Math Help Percent Solution

Math Help Percent SolutionFor a student trying to solve the math help percent solution, it is no wonder that there are many teachers and tutors that have become frustrated with this problem. While the teaching and practice are important, more of the tutors have a professional mentality and find it a bit too easy. Students are typically frustrated when they are having a hard time on math help percent solution and they are not doing the math themselves and do not know the solutions.But one thing is for sure, the math help percent solution is very important to students if they are to grasp the foundations of math and to solve for true. Math is a very vital subject for everyone and there are no excuses for it not being mastered. Every student must have this degree of understanding of algebra and math formulas and have an excellent grasp of elementary geometry as well.Most students learn their math help percent solution in elementary school or kindergarten, but in fact, most students do n ot complete all the elementary algebra before entering high school. The concept of solving for the term and percent is so important for a student to grasp for the job he or she will be doing when high school. One of the ways to be successful in math help percent solution is by taking the time to learn the solution, if the student already knows the answer. If the student does not know the answer, his or her teachers should be very gentle with the students to assist them in getting the answer.Once the student is done with the algebra equations and is on to the homework, there are certain times in the academic year where the solutions to these problems should be given to the student to help speed the process of learning the formulas. The algebra help percentage solution is a few equations, formulas, that appear in high school. When the student has mastered this, the student will probably begin to learn more math by way of reading and solving other problems.The great thing about algebra is that there is no minimum requirement for the student to have a degree of mastery in the subject. It is up to the student to work at it and is a great means to get a good grade in a subject. Students can begin with algebra class to show mastery in the subject, then they can move to the higher levels of a full course of study in algebra.It is important to understand that in order to understand the algebra formulas, the student must have the foundational knowledge of mathematical facts, since there are many procedures for manipulating mathematical data. The formulas used for solving for the percent solution for elementary algebra are generally the same as the formulas used for solving for the higher level algebra. There are many textbooks that can be found in the bookstores that have many tables and formulas to help the student.One important thing to remember when there is a math help percent solution is that the student is not supposed to simply solve the problems on his or her ow n, but to work with the teacher's assistant to help guide the student. It is important for a student to get the grade that he or she is supposed to, and the student should also work on the progress of the test and ask questions as the student has more time to read and study the solution. The math help percent solution is not meant to be a free ticket to have fun in class, but to get the student to be sure that they have mastered the algebra course of study.

Audition Anxiety and Putting Your Students First

Audition Anxiety and Putting Your Students First Suzy S. As a teacher, your job doesnt stop at the end of each lesson. Going out of your way to provide ongoing support and advice is one way the best instructors set themselves apart from the rest. Sometimes, its as simple as being a familiar face at an audition. Read on for NY voice teacher Deanna C.s story One of the most challenging aspects of music education is to get students to throw away performance nerves. For students in my area, this form of anxiety tends to be heightened each year when NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) season rolls around. As a music educator, it is your goal to help students overcome this fear by any means necessary. Success is met when your student’s needs become your first priority. One NYSSMA season, I had a student with severe performance anxiety. The day of her audition she called me in complete panic mode. In an attempt to calm her nerves, I cleared my schedule and had her come to my studio. We did warm-ups and then ran several mock auditions so that she knew exactly what to expect. While this seemed to alleviate some of the fear, she was still shaken up and asked if I would accompany her to the audition. Of course I said yes, knowing how helpful familiar faces can be during emotional times. After we were signed in, there was nothing left to do but wait until the judge was ready. She began to pace as her anxiety kicked into overdrive. I took her aside, hoping to distract her mind from the nerves. We went over last minute Italian pronunciations and the steps to make sight singing easier. The girl in the time spot ahead of my student was leaving the room, meaning we only had a few minutes left. Now it was time for a pep talk. I told her that I was proud of all the hard work and passion that she had put into her lessons. We had over-prepared for this audition so I knew that she would do extremely well. The judge was at the door calling her name, with a bright smile on her face. “See, she looks friendly! You can do this!” I whispered and gave her the thumbs up. She took a deep breath and then calmly walked into the audition room. After several weeks had passed, we received the audition results. Not only did my student receive the highest mark in her entire school, but she had also gotten a perfect score. I was so proud of her that I went out and purchased little treble clef earrings as a congratulatory present. I learned from this experience that when you put the students first, you will always have a positive outcome. As a teacher, I strive to be 110% aware of my students needs so that I can help them flourish as musicians. I love watching my students succeed because it gives me a sense of pride and I know that I have done well. Sign up for email updates here! Join thousands of other subscribers and get emails catered to your music interests with advice, tips and more! Deanna C. teaches singing, music performance, opera voice, and theatrical Broadway singing lessons to students of all ages in Massapequa, NY. She joined the TakeLessons team in June 2012, and her main focus is teaching opera. Sign up for lessons with Deanna, or visit TakeLessons to search for a vocal instructor near you! Photo by thepanamerican.

How to Survive the College Application Process Part One

How to Survive the College Application Process Part One Its August and youre about to dive into your senior year of high school. Its also time to jump into the college application process (if you havent already) which, at times, can be a little stressful. Over the next few months, youll write several essays, send many transcripts, and fill out seemingly endless piles of paperwork. Its a lot of workbut once youre done, the payoff is so sweet: admission into college and plenty of time to enjoy the remainder of your senior year of high school. Want to learn how to make it through as painlessly as possible? This first installment of a three-part series will explain how you can survive the college application process: 1. Start early When it comes to applying to colleges, the earlier you start, the better. Completing one college application by itself may take several hours. Many high school students apply to five to eight colleges, so applying to all the schools on your list is a significant time commitment. What you dont want to do is wait until the last minute to complete your applications. This will undoubtedly lead you to rush, and thats stressful. But besides the extra anxiety youll feel is the increased possibility of you forgetting to complete a part of an application (a common mistake). Take out your calendar now to set aside a schedule for working on your college applications, and stick to it. Set up a schedule that gives you enough time to complete your applications at least a week or two before theyre due to give you extra wiggle room to review and revise your applications before sending them in. 2. Educate yourself Its important to know the ins and outs of completing each application you plan on submitting. While many colleges rely on the Common App, each college has its own specific application process and requirements. It will save you time in the long run if you spend time now researching the application requirements of each college to which you plan on applying. 3. Stay organized Once youre familiar with colleges application processes, create a checklist that will help keep you on track. Write down the names of all of the colleges you plan on applying to. Then, beneath each colleges name, list its specific application requirements, such as an essay, a transcript, and letters of recommendation. As you go along filling out applications, you can easily cross the items you complete off your list. This can help ensure you dont forget any aspects of the applications you need to complete. Additionally, because it gives you a visual of the tasks you need to complete, keeping a list can help you better manage your time as the application process progresses (and gets busier!). 4. Dream big So youve started researching the application requirements of the various colleges to which you plan on applying. As you do this, you may notice that many colleges and universities publish the average standardized test scores and GPAs of accepted students. For some universitiesespecially Ivy League schoolsthese scores and GPAs are very competitive. But just because some colleges are tough to get into doesnt mean you shouldnt apply! Apply to a variety of schools, both those youre more confident about and those you may think are a stretchit doesnt hurt to apply to a couple of reach schools to further challenge and motivate yourself. After all, youll never know if you might be admitted into the school of your dreams if you never try applying! See Part Two of this seriesfor what to do next... Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

5 Ways to Stay Motivated During Finals Week

5 Ways to Stay Motivated During Finals Week Finals week can be a true test of your academic stamina. By this point in the semester, youre likely working double time to stay on top of your studies and maintain a positive mindset. As finals week quickly approaches, its key to find strategies to stay energized to succeed. Ways to stay motivated during finals week include focusing on your goals, following your study plan, and finding strategies to hold yourself accountable. Looking to successfully tackle your finals? Keep reading to learn five ways to stay motivated during finals week. 1. Stay motivated during finals week by remembering your goals Studying for your finals can feel like an endless battle, so its important to set goals and to stick to them. You may have a variety of different goals moving into finals week, such as: Are you trying to boost your math grade from a B to an A? Do you need to maintain a certain GPA to participate in a spring sport? Are you aiming to earn a specific grade in order to qualify for acceptance into a particular program? Whatever they may be, keep these goals in mind when you feel like you cant study anymore. Write down your goals in your student planner, or print them out and hang them up in your room. Do whatever you have to do to remind yourself of these important reasons to stay on track. [RELATED: How High School and College Students Can Setand AchieveAcademic Goals] 2. Stay motivated during finals week by sticking to your study plan You likely have a study plan in place that youve used throughout the semester. If not, now is a great time to develop one. Study plans can be broken down by class and can help you to accomplish all of your goals in an organized manner. When you have tests for multiple classes in a short period of time, it can quickly become overwhelming to remain organized. Write your study plan down, and check tasks off the list as you go. Remember, studying more doesnt always mean that youre studying smarter. Be honest with yourself about what you need to be working on and commit to that. Even when youre in the midst of finals week, keep returning to your plan so you dont forget anything. [RELATED: The Finals Week Survival Guide] 3. Stay motivated during finals week by holding yourself accountable Sometimes its hard to remain motivated on your own. Do you have some academically motivated friends? Organize an after-school study session to go over notes and challenging questions. Additionally, check in with your teacher to see if they offer office hours in which you could go and ask them questions outside of class. This is a great resource to use, especially for last minute questions. If youve been utilizing a tutor throughout the semester, consider scheduling a tutoring session during finals week so that you can get extra practice before your exams. These opportunities for accountability will help you keep going during the challenging parts of finals week. [RELATED: 6 Hacks to Make Finals Week a Little Less Stressful] 4. Stay motivated during finals week by getting a sufficient amount of sleep You can study all of the material, but if youre not getting enough sleep, you wont be able to recall it and synthesize it on the actual exam. Getting enough sleep starts with sticking to your study plan and avoiding late-night study sessions. Going along with getting sufficient sleep is making sure to eat and stay hydrated throughout the week. Taking care of yourself means that youll be ready to do your best work on your finals. 5. Stay motivated during finals week by reminding yourself how far youve come Although it may feel like it, finals week wont last forever. Its important to remember your goals and to find what motivates you to succeed. Hone in on how you can best use your time and help yourself do the best work. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Teaching Online Cooking Tutorials

Teaching Online Cooking Tutorials Can You Look to Cook Remotely? ChaptersWhat Equipment Do You Need to Teach Students How to Cook Online?What Are the Advantages of Online Cooking Tutorials?How Can You Plan an Online Private Cooking Tutorial?What Happens in an Online Cooking Tutorial?“Good cooking is honest, sincere, and simple” - Elizabeth DavidMany of us enjoy cooking. However, enjoying cooking and knowing how to do it are two very different things.Similarly, many people would like to become better cooks. Much like learning to play the piano, practice makes perfect and many people are ready, just like with the piano, to get lessons and learn how to cook.  Just like with music, dancing, or art, there are also plenty of different types of classes available: baking, organic cooking, molecular cuisine, Thai food, vegetarian cuisine, etc.  There’s something for everyone!Have you considered teaching students remotely via webcam?If this all sounds a little bit complicated, don’t worry! In this article, whether you want to set up an online cookin g school, teach online cooking courses, or become a private cooking tutor, we’re going to explain how you can broaden your client base and start teaching students via the internet. You don't need the latest technology but you will need reliable technology. (Source: Free-Photos)Firstly, you’ll need:A computer.A good quality microphone that captures clear audio.A good quality webcam so that your students can see what you’re doing.Good speakers or headphones so that you can hear your students.A good stable internet connection.Video conferencing software such as Skype which can be downloaded for free. Your student will also need to install the same software.PayPal to receive payments online. You can also be paid by bank transfer but PayPal tends to be much easier.You’ll also need the necessary space to cook. Ideally, you need somewhere near your computer where you can be clearly seen and work comfortably. It's hard to cook even simple recipes or any delicious recipes if you don't have space and it's even harder to run a cooking course if your students can't see what you're doing or how you're chopping and prepping the food.You’ll need to set up your compute r so that your student can see every part of your kitchen. If your webcam isn’t great, you can also use a real camera as many of them can be plugged into computers and act as webcams.If your kitchen isn’t big enough for this, there’s still hope. The important thing is to focus on certain parts of your cooking like cutting and preparing ingredients. It won’t matter too much if they can’t watch the food cooking in the oven.Before the start of your first lesson with a student, you should schedule a call to check that everything works fine. This takes just two minutes and can ensure that you won’t have anything to worry about during the tutorial.Learn more about private cooking tutorials.What Are the Advantages of Online Cooking Tutorials?There are several advantages to teaching students how to cook via webcam. For example, you won’t have to travel very far to get to an online cooking workshop or online cooking classes, which means you’ll save a lot of time. Similarly, y ou’ll save money on paying for fuel or public transport. You’ll also save your back from having to carry all your equipment to and from the tutorials. There are several advantages to teaching online cooking tutorials. (Source: Skitterphoto)With the time saved, you’ll also be able to be more flexible when it comes to scheduling sessions. It’s easier to schedule lessons during lunch breaks, on evenings, or at the weekend if you don’t have to spend an hour getting to them.  There are also no geographical constraints so you can teach students from all over the world as long as their connection is good enough.You’ll save money as your students will have to buy their ingredients as you won’t be bringing it with you and the same is true of their equipment and utensils.You can also teach several students at the same time. Ideally, though, you won’t want to teach more than three students at a time as you won’t be able to tailor the lessons to them as much. In any case, you’ll have to make sure they’re all at a similar level before you start teaching them.Find out how much you should charge for cooking tutorials.How Can You Plan an Online Private Cooking Tutorial?Before you teach an online cooking tutorial, you need to prepare. Set aside some time to talk to the student about how you’d like to teach them and what they’d like out of the lessons. Like cooking itself, you need to plan your online cooking tutorials. (Source: monicore)Tell them how you work, what the lessons are like, and your teaching approaches. Then, ask them about their objectives and how they think you’ll be able to help them. Finally, make sure you check what equipment they have, too.Do they have a toaster, blender, a microwave, etc.? How many pots, pans, and salad bowls do they have?Some people mightn’t have an oven or only a few hobs so you’ll need to adapt your recipes to each student and their equipment.  Talk to them about the recipes you’d like them to learn. You can also schedule the lessons during this time.A few days before each lesson, send a message to the student telling them which ingredients they’ll need to buy and what they’ll be making. You might also want to include advice for buying the best ingredients. For example, they’ll need to know how to tell if the produce is fresh, which are the best cuts of meat, etc.Tell them what will happen in the lesson, too. They won’t need the whole recipe but tell them what equipment they should have ready and give them time to find it or buy it, if necessary.Will they be using their oven or just the hobs?Make sure you mention the cooking techniques they'll have to use. After all, a student who's learning how to cook with online cooking classes mightn't be familiar with basic cooking, knife skills, or certain cooking methods and they might want to look these up before the lesson.A quarter of an hour before the lesson, get yourself and everything you’ll need ready so that you won’t waste any time during the lesson looking for stuff. Place your computer or webcam somewhere where it can see you at all times.Now you’re ready for your workshop! Get your hat and apron ready!Find out the best ways to find students for your cooking tutorials.What Happens in an Online Cooking Tutorial?So what exactly happens in an online cooking tutorial?You’ll have to make the dishes alongside your student. Choose a recipe that can be made within time. After all, you can't learn culinary skills if you don't finish the meal. After all, you won't know if your meals taste good or how you can improve. Make sure your students can see what they're supposed to be doing. (Source: Daria-Yakovleva)Err on the side of caution. For a recipe that takes you 40 minutes, it may take you and your student an hour.Additionally, you might need to take some time to explain a certain technique as an hour can go by quickly when you’re cooking. You’ll need to explain what you’re doing and how you do it. Explaining every step will take more time than just doing it from memory. Similarly, you’ll need to then wait for the student to copy. The goal is for them to successfully make the dish. If they can’t follow, they’ll get it wrong.  Allow some time for questions, too. Don’t go too quickly as they’ll run the risk of getting it wrong.Don’t choose overly ambitious recipes, either, especially if your student is just a beginner. Prepare your lessons ahead of time and try out the recipes so you can see how long they take.Beginners will be happy to create a simple home-cooked meal rather than something worthy of a culinary school. Recipes for meals like macaroni and cheese, poached eggs, roast chicken, frittata, risotto, coconut flan, tapas, fruit crumble, etc. are all great for students who want to learn to cook. However, if your meal requires a marinade, you might need to teach your student how to make it one lesson and finish it off during the following cooking lessons.You can also look for TV chefs and chefs on YouTube to get ideas of how to plan a good recipe for your online tutorials.So are you ready to start teaching online cooking tutorials? Or do you think it’s too complicated?

How to Stay Visible and Get Promotions When You Work Remotely - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How to Stay Visible and Get Promotions When You Work Remotely - Introvert Whisperer How to Stay Visible and Get Promotions When You Work Remotely Brie Weiler Reynolds January 28, 2015 Networking, Office Politics, Promotion No responses Go to top Does working from home mean you’re doomed to fade into the background and go unnoticed by your manager? Yes, working remotely does mean you get less facetime with managers and coworkers. But it doesn’t mean you can’t stay visible or get promotions and recognition for your hard work. Since remote workers are typically more productive than their in-office colleagues, it’s important to be proactive in sharing your efforts and results with the rest of your team. As a remote worker, to get the visibility, credit, and rewards you deserve, you need to learn how to communicate your accomplishments effectively with your team. Here are four tips for staying visible and getting promotions when you work remotely. Start Casual Conversations “Water cooler” conversations are one of the best ways to establish yourself as an integral member of a team. Working remotely has a lot of benefits, but isolation from the rest of your team isn’t one of them. To avoid becoming a hermit, it’s important to start conversations with your managers and coworkers. Don’t wait for them to come to you. Send coworkers messages on Monday mornings to ask how their weekends were. Pick up the phone to wish them a happy birthday. Make an effort to maintain your own version of a virtual water cooler conversation with the people on your team, and others in the company. The more “friendly” you are as remote worker, the less likely you are to be forgotten. (Like this thought? Tweet it!) Ask Questions When speaking with your manager, ask them clarifying questions about the projects you’re working on. This will show them that you’re on-task with your assignments, and that you’re paying attention to details and want to do a great job. There is one caveat to this tip be sure to ask quality, specific questions. If you ask too many questions about a particular project, people will begin to wonder if you know what you’re doing! Keep In Regular Contact Plan to send your manager a daily email at the end of each day (or week). The email should be brief, and give them an update on the tasks you’ve completed, the ones you’re currently working on, and what’s on your horizon. You want your manager to understand quickly, and without an overload of information, how much you’re accomplishing and your value to the team. The goal of this particular tip is to give your manager every reason to recognize and reward your hard work. Remote work or not, if you’re producing for the team and the company, you’re an asset they can’t afford to forget! Be Strategic in What You Reveal Most of these tips revolve around regular communication with your manager and your team. But it’s important to be strategic with those communications. Keep complaints and negative thoughts to a minimum, and focus more on having a positive, enthusiastic approach. If you do have a problem to discuss, try to bring solutions to the problem, rather than leaving it for your manager to figure out. Because your manager probably has somewhat less contact with you as a remote worker than they would if you worked alongside them in an office, you want to be sure the impression you’re making is as positive as possible. Finally, all of this chit chat and conversing is great, but when it comes down to it, you need to ask for what you want. If your goal at the end of the year is a raise or promotion, do your best work all year long to prepare. But when the time comes, you should also be prepared to request a promotion or raise, with the data and evidence to support your request. Because you’ve laid a solid foundation of communication all year long, staying visible and recognizable, your manager won’t be able to deny your contributions to the company, no matter how far away your home office happens to be. Go to top Have you ever worked remotely, or had a remote colleague? If so, what was that experience like? Image: Photobucket Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.   Grab yours by visiting: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

Why Learn French Discover the Benefits

Why Learn French Discover the Benefits How Can Learning French Help You? ChaptersGeneral Benefits of Learning a Foreign LanguageHow French Language Learning can Serve YouExploring the World Through Language and CultureLearn French as a GatewayDid you know that, at one time not so long ago, it was thought that speaking more than one language was detrimental to a person's mental health and intellectual capacity?Daft as it sounds, at the turn of the 20th century, school children were discouraged from learning any tongue besides the English language.Since then, numerous studies have concluded that learning a second language in no way harms verbal development or lowers a person's IQ.Quite the contrary! They uncovered so many ways that bilingualism  boosts mental performance.Let us shine a light on some of them, and the many ways learning French will benefit you!Learning French gives a tremendous boost to cognitive function Source: Pixabay Credit: Artsy_Beeassimilate data â€" words, numbers and facts, and make use of them as needed.Just like your physical self, your mind needs exercise to stay fit. So, if all you do is work, watch telly and hang out with friends, your brain may be starving for stimulation.Intellectual pastimes, such as sudoku and crossword puzzles, do little to arouse new brain activity.They are considered more of a memory challenge because you are not actually learning anything.Psychiatrist Norman Doige advocates, among other activities, that  learning a new language  is one of the best ways to keep your mind sharp.A Sharp Mind Helps Prevent Cognitive DeclineYou are alive and thriving in your mind but, somehow, what you know is not translating into what you can do.  What a horrifying scenario!Experts all agree that continuous learning is one of the best ways to stave off age-related mental decline.More importantly, the general consensus is that, while other intellectual functions may wane over time, vocabulary and the power of speech are the least affected by aging.That signifies that you are not likely to lose any word power as time goes on.One function that does suffer as we age is the ability to multitask.Coincidentally, studies have proven that people who have attended language courses, and can speak the language they learned with any degree of fluency, are better multitaskers.Isn't warding off dementia a great reason to sign up for language classes?Brain Processing Speed Slows Down in Young Adulthood.Causality for this alarming fact is as yet unknown. One theory posits that our minds go on autopilot around that stage in life, and there is some merit to the idea.Just finishing our university studies, perhaps already settling into our career... even our social status â€" getting married or otherwise starting a serious relationship does little to keep our grey matter active.Isn't it amazing how the ability to speak another language can forestall all of that?In fact, partaking of language instruction can:give you the ability to learn new words easilyhelp you identify patterns in speech, rhythm, an d word associationssuch as word derivates: familiar from family, for examplehelp develop problem solving skillscultivate good listening skillsimprove your communication skillsClaiming language as your mental playground will make vocabulary categorisation your personal jungle gym.As you make flashcards to study common words, while still a beginner in your language learning adventure, you can colour-code them according to noun, pronoun, verb, adjective and adverb.Later, as your language skills expand, you can create word families: vocabulary pertaining to people, to animals, to objects, to clothing, and so on.Grouping and labeling new words helps build relational bridges between what you already know and the new concepts you are studying; a skill that you can use in other aspects of your daily life.How can your French course London or Glasgow magnify those benefits?This word family represents digital communication. Can you say these words in French? Source: Pixabay Credit: Kevin KingH ow French Language Learning can Serve YouNow that we know the impact of continuous learning on our minds, health and quality of life, let us see how learning French can amplify those gains.Are you mad for discovering new vistas?If so, then you probably know that English alone can give you access to even the most remote parts of the world.However, French is the only other language besides English that is spoken on five of the seven continents.So, while you may get by to some degree  with English, on your skiing trip in Switzerland, a country whose official language is French, you would do much better if you could communicate in their native language.Especially if you wanted to get off the beaten path.In these times of people who value experiences over possessions, finding ways outside of mainstream cultural encounters is made easier by personally having more to offer.Would cycling through Cambodia to see Angkor Wat with your own eyes qualify as an extraordinary experience?If so, you' d better pack light and bring your French speaking skills, as English will not necessarily be understood by the locals.Some people go to French speaking countries to help students learn how to speak English, or to take jobs in telecommunications or engineering.Imagine how much more effective your teaching could be, or all of Morocco - as an example, that you could explore if you spoke French?Learn from a good French tutor here.Exploring the World Through Language and CultureSome people are perfectly happy taking guided tours of different countries, seeing the highlights and buying souvenirs.There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, as a holiday experience. But there could be so much more to holiday-making!Maybe you have been to Paris, or Lyon, or anywhere in the south of France. If so, you surely know the value chirping bonjour when you step into a shop, and merci once your transaction is completed.Perhaps you have gone beyond French greetings, and smack into phrases and expressi ons. Good for you!Language is the roadmap to a culture â€" Rita Mae BrownIf your travels are meant to broaden your cultural horizons, you could not hope for a better second language than French.There are no fewer than 29 countries whose citizens speak French, and an additional eight territories with a francophone population.Speaking French while visiting any of those regions will surely give you entry to the mysteries of their rituals, beliefs and daily life â€" those cultural aspects generally kept hidden from avid tourists.If you have been circling around the idea of language acquisition, wondering which one would yield the most, you could hardly go wrong with studying French.You may think of mastering French as a gateway to learning other romance languages Source: Pixabay Credit: FietzfotosLearn French as a GatewayUnlike English, French is a romance language, meaning it has the same grammatical constructs as Italian, Spanish, Romanian and Portuguese.Many French words are close in pronunciation to those other tongues, too.However, our mother tongue contains a wealth of French words and phrases; in fact, nearly a third of our vocabulary consists of words that originated in France!If you were to learn French, no doubt you would be surprised to find that many English words that end in -ion, such as attention, communication and television are actually French, with no translation needed!For that reason, linguists all aver that French is perhaps the best choice of a second language for native English speakers to learn, and it can serve as a gateway to learning the other romance languages.Once you can speak French fluently, why not learn Spanish or Italian?Study French for Higher Education OpportunitiesLet's say you have taken French courses in secondary school, and your language learning was reinforced by a French tutor on the weekends. The question to pose is: what are you learning it for?Most students select French as their preferred language on the A Levels in order to attend university abroad.For a good reason! The Shanghai Index ranks unis in French speaking countries second only to those in nations whose primary language is English!If you have gone beyond basic French in your desire to pursue advanced studies, we can think of no better way to immerse yourself in an all around learning experience than studying abroad!Pundits all agree that immersion is the very best way to absorb French grammar and French vocabulary.So, if you are a foodie, being bilingual will give you access to study haute cuisine at the Sorbonne, a world-renown institute where you can also major in anything from photography to philosophy!And think of how being fluent in French will increase your marketability!Come time to find work, your proficiency in the French language may get you hired faster, and put a few extra pounds in your pay envelope.Studies show that employees who can speak different languages tend to be more sought after, and earn more.Earning more is a fine point to wrap up the subject of why you should engage in French learning!Aren't you eager for French lessons now?

How can I improve my English

How can I improve my English Learn English for the price of a cup of coffee Students often ask me this question. They want to practice their English, but they dont have anyone to practice with. Whenever I am asked, I am tempted to tell them my friends solution to the common question, How can I improve my English? I had a friend named Joseph who moved to Montreal from Czech Republic in the 1990s. He worked as a janitor and spoke very little English at the time. After work and on his days off, Joseph would go down to the local doughnut shop on Sherbrooke Street, in the Notre-Dame-de-Grace neighbourhood of Montreal. Every day, a strange woman would arrive, buy a cup of coffee, sit down and talk to herself. After she finished her coffee, she would get up and leave. One day, Joseph saw that she had finished her coffee and was about to leave, so he bought her another cup and asked to sit with her. The woman accepted the coffee and kept talking. She could talk and talk on any topic, provided there was a cup of coffee in front of her. Sometimes he would ask her questions. Sometimes he just listened. Since she spoke more than she drank, he said it only cost him about a dollar an hour for crazy conversational English practice. He spent about $3 a day on coffee for about a year and learned so much English by the end of it that he went on to become an English Second Language teacher. Joseph told me this story after class in a Grammar for Teachers, a course we took together at Concordia University  in 2001. I have never forgotten it. I am not sure whether going in search of crazy conversation partners is a good idea. However, it demonstrates that languages are learned primarily through the repeated exchange of meaningful messages with a focus on form. In Josephs case, he focused on form at home by studying grammar books in the evening. Please follow and like us:

Top 10 ideas for February Half Term

Top 10 ideas for February Half Term Are you a little stumped for ideas on what to do with the kids this February half term week? The clever people over at KidRated have selected the Top 10 ideas for February half term for those based in London!  KidRated  is a website where all the reviews are done by kids to help families make more informed choices. 1. Magical Lantern Festival If you and the family enjoyed Christmas at Kew Gardens, then you’ll love this festival in the gardens at Chiswick House. This is the first time it’s been held in the UK, and boasts a spectacular artistic installation of beautifully sculpted lanterns taking various forms from animals and birds to buildings and abstract designs of all shapes and sizes. Kids Will Love: Roasting marshmallows and the brightly coloured, cute animals. Adults Will Love: Getting outdoors and seeing your kids’ faces light up. Until 6th March  2.  London RIB The London RIB Experience has yet to get a bad review from Kid-Raters - exciting, informative and always fun - their hilarious and knowledgeable guides are the icing on the speedy cake. Warm coats are provided and don’t forget to take your camera because nothing beats the sights of London from the Thames. Kids Will Love: Going fast of course! Adults will love: The in-jokes and nostalgic soundtrack. 3. Zippo’s Cirque Berserk The circus comes to the Peacock Theatre in this jaw dropping spectacular. With an international cast of over 30 acrobats, jugglers, aerialists (with no safety harness!), and death defying stuntmen, families are guaranteed unique, edge-of-the seat theatre! Kids Will Love: The Globe of Terror - 4  motorcyclists speeding at over 60mph inside a steel cage! Adults Will Love: Tweedy, the award-winning clown and fire-breathing Giant Robot. Mon 8th February â€" Wed 24th February. 4. Mini Vault Festival The ?maze ?of caves and caverns? under Waterloo station are transformed into a magical world for under 11s to create a  family festival of underground shows and events. There will be DJs and bands, plus kids can get involved in art adventures, and try their hands (or mouths!) at beatboxing. Other highlights include pirates, clowns, magicians and jellyfish! Kids Will Love: The whole ambience and atmosphere of the vaults. Adults will love: The family palm reading. Under-11s go free. Sat 13th Feb Sunday 14th Feb (10am â€" 3pm) 5.  Puddle Jumping Championship at the WWT London Wetland Centre The first ever London Puddle Jumping Championships is being held at WWT London Wetland Centre and children of all ages can grab their wellies and have fun making a splash. Points will be given for style, creativity, enthusiasm and size of splash. There will be a prize each day for our selected ‘super-splasher’ and a Puddle Jumping Champion will be selected at the end of the week, with the chance to go on to further glory by becoming WWT’s Big Splash national champion. Sat 13th Feb â€" Sun 21st Feb 6.  Finding Nemo and Dory at the London Sea Life Aquarium This summer, the long awaited sequel to Finding Nemo will finally be arriving in cinemas. If your kids can contain their excitement until then, all kinds of tropical fish activities are taking place at the London Aquarium including a Dory trail. There will also be loads of opportunity to learn all about the fish that inspired the blockbuster Pixar films. Kids Will Love: Quite literally finding Nemo and Dory, or at least their lookalikes. Adults Will Love: The daily talks about Nemo’s Kingdom, who says half term can’t be educational. Sat 13th Feb â€" Sun 21st Feb! 7.  Imagine Children’s Festival This year the Imagine Children’s Festival is celebrating the centenary of Roald Dahl’s birth. There are loads of free activities for under twelves but some of the more special events should be booked in advance. We recommend Judith Kerr, author of the Tiger who Came to Tea in conversation, and watching Minpins, Roald Dahl’s final story with a live orchestral accompaniment. Kids Will Love: The giant satchel art installation from Matilda the Musical. Adults Will Love: Most of the activities are free, there’s wifi, somewhere to sit and great cafés. Wed 10th Feb â€" Sun 21st Feb 8. Take a Trip to the CINEMA You can never trust the British weather to behave so it’s always worth having some film ideas in your back pocket incase you need to dash indoors. Here’s our picks: Goosebumps (PG). Kids love being scared and this comedy horror starring Jack Black with has laughs and thrills in equal measure. Black stars as the writer R.L. Stine who has to recruit a gang of kids to help him save the world from disaster when the creatures he has created escape from his books. Capture The Flag (PG): Animated fun which sees a surfing-obsessed boy stowing away on a rocket and heading to the Moon Deadpool (15): Warning for older kids only. Violent, funny and highly inappropriate this superhero movie starring Ryan Reynolds will be the must-see movie for teenagers. Kids Will Love: All of them. Adults Will Love: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson and Penelope Cruz in Zoolander 2 which is also on general release. 9.  Play-doh Fun at the Museum of Childhood The Museum of Childhood is celebrating 60 years since Play-doh first hit the toyshop shelves. You can join in drop-in activities throughout the week or book in advance for workshops including one about animation all featuring the great modelling toy. Kids Will Love: Letting their imaginations run wild and taking home their creations. Parents Will Love: The nostalgia Monday 15th Feb-Friday 19th Feb 10.  Ripley’s Believe It or Not This half term, Ripley’s and the Hard Rock Cafe are teaming up to create an awesome pop-up. There will be one of a kind items on display from Lady Gaga, Elvis, Paul McCartney, Rihanna and loads more to celebrate the Hard Rock Cafe’s 45th birthday. Kids Will Love: The weird and wonderful exhibits throughout the six floors. Adults Will Love: Explaining who Elvis and Paul McCartney are!