Want to Know More About Having Chemistry?

Want to Know More About Having Chemistry?Wanting to know more about having chemistry can be fun. After all, chemistry is a subject that we have always been interested in learning about. To start your quest for more information on this subject, let's look at the types of knowledge you can gain when you understand and explore the world of chemistry.When you learn about chemistry, you'll see that you don't just get an understanding of the physical properties of a substance, you will also gain a basic understanding of the chemistry involved. Chemists use chemical equations to describe these substances and when they develop these equations, they also work to make them accessible for the average person to understand. They may also explain to you in more detail the application of these equations in situations that might be easier for the average person to understand.The best way to gain knowledge about chemistry is through a proper learning experience. You can study and learn about the fact s using books, videos, chat rooms and research sites, but there is also another type of learning that can give you the best results. Some chemistry lovers will swear by the power of the internet that can teach chemistry for you and quickly. For most people, the best method of learning that will teach you the fundamentals of chemistry will be to take online chemistry classes that are available on many different sites.There are many online classes that allow you to study for a number of different subjects, including chemistry. From biology to environmental sciences, you will find that there are many chemistry classes available on the internet that can teach you everything you need to know about chemistry. These classes are perfect if you want to quickly get an understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry but are still learning about things.Chemistry will help you understand the processes of the molecules in your body. If you study chemistry on a regular basis, you will understand wh y these molecules behave the way they do. You will also learn how the hormones, fats and other compounds are produced and how these have a direct effect on your health.When you first began your studies of chemistry, it was often just not possible to study on your own in high school. While this might seem like a good thing now, it was not always the case. As a result, many people in those days had to take chemistry classes in college and with that came the potential for learning from your teachers.It is important that you take a basic course in chemistry that is suited to your level of experience. Not only will you be able to get better at it, but you will also have a sense of pride knowing that you have taken the time to learn something new.

Suzannes Story - Teaching GCSE Spanish

Suzanne's Story - Teaching GCSE Spanish Teaching GCSE Spanish is an area that many of our Tutorfair Foundation volunteers help with. Want to start teaching a language that isn't your mother tongue? New volunteer Suzanne G tell us in her own words what it’s like to help in a classroom. I've been teaching English as a foreign language for several years. I completed a Spanish degree a few years ago and I decided I'd like to start doing some Spanish tutoring. I started running an after-school club at a primary school, but I also wanted to tutor older pupils and particularly focus on GCSE Spanish. A few months ago my cousin told me about Tutorfair. I wanted to do private tutoring but I was also attracted by the idea of doing volunteering in a school. Apart from wanting to help the students, I thought it would be useful for me as a private tutor to see how Spanish GCSE is taught in schools. Training Day for Teaching GCSE Spanish I signed up for the volunteer training day in February. I found it useful to learn about how the Tutorfair Foundation works, plus meet other tutors and get up-to-date information about the exams. The training day also prepared me for some of the issues that could come up in the classroom and what I could expect during my volunteering. On the first day, I'd arranged a specific time to meet the teacher at the school. I was given brief information about the course and the students shortly before the lesson started. The lesson time I signed up to was the second half of a double lesson but I decided to volunteer for both lessons. First Day of Teaching GCSE Spanish On that first day I went around seeing what the students were working on and trying to help those who were unsure of what they were doing. When students have a question, rather than giving them the answer I enjoy asking them questions to help them find the answer themselves. I've done 5 sessions at the school so far. I'm getting to know the students better and they're getting to know me. I've found everyone at the school friendly and helpful and enjoy spending time there. What I've been learning has also helped me in my work as a private tutor. The challenges I face are the fact that Spanish isn't my first language. Also my limited experience of teaching teenagers. As another language teacher told me, you can’t expect to know all the answers to questions. Especially when you’re teaching a language that’s not your own. The more sessions I do, the more I learn. If something comes up which I'm not completely sure about, I answer it as well as I can and then I check, so I can be sure the next time. Observing and interacting with the students is also part of the learning process for me. Overall the volunteering has definitely helped me as I continue to develop my tutoring practice. For anyone who's considering it, it's worth volunteering some of your time with Tutorfair. The students deserve to have as much support as possible with their learning and it can be a very rewarding experience for the tutor. Are you thinking about getting involved? You can sign up for our next training session. You can book private Spanish lessons with Suzanne on Tutorfair.com

The 7 Basic Principles of Critical Reasoning - Private Tutoring

The 7 Basic Principles of Critical Reasoning BobbiM Jan 29, 2014 The 7 Basic Principles Of Critical Reasoning Here are the basic things that you need to succeed of CR questions:  1. Understand the structure of an argument. First, you must know how arguments are structures, so that you can know how to break them down into their core components. When we use the word argument, we dont mean a conversation where 2 people are shouting at each other. An argument in Critical Reasoning means any piece of text where an author puts forth a set of ideas and/or a point of view, and attempts to support it. Every GMAT argument is made up of two basic parts: • The conclusion (the point that the author is trying to make) • The evidence (the support that the author offers for the conclusion) Success on this section hinges on your ability to identify these parts of the argument. There is no general rule about where conclusion and evidence appear in the argument-the conclusion could be the first sentence, followed by the evidence, or it could be the last sentence, with the evidence preceding it. Consider the stimulus (in other words, a passage):  The Brookdale Public Library will require extensive physical rehabilitation to meet the new building codes passed by the town council. For one thing, the electrical system is in adequate, causing the lights to flicker sporadically. Furthermore, there are too few emergency exits, and even those are poorly marked and sometimes locker.  Suppose that the author of this argument was allowed only one sentence to convey her meaning. Do you think she would waste her time with the following statement? Would she walk away satisfied that her main point was communicated? The electrical system [at the Brookdale Public Library] is inadequate, causing the lights to flicker sporadically. Probably not. Given a single opportunity, she would have to state the first sentence to convey her real purpose:  The Brookdale Public Library will require extensive physical rehabilitation. That is the conclusion. If you pressed the author to state her reasons for making that statement, she would then cite the electrical and structural problems with the building. That is the evidence for her conclusion. But does that mean that an evidence statement like, The electrical system in inadequate cant be a conclusion? No, were just saying its not the conclusion for this particular argument. Every idea, every new statement, must be evaluated in the context of the stimulus in which it appears. For the statement above to serve as the conclusion, the stimulus would be: The electrical wiring at the Brookdale Public Library was installed over 40 years ago, and appears to be corroded in some places (evidence). An electrician, upon inspection of the system, found a few frayed wires as well as some blown fuses (evidence). Clearly, the electrical system at the Brookdale Public Library is inadequate (conclusion).  To succeed in Critical Reasoning, you have to be able to determine the precise function of every sentence in the stimulus. Use structural signals when attempting to isolate evidence and conclusion. Key words in the stimulus-such as because, for, since- usually indicate that evidence is about to follow, whereas therefore, hence, thus, and consequently usually signal a conclusion.  2. Preview the question. Before you read the stimulus, look over the question. This will give you some idea about what you need to look for as you read. It gives you a jump on the question. Suppose the question with the library argument above ask the following: The author supports her point about the need for rehabilitation at the Brookdale library by citing which of the following? If you were to preview this question stem before you read the stimulus, you would know what to look for in advance-namely, evidence, the support provided for the conclusion. Or if the question stem asked you to find an assumption on which the author is relying, you would know in advance that a crucial piece of the argument was missing, and you could think about that right off the bat. Previewing the stem allows you to set the tone of your attack, and thus saves you time in the long run. As youll soon see, this technique will come in especially handy when we discuss methods for the various question types.  3. Paraphrase the authors point. After you read the stimulus, paraphrase the authors main argument to yourself. That is, restate the authors ideas in your own words. Frequently, the authors in Critical Reasoning say pretty simple things in complex ways. So if you mentally translate the verbiage into a simpler form, the whole thing should be more manageable. In the library argument, for instance, you probably dont want to deal with the full complexity of the authors stated conclusion:  The Brookdale Public Library will require extensive physical rehabilitation to meet the new building codes just passed by the town council. Instead, you probably want to paraphrase a much simpler point: The library will need fixing-up to meet new codes. Often, by the time you begin reading through the answer choices you run the risk of losing sight of the gist of the stimulus. So restating the argument in your own words will not only help you get the authors point in the first place, it will also help you hold on ot it until youve found the correct answer. 4. Judge the arguments persuasiveness. You must read actively, not passively, like you might on the GMAT. Active readers are always thinking critically, forming reactions as they go along. They question whether the authors argument seems valid or dubious. Especially when you are asked to find flaws in the authors reasoning, its imperative to read with a critical eye. How persuasive is the argument about the library, lets ask? Well, its pretty strong, because the evidence certainly seems to indicate that certain aspects of the librarys structure need repair. But without more evidence about what the new building codes are like, we cant say for sure that the conclusion of this argument is valid. So this is a strong argument but not an airtight one. Since part of what youre called on to do here is to evaluate arguments, dont let yourself fall into the bad habits of the passive reader-reading solely for the purpose of getting through the stimulus. Those who read this way invariably find themselves having to read the stimuli twice or even three times. Then theyre caught short on time. Read the stimuli right the first time-with a critical eye and an active mind. 5. Answer the question being asked. One of the most disheartening experiences in Critical Reasoning is to understand the authors argument full but then supply an answer to a question that wasnt asked. If youre asked for an inference supported by the argument, selecting the choice that paraphrases the authors conclusion will earn you no points. Neither will selecting a choice that looks vaguely like a summary of the authors evidence if youre asked for an assumption. The classic example of this error occurs on Strengthen/Weaken questions. When youre asked to strengthen or weaken an argument, you can be sure that there will be one, tow, even three answer choices that do the opposite of whats asked. Choosing such a wrong choice is less a matter of failing to understand the argument than of failing to remember the task at hand. The question stem will always ask for something very specific. Its your job to follow the test makes line of reasoning to the credited response. Also, be on the lookout for reversers, words such as not and except. These little words are easy to miss, but they change entirely the kind of statement youre looking for among the choices.  6. Try to prephrase an answer. This principle, which is really an extension of the last one, is crucial. You must try to approach the answer choices with at least a faint idea of what the answer should look like. That is, prephrase the answer in your own mind before looking at the choices. This isnt to say you should ponder the question for minutes-its still a multiple-choice test, so the right answer is on the screen. Just get in the habit of framing an answer in your head. Once you have prephrased, scan the choices. Sure, the correct choice on the exam will be worded differently and will be more fleshed out than your vague idea. But if it matches your thought, youll know it in a second. And youll find that theres no more satisfying feeling in Critical Reasoning than prephrasing correctly, and then finding the correct answer quickly and confidently. Continuing with the library situation, suppose you were asked: The authors argument depends on which of the following assumptions about the new building codes? Having thought about the stimulus argument, you might immediately come up with an answer-here that the argument is based on the assumption that the new codes apply to existing buildings as well as to new buildings under construction. After all, the library will have to be rehabilitated to meet the new codes, according to the author. Clearly, the assumption is that the codes apply to existing buildings. And thats the kind of statement you would look for among the choices. Dont be discouraged if you cant always prephrase an answer. Some questions just wont have an answer that jumps out at you. But if used correctly, prephrasing works on many questions. It will really boost your confidence and increase your speed on the section when you can come up with a glimmer of what the right answer should look like, and then have it jump right off the page at you. 7. Keep the scope of the argument in mind. When youre at the point of selecting one of the answer choices, focus on the scope of the argument. Most of the wrong choices on the section are wrong because they are outside the scope. In other words, the wrong answer choices contain elements that dont match the authors ideas or that go beyond the context of the stimulus. Some answer choices are too narrow, too broad, or have nothing to do with the authors points. Others are too extreme to match the arguments scope-theyre usually signaled by such words as all, always, never, none, and so on. For arguments that are moderate in tone, correct answers are more qualified and contain such words as usually, sometimes, probably. To illustrate the scope principle, lets look again at the question mentioned above: The authors argument depends on which of the following assumptions about the new building codes? Lets say one of the choices read as follows: The new building codes are far too stringent. Knowing the scope of the argument would help you to eliminate this choice very quickly. You know that this argument is just a claim about what the new codes will require: that the library be rehabilitated. Its not an argument about whether the requirements of the new codes are good, are justifiable, ore ridiculously strict. That kind of value judgment is outside the scope of this argument. Recognizing scope problems is a great way to eliminate dozens of wrong answers quickly.

Staff Spotlight Mike Parman - Heart Math Tutoring

Staff Spotlight Mike Parman - Heart Math Tutoring Staff Spotlight: Mike Parman Staff Spotlight: Mike Parman February 20, 2017 Mike, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Secondary Education. He then received certification in Elementary teaching, School Counseling and Supervision, and a M.A. in Administration and Supervision. He has worked for over thirty-five years in public education as a teacher and elementary school principal. After retiring to Charlotte to be near family, Mike joined Heart in 2015 as a tutor.Mike believes that all students can learn when they are exposed to relevant, hands-on activities in a secure and caring atmosphere. Mike’s wife Deborah is also a tutor and together they love spending time with their two wonderful grandchildren. Mike is currently the Program Coordinator at Greenway Park Elementary. Here are Mikes answers to our Spotlight questions: Who was your best teacher and why? My third grade teacher Mrs. Hearn. She believed in me and taught me how to love reading. What is yourfavorite quote? My favorite quote is from Bonnie L. Mohrs Living Life. Recognize the special people youve been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment.' Whats an interesting fact about yourself? After teaching 8th grade math all day, l left the school for my second job, working as a custodian in a school in the same community. (We had three children under the age of 5). Two years later, I became the principal of that school.

Focus And Confidence Help This Young Musician Achieve His Goals

Focus And Confidence Help This Young Musician Achieve His Goals Focus And Confidence Help This Young Musician Achieve His Goals Isaac, 11-years-old, Math Level I 11-year-old Isaac is studying above his peers, as he’s currently working on algebra concepts like quadratic equations and the Pythagorean Theorem in the Kumon Math Program. Isaac began his Kumon journey six years ago when he was just five years old. Along the way, he has improved his focus and gained confidence, which has helped him overcome any challenge that is thrown his way. Isaac continues to strive for excellence both in-and-out of the classroom, which is a strong testament to his many accomplishments. As a budding musician, Isaac has applied the discipline and focus he developed in Kumon when he’s performing on the saxophone and piano. “Kumon has helped me beyond academics when it comes to music,” said Isaac. “For example, I play the saxophone and piano. I see many elements of math related to rhythms and beats in music. Knowing that has helped me improve as a musician. Kumon teaches me to be more focused, disciplined, organized, and to have better study skills. Kumon helps me to persevere and to always try my best no matter what.” Isaac’s practice and focus on the piano has paid off, as he was presented the “Outstanding Award” in piano by the New York State School Music Association in 2014-16. The NYSSMA ®â€™s mission is to enhance the music education programs in all of New York State. Top performing students from across the state are carefully selected by their music educator and go on to the audition process. Musicians are critically evaluated on performance elements such as sight-reading and technique. When he’s not performing, Isaac can be found on the soccer field and the basketball court. Not only does he enjoy playing sports, he also loves being a spectator. Isaac is a dedicated sports fan of the New York Rangers and New York Mets. He has found that his increase in focus has helped him become a stronger athlete as well. “Not only has Kumon helped me in school and with music, it has also helped me with sports,” said Isaac. “For example, in school I receive good grades and it motivates me to do well on projects and tests. Another example is when I play soccer. I am more focused and always watching the ball. With this level of focus, I make better passes and saves â€" making me a stronger athlete.” Isaac’s hard work and discipline didn’t go unnoticed, as he was one of 55 students selected to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference in Calgary, Canada. We had the opportunity to speak to Isaac about his Kumon journey. How has Kumon helped you academically? Kumon has helped me stay on task with my homework and assignments at school. How has Kumon helped you outside of the classroom? Kumon has given me confidence, and now I strive to be the best I can be at everything I do. What do you enjoy most about Kumon? I really enjoy learning new concepts and being able to finish each level. What keeps you motivated in Kumon? When I overcome problems in Kumon, it pushes me to keep going and to not give up. I continue to work towards getting to the next level, putting me closer to completing the Kumon Math Program. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Encouraging. What’s the most beneficial thing you’ve learned from Kumon so far? The most beneficial thing I’ve learned in Kumon has been how to concentrate and stay focused in everything I do. It has also taught me to try and solve problems independently. What did it mean to you attending the Student Conference? I was so excited when I found out I was selected to attend the Student Conference! I must say, that this has been one of my greatest achievements so far. The conference was an awesome experience. I met so many students and speakers. The forums I attended were so much fun! What advice do you have for other Kumon Students? Don’t get frustrated! With more practice, hard work, and confidence â€" you can overcome anything! Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: Accomplished Pianist Applies Focus and Discipline in Her Everyday Routine This Young Artist Gained Her Confidence With Kumon Increased Confidence has Inspired this Young Girl to Take on any Challenge Determination And The Will To Never Give Up Has Helped This Guitar Player Achieve Greatness Focus And Confidence Help This Young Musician Achieve His Goals Focus And Confidence Help This Young Musician Achieve His Goals Isaac, 11-years-old, Math Level I 11-year-old Isaac is studying above his peers, as he’s currently working on algebra concepts like quadratic equations and the Pythagorean Theorem in the Kumon Math Program. Isaac began his Kumon journey six years ago when he was just five years old. Along the way, he has improved his focus and gained confidence, which has helped him overcome any challenge that is thrown his way. Isaac continues to strive for excellence both in-and-out of the classroom, which is a strong testament to his many accomplishments. As a budding musician, Isaac has applied the discipline and focus he developed in Kumon when he’s performing on the saxophone and piano. “Kumon has helped me beyond academics when it comes to music,” said Isaac. “For example, I play the saxophone and piano. I see many elements of math related to rhythms and beats in music. Knowing that has helped me improve as a musician. Kumon teaches me to be more focused, disciplined, organized, and to have better study skills. Kumon helps me to persevere and to always try my best no matter what.” Isaac’s practice and focus on the piano has paid off, as he was presented the “Outstanding Award” in piano by the New York State School Music Association in 2014-16. The NYSSMA ®â€™s mission is to enhance the music education programs in all of New York State. Top performing students from across the state are carefully selected by their music educator and go on to the audition process. Musicians are critically evaluated on performance elements such as sight-reading and technique. When he’s not performing, Isaac can be found on the soccer field and the basketball court. Not only does he enjoy playing sports, he also loves being a spectator. Isaac is a dedicated sports fan of the New York Rangers and New York Mets. He has found that his increase in focus has helped him become a stronger athlete as well. “Not only has Kumon helped me in school and with music, it has also helped me with sports,” said Isaac. “For example, in school I receive good grades and it motivates me to do well on projects and tests. Another example is when I play soccer. I am more focused and always watching the ball. With this level of focus, I make better passes and saves â€" making me a stronger athlete.” Isaac’s hard work and discipline didn’t go unnoticed, as he was one of 55 students selected to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference in Calgary, Canada. We had the opportunity to speak to Isaac about his Kumon journey. How has Kumon helped you academically? Kumon has helped me stay on task with my homework and assignments at school. How has Kumon helped you outside of the classroom? Kumon has given me confidence, and now I strive to be the best I can be at everything I do. What do you enjoy most about Kumon? I really enjoy learning new concepts and being able to finish each level. What keeps you motivated in Kumon? When I overcome problems in Kumon, it pushes me to keep going and to not give up. I continue to work towards getting to the next level, putting me closer to completing the Kumon Math Program. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Encouraging. What’s the most beneficial thing you’ve learned from Kumon so far? The most beneficial thing I’ve learned in Kumon has been how to concentrate and stay focused in everything I do. It has also taught me to try and solve problems independently. What did it mean to you attending the Student Conference? I was so excited when I found out I was selected to attend the Student Conference! I must say, that this has been one of my greatest achievements so far. The conference was an awesome experience. I met so many students and speakers. The forums I attended were so much fun! What advice do you have for other Kumon Students? Don’t get frustrated! With more practice, hard work, and confidence â€" you can overcome anything! Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: Accomplished Pianist Applies Focus and Discipline in Her Everyday Routine This Young Artist Gained Her Confidence With Kumon Increased Confidence has Inspired this Young Girl to Take on any Challenge Determination And The Will To Never Give Up Has Helped This Guitar Player Achieve Greatness

2014 New Years Language Challenge has Started!

2014 New Years Language Challenge has Started! Ready! Set! Go! The italki 2014 New Years Language Challenge has now officially started! Review the rules here. Today marks the beginning of italkis biggest and baddest Language Challenge yet!    All in all weve got hundreds of Challengers learning more than 30+ languages on italki!   We have representation from Challengers from all over the world, including the following countries: Angola Argentina Australia Austria Barbados Belgium Brazil Canada Chile China Czech Republic France Germany Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Japan Korea Lebanon Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Norway Peru Poland Romania Russia Rwanda Saudi Arabia Singapore South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine United States United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Vietnam As you start the challenge we wanted to share some tips to make sure you finish the Challenge.  A great post about what to expect in a Language Challenge can be found here from our friend Lingoholic who pointed out some lessons learned from the Add1Challenge.  The original blog post is a great read and below is a quick summary of it: 1. Realize you will experience Ups and Downs! We get all fired up when we first start to learn a new language. Then life gets in the way, excitement fades, all of a sudden we don’t have any more time, we beat ourselves up for not being excited anymore, and then we stop learning.  The secret to overcome the ups and downs of the inevitable enthusiasm (or motivation) curve is: Expect and accept the ups and downs, there is nothing wrong with it When you are at the bottom of the curve, focus on figuring out  what it will take to get excited about learning your language again. 2. Practicing with a Native Speaker Online makes the Challenge Fun and Easy Lingoholic actually did the Add1Challenge but he noted that what made learning fun were his italki sessions.  Just speaking with a native speaker online was all he needed to do and then  boom, 30 minutes or an hour is gone in the blink of an eye.  He even goes on to say, It is very affordable, it’s totally worth it and anyone can do this. Thanks for the props Lingoholic! 3. Focusing on your mini-steps one day at a time We all know that it takes a lifetime to master and be REALLY fluent in a language.  It’s like climbing a huge mountain, Mt. Fluency.  In Lingoholics case, he knew that he needed to work on was building a routine that worked for his schedule, as well as making time out of my day dedicated to language learning. His  mini goal became to take 1 hour a day and do something related to his target languages (Japanese and German), every day. Your goal might be to log on to italki every day and make sure that you have an upcoming session scheduled at least 2-3 times a week.  Or do an Instant Tutoring session once a week.  Its up to you, but make sure that you take those mini-steps to reach your goal! Follow Lexies Challenge! We know that the biggest obstacle that Challengers will face with the Language Challenge will be motivation. For that reason, our very own Marketing Manager, Lexie, will be publicly sharing her experiences and all her ups and downs on this blog to help motivate you to Complete the Challenge with her! One last note there is still time to make a Public Video Pledge and earn an extra 50ITC! Lexie and many of our Challengers already did. The whole idea is to use peer pressure (in a good way) to help our Challengers finish the Challenge .  The theory is that if you put yourself up to something by doing it in public, you follow through because others are watching.  Things that you put on the Web have a better chance of getting done!  What have you got to lose?  Make your Public Video Pledge now! 2014 New Years Language Challenge has Started! Ready! Set! Go! The italki 2014 New Years Language Challenge has now officially started! Review the rules here. Today marks the beginning of italkis biggest and baddest Language Challenge yet!    All in all weve got hundreds of Challengers learning more than 30+ languages on italki!   We have representation from Challengers from all over the world, including the following countries: Angola Argentina Australia Austria Barbados Belgium Brazil Canada Chile China Czech Republic France Germany Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Japan Korea Lebanon Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Norway Peru Poland Romania Russia Rwanda Saudi Arabia Singapore South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine United States United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Vietnam As you start the challenge we wanted to share some tips to make sure you finish the Challenge.  A great post about what to expect in a Language Challenge can be found here from our friend Lingoholic who pointed out some lessons learned from the Add1Challenge.  The original blog post is a great read and below is a quick summary of it: 1. Realize you will experience Ups and Downs! We get all fired up when we first start to learn a new language. Then life gets in the way, excitement fades, all of a sudden we don’t have any more time, we beat ourselves up for not being excited anymore, and then we stop learning.  The secret to overcome the ups and downs of the inevitable enthusiasm (or motivation) curve is: Expect and accept the ups and downs, there is nothing wrong with it When you are at the bottom of the curve, focus on figuring out  what it will take to get excited about learning your language again. 2. Practicing with a Native Speaker Online makes the Challenge Fun and Easy Lingoholic actually did the Add1Challenge but he noted that what made learning fun were his italki sessions.  Just speaking with a native speaker online was all he needed to do and then  boom, 30 minutes or an hour is gone in the blink of an eye.  He even goes on to say, It is very affordable, it’s totally worth it and anyone can do this. Thanks for the props Lingoholic! 3. Focusing on your mini-steps one day at a time We all know that it takes a lifetime to master and be REALLY fluent in a language.  It’s like climbing a huge mountain, Mt. Fluency.  In Lingoholics case, he knew that he needed to work on was building a routine that worked for his schedule, as well as making time out of my day dedicated to language learning. His  mini goal became to take 1 hour a day and do something related to his target languages (Japanese and German), every day. Your goal might be to log on to italki every day and make sure that you have an upcoming session scheduled at least 2-3 times a week.  Or do an Instant Tutoring session once a week.  Its up to you, but make sure that you take those mini-steps to reach your goal! Follow Lexies Challenge! We know that the biggest obstacle that Challengers will face with the Language Challenge will be motivation. For that reason, our very own Marketing Manager, Lexie, will be publicly sharing her experiences and all her ups and downs on this blog to help motivate you to Complete the Challenge with her! One last note there is still time to make a Public Video Pledge and earn an extra 50ITC! Lexie and many of our Challengers already did. The whole idea is to use peer pressure (in a good way) to help our Challengers finish the Challenge .  The theory is that if you put yourself up to something by doing it in public, you follow through because others are watching.  Things that you put on the Web have a better chance of getting done!  What have you got to lose?  Make your Public Video Pledge now! 2014 New Years Language Challenge has Started! Ready! Set! Go! The italki 2014 New Years Language Challenge has now officially started! Review the rules here. Today marks the beginning of italkis biggest and baddest Language Challenge yet!    All in all weve got hundreds of Challengers learning more than 30+ languages on italki!   We have representation from Challengers from all over the world, including the following countries: Angola Argentina Australia Austria Barbados Belgium Brazil Canada Chile China Czech Republic France Germany Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Japan Korea Lebanon Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Norway Peru Poland Romania Russia Rwanda Saudi Arabia Singapore South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine United States United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Vietnam As you start the challenge we wanted to share some tips to make sure you finish the Challenge.  A great post about what to expect in a Language Challenge can be found here from our friend Lingoholic who pointed out some lessons learned from the Add1Challenge.  The original blog post is a great read and below is a quick summary of it: 1. Realize you will experience Ups and Downs! We get all fired up when we first start to learn a new language. Then life gets in the way, excitement fades, all of a sudden we don’t have any more time, we beat ourselves up for not being excited anymore, and then we stop learning.  The secret to overcome the ups and downs of the inevitable enthusiasm (or motivation) curve is: Expect and accept the ups and downs, there is nothing wrong with it When you are at the bottom of the curve, focus on figuring out  what it will take to get excited about learning your language again. 2. Practicing with a Native Speaker Online makes the Challenge Fun and Easy Lingoholic actually did the Add1Challenge but he noted that what made learning fun were his italki sessions.  Just speaking with a native speaker online was all he needed to do and then  boom, 30 minutes or an hour is gone in the blink of an eye.  He even goes on to say, It is very affordable, it’s totally worth it and anyone can do this. Thanks for the props Lingoholic! 3. Focusing on your mini-steps one day at a time We all know that it takes a lifetime to master and be REALLY fluent in a language.  It’s like climbing a huge mountain, Mt. Fluency.  In Lingoholics case, he knew that he needed to work on was building a routine that worked for his schedule, as well as making time out of my day dedicated to language learning. His  mini goal became to take 1 hour a day and do something related to his target languages (Japanese and German), every day. Your goal might be to log on to italki every day and make sure that you have an upcoming session scheduled at least 2-3 times a week.  Or do an Instant Tutoring session once a week.  Its up to you, but make sure that you take those mini-steps to reach your goal! Follow Lexies Challenge! We know that the biggest obstacle that Challengers will face with the Language Challenge will be motivation. For that reason, our very own Marketing Manager, Lexie, will be publicly sharing her experiences and all her ups and downs on this blog to help motivate you to Complete the Challenge with her! One last note there is still time to make a Public Video Pledge and earn an extra 50ITC! Lexie and many of our Challengers already did. The whole idea is to use peer pressure (in a good way) to help our Challengers finish the Challenge .  The theory is that if you put yourself up to something by doing it in public, you follow through because others are watching.  Things that you put on the Web have a better chance of getting done!  What have you got to lose?  Make your Public Video Pledge now!

Learning a Language through Open University - by TutorNerds

Learning a Language through Open University - by TutorNerds Open University: Learn a New Language Many students in the United States are receiving As or Bs in their foreign language classes but are not able to speak any foreign languages. Some students are seeking a language partner over Skype but for other language-learners this is not the best option. Students can go through iTunes Open University or OU and take several foreign language courses our Orange County foreign language tutors are here to help. Although students cannot receive any school credit for these particular courses, they provide many benefits for American students wishing to learn a second language.??Students can use the courses in two ways: They can either use the classes as a supplement to their traditional Spanish or French classes at school, or they can learn a language that is not offered at school, such as Finnish or Japanese. A Global Education Global education and a global economy are becoming larger issues day after day. Because the United States is so large, and although we speak slightly different regional dialects, the vast majority of Americans speak English as their primary language (READ: New School: Adjusting to Advances in Technology). A student living in the European Union may travel a few hundred miles from France to Germany while a US student will travel the same distance from California to Nevada. Because of our vast geographical boundaries, we don’t need to speak another language throughout the US. Although learning the traditional Spanish or French foreign language option in high school is good, many students prefer to learn a different language. Students may wish to learn the language of their ancestors or learn a language from a country that they wish to live in, visit extensively, or do business in after they finish college. Most European students learn English as a second language because, somehow, English has become the unofficial second language of much of the world. However, using the lessons on OU is a great way for American high school students to join the ranks of people who can speak two or even three languages. Take Away Some Pressure Although students do not get credit for attending OU, for many teenagers this can take away some of the pressure. Without worrying about a grade or test score, some students will no longer think of it as school and will start thinking of it as a useful skill. Once something is no longer a chore, it is often easier to participate in. Students who participate can progress at their own pace and use only what they need. Remember, there is not a teacher or professor who is checking up on assignments or giving final exams in the traditional sense (READ: Ask a Nerd! Mastering AP English Language). The best thing of all is that the vast majority of these courses are entirely free. Students no longer have to live in any particular school district or be able to afford private school tuition in order to take advantage of foreign language learning services online. Give it a Try Students who want to give it a try may simply log-in to the iTunes OU website on their tablet or laptop. There are many podcasts and videos that can be downloaded instantly without even creating an account. Students who wish to take longer language courses, such as those from a university professor, may need to sign up as a student. Because OU is entirely free, there is nothing to lose by attempting to supplement foreign-language learning education using iTunes U Open University. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by TutorNerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us post about.