear c ommon pairings of types of lyrics with types of music. For example, if you hear the fanfare of a national anthem, you know that the words are meant to express a strong sentiment of national pride. What words does this language use to capture and express this feeling? When I first heard the Ecuadorian national anthem (starting with ¡Salve, Oh Patria, mil veces! ¡Oh Patria, (We salute you, Oh Homeland, a thousand times! Oh Homeland!), thats exactly the moment I learned the word patria, which is often used by Ecuadorian nationals to describe their country in moments of prideâ€"both in speech and song.Syntax.  Whether you realize it or not, catchy choruses will teach you word orderâ€"so youll have the building blocks to branch out and use the language authentically.Diverse vocabulary.  From lofty, poetic language to hip, trendy slang, music has it all.Bilingualism.  By listening to bilingual music, you can train your brain to switch quickly and seamlessly between languages. Thats an a wesome skill for a language learner to have!The Best Types of Music for Language LearningEarworms. An earworm is a devastatingly catchy songâ€"you know, the kind that wriggles its way deep into your brain through your ear canal. They dig in deep and pop up when you least expect them. Youre minding your own business and thenâ€"oh, dangâ€"that Britney Spears song is playing in your head again. You may even be humming along or mouthing the lyrics. To find good earworms, consult modern pop music with repetitive lyrics and cute choruses. You can even look for television commercials and viral YouTube-based advertisements in your target language. Like, the only reason I know the word for lottery ticket in Spanish is because of this annoying little number.Childrens music.  It might seem below your language level, but even advanced learners can glean new information from childrens songs. Theyre  repetitive and easy to learn, and theyre designed for the ultimate new language learnersâ€"kids! Absorbing the lyrics of childrens songs will embed proper syntax and pronunciation in your mind, and itll teach you essential grammar and vocabulary.Modern music.  Oh yeah, we love the modern stuff. Modern music grants you important  pop culture knowledge which, as we all know, is vital for things like carrying casual conversations, understanding humor and following television programs. Modern doesnt just mean pop music eitherâ€"it refers to anything by artists of our current generations. The topics sung about in these songs often point to key political injustices, social issues, trends, modern relationship dynamics and more relatable things.Traditional music.  While older music can at times be hard to follow due to antiquated language, it can be a goldmine of cultural information. It can also introduce you to more complex and poetic vocabulary. Once youve listened to some more traditional tunes, youll likely hear remnants of these musical styles in more modern music in your target language.Music that you love.  It doesnt matter if you love to listen to it or dance to itâ€"if the song makes you smile or makes your booty shake, use it for language learning. The more addictive you find your study music, the more fun youll have listening to it. This will keep you chugging forward with musical study time.Music you know well.  Listen or translations or unique  renditions of songs you already love, or find songs with similar melodies. Familiarity with the tune, lyrics or meaning will give you a headstart learning language with that particular song.Methods for Studying Language with MusicWrite Your Own Melodies.  The lyrics you write yourself can be some of the most memorable. Its kind of like when you dream up your own mnemonic devices for memorizing thingsâ€"the most vivid images that stand out in your brain will work better than those that other people tell you to use. Need to memorize a series of grammar patterns or conjugations? Organize them and set them up wit h a tune that you know well.Listen Passively.  Keep foreign language on in the background at all times. The key to fluency is familiarity. Your brain needs to learn how to function 100% in the foreign language. It should feel like this new language is normal and comfortable. By immersing yourself in the language with constant background music, youll not only become familiar, youll start picking up on commonly-used words, phrases and grammar patterns.Have a Sing-along.  Pull up the lyrics while listening to your chosen songs and sing as the song plays. If youre lucky, youll find the video on YouTube with lyrics written on-screen for easy reading. As well discuss further in a bit, another great option is using FluentU music videosâ€"these come complete with annotations in English and your target language.Karaoke.  If you live in a major city, chances are pretty good that the community speaking your target language has some cool joints where they love to hang out together. If youre lea rning German, find the local pub where the Germans hang out. From there, you can inquire about karaoke night, or make some new friends to invite to your own at-home karaoke night. If you dont have many diverse international communities in your area, youd be surprised how often local karaoke joints have foreign language music in their machines. And if you really dislike the idea of stepping on stage or singing in front of others, host your own little party-of-one karaoke night at home. Just type the name of your favorite foreign language songs into YouTubes search bar along with the word karaoke. This will lead you to instrumental renditions of the song with lyrics presented on-screen.Dictation.  Its as simple as this: listen and write. Scribble down every word you can catch on the fly, even if its only the odd word or phrase every 20 seconds. If you catch 90% of a sentence but are missing a couple of key words, just write down whatever you heard. Dont stop the music, keep it rolling until the song has played through completely. Then go back again and fill in whatever you missed. The chorus should come together fairly quickly thanks to the repetitions in just one play-through. If youre really at a loss after a couple of plays, refer to the lyrics to see what you missed.        Fill in the Blanks.  This ones a little more classroom-style but, heck, its very effective. Print out a full sheet of lyrics. Use white out or a permanent marker to blot out some words and phrases throughout the lyrics. If youre studying gender, blot out pronouns and gendered word endings. If youre studying verb conjugations, blot out entire verbs or just blot out their conjugated elements.Resources for Learning Language with MusicLyrics TrainingThis online game is all about learning languages with lyrics. Choose your language, your genre, your song and, finally, your language level. Once youre in, settle in for a whileâ€"this engaging resource reaches another level of seriously addictin g.Watch your chosen music video and fill in the blanks in the lyrics as the music video plays. The game levels span from beginner to expert. Beginners only need to fill in a handful of words here and there. Experts need to fill in every single word. Decide which difficulty level allows you to play casually, without stress, but also offers you a little challenge in terms of problem solving.Theres no rush to keep up with the song either, when you mistype or fall behind, the song pauses and allows you to catch up.FluentUFluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news, inspiring talks and more.With FluentU, you hear languages in real-world contextsâ€"the way that native speakers actually use them.Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of FluentU videos on offer:FluentU really takes the grunt work out of learning languages, leaving you with nothing but engaging, effective and efficient learning. It’s already hand-picked the best videos for you and organized them by level and topic. All you have to do is choose any video that strikes your fancy to get started!Each word in the interactive captions comes with a definition, audio, image, example sentences and more.Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab, and easily review words and phrases from the video under Vocab.You can use FluentU’s unique adaptive quizzes to learn the vocabulary and phrases from the video through fun questions and exercises. Just swipe left or right to see more examples of the word youre studying.The program even keeps track of what you’re learning and tells you exactly when it’s time for review, giving you a 100% personalized experience.You can see FluentU in action by checking out this video, which uses the program to break down the popular song from The Lego Movie.Start using FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes store  or  Google Play store.EarwormsThis program is available in various formats; CDs, MP3 downloads and apps  are all available for your educational enjoyment. This one fuses music and language lessons so that theyre completely interwoven.This isnt about learning with popular songs and artists, its about using little jingles for better memorization. Unsurprisingly, this method gets the job done!JamtokThis up-and-comer is currently available as an app for Japanese and Spanish learners. The principle behind this learning program is that the brain absorbs information better when learning and casual enjoyment are layered. So, sandwich up your language lessons with music and games. Join Jamtok as they  ambitiously strive to engage your whole brain for enhanced memorization.Now that youve assembled some fantastic resources, its time for me to release you back into to the world of language learning.Sure, language learning can be hard, but now youve got the scienceâ€"and the know-howâ€"to back you up in all your music-based language studies.Open your ears, expand your mind, boost your brainpower, and start listening to foreign language music today!

The Crafty Linguists DIY Guide to Intermediate Language Lessons

The Crafty Linguists DIY Guide to Intermediate Language Lessons The Crafty Linguists DIY Guide to Intermediate Language Lessons Your Pinterest board doesnt need to be on point.A glue gun may seem like an instrument of torture to you.You can even have a pathological aversion to glitter. Its only natural.But whether or not youre crafty by nature, you can still be a crafty language learner by putting together  your own study plan.For intermediate learners, putting together your own DIY lessons might be the easiest way to fix your flaws and catapult you towards an advanced level.Thats because DIY language lessons can cover all the major areas that are critical to fluency. You can learn vocabulary,  practice reading  or improve  listening skills just by selecting the right activities. You wont even need to scrapbook your experience (unless you want to).Heres everything you need to know for putting together your own DIY intermediate language lessons! Why Put Together Your Own DIY Intermediate Language Lessons?First of all, you know what you need to work on better than anyone. Youve studied the language long enoug h to know what youre still not comfortable with, whether its a particular grammar rule or certain skill, like speaking. Crafting your own language lessons allows you to focus squarely on the areas youre least comfortable with, thereby making your skills more well-rounded.Plus, making your own lessons is more flexible than taking conventional lessons. Whether you want to spend a few minutes or a few hours each day, you can craft your lessons to fit into your schedule. And since you select the activities, you can find ways to make them work any time and any place.Finally, creating your own lesson plans can make language learning more fun. You can select what activities interest you most, so there wont be any boring lectures or fatiguing textbook study to bring you down.How to Use the Tips in This PostSet specific goals.One potential pitfall of crafting your own language lessons is losing motivation. Thats why its important to set specific goals. Setting these goals will make you more accountable to yourself and give you clear objectives. This allows you to proceed forward in a focused, organized fashion.Try to set goals that are ambitious but achievable. Setting your goals so high that theyre impossible (Ill be fluent in Chinese, Japanese and Dothraki in a week!) can be demotivating and make you quit trying. However, setting your goals too low (Ill say hi everyday in my target language) can lead to slow or no progress.In addition, make your goals as specific as possible. You might plan to study a certain number of words, watch a foreign language TV show for 10 minutes or read a poem each day. Regardless of how you do it, being specific will give you defined objectives that are easy to achieve.Keep a language notebook.Keeping a foreign language notebook  is one of the best ways for independent learners to keep track of everything. Here, you can jot down vocabulary lists, keep track of your goals, plan your schedule, etc. A well-maintained language notebook can he lp you get your learning on track by keeping your most valuable learning information in one place.Interact with other language learners.Going at it alone can be isolating. At times, you may have questions or concerns that youd love to share with someone. Luckily, just because youre studying independently doesnt mean you need to do it alone. Interacting with other language learners can be good for motivation and support. You can reach out to friends who are learning languages or even join an online community like  Reddits Language Learning group.Incorporate activities from each category.To craft your DIY intermediate language lessons, its important to ensure balance. After all, knowing a few thousands words in a language is useless if you cant also use them read, write, speak or listen. Thats why its important to focus on developing balanced skills.To do this, try to combine activities from each of the main categories: vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, speaking and listening. Wh ich activities you select can vary day-by-day based on your schedule and interests. For instance, one day you might do a vocabulary activity and a grammar activity. The next day, you might work on reading and writing. The day after that, you can study speaking and listening.Your DIY language lessons should work for your needs and your schedule, but its also important not to lose sight of developing well-rounded skills.Use FluentU in any lesson plan.FluentU is a fun, flexible option that makes a perfect addition to any DIY language lesson. Thats because FluentU can help you build your vocabulary, improve your grammar, strengthen your listening skills and even fine-tune your reading skills.FluentU offers authentic, real-world videos like movie trailers, music videos, news and more. However, you wont be thrown in without supportâ€"each video includes annotated captions, making these videos accessible and useful for intermediate language students. Youll have easy access to any words def inition, an associated image and example sentences. Plus, you can click on a word to see how its used in other videos.And look no further than FluentUs learn mode if youre looking for an in-context learning experience that incorporates videos, pictures and example sentences into exercises and flashcards.Best of all, lessons are personalized using an algorithm that presents you with questions based on your learning history, ensuring the material you see is appropriate for your unique learning level.You can use  FluentU online  or  download the FluentU app for iOS or Android devices.The Crafty Linguists DIY Guide to Intermediate Language LessonsVocabularyLabel things in your home.If you still dont know a word for a particular object, smack a label on it.Try doing this one room at a time. Look around you and try to name everything. Dont know the word for something? Look it up, make a label and put it on the object.Then, when you want to work on vocabulary as part of your DIY language l esson, just look around you for words to study. When you see an object, say the word out loud to practice it. Once you know the word well, you can remove the label.Make vocabulary lists.Think of themes for potential discussions. For instance, if you want to learn a language for business, think of business terms you use or see often.A fun way to make this part of your lesson plan is to set a time limit and a choose a theme. Challenge yourself to list as many words as you can in your native language related to that theme. For instance, if I gave myself one minute to come up with words related to the beach, I might list beach, towel, swimsuit, lifeguard, sunglasses, water, wave, etc. Then, all you need to do is look up these words in your target language to put together a helpful thematic vocabulary list. Study the vocabulary list for a couple of minutes during your lessons until youve learned all the words.Another way to come up with words for your vocabulary list is to think in your target language for a few minutes. You may find yourself stumbling because you cant find the words you need to continue your thought. Jot them down in your native language and translate them once youve completed the thinking activity.If you get bored studying vocabulary lists, you can also learn words by entering them into flashcards with resources like Quizlet  or Anki. This will allow you to include vocabulary study in your daily lessons using less time and effort.Practice reading and listening.Reading and listening are easy ways to grow your vocabulary naturally. Since youll see the words used in context, youll develop a clear understanding of what they mean. For a little extra help, keep a list of words you encounter that you dont know. Then, study them using some of the techniques discussed above.GrammarNail down your verb conjugations.At the intermediate level, youve already studied most of the basic conjugations. Nows the time to really get them down so you dont need to consc iously think about them.One way to do this is to make conjugation tables. Choose a verb and one or more verb tenses. Then, list the conjugations of that verb. This can take up just a couple of minutes from your lesson time, but the more practice you have conjugating verbs, the easier itll be to do it quickly in conversation.If you need a little help with conjugations, you can also use online tools for your specific target language. For instance, if youre studying Spanish, conjugation tools  like conjugation.org  can help you brush up on your skills or check if youre conjugating correctly.Study some more complex conjugations.You probably know present tense. You may know past tense. But now that youre at the intermediate level, its time to work on more advanced verb conjugations.Verb tenses vary by language, so the exact tenses you study depend on your target language. For instance, now would be a good time to learn future tense, progressive tenses and perfect tenses. You also might w ant to study up on any irregular verbs, which can be tricky to remember.To do this, its helpful to spend some time reading about conjugations and putting together conjugation tables. You can refer back to these for a few minutes whenever you want to work them into your lesson plan.Study tricky grammar rules.Every language has a few tricky rules. You probably touched on them in beginning lessons. As you craft your DIY intermediate lessons, dedicate a little time to tricky grammar rules.Spend a few minutes reading about the rule in your favorite textbook or on your favorite website. Otherwise, look for a YouTube video or podcast that explains the rule. Once youve figured it out, write about it in your language notebook. Every now and then, refer back to it as part of your lesson plan.Additionally, try to use your newfound command of the grammar rule in your writing and speaking practice, and keep an eye out for it during reading and listening practice. This is an easy way to reinforce what youve learned without adding any additional time to your lessons.ReadingRead dual-language books.Dual-language books  are an easy way to transition to reading in your target language. Thats because they offer text in English alongside text in your target language, making it easy to refer back to the English version whenever you dont understand something.To fit this into your lesson plan, simply set a goalâ€"you might choose to read a certain number of pages or spend a certain amount of time reading.Use a tool like Readlang to make any online text accessible.Want to practice reading in your target language but prefer fun websites like magazines or authentic blogs? Unfortunately for intermediate learners, authentic material like this can seem impossibly challenging. However, that doesnt mean you cant use it in your DIY language lessons.Tools like Readlang can make authentic written materials accessible to any level of language learner. Readlang is a downloadable web reader that allows you to translate words or phrases instantly from any website. Plus, you can add the words to flashcards, which you can use for a vocabulary lesson.To add this authentic reading practice to your lesson plan, just set a simple goal. You might choose to browse websites in your target language for 10 minutes each day. Otherwise, choose a website you like that updates daily and make it your goal to peruse the new material regularly.WritingKeep a journal.Keeping a journal in your target language can be an easy addition to any lesson plan.To do this, commit yourself to make a journal entry every day or two. It doesnt need to be long. You might write about your day, your plans or even your favorite boy band. The choice is up to you. Keeping a journal will help you build your confidence in writing as well as reinforce grammar and vocabulary.Find a pen pal.Finding a foreign language pen pal  can build your writing skills and help you make a new friend.Websites like InterPals can help y ou find friends who speak your target language. You can discuss whatever you want with your pen pal. You might even choose to write about topics related to vocabulary youve studied to reinforce your learning.Since you wont know when your pen pal will write back, you cant schedule this into your lesson plan too much in advance. However, since the experience will be valuable, its worth changing up your lesson plans to accommodate reading what your pen pal writes, and writing back.Plus, theres a major bonus: You can ask your pen pal any pressing grammar or vocabulary usage questions you have. You can even ask him/her to correct your writing to give you a clearer idea of what you need to work on.Use social media or a message board.Do you love the thrill of getting a new follower? Do you enjoy chatting about the latest trends online? If so, using social media or a message board can get you the writing practice you need in a fun format.Reddit offers message boards in a variety of language s, including  Chinese, French, German, Portuguese  and Spanish. You can use these to interact with other users and discuss a huge array of topics.Otherwise, you can also start a social media account in your target language. Write about whatever you feel like writing about, and soon you might even get followers you can practice with.Message boards and social media are easy to fit into your lesson plan. You can easily commit to writing one quick tweet, message or reply each day. This could take less than a minute. For more immersive practice, you could also plan on writing a longer, more in-depth post on a message board.SpeakingNarrate your daily activities.Narrating your daily activities is one quick and easy way to work speaking practice into your lesson plan.  You can do this by setting aside a block of time or just narrating during a specific activity.If you choose to use a certain time for this, simply set a stopwatch or timer for your targetâ€"it might be five or 10 minutes. The n, narrate everything you do out loud (for instance: I am cooking, I am chopping the onions, etc.). It might feel weird at first but youll quickly notice that speaking gets much easier.It can also be helpful to rotate which activity you narrate. For instance, one day you might narrate your shower. The next day, you might narrate cleaning your house. The next day, you might narrate shopping (though you probably wont want to do this too loudly). Not only does this give you speaking practice, it also ensures youre able to talk about a wide array of topics.Find a language exchange partner.Finding a language exchange partner  is one of the top ways to incorporate speaking practice into your lesson plan. This is valuable because not only do you get speaking practice, you also have someone to correct you when you make mistakes.To make this part of your lesson plan, you might consider deciding ahead of time what topics you want to discuss or what conjugations you hope to work into the conve rsation.Record yourself to assess your own speaking.When youre just talking to yourself, it can be hard to assess how you sound. However, if you record yourself, its much easier to hear errors and fine-tune your pronunciation.One way to work this into your lesson plan is to plan on speaking about a certain topic for a couple minutes. You may want to think about it ahead of time to ensure youre mentally prepared. Then, record yourself speaking off the cuff. This will test your ability to speak without prompts or practice. When you listen to the recording, pay careful attention to your pronunciation. Jot down any words or sounds you struggled with to practice more. Also, watch for any long pauses. These could help point towards vocabulary or conjugations youre struggling with.ListeningListen to podcasts.Listening to authentic foreign language podcasts  can help you upgrade your listening skills.Simply choose a podcast that appeals to you and set aside some time in your lesson plan to listen. You may not get everything the first time. You might even need to listen to the same segment repeatedly to understand whats been said. However, over time, youll notice your listening skills improving.Whenever a podcast has a transcript available, you may also want to read along as you listen. This will help you connect the spoken and written words.Listen to simple audiobooks.If you want an approachable, flexible way to improve your listening skills, try listening to audiobooks in your target language.Audiobooks can fit into any lesson plan. You can listen for just a few minutes at a time or for hours on end.There are many options available. LibriVox  offers free audiobooks, and you can also purchase a wide selection from Audible.Childrens books and poetry are good choices for intermediate learners since these are often shorter and frequently use less complex language.To make your lessons even more effective, you may also want to find corresponding texts online. Reading the t ext will make it easier for you to understand the audiobook.Listen to music.Listening to music as part of your language lessons is, well, music to your ears.Learning a song is a helpful tool because you may very well remember it forever. In the future, when you forget a word or need a model for a grammar rule, you can run through the song in your head for a little assistance.To get the most out of listening to music, select one key song at a time. Look up the lyrics and their meanings online. Then, when you listen to the song as part of your lesson, read along with the lyrics until you have them all memorized. Once you get the lyrics down, go ahead and sing along for a little speaking practice.Once you have one song down, simply move on to the next for an endless source of lesson material.Watch TV and movies.Binging TV and watching movies to learn a language is any entertainment junkies dream come true.To incorporate TV and movies into your lesson plan, select something you think yo ull enjoy. If you have a limited time each day, you might choose to break it down into short segments. You might try first watching in your target language to see how much you understand. Then, if subtitlings available, you can watch with subtitling to get a clearer idea of whats happening on-screen. Another option is to simply watch the same segment again and again until you grasp most of it.Additionally, if you hear any lines you like or dont understand, try jotting them down to study in order to learn more vocabulary.Warning: Watching TV and movies is known to be addictive. As such, you might find your lessons getting longer and longer each day.If you want your next DIY project to be a success, give DIY intermediate language lessons a try. You might even feel compelled to give yourself a celebratory glitter shower afterwards.

6 Tips to Help You Get Into the College of your Dreams

6 Tips to Help You Get Into the College of your Dreams There’s no magic formula for getting into a college of your dreams, but these tips, based on hundreds of interviews with admissions deans, may help you navigate the process. Follow these tips to increase your chances of getting into the college of your dreams: Make your teachers your friends When youre friends with your teacher its easier to approach them if you need help with recommendation letters. Passionate, personal letter that makes you seem like one of the greatest students on the planet is a huge plus to your application. Express your authentic self Seriously, colleges are overwhelmed by slick, boastful essays. They want to hear about your real experiences, passions and goals. Connect with admissions officers Colleges want to be your first choice. Show admissions officers that you have a sincere desire to attend their college. Make school your first home Get involved in as many school activities as possible and strive for positions of leadership in them. It will show colleges that you’re a person who isn’t afraid to be a part of something bigger, knows how to work with other people and more than just a GPA. Have friends in high places Behind every college admission decision is a person. So it’s time to get to know the admission counselor for your region. You can follow them on Twitter, emailing them to ask what their college looks for most in an applicant, etc. Learn how  tutoring  can help improve your grades Get  the best possible  grades  you can during all four years of high school to  increase  your  chances of getting into  the  college  of your choice. 6 Tips to Help You Get Into the College of your Dreams There’s no magic formula for getting into a college of your dreams, but these tips, based on hundreds of interviews with admissions deans, may help you navigate the process. Follow these tips to increase your chances of getting into the college of your dreams: Make your teachers your friends When youre friends with your teacher its easier to approach them if you need help with recommendation letters. Passionate, personal letter that makes you seem like one of the greatest students on the planet is a huge plus to your application. Express your authentic self Seriously, colleges are overwhelmed by slick, boastful essays. They want to hear about your real experiences, passions and goals. Connect with admissions officers Colleges want to be your first choice. Show admissions officers that you have a sincere desire to attend their college. Make school your first home Get involved in as many school activities as possible and strive for positions of leadership in them. It will show colleges that you’re a person who isn’t afraid to be a part of something bigger, knows how to work with other people and more than just a GPA. Have friends in high places Behind every college admission decision is a person. So it’s time to get to know the admission counselor for your region. You can follow them on Twitter, emailing them to ask what their college looks for most in an applicant, etc. Learn how  tutoring  can help improve your grades Get  the best possible  grades  you can during all four years of high school to  increase  your  chances of getting into  the  college  of your choice.

Colegio Menor

Colegio Menor Colegio Menor *Colegio Menor Quito y Samborondon belongs to Nord Anglia Education since October 2019. About Nord Anglia Education Nord Anglia Education (NAE) is the worlds leading premium schools organisation, with campuses located across dozens of countries in the Americas, Europe, China, Southeast Asia, India and the Middle East. Together, our schools educate tens of thousands of students from kindergarten through to the end of secondary school. We are driven by one unifying philosophy: we are ambitious for our schools, students, teachers, staff and communities, and we inspire every child who attends an NAE school to achieve more than they ever imagined possible. Every parent wants the best for their child so do we. NAE schools deliver high quality, transformational education and ensure excellent academic outcomes by going beyond traditional learning. Our global scale enables us to recruit and retain world-leading teachers and to offer unforgettable experiences through global and regional events, while our engaging learning environments ensure all of our students love coming to school. Founded in 1972 in the United Kingdom, the name Nord Anglia reflects the companys beginnings in the north of England. NAE initially offered learning services such as English-as-a-foreign-language classes and grew during the 1980s by opening full-scale nurseries and kindergartens. In 1992, NAE opened its first international school, the British School of Warsaw. In the 2000s, the company began a strategic focus on premium international schools, with rapid growth in Asia, the Americas, China and across Europe and the Middle East. A truly international organisation, NAE now operates premium international schools worldwide. In July 2019, the company relocated its headquarters from Hong Kong to London, enabling even stronger growth in the future. About your school Colegio Menor Campus Samborondon Some years after having created Universidad San Francisco de Quito with great success, our founders, Carlos Montúfar Freile, José Ribadeneira and Santiago Gangotena, felt the need to initiate a project with similar principles to those of the university. With this dream in mind, and with immense support from many families who were certain of the future success of the project, Colegio Menor San Francisco de Quito opened its doors to the community in 1995 with the concept of an American style education for Ecuadorians, where students could gain access to a liberal arts-based bilingual curriculum. Since that moment, over 24 years ago, Colegio Menor has worked to become an exemplary model for excellence in education in Ecuador. In August, 2019, Colegio Menor joined the global Nord Anglia Education family of schools. Learn more about Nord Anglia at http://www.nordangliaeducation.com. Our Schools Each Nord Anglia Education school is unique in character and designed to meet the needs of its community. We are united by our philosophy, to be ambitious for our students, our people and our family of schools. We believe that being part of our family of 66 schools gives them a special advantage. Working together, we can achieve more than we can individually. Our schools have access to a wide range of resources and support to enhance their success. We also create unique opportunities to benefit our students and people, such as the Global Campus, Nord Anglia University, and our collaborations with The Juilliard School, MIT, UNICEF and Kings College London. About you Able to adapt quickly to our fast-paced international environment, you will bring a university degree, a recognised teaching qualification and considerable teaching experience to the table. Committed and creative, you will be reflective on your own teaching and student outcomes, seeking out and implementing new ideas and innovative methods to raise the schools level of achievement. Keen to collaborate and share your specialist expertise, you will be a fitting ambassador for the school. You will communicate with confidence across diverse audiences and situations, using your expertise to build strong relationships with parents and students. You will also be able to meet visa-related restrictions for Ecuador / Coast Region, including: All candidates are required to complete a criminal background check within 30 days of accepting a position at Colegio Menor. This offer is based on the information provided on your resumé and/or included in your recruitment dossier. In the event that discrepancies, misleading and/or untruthful information be discovered related to your degrees, certification or experience, Colegio Menor reserves the right to modify and/or rescind this offer. You may want to consider the cost of living when reviewing this offer. We suggest you take advantage of online resources such as http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/. In order to apply for a work visa, we will need the following: State Background check Federal Background check BOTH background checks need to be apostilled, otherwise they are not valid. If you have lived abroad for 5 years you will need to present the background check from the last place you lived PLUS your state and federal background check (US). This document will need to be apostilled as well. Please remember that it has to be from the State Department not from private agencies. To obtain an apostilled document, you must go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your country and get the background check stamped (apostilled). Benefits When you join a Nord Anglia Education school, you join a global community of more than 13,000 people working together to support our students success. We offer you unsurpassed opportunities to innovate and develop best practice across our family, to access extensive professional development, and to gain exceptional experience and career development in our schools. At Nord Anglia, you will have opportunities to progress more, learn more, and collaborate more. We offer career and development opportunities that come with being part of our global organisation. Nord Anglia University unites our team through a vibrant online platform, which harnesses the collective expertise of peers in an exchange of knowledge, ideas and best practice. We also provide extensive online and face-to-face professional development through Nord Anglia University to ensure that our teachers dont just maintain their skills, they develop at the cutting edge of educational thinking. Our collaborations with The Juilliard School, MIT, UNICEF and Kings College London, offers our teachers unrivalled access to leading experts in their fields. We also offer selected candidates from our staff worldwide an opportunity to earn their Executive Masters in International Education in an exclusive collaboration with Kings College London. Alongside great training and a competitive package, youll enjoy the chance to live and work in one of the worlds most vibrant cities. As a Nord Anglia Education teacher, you enjoy the following benefits: A fast-paced, global experience so that you can progress on a global scale An enabling environment founded on creativity, challenge and collaboration A culture that is fair and consultative Unique opportunities to grow professionally and develop your career At Nord Anglia Education we are committed to providing a world class, safe, happy environment in which children and young people are able to thrive and learn. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our pupils irrespective of race, ability, religion, gender or culture. All post holders in regulated activity (having regular unsupervised contact with children) are subject to appropriate national and international vetting procedures including satisfactory criminal record checks from both your country of residence/birth and any country of residence within the last 10 years.

Why Should You Consider Using a Kirchoff Organic Chemistry Tutor?

Why Should You Consider Using a Kirchoff Organic Chemistry Tutor?If you are searching for a reliable and affordable tutor for your student then the Kirchoff Organic Chemistry Tutor may be what you are looking for. As a matter of fact, there are so many benefits that come with using this unique and technologically advanced chemistry tutor.For starters, you will have the ability to take notes at your own pace and do not have to worry about when your student is going to finish their study or class materials. This is a very convenient feature because if you want to spend time doing other things it will be impossible to see how your student is progressing. This is because you are able to do whatever you need to in order to be able to give them feedback when they get to certain sections of their class material.One of the more unique features that the Kirchoff Organic Chemistry Tutor provides is that it provides an objective view on your teacher's work. Since it is built around the concepts of organic chemistry, then it should give you a complete and accurate view on the student's learning curve as well as any issues that they might have that they can't seem to resolve.If you have a classroom setting where there are many students in your class, then the Kirchoff Organic Chemistry Tutor will make sure that all of them get what they need. It is very important to note that not only is it helpful for students but teachers as well.You can find out how far ahead of the pack your student is and give them a push that they need to come along just a little bit sooner than they might have otherwise. You will know exactly where they stand and whether or not they are progressing at a good rate.One of the biggest advantages that the Kirchoff Organic Chemistry Tutor has been that it gives you a level of creativity that you never would have had before. This is because the technology that is built into the unit has been developed in such a way that it allows you to actually use it as a teaching tool and thus makes you a better teacher.This means that you will have the best teacher in the world when you have this product at your disposal. Not only will you have a great tutor but you will also have the ability to utilize technology at its fullest as well.

How to Choose a Reputable Tutoring Service

How to Choose a Reputable Tutoring ServiceThe Commonwealth Tutoring Danvers Ma provides tutoring services to individuals from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Parents and kids in the MA area often ask how they can choose a reputable tutoring school. Below are a few considerations to consider when choosing a tutoring service provider.First, check out the reputation of the tutoring service in your MA area. Typically, this is the only way to ensure that your child will receive the most quality, personalized education. This is critical in keeping your child from being a statistic and finding out that the tutoring service that you had chosen is less than efficient or mediocre.You can find out more about a reputable tutoring service by doing a little research. The Internet is a great source for information on the educational establishment of any location. However, it's important to be aware that these companies may be well known and competent, but they may also not always have stellar re putations.Second, consider the type of education the tutoring staff provides. In general, it's best to see which type of learning is best suited to your child's interests. Is he or she an extrovert? {S0 might be best suited to learning in a social setting.Some private tutors focus on simply teaching kids how to engage in group activities such as dancing or chess. It's also important to see if the tutoring service employs top-notch tutors. Having a knowledgeable tutor ensures that your child is learning everything he or she needs to learn.Third, you can also try to find a personal assistant to help you tutor your child. Personal assistants assist parents by answering their questions. They also give parents tips and advice on how to tutor their child in the best possible way.Tuting services are essential when you want to ensure that your child is receiving the best education possible. The training provided should also be in line with the needs of your child. If your child needs extra tutoring then it may be worthwhile finding a reputable, reliable and experienced private tutoring service.

Learn How to Read Cantonese.

Learn How to Read Cantonese. Learning Cantonese? Here’s Some Useful Info on Reading Cantonese Characters. ChaptersIs Learning Cantonese Really Worth the Effort?Do We Need to Learn the Script?Cantonese and Mandarin: Same Script?Cantonese Written and Cantonese Spoken.Romanization: Yale and JyutpingCharacters and Components.Welsh and Norwegian, say, seem to pale in comparison. It makes Spanish and French seem like a complete doddle. Even languages like Russian and Greek, with their completely different alphabets, seem much more manageable.At least they have alphabets. With this, you can almost start to make sense of the words, the phrases, spotting patterns between symbols across different texts. Oh, if everything were this easy!Cantonese â€" and Chinese languages in general â€" are a completely different ball game. At first, they seem like they are a collection of completely random lines and shapes. They appear totally incomprehensible, as you search for a rule to the meaning, to the pronunciation.This very fact seems to put most people off attempting to learn Chinese at all. Or, if they d o, they limit themselves to learning how to speak, rather than having to delve into the great challenge of learning Chinese characters.And this, in a sense, is understandable. Yet, it is such a shame. With language learning comes challenge â€" and with challenge comes an awful lot of rewards.If you’re committed to learning Cantonese, you’ll need to make peace with learning the traditional Chinese characters. And, you’ll find, it’s not as difficult as you might have thought. Learn to read Cantonese! NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsIs Learning Cantonese Really Worth the Effort?Let’s say that, yes, learning Cantonese as a new language is hard. Let’s say that it is particularly hard for those who do not already know Mandarin Chinese or another Chinese language. Let’s admit both of these things.Even if we do accept them, however, learning a language will be the best thing you will ever do. And learning a language like Cantonese will be a n even bigger achievement. With over sixty million people speaking Cantonese â€" in both mainland China and in the southern Guangdong province, Hong Kong and Macau â€" you will be opening up a world of opportunities by learning Cantonese. That’s a world of friends, romances, career paths, and travel possibilities too.You’ll have a much greater insight into Hong Kong and Chinese culture â€" and you’ll be developing your own abilities. Learning a second language does not merely permit you to speak a new language: it changes the way you think, relate to people, and act in the world too.So, yes, learning Cantonese sure is worth the effort â€" the little extra effort of having to manage the task of reading and writing Chinese script. Let’s make an effort.Find out how to learn Cantonese!Do We Need to Learn the Script?One of the most common questions that tutors of Cantonese receive from students might be more of a cry of desperation rather than an actual, legitimate question: do w e really have to learn the Chinese script? Even if that’s true, the question itself deserves an honest answer.And that answer depends, really, on what you want to learn Cantonese for. If you want to go to Hong Kong to make friends and have a laugh, you’ll get a different answer to if you want to study Cantonese academically, or if you want to read Cantonese literature.Honestly, if you are aiming for just a conversational ability in Cantonese with native speakers, then no: learning the script is absolutely not a priority. Rather, you should be practising your Chinese pronunciation and your verbal fluency, you should be focusing on the process of how to learn to speak.Because speaking is where language primarily happens. Where we use the majority of our language is through our mouths, rather than through the nib of a pen or through the pages of a book.However, if you are moving to Hong Kong or Macau, you’ll notice that text is everywhere. Just as in the streets of the west (wher e we probably take it for granted), the walls of the streets are plastered in words â€" or rather, at this point, symbols that you don’t understand.The short answer, really then, is learn to speak before you learn to read and write. And that’s regardless of what you are learning the language for.Find out how to write Cantonese! Find new vocabulary from your reading. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsCantonese and Mandarin: Same Script?Before you learn to read Cantonese, however, it is worth knowing a bit about the writing system that they use. Because ‘Chinese script’ or a ‘Chinese character’ is not a monolithic thing.Learning Mandarin script and learning that of Cantonese is a very similar process. However, we need to stress that these are simply not the same at all. They use a lot of the same characters, but the pronunciation is different â€" so different that the languages are mutually unintelligible. And given that the grammar of the two languages also differs, it is not even likely that a Mandarin speaker would be able to follow a Cantonese text.Whilst simplified Chinese text is primarily used by those who speak Mandarin, this is where Mandarin and Cantonese differ. Cantonese, on the other hand, uses the traditional characters.What these are is something fairly self-explanatory. The traditional script â€" used in Cantonese and Taiwan â€" is the original script that has developed over centuries, millennia even. The simplified Chinese of mainland China, Singapore and Malaysia, however, has â€" surprise, surprise, been simplified. Yes, this means that it is easier to read.As you are facing Cantonese, you’ve got a bigger challenge. Yet, this challenge is much greater when you are writing than when you are simply reading. Reading is merely a game of searching fo r patterns and deriving meaning from them (see below!). But producing those characters is a lot harder than just recognising them.The trouble is that Cantonese has another difficulty.Cantonese Written and Cantonese Spoken.When reading Cantonese, you’ll notice a further difference. This is the difference between what is generally called ‘written’ Cantonese and ‘spoken’ Cantonese. The trouble is that ‘spoken’ Cantonese, in this context, is a written form in itself. Imagine very formal English, the sort of thing that you would find in broadsheet newspapers, academic textbooks, and government copy. But then imagine the sort of language that most English speakers would text to their mates or the sort of language that is spoken down the pub.In English, we use the same alphabet for both forms. In the former, the sentences might be longer, more grammatically correct, and with more official language. You wouldn’t start an email to an employer with ‘hey dude’, just as you wouldn’t say goodbye to a friend with ‘yours sincerely’.In Cantonese, the difference is that completely different characters are used for the two registers of speech, with completely different words. Whilst written Cantonese is the standard Chinese that is common to mainland China and all other countries speaking Chinese, spoken Cantonese is limited to those who speak Cantonese.Spoken language in Cantonese is the way you will be texting your friends. But you should really know standard, written Chinese if you are intending to get a job in Hong Kong, say.Find out how to learn Cantonese vocabulary! Build your Cantonese dictionaryRomanization: Yale and JyutpingWhen you start learning Cantonese, it is worth noting, you will be primarily be learning with a Romanized system, that being a system that transforms the Cantonese phonemes (or sounds) into the alphabet that we use in the western world.This is to help anyone who is not a native speaker to navigate the complexities of the Chinese written system.There are plenty of Romanization systems in Cantonese â€" developed by different people trying to work with the characters in their native language. The most common that you will probably come across are Cantonese pinyin, Yale romanisation, and Jyutping, the system developed by the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong.These are generally quite similar. Between Yale and Jyutping, nearly all the consonants are identical. However, there are differences in the tones and in some particular sounds. As we said, however, the differences are small.Romanisation will be what will help you take your first steps in Cantonese. However, when you are reading long texts, the system soon becomes exhausting. As there are no spaces between words in Cantonese, the system doesn’t always appear clear in distinguishing where one word finishes and another begins.Characters and Components.At a certain point, then, you will have to move on to the characters themselves. And as, according to some estimates, there are over fifty thousand different characters, this can be a little intimidating.Don’t worry, however. Because, as with all languages, the vast majority of them are very rarely used; only a couple of thousand of these are in everyday use. And, a lot of Cantonese speakers also forget how to write certain characters themselves. So, let that be a load off your mind.RadicalsWhat should be really reassuring, however, is that each of these fifty thousand characters is actually the product of only 214 smaller components. These are called either components or radicals. These are the semanti c and phonetic building blocks of Cantonese. And once you can recognise these, you will be able to spot them in every different word.As we said, reading is all about spotting patterns. And once you are familiar with the code â€" the radicals â€" the patterns will slowly but surely become clear. So, now read our full guide to learning Cantonese!

Biology Help Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace

Biology Help Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace Biology deals with the study of life in particular and all about organisms in general. For studying biology a scientific bend of mind is essential. The main factors that resulted in the amassing of biological knowledge were curiosity and the human instinct to survive. All scientific disciplines are developed from the human curiosity to know better and deeper. Students of biology should have a clear idea about the nature of science. The various branches coming under biology are: Morphology: It deals with the study of external characters of an organism Anatomy: It is the study of internal structure of an organism Cytology: It deals with the detailed study of cells Embryology: It deals with the study of embryo Paleontology: It deals with the study of fossils Pathology: It deals with the diseases of plants and animals Biogeography: It deals with the contribution of plants and animals in different parts of earth Molecular biology: It deals with the study of physiochemical organization of biomolecules. Genetics: It deals with heredity and variation Physiology: It deals with the study of process and functions associated with life. Ecology: It deals with the study of organisms in relation to their environment. Evolution: It deals with the origin of living beings and their gradual changes. People those who are interested in biology choose any of the above branches for their studies. Biology help gives us a clear picture about the branches of biology, its themes etc. It also includes different chapters, lessons,quizzes etc.