Thursday, March 26, 2020
A Good UCCI Physics Tutor
A Good UCCI Physics TutorIt is so easy to find a good UCCI Physics Tutor. They are very easy to find online as well as in your local library, along with the good quality textbooks and a good reputation.One of the ways to search for a UCCI Physics Tutor is to go to the school's website or they can be found via their main phone number. They may be listed on the school's faculty web page, the flyer that they send out for hiring a tutor, or by mail. You may even have a recommendation form from your former professor to help you get the job.If you are working with a physics instructor, they are going to be looking for a qualified UCCI Physics Tutor because their workload will be very high. The instructor may not be able to take on several students and instead will request a physics tutor to assist them, especially if there are a large number of students in their course.When you see a physics tutor, it will almost always be in person, although sometimes you can look at their resume and disc uss your past experiences. You will also find information on their syllabus and even a little bit about their educational background. Some schools allow you to look over the syllabus and then give you a short summary.When you interview a physics tutor, it will be very important to find out how they are going to help you succeed in your physics class. Their main goal is to help you learn, so be sure that they know exactly what their role is and how they will be helping you.In most cases, you can find a good UCCI Physics Tutor through a review of their education and work experience, or by reviewing their syllabus. In addition, you can also find them through references from your own professors, which may have helped them excel in your class.It is important that you are committed to your goal of getting a UCCI Physics Tutor. They will be looking for someone who will help them make it to the next level and not merely be an adviser. If you are prepared to go above and beyond, they will he lp you learn more.
Friday, March 6, 2020
How to Write a Thank You Letter After an Interview
How to Write a Thank You Letter After an Interview Why You Should (and How to) Write an Interview Thank You Letter ChaptersWhy Write a Letter?Writing an Actual LetterSending a Thank You EmailWhat Not to Write in Your Thank You NoteNervous and uncertain â" or, we hope, confident and assured, you sailed through your first-ever phone interview. You even made sure to ask the critical question in response to your interviewerâs âquestions for me?â query: âWhere do we go from here?âFor that brilliant question, you got the standard, if temporising answer: âWe have several more job candidates to talk toâ¦â.Hiring managers are very good at not giving a glimmer of hope to any interviewee; even the âWhat are your salary expectations?â question should not be construed as an indication that you will get the job.What your prospective employers are waiting for is your next step. Do you know what it is? A well-written thank-you note!Studies show that only about a quarter of all job applicants actually send a thank-you letter after their interview.Those who are negligent of that small duty dep rive themselves of a further opportunity to raise their profile and keep their name at the forefront of their interview panelâs considerations.Your Superprof cannot bear for you to miss any opportunity for advancement; that is why weâve put this article together on the politics of thanking and how it should be done.Forget Miss Manners; this advice with have you covered!You might argue that an interviewerâs job is to conduct interviews of people who sent in applications; therefore it should not be incumbent on you to thank them for doing so.Might we infer by that that you wouldnât thank a server for bringing your food in a restaurant, a shop clerk for helping you find the very thing you were looking for and your family for lavishing gifts on you for your graduation?Some hardened recipients of such benevolence would insistently aver that, indeed, you should not have to thank people for giving you your due or merely doing their job.However, the majority of us reflect on all of those painstaking thank-you cards our parents made us write after reaping any holiday bounty, to those who thought enough of us to give us a gift. We might consider that early conditioning for a widely-accepted social norm. Handwritten notes have a special style but, if you write one, make sure your handwriting is neat! Image by Gerd Altmann from PixabayWhy should thanking a prospective employer be outside of that norm?After all, they hold the key to our possible future employment; treating them in a socially acceptable manner should be par for the course.Far more than merely thanking them for their time, your thank-you note serves you in other ways.Imagine the plight of the hiring manager: desk full of more- or less-well-written resumes and cover letters, scanning each one for signs of potential suitability for the job and compatibility with their corporate culture.Out of possibly hundreds of applications â" every one of which s/he must read, only a fraction of them might be deemed suitable for further scrutiny.And then, there are the interviews. How many job candidates will s/he talk with? Where do you fall in? Were you the first, somewhere in the middle⦠dead last?In this whirlwind of information that s/he is subjected to, how can you be sure your name will stand out? A thank-you note is the best way to keep yourself visible amid the storm.It gives you the chance to bring up things you might have forgotten in the interview or expound on a topic the interviewer touched on. It also proves to them that you have taken time to reflect on the interview and have further thoughts youâd like to share.Just do it carefully; consider the âwhat not do toâ segment at the end of this article.Do you have any tips for people working to land their first job?Writing an Actual LetterIn pondering your interview follow-up, why not consider a typed letter? After all, youâve already typed up your cover letter and curriculum vitae; would printing and sending another letter hurt?Although written letters are more in-line with face to face interviews, nothing says you canât send such a missive, even if time would argue against it: by the time your intended recipient reads it, you might alread y be on Round Two of the interview process.Still, should you decide that this is the format for your demonstration of courtesy and appreciation, here are a few simple rules to follow:Follow business letter formatting but omit the subject line. Be sure to write your interviewerâs name, not âTo Whom it may Concernâ!Make reference to the position you applied forTouch on a specific aspect of the interview â" you might expound on an answer you gave, for exampleIndicate again that you have researched the company by reflecting on an aspect of its mission statement or the work done there.Sign off with âSincerelyâ or âWarm Regardsâ rather than âFor Your Considerationâ or, worse: âCheersâYour letter should not be more than one page long; remember that HR managers are busy and might not have a lot of time to read any correspondence. You should send your letter no later than one day after your interview.Your turn to chime in: what is the best formula for interview-winning cover letters? Make sure you format your post interview thank you email; your interviewer might read it on her phone Image by Gerd Altmann from PixabaySending a Thank You EmailTime and trends are bucking the quaint tradition of mailing letters; these days, communication is all about convenience and speed.In your case, just coming off your phone interview, speed is of the essence.The hiring manager is not waiting for any thank-you letters, emailed or otherwise; itâs quite possible s/he is already talking with the next job applicant by the time you get your thoughts in order and start typing.What do you think the reaction would be if s/he returns to his/her workstation to check email after that interview, and sees your name pop up?An electronic interview thank-you note takes a lot of the guesswork out of drafting a thank-you letter but you should exercise care in your writing and formatting.First, what will you write about, besides phrases that show your appreciation?Hopefully, you followed the adv ice from our âHow to prepare for a phone interviewâ article and took copious notes during your phone interview, especially of what your interviewer said. If so, it is time to put them to work.Review your interview notes to find something specific you said during the interview that could use more clarification, or that you especially liked. For instance, your interviewer might have said something that particularly resonates with you.The first paragraph of your thank-you email should contain âThank you for taking the time to discuss with me aspects of the job I applied for.â and more in that vein.Your second paragraph should touch on something s/he said: âWhen you said ____, I really couldnât help but think that this position is perfect for me because _____.â. In other words, draw another connection between yourself and your job.A third paragraph might clarify something you said during the interview or, perhaps, reiterate that you understand something s/he explained to y ou.A âSincerelyâ closing and youâre done!Also, discover more about preparing for a phone interview⦠Whether a hand-written or email thank you, make sure the contents and format are good before sending! Image by Andrian Valeanu from PixabayWhat Not to Write in Your Thank You NoteNow that youâre completely sold on the idea of writing thank-you notes, we throw caution into the mix.1. Less is more: no matter how lofty your ideas, try to keep them concise. Express yourself in short paragraphs, not long-winded dissertations â" hiring managers have little time to untangle winding, convoluted thoughts.2. Donât write just because convention says you have to; as always, sincerity is key. A thoughtful follow-up that addresses a specific point or topic discussed in the interview is far more appropriate than a hollow âthank you for your timeâ. It will be better received, too!3. Avoid copying: a common âcomplaintâ of hiring managers who conduct panel interviews is that everyone is treated to the same âthank youâ. Rather than CCâing everyone you think might enjoy hearing from y ou, write an original letter to each one. If that seems too much, write either the entire panel one letter or address it only to the lead interviewer.In that same vein, donât copy a letter you found online and send it!4. Asking for social media connections: Itâs a good idea to encourage further contact. Itâs a bad idea to do so in your thank-you letter, especially if said media is Facebook or Instagram.Professional sites such as LinkedIn are only marginally better but you still shouldnât encourage social media connections this early in the hiring process.5. Going over why you think you bombed: a thank-you letter is not the way to wheedle or explain your perceived interview shortcomings. Such tactics smack of the naughty child who swears s/he could be better if only s/he were given another chance â" and will be received in kind.6. Formatting your thank-you email like a business letter. An email should look like an email, not an electronic business letter. You donât need to put your contact information, the date, the companyâs address or a subject line in the email body.And, as always, proofread before you send. In fact, get a few pairs of eyes on your thank-you letter; you never know what three people might miss that a fourth will catch.Now, discover how you too can have an outstanding resumeâ¦
Difference between Miss and Lose - English Lesson via Skype
Difference between Miss and Lose - English Lesson via Skype Lets talk about the difference between Miss and Lose.The verbs MISS and LOSE have several different meanings in English and they can be easily confused.In some languages there are situations where one verb covers them both. But in English they have different meanings, so letâs see what is the difference between miss and lose and how we use them so you can avoid mistakes. Difference between Miss and Lose - Transcript Hi thereThis is Harry and welcome to my English lessons.Today were going to talk to you about the words miss and lose. M I S S miss and L O S E lose.They are often confused so Im going to give you some worked examples which hopefully will help you understand the meaning.When we use the word miss or the past format of it missed M I S S E D, we mean that we are late for some scheduled event.Or we feel sad or lonely because somebody isnt near to us or around us.Or we forget about some event.Okay. So let me give you the examples. I missed my bus on the way to work this morning. I was late.We cant say:I lost the bus.Okay.I missed the bus. meaning I got out of bed too late, I spent too much time over breakfast, and when I got to the bus stop the bus had already gone and I was late for work.So I missed the bus.I missed your birthday. means I forgot your birthday. I wasnt late for it, I forgot it. I had it written in my calendar but for some reason I didnt look at the c alendar and I forgot to send you a birthday card or I forgot to ring you or text you and in this way.I can say:Look, Im really sorry that I missed your birthday. so not only you were you late but you forgot about it altogether.If your friend goes away for a few months working to another country or travelling to another country and youre not able to go with them you might send them a text to say:I miss youNow, when they get back you say:Wow thats great to see you again, I really missed you. meaning I was lonely without you.Okay. So there are some examples of how we use the word MISS.Lose L O S E means that you cannot find something. You put somewhere and youre not able to locate it. You might find it after a short while so its only lost temporarily. Or something that you lose completely. Okay.So let me give you some examples.I lost the football match. I was playing against another team, we were hoping to win so that we could do better in thecompetition but we lost th e game. The game is over, we cannot retrieve the situation, the game is lost.Ive lost my car keys. I dont know where they are. I cant say:Ive missed my car keys.Ive lost my car keys. I put them somewhere and I cant find them. Perhaps theyre on the table.Perhaps theyre in a pocket of a jacket. Somewhere but at the moment they are lost so I have to look for them.I lost my place in the queue.I was standing in a queue waiting to go to the cinema and then I remembered that I had forgottento bring my wallet so I ran home and came back and of course the queue was much bigger so I could say:Oh Ive lost my place in the queue. I had to stand at the back of the queue. If you lose anything, its misplaced temporarily as we talked about the keys or permanently.I dont know what I did with my wallet I lost it when I was in town.You come home and you have no wallet, your cards are gone, you have to cancel them so they are lost forever. So you have to contact the bank to cancel all your credit cards because you lost your wallet. So thats another more permanent nature than losing your car keys that you find laterin your jacket pocket. Okay.So thats hopefully giving you some examples of the difference between MISS and LOSE and remember as always join us on www.englishlessonviaskype.com and subscribe to our channel. And remember when you subscribe to the channel, click the notification bell so that youll get informed when theres a new video waiting for you.And we have six online courses now available for you dealing with English grammar and other aspects and youll find the link below.Okay. And we talk to you again soon. Difference between Miss and Lose Don't keep this to yourself, tell the world:
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Can Brain Training Exercises Help Your Students
Can Brain Training Exercises Help Your Students Maybe youve heard of brain training and wondered what it is, and if it could benefit your students. Put simply, brain training is working out your brain. Certain mental exercises are very effective at developing cognitive skills. Students can boost their memories, sharpen their focus and concentration levels, increase processing speed, and more. The great news: your students can build their cognitive strength with just a little effort each day. Here are a few simple things to encourage your students to do in class and at home: Try the Pomodoro method. Have students set a timer to work uninterrupted for 25 minutes, then take a break for five. This is a great way to build the attention span. Start with even shorter periods if needed. Develop time management. Believe it or not, building executive functioning skills like time management boosts the brain. Spend a few minutes every class going over your minute-by-minute agenda, and encourage your students to keep detailed schedules and planners. Build the working memory. Develop your students memorization skills and attention span. Card games are a great way to hone these abilities, and students who develop their organizational skills also consistently strengthen their working memory. Have students use tools to streamline daily routines. Checklists, homework charts, and planners are helpful aids for all students and build cognitive abilities like memory and brain speed. The brain is like a muscle that can be strengthened. Help your students do so and you will give them much more than subject-matter knowledge. Youll equip them with skills for life.
9 New Years resolution ideas for 2020 + how a TEFL certification will help you achieve all of them
9 New Years resolution ideas for 2020 + how a TEFL certification will help you achieve all of them 2020 is HERE. And with it comes the start of not only a new year, but a new decade full of exciting possibilities. Itâs the perfect time to turn your dreams into reality and weâve got some tips to help you do it. Making New Yearâs resolutions is a great way to embrace a fresh start and put yourself on the path to success. But yes, we know, making resolutions is the easy part. Keeping them is much harder (if not seemingly impossible). Thatâs why weâve come up with a few resolution ideas that we know how to achieve. If youâre dreaming of exploring the world and looking for the adventure of a lifetime, weâve got your ticket to endless possibilities: TEFL certification. Itâs the first step to starting a career teaching English abroad or online. What are some New Yearâs resolutions that you can achieve with a TEFL certification? Travel more. Learn a new skill. Find a job you love. Make a difference in peopleâs lives. Save more. Spend more on experiences than things. Cut down on screen time. Exercise more (without going to the gym). Get out of your comfort zone. 1. Travel more.?? Traveling more is a popular New Yearâs resolution because who doesnât enjoy a good vacation? There are so many different travel styles that thereâs a way for everyone to enjoy time away from their everyday â" whether you prefer lounging poolside at a Carribean resort, or trekking to secluded waterfalls in Northern Thailand. Teaching English abroad is one of the best ways to get out and explore the world. With a TEFL certification, you can teach English invirtually any non-English-speaking country in the world. With so many options, the hard part is figuring out where to go. We recommend checking out Lonely Planetâs Best in Travel 2020 list and Travel + Leisureâs list of the 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020 for some major travel inspiration. If you canât decide on one destination, you can opt to make money while traveling by teaching English online and work from anywhere with an internet connection. With a TEFL certification, youâll be able to start crossing off your travel bucket list in no time! 2. Learn a new skill.?? Picking up a new skill is often the hardest resolution to achieve. It can take consistent practice to teach yourself something new. But with an online TEFL certificationcourse, learning something new is easy. As long as you choose the right TEFL course for you â" one that complements your learning style â" acquiring effective teaching skills can be a breeze. A good TEFL course will lay out a step-by-step guide on how to teach English language learners abroad or online. If youâre eager to take off on your travel journey ASAP, then you can even do an online TEFL course while traveling! Or, if youâre still finishing up your bachelorâs degree, you can get a TEFL certification while still in school. That way you can start your teach abroad adventure as soon as you graduate. 3. Find a job you love.?? A meaningful career is one of the key factors to happiness, so itâs no wonder that this is often a top resolution. Who wants to spend 40 hours a week doing anything besides something they love? Being a teacher can be a dream job not only because of the satisfaction you get from seeing your students achieve their best, but also because of the lifestyle it provides. Teaching abroad can be the perfect mix of travel and work. Youâll need a TEFL certificate to teach English abroad, but once youâve got that under your belt, the world is your oyster! Happy in your current city? You can still work remotely from home as an online English teacher. There are a ton of companies that let you teach English from home and set your own schedule. That way you can also take time off whenever you need it! 4. Make a difference in peopleâs lives.? Making a difference in the world is not just an annual resolution, but often a life goal for many people. Being able to bring joy to others and positively impact their lives provides a level of fulfillment that extends beyond just a career. Teaching English abroad allows you to feel good about your work and yourself. Your classroom can be a fun place for your students and the skills they learn in it can advance their careers and positively change the course of their lives. Every student should get the chance to experience the power of a great teacher, regardless of where they live in the world! 5. Save more.?? Maybe your dreams are too big for one year, so you want to start 2020 with the goal of saving more money for your future plans. Well youâre in luck, since teaching English abroad is an easy way to make some extra income. Many teaching contracts abroad include benefits such as housing and flights, which means you can put more of your pay aside each month. You can also opt for a country with a low cost of living, so that your earnings can go even further. Plus, some contracts offer bonuses at the end of your term, so you can take a nest egg with you when youâre ready to move on. Many teaching jobs base your salary off of your education and previous experience. That means that in order to earn a great salary teaching abroad youâll want to make sure youâve got the right education, including a TEFL certification. Weâve rounded up some of the best places to save money teaching abroad to help you get started! 6. Spend more on experiences than things.?? We all dream of treating ourselves by buying more of the latest fashion trends or splurging on the latest smartphone, but will that new item really spark more joy? Sure, it may feel good in the moment, but that positive feeling wonât last as long as the memory of you scuba diving in the Pacific Ocean! A new experience will not only result in life-long memories and less clutter, but it can result in longer-lasting happiness. Buying an experience can enrich your life by introducing you to new hobbies you love, meeting new like-minded people abroad and giving you more interesting stories to tell. Teaching English abroad can help you see more of the world and eliminate the clutter that most of us have started to accumulate, since you there's only so much you can take with you on your journey. 7. Cut down on screen time.?? This may sound rich coming from a blog post â" which youâre likely reading on a smartphone â" but weâre not joking. Did you know that US adults spend almost half their day consuming some form of media on their smartphone, TV, or laptop? Yup! Weâre all guilty of spending too much time glued to our devices. So reducing your daily screen time can have a bunch of benefits! While teaching English abroad, youâll have loads more free time to dedicate to more meaningful things like travelling and spending time with new friends youâll make along the way. 8. Exercise more (without going to the gym).?? Ok, so maybe you went a little overboard with your holiday indulgences. No need to feel guilty about it. When you move abroad, you'll be more inclined to go out and walk around more than usual, since youâll want to make the most of your experience. Walking may not seem like much of an exercise, but just an hour of walking a day can make a huge difference in your overall health and wellbeing. You can easily boost up your daily steps by exploring the sleepy streets of a European city or hiking through mountainous landscapes in Southeast Asia. Youâll get exercise while you travel without even trying. Thereâs no need to pay for a gym membership when the world can be your gym! 9. Get out of your comfort zone.?? Personal growth happens outside of your comfort zone and teaching abroad is a great way to do it. Living and working in a new place, experiencing a new culture and traveling solo are all great ways to push yourself beyond your limits! Thereâs no time like the present to start living life to the fullest!?? Every step you take towards improving yourself this year will lay the groundwork for building a fulfilling life youâre proud of. Itâs never too late or too early to start something new. Ready to start your journey to a fulfilling life teaching English abroad? Enroll in a TEFL course today and create a FREE Teach Away profile below, so that you can apply to teaching jobs as soon as youâre TEFL certified.
The Natural Approach to Language Learning 5 Powerful Tips from 7.3 Billion Fluent Speakers
The Natural Approach to Language Learning 5 Powerful Tips from 7.3 Billion Fluent Speakers How did everyone become so fluent in their first languages? You have to wonder.Germans spout German with perfect ease. The French do French with devastating charm. How did and when did they become so good? At what point did they stop stammering awkwardly and making rookie mistakes?Maybe youâre sweating to learn Russian or Spanish or Chinese. And then along comes this 5-year-old native speaker, whoâs lived not even a quarter of your years yet, and he chatters (albeit simply) with a perfect accent.What gives?In this post, weâll look deeper into the processes and techniques of first language acquisition. Using the lens of the Natural Approach Theory, we can discover how native speakers rock their languages and how you can do the same.Because somewhere on this planet, thereâs also a guy asking himself, âHow do people get so good at the English language? How?â What Is the Natural Approach to Language Learning?The Natural Approach is a language learning theory developed b y Drs. Stephen Krashen of USC and Tracy Terrell of the University of California, San Diego.The theory is based on the radical notion that we all learn language in the same way. And that way can be seen in how we acquire our first languages as children. If we want to know the secrets of picking up a new language, we should observe how a child gets his first. And hey, we know it works because we have 7.3 billion humans on the planet who, on a daily basis, wield their first language with astonishing fluency.The term ânaturalâ almost presupposes that there are unnatural methods of learning a language. To doctors Krashen and Terrell, these are the structural approaches to learningâ"the grammar method that deconstructs a language into its component pieces, and the listen-and-repeat drills that happen in classrooms.In the Natural Approach, theres almost a zen-like attitude towards acquiring a language. Youâre not forced to utter words or phrases, much less pronounce them correctly . There are no endless drills on correct usage and no mentions of grammar rules or long lists of vocabulary to wrap your head around. Thereâs no hurry and no worry that months have passed and you canât yet distinguish nuances in usage.By continuously exposing you to the language, to how its properly wielded in different situations, and by giving you inputs that are meaningful and memorable, much like a childâs daily experiences with mom and dad, a spontaneous emergence of speech happens.In the Natural Approach, the initial focus really is on comprehension. The crux of the issue is, âDo you understand what is being said?â (You donât need to notice subject-verb agreement for this.)The first stage in the Natural Approach is essentially a silent phase, where nothing seems to be happening. Children have this stage when theyâre not really talking. At all. It seems nothing is going on. Youâre essentially getting nada. No utterance, just a blank stare. Silence.Actually, so m any things are happening. Theyre listening. Picking up on meanings. Reading context clues. Interpreting and making guesses on what is being said. Making mistakes and honing their guesses.And when babies start uttering their first words, their first phrases, their first simple sentences, the focus is still on comprehension. But this time, the crux of the issue is âAre you being understood by the other person?â (Again, you donât need perfect grammar for this.)Bothering with correct grammar comes late in the acquisition stage. In the Natural Approach, the early stages are replete with grammatically incorrect communication that are not even really implicitly corrected. When a child says, âI drinks,â mommy doesnât give him a firm scolding. She finds it cute and then hands him a drink. But that child is slowly getting fluent with his first language. Hes now communicating and using language to express what he wants, and all thats happening without any direct grammar lessons.Th is progress to fluency continues as more exposure to the language happens. The (meaningful) linguistic experience stacks up so fast so that when that child sits waiting for his first grammar class, heâs already chatting non-stop with his seatmates, with perfectly decent grammar, even before the language teacher arrives.And when the lessons do come, the child is really just getting to peek behind the scenes to see the specific rules (grammar) guiding his own language usage. All thats explained to him is the rationale, the nuances of communication, behind the groupings of words heâs been using naturally all along. Itâs all a review of what he already (more or less) knows. The child has learned the language way before the rules of subject-verb agreement are explained to him.And thatâs what Natural Approach is all about. Itâs looking back to first language acquisition and using the whole bag of tricks there in order to get the same kind of success for second (and third, and fourth, and fifth) language acquisition. Just because youâre learning another language doesnât mean you have to reinvent the wheel. The expectations and the learning curve might be different for adults, but the underlying human, mental and psychological mechanisms are the same.So in the next section, well look at five powerful first language acquisition strategies that you can perfectly apply to acquiring that second language.5 Language Learning Tips from 7.3 Billion Satisfied Customers1. Donât Learn the Language, Acquire It.The first thing to notice in The Natural Approach is that theres an important difference between âlearning the languageâ and âacquiring the language.â And it all has to do with the activities involved in each.âLearningâ involves conscious instruction. When you memorize usage rules and vocabulary, when you memorize the different conjugations of the verb, when youre concerned whether or not the tense used is correctâ"those are all âlearningâ related activities. âLearning a languageâ means youre studying a language, its linguistic forms (grammar, semantics, phonology) and how the different elements interact with each other. Most learning activities happen inside a classroom, but you could certainly manage to do these independently.âLearning the languageâ will get you good grades, but it will not necessarily lead to fluency.âAcquiring,â on the other hand, involves different activities which are, for the most part, communicative and immersive in nature. Meaning, these activities give you plenty of opportunities to listen, observe and experience how language is used. And, even better, these activities give you plenty of opportunities to use the language in order to communicate.For example, youâre living with an Armenian family. Every day you get to listen how they talk. You get to hear what the mom screams when she wakes the kids up in the morning, or what she says when she calls them to the table for dinner . You hear grandma talk to you in Armenian because she often forgets that youre not one of her granddaughters. Every day you find yourself exposed to the language. Something very subtle then happens. Youâll slowly pick up the language. Youâll be able to work out the context of things being said and work out their meanings. Maybe the dirty words first. Then youâll pick up their expressions, then maybe the adjectives and verbs, and so on and so forth.This is inevitable. The receptive nature of your brain will ensure that.Exposure to language is big when you want to acquire it rather than learn it. So as a language learner (or rather, âacquirerâ), you have to put yourself in the way of language thatâs rife with action and understandable context. Watch movies, listen to songs and podcasts, read (childrenâs) books and talk with native speakers. Youâre not required to understand everything. See, hear and get a feel for how your target language is used by native speakers. You can also change the language option of your gadgets and different social media accounts so that they display in the target language of your choice. You can also make your home a hub of language learning by using Post-Its to label the different objects that you use every day in the language of choice.Outsource your label-making for the most important vocabulary words by using a Vocabulary Stickers set, which gives you well over 100 words to put on items you use and see every day around your home and office.Thereâs so much you can do, short of going to a country where your target language is spoken, in order to make picking up a language as immersive and as natural as possible. Subscribe to this blog because itâs brimming with awesome tips and techniques that make acquiring a language so instinctive.2. Break the Rules Early. Make Mistakes Often.Now, donât take all thatâs been said before this to mean that grammar doesnât matter at all or that you should never correct the initial mistakes you make. For sure, youâre going to do a lot of correcting. But the point is, grammar doesnât come early in the game. In fact, it comes quite late in the gameâ"when youâve had plenty of experience with the language.In the early stages of picking up a language, you have to be open to making plenty of mistakes and looking foolish. That means opening your mouth even when youâre not sure if you got the pronunciation or accent right, or even when youâre not confident of the words you wanted to say.Youll make mistakes. Thats for sure. And youll have to be indifferent to those mistakes. âIâm making mistakesso what?â The world doesnât end when you commit a booboo, even when you come out looking foolish.Youâre going to have to be okay about committing themâ"the wrong pronunciation, wrong conjugations, wrong noun genders, wrong usage, wrong meaning, wrong translation, etc. Donât be ashamed of your mistakes, but hey, donât celebrate them either. They re just there. They come with the territory. No big deal.A practical thing you can do is to get some conversation practice online with a native speaker. For example, on one of the most popular language exchange sites, you can Skype somebody whoâll be very open to teaching you and listening to you barbarize his native tongue. Heâll find your mistakes cute and be glad that you expressed an interest in his native language.Donât pretend to be someone youâre not. Tell him if youâre an absolute beginner. Honesty is a powerful anxiety killer and you must absolutely be honest with your partner.You donât have to speak in just the target language. Switch to English mid-sentence if you have to.Now the native speaker will be gracious and try to correct the mistakes. Take them with equal grace. But remember that correcting grammar isnt really the top priority. Itâs actually getting a feel for committing those mistakes and coming out with the realization that, âHey, Iâm actually fine! I made 600 mistakes today and survived.âI want you to be very good at this. I want you to know that itâs no big deal. So claim your absolute divine right to make mistakes. Just like a child.3. Get Exposure to Different Situations with Different SensesGoing to a country to acquire its national language only works when youre actually exposing yourself to the myriad of available experiences in the country of choice. A change in geography wonât do you any good if you only keep to yourself or associate exclusively with fellow English speakers and commune in English-speaking enclaves.But the thing is, you donât even have to up and leave just to get exposure and immersion. You can get yourself exposed to language as if youre living abroad. Getting a language learning partner is one method for doing this and was already pointed out earlier.Another method is actively seeking out the native speakers who are already living in your area. If youâre in a big city, chances are the y already have an association you could check out. And they often have activities to promote their culture such as food raves and language meetups like these in New York. Attend these and socialize with the folks there. Youll find tons of fellow language learners (or rather, acquirers) this way. Knowing that there are others who are on the same journey will be a big boost.The important thing to remember is that, when youâre going for exposure and immersion, you should always make it a point to get it in different situations and have the experiences fully stimulate your senses. Bathe yourself in the same experiences that native speakers have. Eat their food, listen to their music. Read the headlines of their newspapers. Find out whatâs up with their local celebrities. Again, you dont need a passport to have the needed immersion.If you want to learn Chinese, go to Chinatown and make a day of it. Dive into the rich underbelly of Chinese culture and youll come out with priceless i nsights, not to mention some really interesting home décor. Get into some stores there and try to ask about the different stuff they sell. The folks there will give you the time of day to explain what their wares are all about. Haggle. And haggle some more. Watch out for hand gestures and youll have learned something not found in grammar books.Get some food packs and try to make out whats written on the backs of packages. Youll learn plenty of contextually rich Chinese just by befriending the characters on those food labels.Going back to the online experience, I highly encourage you to try out FluentUâs videos. They are highly immersive, interesting and, most of all, instructive. Thereâs nothing like visuals, audio and text working together to help you experience your target language.4. Work with Materials That Suit Your LevelNobody would hand a physics book to a toddler, right? One of the tragedies that befall many who try to acquire a language is that they use the wrong mat erials for their level. When someone gives up on a language, you usually hear one of these excuses:âThe audio was too fast.ââI couldnât understand a word in the book.ââThe sentences are too long.ââI didnât have enough time to digest what my partner was saying.âIt doesnât mean that the language is too hard or the person is too slow. They didnât stand a chance because the materials they got exposed to were too advanced to be remotely meaningful to them at that stage of learning. It became gibberish and had no place in the memory to be anchored in.The tragedy is that this person would have been perfectly able to acquire the language had they been using materials that were more approachable for them. For example, thatâs why we start beginners with childrenâs booksâ"where the target language is in bold, capital, colorful letters, where the sentences are simple and where pictures help the folks figure out meaning.For exposure to be meaningful, it should be in the general area of the learnerâs competency. For example, it should be easy enough so that a reader already understands at least 50% of the words in the sentences. (The remaining 50% is the room where the learner grows.)Imagine a mountain climber ascending a steep rock. He doesnât reach for those grips that are several meters above him. Nope, he reaches for one an armâs length above, while the other hand is keeping him safe and steady.So instead of banging your head against materials that prove how much you donât know, go for materials that say, âYeah, you already know this. But look, theres more!âInstead of challenging yourself with materials that ultimately overwhelm you, strategically choose materials that you know you can master given enough time and effort.5. Make the Road to Fluency Stress-freeThere are people who thrive on pressure. These are your Tiger Woods, your Michael Jordans and your Steven Spielbergs. They require pressure to really shine. If thereâs no pressure to be found, they push themselves in order to extract that special performance, that special shot that only they can deliver.These people arent the norm. (Thatâs why they get paid indecent amounts of money.)For sure, some amount of stress or anxiety is constructiveâ"especially in fields like medicine, law and business. But in the phenomenon of language acquisition, our friend Dr. Stephen Krashen asserts that anxiety should be zero, or as low as possible.For a language to be successfully acquired, motivation must not only be high, but anxiety must also be low. Otherwise, all the language inputs weâve talked about earlier will find no home in the brain. When a person is so anxious that they cant even tell you where they are, much less focus on the immersive experience, no amount of stimulation will be comprehensible input. Everything will be for naught.According to the Natural Approach, pressure wont lead to acquisition. The pressure of a language test might push yo u to learn a language by memorizing plenty of vocabulary, drilling grammar rules and getting good grades, but it cant always lead you to acquire language. (Weâve already distinguished âlearningâ and âacquisitionâ earlier, right?)Language acquisition is about being so relaxed and so dialed into the conversation that you forget youâre talking in a foreign language. You become engrossed with the message or content, instead of the medium.So shed off the pressure you put on yourself. Thoughts like, âI need to learn this nowâ or âIâve got two months to learn this listâ wont be helpful to your cause.Expose yourself to the language instead. Watch your Spanish telenovela, eat your Chinese noodles after looking at the labels, enjoy that childrenâs book in French. Donât even think about grades or timelines or milestones. Just put yourself in an environment where you can listen and read and observe how the target language is used.If you do that, my guess is that your a cquisition will move into high gear in the coming months.And thatâs really all these is to it!Ive just given you five powerful ways to achieve language acquisition, all backed by the scientifically-proven Natural Approach. Theyve also been proven by 7.3 billion people.So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and be a carefree child again.After all, learning a language should be fun!Good luck! And One More ThingYou can get started learning a language through the natural approach right now.Just give FluentU a try.FluentU takes real-world videos like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks, and turns them into language learning experiences. Just a quick look will give you an idea of the range of content available:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word youâre learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that youâre learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.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.
Uloop Morning Mix August 17
Uloop Morning Mix August 17 (Image: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons) President Trump took to Twitter to defend his statements in the wake of the violence that erupted in Charlottesville last weekend, which led to him dissolving two business councils â" seemingly a reaction to the resignation of several CEOs. On the campus of UVA last night, thousands gathered for a peaceful march. The scene at UVA. Wow. #Charlotteville pic.twitter.com/hsSnyxMyUP â" Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 17, 2017 MALALA IS HEADED TO COLLEGE Girls education rights campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai (Image: DFID UK Department for International Development via Wikimedia Commons) 20-year-old Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, who caught the attention of the world when she was shot by the Taliban in 2012 on her way home from school, has been accepted at Oxford University. She hopes to complete a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree at the prestigious university. So excited to go to Oxford! she wrote early this morning on Twitter. THE SOLAR ECLIPSE IS COMING MONDAY. ARE YOU READY? Its nearly solar eclipse time, some places in the U.S. are better positioned than others. (Image: National Weather Service via Twitter) Monday is the big day, as a total solar eclipse will cross the full U.S. for the first time since 1918. Heres what you should do to prepare. They are making plans at the University of California Berkeley and Penn State. Is you campus located in a prime viewing spot? AND FINALLY, ITS NOT TOO LATE TO FIND AN INTERNSHIP FOR THIS FALL pexels.com No, really, its not. Temple Universitys Brittany Loeffler has six tips for finding a fall internship, no matter if youve just started to look or have your resume all set to go. Get all the knowledge you need right here. And there you go you are officially up to date and ready to head out to class. Get out there and do Thursday right!
Preparing to Go Overseas
Preparing to Go Overseas By Kathleen at Teach Away Heading overseas for the first time can be an exciting but daunting experience.There are so many things to consider that weâve compiled a list of the Top 5 things to do before going overseas: 1. Read up:Arriving in a new country, ready to explore and open to anything that might come your way, can be an amazing experience. You have no idea what adventures are waiting for you! Realistically, though, most people will want to prepare for their travels, especially if they are moving to a country for a year or more. Research by using travel books, online travel blogs, and maps to help you get ready to depart. Youâll want at least a basic familiarity with the countryâs culture and services â" not to mention, itâs a great way to get excited and put yourself in a travel mindset! 2. Keep everyone in the loop:Make sure you contact your bank(s) to let them know you will be using your cards in another country.If you are traveling overseas for an extended period of time, youâll want to consider getting your mail re-directed, or changing to electronic copies to ensure you keep up-to-date with mail from home. 3. Get your health check:Traveling can be physically demanding, so a visit to your doctor is a great idea to ensure that youâre in good health before setting off.If youâre moving abroad to teach, a health check is usually required before you can obtain a visa. You might also need to determine if your new destination requires any vaccinations prior to arrival.And if you need to travel with medication, youâll need to check as to whether you can bring your medication into your destination country. Will you be able to purchase your it there if needed? Embassy websites will usually have useful links where you can find out whatâs permitted to bring, and whatâs available in the country. 4. Copy documents: Itâs always wise to make both printed and electronic copies of your essential documents. Have a folder of essential travel documents in your carry-on, and make sure to leave a copy with family members at home in case of emergency. Necessary travel information includes the following: Your passport Airline tickets Emergency contact numbers Travel itinerary Teachers should also make copies of professional documents: Resume Teaching certifications Degrees Reference letters Even if your employment is already organized prior to your departure, you never know when copies of these documents might come in handy.Keep your important information at easy reach by emailing electronic copies to your account, or having them on a USB. 5. Stay in touch:Youâll want to make sure that your loved ones can contact you while you are traveling abroad, and vice versa. Share your travel experiences with everyone, and keep in touch with what is happening at home.You can set up a free Skype account, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Youâll want your overseas adventure to be as fun and worry-free as possible. By making sure youâre prepared before you leave, hopefully youâll avoid unnecessary complications in your trip. Safe travels! Kathleen is a Placement Coordinator at Teach Away Inc.
Things to Consider When Looking For Tutoring Centers in Maryland
Things to Consider When Looking For Tutoring Centers in MarylandOne of the best places to start looking for quality private tutoring centers in Maryland is online. Nowadays, there are several services that offer a free trial period. They promise to make you a tutor within just a few minutes of sitting down in front of your computer and the rest is up to you. There are many different things to consider when choosing which tutoring center is right for you.The first thing to consider is whether you want a full-time tutor or a part-time tutor. There are some institutions that offer tutoring throughout the week for individuals who work full time. If you want a tutor at a particular time, that is often not possible.Next, when you're considering where to find quality tutoring centers in Maryland, you will want to consider the accreditation of the institution. Many institutions that are accredited are specifically focused on helping individuals with specific learning difficulties. There are other institutions that specialize in all learning environments. Finding an institution that has both of these types of offerings will benefit you greatly.Once you've determined what your learning style is, you can start looking for learning opportunities. You can look at the programs offered in the institutions that offer tutoring in Maryland. Are they geared toward the individual in terms of their learning style? What are their assessment expectations? If they offer programs geared toward students with a learning difficulty, then they may be able to offer services that fit your needs.You should also consider the cost of tutoring centers in Maryland. While there are some affordable options available, there are also some top-notch tuition and fees. It is important to find a place that offers an affordable program, but still provides a high quality of tutoring. However, do not make your decision solely based on price. There are many great institutions that offer programs for a fracti on of the cost of the more expensive institutions.When you are deciding which learning style you want to take, you should remember that you do not need to teach every subject in high school. In fact, some people may have a learning difficulty with certain subjects in high school. If this is the case, you can choose from a wide variety of programs that focus on specific areas.There are many good things to find out about tutoring centers in Maryland. They offer a free trial period, which allows you to make an informed decision. Do your research before you decide on the best choice for you.
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