Tutoring Requirements in Oregon

Tutoring Requirements in OregonYou will find that tutoring requirements in Oregon are not rigid, as they tend to be in other states. Nevertheless, in many respects, you will need to take an assessment before your child can begin taking the courses that may be required for their program.Many students who have never been to Oregon do not know that it is a state with the highest percentage of students who attend college. It is also one of the more affordable states in the country, and it has some of the best public schools. The problem for many students is the expense of transportation to and from classes and day care. In fact, it can be more expensive than going to college.Many people who have enrolled in a full program in high school or college are surprised at the high cost of tuition. The problem is that their financial aid is based on their income and they only have limited resources. The extent of financial aid required is quite flexible, and there are many programs to help with t his cost.One of the most common questions regarding tutoring requirements in Oregon is whether the parents can help pay for tuition. In many cases, parents cannot afford to help pay for their child's college education, so they do not know where to turn. There are federal grants that are available to help with tuition, but these tend to cover only part of the cost. Another solution is to attend college on a FAFSA, which is an application for free financial aid.Parents who have limited resources are also advised to look into scholarships that are awarded at the state level. Some states offer a large percentage of their funding to families with children attending college. If you are interested in pursuing higher education, make sure that you find the best college in your area, because there are a number of universities in Oregon that offer excellent programs.Most colleges will offer the option to search on the Internet to find out if your child may qualify for a grant or scholarship. I f you are a low income parent, you may not be eligible for the state grants, but you may be able to receive funding from private foundations. Of course, if you do not have any family income, you may not qualify for a scholarship or grant funding either.This is especially true if you are a single parent. You may need to rely on the services of an independent tutor, which can often cost hundreds of dollars per month. In order to meet the needs of your child, and to get your child to college or a technical school, you may need to use a combination of college coursework and work experience, to see if you are capable of taking on a program that might be required. There are also programs that can help you provide one-on-one tutoring, which can save you money on tuition and fees.

COMMON CORE MATH - ALOHA Mind Math

COMMON CORE MATH The common core is the set of high quality academic standards in Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA).  The learning objective of a student outlines what a student should know and do at the end of each grade from K-12.  The standards were to ensure that the students as they come out of schools have all the necessary skills to succeed in their college, career and entire life. Math and English were chosen as the subjects for Common Core standards as they are the building blocks of skill sets for various other subjects. Accepted by 42 states in the United States, the common core was the result of the stagnation in the academic progress of US students.  The US students were found lagging in international competitions and one of the primary reasons for stagnation was the uneven standards across US.  With inputs from teachers, school chiefs, administrators, educationists and experts, the Common Core initiative was a conscious effort to develop a common standard across the states. A lot of time, thinking and effort have gone into the development of Common Core Math standards.  The benefits are abundant that almost all states have agreed to the standard.  Many low income schools and schools with a large percent of colored students did not have equitable opportunities to learn.  With common standards, mathematics is a tool of liberation and equality. In the United States, students frequently move between districts and states; even during the middle of the year.  Lack of consistency in standards had earlier put them in hardship that is mitigated now.  The common core system also eliminates education being at the mercy of legislators and publishers. Common core enables teachers connecting through a conference, training session or online, to interact, share problems and solutions etc. The federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a law that mandates year-on-year testing for graders 3-8.  Before common core, states developed their own tests, which can now be replaced with better testing. As the nation moves towards a new approach towards math teaching, programs oriented towards parents are conducted by many schools, to engage them in the concept and help their children succeed.  Common Core Math is conceptual and emphasizes deeper understanding rather than the mechanical and repetitive problem solving methods followed earlier.  This new approach to math and problem solving will give students deeper math skills and prepare them to compete at international levels.

YouTube Rules 4 Ways to Learn a Language Online with Fun Videos

YouTube Rules 4 Ways to Learn a Language Online with Fun Videos Media-based  language learning rules.Its an exciting new option that was nearly impossible before the age of the Internet.Before, unless you were willing to shell out cash for a foreign cable or satellite channel (assuming one was even available in the language you wanted), you couldnt watch everyday TV and movies in your target language.Sure, if you were lucky, your local library may have had a foreign movie section, but it was probably crowded with esoteric classics with complicated plots and dialogue.Now, the Internetâ€"and namely YouTubeâ€"has changed all of this. Its easy to watch sitcoms or reality TV in your target language. You can find movie recommendations and hunt down target language media that fits your tastes.Maybe youve already used YouTube for these things. You can take advantage of  TV episodes, movie trailers and music,  all in your target language.YouTube even has a number of good channels that produce language lessons, and you might already be using some.But wait. We havent even gotten to the good part yet.Thats right.YouTube can do even more to help your language learning! Using Original YouTube Content to Learn a Language  YouTube content creators are the unique ingredient that makes YouTube different from other sources of media. They represent a gold mine of different ways to bring your target language into your life, with enough variety to keep you entertained for ages.Original YouTube content covers all previously-known genres of entertainment and then some, from makeup and video game tutorials, to comedy, to people just sitting down and talking to their camera.These videos are created in a different style than mainstream media. The creators speak differently, script differently and, conveniently, the videos are usually around just 5-to-10 minutes long, making them easy to fit into your day.And, luckily, there are numerous content creators creating in languages other than English!Because these videos are created by native speakers and for native speakers, the content is most accessible to those who have intermediate to advanced skill levels. But dont stop reading if youre a beginner in a language, or havent even started learning yet. Anyone can benefit from listening to native speakers speaking at normal speed as early as they want. The sooner you listen to native speakers, the sooner you get used to the new sounds, and the sooner you understand!Furthermore, learners of any and all levels can easily access this type of content with FluentU, as well as other content you might find on YouTube. FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.Below, well look at some different types of content you can easily incorporate into your language learning.First, just one thing to keep in mind: Sometimes countries tend to prefer other video websites over YouTube (for example, Youku and Tudou are two Chinese video website s, and NicoNico is popular in Japan). Additionally, original vlog content is not equally popular in every country in the world.Without further ado, here are 4 ways to incorporate original YouTube content into your language learning diet!YouTube Rules: 4 Ways to Learn a Language Online with Fun Videos1. Watch Daily VloggersDaily vloggers, by their very name, vlog about everyday topics. They often bring their cameras along with them and film themselves simply talking through their daily lives. Daily vloggers range from young-ish single people to parents vlogging about their families and children.These types of videos do wonders for getting used to your target language.Because the vloggers talk about daily life, youll acquire everyday vocabulary that you can use when youre going about your own errands, obligations, etc. The vlogs are rarely scripted, so if you dont have conversation partners or native speaker friends, you still get a chance to hear the language as its really spoken, by real people (this is different from quick-witted TV scripts!). Oftentimes, vloggers will be filming while theyre with a friend or two, so you get to eavesdrop on real conversations instead of monologues or scripted dialogue.How do I find daily vlogs?Ive had a lot of luck simply searching Daily vlog [target language] in English (with the name of the target language in the language itself). Daily vlogs are not often included in YouTube channel directories or compilation blog postsâ€"while they tend to have a lot of views, they dont seem to reach that level of mainstream popularity. Once you find one vlog in your target language, the YouTube suggestions sidebar is a great help in finding more!Here are some daily vlogs to start off with:MeloMore (Spanish) â€" This is the daily vlog of a Spanish musician. She talks to her camera as she goes about her day rehearsing, meeting up for jam sessions and just generally hanging out. She has a more polished comedy channel at YellowMellowMG.Jenes uispasbavarde (French) â€" This is the daily life of a French lifestyle and beauty vlogger. She talks about her pets, life in general and sometimes things having to do with her main channel. Like most vloggers, she  has a main channel (at Jenesuispasjolie), where she posts videos about lifestyle and beauty.Magixthing (German) â€" Here, a German woman vlogs with her two daughters, ages 11 and 6. Again, its just daily life, but this one is fun because of the family dynamic.Mingjai14 (Cantonese) â€" I dont know Cantonese, so Ill just quote the vlogger on this: Just an ordinary guy who talks about everyday life. Daily vlogs are pretty similar in terms of theme!How do I use daily vlogs to improve my language skills?Find a channel you like, and make it a habit to watch one video every day as part of your study routine. The videos are often short enough to make this very easy to do! If you hear new words, look them up and add them to an  SRS deck.You can listen to the lengthier vlogs while you work or study to get used to the way real people talk. These videos, I think, are best for mass consumptionâ€"they give your listening skills a huge boost once you get used to everyday mumbling!You can even leave comments on the videos themselves and start conversations with native speakers. Respond to a comment thats already there to have a better  chance that someone will actually answer you. You can also take the comments people leave and enter them into your SRS so that you can remember the vocabulary and grammar later!2. Watch Lets Play VideosIf youre a gamer, youre probably familiar with the Lets Play genre of YouTube videos. Basically, YouTubers play video games, film them over numerous episodes, and narrate them as they go!And of course, there are people making Lets Play videos in a number of languages.But Lets Play videos arent only useful to gamersâ€"theyre fun and easy to get into no matter your experience with video games. These videos, besides adding valuable liste ning practice, help your language skills in a number of ways.Like daily vlogs, Lets Play videos are not scripted, so youre hearing one person monologue in everyday language. Lets Play videos tend to have more jokes in them than daily vlogs, so youll get an idea of unscripted senses of humor in your target language. Because the YouTuber is narrating whats going on in the game at the time, theres plenty of context for you to piece together new words with the action occurring on the screen, without having to look things up in a dictionary.Additionally, it can sometimes be difficult to find a foreign translation of a beloved game when you dont live in the country, especially if its an older gameâ€"Lets Play videos give you access to these translations! And finally, most video games are pretty lengthy, so if you find one gamer/narrator that you like, youll probably have several hours of free content to exhaust!How do I find Lets Play videos?Ive had the best luck searching Lets Play [game title] [target language]. This will get you a lot of content, especially in the more popular languages.Here are some examples:RanguGamer (Spanish) â€" This is a gamer from Spain who plays fun, more family-oriented games. In other words, these arent intense shooters, if youre not into that sort of thing.StiM  (French) â€" This French gamer plays a  wide  variety of games, including everything from the most mainstream to independent games he digs up.????????????????!! (Japanese) â€" This gamer doesnt have the lengthy playlists of the other two, but also plays a pretty wide variety of games.How do I use Lets Play videos  to improve my language skills?Again, with new vocabulary, SRS is your friend. If you hear something over and over, try looking it up, and enter it so you don’t forget it. Take special note of slang, because Lets Play videos are generally chock full of it. Because Lets Play narrators have a habit of dramatic yelling, you can even try parroting certain exaggerated phr ases.If youre super ambitious, you can take a leaf from the book of Dr. Alexander Argüelles and try shadowing, a specific language technique that involves the learner simultaneously pronouncing target language audio.3. Watch Comedy SketchesI personally think that the comedy on YouTube is some of the best out there. Its creative, its high-quality and the videos are often only 5 minutes long!Here, were getting into scripted videos, so these have slightly different benefits for your language skills. The scripted jokes will give you insight into the shared sense of humor of the culture, and the slang will make your language skills seem modern and less stilted. And for less-skilled listeners, the scripted nature of these videos tends to make them easier to understand. Less mumbling and fewer context-less phrases! Win!How do I find comedic YouTubers?Comedy YouTube channels are pretty easy to find. There are plenty of blog posts compiling the best YouTubers from any particular country or language, and these will mostly be comedic sketch YouTubers (possibly with some make-up tutorial and Lets Play channels thrown in).  To find these, Google best/funniest YouTubers [language or country] in either English or your target language.Heres an example of such a blog post in French, and  heres one in Spanish. And once you find a channel you like, the YouTube suggestions sidebar will be your best friend! The YouTubers channel page will also show you which channels  theyre subscribed to, so you can check those out for more ideas.Here are some great comedy channels:Cyprien (French) â€" One of my favorites! Just a lot of great observational comedy and cynical jokes.HolaSoyGerman (Spanish) â€" Germán is a Spanish name equivalent to the French Germain, in case you were confused. Very wacky comedy and very fast Chilean  speech.Hajime (Japanese) â€" Seems to do a lot of taste tests. He also made himself a slime bathtub here.How  do I use comedy sketches  to improve my language skill s?Comedy channels are especially addictive, so this is a really easy one to incorporate into your daily lifeâ€"like with any of the other video genres, make it a point to watch one short video every day. Like Lets Play videos, comedy sketches incorporate plenty of slang and relaxed grammarâ€"take note of these and try to incorporate some of the words when you practice with a conversation partner.For extra practice, write reviews of your favorite sketches  on Lang-8, an online journaling site where native speakers correct your entries.4. Watch BookTubersBookTubers are a growing YouTube genre centered on reading, collecting and reviewing books. These videos are often scripted and can get lengthy (up to around 20 minutes!), but the content and reviews themselves arent where the main value lies. The videos are great for book recommendations and to supplement your readingâ€"you can watch a review before or after you read a novel  to make sure youve understood it!BookTubers tend to be on the young side, usually in their late teens or so. Thus, they mostly talk about young adult fiction, both in translation and in their native languages. Dont let that turn you offâ€"this is great for language learners! Young adult books are more relevant to adults than childrens books, while still maintaining simpler language and fast-moving plots. So youre more likely to get engaged and actually finish one of these books, even if its in a second language.How  do I find BookTubers?Simply search favorite books in your target language. Most BookTubers routinely review favorite books, so its easy to find channels this way!Here are some of my favorites:Clau Reads Books (Spanish) â€" A Mexican BookTuber covers your usual BookTube material here, like book hauls, book reviews, best-of-the-month lists and best-of-year lists. Mostly young adult fiction.Le Souffle des Mots (French) â€" A French YouTuber who covers the same kind of vlog tags as above. However, she tends to include more mainstre am and literary material.Winkybooks (German) â€" Similar content to that above! A lot of young adult recommendations and a lot of high quality book reviews.Reacizu (Japanese) â€" This YouTubers videos mostly cover tours through her extensive manga collection.How  do I use BookTubers  to improve my language skills?Again, the  strength  of BookTuber videos lies in  their book recommendations. Ive bought so many books because of watching Spanish-speaking Booktubers, and its helped with my Spanish language skills immensely. You can find target language books through Amazon third party sellers, the Kindle store (if youre learning a popular language) or other online foreign language bookstores like Multilingual Books.Additionally, you can get value out of these videos by reading a recommended book and then going back to the review to make sure youve understood the book. Of course, this can go either wayâ€"reading the book will help you understand the videos, as well. All of this serves to give you more context for your vocabulary and grammar, which makes speaking and understanding the language easier!Sometimes, the hardest part of learning a new language is finding new content to keep you entertained while you’re learning.Anyone can get bored of the same old TV show, a small library of movies or textbooks. With YouTube, though, theres plenty of free content right at your fingertips, so you can switch it up whenever you want.Happy watching!

12 Brilliant Blogs for Learners and Lovers of Languages

12 Brilliant Blogs for Learners and Lovers of Languages 12 Brilliant Blogs for Learners and Lovers of Languages Ever feel like youre all alone out there in the big scary world of learning a new language?Like, youve got all the how-to walkthroughs and expert advice you could ever hope for, but youre just missing that  human touch, someone who really gets  what youre going through.As language learners, were people first, and theres nothing like a human perspective  to motivate us and remind us that were not alone in our endeavors.We feel frustrated by our own awkwardness in a second language, when we just cant figure out how to pronounce that one awful sound or when we hit a pothole on the road to fluency.Its easy to get discouraged when your language learning isnt progressing along perfectly according to plan, but dont give upâ€"there are plenty of bloggers out there who are living the struggle with you, and theyre writing  about it as they go!The Internet is crawling with blogs ranging from general linguistic geekery to learning  a specific language in a particular country. Sorting through all that digital noise  and trying to figure out which blogs to add to your reading list can be absolutely overwhelming, which is why  weve put together a solid  reading list for you.Weve mentioned some of these blogs on FluentU before (because we think theyre that awesome!), but most of them are fresh faces that were adding to our own content feeds.Here are 12 of the best language learning blogs on the Internet for powering up your language learning game and reminding you that youre not alone in your linguistic struggles. 12 Brilliant Blogs for Learners and Lovers of Languages1. Comical language learning: Itchy FeetLanguage learners across the web love  Itchy Feet  because its as hilarious as it is spot-on.Malachi makes  comics on every language topic you can imagine, and they nearly always deal with the struggles and frustrations that we learners face as we study and use the languages we love. And theres something about putting those everyday obstacles into comic form that just mak es for a great way to let go and giggle a bit at the weird linguistic world we live in.Some of the Itchy Feet comics are tailored to one particular language, but even those generally deal with the universal  anxieties and challenges of language learning. Popular posts like View from the Top  portray the shared struggle we all face in climbing to the top of Mt. Fluency.Theres also a super handy random comic  button at the bottom of the homepage, a solid way to click away an entire  afternoon while  yelling no, but its so true! at your computer screen.2. Self-taught success: Talk Foreign to MeDespite growing up with two passports and three languages in her home, Ruth of Talk Foreign to Me was a monolingual English speaker until her mid-30s. Throughout her youth she lived abroad, studied French and Spanish, and even did a Hebrew immersion course, but all to no avail. It seemed that linguistic greatness was just not in her destiny.But when she took a solo trip to Argentina in 2014 somet hing clicked, and she finally figured out how to teach herself  languages. Now she shares the fruits of her language learning labor on her blog.  Talk Foreign to Me is so appealing because of the firsthand experiences of  both success and failure that Ruth shares from her own language learning journey, both of which she spins into spectacular inspiration for her readers.Youll find tons of information here tailored to  learning French and Spanish. Even if youre not learning one of these languages, give her inspiration tag a click whenever you need that extra dose of positivity!3. Globetrotting language learner turned linguist: TravelenguaElica is a language-obsessed polyglot who turned her passion into a profession, and she writes about both at Travelengua. Her blog often views  language learning issues through the lens  of her studies  in Applied Linguistics, but fear not: She drops the jargon and does a great job translating  all that  science and theory into practical how-tos and actionable advice.The blogs best posts artfully blend Elicas academic perspective with her accessible personal one, like in  The Difference Between a Linguist and a Language Learner.Shes an expert, but one with a very human face who isnt afraid to share her own personal relationship  with languages in honest detail.4. Learning 19 languages in one city: Words and Worlds of New YorkEllen at Words and Worlds of New York documents the many languages and cultures of her city, as well as  her experiences interacting with and often learning them. Its a beautiful look at the linguistic and cultural layers of a global city like New York, as well as in many ways a practical guide to how you can learn a language without moving to  a far-flung  corner of the world.Ellens a language learners language learner, with lots of  great and thoughtful reviews of various learning products out there. If youre looking for a relatable personal perspective on learning and using a new language in day-to-day l ife, read some of her first-hand accounts of meeting speakers of her target languages in her home city, like this one on becoming an official Big Apple greeter.5. Its never too late to learn: Adventures in Midlife SpanishNewell never learned a new language until his 50s, and now hes debunking the myth that theres such a thing as being too old to learn a language. Adventures in Midlife Spanish chronicles his experiences both in Mexico and at home in Minnesota working with Spanish-speaking immigrants and refugees, blending the perspectives of learning abroad and learning in your own back yard.This blog is great at integrating language and culture and presenting them as two parts of one whole, like in Newells  post about joining a Hispanic congregation near his home in Minnesota. While this blogs  focus is on the Spanish language and Mexican culture, its  insights are golden for anyone who wants to learn a language as they near their golden years.6. Language learning without end: Langu age SurferLanguage Surfer is one of the most successful language learning blogs out there, and thats because Ron knows his stuff. This blog is in many ways about accepting imperfection in language learning: Ron says that you can never truly master a language, only surf it. He explains that he tries to coexist with it, figure out its patterns, and express myself in it, and one look at his blog shows you thats working for him.All language learners can relate to the struggles with imperfection that Language Surfer talks about. There are plenty of posts about personal experiences, like what it feels like  to fail a translation exam  and how to keep moving forward towards your goals after a setback.Weve definitely all been there, and sometimes its nice to know were not the only ones. Especially for the perfectionists in the room, Language Surfer is a worthwhile read and a personal look into a familiar challenge.7. Learning languages by blog and vlog: Lindsay Does LanguagesLindsay Does La nguages is the chronicle of the namesake authors  experiences and insights as both a language teacher and a language learner. Her goal is to empower you to teach yourself a language, and she does that best through the motivational and informative  combination of her blog and the accompanying vlog, videos from which are helpfully embedded in nearly every post.When you watch one of the videos Lindsay posts on her blog and vlog channel, you see an enthusiastic language teacher whos got the know-how but isnt afraid to let you see her own language learning endeavors as the works in progress that they are. Rather than lecturing you on the language topic of the week, Lindsay visibly learns along with her readers and viewers, like in her latest script challenge, where she shares her progress learning various language scripts from around the world.If you want a language teacher whos not afraid to do some learning right along with you, shes your gal!8. Slow and steady wins the race: The Polyg lot DreamThe Polyglot Dream is one of the better-known blogs on this list, and rightly so: Luca speaks ten languages fluently (and isnt afraid to prove it in video).When you find out that he only spends thirty minutes a day practicing a language, youre likely to assume that hes some kind of genius, but thats not the case. Hell show you over and over again that hes just like you and me: someone who loves languages and is never afraid to take on a new one.Lucas blog frequently confronts and debunks language learning myths, and its all based on his fine-tuned and scientifically solid philosophies. A good starting point is his discussion of studying vs learning a language, and what that means for how you approach your language learning goals. The Polyglot Dream will convince you that youre no different than the crazy hyperpolyglots of the blogosphere, and with the right tactics  you can follow in their footsteps!9. Language, travel and music: EurolinguisteThe Eurolinguiste is a musician by profession, and that offers her a unique perspective on all things language learning. Shannons  blog details her journeysâ€"both geographic and personalâ€"as she travels the world learning and practicing the languages it speaks.We already  know that music and language learning are a match made in heaven, so  Eurolinguistes  concert of helpful resources are perfect for helping  you fine-tune your own language learning strategies.  In posts like How Studying Music Made Me a Better Language Learner,  she offers not only a glance into her own background but into how you can use music for language learning.Aside from the more musically-inclined posts, Shannon also shares frequent updates on her own language learning strategies and progress, which she conveniently curates under the Language Resources category on her blog. Whether youve got the rhythm or youre totally tone deaf, Eurolinguistes tips and tricks will be music to your ears!10. News and updates from the lingosphere: All Thi ngs LinguisticAll Things Linguistic is the perfect blog for the general language geek who also happens to be interested in learning a language or two. Gretchen curates posts about, as you might expect, all things linguistic on this Tumblr blog, from funny charts and memes  to full-length scientific articles. Language enthusiasts beware: this blog will suck away hours of your time.Posts like the language learning link roundups are super practical for language learners. You may also be familiar with some of this bloggers more viral content, like her linguistic analysis of Doge that appeared on The Toast. If youre not just a language learner but an obsessive consumer of all things linguistic, youre sure to find a familiar sense of humor and take on language learning on this blog.11. Speaking from day one: Fluent in 3 MonthsNo list of language learning blogs would be complete without Benny the Irish Polyglot and his blog Fluent in 3 Months. This blog is built on the principle that any l anguage learner should be speaking and using their language from day one, no ifs, ands or buts about it. To that end, Benny frequently sets out to debunk the myths that keep us from speaking soon enough, like that Northern Europeans will only speak English to foreigners.Particularly helpful for learners looking for personal accounts of language learning is the success stories section of the blog. Here youll find firsthand accounts from Benny and other language learners of how theyve met their language learning goals, complete with advice on how you can do the same.12. The nuts and bolts of language learning: Language Acquisition NewsFor the scientists in the audience and those who need to understand the why before theyre satisfied with the how, Language Acquisition News is a priceless resource. Straddling  the categories of scientific journal and blog, Language Acquisition News pulls content  from its parent website  Science Daily  and curates a wealth of cutting-edge scientific fin dings  on language learning and language acquisition.All the other blogs out there have plenty of great tips on how to learn languages, but the articles youll find on Language Acquisition News are the scientific communitys most up-to-date understanding of whats going on inside the language learners brain and why that all matters. The great benefit is that so much of this research is directly applicable to your language learning, like this one on Learning in your sleep, the right way.Most of the articles on Language Acquisition News are written for a general audience, so you wont need a dictionary to get through it.  If you like to constantly learn about your own learning, scientific articles like these  can give you some priceless insights into whats going on inside your own head as you make your way through your own linguistic journey.These language learning bloggers understand your struggle!Learning a language can be the most frustrating, complicated, challenging, anxiety-inducing task in the world, but at the same time the most rewarding, energizing, and worthwhile endeavor. Most of the bloggers on this list are pros in some form or another, but even they struggle with the same ups and downs that the rest of us do.Following the right blogs is a crucial part of your language learning strategy because it reminds you youre not the only one. Whatever challenge youre facing in your own language learning, theres a blogger out there somewhere whos been through it too. And no amount of studying can replace the value of learning from others experiences!If youre looking for some blogs tailored to the language youre learning, weve got plenty of recommendations, from German and Japanese to Chinese and French.  Even easier, you could just sign up for our weekly newsletter below and get tips like these sent straight to your inbox!Do you have a favorite language learning blog that wasnt mentioned here? Tell us about it in a tweet to  @FluentU! Jakob is a full-time travele r, obsessive language learner, and dedicated language teacher. He writes about language, travel, and the many places they meet on the road at his blog Globalect.

How To Use An English Learning Cartoon For Children To Help Kids Learn

How To Use An English Learning Cartoon For Children To Help Kids LearnWith an English learning cartoon for children, you can instill critical thinking, writing and communication skills. The animation is geared towards helping kids and even adults pick up and learn new words and grammar rules. It also shows how to use those words in various situations in a simple, direct manner. This helps you to learn and teach yourself the language and its vocabulary in the easiest way possible.Many people think that learning to speak and write in English is a difficult task for young adults. But with an English learning cartoon for children, you can be assured that you are not doing anything wrong. In fact, this program is aimed at encouraging kids to learn to speak, read and write. Kids are more likely to understand the language and retain it better than adults. If you want to know more about the subject and encourage your child to learn more, you should consider this fun and educational program.E nglish is one of the most widely spoken languages around the world. With a program like this, you will have an easy time understanding the language even for someone who has never heard it before. Many people say that it is easier to learn this language when it is used in cartoon form.When your child is able to learn this language in English, you will feel much more confident about him or her as well. This will make it easier for them to master the language. With an English learning cartoon for children, you are able to instill critical thinking, writing and communication skills. You will be able to teach them how to speak English fluently so that they are able to communicate with others in their country.You may wonder how cartoon characters can teach children English. It is actually very simple. They can teach them how to speak English in a simple and direct manner without using slang, slang terms or verbs that do not suit their age group.All you need to do is to simply choose the r ight cartoon. You can search for good and simple cartoons that are made for children and young adults. Most cartoons of this nature have plenty of information about the language, which will help the child and the parents to learn the language and its vocabulary. In order to find the best cartoon, you may consult a person who is experienced in teaching children.Once you have decided on the best cartoon, you may also consider the way they present the topics. Many children's cartoons portray concepts that will help them learn English in a clear and interesting manner.

Financial Aid For Tutoring - Useful Information

Financial Aid For Tutoring - Useful InformationThere are a number of tutoring institutions that offer financial aid for tutoring services. Whether you have never been employed before or have had some prior experience, there are a number of grants available to those who need it.Scholarships and grants can help you pay for tuition fees, books, transportation costs, and living expenses while you pursue your college education. The financial aid for tutoring programs are designed to make the tutoring experience more comfortable for students who cannot afford to pay the high cost of tuition. Since these courses do not require any specific skill set, most students with moderate incomes can qualify for this financial aid.Financial aid for tutoring is available to students who are working, stay-at-home moms, and single parents who want to work part time or full time. These students can apply online for financial aid for tutoring programs to ensure that they will be able to get the best possib le deal. To be considered for financial aid for tutoring, applicants must have a certain level of experience in tutoring.However, it is important to remember that there are many who are less qualified than those who apply for online tutoring. Applications for online tutoring can take up to a week to process, because there are many people applying for such programs. So, it is highly recommended that applicants get their application in a timely manner. This will help ensure that those applicants who qualify for financial aid for tutoring are contacted immediately.However, the fact remains that financial aid for tutoring is available to all students who seek it. Since there are numerous tutoring institutions that can offer these programs, the competition for students is tough. When choosing among these institutions, it is important to understand that a certain amount of due diligence is required.A careful and thorough study of the financial aid for online tutoring program is very impor tant in order to determine whether it will be an option or not. It is a fact that financial aid for tutoring is available, but there are students who may not qualify. What should you do when you find out that your qualifications do not fit into the requirement?Financial aid for tutoring is a great option for students who cannot afford to attend classes full time. You can also avail of this financial aid by applying online and completing the application process.

15 Strange Italian Traditions and Superstitions Explained

15 Strange Italian Traditions and Superstitions Explained Brooke Neuman Did you know that in Brazil its bad luck to let your wallet or purse hit the floor, as it means you’ll lose money? Or that in France it’s actually good luck to step in dog poop with your left foot? Like many countries, Italy has its fair share of wacky traditions and superstitions. In fact, Italy is said to be one of the most superstitious countries in the world. Below, we explore the 15 strangest Italian traditions and superstitions. Review this list before traveling to Italy to make sure that your trip isn’t cursed by  Malocchio or the evil eye. After all, you dont want to take any chances! 1. Don’t take a bath when you’re sick When you’re feeling under the weather, chances are you want to take a nice hot bath to soothe your pain. According to Italian traditions, however, taking a bath when you’re sick will only make you sicker as  will going outside with wet hair. 2. The unlucky number 17 Have you ever wondered why some hotels in Italy don’t have a 17th floor? It’s because the number is considered unlucky. The Roman numeral for 17 is XVII, but when rearranged to look like VIXI it means “I have lived,” a symbol that’s placed on ancient tombstones and associated with death. 3. Don’t place a loaf of bread up-side-down According to Italian traditions, a loaf of bread must always be placed facing up. This superstition is based on the religious fact that bread is considered a symbol of life, therefore, its bad luck to turn the bread up-side-down or stick a knife into it. 4. Watch where you lay your hat After a long day of sightseeing you might be tempted to toss your hat onto your bedâ€"don’t! Putting a hat on a bed is considered unlucky because it’s associated with death. According to tradition, when priests  visited the dying to give them their last rights, they  would remove their hat and put it on the bed. 5. Never seat 13 people at a dinner table If you find yourself sitting at a dinner table with 12 other people, then consider yourself unlucky. Having 13 people around the table at mealtime is considered bad luck, as there were 13 people at the Last Supper. 6. Single people, avoid brooms If you’re single and you see someone sweeping the floor, make a run for it. If someone brushes over your feet by accident, then you’re destined to be single for the rest of your life. 7. Don’t toast to bad luck When it comes to toasting, there are several things that can cause you to have bad luck. For example, never raise a glass that’s full of water and don’t cross arms with the person next to you when you clink glasses. 8. Stay clear of  air conditioners Wonder why there are no air conditioners in Italy? Italians believe that these evil contraptions blow dangerously cold air in your face, leading to “colpo dari” or a punch of air. 9. Touch iron to avoid back luck In the U.S., people will knock on wood to avoid tempting fate. In Italy, its common for people to tocca ferro or touch iron. We just hope  they arent touching a hot iron. 10. Bless a new home Its common for people moving into a new home-especially newlywedsto rid evil spirits and bless their home by performing certain rituals, such as sprinkling salt in the corners of all the rooms. 11. Eat plenty of lentils on New Years Eve Every culture has its own set of New Years traditions. According to Italian traditions, its customary to eat lentils after the clock strikes 12:00.  Also, dont forget to wear red undergarments, as this too will bring you luck in the coming year. 12.  Beware of a black cat crossing your path If a cat is crossing the street, dont be the first one to cross its path, as youll have bad luck. Its believed that black cats are a symbol of witchcraft and the devil. We, however, think they are super cute! 13. Carry a cornicello charm If you want to protect yourself against the evil-eye, carry a corincello charm around with you at all times. The charm, which resembles a chili pepper or a small horn, represents the horns of the Old European Moon Goddess and will bring you luck. 14. Dont  place objects in the shape of a cross Never cross objects in the shape of a crossfor example, your fork and knifeas this is considered to be an insult to the religious symbol of the cross and will bring you bad luck. 15. Dont spill the salt This superstitionwhich states that one must toss a handful of salt over their left shoulder to get rid of bad luckis also common in the U.S. In Italy, its also customary when passing the salt to place it on the table first before handing it over. This is just a sample of the many unique Italian traditions and superstitions. In addition to learning Italian, familiarize yourself with these wives tales  before your trip to avoid getting into any trouble. Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

How to Learn Cantonese

How to Learn Cantonese How Can You Learn More About Cantonese? ChaptersThe Origins of CantoneseThe Particularities of CantoneseThe Differences Between Mandarin Chinese and CantoneseLearning Cantonese“Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself” - Chinese ProverbMore and more Brits are choosing to learn Chinese and speaking Chinese is a skill increasingly sought by employers. In fact, Chinese can be a complicated language to learn and can be made much easier by learning with a teacher, speaking with natives in China, or taking intensive classes here in the UK or in China.That said, there’s no single Chinese language and in Canton and Hong Kong, Cantonese is spoken. While often thought of as a dialect, Cantonese is actually a distinct language from Mandarin Chinese with its own writing system, vocabulary, culture, and history. You’ll see (and hear) this if you travel around China. As you move around the country, you’ll hear a lot of different languages, including Cantonese.According to a study from the government, around a third of the population of the People's Republic of China (around 400 million people) can’t speak Mandarin Chinese, also known as Putonghua or “people’s speech”.While most people will probably opt to learn Mandarin, this figure shows that it can be worthwhile learning another Chinese language, such as Cantonese. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Origins of CantoneseHave you decided that you want to learn how to speak Cantonese?Congratulations! What a great idea! You nee d to keep in mind that Cantonese isn’t a dialect of Mandarin Chinese but rather a language in its own right. You need to know that this language is mainly spoken in southern China and is the origin of a number of different Chinese terms.China has so many different languages, dialects, and regional variations that it can be hard to work out the right one to learn. (Source: Mikelmania)Like all languages, Chinese, and Cantonese, in particular, has an interesting history and origin story. By knowing where languages come from, we can find learning them much easier as we’ll be familiar with certain constructions. Of course, with Mandarin being the most common Chinese language in the country, you might be tempted to learn that first.However, advocates of Cantonese will quickly point to the fact that Mandarin is only really 100 years old while Cantonese has been around for a millennium. This makes it far more representative of Chinese culture than its Mandarin counterpart.Cantonese is a lso the main language of Hong Kong, which was a British colony until 1997 when it was handed back to the Chinese. This effectively makes it the capital city of the Cantonese language and helps keep the language alive.Of course, Cantonese was born in Canton (or Guangzhou), a place where its still spoken today. If you spend time there, make sure to use the language to help you open doors to the fascinating culture and history of the area of which this language is an important part. It’s Chinese at its best!You may do the same in Fujian Province by learning Min Chinese!The Particularities of CantoneseSo what’s so special about Cantonese?We can’t stress this enough, but Cantonese is often wrongly thought of a spoken dialect of Mandarin Chinese and not as an independent language in its own right. However, it’s a language that is spoken in Guangzhou (Canton) in Mainland China as well as in the administrative region of Hong Kong, as we said earlier. In fact, from the border between these two languages, you can see the differences much more clearly.Cantonese is a rich language with its own fascinating history and culture. (Source: sasint)For example, written Chinese characters are not the same as Cantonese characters as Chinese characters are simplified. There are also a good number of linguistic differences, something that a beginner probably wouldn’t be able to notice.For example, the difference between the Cantonese pronunciation that sounds like a “ch” in English and the  â€œts” in Mandarin is often confused by beginners. A lot of foreigners find distinguishing these two sounds almost impossible. Of course, this is something that can occur when you learn any foreign language.Similar, the “s” in Cantonese may be heard as a “sh” and vice-versa. As you’ve probably understood, Cantonese is a language in its own right, which is different from the official language of China, Mandarin Chinese.The Differences Between Mandarin Chinese and Cantones eMandarin Chinese is the official language of China and the language spoken by most people in the country. This is why Cantonese is often thought of as a language when it’s actually a minority language, albeit a minority language spoken by over 50 million people natively. However, speakers of Mandarin can understand Cantonese to some extent when it’s spoken to them.With its own distinct culture, Cantonese can be confusing to anyone who's used to hearing Mandarin. However, you need to know the differences between the two languages. (Source: sasint)Of course, while these are two different languages, they share common origins. Cantonese grammar is richer than that of Mandarin. There are a significant number of differences in terms of pronunciation, though (especially in terms of tones). These linguistic differences help support the argument that each language has its own identity and its own history.One key difference is that Cantonese has a lot more syllables that end with a conso nant. This is a trait that is also shared with the Korean language. Mandarin, on the other hand, doesn’t do this anywhere near as often.Mandarin and Cantonese don’t actually have as many things in common as you’d think, each language is at the heart of a different culture. However, if you have your heart set on learning Cantonese and want to make things easier for yourself, you can do thanks to the private tutors on Superprof or by taking an intensive Cantonese course either in the UK or in China.What if you're headed to Shanghai? Best to learn the Wu dialect...Learning CantoneseTo learn Mandarin London is good, and learning Cantonese is also good. In fact, this language is as good a language to learn as any. In fact, you could learn it instead of French, Spanish, German, or Italian. Let’s not forget, you’ll learn Cantonese in a similar way to any other foreign language.If you're planning on going to Hong Kong, it might be worth hiring a private tutor to teach you some Can tonese before you go. (Source: carloyuen)It’ll also help you stand out when applying to jobs given that most other applicants probably won’t speak Cantonese. If they speak a Chinese language, it’ll probably be Mandarin, which is more commonly spoken in both Mainland China and the West. That said, learning the language of Hong Kong can be just as valuable as learning the language of Beijing. It’s an original linguistic skill that’ll get people talking about you.Getting private tutorials with a tutor, online lessons, or intensive lessons are all good ways to get speaking Cantonese as quickly as possible. A tutor can act as your guide, provide you with support, and help you learn more about the language and culture.Remember that a foreign language is a gateway to another culture and learning Cantonese, while a challenge, is also an incredibly rewarding experience. There’s nothing better than being able to speak a foreign language and once you’ve learnt one, learning other s becomes even easier.The characters, typography, and pronunciation have seemingly nothing in common with English, which makes the language inherently more interesting to learn than languages related to our own. It also allows us to discover new cultures, meet new people, gain self-confidence, and nourish our curiosity.In short, Cantonese isn’t a dialect, it’s its own language and deserves to be treated as such. It’s also fascinating in terms of its culture. This should be enough to encourage you to learn it, especially given that its story is far from over.Additionally, language learning is a rewarding experience and whether you learn to speak Chinese Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka Chinese, or any other Sino Tibetan language, you'll have a great time.There are language courses to help you read and write Chinese, conversational Chinese lessons to get you started with how words are pronounced, the tonal aspects of the language, and common conversational expressions and phrases that you'll hear regularly, and private tutors who can teach you Chinese online or in person how to communicate with Chinese people.So what are you waiting for?If you're looking to learn Cantonese or one of the less common languages spoken in China, working with a private tutor is probably your best option. If you live in a big city, you're more likely to be able to find a tutor who teaches the language you want to learn.If you don't live in a big city, don't worry as there are also online private tutorials. Online tutorials are conducted over Skype  and, as long as you have a computer with a webcam and a decent internet connection, can be with anyone from anywhere in the world.It's time to tune your ear: can you recognise the different forms of Chinese?

5 Ways You May Be Creating Your Own Job Stress - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 5 Ways You May Be Creating Your Own Job Stress - Introvert Whisperer 5 Ways You May Be Creating Your Own Job Stress When we think of work-life balance we often focus on ways to reduce the stress that our job produces.   The thinking is: if we can reduce the stress in the job then our life improves.   Good thinking.   Our job is part of our life so the more things you can do to make that part of your life work well, the better.   The problem is, many people do things to actually create the stress they are trying to deal with and don’t even realize it.   Work comes with enough stressors like deadlines, unrealistic expectations from management and surprises of all sorts.   We don’t need to add to the pile.   As with all changes we make, you must first be aware of the problem before you can do anything about it.   If you’re dealing with job stress consider these things as low-hanging fruit to quickly do away with:   1-Procrastination.    If you are the type that waits until the last minute to complete an assignment, you’re in for automatic stress.   The problem with waiting too long is that you can never predict other things that may come along to also fill up your time.   You also may discover the resources you need aren’t there when you are tight for time.           Action to take: When you get an assignment, start it then.   Get ahead of the power curve.   2-Take on too much.   If you’re the type that sees all kinds of problems and tasks to tackle, you may be taking on so much that you are creating stress.   You may need to adjust your appetite.   Sure it’s fun to do all of these things but not at the expense of creating stress.           Action to take: Sit down and prioritize your work.   Be willing to cut a few things for a while.   3-Over react.   You may think that everything someone asks of you is a top priority and you drop everything to respond to the request.   This reactive behavior creates stress.   While it is good to respond urgently to work, not everything requires your immediate attention.            Action to take: Ask questions about when it is needed so you can schedule it into your other work.   Tasks will come your way that are needed immediately and this action will create space for that to happen.   4-Not self-empowered.   This can be tricky.   Some people think they can’t speak up to management or take actions without being approved.   Granted, there are some times where this is true.   The problem is that without a certain amount of autonomy to make decisions and take independent action, you are constantly reacting and second-guessing.   It’s not a big confidence builder and is stressful.   Yet, if you are a bit timid in nature you are your own worst enemy.   You need to figure out the boundary conditions your boss has and this will help reduce your stress.             Action to take:   This will require potentially retraining yourself from being reluctant or timid so start small to create some confidence.   Start by picking out a  smaller project or problem to solve and then test your decision with the boss.   As new ones come along,   use each one as an opportunity to identify where the hot buttons are for the boss.   Ask questions and voice your opinions.   You will soon learn that you can voice your opinions and act independently on many more things than you might realize.   5-No time.   Huh?   It seems in life and work, few things happen exactly as we think.   Most of the time, people and processes just don’t get done when we think.   Traffic turns bad at the drop of a hat and people make decisions you don’t expect.   Usually, this means that your time will be impacted â€" in the wrong way.           Action to take:   Plan extra time into your activities so you can reduce the stress that comes with running out of time.   If you think it will take you 20 minutes to get somewhere, plan on 25.   If you think it will take you 4 days to complete a project, plan on 5 and schedule accordingly.   Even if you don’t always need the extra bits of time you planned for, you will discover that the occasional “breather” you give yourself will allow you to “de-stress”.   You will also discover that you will build the greater personal brand when you consistently deliver on time, every time. Life and work are never stress-free.   It’s just a fact of life.   Yet, there are things we can do to help keep stress at a minimum. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable.   Get your copy now and start your action plan today: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.