Saturday, March 28, 2020

Careers in Wisconsin Tutoring Jobs

Careers in Wisconsin Tutoring JobsTutoring jobs in Wisconsin are currently offered by a variety of local, state and national institutions. A comprehensive list of educational and company names is available from the website of the Wisconsin Department of Employment and Economic Development.Jobs in the field of education are advertised on both college and career fairs and there are also careers in the area being actively marketed. Some of the fields being marketed include physical education, education administration, learning technology, fine arts, counseling, youth care, music, art, entrepreneurship, sports administration, graphic design, fashion and music education. Other careers in the area of tutoring include social work, business administration, nursing, pre-legal, dental assisting, teaching, computer science, health administration, special education, student affairs, leadership development, recreation, and clerical. All of these jobs offer a broad range of advantages and options for the right person.Many colleges and universities in Wisconsin offer employment opportunities in their various divisions, including, art, counseling, business administration, business, data entry, computing, education, education administration, health care, English, international affairs, education, education administration, school administration, business, health care, administrative support, library technology, school administration, mathematics, media studies, management, nursing, other fields, journalism, science, technology, science research, and transportation. These schools are represented by the Institute of Education Sciences. The department of employment and economic development has worked to improve the quality of the jobs in the area and has recently set up the Department of Vocational and Applied Studies, which now advertises employment opportunities in the area.Many law firms in Wisconsin have found great success as tutoring agencies for a growing number of students who need help in preparing for the bar exam. These agencies provide tutoring assistance to students who cannot afford to take a full course load or those who have already taken a college course but need additional guidance. This is an important, and a very flexible and attractive, opportunity.Office jobs are also available in tutoring agencies. These positions provide the required experience and training for successful employment in the field of education. These office jobs pay less than the paid positions and they often do not require a college degree.Office jobs in tutoring have also been found useful for career coaches who are looking for ways to enhance their skills and careers. These tutoring jobs pay an hourly wage and they require a postsecondary degree and experience. Other career coaches have found that tutoring jobs have additional advantages.Jobs in careers are currently offered in Wisconsin, and more are being advertised daily. A comprehensive list of educational and com pany names is available from the website of the Wisconsin Department of Employment and Economic Development. Career coaches and tutors who find the right company are sure to find the most excellent employment in the field of education.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Everything You Need to Know About Language Conversation Exchanges

Everything You Need to Know About Language Conversation Exchanges Everything You Need to Know About Language Conversation Exchanges Word on the street is that all the kids are doing LCEs.Oh, sorryâ€"are you new to getting your language learning kicks  online?Thanks to the Internet, the world is your oyster. It turns out that language learning  on your own terms  can be  fun, interactive and exciting.When you want to start interacting with native speakers and practicing conversational skills, youll want  to know all about the LCE experience. Far from the classroom with its recorded listening tapes and prompted conversations with other beginners, an LCE, or  language conversation exchange,  gets you speaking like a native faster through pure immersion.To do an LCE, you will meet with a native speaker of your target language and converse with them, alternating between your language and theirs. You exchange your knowledge of English (or another language you know well) for their knowledge of the foreign language youre learning. It gives you experience of real, one-on-one communication, a chance to converse and listen. This is vital to helping you learn quicker, better and with more enjoyment.Sounds pretty great, right? An opportunity like this must rapidly accelerate everybody’s language learning, right? Sadly not. LCEs often fail or fade out, and their magic potential for language transformation is lost.Luckily for you, I am going to spell out how to find, create and maintain an LCE that explodes your language learning as you know it and catapults you into a new level of fluency. And you might even make a friend along the way! Everything You Need to Know About Language Conversation ExchangesWhy Should I Do a Language Conversation Exchange?Before you start scouting for a buddy, it is vital that you know what you want this exchange to do for you. Do you want a structured and challenging test of your linguistic abilities? A mate to hang out and relax with? What is most important to you?People have all sorts of reasons for seeking out an LCE, from pure love of language to understanding a new cu lture, finding a new friend in an unfamiliar place or having someone to reassure them that they are doing fine when they order drinks in a funny accent.If you know what you want to get out of  your LCE, you are more likely to find it.  You won’t waste time with vague feelings that  this isn’t really what I was after. No time for that! You have a language to master!Sit down for five minutes and brainstorm why you might be  looking for an LCE. Then choose the three main pointsâ€"all related to what you want to achieve and experience. Make a note of them and refer back throughout your LCE to see if you are getting what you originally wanted.Know what youre looking for? Great! Lets go get it!How Can I  Find My Language Conversation Exchange Buddy?If you are looking for an online buddy then the internet is your oyster! Start right here with the FluentU iPhone app  or Android app.  Find a system that suits you with this amazing comprehensive list of high quality languages exchange sit es.I personally recommend Hellotalk to find a buddy in your target language. It is free, you are linked up instantly and you can keep searching until you find your perfect buddy. This works as a good introduction service. Later you can decide if you want to just text or maybe progress to Skype chat or beyond.Skype isnt necessarily the end goalâ€"its actually a fantastic place to start! Check out Skypes  community message boards for people looking for a partner. Skype language lessons  attract speakers of all languages and you can find many offers for languages exchanges there.Couchsurfing  also has a great community forum you can log into and post on for buddies.  Here you can find kindred spirits who enjoy travel and adventuring.These are my personal favorites. Check out the links above and see what works for youâ€"and dont be afraid to get out there and explore more options!As for those of you lucky enough to actually be  living abroad, it is even easier to find a buddy. Utilize c enters of educationâ€"universities, schools, cultural centers. Leave an advert and a contact number there. Many universities offer a “Tandem” or language exchange service. Contact local TEFL teachers, tooâ€"they can give you contacts to their best and keenest students.Being the foreigner in your town, many people would welcome the opportunity to learn with you. Ask your friends, ask your colleagues. Somewhere out there is your perfect LCE party waiting  eagerly  to set out on a language adventure by your side.How Do I Recognize My Ideal LCE Partner?Be discerning at the start. The better suited you two are for one another, the better your chances of having a successful LCE. Gut feeling is a good indicator. Is this person interesting to you? Do  they have a similar personality and lifestyle? Would you choose to chat with them normally?Then there is level. It is not necessary to have someone the same as you in ability and fluency. Even a total beginner and a near fluent speaker can help each other wonderfully as long as both are fulfilled and getting what they want.Next, find out what your potential buddy wants from this exchange. Can you help them? Do they seem interested in helping you?This last point is very important. Do they want to help you as well as improve their own level? Be sure you have a partner who you feel comfortable with, who seems supportive, patient and interested in your motivations and desires. People sometimes forget that speakers of a global  language like English also want and need to improve their second language skills. Make sure your buddy is a team player before you move forward!Okay, Got My Buddy! But How to Start?Be flexible at the beginning. The relationship will take its own shape. That said, it is good to set some starting rules:How often will we  meet? At least once a week is best to keep things progressing nicely, but the more you meet up the better your speaking skills will become. Do not try to overwhelm your buddy with to o many meet ups if they have a busy schedule, but be sure that you express your goals in terms of frequency.How will we  divide the languages? The most common format is to speak for half  the time in your language, half the time in theirs. But it is up to you and your partner. You could alternate weeks or come up with your own system. Bear in mind though that extended language immersion will deepen your skills, so try not to flit between languages too quickly and too often.If you are in an online LCE, you have the advantage of at least some written communication. That means you can post a short summary of the guidelines of your desired LCE to your buddy. Feel free to keep in touch via online messaging in between your meet ups.Where will  we meet?  If you have a physical meeting, then vary the location. This makes each session unique with its own set of challenges and learning opportunities. Go to a museum or a park. Meet at your house or at your buddys. Not only will you be more sti mulated by each meeting thanks to the varying scenery and topics of conversation, you will come across new vocabulary and challenges too.If you are meeting online, there is no reason not to explore cyberspace together! Play games, have fun. Sometimes you can Skype for talking practice.  Sometimes you can text chat so that your buddy can give you writing tips. Try different chat rooms and experiment with different conversation sites. Maybe you can even go on a SIMS adventure together!The Time Has Comeâ€"What Should We Talk About?Try to keep the topics of discussion diverse. At the start, you can focus on getting to know each other, but your LCE will be much more fun if you deliberately address different areas of conversation.This is especially relevant for online LCEs because we all spend a lot of time on the computer and are distracted by Facebook, background events, etc. Planning varied and fun themes ensures that your LCE is the only thing on your mind when you turn on your comput er. By avoiding distractions and staying focused on a topic, you will get the absolute most from the exchange.Role play and explore situations. This can work as well through Skype as in person. Your buddy can prep you for possible job interviews or interactions with trained staff. Role plays are a great way of both minimizing nerves (by pretending to be someone else) and becoming adept in situations you may need in real life. And they do not need much preparation. Just set a situation and think of a few points that may come up. Believe me, it is less effort than preparing nothing and then forcing conversation about the weather and your summer plans.If your language has a formalinformal function, as most languages do, you can choose to speak one week formally and discuss  more professional  topics such as your  career. Then the next week you can devote to casual speech and slang words.Get practical. Put yourself in real situations. Explore language through food! Go to dinner or to th e pub together, order food and pay the bill. Agree to take your native buddy around town without guidance so that you read the maps and you ask for directions when you get lost. Go to an art gallery and explain how each picture makes you feel. Take the train and describe the route to your buddy.Maybe you want this to be very low-key and laid back. That is fine as long as it is what you and your buddy both want. But remember that variability and challenging yourself will take you farther faster. You are going to meet loads of foreign speakers to chat and hang with once your language level starts accelerating. Why not use this novel opportunity to its maximum potential?This was fun. When shall we meet next?  Always end with a new time to meet. This is important for motivation and so that your LCE does not get swallowed up by the busyness of your lives. Having  research to do,  a role-play to plan or a topic to mull over means that your mind will stay on your LCE all week.How Do I Know My LCE Is Really Working?Want to be sure that you are getting the most out of your LCE experience? Want to rest easy knowing that you are making tons of great progress thanks to your new buddy?Make a goal for your LCE, whether it be to widen your vocabulary, increase your confidence or simply be able to order drinks by yourself (with or without laughter). This main goal gives you something to aim towards. Then you can set up small, achievable goals for each meeting, such as:Go out for dinner and talk to the waiter all nightHave a basic discussion about the political background of this countrySurvive a 30-minute conversation without giving in and reverting to EnglishThis does not need to be a structured thing with charts and progress boards. Just keep it in your own mind. Keep your focus on what you want to achieve and how that is going. This will keep your LCE alive and useful for you and make sure that you know you are progressing.It is also up to you to set the level of correctio n you want from your buddy. If your aim is confidence, then just relax and talk as much as possible. If you want to nail your grammar, then ask them to point out and explain mistakes. You can set yourself specific goals for each session, for example:Today I want to use conditionals correctlyI am  bored of using the same adjectives all the time. Today I will experiment with more advanced and unusual onesOnce your buddy knows your aim they can help you reach it and give you feedback and advice.How Do I Keep My LCE Fun?Treat it like any other important relationshipâ€"invest your time and energy in it. Commitment and regular communication are important to keep your LCE a part of your life. Be excited about it. Goal plan and reflect on how each meeting went and what you each got from it. What could you improve next time and how could you better help your partner? Once your LCE is something you are excited about, it will stay on the front page of your attention span.How to End My Language Conversation Exchange?For whatever reason, LCEs are sometimes quite short. Maybe you just needed that initial boost to get you going in your new language or to find a group of friends. Maybe you or your buddy is super busy now. Thats okay, it usually has to end sometimeâ€"and you can always keep in touch in the future if you like.But do make sure you end your LCE fittingly. It has been an adventure and a learning process for both of you. Go for a final dinner or drink together. If you are online make sure you schedule that final webchat or Skype meet. Chat about what you learned and what was fun and think about your plans now.How you will keep improving your language? Did you get what you wanted? Did you push yourself and reach new boundaries in your new language? Are you still hungry to go farther, to get even more fluent, confident and capable?If so…there are a million other LCE partners waiting for you. Whether online or in your town, reach out to them. Rememberâ€"each human b eing is a whole new world. For you, that is a whole world of new knowledge, understanding and learning. Use this opportunity to your advantage!

What to Wear When Teaching Abroad

What to Wear When Teaching Abroad Today’s Guest Blog is written by Erika Phyall who currently works in community relations for the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education’s online master’s programs. USC Rossier provides current and aspiring teachers the opportunity to earn an  online Master’s in Teaching  degree and a  Master’s of Education online. Outside of work Erika enjoys networking, DIY projects, and spending time with her two dogs.What to Wear When Teaching AbroadTeaching abroad is an adventure waiting to be discovered. Teachers work and live in a world that is filled with new sights, ideas, people and experiences. Preparing for your time abroad can be hard if you aren’t sure what to expect.One question many teachers might find themselves asking is what to wear when teaching abroad. Sometimes you will be fortunate enough to adjust your wardrobe at your own leisure once you arrive. However, if your location is more rural or you don’t have the same body type as the majority of the populace, you will want to come prepared for your entire stay. Ultimately, it is important to dress professionally and to tailor that look according to the culture you are working in.One of the best steps you can take to have a successful teaching abroad experience is to be open to change. Living in a different culture can require making adjustments to how you might normally dress. Every country will be different. Some may have a style you love, whereas others may include attire that seems restrictive or difficult to embrace. Choose to accept these adjustments as part of the adventure, and don’t begrudge them as a loss of independence. Remember: You can slide right back into those neon tights or worn Converses with deserved enthusiasm once you return home.A helpful tip to dressing for success starts with professionalism. It’s easy when you’re in a new place to want to forget some of the more pesky professional dress codes you may have left behind. In many countries, howev er, being a teacher is one of the most revered professions in the culture. Both students and parents look to the teacher as a symbol of education that preserves the past and strengthens the future. Dressing professionally shows your respect for the position you are filling and the role you have been entrusted with. General guidelines for dressing professionally include maintaining a neat and clean appearance, wearing minimal jewelry or refraining fully, depending on culture, and always choosing clothes that are modest and workplace appropriate. If you are ever unsure, it’s always best to start off conservatively. Ask your co-workers and look around to see what other teachers or professionals in your school are wearing.The classroom is not the only place where dress code can come into play. Holidays, visiting friends, the beach and many other situations can present themselves where it is important to understand appropriate dress. For example, wearing bikinis in many Asian countries is not culturally accepted. Most bathers wear shorts and t-shirts when going to the beach. Middle Eastern countries are also known for their more modest dress. Embrace your adventurous locale, but be prepared for some mental shifts as well. Dressing in this region can be very different for teachers, and female teachers especially may feel restricted. In many Middle Eastern countries, women are expected to have their knees, shoulders and chests completely covered. Head scarves are also required for women, and dresses â€" not pants â€" are recommended unless stated otherwise by your school. Always ask your school for a recommended dress code so you can be prepared to meet their standards.Teaching abroad can be a real adventure, but as with all journeys, setting off prepared can make all the difference. As long as you follow the advice above and use common sense, fashion won’t be able to obstruct you from the rewards of teaching abroad.Interested in earning a Master's degree through the USC Rossier School of Education? Click here to request more information on your professional development.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Tips for Those Working in Retail on Black Friday

Tips for Those Working in Retail on Black Friday pexels.com Wear Comfortable Shoes The biggest tip for working retail on Black Friday is to wear comfortable shoes. You are going to be on your feet, rushing around and more all day. The customers are sure to keep you on your toes. You will be re-organizing displays, ringing up items at cash registers, unpacking boxes, finding items in the back room. The goal is to make as much business as possible and the crowds are going to keep you busy and working all day long. If you are only an hour into your shift and your feet are already hurting, how are you going to make it the rest of the day? Not only will it impede your ability to do your job but being uncomfortable will put you in a bad mood, making it more difficult to work with your co-workers and employees alike. You want to get through Black Friday as unscathed as possible so wearing comfortable shoes is important. More than comfortable shoes, you can also use shoe inserts, tape certain toes together, and carry band-aids. The taping method is usually reserved for when wearing heels, but why not when working retail? WhoWhatWear.com lays out the method to tape your toes: “Tape your third and fourth toes (counting from the big toe) together we recommend nude medical tape for a low-profile look, but Scotch tape works in a pinch to alleviate pain in the ball of your foot.” pexels.com Have Headache Relief Tactics Headaches can be brought on by many different things, including but not limited to stress, loud noises, and difficult customers. You will have an abundance of those if you work retail on Black Friday. However, having a headache on Black Friday will make the experience even more of an ordeal than it has to be. The best thing to do is to ward off your headaches and have some headache relief tactics that work for you at the ready. You can always take Motrin, Advil, Tylenol, ibuprofen, Aleve. Whatever painkiller works for you is a choice. But in case you do not like taking medicines and want to try a few different tactics to relieve your headache, try these out: •Drink coffee! ·WebMD. com says this about the headache-relieving powers of coffee: “When your head hurts, you want relief fast. Whether its a run-of-the-mill tension  headache  or a  migraine,  caffeine can help. Thats why its an ingredient in a lot of popular pain relievers.  Caffeine helps reduce  inflammation, and that  can  bring relief.” •Drink water! ·According to FreeDrinkingWater.com, “Water can  aid as a treatment to all of these  headaches. In tension  headaches, it was noted above that a cause  can  be fatigue. Fatigue is a side effect of dehydration. So, if dehydration is the cause of the fatigue and fatigue is the cause of the headache,  start by treating the fatigue and get hydrated.” •Take deep breaths ·Oftentimes, as people go throughout their day, they do not take as many deep breaths as they should. It is easy to fall into the trap of not paying attention to your breathing and beginning to breathe too shallowly. When that happens, you do not get enough oxygen, and it can bring on a headache. Just take a minute or two to breathe, and breathe deeply at that. WebMD.com suggests this method of breathing: “Continue  breathing, but each time you inhale, imagine that you are  breathing  in more relaxation. Each time you exhale imagine that you are getting rid of a little more tension. Progressive muscle relaxation: Switch your thoughts to yourself and your  breathing.  Take  a few  deep breaths, exhaling slowly.”

FluentU Reviews 5 Smart Language Programs for Discerning Learners

FluentU Reviews 5 Smart Language Programs for Discerning Learners FluentU Reviews 5 Smart Language Programs for Discerning Learners You cant wait to get to the good stuff.Thats right, I see you skimming search results on your laptop.I see you, skeptical but hopeful, determined to find the best resource for learning a language out there.Come on, youre thinking, Whats the best language learning program of them all?Whats the most  effective learning system on the face of the earth?Whats going to get me fluent in the least amount of time?Well, you shouldnt think like that.When you seek answers to  such general questions, you only sell yourself short.Youre smarter than that, and you deserve better.Heres why. Choosing a Language Program: Its About the FitYou know what happens when you go searching for the best of them all?You go on a wild goose chase where you find people wholl swear on this program or that program. And on the other side of the aisle, just as sure of themselves, are people screaming, Give me back my money!Most of the time, when you read reviews of language learning programs, just as with any other pr oduct reviews, you end up feeling like theres a tug-of-war going on between those who think a certain programs the best thing since sliced bread, and then another group who are completely dissatisfied.The better question to ask would be Which program is the best for me?Take the idea of best and focus it on yourself. Because there are different kinds of people in this world, and theres no one super-awesome, super-scientifically-backed program that does everything for everyone.Furthermore, theres no program that contains all the resources you should be making use of in your language learning (books, movies, native speakers, etc.). The question really is what a particular program can bring to your personal learning journey.Sure, every program has features that merits its existence. And for sure, many people will benefit from them. But how about you? What will work best for you?So when looking for the best, dont immediately go looking for whats out there.  Instead, get  selfish and ask yourself, Whats in here?In order to do just that, here are a few things you need to keep in mind while choosing the language learning program thats right for you.PricePrice is a tricky subject. Theres no one way to determine if a program is priced just right.Some programs price themselves out of the running because theyre simply out of your range. Others, when theyre too cheap, can make you feel suspicious. And when theyre free, theres always the danger that youll automatically think theyre no good when they could actually be offering something more robust than some paid programs.All of the above is worth taking into consideration as you consider programs based on your budget and what you think theyre worth. Again, youll have to determine this yourself, but its important to consider. Feeling youre getting a good price  will make you happy about your purchase, and can actually make you feel motivated about learning.Medium of InstructionWhat sorts of materials do you like best while l earning? Video, audio, text, games a mix of all these media?There are different routes to fluency. Different types of learners will benefit from different types of media being used to teach a language. Are you an audio learner? Then podcasts could be your key. Do you absolutely have to see words in order to remember them? Then look to programs that fit that need.Do you want it all? No matter who you are, a mix of media is probably going to be your best bet but then is the price attractive enough?Content DepthThis is the other side of the coin, and youre going to have to balance this with price to see if youre getting enough bang for your buck.Going back to price for a moment, a free program could be free because it only scratches the surface and contains material for beginners, or material that you can find many other places. Or a program could be expensive because it  promises to take you from absolute beginner to advanced level.To understand whats really going on with a program, f ocus on the depth of content. Read the features section of the program ad. But steer clear of words like awesome or amazing that have been purposely written to entice. Look for facts. How many vocabulary  words are you supposed to be able to learn? How many hours of material are you given? What kinds of topics or content will be covered? How much personalization does the program offer?Focusing on the actual features of the product while trying to stay neutral to the advertising will get you a reasonable picture of the program.Target SkillsIt would be ideal for you to learn speaking, reading, writing  and listening in the target language. But because you dont have all the time in the world, you need to prioritize which of the linguistic skills is most important for you.If you want to speak a language fast, for example, then choose a program that focuses on developing speaking skills. Also consider, though, that simply learning to communicate some basic phrases in a language wont help you to understand what another person is saying, so listening can be just as important in conversation.What do I want to learn? Ask yourself that question and be specific as possible. Do you want to learn vocabulary? Then choose a program whose strong suit is exactly that. Do you want to focus on grammar? Then know that there are programs that are hardcore on that.Also, you should take note of how youll be using the language. Are you a vacationer who needs to learn just enough to get by? Then gravitate towards material specifically made for travelers. Are you going to use the language for academic or business writing? Then stay away from titles like Spanish Slang Other Four Letter Words.AestheticsAesthetics is the general look of the program, whether its a physical book or CD cover, the fonts and colors used in an app. Its also about the clarity of the audio or the attractiveness of the graphics.Aesthetics is about beauty, good taste and ease of use.Does the general look of the pr ogram appeal to you? Whether its the pages of a workbook or a computer screen, the look is often reflective of the thought and effort put into the program. It isnt always the case that the more attractive the program, the better the content, but its worth thinking about how the two connect.If, somehow, the look, format or structure of a program just does not appeal to you, then theres no reason for you to spend hours slogging through material that seems a little off to you in the first place.All that being said, lets now review five famous language programs based on the factors weve just mentioned.Also, the links in this post are affiliate links, so by purchasing some of these products, you’ll be supporting our efforts to keep bringing you top-notch language learning content on the FluentU blogs.FluentU Reviews 5 Smart Language Programs for Discerning LearnersFluentU ReviewFluentU is the webs largest repository of real-world videos specially designed for language learning. It carr ies hundreds of videos each for Spanish, English, German, French, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Russian and Koreanâ€"with a Portuguese program in the works.PriceThe Basic plan is $20/month or $240 annually. This includes unlimited watching and listening of videos and audio. The Plus plan, at $30/month or $360 annually, has additions of unlimited vocabulary deck and PDF printouts. It also features quizzes that teach you new words via questions and prompts and keeps a record of your progress, making the whole experience as personal as it gets. You can try out either plan to see how it works for you with a free seven-day trial.Medium of InstructionFluentU uses real-world videos to teach a language. Depending on the video, this may mean a TV clip, a newscast, a commercial, movie trailer or an interview in the target language. The videos have been embedded with interactive transcripts that turn them from normal video clips to mini language lessons.The dialogues, lines or narration in the v ideos come with real-time captions that allow you to follow along. So not only do you have engaging content, you also have learning support that makes that content digestible and highly meaningful.Content DepthFluentU has a wide variety of real-world video content and covers the full spectrum of language learners, from absolute beginner to very advanced.Our materials serve language learners on widely-varying linguistic levels. For example, there are clips that tackle basic subjects like numbers, days of the weeks or colors. There are also interviews and vlogs that provide authentic and immersive content for advanced learners.Because of the interactive transcripts, you can not only pace your learning, you can choose what you want to learn and how much you want to know. When you hover over the words in the captions, you get a full menu of information on that word including translation, meaning, pronunciation and usage. So you not only get a vocabulary lesson in context, you learn ever ything else about that word.FluentU has a wide variety of videos, including movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions 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 over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive Transcripts You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Target SkillWith the FluentU system, youre given access to big picture (video) and the details (interactive captions) at the sa me time. Because of the pairing of videos and interactive transcripts, youll be learning different skills. Youll learn vocabularyâ€"vocabulary thats embedded in a memorable visual context. Your ears will become more attuned to the target language as you listen how native speakers take their language for a spin.And using the transcripts, you can get plenty of speaking practice talking along with the video clip. You can also pick up gems of grammar as you dive deeper into the words through interactive features.AestheticsThe FluentU interface is smooth and instinctive. Youll get the sense that the team that developed it had you, the language learner, in mind.The videos are not only technically sound, theyve been meticulously handpicked with language learning in mind.The explanations are written to be helpful and informative, but not to the point of being overwhelming.Pimsleur ReviewBased on the memory research of Dr. Pimsleur, which placed concepts like spaced repetition on the linguis tic map, the Pimsleur language program is one of the most well-known and widely-used language products today. As with any program, there are those people who swear by it, and others who dont so much. Lets see how Pimsleur fares with the factors we talked about earlier.PriceDepending on the language, a single course (one level) can run you over $100. A comprehensive course usually has three levels, and some, like Spanish, even have five. Needless to say, this is one of the more expensive language programs around. However, you can lower the cost by buying more than one level bundled.Audio CDs, software and downloadable files are available. Typically, 30 lessons, 30 minutes each.Medium of InstructionPimsleur is an audio-based programâ€"which is great if youre a multitasker and want to learn a language while commuting, waiting for a friend or walking your dog. Less so if youre the type who wants to see texts, faces or graphics while learning.Content DepthYoure advised to just stick to o ne 30-minute session a day. Following that, a whole level would take you about a month.The lessons open with a conversation by native speakers. This dialogue then becomes the basis for the lesson. Youll be brought up to speed with clever drills, prompts and repetition. Youll not only learn new vocabulary, but also come to understand what the dialogue was all about.The lessons are phrase-centric. Meaning youll not be learning just words, but bunches of them. Around five phrases will be introduced for each lesson, and some old ones will be reviewed later on. The lessons are interactive, meaning that youll not only be prompted by the teacher to repeat after her, but youll be asked to answer some questions, too.The lessons are placed within useful context and situations to help you imagine how and when to use what youve learned. Youll learn the basics in this course, like greetings and pleasantries. And if youre a businessperson who travels, youll probably find the audio lessons quite u seful for your purposes.Pimsleur believes in core vocabulary, focusing only on the most useful and most common words in the target language.The repetition in the lessons may be a double-edged sword for some: You get the phrases drilled into long-term memory, but this also drags out the lessons quite a bit.Some grammar is explained from time to time, but you get the sense that its not really at the heart of the lessons.Formal styles of communication are used in these lessonsâ€"like the kind of language you use if youre talking to an elder or a complete stranger.Target SkillsIts obvious that this program hones in on your speaking and pronunciation skills. Youll find plenty of opportunities to talk in the target language, albeit parroting the teacher. But as long as you perform the activities asked, your verbal skills will improve.Youll also really improve your listening skills, familiarizing yourself with the tone, melody and cadence of the target language, and be able to make out ind ividual words with no visual prompts. Youll get help with your intonation from native speakers whose dialogues provide handy contexts.AestheticsTheres not much to go through here in terms of the visuals, because hey, the system is in audio. But the sounds are sharp enough to hear the tonal rises and falls of the target language.Rosetta Stone ReviewThere actually is a Rosetta Stone, which is a stone slab containing inscriptions in three different languages, including Greek. This stone slab became the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics. Why dont you pay it a visit in the British Museum? But for our purposes here, were looking at the Rosetta Stone language learning software, one of the biggest names in language education today.PriceDepending on the target language, prices of comprehensive courses (three levels) hover around the $150-$200 level. This includes a CD with software you need to install on your computer.SpanishFrenchGermanChineseJapaneseItalianArabicKoreanPortugueseYou can now also purchase access via subscriptions ranging from three months to two years.You also have the option to purchase in-product live tutoring from native speakers.Medium of InstructionThe biggest thing you need to remember about Rosetta Stone is that its a target-language-based undertaking. Meaning, no, you dont get any translations or English at all. Proceedings are to take place in the target language and youre going to have some figuring out to do. (Plenty of photos are provided to help you.)Text and audio are in the target language. Rosetta is immersive in that sense.Content DepthRosetta Stone is a software program that contains audio-visual lessons. Think of it as a superpowered flashcard application. Expect to see plenty of pictures.Because of the pictures proffered, youll find yourself able to decipher the meanings of the words without any translation. For example, in the Spanish program, you will see lápiz  being paired with a clear picture of a pencil. No translatio n will be needed to catch the drift on that one. (And then later on, the Rosetta Stone software program will make a game out of it, by asking you to pair the picture with the word and vice versa.)Not a whole lot of vocabulary will be taught, because like Pimsleur, Rosetta Stone also only carries core vocabulary. For vocabulary fare that goes beyond words like man, book and table, youre going to have to do your own research outside the Rosetta Stone interface.One of the most useful features of the program is that it gives you access to native speakers of your target language. Book sessions and youll be in for a live tutoring experience from competent and patient coaches. And get this, they stick to the script of talking (and teaching) in the target language. So, no English.This, by far, is the most immersive element of the whole program, and I encourage you to utilize every minute of those sessions.Target SkillBecause everything is done in the target language, your skills of comprehe nsion in the target language are greatly increased. Youll be able to negotiate meaning and learn the language without being encumbered by the slow process of translating one word to another.Youll also hone your listening skills in the target language. In addition, your pronunciation skills can get a boost from the speech recognition feature, where you can actually compare how you speak with a native.And, as always, Rosetta Stone is great for learning vocabulary. Youll always have a visual component (pictures!) with which to remember words.AestheticsRosetta Stone does excel in beauty and form.The installation of the software is pretty straightforward. The interface is very instinctive and approachable. You wont lose your way as you progress along the course activities. If youre looking for true target language immersion, and dont easily get disoriented when you dont hear English for a few minutes, then this ones for you.And unlike some language programs that arent particularly clicka ble, Rosetta Stone is pretty responsive and interactive.The pictures are professionally taken, and some of the best in the field of language learning. These visuals can practically embed themselves into your memory.Audio-wise, Rosetta is clear and crisp, and allows you to hear very specific sounds of the target language. Surprisingly, while you often may think of this program primarily for its visuals, you may find it compares favorably to other programs specifically in terms of audio.Assimil ReviewAssimil programs are produced by a French company and are big in Europe. Assimil is a favorite material of many translators and polyglots including Luca Lampariello, the fellow behind the site The Polyglot Dream.In a way, Assimil has similarities with both Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone. Its like Pimsleur in that its audio-based, and its like Rosetta Stone in that the audio is exclusively in the target language.PriceDepending on the language course, the program can be purchased for a reasonab le price. Included will be downloadable audio files containing the lessons, with an accompanying workbook.Medium of InstructionAs mentioned before, Assimil is audio-driven, although it comes with a book that contains transcripts of the dialogues as well as translations of them. Only the target language is heard on the audio files.Explicit grammar explanations only come every once in awhile and they are but little footnotes in the workbook. The method is sentence-centric. Meaning youll be learning vocabulary and grammar in the context of dialogues and the conversational to-and-fro of sentences.Content DepthEach lesson can be finished in 30 minutes. The course comes with 100 lessons, with each lesson covering around five pages in the workbook. The lesson typically opens with a staged dialogue, which gradually gets longer. The sentences also become more complex as you move along through the course.The first 50 lessons are known as the passive wave because they involve plenty of listeni ng and attuning yourself to the intonations, inflections and flow of the target language. In the second wave, from the 51st lesson on, exercises and reviews of past lessons are integrated, and the learner moves into a more active role from here on out.In the 100 lessons, youll learn about 2,000 words.Target SkillYour listening skills will really be developed in this course. And because of the dialogue format, youll start to get a feel for conversations in the target language. You may not actually get to B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages  (CEFR) as promised by the folks behind the program, but youll definitely be able to communicate with native speakers in everyday situations.Also, by experiencing appropriate contexts for vocabulary, youll retain a considerable number of words in your long-term memory.AestheticsAudio-wise, the recordings are clear and you wont have any problem hearing whats being said. Speedwise, the speakers enunciate well and even seem to purposely slow down, especially in the early parts of the program.The accompanying workbook admittedly may not be a big hit with some learners. The pages can come across as somewhat cluttered, and dont offer much in the way of color.That said, this is a great way of packing in practice if thats primarily what you want. The accompanying workbook is fat with useful content and gives you an insightful behind-the-scenes look at what you hear in the audio. The precise translations provide a welcome relief for learners who may find audio-only or full immersion a tad bit challenging.Duolingo ReviewDuolingo has plenty of world languages under its belt, with more under development. It claims its the most popular way to learn a language with its millions-strong userbase. Its easy to use as an app, and its first compelling feature might be its unbeatable price.PriceFree. You wont shell out a single dollar for Duolingo. (The company makes money through a crowdsourced translation service.)Med ium of InstructionDuolingo lessons are not really lessons, but a bunch of activities done one after the other. The modules take you on a series of tasks you need to perform, like pairing words with their correct translations, or sequencing words in order to come up with a grammatically-correct sentence. By performing the activities, the idea is that youll embed the lessons and words into your long-term memory.Duolingo has a game-ified philosophy when it comes to language learning. The whole interface looks like a game where you earn points for correct answers. The progress bars gives you a visual indication of your performance, and the program  gives you a heads-up on the specific words and areas that need improvement.Content DepthBecause of the nature of the exercises and activities, theres also a limit on the things that you can learn through Duolingo. The program is great when it comes to learning vocabulary with spaced repetition technology, and decent when it comes to grammar e xplanations. Its also great at deconstructing language into its word components.In summary, its a good basics course, but cannot really be a standalone source for someone who wants to learn a language. Duolingo is best as a supplement to more robust content.Target SkillDuolingo allows you to practice your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. But dont expect to become fluent just from using this program. At best, it scratches only the surface of these skills.For example, more focus could be given to really speaking the language, instead of just enunciation. In Duolingo, youre only asked to repeat what you hear, and theres really not a strong communicative component.But that said, your basic skills do get a workout.AestheticsI have only great things to say about the interface of Duolingo. The graphics, colors, fonts, animations, icons, etc., are all synced to give you an experience thats so smooth and so instinctive, you begin to wonder if the thing is really actually free .Duolingo is one of the most visually zen programs I have seen in the field. Kudos to those behind the great design.So there you have it! Five different programs, five different sets of strengths and focuses. All you have to do is match them with your needs and you can have something that works for you.Again, there’s really no objectively best language learning program out there.Only whats best for you.And the great thing is that you get to decide what that is for yourself.

How to Pick the Right Teacher For Your Child

How to Pick the Right Teacher For Your ChildA teacher should be the best one for a student at hand if she teaches the topic at hand, and the question is how to choose the right teacher for your children. A teacher has the power to direct the kind of education that a student can get, so it's important that you should pick the one who is well experienced and knowledgeable about your subject. To choose a teacher, you can use a good technique called the 'approach.' Here is the approach to choose a teacher for your child.Identify the process or task, your child is doing in the class. If your child is doing on the subject, this may mean that he/she is doing the lecture, and if you have a child who is doing the practical exercises, this may be possible that he/she is doing the practical exercises. Knowing the area the teacher teaches, will let you choose the teacher. By knowing the process or task you need to do for your child to improve his/her learning, you will easily recognize the right teacher.The next step in the approach is to identify the qualities that make a good teacher. A teacher with lots of experience and knowledge is usually great for your child because she is more capable to solve your child's problems and even help him/her learn some new skills. Also, a teacher who has the patience and understanding that your child needs is more helpful.With the right chemistry tutor, your child can increase his/her knowledge and in general, the whole thinking process in his/her mind can get more advanced. A good teacher will get your child to be a better student, so your child will learn to study and understand what he/she is learning. In the last phase, a teacher will try to help the student to build a better relationship with each other and the instructor. This is the best way to learn chemistry, and a teacher will guide you to make chemistry a big part of your child's life.You should pick a good teacher because he/she is well experienced and can teach your child. This teacher should know which problems are important and which problems are not. He/she should be ready to help your child, so that he/she can work hard in his/her learning and when the time comes to test, he/she will be ready to help your child.After you choose the teacher, the next thing to do is to choose the place where the teacher will be teaching. This is very important because it helps a lot if you have a teacher near your home. You will be able to see the progress your child is making in the class. Once the teacher is through with the lesson, you should talk to your child about it.At this point, you have found the best teacher to teach your child chemistry. So, pick the right teacher for your child, and your child will soon enjoy his/her life.

Why Are Duolingo For Learning English So Popular?

Why Are Duolingo For Learning English So Popular?It is no secret that Duolingo is a tool that has proven itself as the top choice for online Spanish learners. What makes it even more amazing is that this method is also used in the field of foreign language teaching by expert teachers from all over the world.This site can be accessed by anyone on any computer and has an advanced vocabulary and grammatical system that will make learning English fast and easy. This site offers both audio and video lessons to teach language skill, you can even talk to a native speaker live while studying the lessons. Although it is not a substitute for real life language classes, it is a great way to learn a new language at a fast pace.There are many things that make Duolingo an ideal tool for learning English. One of the most important is that all the lessons are video. This allows the learner to study at their own pace without having to rush through the course. Students will find the lessons very engag ing and fun to learn.While it is true that English is a very difficult language to learn, the process is really not that difficult. The lessons do a great job of teaching the grammar and structure and making it simple to understand and follow. You can check out some of the courses offered in the site and see if you like them. Many teachers love the ease of learning and the usefulness of the course.If you want to try out the site before you commit to a full subscription to the site, you can check out the free trial. The free trial is just like any other online course with few differences.In the free trial, you are allowed to try out the lessons but you cannot receive any money back. It does not cost you anything to download the program and take the free trial so there is really no reason not to. It is just another incentive to visit the site and become a member.Once you are a member of the site, the cost is really not that expensive. It will actually save you a lot of money because y ou will have access to all the paid courses and lessons, you can create your own course and create your own flashcards.