What to Expect From an Organic Chemistry Tutor in Houston

What to Expect From an Organic Chemistry Tutor in HoustonIf you're trying to get the most out of your college education and preparing for your career, attending an accredited college or university may not be the answer. In fact, you might need an additional supplement to your coursework to help you further develop your potential. It's time to consider going for an organic chemistry tutor in Houston.These types of courses are much more popular than those in regular classes, as chemistry tutors in Houston can give students a variety of help from classroom sessions to the mentoring and advice of an academic advisor. An organic chemistry tutor in Houston is a good substitute for your traditional chemistry class because it allows you to learn independently without having to share classroom space with a teacher. This can prove to be very beneficial when you are trying to handle the pace of the coursework by yourself. When you are dealing with the chemistry on your own, you can work at your own pace, and in some cases, this can speed up the process of becoming a well-rounded chemistry student.An organic chemistry tutor in Houston can also help you enhance your professional skills while helping you develop the academic foundation that can take you far in your career. Many young professionals to pursue their educational careers by attending college or university. They will need to build their knowledge base to keep up with the changes in business practices and trends in industry standards that are prevalent today.Chemistry tutors in Houston offer a variety of options that will help you become an accomplished chemistry major. For instance, these tutors are able to give you hands-on experience in the laboratory with lectures and labs where you can work on your specific study plans.You can attend lectures, read materials, and take tests at your own pace through the course, and there is no need to worry about marking papers, grades, or results as you work on your own timeta ble. You can even have the opportunity to spend extra time doing practical projects and team-tutoring your classmates. You can take your study seriously and continue to focus on your studies if you choose to attend an organic chemistry tutor in Houston.As many college students want to attend school for free, many students are unable to afford tuition fees and books. Those who have not completed high school are often forced to take out student loans to pay for their education. The amount of money they save by attending school on their own would be more than enough to pay off their student loans. A good organic chemistry tutor in Houston can help to break down all of the expenses into manageable figures so that you can comfortably pay for your education.Going to school for free can be great, but there are other opportunities to earn an education that are available to you that do not require the financial sacrifice of going to school. Organic chemistry tutors in Houston can help you di scover more about yourself, your interests, and your future career path. They can even help you find better job prospects after college if you decide to attend a college or university after your courses.

Six Things Students and Tutors Should do BEFORE an Initial Tutoring session

Six Things Students and Tutors Should do BEFORE an Initial Tutoring session Improving Academic Performance Six Things Students and Tutors Should do BEFORE an Initial Tutoring Session The initial tutoring session is perhaps the most important tutoring session. It’s a critical opportunity to establish good rapport, set expectations, develop a study plan, and set a precedent for constructive sessions. Waiting until the second or third session to truly establish expectations or a study plan can lead to students feeling as though the tutoring isn’t proving productive. In fact, in many cases, the primary reason a tutoring session “fails” is because objectives weren’t set in advance and thus expectations weren’t aligned. Here are six things that you can do to ensure that an initial tutoring session is highly effective and productive. 1. Share details on the student’s (or your) situation for full context Before you arrive to the initial tutoring session, your tutor will try to get as much academic information and context about the student’s situation as possible. Make sure to discuss with your tutor why you are seeking out tutoring and what you hope to gain from tutoring. Be prepared to answer the following questions during your initial tutoring session. Providing answers to the following questions will help your tutor get a good sense of what’s going on with you and will provide a solid basis for how your tutor should prepare for the initial tutoring session, and develop study plan. What course are you struggling with now? Do you struggle with the course content? Or is your academic performance based on test-taking anxiety, lack of confidence, attention deficit, etc? What is your learning style? Do you have strong auditory skills? Or are you more of a visual or kinetic learner? What is something you like about the course that you are struggling with? What is something that you dislike about the course? How do you take notes and prepare for tests/quizzes for this course? Having the answers to these questions will allow your tutor to prepare a strong lesson plan for the initial tutoring session, and will allow more time for learning course content versus diagnosing the situation during the tutoring session. 2. Share materials electronically or provide an overview of current class topics (to help the tutor prepare) Be prepared to provide an overview of your current class topics so that your tutor may get a sense of the content you are learning about in your course. Tests, quizzes, past homework assignments, and projects help your tutor get familiar with the course and how it’s being taught. It provides insights into what a teacher expects you to know, how tests and homework assignments are designed, and how well you answer short-answer or essay based questions. Based on the provided information, the tutor can review content that you should know (based on the covered topics) and work up to content that you are currently learning in class, or struggling with. 3. Set clear objectives for the sessions and articulate a good outcome In order for tutoring to be effective, you must dedicate time to reviewing material and completing tutoring assignments outside of tutoring lessons! It is a good idea to outline the expectations that your tutor has specified in order for the lesson objectives to be met and for you to advance towards your academic goal. While your tutor is specifying the amount of work and time he/she expects you to dedicate to completing tutoring assignments each week, make sure to you let your tutor know whether or not you think that their expectations and objectives are reasonable for you to uphold based on your availability outside of school, extracurricular activities, and time need to complete school assignments. If you do have a limited amount of time to dedicate to completing tutoring assignments, try to work with your tutor to adapt tutoring assignments to fit your availability. It is imperative that you have this conversation during the initial tutoring session with your tutor so that you understand what needs to be done in order to reach your academic goals. 4. Establish a specific place and time - and don’t be late It goes without saying that you and your tutor should have clear communication about where and when the initial tutoring session will take place. If the tutoring session is to take place in the your home, make sure that the area where you will hold the tutoring session is clean and quiet to promote a good learning environment. If the tutoring session is taking place at a public space, such as a library or cafe, your tutor should try and arrive a few minutes earlier to secure a workspace in a quiet corner that is away from any distraction or loud noise. While this may seem obvious, you’d be surprised how many students and tutors we’ve worked with at MyGuru who call us frantically asking for the other party’s cell phone number, because they are running late, lost, or at the location, but realize they don’t know what their tutor or student looks like or where exactly they are meeting 5. Discuss cancellation and rescheduling policies Before the initial tutoring session takes place, you should make sure to understand your tutor’s cancellation and re-scheduling policies. It’s best to discuss these policies before the first session, as opposed to when a cancellation occurs, so as to avoid an awkward conversation. It’s also a good idea to ask your tutor to send an email communication documenting his/her cancellation and rescheduling policy so that you have a copy that you can refer to at anytime. 6. Share contact information to communicate in case one party is late/lost, etc. This one is, again, obvious, but so important that we call it out separately. Go back to #4 above. If you are late, or you are lost, or you don’t know where to meet your tutor, the situation is much less stressful if you’ve shared your respective phone numbers. It’s best practice to share your email address and your cellphone number with your tutor, and obtain their contact information so as to communicate effectively. By having each other’s contact information, you can quickly notify your tutor if you are running late, if you are lost, or if you have to cancel a tutoring session at the last minute. Taking the time to do these six simple things will ensure that you and your tutor are prepared for the initial tutoring session, and it will set a good precedent for accomplishing your academic goals.

Learn English Vocabulary Idioms and Phrases related to Thanksgiving

Learn English Vocabulary Idioms and Phrases related to Thanksgiving Improve your English and learn idioms and phrases related to Thanksgiving. Well kick off with phrases. Scroll down to learn Thanksgiving idioms and share an infographic.By the time you read this post Halloween will have come and gone (arrived and departed) and  thoughts will turn to the next holiday if any before Christmas and New Year. Traditionally in America (and also Canada) they celebrate Thanksgiving Day (thanksgiving always written as one word) near  to the end of November.The exact date changes every year because Thanksgiving is celebrated on the 4th Thursday in November.There appear to be different ideas as to when was the first Thanksgiving day but generally most  believe it was officially decided by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.As the words suggest people  gathered (came together) to offer thanks for the giving of the harvest. People wish to thank God for  the safe collection of the harvest and the rain to help the crops grow.In those days it was celebrated  in Church es as a specific religious festivity (celebration or feast day) but now it has developed (like  most traditions) in to a commercial holiday.Families traditionally come together for a family dinner which will always include some of the food  they celebrated way back when (hundreds of years ago) so turkey, potatoes and pumpkin pie will  be high on all menus. Usually, the beginning of the meal starts with a Blessing (words of thanks. Dear  Lord we thank you for giving us this fine meal and bringing all the family together on this special day  etc,etc).The Thursday is a national holiday with many people also taking the Friday as an extra day  so that thanksgiving day is actually in reality a 4 day holiday .In the cities across America parades will be held on or around Thanksgiving day. Today it represents  the official opening of the shopping season and traders (shop owners) count the number of  weekends between thanksgiving and Christmas to estimate how good their shopping season will be.  Depending on the day that Christmas day falls (occurs) there may be one extra weekend or one less.For example, if Christmas Day (25th December) is on a Saturday or Sunday then normally they will have one less shopping weekend. This is really crucial (very important) for the big stores and retail  shops. That extra weekend can mean the difference between a successful season or not 6 English Idioms and Phrases related to Thanksgiving Don't keep this to yourself, tell the world: Here are some English idioms and phrases related to Thanksgiving:A BLESSING IN DISGUISE   Usually when something unfortunate happens but actually turns out to be to  our advantage we say that was a blessing in disguise.ex. He says  it was a blessing in disguise, because it forced him to focus on growing different revenue streams.COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS Be grateful for what you have. If something bad happens to someone and we  are moaning someone may say to us.Stop moaning you should count your blessings.ex. We may have had a bad week in work and we are complaining when your partner says you should  count your blessings. Our neighbour lost his job yesterday!TALK TURKEY A very American expression. Usually means we should start talking seriously. You often  hear it in American detective films.ex. Ok you guys we need to hear all the facts. You need to start  talking turkey now otherwise we will lock you up!!COLD TURKEY When someone gives up a bad habit very quickly they often suffer with drawal  symptoms and go cold turkey.  For example, when you give up smoking you will feel very bad for  several days and wish you had a cigarette. You get headaches as part of your withdrawal symptoms.ex. Im  so  impressed  that  you  stopped  smoking  cold  turkey!FALL IS IN THE AIR of course nothing is actually falling in the air but the air and the atmosphere has changed with the cooler air comes the change in leaf colour. Pumpkins are everywhere and theres a renewed interest in hot drinks, fuzzy sweaters and cozy fires. All of these things make people say that fall is in the air.ex. This morning I woke up and it felt like Fall was in the air. It was cool out, a little breezing, I actually wore a fleece zip up jacket.  IM STUFFED my stomach is so full of food that I cant eat anymore. Im like a stuffed turkey.ex. The meal was good, and I was stuffed. After dinner, we went back to the room. Idioms related to Thanksgiving

The Rookies Map for Learning a New Language How to Start in 5 Steps

The Rookies Map for Learning a New Language How to Start in 5 Steps The Rookies Map for Learning a New Language: How to Start in 5 Steps A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.Weve all heard that one, right?But lets be honest.As far as advice goes, that saying is about as useful as, to borrow an expression from Dodgeball, a poopy-flavored lollipop.Think about it. If youre stranded in a foreign wilderness with no idea about  how to get where you want to go, youll have an extraordinarily difficult time getting there.But if youve got a map and compass, as well as some decent navigating skills, youre likely to be on your way faster than Donald Trumps hair blowing off in a strong wind.In the same way, when youre starting a new language, it helps to have a road map to both guide you along and guarantee that youre still headed in the right direction.And just like physical maps, a map for language learning should be based on what other people have seen. There are a number of polyglots and dedicated language learners  out there who have become the cartographers of the linguistic frontier.Lets take this collect ive language learning experience, along with some scientific know-how, and set out on the path to learning a new language in double time.Heres not just one, but five steps to get you started in a clear direction on your language learning journey. The Rookies Map for Learning a New Language: How to Start in 5 Steps1. Become your own coach: Develop goals and strategiesA lot of the time, when we start something new, we make vague statements like I want to be able to speak well as quickly as possible or Im going to study X language as much as I possibly can.This can be a problem because when we create such vague goals it can be very difficult to achieve any sort of meaningful result. Thats why orienting your language learning odyssey should start with the use of two techniques:  SMART goals and metacognitive strategies.SMART in this case is an acronym which you can see spelled out here. The short and skinny of it is that you need to make  really, really concrete goals that can actuall y be achieved.Instead of I want to be able to read childrens books, say I will study vocabulary every day for an hour and basic grammar every other day for an hour with the goal of being able to read X book in three months time.If you write out something like the second one for yourself it will be blindingly obvious for you whether youre succeeding or failing with your goals.Setting goals like this is an essential skill for anyone studying by themselves, as well as anyone who wishes to maximize their study time.If a fancy business world acronym doesnt impress you then maybe  the evidence of the effectiveness of metacognition  will.  Ive talked about metacognitive strategies before, but to summarize very quickly, metacognition for language learning involves three steps:First, you plan. Ask yourself what your specific goals are and what strategies youre going to use to achieve them.Second, start learning and keep track of how well you do every day. Are you having problems that need ne w solutions? Write that down. Are you consistently succeeding or failing in a certain area? Keep track of that, too.And the third and final step, after a few weeks to a month, maybe, is to evaluate yourself. Were you able to achieve your goals? If not, why? What strategies did and didnt work? Then the whole process repeats again.These two techniques naturally fit together quite well and theyre both indispensable for making sure youre cooking with gas every time you sit down to study.2. Hit the booksBut what should I do about the meat of language learning? you say. Should I pick up a textbook and get a teacher, or should I just book a flight to a country that speaks the language?While immersion is great at any level, and is certainly the ultimate goal to strive for, most of us arent free to move from country to country as we please and must make decisions about when the best time would be for us to go to that oh-so-wonderful country weve been daydreaming about for countless hours.Wit h that in mind, the truth of the matter is that full immersion is far more helpful when youre an intermediate to advanced speaker.This is because we develop by hearing a little bit of something we dont understand within a lot of other stuff that we do understand. You still do this in English. For instance, if youre reading a newspaper or textbook and you come across an unknown word, the first thing you try to do is infer its meaning from context.Luckily, FluentU lets you start learning this way sooner with guided video immersion.  FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons for all levels.But whats it like when you go to a country where you dont understand a word? Well, you may as well be trying to understand the language of radio static because youll be bombarded with so many unknowns that picking up on anything just from hearing or seeing something will be quite a struggl e.Consequently, its not such a bad idea to go for the old textbook, classroom or online course option to start with.3. Meet face-to-faceTaking an in-person class as soon as possible can be especially useful. People are social animals, and nothing motivates a social animal quite like peer pressure. If youre learning a new language, peer pressure can really be a useful tool.Once having joined, youll feel a pleasant pull to continue on with your language learning to see your peersâ€"assuming you make friendsâ€"and also a bit of a rougher push to keep you going when the going is tough, such as at one of those times when youre exhausted or even feeling slightly under the weather.Someone studying at home with just a textbook might easily throw their hands up and relax for a day in a situation like the one above. But thats a much more difficult prospect when you know people are expecting you to be somewhere and youll have to explain any excuse to their face.Even beyond the advantage of pee r pressure, theres also the fact that meeting face-to-face facilitates language learning specifically to no end. Thats because one of the best ways to learn is to role play everyday situations.In  meeting up with a class, or even just a teacher, a round of role play with a set of props can easily be  arranged  and got going in no time at all.4. Become immersedAssuming youve had some self-practice and classroom experience, the next step is language immersion. But whats so special about language immersion, anyway? Why is it so talked about?The reason is simple. People placed in immersive environments are likely to learn faster than students taught in the traditional manner and achieve a more native-like understanding of the language. What more could you possibly ask for?The question then becomes not why you should try to become immersed, but how.The obvious choice is to move to the country of your language by any means necessary. But be careful. There are plenty of expats who have liv ed in a foreign country for decades, never to pick up the language.The real key is interaction with the local populace.  One option that I have seen work wonders for my students of English is to join a company where your target language is spoken. If you need your new language to survive, to handle basic everyday tasks, youll progress faster than you ever thought possible.If, however, for some reason going abroad is simply not in the cards for you, there are a couple of different ways to get your immersion fix right in your home country.Perhaps the best option, though also the most expensive, would be to attend one of Middleburys esteemed summer language programs where you take a pledge to speak only in your target language for three months.A less intensive option would be to create something close to immersion yourself via in-person or Skype language pals, local language exchanges with partners or groups and replacing all your usual activities with the equivalent in your target lan guage.For instance, if you like to read, dont buy or borrow any books in your native language(s). If your only option is to read in your target language, youll be much more likely to do so. And in fact, if you take this option to its logical extreme, youll be learning everything new in your target language.Are you a chemist? Read scientific journals in your target language.Are you deeply inspired by history? Read history books in your target language.Its been shown that learning about something outside the language itself, that is to say, not just reading about grammar all the time but studying something youre interested in, can be one of the most effective ways to learn a language.5. Enjoy yourselfLanguages can be quite the untamed beast. Even the easiest of languages for English speakers can take 600 hours to conquer according to the Foreign Service Institute, and perhaps much more than that if you want to do something with it professionally. This is not something you can do day i n, day out without getting some pleasure out of the whole ordeal.Thankfully, language is as human a thing as it gets and is naturally tied to bountiful rewards. Language is the thing that connects us to other people and social rewards are extremely powerful.Just think about how often you check Facebook. Why are social networking sites so popular? Because any information connected to other people is inherently seductive. So from the get-go, make sure that you use your language skills for what they were made for. Socializing.Sometimes, when your schedule is crazy, youll be tempted to jettison the fun things that made you attracted to the language in the first place in order to get some regular practice in. Maybe youll skip your favorite foreign TV show because you cant understand it without subtitles yet, or youll forget to keep up with the newest news on your favorite foreign band.But make time for the things that got you started. Theyre what motivate you and push you through when la nguage learning just seems like a brutal punishment.In reality, its all about balance.The steps are all here, laid out for you.But only by starting out on the journey yourself will you gain that intuitive control, a sense of masterful dexterity like that of a professional athlete.You have your map.Now you just need to take those first steps.

?? Growth Mindset - Its about asking the right Questions

?? Growth Mindset - Its about asking the right Questions Growth Mindset - Its about asking the right Questions Intuitively, Growth Mindset sits well with those who teach or tutor. The belief that ability can be improved with effort and learning is q core belief for those who work with young people. The science seems to back this belief up. Numerous peer reviewed researchpapers have found evidence that those with a growth mindset reap many benefits. These include, but are not limited to, coping better with transitions, persisting longer at a task, enjoying their work more, seeking out better feedback. Some evidence suggests that this translates into better grades.Having a growth mindset, however, is not a silver bullet or a quick fix. A whole host of other factors clearly play a part in a child’s success (i.e. socio-economic background, opportunity, access to quality teaching and ability to delay gratification). Genes also play a role. In David Epstein’s excellent book, the Sports Gene, he highlights many instances of how genes/talent/nature (call it what you will) impact on performance. I f in doubt, consider this: The fastest time a woman has ever run the 100m is 10.49 seconds (with many actually questioning the legitimacy of this time). This time is not quick enough to be in the top 3000 times ever run. Genes clearly play a role.That is not to say that developing a growth mindset doesn’t matter. It does. It is just good to set realistic expectations. So if you do want to help a child develop their mindset, where do you start? We now know more than ever about the science of developing a growth mindset. We recommend that you begin a discussion with children using these four key questions, which can act as a springboard for a more detailed conversation. This will begin to develop an understanding of the concept of mindset, and how they can improve theirs:How hard are you willing to work today for tomorrow success?Research suggests that spending just a few minutes with students exploring how doing well at this topic will help them achieve their future goals creates a sense of purpose. This sense of purpose results in students paying more attention and putting more effort in. Combine this with teaching them that their ability can be improve can be a powerful combination.What can you learn from successful people?Psychologists have found that comparing yourself with others can have a negative impact on your confidence, motivation, self-management and academic performance. Learning from others (instead of feeling threatened by their success) is a good way to develop your mindset.Do you spend more time arguing or actioning feedback?Seeking out, valuing and actioning feedback is one of the healthiest behaviours students can adopt in order to improve their learning. Those who see feedback as a personal attack and a threat to their identity. This can quickly lead to a fixed mindset.You had a setback. What would you do differently next time?This is one of our favourite questions to ask. It stops students from dwelling on the past and helps them focus on the now and on the future. This gives them a sense of control over the situation.This sort of question is often referred to by psychologists as ‘metacognition’. In laymans terms, this means being aware and in control of your own thought process. This sort of thinking skills are on the most effective strategies to help students improve their and performance and resilience.Other questions that also tick this box include ‘what do I need to do first?’ and ‘who can I ask for advice?’. You can read more about these sort of questions in our post, ‘9 Questions to Improve Metacognition’.These tips won't help a child develop a growth mindset over night. As with all things in psychology (and when working with children and teenagers) it is much more messy, nuanced and slower than that. But these conversations are definitely a good starting point to help them along the way. Bradley BuschBradley Busch is a lead trainer for InnerDrive, a mental skills training company that helps people develop a growth mindset.

The Best Way to Learn a Language 7 Smart Hacks to Soar to Fluency

The Best Way to Learn a Language 7 Smart Hacks to Soar to Fluency The Best Way to Learn a Language: 7 Smart Hacks to Soar  to Fluency Whats faster than a cheetah?Give up?The peregrine falcon.This bird can  reach speeds over 200 miles per hour.  Wowzer!This happens when the falcon is diving to catch its prey.And its  able to get to those speeds thanks to its  stiff feathers, pointed wings, large keel (a special bone) and incredible circulatory and respiratory systems.We can take a lesson from this bird in order to reach our language learning goals at incredible speeds as well.If you want to learn faster, youll have to design a system as efficient as the peregrine falcons body.How you create this  system will depend on  you and your language learning goals, so  the  best way to learn a language will look a bit different for everyoneâ€"just as the cheetah and peregrine falcon have different features that allow them to  travel so fast.Once you have this strategy in place, every minute spent learning will be valuable. Youll discard the tools that dont suit you, increase your efficiency and be left with a method that get s you fast results.Theres nothing like seeing how much progress youre making!  So are you ready to discover the best way for you  to learn a language?Here are seven  smart hacks thatll help you reach record speeds on your way  to fluency. The Best Way to Learn a Language: 7 Smart Hacks to Soar  to Fluency1. Decide What Your Goals AreTo learn a language the best way, youll first need to identify your personal language learning goals. Here are some questions to ask yourself that will help you pinpoint your aims:Why are you studying your target language?  Consider your motivations for wanting to learn  your target language. It may be for a new job, to travel, to understand your favorite K-pop songs or  even to impress  a foreign fella! Knowing your reasons for learning a language will help you  narrow your focus.Which language skills do you need most?  With your goals in mind, make a list of what youll need  to do in your target language. For example, if youll be attending a conferen ce, choose listening as a priority. If you have to network, make speaking your top skill. If youre learning a language  to read or research original texts, youll obviously want to prioritize reading.Is there an exam looming? If there is, thats great because it gives you a concrete goal to work towards. In fact, even if you dont need a test score for any reason, it might be a good idea to sign up for one several months or half a year from now, just to give you a solid goal and motivation. Whether  youre taking  the DALF in French or the  IELTS for English, there is no shortage of practice test materials.How much time do  you have?  Finally, consider your timeline for reaching your goals, as well as how much daily and weekly time youll be able to dedicate to your learning mission. Use this information to make your goals specific. For example: My goal is to be able to order food at restaurants, ask for directions and make small talk when I travel to France five months from now. Ill spe nd 15 minutes a day, Monday through Saturday, learning French. Write  down this commitment  in whatever system  you preferâ€"whether thats a planner or a calendar app.If you have your specific goals and timeline in front of you, youll be one step closer to locating  the best way for you to learn your target language.2. Select the Best Methods and MaterialsChoosing a method and materials which suit you, the most important person in all this, is an important step in designing your falcon-fast system. The first factor  to consider is your learning style.Discover your learning styleCan you understand and remember words better through listening, or do your prefer a visual style? If its the latter, youll thrive on flashcards, lists and other visual content.  If youre a kinesthetic learner, you learn by doing, acting things out and talking.Four main learning styles are visual (seeing), auditory (listening), tactile (touching) and kinesthetic (moving/doing). There are no rigid boundaries he re, as most learners avail of a mix of styles with one predominatingâ€"and some choose from an expanded list of  seven main learning styles.If you have no idea where you might stand, heres a quick online quiz  to help you find  out your learning style.Select  materials and methods  that fit your  learning styleOnce you know your learning style, you can then match it up to the best materials and methods. Here are some ideas to get you started with three big learning styles:Visual: Read newspapers and books  |  watch  movies  |  use  flashcardsAuditory:  Listen to  music, radio and  audiobooks  |  watch  television  |  meet with a  conversation partnerKinesthetic: Take notes | draw diagrams |  play games  |  use interactive software  |  role playDefinitely  mix up materials so that you face a challenge now and again; you shouldnt stay solely in your strongest learning style. One incredibly effective method  thats suitable for most learners is using videos, and you can learn this way w ith FluentU.FluentU is an online immersion platform that takes  real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.  You can browse videos  by difficulty (beginner to native), topic (arts and entertainment, health and lifestyle, etc.) and  format (video blog, news,  shows, etc.).FluentU is  much more than  just watching videosâ€"its about learning and actively practicing the language you hear in videos. Use the interactive subtitles, multimedia flashcards, downloadable transcripts and vocabulary lists to learn your target language  better than ever!Find a teacherIf you need a bit more direction or prefer to supplement your self-study with an experienced teacher, look for a private tutor or course. italki  is a fantastic place to find language teachers  for online lessons, whereas  your local university job board or even Craigslist might be a better place to start looking for an in-person tutor. For  sit-in courses, availability varies greatly depending on your location and target language, so use Google to see whats available near you. For more flexibility, you might prefer  one of these online language courses.3. Go for Vocabulary Instead of GrammarTo make the most progress in the least amount of  time, don’t worry too much about mastering difficult grammatical concepts. Instead, focus on  acquiring vocabularyâ€"the heart of a language.Learn common vocabMake sure youre aiming for the most commonly used words that fit in with your immediate goals.  Again, a quick Google search here can get you vocab lists of the most common words in your target language.This  will be the foundation for any meaningful interaction, the foundation for all language acquisition as Dr. Stephen Krashen points out here:Acquisition requires meaningful interaction in the target languageâ€"natural communicationâ€"in which speakers are concerned not with the form of their utterances but with the mes sages they are conveying and understanding.In other words, grammar isnt so importantâ€"getting your message across is.But  you will need grammar, of course! There are shades of meaning that can only be expressed through grammatical knowledge.  For example, making use of tenses to say when you did something. Thats pretty important when youre telling a story!Learn like children doKids are great at acquiring words for objects, and they can do it without any grammatical knowledge whatsoever! Reading is a fabulous way of acquiring new vocabulary, and if you can guess the meaning of unfamiliar words from the context, youre on a winning streak.4. Immerse Yourself in the LanguageIt doesnt matter whether or not you live in the country where your target language is spoken, there are lots of ways you can surround yourself in it. It really is just a matter of getting as much exposure as you can.  Here are some ideas:Listen to podcasts. Get your listening device  loaded up. If youre more advance d and want native podcasts, change your location in iTunes and browse local podcasts from your country of choice.Watch videos. Head back to FluentU  or over to YouTube and watch clips in your target language. Experiment with subtitles and see how it goes. As you become more adventurous, you can try to understand videos without them.Read widely. I always tell my students that there should be no books on their bedside table which are in their native language. Find something youd likely read in your native language, and which suits  your level. Dont forget about the wide variety of reading materials available: magazines, blogs, childrens books, romance novels, tabloids, graded readers, manuals, short stories, biographies, etc.Talk to native speakers.  This tip is going to catapult you towards fluency, no matter how many mistakes youre making  (there will be lots!) or how nervous you might feel. The sooner you start, the sooner youll become comfortable talking with natives.  The Mixerr  is a great resource where you can find a language partner and start talking to them via Skype.Write emails, stories and letters. Once youve switched your daily writing (to-do lists, shopping lists, calendar) into your target language, take it a step further. You can find international penpals or email language partners here, and native speakers will correct your writing here.Make  recipes. Cooking is a great passion, and is a marvelous way to discover the gastronomic culture. Search for recipes in your target language and try them out. In the comfort of your home, host  your very own cooking show  in your target language!5. Enjoy Yourself and ExperimentYoull definitely reach your goals faster if you enjoy the time spent learning your target language. So lighten up, let loose, play around and have fun!  Here are some things you can do: Watch cartoons.  Do a Google search for  â€œwatch cartoons in [your target language].” As always, youll want cartoons  that are fit for your level and your learning objectives.Do quizzes and competitions. The European Day of Languages site  has some great ideas for this.Play computer games. Get your competitive edge going by playing some computer games in your target language. If youre just starting out, play an online game in English for language learners,  like Free Riceâ€"which currently has German, French, Spanish, Italian and Latin in their foreign language category.Read kids books. Stock up with childrens  books in the language of your choice. See what your local library has available, or buy  kids stories for your Kindle or e-reader on Amazon.  Relive fond childhood memories, and discover new favorites!Watch TED talks. These short instructive videos are really entertaining and inspirational, plus they come with subtitles and interactive transcripts. TED has over 100 languages availableâ€"just use the language pull-down to search by language.6. Measure Your Progress and Increase Your MotivationThe peregrine falcon gets t o eat dinner when it succeeds. Talk about instant feedback!  Youll also want a way to measure your progress, so you can evaluate  whether or not its in line with your expectations and tweak your system accordingly. Being able to view the progress youve made can also do wonders for your  motivation.Here are some practical ways you can do this:Chains. Language learning is the result of good habits, rather than being very talented and having an ear for languages. Chains is a great site/app to help you keep track of your new language learning habits and goals. Dont break the chain!Test yourself. There are lots of ways you could  test yourself, and this is a great way to measure progress. If youre aiming for vocab, for example, use FluentU to track  how many words you have learned. If you want to improve your reading speed,  time yourself and see how long it takes you to read one page of a novel. Repeat the same test weekly, biweekly or monthly and write down  your results in the same pl ace.Track your conversations on Skype. Look at how many conversations youve had with your language exchange partner and add up the total time. Do a weekly check to see if its  increasing, and set a goal for next month.Check  off specific things you can do.  The Common European Framework established by the Council of Europe is full of can do statements which are the basis for measuring progress in languages. You can follow these or make your own list. Theres nothing more satisfying than being able to cross off things on your can do list. For example, youll be able to order a simple meal, ask for directions, introduce a speaker or write a report.Pace yourself. You do not want to risk burnout by doing mega sessions. Aim for short and intensive learning bouts for actively practicing the language.Keep positive. Having a positive mindset is crucial. Whenever you need a lift, read a blog post from Marc and Angel or these tips on Life Hack  to stay optimistic and hopeful.Persistence pays of f. Yes, there will be difficulties, frustration and setbacks, but never quit. Small, repeated, consistent efforts will get you farther than you ever imagined.  7. Reach out and Gain ConfidenceThe key here is to continually step outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself. Choose growth over comfort, and youll see your  confidence grow along with your language abilities. Here are some ideas:Pick up the telephone.  Call a museum or major company in Madrid, Beijing or Tokyo, for example. Ask for basic or more detailed information, and then check if you have understood correctly by looking at their site online.Talk to tourists.  If you live in a large city, you have a golden opportunity. Go out of your way to help tourists with directions and guiding whenever possible (in your target language).Set yourself new challenges. No sitting back on your laurels,  think up new challenges to test yourself. For example, if youre just starting out, you might challenge yourself to have a 15-min ute conversation with a native speaker two or three months from now. If youre more advanced, challenge yourself to  give a speech in your target language (set it up and schedule it). For the best results, keep your challenges  realistic and attainable, and then announce your challenge to others for added incentive to follow through.Dont aim for perfection. Get used to making mistakes, and dont view people correcting you as a criticism. Its a learning opportunity!Follow these seven smart hacks and youll  create the most efficient language learning system for you. Spread your wings and soar! And One More ThingWeve already mentioned FluentU a few times, but theres a lot more to see, so we thought wed offer you a more detailed look.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, including movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions th at let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive Transcripts You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.

LindsaydoesLanguages Challenge Update Learning Japanese

LindsaydoesLanguages Challenge Update Learning Japanese Multiple Challenge Winner LindsaydoesLanguages is taking her 3rd consecutive challenge and is now learning Japanese (from scratch I might add!). Her updates are always fun and entertaining but more importantly very motivating and inspiring! Shes done 3 straight back-to-back italki Language Challenges. You should be able to just finish one! She also writes a pretty cool language learning blog. Reposted with permission. ITALKI OCTOBER LANGUAGE CHALLENGE PLEDGE: JAPANESE Following on from Wednesday’s post announcing my new Language Quest to learn some Japanese, I’ve been busy making my italki Pledge video for the October Language Challenge. I filmed the video yesterday after one lesson, but I had another this morning and already feel like I could say more! That’s one reason I’ve decided to use Instagram more to track my progress with Japanese. I can upload quick daily videos from wherever I am. Also it’s surprising how much you can say in 15 seconds! Be sure to follow me on Instagram to keep track and give me some advice if you speak Japanese yourself. That’s one reason I’ve decided to use Instagram more to track my progress with Japanese. I can upload quick daily videos from wherever I am. Also it’s surprising how much you can say in 15 seconds! Be sure to follow me on Instagram to keep track and give me some advice if you speak Japanese yourself. Heres her latest Instagram Post Loading Woohoo! Finally back to updating on the Japanese progress! I learnt this sentence in my first lesson this morning since getting back from the Polyglot Conference. Hopefully I got it right! #japanese #languagelearning #vlog LindsaydoesLanguages Challenge Update Learning Japanese Multiple Challenge Winner LindsaydoesLanguages is taking her 3rd consecutive challenge and is now learning Japanese (from scratch I might add!). Her updates are always fun and entertaining but more importantly very motivating and inspiring! Shes done 3 straight back-to-back italki Language Challenges. You should be able to just finish one! She also writes a pretty cool language learning blog. Reposted with permission. ITALKI OCTOBER LANGUAGE CHALLENGE PLEDGE: JAPANESE Following on from Wednesday’s post announcing my new Language Quest to learn some Japanese, I’ve been busy making my italki Pledge video for the October Language Challenge. I filmed the video yesterday after one lesson, but I had another this morning and already feel like I could say more! That’s one reason I’ve decided to use Instagram more to track my progress with Japanese. I can upload quick daily videos from wherever I am. Also it’s surprising how much you can say in 15 seconds! Be sure to follow me on Instagram to keep track and give me some advice if you speak Japanese yourself. That’s one reason I’ve decided to use Instagram more to track my progress with Japanese. I can upload quick daily videos from wherever I am. Also it’s surprising how much you can say in 15 seconds! Be sure to follow me on Instagram to keep track and give me some advice if you speak Japanese yourself. Heres her latest Instagram Post Loading Woohoo! Finally back to updating on the Japanese progress! I learnt this sentence in my first lesson this morning since getting back from the Polyglot Conference. Hopefully I got it right! #japanese #languagelearning #vlog