University of Central Floridas Spanish Certificate

University of Central Floridas Spanish Certificate The University of Central Florida's Spanish Language Test ChaptersWhy Should You Certify Your Spanish Language Proficiency?The Specifics of the UCF FLPE Spanish TestHow to Prepare for your Language Proficiency Test in SpanishAdvance Your Career with the Spanish LanguageIf you want to live and work in Spain, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, or anyone of the other 16 Spanish speaking countries, you will more than likely need to prove your level to a prospective employer.They will want to see that you have the solid grasp of the grammar, and a good level of fluency in Spanish in order that speaking Spanish won't be what prevents you from carrying out the duties of your job.So how can you show a company that your pronunciation is spot on, and your verb conjugation is up to scratch? By taking a Spanish proficiency test, you can demonstrate that your Spanish level meets the required level as set out by the proficiency test that you take.Such tests are often backed by different universities, organisations, or governments. This means that your Spanish level will come with a seal of approval from a notable source.So if you are looking for Spanish courses, or are studying the language on your own, with the aim of taking a Spanish language proficiency test, the question is which one is best for you?There are a wide range of options available to you, each offering the learner something slightly different. As standard, they will focus on Spanish grammar and the four skills of language learning (speaking, listening, reading and writing).The most common Spanish proficiency test are the Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera  (DELE) tests. Taking a DELE test  can be done in various parts of the world, and they are administered by the Spanish government.But for those of you who live in Florida, you can take a Spanish test administered by the University of Central Florida (UCF). In this article we will look at why you should take a Spanish proficiency test, and what the Foreign Language Proficiency Exam (FLPE) at UCF entails. TadeoSpa nish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterSpanish Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MartaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SharonSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TanyaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Jose manuelSpanish Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Should You Certify Your Spanish Language Proficiency?There are loads of reasons to learn Spanish. The language of Cervantes is spoken by an estimated 440 million native speakers across the world, and it is the principal language in the countries of Central and South America. And while Spanish is not an official language in the U.S.A, the country has the third biggest native population of Spanish speakers worldwide, after Mexico and Colombia.The importance of Spanish extends beyond the language and culture. It is one of only six official languages used by the UN. You don't need to be fluent to be able to benefit from knowing conversational Spanish. Doing so will set you aside from the crowd as you'll be able to communicate with a huge number of native speakers, but how do you prove your level?Doing a Spanish course will look good on your CV, but language courses don't guarantee that you have learnt anything useful to an employer. The same can be said of doing a semester abroad in Madrid, Buenos Aires, or Santiago.You will need a Spanish certificate in order to truly show what level your Spanish is at. By doing so, you can leave a job interviewer in little doubt that your ability will match their needs. As we have already noted, such certificates are endorsed by a variety of sources and therefore your Spanish certificate could come directly from the Spanish government, or ev en the Argentinian government if you decide to take the CELU Spanish exam.Being bilingual is a plus in a business world where languages are so importantThis will look much better on your CV than simply stating that you have taken Spanish lessons, but the element of doubt will be removed as to how much you have learnt. After all, a company looking to employ you will need to know that your language skills won't infringe on your ability to do your job.You might be thinking that this is only applicable for people who want to live and work in Spain or Latin America. Obviously if this is the case, then a Spanish certificate is essential. You might even struggle to find work without one, depending on the sector you want to work in, and you country of preference.But even for finding a job at home, a Spanish proficiency certificate will be useful. In the modern world where business is becoming international and people of different cultures and backgrounds are brought together in a profession al environment, having certified skills in a second language will set you aside from other candidates.There are a few different Spanish proficiency tests that focus on Spanish for use in business or education, such as the SIELE Spanish proficiency test.The Specifics of the UCF FLPE Spanish TestIt doesn't matter what Spanish certificate you choose, you'll need to familiarise yourself with the curriculum and test format in order to study effectively. If you want to take a DELE test, you'll need to know what the DELE consists of. If you want to take the FLPE at UCF, you'll need to know about the FLPE.You will have a total of 2 and a half hours to complete this exam. It will test your listening and reading comprehension, as well as your knowledge of vocabulary and Spanish words, and your grammatical accuracy that learning Spanish effectively requires.Just like any other Spanish proficiency test, you'll need to know if the exam is the right one for you. Students at UCF should speak to th eir academic adviser before registering for the exam.One advantage of this Spanish certificate is that it uses situations in a professional context to see how candidates engage with the world of business in Spanish. In doing so, the test assesses how well the candidate uses the Spanish language, and employers can see the certificate in a professional context - perfect for anyone who anyone who wants to work with an Hispanic company, whether it be Spanish or Latin American.A Spanish proficiency certificate could be your key to working for an Hispanic companyTest DayYou should arrive 15 minutes early on the day of your exam. The university reserves the right to stop late-comers taking the test, which will result in the money paid being lost.Don't forget to take 2 forms of valid ID which show the name of the person who is registered to take the test.Examples of forms of ID that are accepted include driver licences, passports, state issued IDs, and military ID. You will also need your c onfirmation email sent to you by RegisterBlast.How to Prepare for your Language Proficiency Test in SpanishIt doesn't matter if you are a beginner, or an intermediate - you will need to prepare for the FLPE. There are some obvious things that you can do to do this. You can sign up for a Spanish program or  Spanish classes. This could be directly with the university, or with a local language school.Doing so will allow you to study Spanish in a classroom environment, which should help your assimilate the important aspects of Spanish that you will need for the exam. Your Spanish teacher will also be on hand to help you if you get particularly stuck with anything.Since I signed up for Spanish Classes London, my Superprof Spanish teacher has always been available to help me!Outside of the classroom, you should take every opportunity to speak Spanish. Each conversation that you have will teach you new phrases and expressions, and if you practise with a native speaker, you can learn to und erstand different accents from the Spanish speaking world.Make friends with Spanish speakers in order to improve your Spanish linguistic skills!In general, any way that you can immerse yourself in Spanish, will be of benefit. This could mean changing the language on your phone and computer to Spanish, or listening to Spanish speaking radio and TV. Not only will this develop your Spanish vocabulary, but you could learn about Spanish culture which could be useful to give you some context to some of the different articles and audios that you are faced with in the FLPE.You can also find certain 'learn Spanish online' sites. The most useful ones to help you prepare for the FLPE are the ones that offer you the chance to practise what you have learnt. Please note that online Spanish on its own is perhaps not the best way to learn the language, but there are definitely certain merits in using it to accompany other learning methods. This is because you often don't have an instructor to guide your progress.If you can, spend some time in a Spanish speaking country. This is the ultimate form of immersion because you will be constantly surrounded by the Spanish language, even when you are not directly engaging with it. It will act as an intensive training method because everything will be in Spanish.You could do this by finding a short term placement with an Hispanic company, or simply by going on holiday to a country where Spanish is the dominant language. Whilst there, you will be able to use everything that you have learnt in your Spanish class, as well as improving and developing your language skills.True love can happen in different languages too!Advance Your Career with the Spanish LanguageThe University of Central Florida could help you reach your entrepreneurial dreams. If you have Spanish under your belt, you can decide to start a business in Spain or a Latin American country. If it's not based in the country itself, you could start a branch there, or speak with l ocals who may want to help you get started.Once you are linguistically equipped with your UCF language certificate, you have many options open to you! These options could mean more work, more money, and more meetings.Don't pass the opportunity up! Invest in the FLPE Spanish diploma today. You are only a few short steps away from making your  Spanish language dreams come true!

Attend Statistics Class Online to Grip Exclusive Learning

Attend Statistics Class Online to Grip Exclusive Learning Statistics interests those who like to explore life situations on the basis of details given and their results. You may not belong to that category and Statistics could overwhelm you at unexpected moments. This would let you struggle to know the Mean and Average of a given detail. And you cannot skip the classes every day nor can you shun the subject as you need to score in that too. Some practical solution should be sought out and Tutor Pace offers that to you. Statistics class online- unique approaches to unravel the mysteries of Statistics Graphs and sum doing in Statistics can irk you. It can take you to jitters with their last minute struggles and incomplete conclusions. You can learn Statistics theoretically through its derivations, formulae and theories. When you come to the part of application, you are challenged. Your mind demands some outside support to arrive at conclusions. Conclusions that are based on the data analysis of the real life situations. Take to Tutor Pace to come to conclusions about your homework tasks. Or determinations about your applications of data in real life situations. @TutorPace Offers 10% Discount on Online #Assignment Help for Improved Grades http://t.co/P1NO7BttIg #backtoschool pic.twitter.com/vJs9iihJwU â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) September 10, 2015 How tutor pace contributes here Tutor Pace tutors strive hard to drive away your fears about Statistics class with their specific coaching strategies. They concentrate on your learning issues with individualized attention to make the best of your learning abilities. This cater to your needs not only at basic level, but also in higher grades or AP Statistics. It helps to see to it that you get rid of your homework hazards and click your answers with ease. They are certified to trained you in any of the Statistics topics like Z Scores Table Sample Mean What is a Line Plot? What is a Median in Math? Expected Value Statistics and so on They render their support to analyze the data through numerical and graph representations and come to solid conclusions about your findings. Anytime, anywhere you can log onto our tutors to get the best of our services. You gain the most through rapid communication via voice chat made possible for both sides, interactive white board to do the sums, reviews of the old concepts and proper intimations of students progress through progress reports. Analyzing Statistics Relationships or Inferences would no more be a trouble for you but you can get along with such topics with ease and fun through the proper motivation of Stats tutors online in Tutor Pace. Easy Ways to Solve #Accounting Questions https://t.co/0BoKlJ1ZgG pic.twitter.com/2O4oTl060d â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) March 3, 2016 Learning a subject like Statistics needs in depth understanding and exceptional eye for details. Just a glance at details is not the way to learn the subject. Avail our online tutors service to understand the coherent ideas in the undercurrent of Statistics learning and do your best in oncoming test and assignment. Once understood, Statistics will turn out to be a wonderful subject deserving your attention and it proves useful for practical analysis of life situations based on probability theory. Statistics online tutoring  is a booster to supplement your classroom learning and it opens the door for victorious scores in the subject for your beneficial future prospects.

Making the Most of Summer

Making the Most of Summer Improving Academic Performance Summertime; its when students look forward to staying up late, sleeping-in, hanging out with their friends, BBQs and sunny beach getaways. All fun aside, summer is a great time to get a leg up on the competition and to keep your skills sharp. For younger students, summer is the perfect time to brush-up on those subjects that they may struggle with throughout the year. During the summer when you aren’t inundated with multiple classes and extra- curricular activities you can focus on a specific subject where you would like to strengthen your skills. BRUSH-UP ON YOUR SKILLS Readingis fundamental, it’s true, as it’s one of the best ways to work on multiple skills simultaneously. Reading helps you to develop a stronger vocabulary, better critical thinking skills, improves focus and concentration and can help you enhance your own writing skills. Reading is not only beneficial to younger learners, but high school, college and graduate school students alike, asthe benefits of reading are directly applicable to test taking success! Young readers can read ashort list of their choresand older students can strive tofinish a novel before the movieadaptation hits theaters. Be sure to throw a book into your beach bag or to read on that weekend road-trip. Reading andWritinggo hand-in-hand, being a strong writer will serve you in any academic or professional pursuit. It is imperative to begin writing, early and often. For most students, writing is usually in the context of a school assignment, we should think outside of the box and incorporate writing into or daily lives. Adolescents can practice their writing bywriting a letter home to their parents from sleep-away camporwriting shortsummaries of a movie. Parents can ask teens towrite a persuasive proposalon why they deserve that new expensive gadget or why they should be allowed to attend their first concert with friends. Writing in an everyday context not only helps students develop their writing skills, but ithelps them to develop their “voice.”This is an essential skill for writing that “dreaded” college admissions essay. When asked to write an analytical essay, students should do more than regurgitate the author’s stance, they should know how to use their own words to a nalyze what the reading states and its greater implications. Finally, everyone can always brush up on their math skills.Mathis one of those things, that, if you don’t use it you lose it. You can incorporate math into your daily life bypracticing mental math. When shopping,figure out what your total will be before reaching the register. If that shirt is 40% off, what will the final price be? For younger kids, ask them how long they will have tosave their allowance to afford that new toy? Let kids help in the kitchen;cooking is a perfect time to practice mathusing a measuring cup, cutting pizza or a pie, or doubling a recipe to feed a crowd. TAKE ACTION Now that you have worked on those reading and writing skills, it is time to put them to good use. High school students should use the summer before their Senior year to write theirCollege Admissions Essay.By this time, you have undoubtedly began thinking about where you would like to attend college and even a potential major. The summer is a good time to get started on this essay because during the Fall of your senior year you have your coursework to keep up with, trying to squeeze in that one last ACT exam, taking trips to visit colleges and of course the first College Application deadlines. You have a good idea of the type of student you are, what interests you and what you are passionate about, so get writing! This is also a good time to open afirst checking and savings account. High school Juniors and Seniors probably have a summer job and opening these accounts is a great way to keep them accountable on their spending and the first step in teaching them financial responsibility, an essential skill before they go off to college. For students, high school aged and under, help themchoose camps and summer activities that will enhance their academic skills. A child who has an interest in math or science would flourish at a robotics or coding camp. A more imaginative child would benefit from a creative writing or drama camp. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Summer is also the perfect time to take learning beyond academic to experiential. Use summer breaks to, serve an internship in a field you are interested in pursuing. Though you will need to research and apply tointernshipswell before summer (usually the previous fall), you can continue learning beyond the classroom when you are working in the field. Sometimes, there may not be formal internships offered in a field in which you are interested. In these instances, ask if you mayshadow a professional in the field.Let’s say you are interested in becoming a dentist, write a letter to your family dentist expressing your interest in the profession and ask if you might spend a day or longer shadowing them at work. Time off school is also the perfect time to spend timevolunteeringfor a cause you are passionate about. Philanthropy is accessile to students of all ages. Finally, forgraduate and professional students, summer is a practical time toupdate your CV or Resume. Think back over the previous semesters and list out any courses or professional development you completed, list any classes you taught and conferences you presented at. Always having an updated CV/Resume makes it easier to fire away when a fellowship or job opportunity presents itself.

How to Warn Someone in English - English Lesson via Skype

How to Warn Someone in English - English Lesson via Skype People are always taking risks and as a result they are always likely to have accidents. Lets learn how to warn someone in English.We warn  people about the dangers in many different ways.These are often referred to as warning signs  when it is official.As an example a local government will put up  (erect) warning signs like Danger  keep out. This is to stop people going into a restricted area.A farmer might put up a notice on his  field Beware of Bull, Keep out.And house owners often put up notices on their gates (particularly for the postman!) Beware of the Dog.This warns people in advance so if anything happens the  owners of the land (government or the farmer) have some protection against a legal action. How to Warn Someone in English? There are many more informal ways of warning people in English. Here are some of them:1. MIND YOUR HEADWhere a ceiling or door is low and you might possibly bang (hit) your head then  these warning signs or posters are put up to help you.2. MIND OUT OF THE WAY or KEEP OUT OF THE WAY!This is often shouted when we are in danger of  bumping into somebody who is too close to us.For example, you are running along the street as you  are late for the bus or tram. You shout at the people (politely) to mind out of the way or keep out of  the way so you can get by more quickly.3. TAKE CARE (OF YOURSELF)be careful, be cautious, keep yourself safeTake care driving in foggy conditions.We can also use this phrase when were saying goodbye to family or friends.4. BE CAREFULpay attention to what you are doing, be cautiousBe careful when using  this new app and paying by card!  5. IF I WERE YOUWere using this expression when we want to give someone a piece of advice.If I were you, I wouldnt drive home tonight. How to Warn Someone in English - Infographic Enjoyed this infographic? Here’s what you can do next: Many of warnings in English are written in the form of phrasal verbs  (verb + preposition) but always  remember if you want it to sound important or serious then when writing it use the exclamation  mark! Or when speaking you must raise your voice (not necessarily scream or shout) to indicate it is a warning.Look out!Watch out!Watch it!Careful!Keep out!All of these warnings in English basically mean the same.Look out my hands are full I might drop the plates!Watch out I  am right behind you do not move!Watch it you nearly knocked into me!Careful you are spilling the  wine!If you are in a room (your bedroom) trying to get some peace and quiet then if someone knocks on  your door you might say “go away, I am busy”.   Teenagers will often use these phrases to warn their  parents not to disturb them:GO AWAY CAN’T YOU SEE I AM BUSY  orGET OUT I AM BUSY!(NEVER use it with people you dont know as this is very impolite)As in many languages, warnings in English can be given in many ways to advise us of a possible danger or risk so it is always a good  idea to heed (take notice of) that warning.Scroll down to learn English expressions related to warnings. English Expressions related to Warnings You can also use English idioms and expressions to warn people in English. Here are some examples of English expressions related to warnings:BETTER SAFE THAN SORRYIts wiser to be cautious and careful than to do something in a hurry that you may later regret.RED SKY IN THE MORNING, SHEPHERDS WARNINGA red sky in the morning is a sign that bad weather will follow later.TOO MANY COOKS (SPOIL THE BROTH)When there are too many people trying to do the same job, this job will not be done well.LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAPConsider every possible scenario and weigh all the possible outcomes before making a decision.

5 Killer Language Learning Strategies Guaranteed to Help You Make Time

5 Killer Language Learning Strategies Guaranteed to Help You Make Time 5 Killer Language Learning Strategies Guaranteed to Help You Make Time Have you ever thought to yourself, Id love to learn a foreign language but Im just too darn busy. If only I had more hours in the day?I hear you.Work life and home life are demanding, and those 24 hours a day wont be getting any longer.So when are we supposed to learn an entire other language?I have good news for you. There are effective, surefire ways to make time for language learning.  (Yes, even for those of you with the busiest of schedules!)So sit tight and keep on reading, because here  are my five best strategies to make time for language learning every day and they actually work! 5 Killer Language Learning Strategies Guaranteed to Help You Make Time1. Apply the 80/20 Rule to Focus on What Matters MostThe modern world is a buzzing chaotic mess of activity and it seems to get worse with each passing year. In reality, however, the problem is not a lack of time, but a lack of prioritization.  As Tim Ferriss shares in his best-selling book The 4-Hour Workweek:Most things make no difference. Being busy is a form of lazinessâ€"lazy thinking and indiscriminate action. Being overwhelmed is often as unproductive as doing nothing, and is far more unpleasant. Being selectiveâ€"doing lessâ€"is the path of the productive. Focus on the important few and ignore the rest.This is where the 80/20 Rule (a.k.a. “Pareto Principle”) comes in. This  simple but extremely powerful tool can help you  identify the most important, high-yield activities in your life, eliminate unimportant, low-yield activities and free  up extra time for language learning.In a nut shellâ€"or rather, in a pea podâ€"the 80/20 rule states that  a comparatively large number of effects tend to be the result of a very small number of causes. The ratio is often 80 to 20, but can sometimes be as extreme as 90/10 or even 99/1.This interesting phenomenon was first popularized by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto in the early 1900s when he observed that 80 percent of Italy’s land was held by only 20 percent of its population. Intrigued by the disparity, he then took his curiosity to the garden where he saw that 80 percent of the peas were produced by just 20 percent of the pea pods.You probably dont care about Italian real estate or peas, but Paretos discovery can have a major impact on how you live your life and whether or not you reach your language learning goals.Spending just 10 minutes now to run an 80/20 analysis with these steps can free up massive swaths of previously unavailable time:Jot down as many recurring daily, weekly and monthly tasks as you can think of (work, chores, play, exercise, study, etc.)Review the list and star the tasks that produce the greatest, most perceivable pay-offs. These are the high-yield “big rocks” that you should prioritize.Now identify which tasks create the least benefit or greatest misery. Cross these off the list and do everything you can to cut them out of your life.By applying the 80/20 rule to your language learning endeavors, y oull increase results and have more time to practice.2. Put First Things First: Schedule Time for Language Study Before Everything ElseAnother way to make time for language learning is to make it a higher priority in your life, to have it come first.Fit in the “big rocks” before your life fills up with “small pebbles”Waiting for convenient chunks of time each day to study your target language? Good luck with that; chances are you will end up waiting forever and never even get started. Despite our best intentions, the important things usually get crowded out by the endless flood of little things that fill our days.Dont let yourself get lost in the thick of thin things, as Stephen R. Covey puts it.  If learning a foreign language really is important to you, its up to you to make time for it in your day.No matter how busy you are, you can carve out time for a few high-yield, life enriching tasks ifâ€"and this is a big ifâ€"you put them first.Order of operations is critical here .  As  Covey demonstrates in  his famous big rock demonstration, trying to squeeze in all the big rocks (important things in your life) is impossible if you let your life fill up first with all the sand and small pebbles (the myriad less important things).Study first thing in the morning and right before bedStudying a language right away in the morning has three key advantages:It ensures that you put in at least a little study time every day, no matter how crazy your day becomes. Maybe you find out when you get to work that an urgent report is due by the end of the day. You may grimace at the heavy work load and late night ahead, but at least you can pat yourself on the back for already meeting your daily language learning target.It reminds your brain that language learning is a top priority in your life. By literally putting language first in your day, it keeps the task at the forefront of your mind, and you are then more likely to return to language learning activities when hidden moments arise (more on this below).It reinforces material you studied right before bed the night before.  Repetition is one of the most important (and often neglected) elements of successful language acquisition. By quickly reviewing last nights language material each morning, you create a poor mans spaced repetition system and drive words, phrases and structures further into long-term memory.Studying right before bed has three further benefits:It creates a habit sandwich.  You started the day with language learning and now you end the day in the same way. This positive behavioral symmetry feels good, increases motivation and helps strengthen the language learning habit (more on habit formation below).It can help lull you to sleep.  Maybe you are one of those lucky sons of guns who falls gracefully into La La Land as soon as your noggin hits the pillow. But if you tend to toss and turn, studying a language (especially more mentally taxing tasks like learning grammar rules, conjugat ions and new vocabulary) can be a powerful sleep aid. For most folks, it just takes five minutes looking at a declension table to draw the Sand Man near.It sets the neurological stage for memory consolidation. Our brains interpret, consolidate and store new experiences and information as we slumber (especially during REM sleep). By studying right before bed, you help language cut to the front of the consolidation line.Add language study to your calendar and to-do listA simple way to put language learning first is to schedule blocks of study time on your calendar each week. Treat these like urgent appointments you cannot miss or reschedule. This is  your  sacred time.Or if you prefer, you can use a task management system to remind you each day to put in some study time. Ive tried dozens of task management apps, but my two favorites are:Wunderlist.  Pros: Free for the basic version. Available on all major platforms. Simple, elegant design. Cons: Too simplistic for some business needs. OmniFocus.  Pros: Extremely powerful task and project management system. Integrates well with the Getting Things Done approach. Cons: Expensive! $39.99 for Mac, $29.99 for iPad and $19.99 for iPhone.Putting language learning first by scheduling time or even literally doing it  first every  day will result in more time spent on your foreign language goals, and in return, more progress.3. Harness Hidden Moments Throughout Your DayHarnessing your hidden moments, those otherwise meaningless scraps of time you’d never normally think of putting to practical use, and using them for language studyâ€"even if it’s no more than fifteen, ten, or five seconds at a timeâ€"can turn you into a triumphant tortoise.â€"Barry Farber, How to Learn Any LanguageListen to audio as you do other brainless activitiesListening is one of the most important components of learning to communicate in a foreign language, and lucky for us, one of the easiest to fit into a busy schedule. Since listening doesnt r equire use of your eyes and hands, you can get valuable listening input by listening to audio lessons and podcasts as you go about a host of other activities:Walking/JoggingDrivingShoppingCookingDoing household choresReview flashcards whenever you find yourself waitingAssuming you have free use of your hands, waiting for things is the ideal time to review flashcards. Even 10 seconds is enough time to review a few cards. Get in the habit of whipping out your flashcards (whether actual cards or an app on your smartphone like the  FluentU iPhone  or Android app) whenever you find yourself:Waiting in line at the store.Waiting for the elevator.Waiting on hold.Waiting for a call to connect.Schedule a 15-minute tutor session during every lunch breakBeing able to speak is the primary goal of most language learners, and there is no better way to reach that objective than daily speaking practice.Just 15 minutes of speaking practice with a native speaker or tutor is enough to help solidify the material youve learned in your input activities, identify holes in your vocabulary and grammar, and build motivation to continue learning the next day.  Moreover, knowing that you will be speaking with a tutor each day gives you that much more incentive to put in the study time beforehand.4. Stop Choosing to Study: Make Language Learning a Robust HabitWillpower is a finite resource, and every choice you make throughout your day, no matter how small, uses up your precious reserves. Dubbed ego depletion by psychologists, this  phenomenon is the reason why many people feel so exhausted after shopping and why most find it so difficult to fit in study time after a long, hard day.The good news is that you no longer have to rely on the whims of willpower if you transform language study from a conscious daily decision to a hardwired habit. Heres how:Create positive habit loops”The habit loop is the reason you check your e-mail 100 times a day even when trying to do more important tasks, and the reason you reach for a box of doughnuts even after you have promised to quit sugar. As Charles Duhigg lays out in The Power of Habit, these powerful loops are comprised of four steps:The E-Mail Habit Loop:Cue.  You hear a message notification sound, feel a vibration in your pocket, or see  a new message notification on the screen.Routine.  You check your email inbox for new messages.Reward.  You get a temporary distraction from difficult, uncomfortable or boring work you should  be doing, and feel an increased sense of self-importance or belonging if you receive new messages.Craving.  After checking for new messages and returning to other work, you start anticipating how it will feel to receive the next inbox reward. As soon as the next cue appears, the habit loop is triggered all over again.The Doughnut Habit Loop:Cue.  You  see  or smell  the doughnuts.Routine.  You stuff 2 bacon-covered maple bars into your face.Reward.  You experience the delectable taste on your tongue and get a temporary rush of energy as the glucose spike surges through your blood.Craving.  After your blood sugar crashes, you begin to again crave the sweet doughnut goodness and find yourself back at the box.But not all habit loops are bad for us. With a little psychological engineering, you can hijack the  cue-routine-reward-craving  loop and apply it language learning.  The first step is to create an obvious cue for language study:Place a stack of flashcards on your nightstand.Put your favorite language learning apps on the home screen of your smartphone.Set a recurring alarm or calendar event to review at set times each day.Fill in the blanks in the sentence, After I ____, I study a language for 15 minutes.The routine part is fairly straight forward; just do whatever language learning activities you enjoy most or get the most benefit from:Listen to a podcast.Read a news article, blog post or a few pages from a book.Talk to a tutor or try language exchange.Learn all the vocab i n a music video or movie trailer through FluentU. FluentU takes real-world videos and turns them into language learning experiences. Its the best way to learn a language through immersion, short of actually going to the country.Next comes the reward. This is the most important part of the habit loop; the piece that keeps the whole thing spinning round and round and keeps you coming back for more without even thinking about it. You know yourself better than anyone else; make sure to identify innate and external rewards that will provide true gratification:The buzz from learning new things. Regularly add in new materials and topics to keep things fresh. Try stretching a bit beyond your current level of comfort and competence.Edible treats or guilty pleasures. Allow yourself that glass of wine with dinner or an episode of your favorite trashy television show  only  if you have completed your language study for the day.Study streaks.  Each day in row you study, your streak gets longer a nd longer, and you will be that much more motivated to not break the chain. More on this below.If you have chosen inherently enjoyable language learning routines and effective rewards, you should naturally find yourself craving your next study session. You may even end up adding more than one session a day or extending the length of each. If not, try mixing up your routine and testing out more immediate or tangible rewards (e.g. placing a piece of chocolate on your desk that you cant eat until you finish).Identify your “keystone habits”When people start habitually exercising, even as infrequently as once a week, they start changing other, unrelated patterns in their lives, often unknowingly. Typically, people who exercise start eating better and becoming more productive at work. They smoke less and show more patience with colleagues and family. They use their credit cards less frequently and say they feel less stressed. It’s not completely clear why. But for many people, exerc ise is a keystone habit that triggers widespread change.?Charles Duhigg, The Power of HabitYou may have noticed that when you hit the gym, you are that much more likely to hit the books, too. This is because exercise is a  keystone habit, a heavy domino that once tipped influences a host of seemingly unrelated behaviors.But the reverse is equally true: skip the gym and you will probably skip studying.  Take some time to identify your keystone habits, those powerful triggers that have positive or negative ripples throughout your life. Then do everything you can to eliminate the bad habits and maximize the good.Use a habit tracking app to monitor your progress and build momentumWhile your smartphone will not miraculously change your behavior for you, habit tracking apps like Lift, Chains.cc or Habit List  can  at least help monitor your progress and create a positive feedback loop to help keep you going. The more days in a row you complete a habit, the stronger it becomes and the hi gher the motivation to not break the chain.5. Set Social and Financial StakesTrying to build a new habit is hard, but you can stack the deck in your favor by leveraging the power of competition, social accountability and commitment contracts.Choose a partner in crimePick at least one friend to study with, or better yet, compete  with. Not only is it more fun to learn with other living, breathing human beings, but a little friendly competition can significantly boost compliance.As  Tony Stubblebine (CEO of  Lift) points out:“You’re 50% more likely to succeed in your goal if you know at least one other person doing it.”Make your goals and daily progress publicBeyond just your study buddy, I suggest sharing your learning goals and daily progress with the world at large. You can start a language learning blog, share progress with Give it 100  or just make daily update posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc.  Knowing that people will see whether or not you have studied each day can help p rovide the added push you need on days when you really dont feel like studying.Use Stickk or Beeminder to put your money where your mouth isIf friendly competition and public accountability  arent strong enough motivators for you, try leveraging a more tangible stake: your money. Services like StickK and Beeminder allow you to tie specific financial stakes to each of your goals.If you fail to hit your daily or weekly targets, a predefined amount is charged to your credit card or sent to an anti-charity in your name (e.g. if you are a proponent of gun control, you can choose the NRA as your anti-charity).“People who put stakesâ€"either their money or their reputationâ€"on the table are far more likely to actually achieve a goal they set for themselves.” ?StickKWere all busy people, but if you want more time for language learning then start using any of these five strategies today. The more repetition and consistency you have with your language learning, the faster youll advance t owards your targets.John Fotheringham is a linguist, author, entrepreneur, pun aficionado, and full-time silly goose. As both learner and teacher, he has spent the last decade testing first hand what works, and perhaps more importantly, what doesn’t. He shares these results on his blog, Language Mastery, in his podcast, The Language Mastery Show, and in his comprehensive language learning guides, Master Japanese and Master Mandarin. And One More ThingSo, are you ready to start a healthy language learning habit for life?FluentU can help with that.FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  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 Screen.FluentU 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.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You 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.Start using  FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes store  or from the  Google Play store  to access material on your Android and iOS devices.

8 Online Language Learning Resources for Kids and Kids at Heart

8 Online Language Learning Resources for Kids and Kids at Heart 8 Online Language Learning Resources for Kids and Kids at Heart Looking for the best online language learning programs for your kid(s)?Good for you!Whether youre a language learner yourself or just an awesome parent, giving your offspring access to  the joys and endless benefits of acquiring a new language  is one of the best things you can do for them.Same goes for if youre going to be tutoring kids in a foreign language.Or hey, you might just be curious about what kind of language learning resources are out there for kids because you figure they might be fun and work for you, too!Regardless of your situation, youre in for a treat today.Were going to look at the best in online language learning for kids.Lets get to it! 3 Characteristics of a Kid-friendly Language Learning ProgramBefore I give you the resources that youre looking for, Im going to give you the three characteristics of a kid-friendly program. Think of them as the three equally supportive legs of a stool.ActivityA language learning program tailored for kids is highly interactive. It engages the senses and imagination and makes the kids an important part of the learning process. When dealing with children, a straight-up passive lecture is not effective. They barely can sit still, much less keep their eyes on the lesson. Youre dealing with short attention spans and so you need to hit them with activity after activity that keeps them engaged in the lesson.A kid-friendly program gives children something to doâ€"with their hands, their eyes, their imaginations. It doesnt expect them to get through the whole thing without a fuss.So an online resource  full of boring text wont be a hit. It will barely register. If a language learning program is full of paragraphs, then move on.Kids dont think of language learning as a linguistic goal made up of words and phrases, they think of it as an activityâ€"a game, a dance, a song or an audiovisual experience. They engage in the experience and forget that theyre already learning about the language. So its like youre layering the lessons behind some fun activities. Its not like adult programs where the language lessons are so explicit and in your face. Its not like kids are going to say to themselves, Okay, today Im gonna memorize 10 vocabulary words about food.CreativityIm sure youve had the experience of asking your little one to do something she doesnt want to do. Youre feeding her, for example, and she stops opening her mouth, resisting you at every turn. So you start getting creative. You turn that tiny spoon into an airplane, doing backflips and somersaults in the air. Sometimes its a train choo-choo-choo-ing into her mouth.Eating is an activity, but your way is more fun and creative.Memorizing a list of words from a sheet of paper is also an activity. But its hardly creative. When dealing with kids, a program has to rise to their level of creativity and imagination. Im talking about bright colors, moving objects, talking animals, cartoon characters, changing scenery, storylines, rescue missions, i nterplanetary drama, etc.Suddenly, your kid isnt just learning about numbers, hes counting gold coins in Czech so he can buy the flying pony hell use to rescue the princess. And when hes done saving her, he gets to meet her familyâ€"the king, some rowdy unclesâ€"and along the way, learn about family vocabulary. Thats an activity, and a creative one!VarietyThey say that variety is the spice of life. If the same thing is done over and over, the novelty soon wears off. Its not a challenge anymore. It becomes a chore. Kids will only engage with material if it still interests them. If theres something new, something unexpected.They don’t care if they learn the language lessons you want them to or not. They dont look far into the future and think, Being bilingual will raise my value at work. Theyre in the present, thinking, What’s in it for me right now?And if its the same thing over and over, theyll have nothing to do with it.A good online language learning program for kids knows thi s. Thats why the creators throw in plenty of different activities. They try to teach the same lesson in different ways. For example, a lesson about numbers can be taught in a song. It can also be taught in a story, or a game, so the kids dont get sick of the same lesson. Because hey, its not really the same lesson. (Wink!)Resources can also test for the same vocabulary set in different ways, even involving different skills. They can test for pronunciation by asking the children to speak into a microphone, they can do word pairs and they can make the activity more interactive by asking the kids to type in the answer. They can also tap into that competitive spirit and facilitate language contests with other students online.A good rule of thumb is that a really good online resource for kids will have at least five different types of creative activities.With all that being said, Im now going to show you some of the best online resources for kids today.8 Online Language Learning Resource s for Kids and Kids at HeartSome of these programs are specifically made for kids, while others are all-ages programs that just happen to have features great for kidsâ€"both types of programs have their advantages. With programs designed for kids, you can rest assured that your children are being catered to by experts, whereas with general programs, you may be more inclined to join in on the fun!Little PimAdults might run for dear life at the sight of a bear, but kids think theyre cute and cuddly.Little Pim, that lovable panda, can be your childrens video guide to learning any or all of the 12 languages on offer. What used to be recorded on multiple DVDs can now be video streamed or digitally downloaded, but you still get that Little Pim cuteness and goofy goodness that won the program over 25 awards.Their learning system, the  Entertainment Immersion Method,  was developed by top language teachers and neuroscientists. It employs repetition, play and child-friendly themes to tap int o toddlers’ natural love for learning. The videos are a combination of animations and live-action clips that introduce topics like colors and numbers. They run for only 5 minutes to accommodate an audience of 0-6 year olds.You can choose from a combination of download, streaming, DVD and book options. Prices vary depending on exactly what you want, but are generally affordable. For example,  the full French program, which comes with two books, is $131.99.Along with the books and DVDs, you can also get other physical products including flashcards, CDs, toys and posters.The program is said to teach your little ones 360 basic words in the target language. To me, that sounds like an awesome deal!Muzzy BBCMuzzy BBC is the BBCs answer to language learning for all ages. This immersion program, described as The Worlds #1 Language Course for Children, is centered around animated characters and stories in video episodes. The episodes are designed to naturally build on one another, enabling your child to learn through an engaging, interactive method, rather than traditional teaching.Muzzy BBC currently offers courses in Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, German, Italian, English and Korean. You can get started with the online program for $9.95 per month, or save by going with a semi-annual or annual plan. You also have the option of a DVD set with a risk-free trial period and payment plan.The program will introduce your child to 600+ vocabulary words and cover the following subjects in the target language:Telling TimePeople PlacesPast, Present Future TensesTransportationFoodAsking QuestionsOccupationDays of the WeekLife at HomeFamily FriendsSince Muzzy BBC is effective for all types of learners and meant to let your child learn the language naturally, its a great low-pressure way to expose kids to a second language at any age.FluentUFluentU is your best bet for authentic language learning videos the whole family will enjoy. While other programs often only have a han dful of videos, FluentU has a wide variety of video clips that cover all language levelsâ€"from absolute beginners to advanced learnersâ€"as well as all ages.FluentU takes real online videos and turns them into lessons that are personalized and digestible. You wont have to struggle to get your kids away from the TV to do their language practice, because theyll be able to watch the same sort of stuff theyd be entranced by on TV, anywayâ€"but in the target language.Videos range from content made specifically to appeal to childrenâ€"like cartoons, music videos and movie trailersâ€"to content you may enjoy yourselfâ€"such as politics, news and TED talks. This means you may want to help select content thats appropriate for your childs age, level and interests, but this is a great opportunity for you to get involved in the language learning process and for you and your kids to learn both individually and together as a family.You can easily sort and search videos, and once you get started, FluentU begins to personalize your content and make recommendations for further viewing.FluentU covers the worlds major languages, currently offering Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese,  English,  Russian, Italian and Korean,  with an upcoming program for  Portuguese. (There are over 1,000 videos for Spanish alone.)Each video clip has an interactive transcript so kids can closely follow whats being said in the clip. Each word in the transcript is in itself a mini language lesson, because when kids hover on a specific word, everything they need to know about that wordâ€"pronunciation, translation, usage example, etc.â€"pops up.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.Ever wanted to take your child to another country to let them experience language and culture immersion? Now you can do just that in the safety of your own home and at a fraction of the costâ€"$15 a month for a Basic subscription and $30 for Plus.FluentU enriches your childs learning experience, making the process of learning a pure delight. Try it on the website or download the app from the iTunes store  or Google Play store.Dino LingoDino Lingo is an award-winning language program that offers lessons in over 40 languages. Theyre known for the package they send you that contains DVDs, colorful posters, flashcards and coloring books.They do have online subscriptions, and for $99.95, you have a full years access to their online content.Its called Dino Lingo because a dinosaur introduces your kids to the target language. The online portal gives you access to six 35-minute videos that teach your toddler topics like household items, family, body parts, clothes, nature and actions. Your kids will happily repeat these lessons over and over.Another feature is online games like Word Wheel, where kids click on the correct picture after hearing an audio prompt, and Memory Card, where vocabulary and mental acuity are honed at the same time.Parents can also print some easily downloadable worksheets and activity books, so you can not only work closely with your little one, but also get a window into the things that shes learning. You can gauge her progress and give her a helping hand.PetraLinguaThis i s a multimedia vocabulary builder suitable for learners aged 3-10.PetraLingua has courses in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, German and Russian.Each course has around 20 lessons that range from colors and clothing to fruits and vegetables. There are 10 different activities and exercises for each lesson. Each lesson opens with an introductory video that identifies the vocabulary set that can be learned in that lesson. This is then followed by a parade of reinforcing activities, exercises and interactive gives that the kids perform to help them learn the words. These include listen-and-repeat, listen-and-click and word-matching tasks that allow the kids to deal with the words in different contexts.All told, each course features around 500 basic words, 80 language learning videos, 11 language learning songs, 140 interactive online games and a talking picture dictionary. For as low as $3.99 a month (if you get the annual subscription), you have yourself a great deal.Mango LanguagesTh is one is suitable for ages 6 and up.Your kids are going to use headphones on this one. The uniqueness of the program lies in its focus on conversational skills. If you want your kids to study in the morning and try out their newly learned phrases on the whole family in the afternoon, go with Mango Languages. It has that effect on children.Each lesson starts by listening to a few lines of basic dialogue or conversation. It might be a greetings dialogue or a question-and-answer type of conversation. Theres a clear text of the whole exchange presented on the screen so learners can follow along. Everything is color-coded to make this easy.In the remainder of the lesson, the whole dialogue is deconstructed and broken down into lines, phrases and words.Theres a Play icon on every line so learners can self-pace and repeat the lines as often as needed. The learner is guided line-by-line and hears how each word is correctly spoken. If you hover the mouse on a particular line, up goes a tran slation of it.The lesson zeroes in on individual words and phrases. And in addition to the replay button, learners can use a microphone to compare their own pronunciation with how native speakers do it.And you can do this in over 60 languages, including Pirate language! For only $20 a month, you and as many as five kids can start learning practically any language in the world.LanguagenutLanguagenut is the perfect vocabulary builder, pronunciation partner and spelling teacher for learners 5-14 years old. The program amply covers all bases and touches on all four key linguistic skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The program has specific games that address each.Its widely used in schools in 32 countries around the world as a supplemental language teaching tool. But the program can be equally valuable for homeschooling families.Languagenut may tackle the same topics (numbers, colors, greetings) as many other language programs, but it has some of the most graphically compe lling interfaces this side of language learning. It teaches target words and phrases through games, songs and stories. Your child would find it very hard not to learn and engage. The games alone are worth the price of admission. (What do you say to 14?)At £9.99 per year, itd be a crime not to get Languagenut for your kids.DuolingoDuolingo is the most popular language learning program online. Its probably because one, its free, and two, it gives adults permission to be like kids.What I mean is that they divide the lessons into very manageable bits, make the pacing very gradual, add audio prompts and pictures, and, last but not least, feature an animal cartoon character. Mix all of these into language learning content and you have a concoction that could work with kids as well as adults. (Well, at least kids who already know how to read and spell.)This is another program you can easily participate in with your child. Instead of leaving him alone, you can guide him and give instant fe edback and praise, which would make for great bonding time!Duolingo is one long activity where through repetition, vocabulary is embedded and kept fresh. Learners are given little tasks. The idea is, the more of these teenie tiny tasks they do, the more theyll remember of the target language.Learners may be asked to choose the translation of a word from the given choices. Sometimes the actual translation needed to be typed by the learner. Sometimes the task goes the other way and learners are given the English translation and will be asked to supply the target language equivalent.Duolingo repeats the tasks, goes forwards and backwards between languages, mixes and matches previously learned words and keeps learners on their toes. It also does a good job of remembering the words learners have difficulty with so they can be offered for review.Duolingo may look simple and straightforward, but theres actually a lot going on under the hood. If your kids stick with Duolingo, theyll pick up a greater number of words than with a lot of other programs.Check out these seven programs and test them for yourself.Each of them has their strengths and specialties, so choose whatever fits your situation.And if you really want to make the best of it, learn a language with your kid. Two birds, one stone.Good luck!

Why Good Handwriting Still Matters - ALOHA Mind Math

Why Good Handwriting Still Matters At a time when most parents are hectically preparing for kids going back to school after the summer break, one of the aspects to be considered is their handwriting. With hardly any writing by hand done over the holidays, and a lot of gadget use such as laptops, tablets and video games, it may be required to put in a few pages of handwriting practice before going back to school. In trying to understand why good handwriting still matters in this day and age, when most people prefer typing to writing, here are some interesting points: Brain research: A common finding for all research (such as the one mentioned in this article) is that more areas of the brain light up and are engaged while writing by hand. This leads to a better understanding of the material, and better cognitive recognition than if we had typed out the same. This also means that students would find it easier to remember the course material if they write it out by hand, rather than typing up a report on it. Motor skills: For very young children, holding the pencil and starting to write their letters is a very good way to improve small motor functions using their hands and fingers. In keeping up with the times, even tablets have started having apps to write out letters using the stylus or the fingertip, but even this may not completely duplicate the act of writing with the pen or pencil. Good grades:As a lot of our evaluation is still using the handwritten word, it is definitely a big plus to have good readable handwriting so that teachers find it e asier to understand and evaluate information. Most schools provide handwriting worksheets when they are guiding students on how to improve handwriting. The Personal Touch: While this might not impact your child academically, it can help them earn brownie points with the grandparents and other relatives! There are many written epistles such as a thank you notes or a handwritten letter that can evoke a positive response in people. Sending someone in the family a typewritten letter may feel a bit impersonal but a much shorter handwritten one will have a better response. It would really improve a young child’s confidence to be able to take down notes as fast and legibly as required, and good handwriting will be a big help through their school years. Please check out our English classes at Aloha USA, which are aligned to your child’s course material at school, and cover all aspects including handwriting. See our website for more details: http://www.aloha-usa.com Don’t forget to fol low us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/aloha.usa and on Twitter: @AlohaKidsMath for constant updates and tips for your child’s education and development. Photo Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/1046033437/