Amino Acids Chemistry

Amino Acids ChemistryAmino acids chemistry is a vital part of how people interact with the world around them. We've all seen the products from the grocery store that contain these amino acids and need to understand what they are. Knowing these basic facts can be critical in the kinds of things we eat or use.A popular example of this would be when you buy a nutritional supplement. The popular product you buy will contain some of the amino acids we take for muscle growth. These are ones that are known to increase metabolism. Increasing metabolism has been shown to improve fat burning.Amino acids have been shown to metabolize protein quickly so that it gets broken down quickly to energy and used to fuel the body. So when you want to burn more calories, these amino acids are key.The next step up from these amino acids is glutamine. It's also known as a 'protein' but is actually a long chain of amino acids. Glutamine is responsible for repairing the tissues and cell membranes in the body. Next up on the list is L-arginine, leucine, and glutamine. All three of these amino acids have been shown to enhance strength, flexibility, and endurance. L-arginine is what's called an 'anabolic' amino acid and assists in helping build muscles.Nucleotides is an essential compound in the bodies of a lot of people. These nucleotides are responsible for having proteins synthesized in the body. They also help make your cells work better.Amino acids chemistry is an important thing to understand when it comes to getting the best out of your diet. Not only does it mean you're getting your daily needs, but it also helps keep you in shape and healthy.The truth is, the human body can produce all of the amino acids necessary for one to function properly. However, not all of these amino acids will be found in the foods we eat.

Playing It by Ear How to Use Radio to Learn Absolutely Any Language

Playing It by Ear How to Use Radio to Learn Absolutely Any Language So, youve started learning a language. Good for you!You may be finding that learning curve to be pretty steep, but youre going at it with all youve got.Youre collecting textbooks by the dozen.Youre hoarding foreign  novels  like nobodys business.Youre loading up on target-language movies and TV shows, guilt-freeâ€"because hey, theyre  educational.  You might even know what  SRS is and how to use it!And youre listening to a few radio stations here and there, right?If not, you really should start. And if youve already started, you may want to consider seriously upping your intake. But well get to all that in just a minute.The point I want to make first is, with language learning, its important to amass all kinds of tools.Sure, some wont work for you and some will, but its like throwing spaghetti at a wallâ€"you just have to try it to see if it sticks.Reading is essential for comprehension and vocabulary acquisition, those fancy-shmancy textbooks break down grammar and hand you useful, everyday vocab up front and TV and movies provide you the opportunity to listen to casual speech in context (all while picking up important cultural mannerisms).And SRS (spaced repetition software) can seal it all together by ensuring that youre maximizing your memory!So with all that written language, technology and information put together by experts, why is it so important to fit humble, old-fashioned radio into the mix? Why Radio Is so Important for Language LearnersYou may already know that listening to native resources in general is great for listening comprehension.Thats why FluentU is built around authentic resources, giving you access to the same stuff native speakers enjoy every day along with neat learning features like interactive captions and SRS.FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news, inspiring talks and more.With FluentU, you hear languages in real-world contextsâ€"the way that native speakers actually use them. Just a qui ck look will give you an idea of the variety of FluentU videos on offer:FluentU really takes the grunt work out of learning languages, leaving you with nothing but engaging, effective and efficient learning. It’s already hand-picked the best videos for you and organized them by level and topic. All you have to do is choose any video that strikes your fancy to get started!Each word in the interactive captions comes with a definition, audio, image, example sentences and more.Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab, and easily review words and phrases from the video under Vocab.You can use FluentU’s unique adaptive quizzes to learn the vocabulary and phrases from the video through fun questions and exercises. Just swipe left or right to see more examples of the word youre studying.The program even keeps track of what you’re learning and tells you exactly when it’s time for review, giving you a 100% personalized experience.Start using Fluen tU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes store  or  Google Play store.Radio comes with its own set of benefits, and there are tons of reasons why it should be a cornerstone of your language learning.Its free and plentifulSo much in this world comes at a cost, and language learning can get pricy. We might fork over whatever it takes for textbooks, programs and classes. Novels, movies and TV shows can come a  little cheaper, but not by much if you want a vast second-language library. This isnt all badâ€"a lot of these essential resources are worth every penny.Radio, however, comes free.You dont need subscriptions to pay for radio. Whether offline or through online sources, its just a matter of finding stations that appeal to you!On top of that, theres a multitude of radio out there, just waiting to be discovered. Live in a region that doesnt speak the language? No worries! Online radios got you covered.Are you learnin g a somewhat rare language? Say, Navajo, Icelandic or Welsh? Well, radios going to be your very best friend, because other resources are in short supply for these languages. Even if there isnt a station dedicated to your particular language, various communities often have local radio shows in a minority language, like Yiddish, for example.With all this availability, theres nothing stopping you from tuning in to your favorite station. Which brings me toRadio is convenientWhen youve got your textbook out for some serious study, thats where your focus is going to be. When youre glued to a movie or TV show, guess what? Its not easy to split your attention.Radioâ€"either music or talkâ€"is hands-off. All you need is an Internet connection (or, you know, an actual radio).Unlike a lot of other learning tools, radio is super easy to have on while doing chores like washing dishes or folding clothes. Even if youre doing something that requires higher attention, like working or studying, you c an still benefit! Even with radio in the background, youll tune in every now and then and pick out words and sounds. Even with split attention, youll get used to the speed at which  real  speakers talk.And speaking of convenience, quite a lot of stations are available to you 24 hours a day, as long as you dont mind listening to late-night call-in shows and some repetitive new stories. If you dont live in a country in which your target language is spoken, this makes up for regional time differences. No excuse to slack off now!Radio is full of varietyCompared with other learning tools, radio is chock-full of options. Hand me a bored learner, and Ill lead them to the nearest radio-emitting machine. Radio reigns as king of variety, primarily because all of the options available come at the low, low price of  free.Now, when I talk about using radio as a learning tool, I mostly mean talk radio because its conversational and this makes it unique (unlike music, which you can easily obtain f rom lots of other sources) and less formulaic (unlike sports).But even just within the universe of talk radio, there is oh-so-much variety. You have news channels, comedy shows, interview shows, shows on subjects like literature or film (maybe you can even get some good recommendations), documentaries and call-in shows. Besides all that, you can of course still catch up with sports or relax with some musicâ€"the options are nearly endless!Radio is all talk (in a good way)TV and movies are fantastic resources for learning a language because you get the talk along with mannerisms that are essential to mixing in with a new culture, but theres still something to be said for talk and talk alone.With movies and TV, youll find yourself picking up words and meaning through situational context, and thats great!  But radio is an exercise in listening with minimal context to  really test yourself. Youre forced to figure out meaning by parsing what the speakers are saying based on  only their w ords and tone.Of course, this isnt at all like what youll encounter in the real world. Its good and useful to use context, body language and other non-verbal communication to understand others and express yourself!Nevertheless, listening to radio is a great exercise for challenging yourself, and stretching your skills now can make TV, movies and real people easier to understand in the end.Radio is naturally repetitiveAs the Romans were fond of saying:Repetitio est mater studiorum.(Repetition is the mother of skill.)And radios got repetition in spades.For one, youll hear commercials  ad nauseum  (get it?), and they tend to be more repetitive than their TV commercial brethren. Why is this desirable? Well, soon youll have them memorized word for word. And what good does  that do you? Any memorized snippet of language helps you remember vocabulary and grammatical patterns.Moreover, having a particular word or grammatical pattern attached to an irritating commercial will help it stick in your mind  much  more easily than if you had simply learned it from a textbook.Commercials arent the only repetition youll find, either. Radio shows often have introductions that the speakers will say periodically through each show, usually word for word. Longer shows are made to be listened to in the car, and so are written for people who could tune in at any time. Thus, the speakers recap everything multiple times! Like commercials, this is potentially irritating to your casual listener, yes, but gold  for a language learner.The news in general is repetitive by nature. All jokes about the current state of news media aside, the news is a wonderful learning tool. Heard a bit of a news story a while ago, but didnt quite  catch the meaning? No problem! Theyll talk about it again in about an hour. Sometimes, a big news day will come along, and theyll be talking about the same story for a week. For you, that means the same vocabulary over and over, and abundant chances for you to get i t right.So, How Can You Start Using Radio to Learn Your Language?First, find stations you loveAs mentioned above, this has never been easier. If youre lucky enough to live in a country that speaks your language, then simply crank up the radio in your car, or even buy a small handheld radio. Why do that in the age of the Internet, you may be wondering? Well, not all radio stations have online streams, and if you live in a country in which your target language is spoken, you can have access to all sorts of great local radio!For the rest of us, theres still trusty online radio to help out. But where to start?TuneIn: This is a general online radio site. The front page will show you local stations, but if those arent in your target language, thats not what were after. Instead, click By Location at the top of the page, and youll see a list of continents. Click through until you find the country youre interested in, and then browse the radio stations as you see fit. Each station has a brie f description of the kind of content it plays, but these arent always accurate, so every stations worth a shot. If you cant find something you like through this search method, try clicking Talk on the front page again. Click through to World Talk, where TuneIn has archived streams of talk shows from many of the larger world languages.Multilingual Books: This site is mainly a resource for people to buy books and media from other countries. However, like TuneIn, its radio section allows you to search by language  for online radio stations. You have to download the streams here, so make sure you have the appropriate software to play each file type!Omniglot: Omniglot is a great resource to learn about languages and writing systems in general. Luckily for our purposes, they also have a wonderful section with resources for a huge number of world languages. These include radio stations, so check them out!Apps: I recommend checking out radio apps in your target language for iOS or Android. There are plenty of them for most major languages, but they vary widely in quality. Personally, I use Radio Netherlands for Dutch and Radios France for French.Then, listen, listen, listen!Now that youve got your radio by the basketful, listen to as much as you can, wherever you can, whenever you can. Whether youre listening to it in the background or hanging on to every word, listening is important! Try listening to a show or station you like on a regular basis, like whenever you walk to class or drive to work. If you can tie language activities to your daily life, it can help to keep you consistent.Need some more targeted listening tips? Try these.Pick up new words and remember them.While youre listening, youll end up picking out and reinforcing words you already know. Keep that up! But how do you retain the  new words you learn through radio?As you listen, the speakers will most certainly repeat words over and over. Wait till you hear one that stands out to you. Look it up in a di ctionary to make sure you have the meaning right. (This can take a few tries if spelling or writing is tricky in your target language!) Then, enter it into your SRS or whatever you use to store new vocab. For added context and retention, enter one of the example sentences from your dictionary along with the English translation. After that, mosey on back to your radio!Watch for linguistic ticks, like filler!Whats filler? Linguistic filler includes words like um and uh Theyre placeholder words for when were collecting our thoughts or hesitating. However, they often dont work between languages!Using English filler in Spanish or Zulu will immediately mark you as a foreign speaker. This isnt the end of the world, but its  incredibly easy to fix.  Filler  words can be hard to come by without listening in on native speakers conversations. But with unscripted conversational  radio, filler is very easy to pick out, because itll be used over and over.Sometimes filler is more obvious, such as when Spanish speakers say eh  and French speakers say euh. Sometimes its less obvious: Japanese speakers say ??  (ano) and Icelanders say hérna.  Either way, just keep listening to unscripted radio, and the filler will become readily apparent, mostly by its frequency alone. So easy!As you listen, use the variety of content to tackle specific linguistic problemsIts always good to keep tabs on your weak areas when learning a language, as well as to be aware of your strengths. Maybe you have plenty of native speaker friends, so youve got casual conversation down pat, and its formal language that trips you up. Or maybe youre the opposite, and slangy, off-the-cuff conversation sends you running. Radio can help you bring these weak areas up to speed!News is great for formal language. This can range from a news recap on the hour, to an interview with a leading expert on some topic, to the most formal of speeches given by heads of state. Become a real news junkie, and youll see improvement in your formal tone as well as some complex vocabulary. News is unlikely to stray into the realm of informal talk.For that, youll want to listen to interview shows for more informal conversational give-and-take. Call-in shows provide much of the same, with the added benefits of odd accents and terrible phone connections! For an even deeper comprehension of informal language, listen to comedy. Comedy obviously provides jokes (they dont always translate well!), swear words and crucial cultural references.Finally, use different accents to exercise your earBecause radio stations are easy to find and cheap, theres no reason you should only be able to understand the standard accent of your chosen language. Most popular world languages include a wide variety of accents and dialects. Even if you never want to  talk  in a particular dialect, listening to different manners of speaking can help you roll with the punches when you come across them in the field.While accents from within a certai n country can be harder to find (national standard dialects and all that), accents  between countries are relatively easy to find in terms of radio stations.So for example, use TuneIn to compare Canadian French with Haitian French, Spanish from Madrid with Colombian Spanish, Taiwanese Mandarin with Mainland Chinese Mandarin. You get the picture! As an added benefit, after youve struggled awhile with a strange accent, listening to the standard language will be like a hot knife through butter.And there you have it: all about why and how radio can bring your language skills to the next level.Now go blast that German/Spanish/Icelandic talk radio!

6 Best Laptops for First-Time College Students

6 Best Laptops for First-Time College Students isorepublic.com 1. Lenovo Flex 4 I’ll admit it, I’m partial to the Lenovo flexible laptops because it’s the one I’ve had throughout my three years of college thus far. In these three years, I have had no issues with my laptop; plus, it doubles as a tablet and has an awesome touch screen. The only downside (for some people) is the size. They can be pretty small, but I love it because then I’m not breaking my back carrying them around all day on campus. Overall, a great quality laptop for any new student. 2. Apple MacBook If you just can’t make yourself like Microsoft products, the MacBook is probably the way to go. Some MacBooks come rather light, like the MacBook Air, but they can also cost a pretty penny. They’ll probably last you throughout college, but be prepared to spend a lot at first. MacBooks are said to be great for design students, but really they would work for any type of student looking for something reliable and stylish. 3. Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft Surface Pros are sort of like the flexible Lenovo I talked about earlier, except just a little bit fancier. They’re smaller, lighter, and on some of them, you can take the screen off completely and just use it as a tablet. Plus, you can draw on their touchscreens. That’s right. Draw. This is the laptop to choose for any incoming art or architecture students. 4. ASUS Chromebook The ASUS Chromebook seems to be a well-rounded laptop. Just a heads up, if you’re an avid beverage drinker, but can get a little clumsy at times, this may be the right laptop for you. This laptop advertises itself as water resistant. Of course, this doesn’t mean waterproof so don’t go dumping a whole can of soda on it. But, if you’re worried about ruining an expensive laptop with just one wrong move, you’ll have to worry just a little less with an ASUS Chromebook. 5. Acer Aspire R 15 The Acer Aspire can get a little bit heavy and might not be the best to lug around campus if you’re doing lots of walking. If you don’t mind the extra weight, it looks like the Acer Aspire is one of the top performers in every computer category. In fact, the extra bulk may make the laptop even more durable if you happen to bump it around a little bit. It’s likely that this laptop would last you all four years. 6. Acer Chromebook If you’re looking for something with the sleekness of a MacBook without the Apple interface, look no further than the Acer Chromebook. It has a beautifully chic design that isn’t going to cost you nearly as much as a new MacBook might. In fact, it’s one of the cheapest options on this list! I hope this list has helped you narrow down what you’re looking for in the perfect college laptop. Remember, there are many other choices beyond these, and your best fit may not be on this list. Make sure that you’ve thought about what you foresee being your biggest needs throughout college. List in hand, visit your local tech store and ask for some help. If you’d rather not, there are many, many articles online detailing the pros and cons of every laptop out there. After a little bit of research and maybe a little bit of help, you’re sure to find the right fit for you.

7 Language Learning Game Apps That Play to Your Strengths

7 Language Learning Game Apps That Play to Your Strengths 7 Language Learning Game Apps That Play to Your Strengths Want to create your own world using nothing but 3D blocks? Theres a game for that.Want to help a plumber rescue a princess? Theres a game for that.Want to smash cute candies into smithereens? Yeah, theres a really addictive game for that, too.Looking to improve your language skills?  Game on!With so many cool video games out there, its no wonder that language learners  have gotten in on the gaming trend.After all, playing gamesâ€"anything from board games to party gamesâ€"is one of the best ways to learn a language.Foreign language games can provide you with a fun study break while youre still studying.It should come as no surprise that, of the many popular apps out there, some of the most exciting options for foreign language learners are game apps.Foreign language game apps pack a lot of learning into fun games that youll want to keep coming back to. Youll hardly even notice youre learning until you see your skills improve.So, give these seven fun game apps a try and level up your language skills! How to Get the Most Out of a Language Learning Game AppTo get the most out of language learning game app, its helpful to use it in addition to other learning options. Game apps are wonderful for additional practice and reinforcement of skills, but when used alone, you may miss out on valuable grammar rules and other skills. Pairing game apps with more structured or formal learning materials provides a well-rounded learning experience that fuses conventional study with fun practice. Its the best of both worlds!Its also helpful to use game apps to break up conventional learning methods. If you study for too long in a stretch, you may get a sort of learners fatigue. Studying for long periods of time is exhausting, and all the material can start to blur together. However, playing games is a good way to break up conventional studying while still keeping the learning train on the tracks. Plus, games will help you look at words you may already know with fresh eyesâ€"and in a whole new contextâ€"which will make them more memorable.Another key to success with game apps is to find a learning game you really enjoy. If your language learning game app is as addictive as Candy Crush, youll never forget language practice again.7 Language Learning Game Apps That Play to Your StrengthsBefore you dive into these awesome game apps, we have a bonus for you: FluentU! FluentU gamifies the learning process by pairing it with entertaining videos and fun quizzes that adapt to your learning progress.FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news, inspiring talks and more.With FluentU, you hear languages in real-world contextsâ€"the way that native speakers actually use them.Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of FluentU videos on offer:FluentU really takes the grunt work out of learning languages, leaving you with nothing but engaging, effective and efficient learning. It’s already hand-picked the best videos f or you and organized them by level and topic. All you have to do is choose any video that strikes your fancy to get started!Each word in the interactive captions comes with a definition, audio, image, example sentences and more.Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab, and easily review words and phrases from the video under Vocab.You can use FluentU’s unique adaptive quizzes to learn the vocabulary and phrases from the video through fun questions and exercises. Just swipe left or right to see more examples of the word youre studying.The program even keeps track of what you’re learning and tells you exactly when it’s time for review, giving you a 100% personalized experience.Start using FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes store  or  Google Play store.LingioAvailable: iOS | AndroidIf youre looking to build your vocabulary quickly and painlessly, look no further th an Lingio!The Lingio app features 12,000 words organized into 300 topics. Since the words are organized thematically, its easy to choose an area in which you want to build your vocabulary and start learning more.The app features audio along with written words to ensure that both your spelling and your pronunciation are on point.A variety of games, tests, quizzes and flashcards encourage you to learn words and perfect your spelling. Plus, theres a lot of incentive to keep you motivated. Games are scored, and some pit you against the clock. As you succeed in games, you can also level up. A competitive streak will definitely keep you motivated, even if youre just competing against yourself.With three difficulty levels, Lingio is appropriate for any level of language learner, and its free to download!At the moment, Lingio offers English, Spanish, French, German, Swedish, Portuguese, Italian, Arabic and Farsi/Persian.LangoAvailable: iOS | AndroidLearning vocabulary without any interferen ce from your native language is a helpful way to learn the actual meanings of words rather than merely translating between languages.If this is the kind of learning youre after, Lango is a great game app for you.The various Lango apps for different languages all feature photo-based games. Youll be shown a selection of photos along with a word in your target language. Then, all you have to do is select the image that corresponds to that word. This will allow you to immerse yourself in your target language without having to lean on your native language for support. Along the way, youll also improve your spelling, build your vocabulary and memorize noun genders.Lango offers English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Czech, Polish, Russian, Italian and Portuguese.The initial app is free to download with in-app purchases available to unlock additional material.WordUp!Available: iOS | AndroidWord games are fun in any language. Thats a fact.And the WordUp! app offers a fun word game that wil l help you build your vocabulary in any foreign language.Youll be presented with a grid of letters and a blank space in which to spell a word. Its up to you to figure out which combination of letters makes a word thats the correct length!There are three levels, so the app is appropriate for beginning through advanced students.If you like the WordUp! app but need more word games, you might also try FlashAcademy (available for iOS or Android) from the makers of the WordUp! app. The FlashAcademy app contains additional games, including quick-fire word games and matching activities.WordUp! and FlashAcademy both offer Spanish, French, German and Italian.The apps are free to download with additional in-app purchases to unlock more material.StudyCatAvailable: iOS | AndroidSometimes, you just want to feel like a kid again. StudyCat has you covered on this one.While StudyCat apps are designed for children ages 3 to 10, theyre also fun for beginning language students.StudyCat apps offer an ar ray of colorful learning games and activities. In total, there are six different games per lesson. These games are quite varied, including mazes, matching games, spelling games, coloring activities, whac-a-mole style arcade games and so much more. These games will teach you basic vocabulary like colors, numbers, animals and the like. Plus, since theres such a huge assortment of games, youll never get bored!StudyCat offers English, Spanish, French, German and Chinese.Apps are free to download with in-app purchases to unlock additional material.Overpass Apps Bubble Bath GamesAvailable: iOS | AndroidWho doesnt enjoy a good bubble bath?Overpass Apps Bubble Bath games might not be quite as soothing, but they certainly provide more language education than your standard bubble bath (and bonus: no finger pruning).Each app has over 600 words divided into over 60 themed categories. These include useful phrases, verbs, numbers and more. The goal of the game is to pop the bubble with the correc t word.  As you play in each category, the levels get more and more difficult as more and more options are presented. Additionally, some levels contain only audio while others contain only printed words. This way, you wont inadvertently lean on just reading or just listening.Overpass Apps offers its Bubble Bath game in dozens of popular languages in addition to less common options like Somali and Bengali.Apps are free to download with in-app purchases available to unlock additional content.MindSnacksAvailable: iOS  MindSnacks is the perfect app to feed a language-hungry mind.Each MindSnacks app offers nine fun games, including balloon games, spelling games and more. While most language game apps focus on building vocabulary, the MindSnacks apps focus on building both vocabulary and conversational skills. Sure, youll learn over 1,000 vocabulary words, but youll also learn how to conjugate verbs. With upgrades, there are a total of 50 lessons and up to 40 hours of material designed by Ivy League instructors.MindSnacks offers apps for beginning to intermediate Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese learners.The apps are free to download but require additional in-app purchases to unlock the full array of games and lessons.QuickLearnrAvailable: AndroidEverything is more fun with friends, so why not try learning a language with friends?QuickLearnr is a language game app that allows you to play against friends and other learners around the world. The game offers rankings and special achievements, which are great motivation for competitive learners.This app focuses on teaching and reinforcing vocabulary words. Youll be shown an image and need to identify the associated word. The game offers voice recognition, so you actually say the word into the app, getting valuable pronunciation practice along the way. A personal dictionary also tracks your progress to help you see which words youve mastered and which words you need to study more.QuickLe arnr is available for English, Spanish, French and Italian learners.The QuickLearnr app is totally free to download.Dont get pwned by lackluster apps that dont improve your language skills.Upgrade your fluency with these enjoyable language learning game apps!

One on One ESL Tutoring Lesson Plans

One on One ESL Tutoring Lesson PlansOne on one ESL tutoring lessons can help you greatly to learn the language, but they will need the right amount of dedication and time spent. If you do not put in the effort to learn, you will not be able to get the skills needed for the various tests that you will face in your life. If you do not practice daily, then there will be no way to keep up with the test schedule. The right knowledge, however, can make all the difference in terms of the tests that you take, and you can't do anything about that unless you want to spend the rest of your life trying to find out ways that other people have learned how to beat the test, don't you?One on one ESL tutoring is great for a couple of reasons. For starters, if you are an ESL tutor, you have the full support of the ESL schools in your area, and many of them will also help you out. These institutions also help you teach students and help them learn English.It is always better to teach in a classroom env ironment, as opposed to teaching in a home. Students learn better in a classroom setting, which can help you in three ways. First of all, it can help you communicate more clearly with your students, as well as help you learn the skills that are required for various tests that they may have to take.Second, students who are in a classroom setting are often more focused and disciplined, which can give you a competitive edge over the other students. Third, and probably the most important of all, students will learn in a classroom environment, which can give you a chance to teach them the proper way to behave. This means that in order to win a test, you will have to be effective, and if you try to use rules only, they will not be effective.One on one ESL lesson plans are good for teachers as well as students. Since you will not be teaching in a class, you will not have a large group of students to handle at once. Instead, you will have one or two students, and then you will have a large group of students to handle. However, by teaching one on one, you will also be able to interact with the students, which can help you learn the language in a more effective way.By keeping your teacher's attention and your own attention focused on the student, you will learn quickly. If you are not aware of a word being said, then chances are, the student who is speaking is not quite paying attention to what is being said. This can cause problems for the student, and if they do not know how to respond properly, then their learning ability can suffer.If you are planning to give one on one ESL lessons to students, be sure to pay attention to some of the following tips. Learning the language is easy, and learning one on one lessons is even easier, but only if you keep yourself on top of the learning curve.

Houghton Mifflin Algebra 2 and Trigonometry Help Students Make the Most of Their Grade Level

Houghton Mifflin Algebra 2 and Trigonometry Help Students Make the Most of Their Grade LevelHoughton Mifflin's Algebra 2 and trigonometry help students to make the most of their grade level. Each course provides students with both a number of challenging lessons and a whole lot of help that will improve their grades.The Algebra 2 series offers students a number of useful, helpful materials that they can use to enhance their performance in the material. A course in the Algebra 2 series uses algebraic functions to explain many concepts and using the terms provided, students can easily apply the ideas to their own work. There are many different ways to tackle the concepts of Algebra 2, each one will give students a unique experience.In Algebra 2, students can learn the basic concepts of numbers and angles, which allow them to understand how to solve simple problems. There are also several different ways that students can proceed from the concepts learned through the Algebra 2 course. St udents can take a number of math classes and by taking one of the Algebra 2 courses, they will have a wide variety of ways to make sure that they understand what they are learning. The extra guidance is important to make sure that students don't get distracted, and that they are not left hanging at the end of the class.As students make progress through the Houghton Mifflin math courses, they will be provided with helpful resources that will help them understand the concepts. Courses like Algebra 1, before the first chapter of Algebra 2, are designed to familiarize students with the important concepts. After completing one course, students will be ready to move on to the next course. As students progress through the Algebra 2 course, they will start to look at problems using the tools provided by the course. By doing this, students will begin to develop their own sense of how to use algebraic concepts to solve problems. By taking courses in the Houghton Mifflin math program, students will also have access to several other courses that are aimed at increasing their confidence in their math skills. Courses such as Trigonometry are designed to help students with their trigonometry problems, and there are several ways to solve these problems. By reading some of the exercises found in the course, students will find that they can improve their problem solving skills while also getting a broad understanding of the concepts taught in the Algebra 2 course.The most important thing for students to do when studying at a school such as Houghton Mifflin is to stick with the course. Studying at such a school will allow students to learn from professionals who are well experienced in the subject, and this allows students to quickly grasp new concepts and knowledge that they might not have mastered as quickly or effectively if they were studying at a school that had little experience in the subject.Algebra 2 and trigonometry will help students understand and use algebraic conce pts that they need to tackle difficult mathematics problems. By studying at a school such as Houghton Mifflin, students will be able to learn what they need to know about algebra and trigonometry without being distracted by other concepts that they may not understand. Through help from the hands-on classes offered at Houghton Mifflin, students will learn faster and improve their grades.

Should I Take Voice Lessons in My Home or at a Studio

Should I Take Voice Lessons in My Home or at a Studio Suzy S. Ready to learn to sing with a professional teacher at your side? Many teachers offer in-home lessons as an option, so you may need to decide between that or going to their studio. Read on as Hayward, CA teacher Molly R. offers her advice for making your choice So you want to learn to sing! You’re searching through TakeLessons to find the perfect voice teacher for you, and see that a few teachers offer the option of lessons in their studio, or lessons in your home. Which option will work for you? Everyone’s needs are different! Some of us lead more hectic lives than others, and sometimes your personality and goals may be a factor. Here are some things to consider when deciding between the two options: Logistics are an important matter. There are students that have transportation concerns or major time constraints, and would prefer to learn to sing from home. Or you may have physical limitations and would be more at ease taking lessons at home. In that case, you definitely want to find a voice teacher willing to travel to you. Do note that some teachers will charge more to account for travel time. Should you choose in-home voice lessons, youll need to have the right set-up and equipment. Many voice teachers prefer that you have a tuned piano (or quality keyboard), so this is yet another important thing to consider! You must also make absolutely sure that there is a room where you can work without distraction; family members and pets need to be out of your way so you can make the most of your lesson time. On the other hand, there are those who will prefer taking voice lessons at a teacher’s studio. Some of the reasons may include better access to professional materials (piano, sound equipment, sheet music, etc.), lack of distractions, and perhaps a lower lesson rate. Plus, some students just like getting out of the house for their activities and like a change of scenery! In short, there really is no “right” or “wrong” when choosing between in-home or in-studio voice lessons. Do what feels right to you the only way to find out is to try a voice lesson out for yourself! Molly R. teaches online and in-person singing lessons in Hayward, CA. Her specialties include teaching beginner vocalists, shy singers, children, teens, lapsed singers, and older beginners. She joined TakeLessons in November 2013.  Learn more about Molly  here! 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 Photo by Milkka Skaffari

30 Excellent Career Options for Spanish Speakers [Infographic]

30 Excellent Career Options for Spanish Speakers [Infographic] Suzy S. You know the benefits of being bilingual, but how should you put your Spanish skills to the best use? Here,  Jason N.  shares several jobs for Spanish speakers to consider, from careers in health care to government positions to tourism coordinators Let’s start off with good news! If you are bilingual in Spanish and English, you probably aren’t struggling to find employment! Being bilingual clearly makes you a more desirable candidate in the workforce. As I have mentioned in previous blog posts, the number of Spanish-speaking people in this country continues to increase by the day and businesses are learning that they can target a wider audience and serve more people if they expand their services and products to the growing Spanish-speaking public. The health sector in particular is realizing that an entirely monolingual English-speaking staff does not adequately serve the health needs of many Spanish-speaking populations. Your command of Spanish makes you more hirable and qualified for higher-paying jobs in many industries. After showing you a bird’s-eye view of jobs for Spanish speakers, I will go into more detail about specific sectors that are currently on the prowl for bilingual hires. Share this Image On Your Site Please include attribution to http://takelessons.com with this graphic. Jobs in the Health Care Sector As the countrys Spanish-speaking population increases, the need for bilingual professionals rises. Conversational fluency is a key for this field, particularly because medical conditions and treatment often require specific and scientific language. The subtleties of meaning can be ‘lost in translation’ if the speaker cannot convey and understand the message. Knowing the language also implies knowing certain cultural norms. Being of Hispanic origin or living in a Hispanic country for an extended period of time can offer insight into the family situations and everyday concerns of patients you will be dealing with regularly. As patients grow comfortable with the people they count on for their care, their quality of care increases. Jobs in the Law and Law Enforcement Sector Many Spanish-speaking immigrants need to work with law firms for immigration and other issues. If you speak Spanish, you instantly double the number of people you can represent, help, and serve. Law enforcement also addresses how people in public relate to each other. For instance, when residents cannot converse with local police, fear and resentment can develop between certain parties. This makes areas less safe for residents and the job of patrolling it more difficult for police. Predominantly Spanish-speaking neighborhoods need bilingual officers to attend to both the English- and Spanish-speaking portions of the population regularly. Jobs in Interpretation or Translation Most industries need skilled translators who can communicate in Spanish to target a wider population and “spread the word.” Many translators have governmental jobs (Spanish is one of six of the official languages of the United Nations), or work freelance, with ad agencies, or with schools. Many courthouses employ translators and bilingual court reporters. In many cases, the job you already have may find you even more valuable if you become fluent in a second language some companies are even willing to pay for schooling to learn Spanish! Jobs in the Journalism Sector With a growing Spanish-speaking public comes a need to deliver news and information in the primary language of a given community. Because they can speak to both the Spanish and the English public, bilingual reporters and writers have an advantage over the competition and subsequently increase their profitability, desirability, and marketability. With specialized Spanish-speaking networks and publications on top of the many English media outlets across the country, the need for bilingual journalists is greater than ever before. Jobs in the Hospitality Sector Hotels, restaurants, spas, bars, and any other places tourists frequent on vacation or for business require professionals who can communicate both with locals and international travelers. Specific areas where there are a higher number of Spanish-speaking residents such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, New York, and Miami require Spanish skills more than others. This is an additional plus to pursuing a career in the hospitality industry, since these are also some of the most attractive and warmest parts of the country. Polishing Your Spanish-Speaking Skills As you can see, there are many jobs for Spanish speakers to consider! The benefits of learning Spanish are vast not only for your career path, but when it comes to your personal life, too. Learning Spanish can help you make new friends, stay mentally sharp as you age, and even save you money as you travel. Already started learning? Youre well on your way to all these benefits. Need some extra help? Search for a Spanish tutor near you here! Jason N. tutors English and Spanish in Fairfax, CA.  He majored in Spanish at UC Davis, lived in Mexico for 3 years where he completed a Masters degree in Counseling, and studied Spanish Literature and Psychology at the University of Costa Rica. Learn more about Jason here!   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 Photo by  TED Conference

How to Embroider Eyes

How to Embroider Eyes Techniques for Embroidering Eyes ChaptersThe Different Ways to Embroider EyesEmbroidering Eyes onto MuslinEmbroidering Eyes onto DollsPractising Embroidering Eyes“Originality is nothing but judicious imitation.” - VoltaireWhat would we be without creativity?Thanks to social media like Instagram and Pinterest, arts and crafts like embroidery are becoming more popular.So how can you express your creativity through arts and crafts?What about embroidery?This isn’t just for children in school or grandparents. Whether you buy embroidery kits or get all your equipment separately, once you’ve reached a certain level, you’re going to have to learn how to embroider eyes onto your creations.Whether it’s onto jeans, a purse, or a cushion, let your imagination run wild. There are different techniques depending on what you're embroidering on. (Source: terimakasih0)There are several ways to embroider the eyes.  Embroiderers who are used to working a linen canvas or an Aida cloth won’t embroider in the same way as people who alter cushions, dresses, clothing, etc.You can also embroider onto crocheted or knitted things. In this case, your embroidery will be to finish the item. For example, you might need to add a face to a knitted doll.  Embroidery can be used to make the doll’s eyes, nose, and mouth.  Eyes can be tricky to embroider and each embroiderer has their way of doing it.The eyes can differ according to the thread used and its thickness. You can embroider with wool or sewing thread but the most important thing is to enjoy yourself.Embroidering Eyes onto MuslinEmbroidery can be used to create a visual representation of almost anything. Like drawing, you can create things in your style with different techniques. Are you ready to start embroidering people? (Source: falco)The Stem StitchThere are several different stitches you can use to create embroidery. The chain stitch, the feather stitch, the fringe stitch, the spine stitch, etc. each stitch needs to be used in the right way to get the most out of your embroidery. Some stitches are better than others in certain cases.For example, the feather stitch works great for tree branches. Similarly, the stem stitch is essential when you’re just starting with embroidery and need fine lines like the stem of a flower, the edge of a window, etc.  The stem stitch is also great for tracing around the edge of an eye like you would a contour with a pencil and it isn’t very complicated either.To do it, you need to pass the needle through the front of the fabric around 5mm from where you’d like it to go. Thus, the thread will follow the needle. Once the needle is underneath your fabric, pull it back through the second hole. Repeat these steps.You can u se this technique for both straight lines and curves.The Cross-stitchThe cross-stitch is one of the easiest stitches to do and is often taught to beginners. You can do entire embroidery projects with just cross-stitches. This technique is good for filling in embroidery rather than just having embroidery with contour lines.To make eyes, you can just use a black, blue, or whatever colour you want cross-stitch. This is the simplest eye you can do.  To make a more substantial eye, you can do several white stitches and use some coloured stitches in the middle.If you’re a complete beginner, you might want to start by following a pattern. Embroidery kits for beginners often include manuals, guides, and patterns for you to practise learning how to embroider.Some patterns are printed directly onto the fabric. In this case, you just have to follow the colour guide.Finished?Consider framing your embroidery.Embroidering Eyes onto DollsEmbroidering eyes on a linen canvas is one thing but embro idering them onto a knitted doll is another. Things get a little trickier than they would for embroidering onto canvas. There are a few stitches that can help you add a face to your creation. Embroidering eyes onto dolls is different to embroidering onto a flat fabric. (Source: wanderlusterinfo)The French KnotThe French knot is often used for creating eyes on both fabrics and objects. It allows you to quickly make a little ball of thread to represent the eyes.  You need to concentrate to make sure you don’t tangle your thread.Firstly, you need to pass the needle outwards from the doll.  Roll the thread around your needle twice and insert the needle back into the doll to tighten the knot. Pull the needle out from the other side and your first knot is done.This technique may seem quite complicated so we recommend that you check out some YouTube tutorials on how to do it.The Satin stitchThe satin stitch allows you to cover entire surfaces. Thus, you can make full round eyes. Rather than the stitches crossing over, the stitches will make lines very close to one another.To do this, you can bring the needle down through the fabric, bring the needle up where you want to start, and then bring the needle back down across the other side of the shape you want to fill.  You can always do this on a separate piece of fabric and then stitch that onto the doll if you don’t feel comfortable sewing directly onto the doll.You can also do a layer of satin stitches and then go back over it in the other direction. This will also emboss the eye. This is known as the plumetis stitch.It’s much easier to stitch eyes onto a flat surface or stitch onto dolls made of linen or other woven fabrics.Made a mistake?Learn how to remove embroidery.Practising Embroidering EyesEmbroidery isn’t an innate skill. You can always mess around and see what stitches you end up with or if you struggle, look up some basic stitches to get you started. Like with everything, practice makes perfect. (Source: huckleberrykate)Embroidery classes are a great way to learn how to embroider and make shapes and patterns. A teacher or tutor can also help you when it comes to the more complicated stitches.Whether you’re in private tutorials or group classes, an embroidery teacher or tutor can show you how to embroider eyes. Even though tutorials on YouTube or a website might help, they won’t be the same as what you’re working on and in some cases, it’ll be difficult to apply what they’re saying to your project.  Furthermore, it’s much easier to learn to be shown something and then allowed to try it yourself. If you make mistakes, your teacher will be there to correct you.You could attend workshops in a haberdashery, for example. There are often classes and workshops for those wanting to learn how to do a particular stitch or have questions about a project.Once you’ve practised with the help of a teacher, you can practise embroide ring eyes on your projects. Since eyes are generally quite small, you can practise them over and over on a single piece of fabric.  Practise makes perfect, after all.Finally, you just have to add them to your project.If you need more help with embroidery or cross-stitch, get help from one of the many talented private tutors on Superprof. There are three main types of tutorial available and, like with tutors, each comes with its pros and cons.Face-to-face tutorials are great for getting bespoke and tailored tuition as you're the only student in the class. Furthermore, your tutor will be spending a lot of time outside of the lessons preparing sewing classes for you. Of course, this service comes at a cost and face-to-face private tutorials tend to be the most costly per hour. However, they're also the most cost-effective as every minute of a session is spent helping you learn.Online tutorials are similar but your tutor won't be there in the room with you. While these are usually bette r for academic subjects, if you've got a good webcam, microphone, and internet connection, there's no reason a talented embroider couldn't help you learn remotely. Additionally, with no travel costs and the ability to schedule more classes each week, online private tutors tend to cheaper than face-to-face tutorials.Finally, group tutorials are good for those on a budget as the cost of the tutor's time and experience will be shared amongst all the students in attendance. While you won't get as much one-on-one time with your tutor, you will pay less per student per hour.  With many of the tutors offering free tuition for the first hour, try a few different ones out and find the one that's right for you.