Thursday, March 26, 2020

Learn English PPT

Learn English PPTWhen learning English PPT, the best place to start is with the ABC's of PPT. English PPT is a great way to learn any language. You will be able to complete all parts of the ABC's in about three months.After you have completed the ABC's, you can move on to learning new words and phrases. The information is here below. There are two types of PPT methods. You can use a free online course, or you can purchase one of the many books on the market.For a beginning to a home study course, or if you want a more thorough set of materials, the cost of buying a book is a lot cheaper than getting a free online course. While buying online would be nice, you may not know enough to make the best choice for your needs. A book on the subject is generally a bit more in depth than a free course, as well as covering much more material. This is why a book is your best bet for your first course.If you are willing to spend a little more money, you can go for a free course. In this way, you c an get as much as you want of the ABC's and other key skills. However, it will be slightly more expensive because you are paying for the ability to learn the material from the comfort of your own home. However, you will learn much more quickly with this method, and it will make it much easier to progress through all parts of the ABC's at once.With the full self study program, you will get all the material for a particular topic. It will probably cover many different subjects and cover them completely in addition to other subjects that are covered by the free course. For example, the books usually have quite a bit of information about grammar, as well as on how to write different types of letters and how to speak them. Many courses on PPT do not have a complete study for grammar and writing. Also, it is important to remember that the subjects that you learn here are usually more fun and easier to learn.One thing to keep in mind about PPT is that the method was developed in order to h elp native English speakers learn how to communicate in the language. Using this method also helps students improve their vocabulary skills. It is possible for English PPT to improve your pronunciation and increase your confidence.I hope this article helped you understand more about how to learn English with PPT. Whether you need to learn how to speak and write or just need a little help with vocabulary, PPT is the way to go.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Interval Notation Online Tutoring - Maths Tutors

Interval Notation Online Tutoring - Maths Tutors Interval notation is a way to express a set of number in the form of an inequality. Usually set of real numbers are represented using the interval notation. There are following types of interval notations: Open Interval : This is represented are (c, d) Closed interval: This is represented as [c, d] Half Open Interval: This is represented as [c, d) or (c, d] Non ending interval: This can be represented as (-, c) or (c, ). Example 1: Interpret the following interval notations: (a) ( 2, 5 ) (b) [ 2, 5 ) (c) ( - 2, 5 ] Solution: The given interval notations can be interpreted as follows: (a) (2,5) : This set consists of all real numbers between 2 and 5 but excluding 2 and 5. (b) [ 2, 5 ) : In this set all real numbers between 2 and 5 are included. This set includes 2 but excludes 5. (c) ( - 2, 5 ]: In this set all real numbers between -2 and 5 are included. This set excludes -2 but includes 5. Example 2: Interpret the interval notations given below in the form of inequality: (a) ( - , 7) (b) (7, ) (c) [ -6, 7 ] Solution: Let p be any general element of the given set. Then the given interval notations can be written in the form of an inequality as below: (a) ( - , 7) : p 7 (b) (7, ): p 7 (c) [ -6, 7 ] : - 6 p 7

English School Vocabulary Words + Idioms related to School

English School Vocabulary Words + Idioms related to School Here are some English School Vocabulary words, phrases and idioms that are related to Back to School event. These vocabulary words are aimed at intermediate level English students (B1 English).This posts consists of 3 sections:1.short text to practise English reading comprehension2. vocabulary words and phrases3. 8 English idioms related to school with meanings and examples English School Vocabulary â€" Reading Comprehension Exercise Back to School is an event that brings out mixed emotions. The parents are happy and the children mostly sad.It doesn’t seem so long ago that schools were breaking up for the summer with exams and tests a distant memory. However, after what appears to me anyway to have been a very long warm summer, thoughts now turn to the start of another school year.Book lists will have been provided by the school and your own personal check list will be written and re-written time and time again to make sure you have included everything.We rummage among the piles of clothes  discarded on the floor or hanging on a chair or  stuffed in to a draw or wardrobe, in the faint hope that we can find some clothes that still fit as children seem to do all their growing over the summer. Old clothes are dumped or saved to be passed down to the younger sibling.A trip to the city is organised and the day is planned.Clothes and shoes to buy and books to get together with new copy books and note books and an ass ortment of pens and pencils and the other necessities for the new year.These days schools usually provide the timetables and booklists via the internet but there is still a lot of running around needed to get everything.Books: check, shoes: check, trousers/skirts, shirts or blouses: check. Soon everything is ready and the day arrives.In reality even though there is sometimes some negativity about the return to school ,most children are looking forward to catching up with their school mates and usually cannot wait for you to drop them off at the gate.Old friendships are quickly renewed and within a few days old habits have been picked up again.The teachers happily get into the groove quite quickly and soon the children are getting on with   their homework and  getting down to their studies.Another school year is here! Happy New (School) Year.Did you find it difficult? Read one more time and then scroll down to find out the meaning of the bolded words. English Idioms related to School - Infographic Enjoyed this infographic? Here is what you can do next: English School Vocabulary - New Words and Phrases mixed emotions some happy some sadbreaking up for end of term and the start of the holidaysto turn to to start thinking (about)check list items you need and things you have to doto rummage to searchto discard to leaveto stuff in to push infaint hope small chancestill fit still the right sizeto dump to throw outto pass down to to give tosibling brother or sistera trip to a journey (to)an assortment of a mix ofnew year new termtimetable schedule of classesto run around to chasecheck yesto catch up with someone to see someone againto drop (someone) off to take someone by carto pick up to start againto get into the groove to get back into the way of (teaching)to get on with to returnto get down to to begin 8 Idioms related to School A SCHOOLBOY ERRORthis means a simple error made by someone senior that you would only expect a schoolboy to makeex. In the football match the defender allowed the ball to bounce over his head. The opposition was quick and scored a goal. It was a simple schoolboy error by the defender.A TEACHERS PETsomeone who is the favourite student of the teacher, always answering first, always doing their homework  ex. I was hated by most people in my class because I was a real teachers pet.OLD SCHOOLusually refers to someone who is a little old fashioned or conservativeex. Michael had worked at the bank now for 30 years. He was old school. His clothes were old fashioned and very conservative.TO HIT THE BOOKSwhen someone really needs to start studying hard they will use this phraseex. I  really need to hit the books  this weekend. I have that repeat exam next week. TO MAKE THE GRADEwhen someone is likely or unlikely to be successful in a job or a position we can use this either in the positive or the negativeex. I don’t think he will make the grade  he is just not suitable to this work.OrIf he continues to work like this and puts in the effort he will certainly make the grade.TO TEACH SOMEONE A LESSONused when we really wish to punish someone and make sure they know how and why they made the mistake in the hope they will not make it againex. He had failed to complete the customers order twice. The boss was really going to teach him a lesson. He made him stay late for 2 days until it was completed. I think he understands now.  EAGER BEAVERsomeone who is very enthusiastic and is willing to work very hard (volunteer, for example)ex. Tracey is such an eager beaver, she volunteers for every task. I bet shes going to get a promotion next year.WITH FLYING COLOURSwith ease and with a high mark/gradeex. Olivier had been able to concentrate on his stud ies, and now he passed his exams with flying colours.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Is it Auditory Processing Disorder or ADHD

Is it Auditory Processing Disorder or ADHD Many kids with ADHD struggle to block out background noise, have a hard time staying focused when someone is talking to them, or forget the details of a conversation. In fact, difficulty staying focused and blocking out distractions are hallmark symptoms of ADHD. But did you know that they are also primary symptoms of Auditory Processing Disorder or APD? APD isnt as well-known as ADHD, and it isnt included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of psychiatric disorders. However, it is widely recognized that many kids with ADHD or learning differences also struggle with auditory processing problems. APD can co-occur with ADHD or it can exist on its own. When ADHD and APD occur together, a childs difficulties with concentration and memory are magnified. What is Auditory Processing Disorder? Kids with APD have difficulty processing information that is presented to them orally. They dont have difficulty with hearing, although it may seem like they do at times. Instead, the problem lies in their brains ability to decipher and translate words and sentences into meaningful information. Kids with APD struggle to filter out background noise, focus on conversations (especially in noisy environments), remember the details of conversations, recall the order of instructions that are presented to them, correctly process sequences of numbers (e.g., 108 vs. 801), discriminate between similar sounding words (dig vs. big), and struggle to learn proper sentence structure and syntax. Since many aspects of language processing overlap in the brain, many kids with APD also struggle with components of reading and writing. How is Auditory Processing Disorder Different from ADHD? Many symptoms of APD overlap with symptoms of ADHD but there are significant differences between the two disorders as well. Kids with ADHD will have difficulty focusing or staying on task even when there are few distractions around them, and they will have difficulties in areas that are not related to attention and information processing (such as organizational skills, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity). Kids with APD may be so sensitive to noisy environments that they have trouble tolerating them at all. They may even complain that the sound is hurting their ears, and become increasingly upset if they arent able to go to a quieter place. In contrast, many kids with ADHD enjoy noisy places. And while they may start having some behavior challenges if they become overstimulated, they usually arent distressed by the noise. When a child has ADHD as well as APD, their problems with focus and concentration become severely impairing in loud environments, and they are hypersensitive to sound . How is Auditory Processing Disorder Diagnosed? Unlike ADHD which can be diagnosed by a psychologist, psychiatrist, or pediatrician, APD can only be diagnosed by an audiologist. The audiologist administers a series of tests primarily designed to test a childs ability to process information within the context of increasing levels of background noise. The childs scores on the test are compared against the scores obtained from large samples of children without APD. If a childs score falls well outside of the average range of the comparison samples scores, the audiologist will likely make an APD diagnosis. How is Auditory Processing Disorder Treated? There is very limited research on treatments for APD, so it is difficult to know what will be most effective for any one child. Generally, interventions are provided by speech and language pathologists who help a child improve their ability to discriminate between similar sounds and remember the details and the sequences of information that they hear. In addition, to speech and language interventions, many children benefit from accommodations that minimize the impairments related to APD. This may include preferential classroom seating, taking exams in quiet rooms, having teachers and parents ask the child to repeat information back to them to check for understanding, and having information and key concepts presented in multiple formats (e.g., orally, written, video, etc.). While there is no cure for APD, many children do see large improvements in their auditory processing abilities as their brain matures over time. If you suspect that your child may have APD, talk to your childs teacher or special education coordinator, or request an audiology referral from your pediatrician. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

10 Language Learning Magazines That All Learners Should Flip Through

10 Language Learning Magazines That All Learners Should Flip Through 10 Language Learning Magazines That All Learners Should Flip Through Did you know that the word magazine originally meant something like storehouse or warehouse?And really, it seems appropriate, since magazines are basically warehouses of information!Theres a good chance you read magazines in your native language, whether in print or online, but you may not have tried reading them in a language youre learning. If thats your case, then youre missing out.As a language learner, getting plenty of reading practice is essential. It’s also a bit of a dilemma for beginning and intermediate learners.Most learners have textbooks or other materials from class, and even though textbooks can provide some reading material, their reading sections are usually short and arent always as engaging as youd like.If you want to get enough reading practice, youll have to supplement your textbooks. There just isnt enough in most books to really kick your reading into gear.For beginners, though, it’s hard to just pick up a native-level book and start reading. So where can you find fresh, engaging reading material that’s not too hard? Ideally, the material would  also give you a way to get new content on a regular basis, without having to search around for it.The solution: Magazines for language learners.These magazines can be either online or printed, but they all have interesting but easy articles for beginning and intermediate learners. Theyre published periodically, so you dont have to search for new resources to continually find fresh reading material. Plus, theyre written for people just like you.Magazines for language learners arent the same as just any old magazine in your target language. Those can also be awesome resources, but theyre usually best for learners who have at least reached an intermediate level. For beginners, native-level content of any kind can be overwhelming. Thats what these magazines are for. Whats Unique About Magazines for Language LearnersTheyre accessible for beginners and low-intermediate level learners.They focus on cultural information that would be obvious to a native speaker, and therefore would not be included in a native-level magazine. For example, there might be articles about how specific holidays are celebrated in places that speak your target language.  When you learn a language its also important to pick up on things like the most important holidays or what the school or healthcare system is like.Many magazines for language learners include audio recordings that can be incredibly useful for practicing listening as well as reading.Being magazines, these resources are updated frequently. Some are updated daily or weekly, others every two months, but the commonality is that there will be new material at a regular interval. That means you dont have to worry about finding new resources, which makes them a huge time saver.10 Language Learning Magazines That All Learners Should Flip ThroughMagazines from Think Language (French, Spanish and Italian)The online magazines from Think Languag e  are published once a month. They focus on the target culture, and all include an audio component.For example, a recent issue of  Think Spanish  included articles about music traditions in Spain, the Patagonian train and the history and tradition of tobacco products in Latin America.The magazines are called audio magazines, mostly because they all have both text and audio, so you can listen along with the text. Theres also a grammar-focused feature at the end of the magazine.The  Think Language  magazines are only available online and not, for example, as an app through the iPads newsstand. They cost $99 for a 12-month subscription.Bien-direBien-dire  (Say It Right) is one of the oldest magazines on this list because although theres an online component, Bien-dire is a traditional print magazine produced by one of Frances large publishing houses.Theres a magazine for beginning/intermediate learners and another one for more advanced learners. The magazine is accompanied by an audio CDâ€"yes, just because its a printed magazine doesnt mean theres no audio! However, the audio CDs do cost extra. The online component is meant to be a complement to the printed magazine, and theres no way to get the full magazine experience without the hard copy.Bien-dire is updated every two months. It certainly is the best option if you want the experience of having a new magazine arrive in your mailbox!It costs 47 euros for a year-long subscription for just the magazine, and 99 euros with  the audio CDs.VeinteMundosVeinteMundos  (Twenty Worlds) is an online magazine produced by the language learning company Lingua Editions.Theres some confusion about what it means to be an online magazine. In the case of  Think Language,  their  magazines are published very much like a traditional magazine, but theyre accessible through an online reader. VeinteMundos  is more like what most people think of by online magazineâ€"it has  constantly-updated articles that you read on a web page.The ar ticles have a multimedia component, and are focused on culture as opposed to grammar. Recent articles include one about how climate change is affecting Latin America, and a travel piece about a trip through the Amazon. Every article has audio, grammar spotlights, reading comprehension exercises and pull-out vocabulary including not just words but also popular expressions.Finally, if youre reading this article for English practice (or if you know someone whos learning English), Lingua Editions also makes a similar online magazine for English learners,  TeaTime-Mag.  And the best part is that theyre  free!Deutsch perfektDeutsch perfekt  (Perfect German), a magazine for German learners, is produced by a publishing company in Germany that also produces language magazines for Germans to learn French and Spanish.The product is similar to  Bien-Dire.  Its a printed magazine thats mailed to your home. You can opt, in addition to the magazine, to get an exercise book as well. If getting a pr inted magazine isnt your thing, theres also an option to receive the magazine as a downloaded PDF file every month. Every article comes with audio, and the focus is on Germany, Switzerland and Austriaâ€"not just Germany.A 12-month subscription costs 85.20 euros.Hiragana TimesHiragana Times is produced in Japan for Japanese learners. The company that publishes it doesnt produce any other magazines, although it does run a business  that helps students of Japanese find language schools in Japan.You can get either a digital or print subscription to Hiragana Times, and its probably not surprising that the digital version is much less expensive, especially if you want audio (which is extra for print magazine subscribers) and you dont live in Japan (the fees are higher for subscribers outside of Japan).Recent articles include a feature about the changing Japanese ideals for female beauty, and another about pilgrimages by anime fans to the sacred spots of anime.There are different subscript ion options and costs, but for someone outside of Japan, a 12-month digital subscription costs 6,000 yen whereas a 12-month print-only (no audio) subscription costs 10,000 yen.An easy way to try out  Hiragana Times is through White Rabbit Japan, an online store thats a great place for learners to find Japanese reading material in general. Currently, you can buy a single issue for $7.75.Tutto ItalianoAnother print magazine for language learners,  Tutto Italiano  (Everything Italian) is for those learning Italian. Its published six times per year, and is available either with or without an audio CD. Theres no online component to Tutto Italianoâ€"its all in the print magazine!Like the other magazines on this list, Tutto Italiano is focused on culture. The articles are graded according to difficulty, and have glossaries for vocabulary and expressions.A year-long subscription costs 99 pounds, but a two-year subscription only costs 70 pounds more.Uchites / Russian LifeRussian Life is an E nglish-language magazine about Russian culture, written for non-Russians, of course.While the primary magazine is in English and doesnt have a language learning component,  Uchites  (Study)  is a language-learning supplement that goes with the magazine. Uchites  doesnt actually come with the (print) magazine, but instead is posted online at the same time the magazine is mailed to subscribers.There are occasional audio features, but for the most part both the magazine and the language learning supplement are largely text.A subscription to  Russian Life costs $39, but the  Uchites supplement is free.Language MagazineLastly,  Language Magazine  is a magazine, in English, about language learning in general, along with other interesting topics with an international focus.With just a click, most of the articles can be displayed in up to 8 different languages. There are many articles by language teachers, and you can sort the articles by target language. There are also articles about langu age schools and some cultural articles as well.This is a good place to read about language learning, without stressing about having to  do much learning yourself. Plus, its free!Dont see the language youre learning on this list? That doesnt mean there isnt a magazine for learners of that language, but you might have to do a little searching.Magazines for language learners are not whole language courses, but they can be great supplemental material that will increase your interest and excitement about the language and give you a lot more to read.Reading language learning magazines is a fabulous way to learn cultural basics, too, and its the kind of thing that you would never learn through material thats written for native speakers. And One More ThingIf youre digging the idea of learning with these magazines, youll love using FluentU, too. 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, 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 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.

Which Language Should I Learn How to Follow Your Heart to Your Next Tongue

Which Language Should I Learn How to Follow Your Heart to Your Next Tongue Which Language Should I Learn? How to Follow Your Heart to Your Next Tongue Wish you had a map and compass to guide you to the perfect language?All you have to do is follow your heart.Choosing a language to learn is a deeply personal process. Theres no one absolute best language to learn. The best language depends on the learner.Your choice  will have a unique effect on  your social life, your neurological anatomy, your professional opportunities, how you experience the world around you  and even your personality.Youve heard all the hype. You know how learning a language benefits your brain, lines your wallet and makes life more interesting.And youve probably found some strong incentives of your own already. Maybe your best friend just got back from a summer abroad and youre jealous of how cool she looks casually chatting with her new Francophone friends, doing activist work with the indigenous language she learned in Peru or fighting off the onslaught of employers desperate to put her Japanese skills to work selling to foreign markets.Maybe youre finally sa tisfied with your skills in your second or third language, and now youre ready to take another step down the road to becoming a professional polyglot.Perhaps you just woke up today and said, Im going to learn a language.Whatever it was that put you over the top, you know youre ready to learn a language, and you know you can do so just as easily as the next person. Which brings you to one of the most momentous and exciting decisions of your newly multilingual life: Which language should  you learn?To decide which language you should learn, the first step is to tune out all the conflicting advice on the best language, and take a look within. Know Thyself: Asking the Right Questions to Decide Which Language You Should LearnSince theres no one objective outright winner in the linguistic derby, how do you decide which foreign language is best for you?Browsing a list of the worlds 7,000 languages will quickly become overwhelming, but limiting yourself to the shortest cut-and-dried listi cles doling out wisdom on the web is too constricting.Why dont you just ask yourself?Language is more than a line on a resume. It mediates your personal life, livens your inner life and, in the end, can often influence your biggest life decisions like where you live, how you develop yourself professionally, who you fall in love with and what ideas you  expose yourself to.Ask yourself the  following  questions to start thinking about which language you should learn.Whats my mother language, and what other languages do I already know?This has a huge impact on your learning experience, and its one of the reasons theres no single best language for everyone.If youre a native English speaker whos learning a new language for the first time, you might want to start by thinking about which languages are most similar to English in their sound, structure and vocabulary. If you already speak English and Spanish, then a Germanic or Romance language might be the easiest pick for you.On the other hand, a very similar language might confuse your Spanish, or you might end up filling your attempts at Portuguese with clumsy literal Spanishisms.Consider your current linguistic array and how strong you feel in any other languages youve learned.  If Spanish is one of your native languagesâ€"or if youve been fluent for many yearsâ€"then picking up a similar language like Portuguese might be very easy and invite no confusion whatsoever. If youve only reached the intermediate level of Spanish or still feel shaky with it, then learning Portuguese might end up getting mixed up with your Spanish.What kind of access do I have to resources like websites, classes and native speakers?Maybe the typical choices leave you uninspired but your ethnographic interests pull you toward a more obscure language like Aymara or Saami. Theres plenty to be said for learning less commonly studied languages, but consider the availability of resources for doing so:Are there courses available online?Any Wikipe dia pages in the language?Will you have to commit to a summer or a year abroad to get access to native speakers, and if so, are you willing to do that?Whats my learning style?Individual learning style can impact how easy or difficult a language is for any given person to learn. If youve got an ear for music and a knack for impersonating accents, you might find it easier to learn tonal languages or navigate the phonological complexities of Polish.If patterns and rules arent your thing, grammatically simpler creoles and languages like Malay or Mandarin with few grammatical categories might be your path of least resistance.What parts of the world intrigue me?Its impossible to separate languages from the people who speak them and the places they live. If youre planning a career as an ambassador or an expert on  Middle Eastern politics, Arabic or Farsi might be the language for you. If West African history, Vietnamese cuisine or the beauty of the Himalayas infect you with excitement, let these geographic interests lead you to learning Hausa, Vietnamese or Tibetan.What professional fields are you interested in working in?Learning a language to get a job doesnt work. This is because you first have to ask yourself, which job do you want to get?Universities and language schools in North America love to push Mandarin and Spanish as the jobs most in-demand by employers, but thats not necessarily the case if your ideal employer is an NGO, a media company or a marketing firm.Read some publications in your field and find out if its Chinese manufacturing, Costa Rican solar panels, consulting for Kazakh firms or Angolan oil thats driving growth, and then follow the money to your ideal language.Why do you want to learn it?This one is most important of all.To figure out which language you should learn right now, start with a little introspection on your motivation for learning a language.Do you want to learn a language to meet nice people, to expand your international friend ci rcle, to challenge yourself by learning a new writing system, to access the ideas of artists and intellectuals in their own language, because you met a special guy or gal, because youre obsessed with  the food or just because you like the way a particular language sounds?There are no good or bad, right or wrong reasons for learning a language. If you follow your passion, learning will be easy, enjoyable and enriching every step of the way.These are just some big-picture questions to get you started. After enough thoughtful introspection, hopefully youll arrive at a sense of knowing what you want out of your language learning experience, and then its time to start surveying the options.Which Language Should I Learn? How to Follow Your Heart to Your Next TongueThere are almost as many languages in the world as there are reasons to learn one. Maybe your motivation isnt one of the seven well list here, but its probably similar to one of these reasonsâ€"just  a little more nuanced and at tuned to yourself and your life.Communicate with More People: Learn the Worlds Largest LanguagesTheres something to be said for raw numbers.The worlds most commonly spoken languages are spoken by hundreds of millions of people, and learning one of them will allow you to expand your potential social network by six digits. Here are a few  of the worlds biggest languages by total speakers.MandarinIts  900 million  total speakers worldwide are just one of the reasons to learn Mandarin Chinese. The Chinese official language  isnt as geographically spread out as some of the other major world languages, but its still growing and not likely to be evicted from its number one spot any time soon.SpanishWith around half a billion speakers worldwide, Spanish is a giant in its own right. Whats more, itll unlock a lot more of the map for you than Mandarin with half the total number of speakers, as its an official or major  language in twenty-ish  countries around the world.ArabicBy most counts the fourth or fifth largest world language, about  300 million people speak Modern Standard Arabic and the many regional dialects  that exist around the world. Like Spanish, its got the geographic advantage over Chinese with its status as an official language in 28  countries.Expand Your Horizons: Learn a Language Known for Its Arts and CultureIf your true love is the arts, you may want to opt for a language with a strong body of art and cultural products, whether it be in the form of writing, performance, music or another language-infused form of cultural expression. Here are a few languages with well-established traditions you can get your hands, eyes and ears on.JapaneseIf youre already watching anime with the subtitles on, learning Japanese by watching anime is only a small step further.  Japanese films will give you plenty of  fodder for couch-based language learning with movies.ItalianSpeaking of movies, Italian cinema is reason enough by itself to enroll in Italian classes right away.  Sit back, sip wine and let Academy Award-winning Italian productions whisk you off to language learning land.AmharicAmharic is the main language of Ethiopia, arguably the country with the most distinctive set of cultures on the African continent, and its impossible to learn their language without learning a bit about Amharic culture. Let Ethiopian food guide you through learning your first words about cooking and eating.PortugueseThe language that brought the world bossa nova and samba is an excellent choice for language learners with an ear for music and a feel for rhythm. If learning a language through singing and dancing sounds like its up your alley, turn on some Brazilian music and start learning Portuguese with songs.Start Quickly and Easily: Learn a Language Thats Easy for English SpeakersIts hard to make a blanket statement about the easiest language to learn, because it depends on a lot of factors, one of which is your mother tongue.Neurologically speaking, your fir st language actually hard-wires your brain for languages in general.Meanwhile, other languages you speak well could cause confusion and other quirky polyglot problems. But if youre reading this blog post in your mother tongue, here are some of the easiest languages for English speakers to get started with.DutchDerived from the same Germanic vocabulary as English, Dutch is one of the closest living languages to English on the Germanic language family tree. Learn a few basic rules of pronunciation and spelling and youll already have a basic vocabulary of a few hundred words as an English speaker.FrenchThe influence of French on English goes far beyond fashionable French loanwords. For four  hundred years the French-speaking Normans  ruled England, and they left their mark on the language. Today English and French, despite their sonorant differences, share up to 45%  of the same vocabulary, largely in the form of loanwords historically borrowed from French or technical words both langu ages derived from Latin.SpanishWhile not as close to English as Dutch or French, English speakers will recognize a great deal of Latin-derived Spanish vocabulary from the start. Moreover, Spanish is a highly but regularly structured language with simple phonetics and a grammar thats nowhere near as intimidating as it looks in Spanish class. Just get down the basic differences between Spanish and English and youll be set.Get Paid: Learn a Language Thatll Land You a JobOne of the many benefits of multilingualism is the one that hits you right in the wallet: People who speak more than one language can generally expect not only a pay raise but a wider range of jobs and careers available to them.Some people earn a living off their language skills, while others use them to advance through different careers, and still other jobs are tailor-made for language majors.Whether your language skills are a career in themselves or a tool for climbing the corporate ladder, here are some of the most lucrative you can get started with.MandarinThe  near  billion speakers of the Chinese state language mean that learning Mandarin Chinese is a smart business investment. Theres hardly an industry left in the world thats not looking for people with the requisite language skills to help them break into or increase their presence in the Chinese market.CantoneseAnother Chinese language, its the one with even more tones than Mandarin and thats spoken in the wealthy financial centers like Guangdong and Hong Kong. Whats more, its the Chinese dialect spoken in most Chinatowns around the world, making it another important language for global commerce.KoreanSouth Korea is one of the Asian economies thats churning out the jobs in tech, telecommunications and manufacturing, as well as being one of the largest employers of foreign English teachers. Whether transferring within your company or striking out on your own overseas,  learning Korean is likely to give you a leg up in the application proc ess no matter what field youll be working in, and its certain to deepen your cultural experience during your stay.GermanThe European Unions economic engine speaks German, and people throughout Europe learn the language in the hopes of getting hired. Things might look uncertain elsewhere in Europe, but German is a good investment for any job-seeker interested in the continent.Stay Ahead of the Global Curve: Learn the Languages of the FutureThe best languages for business are those that are investing in the future of our always growing and changing world. Groups like the International Monetary Fund and Goldman Sachs are constantly forecasting the languages  that are growing and developing most rapidly and are most likely to be world leaders in trade and commerce in our lifetime. Here are a few of them.HindustaniAlthough its regional dialects are called Hindi in India and Urdu in Pakistan, most linguists think of Hindustani as one language with multiple national varieties.Nit-picky det ails aside, learning either variant of the language is enough to have conversations and make yourself understood across a large swath of the Indian subcontinent, putting you in contact with nearly half a billion people in one of the worlds fastest-growing economic regions.PortugueseWith 200 million speakers in giant Brazil alone, Portuguese is a global language in its own right. Across the world, Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) countries and regions like Angola and Macau are prospering in fields like oil and gas and financial services, making Portuguese one of the most mobile languages for following the money.ArabicIn addition to being a language of evergreen importance in international trade and politics, Arabic is also one of the fastest-growing languages on the web, making it a definite up-and-coming language for our digital future.Travel the World: Learn a Language Thats Spoken Far and WideIf youve got itchy feet and a stamp-happy passport, learning a language is one of the best ways to  open up entire new parts of the world to you. The best languages for travelers are those that are spoken across multiple countries and an extensive geographic area, as well as those thatll bring you closer in contact with local communities youd be otherwise unable to truly communicate with.SpanishStretching from the American southwest to Tierra del Fuego, brushing up on your Spanish travel phrases is the best way to explore the Western Hemisphere.SwahiliWhile many educated urbanites in East Africa speak English, the local lingua franca Swahili is an excellent way for culturally curious travelers to learn about the peoples and cultures of the African Great Lakes region.RussianWhile English will get you through most of Western Europe okay, somewhere east of Germany Russian becomes the language with the widest geographic range. From the Balkans to Siberia, youll encounter Russian speakers and other Slavic languages that your Russian will give you initial insight into.FrenchWh ile its range is limited inside Europe, French is one of the most useful travel languages outside the continent. Still the official language of many countries throughout North and Central Africa and a popularly learned language across much of the world, French travel phrases spoken to the right people can be of use as far and wide as Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia and the Atlantic coast of the United States.Preserve Our Linguistic Heritage: Learn a Minority or Endangered LanguageWhen most of us consider learning a new language, we limit ourselves to the usual suspects, but in some ways its even more important for passionate language learners to pay a bit of attention to the worlds obscure languages.Of the worlds 7,000 languages, about half of them are expected to die out by 2050 as younger generations of speakers opt to learn bigger and more economically-promising national languages. Finding resources for studying endangered languages can be a challenge, but its not impossible. Here are a few examples of languages that are dying for new learners.DakotaOne of the largest living Native American languages, Dakota and the related Lakota language are spoken in the Upper Midwest of the US and parts of Canada. Efforts at revitalizing the language are vibrant, and you can even study it at several universities in  Minnesota.Khoi-SanThe collective name for the famous group of click languages spoken in southern Africa, the Khoi-San languages spoken by people groups like the San of Namibia are rapidly dying out under the forces of development and urbanization, and along with them vital information about not only these peoples and their cultures but a truly unique group of languages.BasqueThe language isolate spoken in Northern Spain has long puzzled linguists with its lack of known ties to any other world language, and if more learners dont pick up the language, it may not be around long enough to find the answers we seek about the worlds cultural heritage.Basque is only considered vulnerable today and is currently enjoying a Basque language renaissance, but sandwiched between big global languages like Spanish and French, its future looks shaky without an influx of motivated language learners.The Means Is the EndHopefully as you read through this list, you realized not only that theres no one language that you should learn, but also that theres no one reason for you to learn it.Languages touch on so many other areas of our lives, from jobs and friends to the food we eat and the way we see the world around us, that we should never think of them just as tools or means to an end.Learning a language is for life, and the means is the end.

The Benefits of Student-Led Learning in International Schools

The Benefits of Student-Led Learning in International Schools By Kathy DeadyFinally, international educational bodies are recognizing that teaching methods need to evolve drastically in response to changing demands and the constant progression of information technology. Recent education reforms in Europe and the Middle East have acknowledged the need for progressive innovation in this area, with a particular focus on the potential for student-lead learning to become a more significant component of the schooling experience. Student-lead learning is exactly as it sounds. Although teachers remain in the classroom to provide guidance on subject areas and to oversee quality, the control of the learning experience is handed over to the students. They are encouraged to teach themselves and their peers by undertaking their own study and research, then sharing their findings with others.  A recent pilot study at a Avans University in the Netherlands, showed that handing the lead to students raises grades, increases attendance and enhances overall stude nt engagement. The experiment began with the finance department, whose lecturers had decided radical action was needed to improve a typical attendance rate of just 50% in each class, and the poor exam performance as a result.Students were divided into groups to present different topics and were given free reign to structure their classes as they wished. It was noted that some classes took a creative approach, using interesting ways of presenting information, some groups held practical sessions, for example, one based their session around an entertaining, popular Dutch game show format. The variety of lesson structure attracted more and more participants every week, with a renewed eagerness amongst the students to get involved during each session.The benefits of this model of learning in the international classroom may be especially of value. The diverse range of student backgrounds in attendance means the contribution potential is huge. Firstly, when students take the lead, they’r e likely to concentrate on ideas around a given concept that interest them, both allowing them to engage with the topic from a more unique perspective than the typical curriculum focus, and allows for greater depth of understanding. Students tend to have a more natural connection with their classmates than a teacher, as they communicate with them in a way that is relevant, on a level that their generation and ability level will understand, by using appropriate language and actions.Subsequently, when students find learning more accessible, it encourages them to become more active learners and opens their minds to new ways of thinking. Sparks for discussion and debate, critical for enriching the learning experience. Presenting to a group of people builds personal confidence and develops essential oral communication skills which are ever more important in school and the workplace. Collaboration with classmates and taking the lead builds stronger relationships and respect between peers, which in turn improves student participation and boosts morale. It is surprising how well students perform and gain interest, given a little responsibility. Giving students to do things how they like has such a positive impact on their education.Even more good news is that incorporating a student-led approach in the classroom is as simple as it is effective. Students need to be set clear expectations from the start, but otherwise encouraged to use creativity and initiative in their presentations. Ask them to set goals for their project, consider ways they can involve their audience and evaluate their success afterwards. In the years to come, and with developing technology, we can no doubt expect to see students having much more autonomy over their day-to-day learning experience.For more information, ideas and resources on student-led learning, check out:Teach Hub: Student-Led Instruction StrategiesASCD: Student Directed Learning

A Level results are out!

A Level results are out! ...and the feedback is pouring in! Many congratulations to everyone - we wish you all the best for the future! Today Isabelle received her A level results and thanks to Huw, she improved her grades from D E at AS to B B at A2 [...] and has been accepted into her first choice university! I have achieved an A in A Level Spanish thanks to Dean!! He brought me up from a low C to an A, thank you so much for getting me into university! Emma's help and tutoring improved ability and confidence in my daughter who has now secured a place at her firm offer university. I've just got my results, A*. Rachel played a huge part in this as I was really struggling to master the exam technique and had an overall D when she started working with me. I cannot thank Yass enough for all the help he gave me in the the run up to my A level chemistry; I am delighted to have achieved an A grade, which I don't think I could've achieved without his help. Our son Conor was working at a Grade D in Economis A Level, with two Months or so before his final exams. We employed James to help in improving his grade for re-sits and his final exams. Conor attained a Grade B this morning thanks to James' help and support. My AS results improved by 2 grades! This would not have been possible without Brian's help. My daughter was at a C grade for her A level Psychology when she started seeing Helen. She has just received her A level results with at A grade in Psychology and 96% in her final module! Before Adam started our son was failing in chemistry but by the time of the final exams he was confident and performing at a high level. Thank you Louisa. M got the grades she wanted but would not have got without your guidance. My daughter sat her geography unit 2 paper in january where she achieved a high D and wanted a higher grade, with the amazing help from Mr Richards she gained a high A!! Amram, my friend you are a legend! Both Melissa and Ronald have scored A* in Physics and Mathematics. My whole family is extremely thankful to you. From a D to an A! Our daughter had been predicted an A at A level in History, but was seriously struggling to achieve her potential. Having received a D in one of her modules, and similar in a retake, her University place looked in jeopardy. Antonia showed her how to develop her exam technique, to plan her answers, and to focus her knowledge effectively during the exam. Today was A level results day, and our daughter has her A in history. The module she'd struggled with, she'd retaken and received 78/80. Antonia's tuition was invaluable.

The Best Private English Tutor in Westminster

The Best Private English Tutor in WestminsterIf you're looking for the best private English tutor in Westminster, you have come to the right place. At Tutoring Centre Westminster, we've been a source of excellent tutors for generations and we know what it takes to make your learning experience exciting, rewarding and ultimately educational.Tutoring Centre is conveniently located in a convenient location, just a short drive from Guildford Town Centre. A short distance away is the Westgate Shopping Centre, and just a few minutes' walk from the center is Westwood Gardens.Tutoring Centre Westminster is situated in a plush atmosphere with a staff of friendly, well-trained tutors, that will help you gain the confidence that you need to go out and conquer your next step of learning. Our experienced teachers are proud to provide such comprehensive training, and will treat you with respect and dignity. We offer an exceptional service, and with our guidance, you can concentrate on those aspect s of your life that you really want to improve.Tutoring Centre Westminster has tutors on site to work with you on a weekly basis and they are always available to help in your learning as long as you are available to work with them. Our tutors are prepared to work with you as you progress through your learning plan.We take pride in providing excellent quality professional guidance from the very beginning, from the initial consultation all the way through to your first lesson with your tutor. It is our practice to provide the very best practice in the delivery of personal tuition.Tutoring Centre offers top notch tutoring, using effective methods to help you learn whatever your learning aim is. We also use the most recent advanced methods to make your education easier and more successful. Your tutors understand your learning style and will tailor-make your education to meet your needs.Tutoring Centre Westminster offers a one-stop facility where you can learn all of the above and more. And when you complete your experience there you can leave feeling proud of yourself and ready to do the same things when you have time to spare. Why not visit us today and find out why so many people choose to use the tutoring service that Tutoring Centre Westminster provides.