English Tutoring - Utilizing English Programs in Buda

English Tutoring - Utilizing English Programs in BudaThere are plenty of reasons why Buda tutoring is effective. Buda is known as one of the top 10 cities in the world for its various educational institutions. And, while the numbers of foreign students attending those institutions have steadily increased over the past few years, it's the native English speaking tutors who have managed to gain in popularity.Buda is a large city, with more than three million residents. Many of these people are looking for tutors who speak their native language so that they can earn their degree in English as a second language.But as you might be aware, the local institutions offering such classes are normally the only ones that they will be able to find in Buda. This is especially true if they live in a town where English is not the primary language. It's the English speakers who are often the ones who attend the schools in the surrounding areas, as they are the ones who know how to communicate in Engl ish.So, what should you do in order to make sure that you will be able to find a tutor who can speak English in Buda? There are several ways in which you can find such tutors. For example, you can go online and check for the names of tutors whose courses are offered in the area. Or, you can visit local centers that offer online tutoring and ask the tutors there about English teaching classes in Buda.If you're on a tight budget, you might want to consider enrolling in an English tutoring program offered by a center or institute that is affiliated with Buda's local school. This way, you will get full tuition but also gain access to the other services that are offered at the school. Also, since the schools in Buda are generally free to enter, you will save a lot of money on tuition.A lot of people think that to enroll in an English program offered by a school in Buda is an unnecessary expense, especially when the school itself is free. However, it's important to note that a lot of time and effort are required in order to run a school and it's up to the students to help in paying for all these costs. While there are people who would still prefer to save money by using private tutors, it's hard to deny the fact that a Buda school can certainly help you in learning English faster.Buda is a place where you can meet people from around the world, learn new things and continue to enjoy your city. Whether you choose to enroll in an English class offered by a school in Buda or one that is affiliated with a center or institute in the city, you will certainly benefit from the time and effort that has been put into planning and organizing the course. And with the wide range of services that are offered by these schools, you are bound to feel that learning English is an excellent investment.

What Is Social History

What Is Social History Social History: What Does It Entail? ChaptersWhat is Social History?What Are Some Aspects a Social Historian Studies?Social History, Economic History and Political History: ConclusionsGender Studies: Re-Evaluating Social HistoryNot interested in political history and the rise and fall of Empires? Curious about how people lived in ancient societies on a day-to-day basis? Then maybe social history is the thing for you.History of MigrationYou might wonder why the history department of a university would be interested in migration.Migration has shaped history since the Early Man first left Africa to colonize the world. To show you their importance, here are some of the great migrations that shook Europe and the Mediterranean and influenced its cultural history:The Sea People migration in the Bronze Age (1200-900 BC) which contributed to the Late Bronze Age Collapse, during which several large Empires of the time including the Hittite Empire, the Mycaenian Kingdom and the Egyptian Empire of the New Kingdom.The Dark Age migra tions, due in part to pressure from the expanding empire of the Huns, led through a process of attrition to the fall of Imperial Rome. The Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain was a migration - the evidence of archaeology suggests that rising poverty drove them from the shores of Germany. These migrations shaped the world of Medieval Europe.Migration to the New World - with its heyday starting in the seventeenth century - had a profound impact on the native societies and led to the creation of the countries of the modern world.The Saxons came to England during a wave of migrations that changed the political map of Europe. Photo credit: EccyLad on Foter.comModern history is also shaped by migration - as evidenced by the internationally destabilising effect of the current immigration crisis in Europe and the US.Studying the history of migrations is understanding how different cultures shaped and influenced our own both from the point of view of history and that of anthropology, rethinking what we think is “British” or “European” in view of ethnic influences and looking at the world from a wider perspective.Read more about the History of diplomacy.Social History, Economic History and Political History: ConclusionsSocial history doesn’t exist in a vacuum - it is influenced by a lot of factors. Economics is one of them.Whether in the twentieth century or the second, economic factors are one aspect to have influenced social phenomena - and vice-versa. The creation of centralised workshops and the specialisation of artisans as a profession made trade easier, while the increasingly widespread use of banks made it possible to do business on a truly international scale, making the merchant class a true force in politics. Poverty breeds dissatisfaction and revolution (ask the French), while the growing working class during the Industrial Revolution of the Victorian age brought a new type of consumer to the market and a new social stratus ready for reform and eager t o break with tradition - eager for a voice of their own in a democracy.Revolution is often an agent of social change. Photo credit: Crethi Plethi on Foter.comThe Cold War fought between capitalism and communism, a clash of both political and economic ideological views, spurred on the race to the moon and fuelled advancements in technology that, in turn, bolstered the economy, at least for a while.Today, the common conflict throughout American history between the concept of a welfare state and unbridled capitalism, a debate raging since Industrialization came across the Pond in the nineteenth century, is coming to a peak.So when you are studying social issues, don’t shy away from a comparative approach. Whether it be political history or intellectual history, history of philosophy or even archaeology for the material remains - it’s all connected. If you want to study social history, consider taking courses in another social science among the humanities. Sociology is another good discipline to gain a theoretical background that will help you find new approaches for studying social phenomena from an interdisciplinary point of view.Gender Studies: Re-Evaluating Social HistoryGender studies often focus on women in history, but generally observe gender roles in society. Photo credit: Kaptain Kobold on Foter.comAn interesting evolution in intellectual historiography is the rediscovery of the role of women within history. Technically, Gender Studies is the study of the relative roles of men and women throughout the centuries; however, the fact that even up to early modern times the study of history focused almost entirely on the male side of the question (unless the woman happened to be in a politically significant role), means that a great many of the themes of modern gender studies centre around rehabilitating women in history and exploring their narrative - from the queens behind the thrones to the role of domestic production within the economy.

The Hidden Key to College Admissions Success Staying Organized

The Hidden Key to College Admissions Success Staying Organized ACT SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog Better organization skills can benefit almost anyone in any stage or area of their life. When some people hear the word organization their first thought is about home organization and a big box store specializing in ridiculously overpriced closet-systems. There are others who seem to find happiness in staying organized; these are the folks who are constantly making lists and crossing things off of them. For students, developing organizational skills is inherent to achieving academic success whether as a high school freshman studying for final exams for the first time, or a junior taking the first steps in the college admissions process. Applying to college can be particularly overwhelming due to the numerous requirements and deadlines. This process takes place simultaneously with taking AP Exams and working to maintain your GPA among feelings of “senioritis.” The college application process can contain ALL of the following: School Selection Visits Taking the ACT or SAT Selecting Potential Majors/Areas of Study Writing College Admissions Essays Requesting Letters of Recommendation Requesting ACT/ SAT scores be sent to Colleges Requesting Transcripts be sent to Colleges Composing a CV or Activities List Applying for Financial Aid Scholarships Accepting Admissions offers sending deposits This can be a daunting and confusing process. Remaining organized is imperative in order to successfully complete and submit college applications in a timely manner. TIMELINE MASTER TO DO LIST First, create a timeline detailing when you will tackle each task on your list. Breaking the application process into chunks like this makes the whole process more manageable and less stressful. Spring of Junior Year Summer of Junior Year Fall of Senior Year Spring of Senior Year Utilize a task management app such as Google Tasks or ToDoist to track your progress. COLLEGE LIST Which schools will you be applying to? Are they on the Common Application? Finding this out is necessary, as it will save you from unnecessary work, the Common App is a central application from which you can apply to multiple schools. You write a single essay and upload all application materials once for schools which participate in the Common App. For schools not on the Common App, you will need to visit their Admissions website and read their specific Requirements. TECHNOLOGY We are in the technology age, be sure to use tools to help keep you on track! Create a separate email, solely for College correspondence. This way, important reminders will not get lost amongst the daily advertisements and junk mail that clutters our inboxes. Separating your personal email from your professional email will ensure you do not miss any important messages! Set appointments in Google Calendar reminding you well in advance of deadlines for applications and scholarships. For extra accountability, share your calendar with a parent or mentor to help you remain on track. Create School Specific folders on your computer’s desktop or in an an online platform like Google Docs or Box, to separate essays and other information unique to each application. CHECKLIST Breakdown your Master To Do List by school, compose a Spreadsheet like the following: Application Deadline University or Program Essays (Prompt, word count) Letters of Recommendation (Accepted?) Scholarships (Require additional essays?) Test Scores Sent Transcripts Sent Be sure to check off items as you complete them, you can also use a service like Naviance, an online platform with the capability of tracking all elements of the College Admissions process. You can usually obtain an account through your school’s College Counselor.These are some tips to get you started, Good Luck! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lisa is a PhD student in History at the University of Illinois-Chicago and a Managing Tutor with MyGuru. She has helped many students navigate the college admissions process and write more compelling personal statements and application essays.

Learn English Second Conditional with this Song

Learn English Second Conditional with this Song I really cant believe that it took me all this time to think of Lyle Lovetts If I had a Boat as a great way for students to learn English second conditionals.Then today I was giving a class to a student, trying to think of examples of the second conditional, when I remembered these lines from the song.If I had a boat, Id go out on the ocean,And if I had a pony, Id ride it on my boat.Both of these use the English second conditional to express an idea in the present or future that is not likely or impossible. It is constructed in the following ways:If Clause:  If + past simple (Note: It isnt really the past simple it is the subjunctive which indicates a mood or feeling. The mood or feeling that it indicates is that it is unlikely or impossible.)  Result Clause:  modal verb + infinitive:If I were Paul, I wouldnt work so hard.If Clause:  If + Past Continuous Result Clause:  modal verb + infinitive:If I were going to the store, I would buy you some ice cream.Studying English grammar that way can be very boring, so thats why I like to help people learn English with songs. Heres a great one to help you remember your second conditionals:

Get Downloading! 17 Language Learning Apps for Becoming Fluent

Get Downloading! 17 Language Learning Apps for Becoming Fluent Get Downloading! 17 Language Learning Apps for Becoming Fluent You bring it with you everywhere you go.You use it to pretend youre busy so you dont have to talk to people.Its practically glued to your hands.Yes, your phone may be one of the best things thats ever happened to you (or one of the worst), but can it be one of the best things that happens to your language education?Of course it can!With the right  language learning apps, phones become powerful tools for teaching your target language.And with the right app, you wont have to whip out your phone to pretend to look busyâ€"youll actually be busy learning useful language skills.Heres everything you need to know about how to learn a language with apps. How to Select the Best Language Learning Apps for YouPay attention to what languages are offered.Obviously, all apps offer different languages. Some apps may offer nearly any language you can name, while other apps may focus on just one language. Make sure you choose an app that teaches your target language!If youre studying to be multiling ual, there are other things to keep in mind, too. Lets say youre about to spend money on an app. Its crucial to find out whether one account gives you access to all the apps languages or you have to download and pay for a separate app for each language.Try multiple apps.Each language app  has a unique style and focus, so finding the best app for you will require some experimentation.Youll want to find an app that works with your level, goals and personal preferences. Luckily, testing out a variety of apps can help you improve your language skills and find the best apps to keep using.Test out all the features.When you find an app, dont just try one activity. Explore all of them.Even if the apps main feature doesnt float your boat, you might find that another feature makes the app worth keeping. For instance, some apps may have lessons that are just so-so, but they have useful learning games.Read reviews.Reading reviews of apps can give you additional insight into the pros and cons of each resource. This can be a quick way to preview what you can expect from the app.How to Get the Most Out of Language Learning AppsUse multiple features of each app.It can be tempting to just use your favorite feature, but this could limit the scope of your studying. Many apps, particularly ones that offer multimedia courses, are designed to support well-rounded skills. However, to do so, youll probably need to use more than one feature.For instance, if you only study vocabulary in the app, you might be missing out on valuable speaking and listening practice.Pair several apps together.Not every app is perfect for every skill, so your best bet might be to group several apps together. For example, you could pair an app that focuses on reading with an app that focuses listening so that you can develop both skills.Even if you have one go-to app that you feel gives you all the skills you need, using additional apps is still beneficial. Each app can provide a different context and forma t. Experiencing your target language in a new light can make your language skills more flexible.Enable notifications.Some apps offer notifications. If so, go ahead and enable them! These notifications serve as useful study reminders that can ensure you work some studying into your schedule every day.Get friends in on the act.If you have other friends who are studying your target language, encourage them to download the same app as you! You can discuss the material, challenge each other to learn more quickly and hold each other accountable on progress toward your goals.With apps that offer multiple languages, you might even be able to partner with friends studying a different language than you. While you wont be able to discuss the material, you can still challenge each other and create greater accountability.Get Downloading! 17 Language Learning Apps for Becoming FluentLanguage Apps with Multimedia CoursesMemriseAvailable: iOS | AndroidIf youre looking for a multimedia language cour se that keeps you on your toes with varied activities, Memrise has you covered! Memrise offers tons of awesome features to help learners develop well-rounded skills.Want to improve your pronunciation? Memrise allows you to record yourself and compare your pronunciation directly against that of a native speaker.Need some listening practice? Memrise offers on-the-street video clips with native speakers.Want to take a break from studying without taking a break from learning? Memrise offers  practice games that test vocabulary and listening skills.You can even download your course to learn offline, making Memrise a convenient option for your next plane trip.Memrise is formatted to allow you to study just five minutes a day, but obviously, you may want to study for longer than that.FluentUAvailable: iOS | AndroidLearning with authentic materials is a great way to learn real language skills. However, it can also be super challenging.FluentU can help you bridge that gap by using real-world videos as powerful learning tools. FluentU offers authentic videos, like commercials, news, music videos and more.But if you cant pick up everything you hear, no worries! Each video comes with annotated subtitles, so youll always have easy access to any words definition, example sentences and images. If you want to see a word in a different context, FluentU can even show you other videos across the site that use that word. Want to study the word more? Just add it to your vocabulary list.When youre ready for a break from watching videos, try FluentUs quizzes! Quizzes combine videos, images and example sentences into interactive activities and flashcards for an engaging learning experience.Whatever your current learning level, FluentU can help you advance your skills. FluentUs algorithm tracks your learning to present you with level-appropriate questions that build on what youve already learned. That means everyones experience is 100% unique!You can also enjoy FluentU however its con venient for you, whether you use FluentU online, check out the iOS app or download the Android app.busuuAvailable: iOS | AndroidCrunched for time? Try busuu!This app aims to help you learn to speak a language in just 10 minutes a day. To do so, it provides over 1,000 lessons and some great features, like speech recognition and personalized study plans.If you need a more personal touch, you can even connect with other users, including native speakers, for feedback on your reading and speaking.And dont worry about entering a dead zone! You can just download lessons to enjoy without Wi-Fi.BabbelAvailable: iOS | AndroidBabbel wants you to become conversational quickly.With lessons that replicate real-life interactions and audio by native speakers, youll likely find yourself getting more comfortable with your target language pretty quickly. Not only that, speech recognition technology enables you to participate in the dialogues, thereby building your speaking skills.Have you ever forgott en material you worked so hard to learn? Babbels review sessions can be a great tool to prevent that from happening again.Mango LanguagesAvailable: iOS | AndroidIf you like to move at your own speed, check out Mango Languages for a self-paced option.Mango Languages offers an array of great learning features. For instance, native-speaker dialogues and simulated real-world conversations aim to provide useful language skills you can use in everyday life.You can also record your pronunciation and compare it directly to that of a native speaker to fine-tune your accent. Plus, through Mango Languages, you can learn about vocabulary, grammar and culture.And theres a major bonusâ€"while Mango Languages is a subscription service, your local library may already have a subscription, so check to see if your library card gets you free access before signing up on your own!Mango Language offers 70 language options, so theres a strong chance your target language is one of them.MondlyAvailable: iOS | AndroidA combination of speed and well-rounded learning set Mondly apart as a unique app you may just fall in love with.Mondly aims to provide a balanced learning experience, seeking to build your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills through lessons, speech recognition and native audio.The main focus of Mondly is learning through realistic conversations, which is a great way to develop functional language skills you can use in real life.Mondly offers 33 languages. And unlike most learning apps, you can select the language you speak. This means if you would rather receive your instruction in a language other than English, you can, which is particularly useful for non-native English speakers looking to learn languages.DokiAvailable: iOS Dont like grammar? Dont want to read? Doki might be the app youve been looking for.Doki focuses on helping users develop language skills through animated scenarios and interactive activities. Its intended to teach both children and adults everyday vocabulary that they can use in real life.The focus is on basic skills, so Doki is most appropriate for beginning learners. It focuses on speaking and listening and provides plenty of travel-related scenarios, so its particularly useful for those looking to learn a language for a trip abroad.Rosetta StoneAvailable: iOS | AndroidRosetta Stone is a big name in language learning, and its features dont disappoint!Rosetta Stones mobile apps offer interactive lessons in clear context, making it easy to see how what you learn could apply in the real world. Because the app is meant to simulate immersion, it can be an effective and engaging learning tool.Plus, Rosetta Stones apps are designed to be use for just 10 minutes per day, so its easy to squeeze in language learning.Language Apps for Gamified LearningDuolingoAvailable: iOS | AndroidDuolingo is a free learning option that acts a lot like a game.Each lesson offers a mixture of interactive activities to hone your reading, writi ng, speaking and listening skills. You dont do the same type of activity twice in a row, so Duolingo keeps you on your toes. The app is appropriate for beginning through advanced students, though advanced students will have to complete tests to prove their skills.With Duolingo, youll earn lingots you can use to purchase special features, so youll have extra learning incentive.50LanguagesAvailable: iOS | Android50Languages is a learning app that teaches beginning students basic vocabulary. And what better way to do so than through games?Thats rightâ€"in addition to more conventional lessons, 50Languages offers games to help language learners practice their vocabulary and test their skills. Youll experiences quizzes, find-the-opposite activities and more.DropsAvailable: iOS | AndroidIf youre an avid gamer with a need for speed, Drops might be your perfect fit.Drops focuses on interactive activities designed to help beginning language students learn vocabulary. Youll find yourself spel ling words, connecting an image to its meaning and swiping frantically.Drops uses five-minute sessions, which provide extra motivation to stay focused the whole time. Its super easy to fit into busy schedules!ClozemasterAvailable: iOS | AndroidWant a challenge? Clozemaster can fit the bill.Clozemaster will ask you to complete sentences with the appropriate words. Meanwhile, your score will add up. Theres a leaderboard, so competitive language learners could really get a lot out of Clozemaster.And because Clozemaster offers a nice selection of vocabulary and sentences, its appropriate for beginning through advanced language learners.FlashAcademyAvailable: iOS | AndroidWith FlashAcademys bright colors and fun activities, it could certainly appeal to children studying languages. However, the app is also terrific for adults who like a good time.FlashAcademy offers interactive word games, comprehension practice and more. Lessons are designed to take just five to 10 minutes, so its great for anyone who doesnt have much time to commit to studying.FlashAcademy is appropriate for beginning through advanced students, so theres no excuse not to start playing right away!Language Apps That Develop Special SkillsBeelinguappAvailable: iOS | AndroidDo your reading and/or listening skills need some work? Then Beelinguapp is an unbeelievable option for you.Beelinguapp focuses squarely on reading and listening practice. The app provides side-by-side texts in your target language and English, making it easy to refer to the English text for some quick help.But the learning doesnt stop there! The texts are also accompanied by an audiobook. The text is highlighted in a karaoke-like style, making it easy to read along as you listen.Because you can lean on English text as much or as little as you want, Beelinguapp is appropriate for beginning through advanced students.TripLingoAvailable: iOS | AndroidLooking to learn a language for your next vacation? TripLingo is a great option.TripL ingo is designed specifically for travelers. The language instruction it provides focuses on phrases travelers may need, including slang. The app also provides quick translation and a handy phrasebook you can use in a pinch.In addition to the language materials, TripLingo provides additional resources travelers can use to make their trips go more smoothly, including cultural lessons, a currency conversion calculator and more.LingvistAvailable: iOS | AndroidLingvist is an app dedicated to building your vocabulary. With thousands of words in the app, theres plenty to learn!To help you learn vocabulary, Lingvist offers some useful features, including flashcards, speech recognition and pronunciations by a realistic virtual voice.Lingvist adapts to your level, so its appropriate for any level of language learner. The app currently offers French, German, Russian and Spanish, so if youre studying one of these popular languages, Lingvist could be a good app option for you.Léa KnowsAvailabl e: iOS | AndroidDo you ever wish you would never forget a word in your target language again?  Léa Knows has the same goal for you!To help you pursue that goal,  Léa Knows brings you a helpful flashcard app to reinforce vocabulary.But this isnt just a standard flashcard app. It also has a built-in dictionary! Any time you look up a word in that dictionary, it will automatically be added to your flashcard set so you can study it more later.Now, this sounds a little dangerous. What do you do once you have too many flashcards? Well, theres nothing to worry aboutâ€"you can just organize your flashcards using lists, making it easy to access your words of choice whenever you want.With these 17 apps for learning languages, your phone can offer you so much more than a quick escape from the world around you. It can infuse your everyday life with unparalleled language learning!

My Teaching Rationale and Philosophy

My Teaching Rationale and Philosophy To be successful in learning a physical science course, memorization should be minimal and limited to conventions, nomenclature, and practiced solely through listening, reading, and writing. The aim, rather, is tounderstandthe concepts; even better, toapplythe concepts to understand new concepts, or still better, tocreatenew ideas from the application of the learned concepts. As an instructor, I always consider the required depth of learning in each one of my physical science classes, in each one of the concepts individually, based onBloom's Taxonomy, before designing the course syllabus. It's only then that analignmentbetween course learning objectives and assessments is possible for the most efficient learning.Traditionally, it is known that the best strategy to tackle confusions in the process of learning, among students, is to have the courage to ask questions during class or else through email accompanied by a re-statement or reflection summary of what is understood in student†™s own word. However, time is changing and society’s norms as well. Not all students feel comfortable participating in the classrooms. There are times when the instructor has to interfere directly through careful use of technology in order to trigger students' enthusiasm on the subject and guide their cognitive reasoning. Research has shown that frequent quizzing and effective feedback go a long way in the process of learning scientific concepts. Such environment can be created most efficiently via careful use of applicable technologies such asclickersandsmall-groupdiscussions.Our brain is wired such that bothknowledgeandskillare learned cumulatively based on our prior experiences. Despite the argue being made for either extremes of this two-sided spectrum, there must be a balance halfway in between. To create an environment where students would learn both the theoretical concepts as well as the required skills needed to apply those concepts in their later careers, as an instructo r, I believe that the presence of three elements is crucial: course syllabus, course website, and a Learning Management System. It’s only through these means that an instructor could create the best learning environment based on Universal Design Learning according to which materials should be accessible conveniently for every and each one of students regardless of their cultural background and different learning abilities.To facilitate learning, as an instructor, I use education technology carefully as a means to support learning experience through the realization of the way human brain works. Technology itself is neither a problem nor a solution; but rather the way it is utilized could be either a problem or a solution. For example, in the creation of course website and its contents including lectures for a classroom, utilizing desktop video/audio recording systems (e.g. Panopto) or virtual/web-based classroom environments (e.g. Zoom), I apply the concepts ofdual-codingwhile avoi dingcognitive overload. Research has shown that when the same learning materials are offered in more than one format (verbal, visual, etc.) simultaneously, then different parts of brain partake different tasks towards creation of a single concrete understanding of the concepts. However, it's important to not complicate the presentation means by including too many details overloaded.Physical sciences are the products of different cultures at different times over the course of history. History of science has taught us that our collective knowledge is a by-product of many brains that, at times, worked together but individually, always, worked critically. Therefore, it follows that anactive learningenvironment is one in which learners are enthusiastic about the subject. This will help them to enjoy the materials in the class allowing them to ask questions during lecture anytime they have problem understanding a concept. In my philosophy, asking a wrong question or giving a wrong answer has value in it more than keeping quiet; one who puts an effort into composing a question or an answer, by virtue, is in fact actively involved in the messy process of learning. The purpose of using technology in classrooms is to ensure that students are active learners. To aim for that purpose, I teach my students to thinkcritically. It's important for them to learn that they should question every and each step of their quantitative or qualitative analyses. As an instructor, I force them to do so by creating careful lecture slides or homework problem sets that have multiple parts all connected to each other logically and intellectually. This is doable through different quizzing technologies such as D2L Quiz or TopHat.I personally believe in the usefulness of theScholarship of Teaching and Learningin academic environments according to which the healthiest classrooms (traditional, online, or hybrid) are the ones that arelearner-centered. I commit myself to utilize the vastness of the available and prospect technologies to get students’ attention through careful design of pre-class, in-class, and after-class activities. Technology is an aiding agent for the instructor to facilitate teaching. Technology cannot be the sole facilitator of a classroom; it's merely a means in the hands of the instructor waiting to be used wisely.Regardless of my teaching experience, I have positive attitudes towards the physical sciences. I too am a learner in a sense. Each semester indeed gives me an opportunity to learn about diverse backgrounds, cultures, thought processes, etc. I am increasingly learning about my teaching as well as my students.

Creative writing comes naturally and cannot be developed. Is this true - ALOHA Mind Math

Creative writing comes naturally and cannot be developed. Is this true Children’s thoughts are full of imagination and curiosity but they often find it uncomfortable to pen down their thoughts, whereas writing can be an excellent exercise for kids to let out their thoughts and pictures they construct which a mere image of their personality and creativity. Most kids today dread the thought of writing, even after all the writingexercisesthey do in school they often see it as tedious process. And in this digital age of email, text messaging and social networking, kids’ tolerance for writing anything longer than a few characters is being severely tested. It’s very important today to encourage Kids to start writing, learning how to spell and following rules of grammar and punctuation at a very early age as being able to write and write well is an essential skill for all ages. You can easily get your kids to start early by introducing them to writing games that are fun for them. Learning to write well through a creative manner will not only help them overcome their inhibitions of writing but will also make writing an enjoyable task for them. To get started here are few ideas how to get your kids to start enjoying writing: Persuasion Game: Get your kids to write a letter whenever they want something from you like a toy or a pizza night it could be anything and also why they deserve it (a sense of accomplishment comes in here). This surely can persuade them to write and bring out the quality of requesting and gratitude as well. Retrospect Game: Dedicate half an hour every Sunday morning with your kids looking back at the past weeks activities and pick out the activity your kid enjoyed the most. Now make them write about it and give them points on details and descriptions the closer they get to the entire picture the higher they score. To motivate them you reward them appropriately. This also brings about the quality of attention to details. Description Game:This is a game you can play with your kid daily.Get your kids to draw/ read out characters. Once they have drawn or read they cannot go back erase or re-read means no details can be added. When the listeners has finished their drawings, show them to the reader and have the reader look for any missing details in each picture. This willhelp kids see which details they left out. This enhances their listening skills,reading skills as well as writing skills. Building on Game: Start writing a story with your kids. You should start the beginning two lines and every member of the family should add on to it, this creates a lot of excitement for the kids as every time a thought comes to their mind they would go on and add to it. This surely triggers the creative side of your kids and keeps them constantly thinking about new ideas to keep the story going.They dont want the fun to end. There are plenty games out there which you can churn out from the web. Another great way to get your kids to build on their writing skills is the Aloha’s reading and writing program they have a commendable structured program which motivates, stimulates young minds, and develops a passion for reading and writing spontaneously! For more details on them check out here: http://alohamindmath.com/program/reading-writing/ Go ahead share with us any other games that you have come across to build on writing skills.

4 Daily Ways to Totally Immerse Yourself in a Foreign Language

4 Daily Ways to Totally Immerse Yourself in a Foreign Language 4 Daily Ways to Totally Immerse Yourself in a Foreign  Language Think about how you learned how to ride a bike, swim at the pool or play hoops in your backyard.Nobody stuck a book under your nose and told you to read about bicycles, swimming or  basketball first.You learned these things through immersion.In other words, you learned by jumping in and actually doing the activity, and unsurprisingly, this is the best way to learn.This applies to nearly everything we want to learn, from cooking to starting a business, and especially learning a new language!The fundamental concepts of immersion are quite obvious. Learning by immersion is actually something we naturally do without much thought. Most of us learned how to speak our native language because we grew up around people (family, friends, etc.) speaking it around us. We didn’t consciously decide that we were going to immerse ourselves to learn the language, it just happened. Why Immersion Trumps Conventional Book  LearningA study was done by researchers from Georgetown University Medical Cen ter, where subjects were divided into two groups and were observed using a technique called electroencephalography (or EEG), which measures brain processing along the scalp.The two groups were both asked to study an artificial language. One group studied the language in a formal classroom setting while the other was trained through immersion.After five months, the results clearly showed that the immersed group displayed the full brain patterns of a native speaker. This is mind boggling, since 90% of committed language learners are still learning a language using the traditional classroom setting (and paying a premium price for it).The researchers also concluded that for adult foreign language learners to become as fluent as native speakers, they must think like native speakers.However, the fundamentals of immersion taught and provided to these study participants are not automatically set up for the rest of us when we try to learn a new language. This is mostly because the location w e live in prevents us from being fully immersed in the language every day. Perhaps there is a limited number of people (or absolutely nobody) speaking the language around us. Resources to practice might be hard to come by. Still more important, you might find yourself struggling to make room for language immersion in your daily schedule.Well, hang tightâ€"here we are going to explore four great ways to become totally immersed in any foreign language of your choice.4 Daily Ways to Totally Immerse Yourself in a Foreign  Language1. Make it a need instead of a wantThere is a big difference between want and need. While “want” is something that is pretty nice to have, a “need” is something you cannot live without.“Want” can often be confused for external needs, such as impressing those around you, sounding smart or feeling better about yourself. Meanwhile, a “need” comes from within and serves as intrinsic motivation that is long-lasting and sustainable.This is extremely i mportant to immersion. Think about how it feels (or how it might feel, if you have not yet had this experience) to be in a foreign country, completely surrounded by a foreign language you do not know. You need to start learning quickly, or you will not be able to eat, find a bathroom, locate your hotel or direct a taxi driver to your destination. To get immersion at home, you need to simulate this level of urgency and importance.So ask yourself: Why do you “need” to speak your target language?Then come up with at least three powerful reasons. Dig deep. These should be powerful enough to make you want to take immediate action in learning the language.Listening to the stories of language learners, here are some powerful stories I have heard people give to back up their language learning goals:Family needs:“Need to be able to communicate with my family members.”“Need to speak Spanish to have a deeper connection with my spouse.“Need to teach my child so they can be grounded in their cultural roots, before they forget the language.”“Need to learn in order to communicate with my boyfriends/girlfriend’s family.Travel needs:“Need to get around safely and avoid being taken advantage of as a foreigner while traveling.”“Need to learn in order to have a deeper cultural experience, and make the most of my travel experience.”Need to hear peoples stories and learn about their lives.“Need to learn so I can meet friends without worrying about being alone.”Need to study abroad to complete my major and find a worthwhile career that I love.Career needs:“Need to expand my knowledge because the world is becoming globalized with international business opportunities.”“Need to learn a second language to improve your resume for career advancement and additional opportunities.”“Need to work with clients who speak the foreign language, or I’ll be out of a job.”2. Absorb all information in your target languageStart by making a list of all the in formation you absorb throughout the day, from the moment you wake up to hitting the sheets for bed time.Heres what this might look like:You wake up, turn off the alarm on your smartphone  and quickly check up on messages.You turn on your computer and read emails or open up your social media profiles to see whats happening.You read a printed (or digital) newspaper over breakfast, on your commute or at work.You listen to radio in the car or a  podcast  while you walk around town.You get home after work and watch movies or TV shows, or you browse Netflix for a while.While at the gym, cooking or in the shower, you listen to your favorite music.That is a lot of language input! Seems like a waste to have that all in English, does it not?Now think of how you can change everything into the target language you want to learn.You could:Change your smartphones language setting.Change your computers language settings and enable a foreign keyboard layout.Find your favorite news source in your tar get language, or find a new newspaper from a country where the target language is spoken.Stream live radio broadcasts and download podcasts in the target language.Watch movies on Netflix with foreign language audio and English subtitles.Rock out to popular songs in your target language (i.e. Vivir Mi Vida â€" Marc Anthony  for Spanish learners!)Some changes will be small at first, but these changes accumulate into providing an immersive experience for you as time passes.The key to this strategy is that you do not  go out of your way to immerse yourself in activities that you normally do not do. Follow your daily routine to the minute, but just change the language setting on your life.This means that if you do not like reading newspapers, you will not go out of your way to read them. If you enjoy watching movies, continue to watch the movies you enjoy (do not even change the genre) and use tools like Netflix to listen in the foreign audio with subtitles. If you love authentic, real-w orld video content in foreign languages, try using  FluentU  to track down great videos and learn actively from them with interactive subtitles and fun, varied learning exercises.Forcing yourself to do something you do not already  enjoy is one of the fastest ways to stop your learning journey, because your brain will quickly come to associate the foreign language with negative, boring and arduous  experiences, rather than positive ones.MosaLingua, which offers apps for learning Spanish, Italian, French, German and Portuguese, gives you access through its web app to a specially-selected library of native materials for learners, such as e-books and websites, which you can browse through with the aid of a translator tool. You can even save words and phrases you dont recognize as flashcards and review them later.Of course, if you are just starting to learn, this all may seem confusing for you at first. But as you accelerate your learning journey with a professional coach (or another me thod) you will start to make out a few words, then a few sentences, and before you know it, you will begin to understand a good portion of the foreign language information you are absorbing.3. Keep a journal (or blog)This may seem to be mainly beneficial for your writing skills, but improving your writing skills (in any language) will help you become a more effective communicator in both written and oral forms.If you already have a daily or weekly journal you write in, continue to write with  the same frequency, but do it in your target foreign language.If you do not keep a journal, then buy a blank one and start writing on a weekly basis. Then you can gradually increase the frequency as you feel more comfortable with the process. You can write about anything, including how you feel, what you are most excited about, what you plan to do today and what you have learned.If you would like more of a structure, you can borrow the five minute journal format. It is easy!  When you wake up, take five minutes to answer:Three things you are most grateful for today.What will make today great?I am… (something positive, for example: happy, strong, fearless, intelligent, a supportive friend, a great boyfriend/girlfriend, an entrepreneur, etc.)Then at night before you head to bed, answer:Three amazing things that happened today (and why).How could I have made today even better?*Feel free to adjust the questions as you wish. No length limit.The best part about following the five minute journal format is that you will not only improve your language skills, but you will feel happier, more grateful and more excited to explore your feelings about language learning and beyond. This will help keep you in the right frame of mind to keep learning.4. Work with a professional or a partnerLanguage is learned with people and used with people. That is its main purpose. This means that immersion in language learning does not  happen alone.For most of us who are not living in a foreign cou ntry, this leaves us with two options:Find someone who speaks the foreign language (and wants to learn your native language) and try to help each other out by spending half the time speaking one language and the other half speaking the other. This is known as a conversation exchange, and it can be highly beneficial.Work with a qualified teacher online.  Find someone who is professional, trained and 100% dedicated to helping you succeed.In summary, the biggest differences between the two comes down to money and time.Conversation ExchangePros:  You can make friends from around the world, and it is completely free!  Cons:  Your partner is a native speaker but not a professional educator.Conversation exchanges require some time investment on your part. It can take a significant amount of time to find the right partnerâ€"someone who is fluent in your target language and wants to learn your language. You also want someone who has a personality that meshes nicely with your own, who is in a location/time zone that is convenient for both of you and who has good time availability.From there, scheduling and keeping a consistent schedule to practice is also a burden at times, and from personal experience it is rarely sustainable. Language partners tend to come and go, as peoples lives, availability and levels of interest and commitment change. Of course, there is always a chance you will find a great, long-term practice partner, and maybe even someone you can stay with when you visit their home country (and vice versa).You also have to keep in mind that 50% of your time needs to be dedicated to helping the other person. So in a 60-minute session, you are actually practicing your target language for only 30 minutes.Lastly, your conversation exchange is a native speaker, not a professional trained to help give you proper feedback, correct all your mistakes, provide clear and thorough explanations for language lessons and guide you to the fastest ways of learning the languag e. But you never knowâ€"you might get lucky and find a partner whos capable of doing exactly that!Professional teacherPros:  Often leads to faster learning, saved time and better guaranteed accountability and success on your part.Cons:  This costs money, and you will not necessarily be building friendships with people.Working with a professional teacher allows you to receive 100% attention focused on helping you succeed, seamless scheduling experience to guarantee you availability when you are free, immediate feedback and constant accountability.We have seen that working with a professional will not only save you  from wasting time by accelerating your learning speed, but you can focus on what matters in your life, whether it is your work, family or your hobbies, instead of coordinating schedules and spending extra time teaching your  native language to someone else.Following these action steps, immersion can happen at the comforts of your own home.All it takes is a little creativit y, dedication and help from a native speaker or language coach.So now you have no excuse to wait until tomorrowâ€"you can start getting immersed in a foreign language right now!

How To Choose The Best Math Tutoring Center

How To Choose The Best Math Tutoring CenterIf you want to learn and master the concept of calculus and other math subjects in school, a high quality math tutoring center in Philadelphia is the perfect place for you. These centers are run by math teachers and offer personalized tutoring as well as programs for young students. They will guide you step by step and improve your learning ability.If you are unsure which center is right for you, one of the best places to start is by reviewing the criteria required for applying for the Depaul Math Tutoring Center. The standards that these centers need to meet are very high and they are a source of pride for parents and teachers. You will be able to learn and improve your understanding of math and prepare for a bright future.The center provides on-site tutoring for both young and adult students. The teachers are well trained and have years of experience in the field. Their program plans and curriculum are based on the subject and the needs of the students, so you can rest assured that you will get personalized attention and get the help you need.Many of the centers offer a variety of programs for students of all age groups. Whether you are an elementary student or a high school graduate, these centers offer a wide variety of activities to cater to your interests. This will ensure that you find something to suit your tastes and interests.Another advantage of the great centers is that they are completely confidential. Even if you feel uncomfortable discussing your personal life with a teacher, the staff won't even know. They are open about their programs and tuition fees, so you don't have to worry about being caught with your head in the sand.In addition to using the center at the local community college, you may also choose to enroll in a center online. There are several websites out there that offer valuable math and science tips and information that are perfect for those who are looking to get better at math. If you'r e still curious about the best option, start by looking up the criteria for the centers that you want to apply for and see what they offer.It is always helpful to have solid math skills in life. A math tutoring center in Philadelphia is the ideal place to get the learning experience you want.