Private Tuition Keeping Kids Safe

Private Tuition Keeping Kids Safe Put Your Child's Safety First during Tutoring with a Trustworthy and Competent Private Tutor! ChaptersWhat Should I Look for in Personal Tutors?Should I Interview a Tutor Before Hiring Them?Questions to Ask Your TutorHow Can I Ensure My Child’s Safety During Private Tuition?When it comes to private tutoring, both in person and online, there are lots of factors that parents will be considering before they hire someone.You’ll be considering a tutor’s experience and qualifications, their teaching background, references from current and past clients, and their general character and attitude.The absolute priority when employing a personal tutor is to create a safe, comfortable and positive environment for your child to learn. To find a tutor can be quite tough sometimes with so many things to consider, but it’s best to take the time to find what’s best for you and ensure tutoring is worth the time you put in.Creating a secure and tidy study space is key to safe lessons at home! Photo via VisualhuntParents and carers must be vigilant and cautious when employing someone to work closely with a child, so here is our advice on how best to go about the process.Bristol tutorsLondon tutorsEdinburgh tutorsLiverpool tutorsA level tutorsShould I Interview a Tutor Before Hiring Them?The question of interviewing a tutor before you hire them is entirely up to you, but it’s not a bad idea. It can be as informal as you like, and doesn’t need to take long, but could give you an idea of whether you would be comfortable with them working closely with your child.Don't hesitate to plan an interview or preliminary meeting with a prospective tutor! Photo via Visual huntYou can interview a tutor over the phone, but in person is always best if possible. If you are hiring an online tutor, a quick video call would do the trick to meet and get to know them a bit more. Although cost as a consideration should fall well below your child's safety it would be a good idea to speak about the cost of home tuition at this point as well.In an interview you will be able to ask any q uestions you have about the tutor’s professional background and experience, their qualifications, their education and to get to know them a bit more as a person.Try to ask positive and proactive questions that require a thoughtful response. When the tutor answers your questions, be aware of their tone of voice and observe their body language â€" this can say a lot about a person. You want someone who comes across as friendly, open and approachable.An interview is a great time to make it clear where and when the tutoring sessions will take place. Decide on somewhere appropriate, tidy and easily accessible for both parties. As a parent, you can remain present during the lessons if you prefer, or simply leave the door open and check in sometimes.A suitable place to conduct tutoring lessons would be a study or dining table â€" anywhere open and with a table and chairs. A child’s bedroom is not a suitable place to hold private lessons.During the interview or first meeting, trust your instincts as a parent and as a person. If something doesn’t feel right or the tutor doesn’t seem to match up to what you had in mind, or to how they had initially advertised, don’t be afraid to end the interview or call off a lesson.Questions to Ask Your TutorSuggested questions to ask a tutor include:How much experience do you have?Can you provide a reading list?Which study books do you recommend?How do you measure progress?Do you provide periodic progress reports?Where do you teach?Do you provide online tuition?How many hours per week are usually necessary?Do you set homework?How many hours a week should I study/practice at home?Do you offer discounts for block bookings or concessions?Do you charge for travel?Do you help with other areas such as interview technique and CV-writing?How Can I Ensure My Child’s Safety During Private Tuition?There are naturally many risks involved when you hire a private tutor to conduct lessons in your own home or in theirs. There are many fa ctors you might want to consider, such as the health and safety risks involved, whether your tutor has any personal insurance, and if they have a DBS certificate or basic background check.Child safety is always the top priority when it comes to home tutoring. As a parent, you will want to do a few checks to ensure that you and your child feels safe with the arrangement.If you will host the tutor in your home, you might start by setting up a tidy space for the lessons to take place â€" this can be somewhere that you can easily keep an eye on things. If your child will go to the tutor’s home, you can have a look at the proposed work area to check for hazards etc.It might be important to you that a tutor has personal insurance, such as public or professional liability insurance, which is something you can discuss with potential tutors UK before hiring them.Equally, you might want the tutor to have a DBS certificate or some form of background check for that added peace of mind. If you r tutor works through an agency, they will most likely have a DBS certificate.If your child is visiting the tutor’s house for lessons, there are a few ways to feel more comfortable and safe. If your child has a mobile phone, you can ensure a bit more personal safety by making sure they keep their phone on with the sound on.Never let someone pick your child up in their car. Always aim to drop your child off yourself or let someone you trust do this if you are unable to do so. If your child is old enough to travel alone, then make sure they have their phone on them.If your child has any allergies or medical issues, make sure you let the tutor know beforehand. It could be anything from pet hair to nuts, or more serious illnesses, but alerting the tutor will eliminate a certain amount of risk when you aren’t around to supervise.Your child might receive their personal lessons with an online tutor via a video call. Naturally with online tutoring you don't need to think about hazards a t home, but you will still need to keep an eye on the lessons to make sure that everything runs smoothly and safely.Keep kids safe during their online lessons. Photo via Visualhunt.comYou can monitor your child's online lessons by setting up the computer in an open space in the house where you can supervise, or by leaving a door open if you aren't in the same room. You can also keep an eye on any files being shared between the tutor and your child for added security.Remember that with online tutoring, you can meet the tutor via a video call before starting any actual lessons so that you know how it all works and you can get an idea of what the tutor and their lessons will be like.If you have any concerns about your tutor or your child’s safety, you can find more information and help at the NSPCC website.

Places to Teach Russian

Places to Teach Russian Where Can You Teach Russian? ChaptersTeaching Russian AbroadTeaching Russian in a Language SchoolTeaching Russian in Secondary Schools and CollegesBecome a Russian Teacher in a UniversityTeaching Private Russian Tutorials“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” - Leo TolstoyIn recent years, learning Russian has become more popular.There are 280 million Russian speakers in the world. Russian is a Slavic language which was the official language for the Soviet Union (USSR). This meant that the language was hugely important in politics for half a century. While western European languages are usually taught in language courses in the UK, there's a growing demand for Russian course.Russian is the official language of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Moldova, and is also spoken in Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, Armenia, and Lithuania.More and more students are taking the leap and learning Russian as a second language.  Russia is a fascinating place wi th rich literature, civilisation, culture, and media that encourages people to learn Russian. Language learning is really on the only way you can understand people and their culture.But where can you teach Russian?Let’s have a look... In this article, we're going to look at teaching Russian abroad, in language schools, secondary and primary schools, universities, and as a private tutor. LavaRussian Teacher 5.00 (8) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LarisaRussian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors InaRussian Teacher 4.88 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors IrynaRussian Teacher 5.00 (8) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvgeniaRussian Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnastassiaRussian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NikolaRussian Teacher 5.00 (4) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MargaritaRussian Teacher 5.00 (3) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsTeaching Russian AbroadChoosing to teach students abroad about Russian grammar, the Cyrillic alphabet, or speaking Russian isn’t the easiest thing in the world.You'd be surprised where teaching Russian might take you. (Source: Free-Photos)Forget about trying to teach Russian in countries where the language is spoken as there’s probably no need.  To teach abroad, you should probably consider going to countries where Russian is often taught but isn’t a native language.Of course, you’ll have to speak at least two foreign languages: the language spoken where you decide to go and Russian. It’s recommended that you study foreign languages at university and choose Russian and another foreign language.You’ll probably be given the opportunity to teach English as a foreign language abroad or to attend a university abroad as part of your course.Depending on where you’re going, it might be worthwhile learning a language such as French, German, Italian, or Spanish, for ex ample.While getting your degree is going to be difficult, it’s going to be even harder getting your PGCE if you decide you want to teach in state secondary schools. This means that if you want to become a teacher, you might need to study for 4 or 5 years.Of course, you could study outside of the UK. However, this could make things a little more complicated if you return to the UK and want to teach as you won’t have the necessary qualifications.  If you want to study in the US or Canada, there are programmes for Brits that you can do.There are also plenty of universities around the world that offer degrees in Russian where you can study reading, writing, and speaking the language. Additionally, there are plenty of English speaking countries where you can study, removing the need to learn a second foreign language.This means that if you have the necessary qualifications and experience, you can teach there as well. You haven’t chosen the easiest route, though, it’s easier to fi nd work teaching English as a foreign language than Russian in a lot of places.Teaching Russian in a Language SchoolDon’t get discouraged!If you’d like to teach Russian to students of all ages, you can do so without having to leave the UK.  There are language schools and centres where students can learn less common languages Chinese, Arabic, and Russian and learn about the surrounding culture, art, and work their way up to becoming bilingual.You don't necessarily have to teach Russian in cities. (Source: Kanenori)Here are a few examples of language schools and centres where you can learn Russian:The Russian Language Centre, LondonBrasshouse Languages, BirminghamInlingua, EdinburghRussian Language Centre, ManchesterThe Crescent Art Centre, BelfastRussian Language Centre Wales, CardiffLive Language, GlasgowYour best bet is to constantly check places like these for openings as well as send a CV and a cover letter to them expressing your interest in offering Russian lessons. You can also visit them personally.There are also some language schools and centres that offer training to their teachers and tutors.  Don’t hesitate to check all the local language centres near where you live.A good idea is to consider applying before the end of the academic year around May and June. This is when some places will be looking to replace teachers who are leaving or find new teachers if they’re expanding and offering new languages. LavaRussian Teacher 5.00 (8) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LarisaRussian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors InaRussian Teacher 4.88 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors IrynaRussian Teacher 5.00 (8) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvgeniaRussian Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnastassiaRussian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NikolaRussian Teacher 5.00 (4) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MargaritaRussia n Teacher 5.00 (3) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsTeaching Russian in Secondary Schools and CollegesIf you speak Russian, there’s also the option of teaching it in state secondary schools and colleges.However, this does mean that you’ll need qualified teacher status (QTS) or similar. You can get QTS by doing a recognised teacher training programme such as:PGCESCITTGTPThe process is a bit different in Scotland and Northern Ireland where QTS doesn’t exist. That said, you’ll still need to get the necessary qualifications in order to become a teacher.When it comes to who you can teach, you're spoilt for choice. (Source: JESHOOTS-com)Additionally, your QTS from England or Wales won’t necessarily guarantee that you’ll be able to teach in Scotland or Northern Ireland. In either case, your first year of teaching is an important one where you’ll need to pass your NQT year in England or Wales, a probation period in Scotland, or an induction programme in Northern I reland.Become a Russian Teacher in a UniversityWhether you want to further your understanding or Russian culture or learn more about the Russian language, you may want to consider teaching in a university.When it comes to universities, qualifications are key. This means you’ll definitely need at least a degree in Russian before you can start teaching it.  Universities will generally expect you to have a level higher than that of the students that you teach. In this case, you don’t need a PGCE or QTS.  That said, this doesn’t mean that teaching in universities is easier.In order to teach Russian, you’ll need a good understanding of many aspects of the language.  Foreign languages are particularly valued at universities, too.Even if you’re not a native Russian speaker, you can still teach at a university by becoming:A Russian linguistics professorA Russian grammar tutorA Russian history teacherA Russian speaking professorA Russian interpreting teacherA Russian literature pro fessorIt doesn’t matter what your speciality is, you should always be able to find something interesting to teach.Do you like Russian film?You could teach a Russian cinema course, for example!In addition to Russian group classes, you can also help students to learn more about Russia, Russian culture, and take Russian language courses from the comfort of their own homes.Teaching Private Russian TutorialsFinally, there’s another option for teaching Russian if you don’t want to work at a school, university, or language school.  You could become self-employed and teach Russian as a foreign language privately.Russian classes allow you to connect with your students. (Source: weisanjiang)Whether you teach one-on-one tutorials, evening classes, intensive classes, or online Russian tutorials (over Skype), you can decide exactly what you want to teach and how you want to teach it.There are different ways to offer your private Russian tutorials. You might want to consider putting up a fe w classified ads in local businesses. Head to your local bakery, butcher, chemist, etc.There are also online platforms for advertising your tutoring business and your Russian tutorials. Consider looking at sites such as craigslist, for example.If you're interested in helping students to master Russian online or in private tutorials, you have to be aware that they'll expect you to tailor your lessons to them.You can focus on different language skills in each lesson including:Russian vocabularyThe Russian alphabet, its consonants and vowels.Russian words and phrasesPronunciationSentence structureEuropean studiesRussian verbs, adjectives, nouns, adverbs, etc.Superprof is a platform specialising in helping tutors and students find one another. You can offer both private tutorials in-person and online private tutorials.Once you’ve edited your profile, you can choose your rates and whether or not you offer the first hour of tutoring for free. Then students will send you requests. Offeri ng the first hour for free is a good way to encourage students to get in touch, especially if you're just starting out as a tutor.There’s no commission for your lessons. The student pays to contact you. You have the option of paying to boost your visibility, helping students to find your profile amongst all the other tutors offering Russian tutorials on the site.So are you ready to start teaching Russian?

What I Wish I Knew Before Starting Business School

What I Wish I Knew Before Starting Business School The following is a guest post written by Mahlena Johnson, a tutor and contributing writer with Varsity Tutors. Whether your MBA program lasts one, two, or three years, the time will go by quickly. There is so much that you may want to accomplish during those short semesters, but you may be wondering how to go about doing so. How would past students who have successfully graduated with their MBA degree advise new students entering this arena for the first time? What did they wish they had known when they started their MBA programs? Things I wish I knew before starting business school include understanding everyone is there for a different reason, that you may need to ask for help, and that companies dont always choose students with the most experience. Feeling prepared when entering business school can go a long way. Here are three things I wish I knew before starting business school: I wish I knew that professors will assign more work than you can accomplish on your own During your undergraduate years, you may have occasionally worked on group projects, but many of your assignments could be completed independently. It is important to understand that this is different in business school. In addition to the academic demands of your coursework, you will also have company presentations to attend, cover letters to write, informational interviews to conduct, and classmates to socialize with. How can you possibly get all of these tasks done in the same semester? One tried-and-true method to perform well in your classes is to make a friend and start a study group. By working together, you can share the workload by each taking the lead on a particular section or chapter of the course textbook, and reporting back on your takeaways. Additionally, you can learn from your peers perspectives on the same material. Hearing different viewpoints will help you think about the subjects in new ways. Use the power of many hands and minds so that you can all move forward together. [RELATED: 3 Tips for Starting Graduate School] I wish I knew that companies dont necessarily select MBAs with the most experience Attending business school puts you in a different league with your career search. At this level, every person applying to an MBA-specific position often has a lot of great, relevant experience. Therefore, recruiters must incorporate additional dimensions to compare the many qualified candidates. How can they decide among multiple, excellent candidates with similar backgrounds? One of the dimensions can be the quantity and quality of interactions that a candidate has had with representatives at that company. For instance, lets say Cappie and Florian attend the same business school, have equivalent years of experience in their industries, share similar educational backgrounds, and are applying to the same position at a corporation. Florian attended the company presentation at their school, and has spoken with an alumnus currently working there. Cappie was unable to attend that presentation, but has already met with those representatives at two MBA conferences and has sent them thank you emails. Cappie has also conducted informational interviews with every second year student in the class above her who interned at the corporation the previous summer. Cappie has also scheduled coffee meetings with each person those students referred her to at the corporation. A recruiter would look favorably upon Cappies initiative and has more points of reference when asking who knows something about the people applying for the position. Therefore, make yourself knownin a professional mannerat the companies you want to be a part of. A little networking can go a long way in your job search. [RELATED: 5 Questions Grad Students Should Ask Their Advisors] I wish I knew that not everyone attends business school for the same reason All MBA students have their own motivations for going through this rigorous process, including: Starting a new business Accelerating your current career Changing careers Exploring new industries or functions Furthering your education through a masters degree program. The most important question you should ask yourself is, Why am I attending business school? Your answer is the only one that should matter to you. Let your reasons, and yours alone, guide you through your graduate education. Talk with current students as well as alumni from your preferred MBA programs to learn about what they wish they had known before starting business school. They can provide you with insights on how to navigate your graduate school experience. Also ask your fellow classmates about what they are going through now. They will probably share some of your thoughts and experiences. By communicating with the people you pass by in class, at lunch, and in the hallway, you will realize that youre all in this together. [RELATED: 4 Questions to Ask Your First MBA Professor] Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Quiz Which Well-Known Symphonic Movie Score Represents You

Quiz Which Well-Known Symphonic Movie Score Represents You Suzy S. Summertime is a  prime time for blockbuster movies, and 2016 is no exception! But even with all the new movies on the way, theres nothing quite like the classics. Think about the movies that took you on great adventures, pulled at your heartstrings, and got  your adrenaline racing.  Which ones top your list? Now think: can you recall the movie score? For many of the acclaimed films from the last few decades, the music behind it is integral. After all, where would Jaws be without the iconic two-note theme? Would Star Wars be the same without its epic intro? Although not all movie-goers recognize it, its the music that leads you on the  journey and coaxes your emotions out. So, lets have a little fun. Out of the best  movie scores, which one represents you? Is your personality more adventurous or more romantic? Find out with this fun quiz from Connolly Music: Whats YOUR soundtrack? Leave a comment below and share your results! Want to learn more about the best movie scores, and how to get started composing your own?  Continue exploring with these links: Quiz: Can you guess the movie from the soundtrack?, via ClassicFM The Top 25 Oscar-Winning Film Scores Of All Time, via HitFix AFIs 100 Years of Film Scores How Film Composers Work, via How Stuff Works How to Compose a Killer Film Score, by Michael Giacchino, via Vulture Crafting Piano Scores: 3 Tips to Get Started Photo by  Andrés Nieto Porras Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Algebra 1 Problems

Algebra 1 Problems Algebra 1 includes the following topics given below: H.C.F. and L.C.M. Simultaneous equation Quadratic equation Ratio, proportion and variation Inequation Quadratic surds Graphs Algebraic expressions Polynomials Surds Exponents Matrices Fractions and decimals etc. Examples of algebra 1 problems From simultaneous equation: - Example 1: - Sum of the ages of father and his son is 55 years. After 16 years fathers age becomes double that of his son. What are their present ages? Solution: -Let the ages of the father and his son be x years and y years respectively. Then from the first condition, we have X + y = 55 (1) Again from the second condition of the problem, we have, X + 16 = 2 (y + 16) X 2 y = 6 (2) Solving (1) and (2), we have x = 42 and y = 13. Therefore the ages of the father and the son are 42 years and 13 years respectively. From H.C.F. and L.C.M. Example 2: - The L.C.M. of two numbers is 2 x y times their H.C.F. If one number and the H.C.F. are respectively 10 x^3 y^2 and 5 x^2 y^2, then whatr is the other number? Solution: - From the given information: H.C.F. = 5 x^2 y^2 and L.C.M. = 2 x y times of 5 x^2 y^2 =10 x^3 y^3 2nd number = (H.C.F. * L.C.M.) / 1st number = (10 x^3 y^2 * 5 x^2 y^2) / 10 x^3 y^2 = 5 x^2 y^3

Gamifying the Classroom to Improve Academic Performance

Gamifying the Classroom to Improve Academic Performance Improving Academic Performance Gamification is one way teachers are getting students to pay attention. Because no one student is exactly the same, a number of different teaching styles and methods have been developed â€" this includes applying game dynamics, mechanics, and frameworks into the classroom. Although there have been a number of studies on how gamifying non-game settings impacts students, one result is clear: gamification can make learning more fun and memorable. The three main points of gamification have been identified as motivational ‘affordances’ (the opportunities the actual activities give the subject or the mechanics of the game), the psychological outcome (the resultant change in feeling about an activity during and after the activity), and the behavioral outcome (the change in behavior following the gamified activity). Lee Sheldon, an Assistant Professor at Indiana University at Bloomington reported that his application of gamification in the classroom was a success. He renamed student presentations “quests,” taking tests were “fighting monsters,” writing papers were “crafting,” and letter grades were “experience points.” As a result, Sheldon found that his students’ average grade improved one full letter grade. One analysis on gamification found that the four dynamics and concepts found in game design that were most successful in motivating students to learn were - Freedom to Fail: Rather than focusing on an irreversible final grade, students are encouraged to experiment and take academic risks through the concept of having multiple “lives” or allowing them to start over from their most recent “checkpoint.” This gives students to opportunity to take chances with decision-making and be exposed to consequences. Students can then focus on the process of learning, instead of just their final grade. Rapid Feedback: Similarly to a game, continual feedback to learners can also motivate students. Battling a boss in a game using the many skills acquired provides immediate feedback to the player on whether or not they qualify for the next level. This can be achieved in the classroom through self-paced exercises, visual cues, frequent question-and-answer activities, a progress bar, or carefully placed comments by non-player characters. Progression: Categorizing information to improve student focus mirrors the ‘levels’ found in game design. Additionally, creating high low points to grab attention also mimics the interest curve students may experience when playing a game. Progression also includes requiring students to incorporate lower order thinking skills into the first stages of a class and then progressing to require higher order thinking skills as they ‘level’ up. This helps students realize they need the knowledge acquired from past stages in order to arrive at the highest order thinking skills. Storytelling: There have been numerous studies on how using storytelling elements can increase student attention and retention of information. Storytelling elements include the use of characters, emotion, and other descriptors to help students visualize a lesson. By creating moments of surprise or humor, for example, students are more likely to be captivated and remember the lecture. Several successful cases of gamifying the classroom have been reported in recent years. One case is of Clifford Lampe, an Assistant Professor at the School of Information at the University of Michigan. He applies gamification to his 200-student lecture class by providing students with choices, rapid feedback, collaborative processes, and competition. Students also have the option to “choose their own adventure” by selecting assignments, although higher level assignments are not available until they have been ‘unlocked’ by completing lower level assignments. Lampe has concluded that gamification has improved his student’s motivation and retention. Another Assistant Professor, Dr. Carman Neustaedter from the School of Interactive Arts Technology at Simon Fraser University found that creating a scoreboard with students’ class ranking in real-time provided the rapid feedback he needed. Each student also earned a rank title, such as “Artistic Intern” or “Grand Master Speculative Designer.” Neustaedter found that the scoreboard has increased students’ m otivation and sparks healthy competition. Beyond the classroom, gamification has also been incorporated in other non-game settings. Road contractors in 2014 implemented musical grooves on Route 66 to encourage drivers to obey the speed limit. The language-learning app DuoLingo also uses gaming techniques to make what could be a mundane lesson fun. Despite the many case studies that demonstrate gamification in the classroom can be successful, it must be noted that not all elements of a game are equally motivating to each student. Providing differentiated instruction for students not only means gamification, but also includes other methods of teaching. About the Author Rachael Tom is the Marketing Communications Manager at ThinkFun, an award-winning global company and the leading developer of logic and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) games that make learning fun!

English Conversation Classes Talking About the 2011 Economy

English Conversation Classes Talking About the 2011 Economy We have been listening to reports and talking about the economic crisis for a few years now but how will things change in 2011? What is your view? Do you have a positive or negative outlook on the state of your country’s economy for the year ahead?Let’s learn some vocabulary that expresses how we feel:Positive Outlook I am hopeful because Consumer confidence will be restored and public spending will increase.Investors will regain (recover) their faith in our market and resume manufacturing here.The local economy will be boosted by strong exports.Government cutbacks will start to take effect.Interest rates will be reduced.Restructuring of banks will help reduce their debts.Negative Outlook I am doubtful things will improve because…The dollar remains high against local currency.Unemployment is now at record levels. A brain drain (emigration of new graduates) is causing young talent to leave the country because of the shortage of jobs.International markets have lost confidence in our currency and we might be forced into devaluation. We might not be able to pay back our loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and as a result could default on our  payments (or be unable to make payments on time).Lets look at the following cartoon on the economic crisis. See if you can answer the following questions based in it:Do you think this cartoon is showing the economic situation in a positive or negative light?What point is the cartoonist making?Do you agree or disagree?If you had to draw one more picture to finish the cartoon what would it show?Did you find this class helpful? Feel free to share it on Facebook and Twitter.

The Perfectionists Guide to Improving Your Accent in a Foreign Language

The Perfectionists Guide to Improving Your Accent in a Foreign Language The Perfectionists Guide to Improving Your Accent in a Foreign Language Dont listen to the naysayers, the haters and the skeptics.Forget the Debbie Downers and Negative Nancys.You can sound exactly like a native speaker.Its possible for a language learner to be mistaken for a native.All it takes is practiceâ€"the right kind of practice.Of course, an accent isnt the end-all, be-all of foreign language learning.Grammar, vocabulary and communicative skills are arguably more important. You can be understood and respected while still having an accent.But theres nothing cooler than speaking with the tone, rhythm and pronunciation of a legit native speaker.Its guaranteed to impress natives and fellow learners alike. Why Improve Your Accent in a Foreign Language?Getting rid of your accent and sounding more like a native is the key to fully being understood.Theres a very social aspect to language that should not be ignored. While it may seem cool to know one or more foreign languages, the goal of language is communication. Sounding more like a native enables sm oother conversation, since the listener wont be straining to make sense of your words.Getting your accent to be not just intelligible but also  perfect  will put natives even more at ease, as they wont feel like theyre speaking with a foreigner as much. (Not that theres anything wrong with being foreign, but people might not be sure if you fully understand them or have anything in common with them.)An accent requires a deeper knowledge of not only the grammar and rules of the target language but also of the customs and culture. Theres a famous Czech proverb: “You live a new life for every new language you speak. If you know only one language, you live only once.” Its no coincidence that this proverb exists. To speak like a native, you must step into the shoes of a native speaker.A deeper knowledge of the accent will help you understand natives better. Many language learners find themselves overwhelmed when they step out of the classroom and meet honest-to-goodness native speaker s for the first time. The language can sound so different when natives are speaking a mile a minute, dropping syllables and blurring words together. To get your own accent just right, youll have to study the way natives speak, which in turn will boost your comprehension, big time.At times, speaking a foreign language can feel more like a performance. In fact, thinking of it in this way helps you overcome your fears, shyness and self-imposed boundaries, which set you down the path to sounding more like a native speaker. Integrating artistic disciplines such as music and theater along with some basic language learning concepts can drastically improve the way you speak. Again, youll put yourself in the shoes of a native speaker. Play the role of someone who lives in the language. Then project that voice out into the world when youre speaking.In the end, language is more about communicating effectivelyâ€"practice is more important than the theory for all practical purposes.The Perfectio nists Guide to Improving Your Accent in a Foreign Language1. Listen, listen, listenThe most important skill you have to master in order to improve your accent is listening.Careful listening will help you get the language “in your ear.”It will help you to better distinguish all the phonemes, or distinct sound units, of a language, giving you an overall familiarity with the language.Before you can speak fluently in a foreign language, its important to be able to break it down into its distinct sounds. The first time you come into contact with a new language, a whole conversation may sound like one big run-on word. However, with time and with more exposure, youll start to hear syllables and words.Obviously, the most fruitful way to listen to a language is to be surrounded by it constantly while having little to no contact with your native language. This forces you to listen because your native language cant be used as a backup to get you out of a situation that you dont completely understand. Your brain goes into survival mode and youll be compelled to use that language to buy food, locate the bathroom and get back to your house or hotel.Realistically, not everyone has the luxury of living abroad and being fully immersed in their target language, but thats no longer a deterrent. YouTube, language learning podcasts and internet radio are great resources to utilize. Before you know it, youll be listening to your target language every day.Never let the room be silent. When youre working, exercising, showering, cooking, washing the dishes, you name itâ€"have something playing in your target language.  Its always a great idea to listen to one of these resources while doing menial tasks around the house such as cleaning or cooking. The foreign language becomes the background noise that youll slowly grow accustomed to.2. Teach your mouth and tongue the right movesOnce youre able to distinguish the basic phonemes of your target language, its advisable to immediately start learning the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Any dictionary for any languageThis is a systematic method of phonetic notation that makes reading foreign words much easier because every sound has its own character. This can be learned through IPA charts and apps. The IPA Phonetics app is very beneficial because it allows you to hear the sound of each letter and it shows you a close-up video of the mouth and lipsâ€"not only can you hear the sound, but you can see how the sound is made. Both of these are very important to getting the correct accent.Aside from listening and watching this app, its helpful to practice these letters on your own in front of a mirror. Are your mouth and lips making the same movements as the app? How are these movements different from those in your native language? Becoming conscious of these can help you distinguish your native accent from the foreign accent, making it easier to pick up the new foreign accent.3. Do a sound checkOnce you get down the basic mouth and lip movements, its time to focus on pronunciation as a whole. This means putting all the individual sounds you learned with the IPA together. Its advisable to practice words and phoneme combinations that differ from the combinations in your native language. However, this is not enoughâ€"you have to focus on articulation and the tone of voice.Getting the  vowel sounds down pat is key to any authentic-sounding accent. Most constants are the same or at least very similar across languages, but vowels are tricky. Practicing getting vowel sounds correct greatly improves your accent. Listening to vowel sounds in your native language and comparing them to your target language is a surefire way to distinguish your native accent to that of your target language.As silly as it may sound,  tongue twisters immensely improve your accent because they focus on a certain phoneme thats said in various words across a sentence. Tongue twisters are tricky to say correctly in your own native language, so practicing them in your target language helps you learn and get used to these difficult sounds.Reading out loud and recording yourself helps you track your progress. This exercise is twofold. You practice both speaking and critical listening. There are many foreign-language and dual-language books which are excellent sources for practicing. Some of these books are also sold as audiobooks so you can listen to the audio version and compare it to your own practice recording.Another interesting fact is that accents are closely connected to the culture. Trying to get into the mindset of the culture does wonders for your accent.For example, have you ever noticed that a Midwestern American accent sounds rather flat, much like the flatlands that surround them?Have you ever noticed that the Russian accent is in the back of the throat, as if its too cold to let the words out so they stay warm back there?Did you ever notice that the romantic French language seems to speak w ith the lips always ready for a kiss?Noticing these little nuances and applying them to your language learning helps bring your language to life and improve your accent when speaking.4. Make a sweet playlistAfter getting down pronunciation, youll notice that every language has its own melody. The words are spoken in a certain rhythm with emphasis and stresses in places much different than those in your own native tongue. Building up a music library gives you access to music that brings this out. Not only will it help you learn new words and sentence structures, it loosens you up, making it easier for you to achieve the accent of your target language.Singing songs in your target language in your favorite genre is a great way to start. The basic rhythm of these songs will be somewhat familiar to you. If its music you already love, then youll identify with it right away. This creates an emotional connection and makes accent practice much more enjoyable and memorable. Youll probably be mumbling the lyrics to yourself next time youre wheeling your shopping cart through the grocery store.Singing along with a song also helps you imitate the sounds being sung. Once youre more advanced, rapping is an incredible way to practice improving your accent. Like tongue twisters, rap tends to be fast and with all the rhyming it can be a challenge to learnâ€"but it provides immense benefits.When singing its important to be emotionally presentâ€"feel the rhythm and become part of the song. Focus not only on the music of the song but on the music of the language. Singing helps you exaggerate this, which improves your accent.5. Act out the role of a lifetimeLastly, every language has its own mentality.This mentality forms the culture which affects the language. So, why not become an actor?Act out the language! Embrace the emotions that are shown or not shown. Language isnt just wordsâ€"gestures, expressions and body language play a huge part in unspoken communication. Embracing the se help you to break free of your own native language and culture, allowing you to enter into the world of your target language. This is the only way to truly speak like a native.Practicing reverse mimicry is an acting technique that helps improve your accent. This is when you speak your native language in the accent of your target language. With this, youre practicing the accent without any of the worrying that may come along with speaking in your target language. The accent is much easier to achieve in this manner. Once you realize that youve got the accent down while speaking in your native language, its an easy transition to use it when actually speaking in your target language.Dont forget, speaking a language is a means of interacting more effectively with native speakers.The less you sound like a foreigner, the more easily youll be understood.On a more personal level, achieving a foreign accent helps you sound more confident and fluent, thus making it easier for people to enga ge in conversation with you.Despite this, you should never be ashamed of where you are in learning a foreign language.Even if youre a complete beginner and are worrying about your rough accent, get out there and try your best!Start practicing a foreign accent at the beginning of your language learning journey.You have nothing to lose and everything to gain! And One More ThingUnlike many traditional language programs, FluentU exposes you to a wide variety of speakers, accents and dialects in your target languageâ€"all of which can only improve your own speaking skills and confidence. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that real people speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, de finition, 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 TranscriptsYou 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.