Why Is Online Accounting Needed For Your Business Expansion

Why Is Online Accounting Needed For Your Business Expansion This year has seen tremendous growth in the accounting industry, and there aren’t any signs of slow-motion in the graph. For strengthening the system, accounting trends showcase new additions with every passing year. There are more people going into online accounting as xceptional accounting trends are ruling the chart these days. Xero saw a growth of 51% subscribers, whereas Intuit observed 41% of increase for their individual cloud-based accounting software. This all belongs among the great providers. When you’re eager to explore new technology, your company business surely requires reflecting upon the latest online accounting system, if you haven’t yet tried till now. The free online tutoring service will always guide you to provide better accounting trends. Let’s check out why one should focus more on online accounting! Peace of Mind After observing that your documents are disrupted you may some time or another face an office catastrophe where youll be blown back on. Suddenly you stand in the mid of a problem of catching fire or heavy flood. Or a crooked employee or burgling in the office, and you seem completely blank on solving it. You might come across such situations where you dont need to get scared. There is a much safer way than getting your front door locked when you start using online accounting, your business will have an approach towards the latest data security and software. Thus, the homework help chats help in giving you a peace of mind. Unique Convenience While having books in the cloud signifies that the company accounts can easily log into their work without even arriving at their offices. They can raise the invoices and expenses when they require doing so and no one to interrupt them. An incredible convenience will allow you to run a number of projects, even when you are walking on the road. It will be valuable to you when you can easily check out accounts and invoice, right from smartphone/tab/laptop, from anywhere you stay, instead of office-based. In this way, you are working for office tasks on your palm. Xero is that kind of a provider which imports useful information automatically from the small business’ bank accounts. It signifies that one doesn’t need to manually resolve account matter for the hard copy statements. The bills are pretty well scheduled, the latest transactions are classified rightly, inventory, customer relationship, and time sheets are tracked effortlessly. This will show a great difference to your accounting systems. On the other side, you can pay online bills and also store any kind of receipts in the cloud. You can even take the aid of accounting tutor and check out your client’s accounts by logging into it. Time and cost savings When you’re switching to online accounting, you easily save on printing costs, storage expenses, and paper costs. This saves your time too and you don’t need to go through various papers. You don’t have to spend on pricey software packages and today no large capital outlay is needed for such handiness. It has become a better available, streamlined system, and you don’t need to sit on Sunday evening for two-hours to handle your accounts. You can copy earlier quotes, craft new quotes, and even change them into invoices by taking the advantage of online accounting. In fact, from the start itself, the procedure is quick for your business improvement. Work-life Balance Well, you get the opportunity to work from anywhere as you can balance your work-life as per your choice. At the same time, it lets you offer productive work related to accounting. Even if you’re waiting for someone or sitting in a car, you can use that time productively. The accounting tutor will provide you full assistance in fulfilling the tasks regarding online accounting. Hence, with the help of accounting tutor, you can be benefited by offering more effective value to your clients and stay updated with online accounting practices.

Learn How to Sing with the Voice of an Opera Singer

Learn How to Sing with the Voice of an Opera Singer Everything You Wanted to Know About Operatic Singing Classes ChaptersThe Steps to Follow for Starting Out with Tragédie LyriqueHow to Get a Powerful VoiceThe Different Types of SingerReaching the High Notes (Men) or the Low Notes (Women)The Journey of a Professional Opera Singer“I do not mind what language an opera is sung in so long as it is an language I do not understand.” Sir Edward AppletonThere are plenty of different people who love a certain singer or composer.  Each to their own, after all. However, when it comes to music, opera and its magnificence are at the pinnacle with singers who, over centuries and centuries, have made their way onto the stage to accompany an entire symphonic orchestra on their own.This incredible energy and physical prowess is enough to leave is stupefied. It’s more than that, though. It’s an art form in itself where notes which would otherwise be impossible for an amateur or beginner to croon are beautifully delivered to the ears of music lovers.A lot of young people tend to characterise opera as rid iculous affairs with elements like people dressed as trees singing in German. To be fair, most French people don’t understand everything going on in Carmen and Italians would say the same when it comes to the operas of Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini (which are in Italian).However, you have to say it’s a complete art form in the every sense of the word. Who doesn’t dream of being able to sing with the incredible and elegant timbre of Luciano Pavarotti or Roberto Alagna?  Here are a few tips and tricks to set you on your merry way.We’ve already been able to put together ten different elements that you’ll need if you want to start singing baroque music or classic opera.Opera singing requires that the singer moves the audience just like the strings of a violin can pull on your heart strings. (Source: Donald Tong)Train your ear (familiarise yourself with the masterpieces of Haydn, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninov, Schumann, Bellini, Mahler, Britten, Brahms, Offenbach, Beethoven, Ra meau, Franz Schubert, Handel, Gluck, Debussy, Gounod, Strauss, Vivaldi, Massenet, etc.)Learn to sing in key with the help of video and audio resources and a private tutor (additionally, studying music theory or knowing how to play an instrument will help a lot, too)Study a bit of Italian, German, French, and Spanish, so that you can read the language of almost any opera before you learn to sing in the operatic style.Once you’re old enough, work out what your tessitura is and record yourself regularly while looking at the notes and advice your vocal coach leaves you.Enter into competitions or start attending a music school.Never stop training. However, make sure you don’t overdo it and exhaust your throat. If you smoke, you should quit immediately.Develop and master all the different subtleties and singing techniques (vibrato, trills, etc.) and learn to sing as part of a duet or along to a philharmonic orchestra.Don’t forget the importance of your acting and your stage presence .Perform in public.Persevere but also remember to have a back-up plan.How to Get a Powerful VoiceIf there’s one big difference between a club singer and an absolute diva, it’s how powerful their voices are.  In short, it’s like trying to compare the singing of a breathy indie girl singer and Beyoncé in terms of the power in their voices.The first thing that characterises power in people’s voices is how they breathe. This, in turn, depends on the pitches made by the vocal cords.  An agile thoracic cavity is half of what makes a great singer a great singer...When singing, they need to work on their breathing in exactly the same way that athletes and sports stars do when they want to win.  The pressure needs to be balanced and maintained both above and below the throat in order to be able to sing strongly with minimal effort.The airflow needs to be regulated. It’s easy to make a single sound, like when using the whistle register but it can be difficult in other registers.  T ry not to overexert yourself as you may find yourself losing your voice. This is one of the biggest worries for those working on their voice, losing it.In fact, mentally, don’t consider it as singing loudly but rather as making yourself heard by those who are far away.A piano keyboard is divided into octaves from the lowest to the highest.When it comes to both male and female voices, you can say the same. Singers are classified in terms of the range of notes they can produce.  Generally, female singers are classified as (from lowest to highest):ContraltoMezzo-sopranoSopranoBeing able to tell the difference between the bass clef and the treble clef is basic music theory. (Source: pixabay.com)Male singers are usually classified as:BassBaritoneTenorCountertenorEach of these categories are often further divided into sub-classes.  To make things even more complicated, certain composers even amuse themselves by writing particularly difficult parts for singers and really challenging them in terms of their range and abilities.Don’t worry, though. While tenors and sopranos seem to often be the stars of the show, there are plenty of starring roles for all types of voice!Reaching the High Notes (Men) or the Low Notes (Women)It should go without saying that in the past, composers and artists would come under heavy criticism and end up never playing again.While things aren’t as strict in the modern world, if you want to avoid metaphorical rotten vegetables, you’re going to have to work on vocal technique, master music theory, and completely refine your voice for an ever-scrupulous audience.What would people say if a pianist performing a Berlioz piano concerto had never learnt his scales or his arpeggios? You can already imagine all the rotten vegetables being thrown upon the stage.How can you tell one tenor from another? It’s often their range. The range of one tenor can make them much more suitable for a role than another.  Of course, they’re expected to have mastered their range before they start trying to hit the higher notes and falsetto using a head voice before going on to master a more powerful chest voice.As you can see, you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you.  Of course, you should look at works like The Barber of Seville, Lohengrin, Hamlet, The Tales of Hoffman, The Marriage of Figaro, Requiem, and Il Trovatore.Check out some great online singing lessons.The Journey of a Professional Opera SingerOpera singing is first and foremost a passion: we love music, we train our musical ears, then we start joyfully discovering new works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (The Magic Flute, for example, with Queen of the Night), Bizet, Gaetano Donizetti, Richard Wagner, Rossini, etc.The first thing you need to learn is to sing in key. Ideally, you’ll learn this as young as possible so that you won’t have too many gaps in your knowledge and will be able to effortlessly tackle the more difficult activities later on in your training. Additionally , you should consider music theory classes or singing lessons.  There are plenty of music workshops and classes around the country for young children who are interested in it.Unfortunately, some people are more talented than others when it comes to music. Not everyone has a naturally beautiful voice or a mastery of vibrato necessary to play the starring role in an opera.  However, even if you do have the voice of a famous tenor, it’s not worth anything if you don’t persevere with singing or just stop enjoying music altogether.In order to expand your knowledge, you should attend operas, visit famous theatres (both in the UK and around the world).If you want to perform in the world's most famous opera houses, you'll have to work tirelessly on your vocal techniques. (Source: Amy Wakley)Musical knowledge will also help a great deal. If you play an instrument like the trombone, horn, baritone saxophone, harp, accordion, harpsichord, cello, or the contrabass, this will be really usefu l when studying singing and music theory.The ideal method is to start learning as young as possible (adolescence at the latest) with the help of a quality vocal coach who specialised in the human voice and its physiology.  Puberty can be a trying experience, especially when singing. Once your voice breaks, you’ll have to re-learn how to use it. Fortunately, you don’t have to start completely from scratch when this happens.This is where a vocal coach can be a huge help. At around 16 years of age for girls (and a bit later for boys), your ideal tessitura will take shape.The learning process can take a long time. It always requires that you have self-confidence, perseverance, physical endurance, and are determined. Physiologically speaking, singers at this kind of level are the equivalent of top-level athletes.With a lot of hard work, you could end up being good enough to enter into singing competitions in order to attend some of the most prestigious schools around the world.  Your first modest performances will put you well on your way to becoming a professional and performing some of the biggest masterpieces of opera from greats such as Purcell, Wagner, and Berlioz, for example.What comes after that? Contracts raining on your desk? A European tour? International fame?Sign up for your first singing lessons now.

13 Guitar Apps We Cant Live Without

13 Guitar Apps We Cant Live Without Megan L. The secret to improving your guitar skills  isnt much of a secret at all in fact, its right in your pocket! In this article, guitar teacher  Zachary W.  shows you 13 of his favorite apps for learning guitar and improving every step of the way As a guitar player, I find it important to keep my rudimentary skills sharp. That includes practicing with correct technique,  as well as being able to improvise, control tempo, and read music. Below,  Ive listed 13 guitar apps that I use regularly and that I know will help you improve each aforementioned skill. Each app serves a different purpose, but all of them are friendly to users of  all skill levels. A fair warning: these are addictive apps for musicians  of any kind. Lets go ahead and take a look at the apps that will undoubtedly improve your guitar playing! 1. TakeLessons Live (Free) There arent any other guitar apps out there quite like this one. TakeLessons Live offers online classes that are led by live guitar teachers. With the free membership option, you can join a variety of classes from anywhere in the world. Topics covered include guitar exercises, theory, scales, song tutorials, and more.  If youre looking for a fun way to practice your skills while getting feedback from a real instructor, this is the app for you! 2. 7 Minute Guitar ($2.99) 7 Minute Guitar is wonderful for those who have a super busy schedule. This guitar practice app has compiled a series of exercises that each take seven  minutes. Theres no longer  an  excuse to neglect that daily practice session. After using this app for a while, youll begin to develop a good practice routine; you start out practicing for seven minutes a day, then you extend to 30 minutes a day, and  eventually, youll reach a goal of practicing for more than an hour per day. 2. Time Guru ($1.99) Time Guru was developed by rhythm guitarist Avi Bortnick  for the John Scofield band. With this app, you get way more than just a simple metronome. This metronome app also  mutes the sound at random. This allows you to monitor your own playing by showing whether or not you tend to speed up or drag behind the metronome. This special feature essentially allows you to take off the training wheels given to you by the metronome, while still reaping the benefits of playing with a time-keeping device. 3. TabToolkit ($3.99) This app may cost money, but if you  tend to rely solely on tablature when you  learn or teach a new piece of music, TabToolkit  is completely worth the small fee of $3.99. With this app, you can  upload your own sheet music from other programs, such as Guitar Pro,  or browse their large library of guitar tabs. In addition to hosting guitar tabs,  this app also has a great multi-track playback, which gives you the ability to play along with some of your favorite bands and artists. This app also works with over 128 instruments its not solely for guitar players. For example, you can take a heavenly Charlie Parker saxophone solo and transpose it  to any instrument you please. 4. GarageBand ($4.99) If youve ever wanted  to get a group of people together and jam out in your garage till the early hours of the morning, then  youll be happy to know, theres really an app for that! When it comes down to it,  GarageBand is the best app for music creation on a touch screen. With real world instruments, true to life sounds, and tons of easy-to-use tools, there isn’t really another app on its level. 5. AmpKit (Free); AmpKit+($19.99) AmpKit  allows you to take your amp with you no matter how far you travel. Just plug in your guitar  with a digital interface and youll immediately have access to all the amp channels and sound effects of your wildest dreams. AmpKit+ may cost $19.99, but with this upgrade, you gain access to many more sound effects, amp channels, and pedal options. Its a must-have guitar app if you plan on playing professionally. 6. Anytune (FREE); Anytune Pro + ($14.99) If you have a relative that plays the guitar, Im sure youve heard the famous phrase, “You youngsters  have it so much easier than we did back in the day. Well, in this case, thats completely true! With Anytune,  you have the ability to slow down songs. Use this app  to dissect crazy, lightning fast licks or solos without losing the quality of the music. For example,  if youre having a hard time figuring out what notes Guthrie Govan is playing on the Aristocrats album, this app will help you out by slowing the song down at any section you choose. The app also has the ability to gradually increase speed as your confidence builds what plausible excuses to not practice do you have now? 7. Drumgenius (FREE) The name of this app pretty much sums up all that you need to know about it. Drumgenius  has over 300 different drum beats in a various time signatures, from boogaloo jazz in 21/8, to your typical big jazz band in 4/4. Its fun to pick a beat and play along with it on guitar! 8. MuseScore (FREE) Along with ear training, another key skill  that every musician should master  is the ability to read sheet music. This skill  opens up many more doors as a musician than you  thought possible. Musescore  lets you  listen to scores of music with the ability to adjust the tempo as you please. If you have the urge to hear the classic T-bone Walker song Stormy Monday played at 200 bpm, or perhaps that lightning fast Steve Vai solo on Zombie Wolf at half speed, this app is for you. 9. Shazam (Free upgrade cost $6.99) Just hold your phone up to the speaker and let Shazam detect what song is playing.  This app is extremely helpful for me. I don’t know how many times Ive been on the road listening to the radio and hear a rhythm I like or a solo that blows me away; instead of forgetting the lyrics or having no clue how the song goes, this app collects  the song data for me. 10. Soundcloud (Free) Soundcloud allows you to post original audio recordings on the web where they can be accessed by anyone. This gateway opens up so many doors that you wouldve never known existed. In addition, this app gives you the perfect place to get constructive criticism from other  musicians. 11. J4T Multitrack Recorder ($3.99) The  J4T Multitrack Recorder  helps with those spontaneous moments when a melody strikes me and Im miles away from my equipment this app acts as a sketch pad for my musical ideas. With the ability to record 4 tracks simultaneously, this app gives you the basics that are needed for the foundation of any great musical idea or thought. Sadly, this app is only for Android. To those who have an Android phone go out and download it for the rest of us who have iPhones! 12. Evernote (FREE) Evernote  may seem very basic  on paper, but in reality, the capabilities of this app are limitless. This app is perfect for both those who  receive and those who teach lessons. This app has saved my hide on more than one occasion. I use this app to write down a summary of my lessons; this helps me keep track of a multitude of students. I keep constant track of my students progress because I like to max out the full potential of what we can accomplish in our hour or half-hour lessons. For all those out there who are teaching themselves, this app is perfect for logging your progress. If you include some of these guitar apps in your practice routine, I guarantee youll make progress faster than you will without them. Be sure to check out the detailed descriptions of the apps on the store page to see which features work for your reaching goals. As always, be sure to practice every day and dont be discouraged by new concepts! Post Author:  Zachary W. Zachary A. is a guitar instructor in Katy, TX specializing in beginning and intermediate students. He is currently earning a degree in  music theory. Learn more about Zachary here! Photo by Dino Latoga Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

How to Find Students for Your Spanish Lessons

How to Find Students for Your Spanish Lessons Advice for Becoming an In-Demand Spanish Professor ChaptersClassified Ads for Spanish TeachersOrganizations for Private TutoringOnline Platforms for Spanish LessonsBut be warned: freelancers have to pay a lot in taxes every year.Creating Your Own WebsiteIn a British Council meeting, David Grabbol confirmed in 2007, “The world is becoming polyglot and Arabic and Spanish are the languages of the future.”Conclusion?Faced with the growing ascent of the language and its undeniable influence in the world, especially in the business world, it’s thus natural that more and more students want to learn it.Do you speak Spanish at a very high level? Are you perhaps even a native Spanish-speaker or simply bilingual following your numerous language-immersion trips?If you are patient and have good teaching skills, you have certainly already thought about giving private Spanish lessons to earn a little pocket money!It’s an excellent way for a job seeker to have an influx of cash.The hard part is finding your first clients. How can you make yo urself known?Here is some advice for finding your first students! CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Tea cher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsClassified Ads for Spanish TeachersThe oldest methods are often the best.Classified ads are still a sure way to find people who want to master the Spanish language.So place ads in numerous places and soon you’ll be able to teach Spanish to dozens of students!Discover also how to organise your Spanish lessons for maximum learning...Local BusinessesMake the rounds of the businesses in your area: coffee shops, bakeries… The places that get a lot of traffic and who can make a difference.Leave a short note near the cash register or on a bulletin board explaining that you offer Spanish lessons for anyone who would like to perfect or improve their linguistic skills.Local newspapersHave you thought about local newspapers?For a fee, some newspapers allow you to leave a personal ad with your contact information.Local newspapers are en excellent way to make yourself known as a private tutor!How to go about it? It’s very simple â€" either you contact the newspaper directly, or you look online:Go to the website of the local newspaperRegisterWrite your adChoose the publication datePay onlineAll you have to do is wait for a confirmation email!Which newspapers to choose? It’s easy: do some research on which newspapers are the most popular or most read in your town! If you would like to become a Spanish professor in Los Angeles, choose L.A. Weekly, for example!Find out how Spanish tutors in America set their rates!InternetThe Internet is still the largest source in the world for information.So definitely don’t skip out on the most popular international sites!For those who would like a small list of ideas:Craigslist is the biggest site for private employment ads in the United States. It’s simple, free, and accessible â€" it can’t be beat!eBay ClassifiedsFacebook MarketplaceWord of MouthFinally, there is the method of word of mouth.It’s not to be underestimated. You certainly have friends who have friends of their own who know a family whose parents are looking for a private Spanish tutor for their son in school!There’s just one rule: TALK TO PEOPLE!Tell your friends that you have excellent Spanish skills and that you would like to become a private tutor!Why not mention it on your social media channels? Likes and Retweets might lead to a surprising result!Discover how to become a Spanish teacher...Organizations for Private TutoringOrganizations for private tutoring are more and more sought after.The global private tutoring market is predicted to surpass $102.8 billion by 2018.Experienced tea chers with a bachelor’s degree charge around $30-$40 per hour, while less practiced teachers charge closer to $15 per hour.Regarding your status and experience level, each organization has its own rules. You might be expected to know how to organize a Spanish lesson.In the majority of cases, you will be hired as a salaried tutor and will be able to enjoy the advantages of being part of a larger organization.So what are some of the most well known organizations?The organizations for academic help employ each year several thousands of private tutors.Competitive Edge Tutoring utilizes two different methods: New York City-based, at-home, personal tutoring, and standardized test and coursework tutoring via their online platform. Competitive Edge offers language tutoring as well as test-prep specific tutoring, for example the Spanish SAT subject test. Their tutors focus on boosting grades and improving studying skills, and aim in the long-term to nurture student self-sufficiency. Rates start at $150/hour.Inspirica offers tutoring for students of every level, from middle school to college. They offer in-person as well as online tutoring, specializing in test prep as well as class work help. Inspirica only hires tutors that have teaching experience. Inspirica can also help students who do well in school but not on standardized tests, showing students what tools they need to succeed on tests in class or on the SAT.Revolution Prep was established 50 years ago and tutors students in all 50 states as well as in over 40 countries. Revolution Prep tutors are full-time and work both in-person and online, though their online platform is more popular. Revolution Prep tutors are carefully selected. Private tutoring starts at $129/hour, and semi-private tutoring in groups of 4 students for $39/hour.Princeton Review is known for its test prep tutoring. As a Spanish tutor, you will be able to help students with the Spanish SAT subject test. Princeton Review offers their tutors f lexible commitmentsâ€"most classes take place on nights and weekends, leaving you free to continue your full-time job or other commitments. You can also tutor in-person or online. One of the more expensive companies, 3 hours of SAT Spanish subject test private tutoring is $480.Chegg Tutors allows students to customize their tutoring based on their needs, offering specific options such as beginner Spanish, advanced Spanish, contraction in Spanish, conditional in Spanish, counting in Spanish, etc. Chegg Tutors always give their lessons online in live 1-on-1 sessions. One of the more affordable options, a plan of 30 minutes/week is $15/week, and a plan of 120 minutes per week is $48/week. The average tutor is paid a starting salary of $20/hour. Particularly convenient, you can login when it’s convenient for you to tutor, so you can set your own schedule.Find available online tutoring jobs here. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutor s ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsOnline Platforms for Spanish LessonsAs you see, organizations for scholarly help offer tutors a certain amount of security. With their numerous students you are guaranteed to have work.The drawback?You are constrained by the rates for Spanish lessons, the hours, the choice of your lessons...If you want a bit more freedom, online platforms seem like the ideal solution.Learning Spanish online is fashionable right now, and in the era of technology it’s an excellent way to find students!Less onerous than a language school, online platforms are a great way for students to progress.Are there any downsides?Yes, there are downsides to online platforms too.The biggest drawback is that of status. Generally, it is advisable to declare yourself as a freelancer.Are you preparing to sit the DELE? Find out exactly what each level of that exam represents...But be warned: freelancers have to pay a lot in taxes every year.You only have to pay these taxes if you earn a certain amount, but the taxes are not negligible, and should certainly be taken into account when you set your rates.The second drawback is directly linked to your source of revenue: finding students.You will have to be clever and creative and employ business savvy to distinguish yourself from and market yourself better than your competitors.How can you do that?Fill out your profile! List all your degrees, your experience, your hobbies, and all the skills necessary to be a Spanish professor.Make sure you highlight your professional experience, but also your personal experience: do you like to travel? Have you been to South America? These elements are important and might make the difference between you and another stude ntâ€"you will be able to enrich the culture of your student.Explain your methods. What makes you a good teacher? What do you offer? Lessons for adults, review, beginner lessons, business Spanish, etc. What is your specialty?Offer competitive pricing: why not offer your first lesson for free?So which online platforms should you choose?Superprof is the go-to platform: review, test prep, improvement of oral or written skills…Each professor offers their teaching specialty.You can set your rate at whatever you want. Get an idea of the other rates in your region before you decide.What makes this site different? Students can leave public reviews and ratings for their professors.If you prove yourself, your protégés will soon sing your praises on your profile, allowing you to easily obtain new clients.Registration is simple, the lessons are simplified, the payment is direct: there’s no reason not to give it a try!Creating Your Own WebsiteIf you want to launch your career as a freelance r, you will need to find ways to make yourself stand out.How can you do that?Simply create your own website.Creating your own website will allow you to display a more professional profile.Much better than a resume, your website will be a powerful tool to promote yourself.However, it won’t be useful unless it is noticed by those on the Internet.To get your website noticed, you will need to optimize it for search engines.Register with WordPress to create a website rapidly at the lowest price.If you are a novice in website building and the term “SEO optimization” only vaguely means something to you, why not ask a professional to create your website?Superprof has many IT specialists at your service who can create your website. Why not compare the various offerings and prices, taking note of the reviews of past users.With a website that’s organized, modern, and clear, you won’t have to do any more work, the students will come to you!You will need to gain a certain visibility, w hich will come with good SEO optimization, before you see the results.Don’t forget to demonstrate your value: your experience, your university degree…Outline your method, your approach: learn Spanish online via games, in-person academic lessons, Skype conversations, etc.What tools do you use? Do you give your students Spanish vocabulary lists, Spanish grammar worksheets? Videos or audio?Indicate your hourly rate.Also offer some deals. What about a special student rate?Adapt your prices: night courses, weekend, weekday afternoon…Specify your target audience: children, students, adults… Are you able to give Spanish lessons for beginner, intermediate, or advanced speakers? For all levels?All of this needs to be mentioned if you want to attract the largest possible number of students!Now discover which tests are necessary to certify your Spanish language skills...

Tips for Staying Organized Part 2

Tips for Staying Organized Part 2 Improving Academic Performance Last time, we wrote about becoming more productive by organizing your things and your work space. Today, we’ll focus on your school work and your time (perhaps the most important element of your life to organize). Organize your schoolwork: How you take notes can influence your academic performance. Always date your notes and include a title that indicates the main subject or idea that is recorded in your notes. Also, always take the time to review your notes every night before you complete your homework, and again before each class. That way, you have reviewed what you covered the previous day and will have a better understanding of how the things you cover in today’s class relate to what you covered yesterday. This strategy also improves retention of subjects, ideas, and events discussed in class and will place you in a better position when it comes time to review your notes in preparation for an exam. The Cornell Note-Taking System is an extremely popular way of taking notes and is very easy to employ! Begin by dividing your note-taking paper into two columns, where one column uses a ¼ of the paper, and the second column uses up ¾ of the paper. The column on the left will be your cue-column where you can write questions, and write keywords of subjects, topics, or events discussed in class. Writing questions and keywords of topics discussed in class will help to clarify information, strengthen your memory, and can serve as the beginning of a good study document. The column on your right will be reserved for taking down all your notes during class. After each class, summarize all of the main ideas that appear in your notes at the bottom of each page. You can review this summary before the beginning of your class to help you remember what you covered in class on the previous day. For more great ideas on how to efficiently and effectively take notes, see ClickUp's article on their recommended strategies. Organize your time: Here are two concepts to focus on as you consider how to better organize your time to perform better in school: a) use a planner and b) use to-do lists. It is important to keep a planner with you at all times during school to record homework assignments, and projects, as well as due dates for homework assignments, projects, events, and other important affairs. Having a planner will help you to prioritize homework assignments and will prevent you from forgetting about important assignments and projects. Make sure to always record any assigned homework and projects at the end of each class. If you don’t receive any homework assignments for a class, always document that you didn’t receive homework. This will help you to keep track of what’s due for each class. Related to using a planner is the concept of using and “working” to-do lists. This is something i learned a lot about in reading the book “Getting Things Done” by David Allen. In the book, Allen notes that a student or working professional can reduce errors, mistakes, and perhaps most importantly, stress, by taking things out of his or her head and putting it on paper. When somebody asks something of you and you agree to help, try to get in the habit of putting it on a list, not just storing it away in your head. So, in your planner, assignments for any given class should be written down in the appropriate area for that class. But separately, we recommend creating a series of to-do lists that operate across all of your classes, and in fact might include things you have to do for extra curricular activities as well. The first to-do list would be a “Daily” to-do list. This is a list of things you are going to accomplish on this very day. At the end of any given day, you create your list for the next day, and you might add to it throughout the day. It should have between 5-10 items on it, and you’ll feel great when you cross them off. If something doesn’t get done on Monday, it just needs to show up again on Tuesday. The next list you could create every Sunday evening, and it’s a slightly different list of things you’d like to accomplish that week. On any given day, one of those things, or some “sub-task” associated with one of those things, might be listed on a “Daily” to-do list. Finally, you’d create a “Monthly” to-do list with long term, major things you need to get done in any given month. Here are some examples of three to-do list items that work together to support performing well in a math class: A monthly to-do list item might be to “spend 10 hours preparing for my math final” A weekly to-do list item might be to “spend one hour putting together a study plan for my math final” A daily to-do list item might be to “spend 1 hour reviewing old math quizzes” Summary Hopefully, you found these ideas helpful. Trust us, organization skills can EASILY be the difference between an A student and a B student. It’s up to you to design your own system for staying organized.

SAT Essential Words - Private Tutoring

SAT Essential Words BobbiM Mar 25, 2014 Essential SAT word: Actuality; n.   The state of being actual or real; truly existing. On Halloween the children were so taken by the costumes that they had a difficult time distinguishing between actuality and pretend. Essential SAT word: Applicable; adj.   Readily usable; practical. Lorena was not sure that her ideas were applicable to the problem, but she offered them, nevertheless. Essential SAT word: Authenticity; n.   The quality or condition of being authentic, trustworthy or genuine. Before paying the high price for the painting, the art dealer had to check the authenticity of the work. Essential SAT word: Bona fide; adj.   Authentic and genuine. Among all the knockoffs in the shoe store, I found an inexpensive pair of bona fide Steve Madens. Bona fide; adj.   Made and carried out in good faith. The offer on the farmhouse was a bona fide agreement; the seller and buyer shook hands to secure the deal. Essential SAT word: Categorical; adj.   Without exception; absolute and explicit. Nobody in the room doubted that Samuel was the categorical winner of the Lincoln-Douglas debate. Categorical; adj.   Of or relating to categories or arrangement or order. Sammy was so left-brained, logical, and sequential that no one was surprised when she put all her information in precise, categorical order. Essential SAT word: Defensible; adj.   Justifiable for accuracy. Maria had a defensible position: There was no doubt that she would win the debate. Essential SAT word: Factual; adj.   Of the nature of fact; real. Even though the book was a work of fiction, it was full of factual information about that historical era. Essential SAT word: Genuine; adj.   Not counterfeit, but authentic; honest and real; free from hypocrisy or dishonesty; sincere. My uncle gave me   genuine two-dollar bill for my birthday. Essential SAT word: Invulnerable; adj.   Impossible to damage or enter; not able to alter the reality. The front door seemed invulnerable; it was made of steel, and it sported seven strong locks as well. Essential SAT word: Legitimacy; n.   The quality of being legitimate-authentic, genuine, and according to the law. The painting was suspect, so the legitimacy of its authenticity was questionable. SAT Essential Words BobbiM Mar 31, 2014 Hey guys! Here is just some extra practice for the SATs. Try to have fun! Good luck! Spasmodic; adj. Having the characteristic of a spasm or convulsion. The doctor said that the medicine could cause spasmodic episodes. Happening intermittently; from time to time. The spasmodic sound of fireworks made the little boy frightened. Sporadic; adj. Occurring at different intervals, with no set pattern. The rain this summer has been sporadic, which is why Ive seen my dad watering the lawn so much. Transitory;adj. Short-lived; temporary; only passing, not permanent. Kami was involved in another of her transitory relationships. Vacillate; verb. To move back and forth, especially being unable to make up ones mind. I vacillated between blue socks or red socks all morning. Habitual; adj. Naturally out of habit or routine; regular and common. It became habitual for Joseph to brush his teeth every morning. Incessant; adj. Continuing without interruption, sometimes to an excessive degree. In incessant snow was becoming overwhelming for my stressed mom. Impalpable; adj. Not able to be grasped, held, or understood. Tess struggled with math because she felt it was impalpable. Incidental; adj. Having little or no importance or impact. The hurricane caused Jo destruction so it was incidental. Irrelevant; adj. Unrelated to the matter being considered. Taylors answer to the question was very irrelevant. Modicum; adj. A small, very modest, or token amount. Billy took a modicum of Jesses birthday cake. Nonessential; adj. Not essential; of little or trivial importance. When Sadie looked on Google, she found a lot of nonessential information to what she was looking for. Whit; noun. The least bit; just an iota. Savanah didnt give a whit about finishing her math homework. Considerable; adj. In a large or impressive amount or significance. The teacher found her suggestion considerable. Intense; adj. Of extreme degree, characteristics,strength, or effort. Alexs training was so intense that she won a gold medal. Momentous; adj. Significant and meaningful; sometimes even historically important. Jonathan made a momentous decision to throw the football which led them to a victory. SAT Essential Words BobbiM Mar 25, 2014 SAT Essential word: unassailable; adj.   Undeniable, actual, and authentic. The unassailable truth came out when Marlas little brother realized that their parents were really the tooth fairy. SAT Essential word: valid; adj.   Real, authentic, correct; sound and well-grounded. Benny Lee was able to draw a valid conclusion only after he had discovered allt he facts. SAT Essential word: veracity; n.   Adherence to truth, reality, accuracy, and precision. The teacher confirmed the veracity of the students late pass by checking with the teacher who supposedly wrote the pass. SAT Essential word: veritable; adj.   Being truly so-called; real or genuine. A veritable stranger was kind enough to give Suzanne enough money to use the phone so she could call home. SAT Essential word: aberration; n.   A defect of departure from the normal; deviation or imperfection. My mother was not sure whether her occasionally seeing her dead great grandmother was real or an aberration. SAT Essential word: artifice; n.   Pretense, deception, or ruse. The young woman was about 90 percent artifice and only 10 percent authentic. Essential SAT word: invulnerable; adj.   Impossible to damage or enter; not able to alter the reality. The front door seemed invulnerable; it was made of steel, and it sported seven strong locks as well. Essential SAT word: legitimacy; n.   The quality of being legitimate-authentic, genuine, and according to the law. The painting was suspect, so the legitimacy of its authenticity was questionable. Essential SAT word: materiality; n.   The state of being material. Esther was so intent upon possessing things that her friends started questioning her focus on materiality. Essential SAT word: materiality; n.   Being of real or substantive quality. In Macbeth, Banquos ghost appears to Macbeth with such materiality that he is overwhelmed by guilt over Banquos murder. Essential SAT word: pragmatic; adj.   Dealing with facts, reality, and actual occurrences. Aarons insubstantial reasons were not pragmatic, so consequently non one believed him. Essential SAT word: tangible; adj.   Possible to touch; possible to be treated as fact; real or concrete. Carloss fantasy became tangible when Angie, the girl of his dreams, agreed to go out with him. Essential SAT word: tenable; adj.   Capable of being maintained; able to be maintained because of genuineness. The teams successful season was barely tenable because of the girls growing apathy toward attending practice. Essential SAT word: truism; n.   Self-evident truth, actuality, and reality. The rumor about a possible scandal became a truism once the facts were released to the public. SAT Essential Words BobbiM Mar 25, 2014 Deceptive; adj. Tending to deceive, betray, or fool; unauthentic and untrue. The thief was deceptive because she forgot to lock the front door. Evanescent; adj. Vanishing or likely to vanish; without much substance. Dreams are usually Evanescent, because, soon after waking up, most people forget most details. Fallacy; noun. A false notion It is a fallacy to think that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. A rhetorical flaw in an argument There was such a blaring fallacy in the lawyers disagreement that it was no big deal that he lost the case. An untruth Some complainers believe that love at first sight is a fallacy, it just never existed. Fantasy; noun. A creation of the imagination; an imagined event; a dream The author Tolkien, is the one who introduced the genre of fiction to public known as fantasy. Fleeting; adj. Passing quickly; ephemeral We caught a fleeting glimpse at the rat as it scrambled away with the cheese. Hallucination; noun. A false or mistaken idea; a delusion After my brother died, my sister had strong hallucinations where he talked to her. Illusion; noun. An erroneous perception of reality; a fantastical plan Landon had a strong illusion where someone was watching him. Imaginative; adj. Having a lively, creative mind; creating fantastic dreams Carsen was very imaginative in the poems he wrote. Imaginary;adj. Not real, from the imagination Some young children who are lonely are creative and make imaginary friends. Imprecise; adj. Not precise; not exact for sure Since Madisons answer was rather imprecise, Mckinleys response sounded smart and narrowed down by comparison Inaccurate; adj. Mistaken or incorrect; not accurate Abigail defense her answers whether they were right or wrong. Mirage; noun. Something that is illusion art or insubstantial Tommy always visualized the mirage of a ten human income. Semblance; noun. Outward appearance; a representation or a copy of something else The teacher was concerned about the semblance of her first grade students. Short-lived; adj. Living or lasting only a short while; fleeting The girls two point lead was short-lived due to the fact she had to leave early. Whimsy; noun. A whim or an odd or fanfic all idea, sometimes a quaint or unorthodox idea Acting upon whimsy, Frank cautiously went over to talk to his mother and was relieved when the answer was yes. Contingent; adj. Liable to occur but not with certainty; possible Tomorrows weather forecast includes a contingent chance of snow by afternoon. Dependent on conditions or occurrences not yet established My brother is a contingent worker; she works for a part time mcdonalds worker Episodic; adj. Relating to or happening in episodes My favorite television series is shown as episodic Incidental; adj. Apt to occur in a minor or unpredictable manner He was an incidental bother; only rarely did he annoy me. Intermittent; adj. Stopping and staring at the intervals The news about the warning was intermittent because of so many commercials. Interrupt; verb. To break the rhythm or continuity; to stop the momentum or continuum Because of the severe storm, the referee had to interrupt the intense game. Periodic; adj. Characterized by a repeating cycle or repetition of intervals; appearing or occurring from time to time My meet ups with best friend are periodic. Although we have no formal agreement, we meet with each other every other Tuesday. Recurrent; adj. Occurring repeatedly Mateo kept having a recurrent dream; night after night he would experience the same dream.

12 Simple Ways to Get Foreign Language Immersion Without Going Abroad

12 Simple Ways to Get Foreign Language Immersion Without Going Abroad 12 Simple Ways to Get Foreign Language Immersion Without Going Abroad Living abroad is arguably the best  way to learn a foreign language.Cant hop on a plane tomorrow?Stay tuned. Youre about to learn how to simulate foreign language immersion.Lots of us language learners are far,  far away from the countries where our  target languages are spoken.It feels like a darn shame, because being surrounded by the language every day provides  endless opportunities for learning and practice. Plus, while living abroad you never have to go far to find someone who speaks the language youre trying to learn.Since its a common problem, that means that there are tons of solutions out there.As it turns out, you can immerse yourself in language even if you  dont have the time, money or desire to become an expat tomorrow.You can do this without leaving your community, your home or even your bed.The key is to put yourself into situations where language learning is inevitable.  Here are 12 ways to get started. 12 Simple Ways to Get Foreign Language Immersion Without Going Abroad1. Make technology work for youYou know that you arent living in France  or China, but your computer doesnt know that!Immerse yourself and learn technical vocabulary by changing the digital language settings  on your phone, camera, computer or TV. In addition to changing the universal settings on your devices, you can change the settings in individual programs, such as your internet browser. You can also change the language on websites or apps you use frequently.This simple change can make  language learning a part of  the activities you do most, and this helps to reinforce a sense of foreign language immersion and ongoing commitment to your language learning goals.2. Entertain yourself like a localWe all need  to take breaks, but why not use  your breaks as  opportunities to continue to learn?Instead of lazing on the couch with an English language TV show, find a show or video in the language you want to learn.Soap operas can be a particularly good way to practice your langu age skills. Regardless of your personal feelings about them, you cant deny that soap operas feature consistent characters and ongoing plot lines that stretch over a series of episodes. This repetition can help improve your comprehension and ensure that you have a chance to understand whats happening before the action moves elsewhere.Ask native speaking friends for suggestions about which shows are best, or do an online search for the most popular ones.  If you have a TV channel that broadcasts in your target language, this is an ideal place to start. If not, look online for sites that provide clips and full episodes.Still need inspiration? Check out  FluentU.  FluentU takes real-world videos  and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.  Weve got something for everyone, with content ranging from the Hunger Games and Sharknado to cartoons, documentaries, dramas, music videos, Coca Cola commercials and broadcast news.With FluentU, you  can just sit back, relax and read along with the subtitles. Alternatively, you can kick things up a notch with interactive learning features like flashcards and vocabulary lists. Not to mention, everythings personalized for your learning level and style based on the content youve been watching. Its perfect for figuring out which types of video resources work best for you!With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that real people speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Social media sites are another fun way to practice your language skills. Try looking things up or chatting with people  in your target language  using Pinterest, Reddit, Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites.You can also listen to the radio, check out foreign-language podcasts and enjoy music in your target language.  If you start entertaining yourself in your target language, you might be surprised how much additional learning you gain without feeling like youre doing any work.3. Keep up on news and current eventsOne of the best ways to sound like a native is to be aware of the hot topics within the community and use the same  vocabulary locals  use to talk about these things.Youd probably follow the local news and t alk with people on the streets if you lived abroad, but its remarkably easy to stay abreast of foreign news from your own home. Check out one of many  online news sources.  Ask native speakers what sites they use most, and browse the foreign language versions of international sources like  the BBC and Google News.4. Find a conversation partnerIf you want to immerse yourself without leaving home, you need to find someone to talk with on a regular basis. Thats where a conversation partner comes in.A conversation partner does not need to be a teacher.  In fact, sometimes its better if your conversation partner isnt a teacher because your goal isnt to drill new vocabulary or work through lessons in a book. Its about having a friendly conversation with a native speaker.That friendly conversation can help you practice what youre learning at home and give you  a feel for the flow of the language. Youll  learn colloquial phrases and deepen your understanding of another culture. It can also keep you  motivated, since you know youll need to use your language skills at least once every week or two.To find a partner, start by talking to your friends and family members, and use Facebook  to ask online friends for suggestions. You might be surprised how many people know someone who could help you.  If this doesnt work, post an announcement on a local  community listserv, or try posting a note on the bulletin board at your library, school or coffee shop.Another option is to use an online language exchange site such as Coeffee, Lingoglobe or My Language Exchange.5. Sign up for a conversation clubLike a conversation partner, a club can give you opportunities to practice your target language and learn new vocabulary.Although conversation clubs might not give you as many speaking opportunities as a one-on-one conversation might, there are many  other advantages to a  club. First, the more the merrier! A club can introduce you to numerous  other people interested in the language youre studying, and these people may be able to provide you with information about new language learning opportunities or resources.You also have the opportunity to hear many different voices in a conversation club. Experiencing the ways different people use language and watching other learners use the language can help you experiment with new ways to express your own thoughts.Another advantage of a conversation club is that it gives you a chance to listen to a higher level of language than you may be comfortable speaking. This is especially useful for beginners, who may not be able to sustain a long conversation but can gain a lot by listening to more advanced speakers.So, where to find clubs like these?Many libraries offer conversation clubs, and so do some universities and colleges. Another option is to look for clubs through sites such as Meetup.  If you cant find a club in your community, why not start one yourself? All you need is a native speaker and a handful of people inter ested in learning the language.6. Label your homeWant to get organized and improve your language skills at the same time? Start putting  foreign-language  labels on the things you use regularly.Label your desk, window, coffee mug, bookshelf, anything you want! All it takes is masking tape and a pen (or if you like to be fancy, a label maker).Seeing the word every time you use an item reinforces it in your mind and can help keep you motivated to learn more. Its also an amazing way to bring language learning  into your home and make it an everyday part of your life.Just make sure you ask before labeling your roommates or spouses things!The trick is sometimes mustering the motivation to create all the labels. Luckily, you can outsource your label-making for the most important words by using a Vocabulary Stickers set, which gives you well over 100 words to put on items you use and see every day around your home and office. Theyre durable yet removable, andâ€"for languages that have gend ersâ€"they’re even conveniently coded by grammatical gender, so you learn the gender of each word as you learn the word itself.7. Wine and dineWe all have to eat, and most of us enjoy doing it. Since food is an important element in all cultures around the world, it can be an excellent bridge to help you learn a foreign language.Start with a cookbookFind a book that will instruct you how to prepare the cuisine of the country or culture where your target language is spoken. Even if the cookbooks in English, cooking some dishes will help you better understand the daily life and culture of the people who speak the language you want to learn.For more language practice, look up recipes and cooking shows online. Following a recipe in  a foreign language gives new meaning to the cooking and eating experience and can help you develop the vocabulary you need to talk about important dishes  in your target language.Another option is to find a restaurant that serves the cuisine of the  people who speak your target language. Practice your pronunciation when you place your order, and engage the owners and waitstaff in friendly conversation. Ask for recommendations and learn what dishes are most popular in the country they come from. If you get particularly close with the staff, you might even ask for a cooking lesson!8. Do your errandsYou have to buy groceries, drop off your dry cleaning and grab a double mocha frappuccino (okay, maybe that last one optional). Why not get some language practice in at the same time?Seek out a local immigrant community that speaks your target language and find the shops they use. You may be able to find an ethnic food market, convenience store, laundromat, dry cleaner, coffee shop, bakery and more. Doing your errands at these places can open more opportunities to practice your language skills with the owners and the other customers. It can also be a way to meet new friends and conversation partners.9. Volunteer in your target languageVolunte ering helps others, but it can also help you.Better your community.  Look for ways to get involved in organizations that work with  people in your community who speak your target language. Schools, nonprofits, libraries, places of worship and medical clinics might need your help. Refugee resettlement agencies may also be looking for help introducing new refugees to your city.There are a wide range of things you might do in a volunteer position. You might lend a hand by  watching kids while their parents take ESL classes, helping translate basic information, serving as an English conversation partner or driving people to medical appointments.Even if a position requires work to be done in English, you may meet a lot of people who speak your target language and can open new doors for you.Look for postings on sites like Craigslist or VolunteerMatch, or see if your city has  a volunteer match program of its own.10. Make your job work for youMost of your time is probably spent doing your day job, so this is an ideal place to look for additional opportunities to study the language you want to learn.To arrive to work in a language learning mindset, start practicing during  your morning commute  by playing music or listening to the news in your target language.If youre in search of a job, consider opportunities at restaurants, companies or shops where your target language is spoken. If youre lucky enough to  already  have a job where the language is spoken, never miss an opportunity to practice with your colleagues.You can also improve your  language skills by doing job-related research in your target language. When you need to look up information, try a search in your target language and see if you can understand some of the articles.If your company offers funds for professional development, jump at the chance to apply for money to help you take a course or pay for a private tutor.11. Record your thoughtsWrite your way to a happier life and practice your language skil ls by journaling in your target language.You can write short stories, record your impressions from the day or simply keep track of your language learning progress. The possibility are endless.12. Have fun!The best way to keep learning is to make it fun.Find ways to do your hobbies while learning your target  language. Do you like to read? See if your library has books and magazines in your target language. Do you like to dance? Take a class that teaches  dances from a country or region where your target language is spoken.You can also look for foreign language blogs and videos related to your hobbies. Try to connect with an international audience that  also enjoys doing whatever it is that you like to do.If video games are more your style, search for smartphone apps or online games in your target language.You might also be able to find old-fashioned board games such as Scrabble in foreign languages. If you have friends or family members who are learning the same language, this can b e a fun way to practice together.Ultimately, the best way to immerse yourself in a foreign language is to do whatever you would normally doâ€"just in your target language.Look for opportunities for foreign language immersion online and in your community so you can truly immerse yourself without leaving your hometown.Katherine Kostiuk is a freelance writer with  professional  experience in international education and English teaching. She has lived in four foreign countries and studied five different foreign languages.

An Honest Review of Mondly Tech as Learning Aid or Gimmick

An Honest Review of Mondly Tech as Learning Aid or Gimmick An Honest Review of Mondly: Tech as Learning Aid or Gimmick? How can an alligator in your bedroom help you learn a language?Is there really anything a robot companion  can do to get you to improve?And, more importantly, is all this worth paying for?Mondly is a language learning app that has a lot of buzz surrounding it, especially after  winning a few awards when it burst onto the scene a couple of years ago.Its based around a combination of daily lessons focused on games and translations into your language, a chatbot and unique augmented reality features.But is it worth the hype? We delve into the main features in this Mondly review and then take a look at what the program does wellâ€"as well as what needs improvement. An Honest Review of Mondly: Tech as Learning Aid or Gimmick?The Key Principles of MondlyDaily useLike many other language apps you can carry in your pocket, Mondly places an emphasis on short but frequent lessons. It prepares a daily lesson for you, with sentences and new vocabulary that you can learn in your target language. Everything you learn is then recapped at the end of the class, and you can go back and review it at a later point.Whats more, you get daily reminders as notifications. You can set these to appear at a time convenient to you. So, if you prefer to learn first thing in the morning, you can ask the app to remind you at 7 a.m.; on the other hand, if you want to do some studying on your lunch break at work, set it to 1 p.m.As you continue your language learning journey, Mondly keeps you informed of how well youve been maintaining your daily study regimen.Translation into your L1Unlike methods of learning which focus purely on the target language, Mondly encourages you to learn to translate between your mother tongue or a language you already speak well and the language you want to learn.This is done through a mixture of typing, speaking and choosing words from a list. You can also hear the words spoken in your target language so that you start to associate the written word with the spoke n one.In practice, this means that its a little bit easier to get into learning than it otherwise would be. Mondly prides itself on having a large number of options for the base language, and youll find yourself processing the information well, especially at the early stages.Variety of learning methodsWe all know that learning a new language can feel like a bit of a slog at times. Thats why mixing it up is important!Mondlys model combines daily lessons tailored for you with a pathway through the various topics and levels involved in learning a new language. This is combined with innovative features such as the augmented reality lessons and a chatbot.Well go into more detail about each of these below, but the beauty of Mondly is in their combination. Youre never using the exact same method all the time, so you wont get bored!Mondly FeaturesDaily lessonsThe way Mondly gets you to keep up your language practice is by providing you with daily lessons. Each day, youll get a notification reminding you that your lesson is available.Through game-like exercises, youre introduced to new vocabulary and relevant phrases for a given topic. For instance, you might have a daily lesson about travel, in which case youll learn the words for airport, passport and a way of saying I am here on business. At the end of the lesson, youre reminded of the new words and phrases you learned in that session.For those who have used an app like Duolingo, these daily lessons look very familiar. In fact, the format and style of the lessons are almost exactly the same. This isnt necessarily a bad thing as its a format that works. But what makes Mondly more unique? Thats where the other features come in.ChatbotThe language learning chatbot is designed to emulate a conversation, giving you a chance to put the language youre learning into practice.The app gives you a virtual interlocutor and youre invited to respond to conversational prompts, such as a general greeting or a restaurant role-play. Mondly suggests some responses to these, but itll also accept other correct replies.Although the conversations themselves are far from realistic, the speech-to-text functionality in Mondly is pretty good, allowing for this to be enjoyable rather than a chore. At first, you can just go with the suggested responses, but its nice to try and think about what else you could say, too!Augmented realityThis function is a big selling point for Mondly. Using augmented reality technology, you can generate a CGI teacher in your office, living room or wherever!Your teacher will speak to you in your language, before conjuring objects to teach you about them. The first lesson is about animals, and she makes a big impression by appearing to create a lion out of thin air.Some elements of this feature arent bad. While just giving you the names of animals and the like is nothing groundbreaking, you can approach them and see vocabulary, for example, for different body parts and related vocabulary with a visual aid.This means you can learn the word for nose while seeing it on the nose of a lion. I first checked out Mondly a while ago, and I still remember that  il becco is beak in Italian thanks to a cute computer-generated chicken!Having said that, the augmented reality in Mondly, unfortunately, feels more like a gimmick than an effective learning tool. The lessons cant really be halted and resumed at will, making them less effective if youre pushed for time.Meanwhile, the robotic voice and smooth features of your new lecturer make the whole experience quite uncanny!The Pros of MondlyThere are definitely a few things going on in Mondly that make it worthy of some investigation if youre keen to use your smartphone to help you learn.Innovative features to keep you interestedLanguage learning software is an increasingly competitive field, so even when it doesnt quite hit the mark, its good to see the developers of Mondly being somewhat innovative in their features.Theres a certain w ow factor to the augmented reality and a real bonus that it works in every language, while the chat features and effective speech-to-text software make for a varied and engaging experience.Competitive elementBy completing lessons in Mondly, you earn points. These affect your place on a leaderboard, both against all other users in the world and any of your friends who you may have on the app.A bit of competitive spirit helps get things going, so theres nothing like sitting below your colleague in the table to motivate you to do a few more lessons!A large array of source and target languagesMondly boasts 33 languages, all of which can be used as either source or target languages. That means its just as easy to be a French speaker learning Afrikaans as it is to be a Mandarin speaker learning Italian.Some of the languages could do with further developmentâ€"for example, the alphabet switching when youre learning Arabic isnt perfect and causes some of the options to jump around in transl ation exercisesâ€"but this is a real strength, especially for people who are frustrated by the number of tools that focus too much on using English as a base.The Cons of MondlyHaving said all of that, Mondly has some drawbacks that are quite disappointing as you try to push on in your learning.Lack of differentiation between levelsA huge drawback of Mondly is that its too heavily aimed at lower levels. When you first sign up, youre asked what level you already have in the language. I had a go at Italian (in which Im around an upper-intermediate level) and Arabic (at which Im a complete beginner) but the classes and materials were exactly the same!Mondly might be a good way to get an entry into a new level, but its not as good a platform as the likes of FluentU, which use authentic materials aimed at all different levels.FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons. It makes authentic material approachable whether youre a complete beginner or an advanced student.For those looking to deepen their understanding and usage of a language they already somewhat know, Mondly is far from ideal. By pairing Mondly with more robust language learning programs like FluentU, you can increase your learning scope and apply newly learned information to authentic context.It has a monthly feeWhile theres a free version that allows you to try some features, the amount you can use is extremely limited. You can access some daily lessons but only the first conversation of the chatbot and the first set of vocabulary lessons. Packages start from $9.99 per month, and this gives you access only to a single language.This is a bit limiting, especially when you consider that other programs, like FluentU, allow you to access all the languages they offer under one umbrella subscription.Some features feel contrivedWhile I appreciate Mondlys attempts at innovation, the result is often so mething that feels a long way from natural. The conversations in the chatbot are stilted, while the augmented reality function really just replays set pieces in a way that captures your interest at first but loses its impact as the novelty fades.There are plenty of programs that use tech to improve your experience, but do it in a balanced and natural way. FluentU, for instance, uses interactive subtitles, video-enhanced flashcards and adaptive quizzes that take your prior learning into account  to create a personalized learning experience.Innovative technology is an excellent way to maintain learner interest and motivation. If youre taken in by the cool tech of Mondly, then enjoy! If youd rather have something more authentic and natural, you might want to look elsewhere.We hope youve learned everything you want to know about the program in our Mondly review!While Mondly makes some interesting moves in the field of language learning, its hard to escape the feeling that the good parts are rehashed from existing platforms and the areas in which theyve tried to innovate still need some work. Its worth downloading the free version and, if the features strike your fancy, have a go. However, with the price still far from cheap for a product like this, it has a way to go before catching up to some of the leaders in the area.