Chinese Tutoring Tips - How to Create an Effective Chinese Tutoring System

Chinese Tutoring Tips - How to Create an Effective Chinese Tutoring SystemChinese tutoring in itself is quite a complicated job. It may be an office or class, it may be a private tutor or group, but what would be the point if it is not up to your standards?You may have to teach a little bit about the Chinese language, you may have to study some basics, and even maybe you will have to create some Chinese learning strategies for your student. Actually, I believe that one of the best things for a teacher to do is teach them. This way, he/she can learn from the student and at the same time, they can also learn from him/her.A teacher can, of course, use various methods to teach his/her students about the Chinese language and the culture. But, sometimes, for Chinese tutors, this is just not enough to teach and train his/her students properly.One good method is to take the help of online learning programs. But before you do this, make sure that you have a clear picture of what you are going to teach. There are some online learning programs that can help you find the right language for your student and some that will also help you choose the right audio files.The most important thing that you need to focus on is the process. This means that you have to create the right system to help your student to learn properly. In order to do this, you have to create a habit of checking your materials everyday. After you have checked them, you have to create new materials.Make sure that you know your students well. You also have to find out whether your student is willing to learn more or not. If your student doesn't want to study, then you should give it up. For most students, they don't want to study.These Chinese tutoring tips should really be effective to you in terms of teaching your students but it should also be able to enhance your knowledge. And you should try to find out the answer to the question as to whether or not the online learning programs help or not.

Russian Geopolitics

Russian Geopolitics The Strategies That Define Russian Geopolitics ChaptersThe Politics of Imperial RussiaRussia During the Cold War and BeyondTearing Down the WallRussian Geopolitics TodayTo a certain demographic â€" those aged enough to have experienced Cold War tensions, Russia is never thought of without a sense of unease.Stories of the gulag and the KGB; the GRU and NKVD â€" names of agencies upon which many stories of intrigue are built, generally send shivers down the spines of those exposed to such tales.And with good reason! Narratives detailing such experiences paint a terrible assault on humanity for all to see.But do they accurately describe the Russia of today? That is a difficult call to make.Recent tales of social unrest in Russia clash with the Kremlin’s unforeseen diplomatic outreach in the Middle East and Latin America.Hosting the World Cup last year and the Winter Olympics four years before were designed to show that Russia intends to become a front-and-centre player on the world stage.Such ambitions contrast vividly with the Ru ssian annexation of Crimea, which took place at the very time that world unity was on display in Sochi, during the Winter Olympics.One might find it difficult to divine Russian machinations and motivations, especially when constantly assailed with its positive and negative political aspects; often at the same time.To understand them, we have to dive deep into the history of Mother Russia, review past diplomacy and calculate the rationale that drives the politics of the one individual leading that vast country.Essentially, his series of political missteps, at home and abroad, brought the Russian Empire to its end.In this brief history, we see that Russia, vast in her land holdings and full of people, nevertheless was never really powerful in her own right. Much of her might was illusory.Discover the subtle might of Asian geopolitics...Following the Cold War initiation, barriers between east and west were hastily erected Image by Hans Harbig from PixabayRussia During the Cold War and BeyondAfter the Tsar was deposed, a provisional ‘Peoples Government’ was established, which was quickly overthrown by Vladimir Lenin.Quickly, under his leadership, various government agents set about establishing a barrier between Russia and western European powers by unifying with countries that we know today as Belarus, Latvia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and others.During the Second World War, any territories to the west that were overtaken by Russia’s army became satellite states, further serving as a buffer between powers.Later, during the division of Europe into capitalist versus communist... there is just no nice way of saying it: the Soviet Union engaged in a land-grab.Seizing control of half of Berlin, as well as the territory that called itself the German Democratic Republic is what caused the political and military tension between the Soviet Union and the U.S.Those two powers, formerly allies but now bitter foes, with their respective allies, circled each other war ily in a decades-long dance we know as the Cold War.Significant elements of that era include:The ‘Long Telegram’, a magazine article by an American diplomat in Russia, advocating for containment to avert the spread of communismThe Truman Doctrine: the American foreign policy to counter Soviet geopolitical expansionThe Warsaw Pact: a collective defence treaty ratified by the Soviet Union and seven satellite states in the East BlocCOMECON: an economic assistance organisation designed to support the East Bloc and communist regimes throughout the worldThe Iron Curtain: a figurative (and later, literal) line of demarcation dividing Europe.‘The West’, meaning western Europe and the United States, were treated only to sparse reports of torture and imprisonment, authoritarian rule and mass killings in the Soviet Union.In the rare occasions that eyewitness accounts were made possible, either through news broadcasts or through networks of spies, the impression of power â€" through the police or the military, was strong.And with the defection of athletes and artists, we were treated to first-hand accounts of what life was like... but what was really going on behind that Curtain?What was the extent of communist reach in Latin America?Tearing Down the WallIt is important to understand that, although economics is considered separate from geopolitics, a regime’s economy plays a role in the extent it can engage in world affairs.Once sequestered from global affairs, it was all the Soviet Union could do to manage their internal affairs.As the region’s economy stagnated for so long, no expansive military dreams could be entertained, let alone could any large-scale lending be done to any other country, such as China or North Korea.Soviet regions embellishing reports of grain output certainly did not help matters, and America’s grain embargo, in retaliation for the USSR meddling in Afghanistan brought them no benefit either.On paper, everything looked great but the r eality was that the people of the Soviet Union were hungry, frustrated and tired of being bound to a regime that no longer served them.A series of revolts ultimately brought the end to this painful time in Russian history.However, this period reveals why Russia has such an interest in Afghanistan; you can learn more about it in our geopolitics in the Middle East article.Today, the Russian president walks a fine line between being personable and being authoritarian Image by klimkin from PixabayRussian Geopolitics TodayTo truly understand how Russia operates on the world stage, we need only to look toward history.In spite of her reputation as a mighty world power, Russia, historically and today, has merely cultivated and projected the illusion of power... and apparently engages in bluster to maintain that image.While it is true that her space programme initially led the world, even those efforts could not be sustained in the long term.What really hurt Russia is the loss of those ‘bu ffer lands’ - the countries that separate her from the rest of Europe.What really did damage to Russia’s hopes for a strategic alliance with them was when they and the Balkan states became NATO members â€" essentially pledging themselves against Russia.The lone exception was Ukraine... we’ll go a bit deeper into that situation in a mo.Painfully aware of how quickly the political tide can turn in Europe as well as with their ally, the United States, Russia knows that she is strategically vulnerable at this point.Even worse: in the event of a crisis, not many nations would leap to help defend her.Finally, the global lack of trust in Russia, of her motivations, actions and goals, leaves her diplomats and president constantly working to regain ground.That is why we see Mr Putin reach out beyond his country’s nearest neighbours for diplomatic opportunities, overlooking former ally China and bypassing Europe altogether.He is using soft power to build long-distance relations in Afr ica, the Middle East and in Latin America.Are you curious about how geopolitics play out in Africa?Still, the Russian political machine does nothing to dissuade global powers that Russia is still to be feared and that her reach is long. In fact, they encourage it, notably during two brazen poisonings of former Soviet agents on British soil!Most political analysts suspect that Mr Putin likes for the world to believe that he has influence over the United States and that the American president is working on his behalf.The likelihood of that being true is minimal but, in continuing to portray Russia in as sinister a tone as possible, that country’s leader expends virtually no resources and loses little diplomatic goodwill, all while maintaining an image of power.The proof of this analysis lies in the Ukraine.That country’s 2004 presidential election results were met with widespread demonstrations and accusations of corruption and fraud: voters contended that the election was rigged in favour of the Russian-backed candidate.Outrage over the alleged duplicity fanned the flames of public revolt and the outcry caused the election results to be scrapped and a new one held.This time, the election was deemed impartial by a combined body of national and international observers.The Orange Revolution played out on the world stage, forcing a high-profile reckoning between historical foes, Russia and the U.S. It took ten years for the situation to play itself out.That democracy-friendly Ukrainian president served a six-year term, after which the Russian-friendly candidate took office. Four years later, in 2014, he was ousted in a bloody clash.Sensing that Western allies had a foothold in Ukraine, one of the last bastions of Russian security, Russia promptly annexed Crimea â€" both as a show of force and to reestablish some buffer between themselves and western powers.In spite of fierce sabre-rattling, neither side was willing to engage. Tensions were diffused through a no n-aggression pact, leaving the Ukraine with democratic support from western countries but no military reinforcements.Having taken Crimea as their security buffer, that was a deal the Russians could live with.Can’t get enough of geopolitics? Discover how geopolitics play out all over the world.

Tutor Best Practices Credentials Folder

Tutor Best Practices Credentials Folder Here at Tutorfair, we like to spread good ideas. One thing that might not be obvious to those starting out their tutoring journey is the importance of having a folder to keep all of your credentials papers in. When you go to your first lesson with a new client, it’s best to have the following documents to show them, in a presentable format. Identification (copy of passport) Educational Certificates (Degrees, A Levels etc.) DBS Certificate (formerly CRB check) We recommend having these in a display folder such as the one below. The one that Hannah is modelling costs a little over £4 from Rymans, and is something that the best tutors on our site are using already. It will demonstrate professionalism to the client, keep you more organised, and give additional reassurance to the customer, especially if they haven’t asked to see it. DISCLAIMER: Tutorfair is giving this recommendation independently, and earns no commission on sales of Ryman folders… yet…

SAT Tips That Will Ensure You Are Fully Prepared For Test Day

SAT Tips That Will Ensure You Are Fully Prepared For Test Day Get Ready for the SAT: Five Simple Tips Preparing for the SAT is more than just practice questions and memorizing vocabulary words. Proper SAT practice should follow an SAT study guide that is focused on comprehensive preparation that helps ensure students are ready for exam day. Using past performance data, applying current skills and knowledge, and understanding SAT testing conditions will maximize your potential and help propel you toward your academic future.This SAT study guide is focused on maximizing available test prep resources and helping you to improve your understanding of various concepts prior to test day. You'll quickly understand how preparing wisely now will pay off when you feel confident about your preparation and are pleased with your performance.Prepare your mind AND bodyPreparing your mind for the SAT without also taking care of your physical needs is not ideal. Your brain can only work as hard as your body allows. During the entire SAT preparation you should also focus on proper nutrition, getting pl enty of sleep, and finding time for physical activity. If you expect your brain to be in great shape for the SAT exam you also need to carefully prepare your body for the big day.Don't cram Cramming rarely works. Trying to prepare for a high stakes test in a small window of time will likely only leave you frustrated, confused, and overwhelmed. The best means of preparation is to carefully plan your studying to ensure you have plenty of time to cover all assessed subject areas. It is imperative that you take practice exams and these should be taken under testing conditions. Doing this will improve both your overall knowledge and test taking skills. Set aside specific blocks of time each week that are dedicated to SAT prep and ensure you meet a minimum amount of study time each week.Increase your academic vocabularyPossessing a wide range of academic vocabulary is an essential part of doing your best on the SAT. Not only will increasing your vocabulary help with vocabulary test sectio ns, it will also boost your understanding of reading passages, refine the content of your written essays, and increase your chances of correctly answering a wide variety of test questions. If you are looking for additional ways to improve your academic vocabulary, the professionals with Huntington Learning Centers can help! Part of the SAT tutoring sessions available through the learning centers focuses on increasing relevant academic vocabulary. Source content for the essay portionThe prompts used on the SAT utilize general topics accessible to all exam candidates. Because the writing time is limited on testing day it is vital to source evidence and content before you begin the test. Take the time to gather scholarly examples that could be used to answer a variety of prompts such as novels or literary characters, current news stories, global or national issues, and historical events. Sourcing and studying this content ahead of time will allow you to focus on writing a thoughtful es say instead of racking your brain for applicable content.Practice under testing conditionsPreparing for the SAT exam is all about understanding what is expected of you on test day. Don't leave anything to chance. While you are studying it is important to spend time adhering to the actual testing conditions you'll encounter on exam day. Turn off your cell phone, ensure your calculator is an approved model, use only questions released by the SAT and the College Board, and take at least one practice exam while following the specific testing conditions and time guidelines.If you are feeling overwhelmed by preparing for the SAT exam consider contacting the professionals at Huntington Learning Centers. The highly skilled tutors are specifically trained to help students prepare for the SAT while focusing on the areas of the exam that provide the most opportunity for growth. Each individual tutoring session will be carefully designed to meet your individual needs and will help you in your p ursuit to achieve the highest score possible.

What You Need To Know About The Cambridge Analytica Controversy

What You Need To Know About The Cambridge Analytica Controversy via Pixabay Facebook maintains that they had no idea this was going on and that Cambridge paid them to collect data for academic purposes. However, what Cambridge Analytica did was analyze peoples’ Facebook pages to see what they liked in order to identify personality traits that were then combined with algorithms created to predict peoples’ political views. For example, if you liked something posted by Kim Kardashian West, researchers used that information to identify your personality traits, such as how extroverted you are, how conscientious and how open-minded you are. That data combined with information about other interests indicated on Facebook can be plugged into their algorithm in order to predict your political views so campaigns can target you with advertisements more effectively. Cambridge Analytica adapted this approach of personality modeling from studies done by researchers at Stanford University and the Psychometrics Center at the University of Cambridge. The studies relied on data collected by a Facebook app called myPersonality which was a quiz developed to assess a person’s openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. When respondents took the quiz, they authorized researchers to gain access to their profile data and information about their friend network. Researchers were then able to cross-reference the results of the quiz with the users’ likes on Facebook and build a model from the correlations. Once patterns were found, researchers could make accurate guesses about users personalities without the help of the quiz. How does this tie in with President Trump? President Trump recently named John Bolton as his third national security adviser. John Bolton has been heavily involved in politics throughout his career and ran a super PAC during the 2016 election. Super PACs are independent committees that raise money for political campaigns. They can raise unlimited amounts and are virtually unregulated since they are not directly affiliated with a party or person. According to Cambridge Analyticas company documents and employees, Boltons super PAC was one of their first customers. Cambridge Analytica was hired by Bolton to specifically develop psychological profiles of voters from data collected off of Facebook. While this was also going on, Robert Mercer was financially supporting Boltons super PAC and donated $5 million between April 2014 and September 2016. Why should you care? Whether you support President Trump or not, its important to be aware that his campaign hired a foreign firm to collect private information from Americans Facebook accounts. Cambridge Analytica was not authorized by Facebook or its users to collect the information it took and use it the way it was used. Legal investigations are going on currently in England as well as the United States to see if laws have been broken. It was reported that Cambridge Analytica board members did receive warnings from lawyers that it is illegal to employ foreigners in political campaigns. However, there might be a loophole since Cambridge Analytica does have ties with the Mercer family and Robert Mercers daughter, Rebekah is a board member. Whether it is determined if laws have been violated or not, what Trumps campaign and Cambridge Analytica did was unethical and unfair.

Social Justice in the Classroom

Social Justice in the Classroom For one of my classes at UT, we discussed the idea of Social Justice, a revolutionary way of approaching Social Studies. Social justice is the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities.It is often difficult to understand how young children perceive social issues and their personal opinions on these ideas. In my class, I was able to interview some Kindergarten students on what they thought about some Social Justice issues. In these interviews, I discuss the students’ responses to my questions concerning racial equality in the perspective of both the individual and the public. In general, all three students had a solid idea of race and an understanding of equality between different races to some extent.The first student I interviewed (who will be referred to as “Amber” to protect her identity) is very advanced in Reading and Writing and Math for a Kindergartener. She is already reading independently on a First Grade level and starti ng Subtraction soon. Amber is very outgoing and amicable with her classmates, socializing with both males and females from all races. The next student I interviewed is a diligent worker with a kind and caring heart. (who will be referred to as “Karen”). Karen is always looking after other students and a generally sweet girl. Lastly, I spoke with a young boy (who will be referred to as “Brandon”). Brandon seldom gets into trouble, has little behavior issues, and works well with all of the other students. He is also a hard worker and has no trouble focusing on his schoolwork.First, I asked the students about their personal experiences with racial equality by asking, “Does your skin color make you feel different”. Amber noted that she is different from other people, but did not explain why or how. When I inquired further, she did not really understand what I meant by the question, saying that she knew she was different “from her brain”. It seems what she gathered from t he question was that she did not know why she was different racially, but it was just understood. Karen agreed that people are indeed different; however, she “[doesn’t] feel different, just look[s] different”. I thought this was an extremely powerful statement for a Kindergartener. Brandon had the same idea as Karen. He mentioned that regardless of skin color, he was still the same person. In his terms, Brandon said, “you don’t have the same body, but you have the same inside”. The consensus seems to be that everyone’s appearance can be different, and a popular idea is that the individual’s personality is not affected by their race. In other words, the children do not seem to use their race as an identifier, or at least they have not personally experienced racial inequality.Next, I asked the students, “do you think it’s okay to treat people differently because they look different”. Amber’s response was a simple, “Nope”. Her reasoning was “because they a re my friends”. Brandon also had a similar idea, his reasoning being “because you’re supposed to make sure you’re nice”. However, Karen seemed to have taken a different approach to the question. It was interesting to see that Karen did not think of treating people differently to mean something detrimental, but she took it as accommodating for others instead. This was such creative and out of the box thinking on Social issues from a five year old child. Karen mentioned that “we’re different and we don’t feel the same”, so we have to be conscious about each other’s ideas and respect it. This was her way of treating people differently. All three students seemed to believe in racial equality and even emphasize respecting others.Lastly, I asked the students if they were interested in learning more about people with different skin color than theirs, a question I was curious about. Amber shrugged her shoulders and seemed disinterested in the question itself. Since it wa s Black History month, I asked if she liked learning about Martin Luther King Jr., and she told me that it was not interesting to her. This was shocking to me, since she was such a scholar in other academic areas. However, Karen and Brandon were more than enthusiastic to learn more about others. When I asked Karen what she wanted to learn about, she said, “the whole world”. Brandon mentioned that he wanted to know more about everyone as well because he “[doesn’t] know about the people” and was interested in them. I could make an inference and say that Karen and Brandon enjoy learning about other races because they already know a little about their own culture from studying Black History month in class. Amber still does not see the value in learning about other peoples, especially in the classroom, since her race has not been a topic of interest in school.Karen and Brandon even went on to tell me more about what they thought after they answered my questions. Karen made it c lear that she was a different race than others, eyeing me, an Asian American, and saying, “everybody has a different skin color than me, but I’m different. I have brown [skin], but they’re different”. Brandon also stressed that “some people are different colors cause God made them like that”. I asked if it was okay to be different colors, and he gladly agreed, nodding frantically.In light of these revelations, I would definitely change the way I present this topic in my classroom in order to engage all students. Instead of having the entire class focus on one race together, I would want students to research a culture of their choice on their own, gathering their information from primary sources like their family members, or looking things up elsewhere. This way, all of the students are interested in the people and culture that they are studying. In addition, the students would present their findings to the entire class, and ideally, the students will be more engaged when learning from their peers than learning from a book.

Teaching English in China Hangzhou City Guide

Teaching English in China Hangzhou City Guide At Teach Away, we’ve been all abuzz about China as the place to be when it comes to teaching English abroad this year. That’s why we’re excited to get the ball rolling on the third (and final) installment of our blog series on living in China.And it just so happens that we’ve saved the best city for last - Hangzhou! Read on to find out how can get around the city, where you can find great food, bargain-heavy shopping, beautiful scenery, fun nightlife and much more. Living in Hangzhou Interested inteaching English in China? Hangzhou could be just the spot for you. Located on China’s east coast, Hangzhou offers expats all the conveniences of a large, modern city, but at a slightly slower pace than Shanghai or Beijing. Well-known for its picturesque West Lake, Hangzhou has lots of natural beauty and a great mix of traditional and Western culture. Climate Hangzhou has a generally warm and mild climate, with four distinct seasons and two rainy periods. Although considered mild, average temperatures in the area can get up to 86 (34 degrees Celsius) degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, and down to 37 degrees (2 degree Celsius) in the winter, so it’s best to bring both winter and summer clothes! As well, make sure to invest in some quality rain gear if you plan on moving to Hangzhou, as there are two rainy seasons in both June and September. Transport Trains. Hangzhou has three railway stations throughout the city, with high-speed trains connecting the city to nearby Shanghai, Ningbo, and Changsha. The East Railway Station, located in the Jianggan District, is the largest high-speed train center in eastern China! Buses. One of the most popular forms of public transportation in Hangzhou, bus routes operate throughout downtown and run almost 24/7 - making transportation accessible at almost any time of the day. Most city-buses will cost you about ¥1-3 ($0.15 - $0.45 USD), or less if you have a Transportation Smart Card. Extra tip - Hangzhou city buses only accept exact fares, so be sure to carry some extra change on you at all times! In addition to city lines, suburban and tourist bus lines also run if you want to visit anywhere outside of downtown, or want to explore some of Hangzhou’s famous landmarks! Taxis. Taking a taxi is a quick and convenient way to get around Hangzhou, but there are also some important things to consider if you are planning to take a cab. Be sure that you only take “official” taxis and ask to be charged by the meter to ensure that you will not be overcharged. Taxis are easy to find and flag down anywhere in the city, but ensure you are only using licensed cars and drivers! Flag-down fare for first 2 miles (3 km) ¥11 ($1.65 USD) For the following 2.5-6 miles (4 - 10 km) ¥2.50 per 0.6 miles (1 km) ($0.37 USD) Distances over 6 miles (10 km) ¥3.75 per 0.6 mile (1 km) ($0.56 USD) Waiting fee ¥2.50 for every 4 minutes ($0.37 USD) Food Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. Hangzhou has a prevalent local cuisine, as well as influences from many other areas of China and Western culture. It’s a city where you can not only try traditional food, but also get the comforts of home and try modern twists on ancient Chinese dishes! When living in Hangzhou, traditional dishes such as West Lake Fish in vinegar gravy, Braised Dong Po Pork and fried shrimp with Longjing tea leaves have been passed down for centuries and are a must-try! Hangzhou also has a thriving “snack” scene and is a great way to experience authentic Hangzhou cuisine. Commonly eaten at breakfast, popular local snacks are noodles with seafood, fried bread, and endless others! To fully immerse yourself in the culture, take some time to stroll down the snack streets like He Fang Jie (Qing He Fang) to sample local street food. Basic dinner for two at local restaurant ¥154 ($23.09 USD) Dinner for two at an upscale expat restaurant ¥406 ($60.88 USD) Cappuccino ¥31 ($4.65 USD) Milk (1 liter) ¥17 ($2.55 USD) 1 dozen eggs ¥13 ($1.95 USD) Leisure Entertainment Hangzhou offers expats many options of things to do and explore during weekends and off-hours! During the day, make sure you make time to walk through one of the many shopping areas in the city, especially Silk City - the biggest silk market in China. In addition to traditional markets, Hangzhou also has a number of shopping malls with many popular Western stores. Tea houses are a popular place to relax, talk with friends, and sip on famous Longjing tea. Many of the most well-known tea houses are located along the shores of the West Lake and provide great views of surrounding scenery. Hangzhou boasts a vibrant nightlife entertainment scene, with lots of options for a late night out or drinks with friends after work. Shuguang Lu is a popular area to find bars and nightclubs, as well as mingle with locals. If hanging out at a bar or club doesn’t really feel like your scene, downtown Hangzhou also has a number of theaters to catch live shows and music or spend the night on a cruise around the West Lake. Fitness club/gym (monthly) $332 ($49.78 USD) Movie ticket (single) ¥81.50 ($12.22 USD) 1 drink at a downtown club/bar ¥43 ($6.45 USD) 2 tickets to the theater ¥267 ($40 USD) Monthly Rent Like many other cities in China, the cost of living in Hangzhou will be much more affordable than most Western, native English speaking countries. Still be aware though that rent is still more expensive if you are living in downtown Hangzhou rather than in the suburbs! One bedroom apartment (in the downtown area) ¥5,556 ($833.15 USD) One bedroom apartment (outside of downtown area) ¥3,717 ($557.38 USD) Internet (monthly) ¥140 ($21 USD) Missed our earlier blogs on living in China? Check back to read our deep-dives into life in Tianjin and Nanjing!

Youve Said, I Want to Learn Different Languages! Now What

Youve Said, I Want to Learn Different Languages! Now What Youve Said, I Want to Learn Different Languages! Now What? Have you decided you want to learn a language?Maybe more than one?Maybe you even want to learn all kinds of different languages?Well, thats great news! Give yourself a pat on the back!But now what?Now, its time to get all your language ducks in a row.Chances are, if youre Googling this subject or have otherwise happened upon this page, youre either a first-time language learner or an aspiring polyglot looking to kick things up a notch.Either way, there are a lot of factors to consider before you embarkâ€"or re-embarkâ€"on any language learning journey.For one thing, deciding  what languages to learn  can be almost as complicated as learning the languages themselves. After all, there are plenty of resources to teach you a language, but surprisingly few to teach you  how to choose.And the unanswered questions seem endless. Should you learn the most used languages or would it be better to study the  most useful languages? What language could help you land a  cool job? Once youve decided on a language, what learning method should you use?Hey hey, slow down! In this post, were going to take things one tiny baby step at a time.Why? Because while theres a lot to consider before you dive in, just a little preparation can help you skillfully navigate your way towards fluency with a lot fewer roadblocks. Why Its Always Important to Think Out Your Next Step in Language LearningLanguage learning can be an unexpected minefield at any stage. If you make the wrong decision(s), you may not be happy with the results. Learning those languages can take  a lot of time and effort, and you dont want to look back and regret all the time you spent learning the wrong language or not learning as effectively as possible. So it follows naturally thatChoosing the wrong language(s) can prevent you from meeting your goals.  Learning different languages can help you meet different goals. However, if you choose the wrong languages for your purposes, they might not help you meet your goals at all. For instance, if your main goal is improving your employability, learning a dead language like Latin probably wont get you as far in most fields as learning something common, like Spanish.Studying the wrong language(s) can also demotivate you.  If you dont like a language youre learning, chances are you wont be as interested in studying it. When you arent as interested in studying, your progress will be slow and frustrating. Choosing languages you like and want to use can keep you motivated and excited to learn.If you select the wrong learning techniques, they can slow your progress.  Everyone learns differently, so its important to find the right techniques for you. For instance, if youre a visual learner, using exclusively audio courses isnt likely to yield quick results. Similarly, if you learn by doing, studying a textbook might not be as beneficial as using a program that teaches you a language through repeated use.Similarly, choosing the wrong learning techniques can lea d to imbalanced skills.  To become proficient in a language, youll need reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. However, some learning options focus on just one or two sets of these skills. For instance, dual-language books are a terrific study tool. However, if you try to learn a language exclusively through dual-language books, your writing, speaking and listening skills may be underdeveloped.Finally, if you dont think things out now, you may meet a roadblock you dont know how to overcome. Thinking things out gives you clear direction, motivation and purpose. When you know your route ahead, youre unlikely to get lost or distracted.This all being said, you may be wondering, but what should that next step I need to think out be? Following we have not just one, but 11 baby steps every learner should take when starting in on one or more new languages.Youve Said, I Want to Learn Different Languages! Now What?1. Consider why you want to learn languages.When you decide you want to learn languages, it can be tempting to just pick a language and get to work. After all, learning a language is exciting, especially in the beginning. However, before you get too far in, its important to consider your motivations.Your reasons for learning languages can determine what language or languages you learn and what you focus on. For instance, if you want to have an enjoyable vacation in Rome, this clearly hints that you should learn Italian. Similarly, it also makes it apparent that your focus should be primarily on travel vocabulary.To consider your own motivations, ask yourself the following questions:How did you decide you should learn languages?When do you hope to use your language skills?What excites you about speaking other languages?Once youve considered these points, youll be ready to move onto the next step and finally select languages.2. Decide what languages to study.Taking into account why you want to learn languages, its time to select which language or langu ages you want to study (or study first).You may need to do some preliminary research to determine which languages best suit your current needs and goals. For instance, if you want to learn a language to increase your employability, look at job listings in your field of interest and see what sorts of language skills are required or preferred. Even this can vary a good deal between different industries. For instance, if you want to work in the automotive industry, you might find the languages of major auto-producing countries (like Japanese and German) most useful.If youve decided you want to learn several languages at once, you might consider learning several  mutually intelligible languages. Mutually intelligible languages are languages that have enough overlap that speakers of one language can understand another language at least partially. Since these languages are similar, learning them both can be easier than learning two disparate languages.3. Investigate each language more.Now that youve tentatively selected a language or languages, investigate in more depth.Not only will this help you decide whether a particular language is the right language for you, it will also provide you with some basic knowledge that can serve as the foundation for your cultural and historic understanding.Where is it spoken? How widely spoken is it? What sorts of careers can you use it in? What makes the language interesting? As you investigate more, you might learn that a language is very intriguing to you or doesnt actually interest you that much.Ethnologue is one useful resource for learning more about languagesâ€"just keep in mind you have a limited number of free page views.If you think European languages will be your jam, lingvo.info offers a colorful, easy-to-browse resource.4. Do a test run.Its the moment youve been waiting for! Finally, you can stretch your legs and dive into your target language or languages. But dont get too comfortable yetâ€"you might still want to cut and run.Until youve actually tried learning a target language, you wont know whether you really like that language. Even if all your research indicates that its an ideal choice, you might not enjoy the sound, the feel or the look.Thats why its important to do a test run before you commit time or resources to learning. You dont want to be five weeks and $2000 into a course only to decide this isnt the language for you.FluentU is a great way to get a feel for different languages, and with the free two-week trial, theres nothing to lose!FluentU 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-pick ed 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.Plus, if youre learning multiple languages,  FluentU will save your progress for any and all languages you study.  You can switch between languages to test them out without losing your spot in any of the languages.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.Dont like the language youve been testing? Go through the first few steps again until you find a language that interests you more.5. Commit to learning each language.If you liked your test run with a language, its time to make a commitment.Mentally commit to learning the language. Remind yourself of your reasons for learning to fuel your motivation.You should also tell people about each language youre learning. Spread the word! If everyone knows youre studying a language, this will help keep you accountable. After all, you wouldnt want your friends and family to ask Hows learning that language going? a few months from now only to be left with no choice but to respond I quit after two weeks.6. Decide what methods of learning youll use.Thanks to technology, there are a huge array of methods to learn a language these days. The only problem is that with so many options, selec ting the right method can be challenging. So nows the time to weigh your options.Conventional language courses are a tried-and-true option. For generations, these courses have been the method of choice for countless learners. One big benefit is that they offer a structured, balanced approach to language learning. Plus, since they meet in person, youll feel accountable to more people. However, they can often be pricey and inflexible. If you have a busy schedule, it can be hard to find enough time.Online language courses  offer many of the benefits of conventional courses. They frequently offer a structured learning path. However, unlike conventional courses, they tend to be lower in price and offer more flexible scheduling. That being said, without other learners in the same boat as you, you might struggle to find people to practice with.Similarly, audio courses  offer structured education with the added flexibility of being able to study while doing other things, like driving, clean ing or showering. However, the downside is that you wont have as much practice reading and writing.Language learning apps  offer a fun, interactive way to learn a language with a lot to offer. There are apps that allow you to follow set lesson plans, enjoy practice activities, study vocabulary, play language games, connect with native speakers and so much more. However, each app offers different features, so finding balance when learning with apps may require a little extra effort on your part.Luckily, you dont have to choose just one method. Feel free to try out several different options and select what you like best. Better still, combine several different learning methods for an engaging and varied learning experience.7. Find fun, supportive resources to keep you motivated and interested.In addition to more conventional learning materials, youre going to want to break up your study time with some fun, supportive resources.Studying can be grueling, and inevitably, youll need some study breaks. But that doesnt mean you have to halt your learning progress! With more recreational resources, you get the feeling of a break with the added benefit of additional learning time.Enjoying authentic materials is a great way to continue your language learning while taking a break from studying. Supportive resources like books, movies, TV and games can be both engaging and educational.For instance, if you cant get enough Netflix, you can also use it as a supportive resource in your language education. For most popular languages, all you have to do is search the name of the language. From there, you can often narrow your search to more specific categories.For instance, searching Japanese yields a lot of results, but it also suggests I narrow my search to Japanese Movies, Japanese TV Shows, Japanese TV Dramas, etc. And once you watch one movie or TV show in your target language, you can count on Netflix to recommend more.YouTube also offers abundant foreign language resource s. Try searching the name of your target language and subtitles. For instance, if you search French subtitles, youll find an array of videos in French, some with English subtitles, others with French subtitles. But of course, for high quality assurance and no wasted time, you can always just use the specially selected videos on FluentU.8. Set specific goals and timelines so you stay on track.With your arsenal of learning materials in tow, youre ready to map your path to success.Even if youre fully committed to learning a language, its important to establish clear goals and timelines. The problem is that life gets busy, and if you havent established clear objectives for yourself, you might find your study time keeps getting cut short or eliminated altogether.That being said, its important to set goals and timelines that are appropriate for you. Setting excessively ambitious goals that you never meet can make you feel like a failure. However, setting very low goals can lead to slow pr ogress, so you should consider that, too.Try to set a specific study schedule. If you schedule your learning for the same time each day, it will become part of your routine, and therefore, youre less likely to forget to do it. For instance, you might study for 15 minutes every day during your lunch break.Setting goals is also important. What do you want to learn and when? For instance, you might decide that you want to learn the 50 most common words in your first week of studying. This will help you focus on what youre studying. It will also give you a valuable sense of accomplishment.Full fluency can take a while, so if this is your only goal, your sense of accomplishment may be greatly delayed. However, setting multiple goals along the way to fluency allows you to meet your goals successfully, giving you the motivation and confidence you need to press onward.9. Reach out to other language learners.Other language learners can be a valuable resource. They can keep you motivated, ans wer your language learning questions and provide you with support when you feel like you just cant do it.If youre taking in-person courses, finding other language learners will be easyâ€"just befriend your classmates. If youre learning online or independently, though, you might have to put in a little more effort. Luckily, there are plenty of online communities for language learners. For instance, you might check out the Language Learning subreddit.To connect with learners studying your target language, there are even more specific groups. For instance, if youre learning Spanish, you might check out the Learn Spanish subreddit  or another forum, like Tomísimo.To find specific groups like this, try searching the name of your target language and learning forum, learning message board or learning group.10. Connect with native speakers.Connecting with native speakers is often the final piece in the learning puzzle. Once you make good friends who speak a foreign language, youll be that much more motivated to perfect your skills. Plus, youll have someone you enjoy practicing with.You may not start making friends right away, but in the meantime, there are plenty of great language exchange services that will help you connect with native speakers. For instance, italki  allows you to hire native-speaking teachers on a customizable, one-at-a-time basis. This makes the learning process convenient and simple for you, and allows you to practice with a variety of different speakers.Tandem  is an app that will let you chat with native speakers for free. Language exchange apps can be a great way to connect with native speakers of your target language who are learning your language and to make friends in the process.11. Never give up!The only surefire way to fail to learn a language is quitting. Everyone who has ever learned a language has likely encountered some problem or setback. The key to success is to continue anyway. Learning a language takes time, but as long as you ke ep working, youll get there!Follow these steps, and soon, rather than saying I want to learn languages, you can proudly proclaim Ive learned languages.

Does Online Spc Tutoring Help With Spelling, Grammar and Reading?

Does Online Spc Tutoring Help With Spelling, Grammar and Reading?Spc tutoring is an excellent method of improving your child's writing, mathematics and critical thinking skills. You will often have no shortage of children in your day-to-day teaching roles who are struggling to do simple tasks and yet are struggling with spelling, comprehension and spelling and grammar. With the help of a parent-tutor, you can teach them how to handle basic grammar and spelling words in order to improve their writing and/or their reading comprehension skills.The advantage of local child development centres and tutors is that they are usually located close to where the students live or go to school so you can see what you're doing right and what you're doing wrong. They may have access to professional tutors that you would not otherwise be able to get. They are more likely to offer better assistance when it comes to other aspects of teaching, such as classroom activities.The challenge is finding a loca l centre and/or local tutor who are suitable for your child. Although a general technique for finding tutors and centres is asking friends and colleagues what they think of a tutor. Make sure you ask about their service, how long they've been tutoring, whether they've had any positive or negative feedback and how many students they currently tutor.Another method is looking up each tutor or centre on the Internet to find out their experience and rating. Although it is possible to find a tutor through referrals, it can take time to build up good relationships and you may find that you are put off by something that an individual has said. Sometimes people are very busy and they will want to offer a guarantee, which may deter you from using their services again.Many tutors offer a free initial consultation to assess the level of expertise, other areas of teaching and help to navigate your child's education system. There is a risk that you may end up paying for tutoring twice; one from t he tutor and one from your child. Asking your tutor for a quote can save you money by allowing you to compare different services so you know what the charges will be.You may also find that there are plenty of online tutoring sites that will help you search for tutors and centres using their 'search by area' facilities, and there's usually no need to pay anything unless you end up selecting someone from their list. Many have their own website where you can see their services in depth and then decide whether to use them or not.If you want to take your child to as many possible local centres and tutors as possible, then consider using the World Wide Web. It's much cheaper than going to the local library cards often cover lunch and tea, but you'll only get up to five visits per month for free. The longer you use a site the better chance of finding a tutor and centre that will suit your child's needs.