Five Benefits of Emotional Intelligence - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Five Benefits of Emotional Intelligence - Introvert Whisperer Five Benefits of Emotional Intelligence Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is recognised as an essential element of success. Everyone knows how people with high IQs typically do well in school and the workplace. People with high IQs have the advantage than your average Joe since they can perceive information and retain it as knowledge. However, having a high IQ doesn’t necessarily guarantee a lifetime of success, happiness, or virtue.  These days, Emotional Intelligence (EI) or Emotional Quotient (EQ) is as important, maybe even more important for companies than an impressive resume or a high IQ. Unlike Intellectual Quotient which measures a person’s cognitive abilities, Emotional Intelligence is about the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions â€" whether it’s your own or other people. Emotional Intelligence can be divided into Personal and Social Skills or Competencies. Personal competencies focus more on how you manage your own emotions. This includes having skills such as being aware of and understanding your emotions, managing them appropriately and proportionately, self-motivation and personal time management. A person with higher emotional intelligence are capable of managing stress effectively and are less likely to suffer from depression. In the workplace, an effective interpersonal communication is essential not only for interactions with clients and prospects but for developing a well-functioning, high-performing team as well. Emotional Intelligence, under Social Competencies, includes having interpersonal skills, how a person understands others and their emotions and actions, and your reaction towards them. In this infographic by Sparkle, learn about how emotional intelligence can be beneficial for you and your business.

15 MORE of the Best Tutor-Approved Spanish Apps

15 MORE of the Best Tutor-Approved Spanish Apps Suzy S. Weve reviewed some of the most popular Spanish learning apps out there but theres always more to talk about! Read on as tutor Breeana D.  shares her recommendations for 15 MORE of the best Spanish learning apps to check out These days, its easier than ever to learn Spanish. When youre not getting conversation practice in with your tutor, apps are an excellent way to review things like cognates, vocab and grammar. And since Spanish learning apps  can be accessed 24/7, you can practice alone any time, and practically anywhere while having fun at the same time! If youre curious about the BEST Spanish learning apps, though, Ive compiled the list below to check out. Here are my reviews of 15 useful, affordable, and worthwhile Spanish learning apps for either Android or iOS. Android and iOS Spanish Learning Apps 1) TakeLessons Live [Android]||[iOS] TakeLessons Live offers live classes led by expert instructors in a group setting. After signing up for the free membership option, you have access to a variety of classes to choose from. Whether you want to improve your basic vocabulary or conversational skills, you can join a Spanish class right from your phone. From a tutor’s perspective: With instant feedback and guidance from an expert, this app will help you see significant progress in your skills in no time. You’ll also get to meet and interact with other students at your level, from around the world. 2) Learn Spanish Quickly by Priya Yerunkar [Android]||[iOS] This app has 33 categories, from body parts to colors to numbers! Simply click on the picture category and the words that you want to learn to hear a native speaker pronounce it in a clear voice. From a tutor’s perspective: I would definitely recommend this app to a student who wants to learn basic Spanish words quickly, due to its wide range of categories. 3) Learn Spanish by Bravolol [Android]||[iOS] Learn Spanish has 24 categories that focus on Spanish vocabulary and phrases. Nine of those categories are free, including lessons on greetings, shopping, driving, sightseeing, weather, and eating. You can access the other categories through a free trial, or you can purchase them for $4.99. Each category lists vocabulary and phrases that are said out loud when clicked. You can also repeat the phrase or word while recording your voice to make sure your pronunciation is accurate. From a tutor’s perspective: While other apps may be more colorful and exciting, this app allows you to practice your accent and Spanish pronunciation   a must for conversing with native speakers. 4) FluentU by FluentU [Android]||[iOS]   Fluent U engages you in the Spanish learning process by using interactive tools, such as music videos and the news. The videos can be played with the Spanish translations appearing underneath, and you can click on any word to read the English definition. From a tutor’s perspective: This app is great for Spanish students who enjoy popular culture. Teens will especially appreciate the social relevance of this trendy app. 5) Spanish Class by Cognitecco [Android]||[iOS] The free demo for this app includes reference material (vocabulary, verbs, grammar, and phrases) and four exercises (vocabulary, verbs, grammar, and listening). The full version can be purchased for $2.99. Each activity has multiple-choice responses that incorporate reading; there are no recordings for either questions or answer options. Each activity also has a reference page or “article” which explains the correct answer. From a tutor’s perspective: This app has no bells and whistles. It gets the job done; students who don’t mind the silence will find it useful. 6) Speak Easy by Pocketglow Inc. [Android]||[iOS] Speak Easy is an excellent app for students, especially those who travel! It teaches greetings, basic phrases, travel essentials, and more. Each Spanish word shows the English word above it, as well as the phonetic spelling below, and an audio recording. The free app has more than 100 free words and phrases to learn, and the full version (with 750 more words and phrases) can be purchased for $3.99. From a tutor’s perspective: If you are going abroad to a Spanish-speaking country, this is the app for you. It doesnt have any games, however, so keep that in mind if you need interactive activities to stay engaged. 7) Learn Spanish by Codegent Ltd [Android]||[iOS] This free app teaches more than 200 words and phrases, with audio recordings from native speakers. Students who want to practice their accent will benefit from this app. From a tutor’s perspective: This app is ad-free, which is great! Its especially helpful for travelers, because it includes traveling tips. Android Spanish Learning Apps 1) Spanish in Pictures: Food by Mind GA    [Android] This app offers a dictionary of vocabulary for the following categories: foods, drinks, spices, vegetables, fruits, meat, and seafood. After learning the Spanish vocabulary  (which includes pictures and audio), you can test your knowledge by clicking on “words to pictures” or “pictures to words.”  This is great for catering to different learning styles. (Hint: Take this learning styles quiz  to determine yours!) From a tutor’s perspective: I like this app because it has a  variety of food vocabulary and pictures; however, they do not provide the English words for any of their pictures or Spanish words. So this app may be difficult to use if you are not familiar with certain fruits, veggies, spices, drinks, and food. For instance, a picture of la alcachofa (artichoke) is listed under vegetables with no English word beside it. 2) Spanish Word of the Day by Declan Software  [Android] This free app teaches you a new Spanish word each day. You can also click on the word, which has the English word beneath, and hear a pre-recorded voice say it. From a tutor’s perspective: This app is a simple and useful tool to enhance your Spanish vocabulary and to impress your tutor! However, one precaution to keep in mind is that practicing words in isolation is not as useful as using them in context. Your tutor can help you establish an appropriate context for the word of the day. 3) Learn Spanish with SpeakTribe by Edushire  [Android] Before you begin using this app, youll be asked to choose your current level of Spanish: absolute beginner, a few words at most, can read somewhat, can follow slow speech, or can speak basic language. You’re also asked to input your age and why you would like to learn Spanish (for social reasons, academically, etc). After youve gone through the set-up, this Spanish learning app quizzes you on the basics, such as conversational Spanish and grammar. It has 29 levels, and levels one through four are free. The higher the level, the more difficult the learning; for example, Levels 15+ focus on commands, adverbs, and the imperfect and subjunctive tenses. If you want to spend more time practicing your grammar, this is the app for you! From a tutor’s perspective: The flexibility of this app makes it an attractive learning tool for students of all ability levels. Even the levels that arent free are worth the price, as the lessons are great for reviewing  important concepts! 4) Spanish for Kids by D.G.S. [Android] Spanish for Kids, or Español para Niños, is a great Spanish learning app for kids! Users can learn the Spanish alphabet, numbers one through 10, colors, animals, clothing, and much more. As you are learning the vocabulary words, you click on the pictures to hear the Spanish word. You can also play it in a game mode, which can be really fun! Overall, its a colorful and engaging app with a lot of categories. From a tutor’s perspective: While this app is kid-friendly with its colorful appearance and fun activities, beginner students of any age will benefit from this app, as it focuses on the fundamentals. iOS Spanish Learning Apps 1) Learn Spanish +  by Vidalingua [iOS] Learning Spanish + is great because it goes beyond just seeing pictures or hearing a recorded voice. The pronunciation features allows you to enable your microphone and practice speaking yourself with the voice recognition feature. There are also quizzes and games you can play within each category to make sure you really understand. From a tutor’s perspective: The voice recognition feature can be a bit tricky to use. However, the categories they include are much more helpful than your basic greetings and animal names. They include real world situations such as At the Airbnb or At the Market, although some of these categories are under the paid version. 2) Basic Spanish by Greg Vick [iOS] This app is my personal favorite. It offers several free activities that cover many different topics. Basic Spanish has 27 free categories from which to choose including directions, sports, clothing, feelings, and health. Each category includes a study list, a memory game, flashcards, a quiz, word exercises, listening activities, meaning matching, spelling, and a review list.  You can also see your score at the end of each activity. From a tutor’s perspective: With 27 free categories, youre sure to find an area that is useful to your study needs! In addition, the app provides ample activities with a great deal of depth. 3) Mirai Spanish by Mirai LLP  [iOS] Mirai Spanish has 20 chapters, each with five lessons. The lessons focus on vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. Each lesson includes background information about the topic, a summary list, vocabulary list, and a quiz. Chapters one through four are free, and the other chapters can be purchased. From a tutor’s perspective: This app will be most beneficial for students who enjoy a more formal way of learning. There are no games. 4) Cat Spanish by Memrise [iOS] This free app teaches you conversational Spanish, with a focus on grammar, by using pictures of cats and an activity called, “chat practice.” In this activity, you match Spanish phrases with pictures of the cats. For instance, there may be a picture of a cat eating fish and the phrase under it will say, “es delicioso” (it’s delicious). After learning the new phrases, you can apply your skills with chat practice.   During chat practice, you “text” another cat by responding to his questions and selecting from phrases you’ve learned during the picture lesson. From a tutor’s perspective: This is a good way to practice engaging in conversational Spanish. It is also purrfect for cat lovers. 5) Lingo Cat by Lingo Cat [iOS] Lingo Cat is a free app with 10 categories, including los colores (the colors) and la hora (the time). It includes a dictionary that lists and describes all of the words included in the app, and each category includes several activities to practice Spanish vocabulary. At the end of each activity, you receive a grade based on your performance. From a tutor’s perspective: This app’s inviting and invigorating music and sounds keep users engaged, which makes it much easier to remember your daily practice! It offers lessons in several categories, and some activities as well. 6) Learn Spanish with Lingo Arcade by Alligator Apps  [iOS] This app costs $4.99 to benefit from all of their 150 levels. Levels one and two are free. Each level has a timed vocabulary game. As you play, you will hear a Spanish word and have to click the correct picture before the time runs out. From a tutor’s perspective: I like this app for practicing basic vocabulary. The voice is pretty monotone, but the pressure of the time limit offers enough positive stress to work up “brain sweat.” These 15 best Spanish learning apps are sure to assist you in your language endeavors! If these apps dont interest you, try checking with your Spanish tutor to see if he or she has more recommendations. And of course, consider your learning style and goals as you practice on your own. Good luck! Which apps do you use and recommend? Let us know by leaving a comment below!   Post Author:  Breeana D. Breeana D. teaches Spanish lessons in Abington, PA. Specializing in Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education, she is currently enrolled in Temple Universitys Elementary Education program.  Learn more about Breeana 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

Networking with Depression and Anxiety - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Networking with Depression and Anxiety - Introvert Whisperer Networking with Depression and Anxiety Career Attraction August 18, 2014 Dealing with Fear, Networking, Neuroscience No responses Go to top Networking is fun and exciting. It’s so great to meet new people right? Well… that is, unless you are battling other issues. Yes, we’re talking depression. Depression sucks, but you can work through it. When you’re battling depression, your body and mind know that something is wrong, and you may want to do something about it, but the symptoms don’t really take note of how they impact your life. People who suffer from anxiety issues may also experience great stress over getting out there and meeting new people. The simple thought of it can make them sick. When experiencing depression, people are likely to feel down, sad, hopeless or they may experience a loss of interest in things, including the things they once enjoyed. With such things happening, the thought of going out and being sociable seems anything but exciting. Not to mention the lack of energy you’re also likely experiencing. If you’re suffering from anxiety, you may even find yourself too physically ill to get out. Yet while all this is going on inside of you, life continues to go on around you. So what do you do? How do you meet the need to network to advance your budding (or burgeoning) business? You just need to put together the resources to help meet your needs: Know Your Battery Life Sometimes you may be able to get yourself out and about, but after a while of putting on that smile, your battery starts to drain, and you begin to shut down again. Your battery life is that amount of time you can be out and about. It’s how long you can “be on,” where your symptoms may still exist, but you can hold them back enough to get through. While you’re doing what you need to do to remove your symptoms, it helps to have a few tools to help you manage them until you fully get rid of them. Take care of yourself. Eat right, eating whether you have an appetite or not. Get enough rest, even if you’re having difficulty sleeping. Take time out to rest your body. It may be that all you can do is meditation or a breathing exercise, but do something to replenish your energy sources. All of these things can help increase your battery life. Set Your Networking Goal What is it that you want to or hope to accomplish through your networking? This stuff sounds hard, so why are you putting yourself through it? When you know the benefits you’re seeking, they can be used as a source of motivation and empowerment to help you get there. Before you go into an event, set a goal for that event. It can be meeting three doctors or getting your business card in the hands of four accountants. This way, when you walk in, you can focus on getting that done. You can allocate your time to ensure that this gets done before your battery drains. If you have time remaining, you can then decide to meet more people or give yourself a break and cut out earlier. Either way, you will have accomplished what you came out for. Set Targets Decide who you are looking to meet who can help you achieve these goals. This helps you eliminate the pressure of having to talk to everyone. Once you know who you’re looking for, then you can conserve your energy a bit instead of exerting too much in random conversation. Be Strategic About Which Events You Attend Happy hour at the new hottest spot in town may be nice if you’re feeling energetic and want to just hang out with whoever, but when you’re looking to meet with specific people, you need to get to a place that’s likely to have more of them. If you’re looking to grow your pharmaceutical sales business, then you want to meet with doctors who are prescribing the medications you sell. That’s not to say that meeting a nice VP of sales at a local bank couldn’t be helpful; it’s just that you have a higher likelihood of success in increasing sales by meeting doctors. So instead of going to the general networking meeting hosted by the local Chamber of Commerce, you want to attend the event hosted by the medical association. Generally, I wouldn’t refer to time spent getting to know any person as “a waste of your time.” However, when working within the limitations of your symptoms, I would call it mismanagement of your limited resources. Take Advantage of Smaller Events When there are fewer people to interact with, you’re able to be less all over the place and can focus on getting to know one or two people and making that connection. This doesn’t require you to go too far out of your comfort zone. You can even initiate these types of encounters by reaching out to the people you want to meet. You can call, but in this case, the more probable option may be to reach out in writing through email orâ€"even betterâ€"a mailed letter or note. You can send these to your desired contact and advise that you will be calling within a specified time frame. This commits you to making that call, but having sent that initial communication makes getting on the phone easier because you’re not making the ever-so-terrifying “cold call.” Get Involved When you become engaged in events and make commitments, you get yourself to the point where you have to get to the event. It’s more difficult to back out when others are depending on you. Take on small but important tasks that will cause you to have to go once you’ve decided to attend an event. It could be something as simple as bringing the name badges or being a friend’s ride. As your battery life gets longer, you can take on more consuming tasks, but don’t overexert yourself at first, because you don’t want to make the experience so overwhelming that it gives you more reason to back out in the future. Attract People When you don’t have much energy or desire or you’re just feeling down, you’re not really looking forward to going up and striking conversations with new people. The best thing you can do is make them come to you. Have something unique that makes people want to know more so that they come to talk to you. A friend of mine uses a cartoon sticker, which causes people to come up and ask what it’s all about. I write my organization name, “Living The Dream,” prominently on name tags, which makes people come up to ask me about it. Your attraction piece can be something unique to you or that pulls at the interest of the people you want to meet. Just make sure it’s placed to be seen. This one works great for people who experience anxiety over meeting people or are just shy. Make Information Available Your business cards are a great way to do this. In addition to your name, title and contact information, they can say things about you that prompt people to ask questions. You can add things like specialties or accomplishments on the backâ€"just three to five one-line bullet points that give people information about you and are great conversation boosters. Follow Up First You should always do follow-up to maintain that connection with the people you want to keep in your circle. When you follow up first, however, you can set the timing and pace of when the communications happen. You can set the tone and set things up for the best times for you. When you decide to meet with people, schedule meetings at times that promote the speed you need. When you schedule to meet with someone after hours, they may be rushing home or they may be free as a bird and ready to hang out longer than you can. Based on your battery life, you can make recommendations. A meeting at the office can last a few minutes or an hour depending on what the parties make of it. Meeting for coffee is shorter than meeting for lunch. Meeting for lunch is more time-limited than meeting for drinks afterwards. Look Great When you’re preparing to go to a networking event or a meeting with a new contact, it’s also important to get primped up. Looking good promotes feeling good. So put care into your appearanceâ€"not so much for others, but for your own sake. Stick with ensembles that you feel good in. Depression and anxiety can take a considerable amount of time to work through. Even when you’ve sought the help of a professional and are working your way out of it, you still have this life that you need to be a part of. So make use of the tools that are available to help you manage. What advice do you have for networking with depression and anxiety? Share your tips in the comments! This post originally appeared on Career Attraction. Image: Flickr Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.  Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Everything you Need to Know about Learning Spanish for Kids

Everything you Need to Know about Learning Spanish for Kids How to Go about Teaching Spanish to Kids ChaptersHow to Speak Spanish for Kids: With the Help of a TabletLearn Spanish for Children with CartoonsLearn Spanish at Home with Books for ChildrenTeach Children Spanish with a Private TutorHaving a Spanish-speaking FamilySpanish for Kids: Websites Designed for ChildrenSpanish is a language is spoken far beyond the borders of Spain. In fact it is an official language in 20 different countries, and it has a combined total of 440 million native speakers worldwide.It will therefore be of no surprise to hear that there are a whole host of reasons to learn Spanish. The Spanish you learn could be conversational so that you know a few words and phrases to be able to communicate with the locals in Argentina, Chile, or Peru.You might choose to study Spanish in a more grammatical way in order to take the test at the end of a Spanish program, or for use in your job, either at home or abroad.Whatever it is, improving your language skills in Spanish will be an undeniable asset in your professio nal and social life. If you are reading this and wondering if there is an age limit for learning Spanish, then rest assured that there isn't.However, the earlier you start, the easier it will be for you in the long run. In fact, if you are reading this and thinking that your children might benefit from learning Spanish, we are here to ask: why wait?!Teaching Spanish to kids is a great idea that will put them ahead of the curve both in their Spanish course at school, and at university if they choose to study languages.However, you will need to know how to go about doing this as the learning methods used by adults (Spanish immersion, doing a language course, going to a Spanish language school etc) differ slightly from how you should try to engage your kids in their Spanish language learning.So here are a number of different methods you can use to ensure that your little ones can speak the language of Cervantes as soon as possible! ¡Vámonos! (Let’s go!) TadeoSpanish 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 tutorsHow to Speak Spanish for Kids: With the Help of a TabletChildren nowadays are very quick to familiarise themselves with touchscreens, smartphones, and tablets. Rather than have them play fruit ninja or angry birds, you could let them learn more about Spanish while having fun.As a new learner,  there are plenty of free Spanish resources to help your child to learn to speak their new language quickly.In the modern age, i f you want your child to learn to speak Spanish, you really have no excuse. While it's unlikely that they'll gain fluency using these particular resources, there are websites where you learn Spanish online and you can choose different language courses depending on your level.For example, the Fun Spanish app is aimed at children between 3 and 10 years old and includes a number of different games for teaching children how to read, spell, and write in Spanish. It is a good app for them to be introduced to the alphabet, as well as some basic verbs.Learning Spanish for kids can be done on a tablet! (Source: pixabay.com)Of course, there are plenty of free websites with games for teaching children how to speak Spanish.If your child likes teddy bears, you could opt for the Little Pim method which comes with a really cute panda toy, a school bag, and different ways to learn Spanish. This solution is based on repetition and includes DVDs for learning Spanish words. These kinds of Spanish clas ses near me can make speaking Spanish fun.Learn Spanish for Children with CartoonsCartoons shouldn’t be avoided at all costs! In fact, foreign language cartoons can be great ways to give parents some respite while also teaching the children some basic Spanish phrases, including the correct pronunciation of those phrases.Watching cartoons in their second language is a great way to show them new vocabulary alongside images while they train their ear to listening to Spanish.Here are some cartoons your child could watch in Spanish:Mundo ZambaDora the Explorer: This show is even more effective if you watch the Spanish version where Dora will speak mostly in Spanish while teaching them English vocabulary, too.Bob el TrenPocoyóCaillou, the four-year-old boy with a big imagination.While cartoons won’t be enough to teach a child Spanish on their own, they’re still a useful tool that will help them pick up some Spanish! It’s up to you to give them the daily language practice they’l l need on a daily basis in order to become fluent in Spanish.They won't even know they are studying Spanish, and the cartoons could act as a form of having free lessons.Whilst they won't be enough to have dreams in Spanish, they can definitely set your child on their way to eventual fluency! TadeoSpanish 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 tutorsLearn Spanish at Home with Books for ChildrenIt’s well known that children love stories, especially before they go to bed. Learning Spanish can be made easier by using fun books with colourful pictures.  If your child loves reading, why not get them books in Spanish so that they can practise reading themselves once they’re old enough?A bedtime story could be great for children learning Spanish. (Source: Victor)You can get books that are fully in Spanish or bilingual books (which we recommend when they first start reading around ages 5 or 6).Here are a few books in Spanish that children can read before they go to bed:Buenas noches GorilaSweet Dreams/Dulces SueñosWhere’s the Baby/ ¿Donde está el bebé? ¡Guau, guau! (A textile book with pages of animals and different materials).Conejo y sombrero (a fun story about a rabbit which you should definitely read aloud!)You can also buy the Spanish versions of their favourite stories and movies like Finding Nemo, for example.  Reading is also a great way for them to learn words by heart as well as developing their brains in time for s chool!Any beginner starting out will need a plan for learning Spanish. When it comes to kids, books, songs, and their favourite films will all feature prominently in this plan.Teach Children Spanish with a Private TutorFor curious and motivated children who really want to learn Spanish, getting them a private Spanish teacher to work with them on their Spanish is a great idea.There are also specialist centres and schools for very young children where they can learn Spanish in a group while they play or take one on one private tutorials.There are a number of benefits to going to a group class: they can make new friends, have fun, and they won’t be intimidated by having their very own tutor.Any guide for beginners learning Spanish will often feature Spanish tutors as a good way of learning, and this is the same for kids. Their individual approach means that kids don't get left behind as can sometimes be the case in a classroom environment.Having a Spanish-speaking FamilyHaving a Span ish-speaking parent is really useful.  Families with a Spanish-speaking heritage often have either a mother or a father that were born in a Spanish-speaking country. If both parents speak Spanish, however, they should make sure that one parents focuses on speaking to the child in English to make sure they pick up the language before school.If you have Spanish-speaking family members, make sure they speak frequently to the children in Spanish. (Source: pixabay.com)Studies on language acquisition have shown that you don’t need to wait until you’ve learned your mother tongue before you can learn a second native language. Learning Spanish can therefore be done alongside learning English!If throughout the day, the child listens to both English and Spanish, they’ll learn to interact naturally in both languages.  This will also make them more comfortable in both languages which brings many benefits later on in their studies (especially if they end up working in tourism, international business, translation, or teaching, for example).There's no exact answer to how long it takes to learn Spanish, but if a child is exposed to the language from a young age, they will learn a lot faster than if they waited until they had Spanish lessons at school.Learning Spanish from a Young Age with the Help of their GrandparentsWhen a family has Hispanic roots, there are often opportunities to visit Spanish-speaking countries.  This is especially true if the grandparents still live such a country.You’ll have an even better reason to visit your parents and they’ll definitely want to see their grandchildren as often as they can. They could even spend summers making Spanish-speaking friends on the beach or by the pool, for example.You can also complement their language learning with a few extra private tutorials while they’re on vacation, too.  This is a great way to get the most out of immersing them in a Spanish-speaking culture while reinforcing their knowledge of Spanish gr ammar which can fall by the wayside if they’re only practising speaking every day.There are also language schools and summer camps that children can attend in Spanish-speaking countries where they’ll practice their Spanish while playing and doing other enriching activities.Spanish for Kids: Websites Designed for ChildrenFor tech-savvy parents who want to teach their child Spanish, there are plenty of options available on the world wide web.  The website Petralingua, for example, offers 21 different lessons on the basics of Spanish as well as dozens of songs, 80 videos, 140 exercises, a dictionary of words they should know, and much more.The site also has Spanish learning kits for children that include booklets and CDs for children to learn Spanish at their own pace.Dinolingo has books, DVDs, and online Spanish lessons for children as well as their famous dinosaur mascot.  This Spanish resource is for younger children aged from 2 to 7 and includes 5 DVDs, 150 flashcards, as well as posters you can decorate their rooms with.  It allows children to learn basic everyday Spanish vocabulary as well as understand simple Spanish words and expressions.There are so many ways to teach children Spanish nowadays. Teaching a child Spanish at home can give them a huge advantage over other children.Under the right guidance, children will be happy to work on their Spanish. (Source: pixabay.com)For those who don’t have any Spanish speakers at home, the most important thing to do is ensure that your child remains motivated. You can encourage them and reward them with games and make sure that their language-learning experience is engaging and enjoyable.No matter what age you are, all beginners need to know how to go about learning Spanish. When it comes to children, the amount of resources available online are a great way to start them off.These resources, when coupled with the other learning methods that we have mentioned in this article, will provide an effective way to g et children on the right track to becoming fluent in Spanish.

Essay Writing in 9 Easy Steps

Essay Writing in 9 Easy Steps Follow these steps to write a successful essay. Step 1:Choose a purpose Which question will you answer with your essay? The question you attempt to answer will determine your purpose. What isn’t what it appears to be? Purpose = to informWhat situation needs to change? Purpose = to persuadeHow have I been wronged? Purpose = to confide Step 2: Select a role Decide how you will approach your topic.Will you inform the reader as a pundit or a philosopher? Will you persuade the reader as an enthusiast, a scold, or a Devil’s advocate? Will you confide in the reader as a confidant? Will you entertain the reader with a story as a raconteur? Or will you amuse the reader by informing, persuading or confiding in the reader in an ironic or absurd way as a jester does? Pundit: The pundit teaches us something by drawing on his or her knowledge of or expertise on a topic. Philosopher: A philosopher searches for knowledge or meaning by asking questions about and proposing solutions to the moral problems of life.Enthusiast: The enthusiast stirs up enthusiasm on a topic in the face of apathy or weak support.Scold: A scold is a faultfinder. He or she will criticize, reproach, quarrel and complain about someone or something. A scold does so with the hope that criticism will eventually result in reform.Devil’s advocate: A Devil’s advocate takes the contrary point of view to anything and everything. By trying to prove the opposite of a widely accepted belief, he or she helps us to re-examine that belief so we might articulate it more clearly, or look on it in a fresh light. Confidant: A confidant reveals his or her feelings on a topic. By articulating hidden emotions, we discover that all of our secrets are essentially the same.Raconteur: A raconteur te lls a story to entertain or inform. He or she personalizes problems making them more accessible to others. Jester: A jester makes light of things the world takes seriously. He or she points out the ridiculous to relieve pent up anxiety through laughter. Step 3: Generate interest in your topic Select a strategy for generating interest in your topic. ask a questionintroduce a surprising fact or statisticquote an authorityshare an anecdoteoutline an opposing view Here are some kick-ass ways to start an essay. Step 4: Define and limit your topic Make sure that you define your terms and indicate what is not covered by your topic. This will help to keep your topic focused. For example, “An abortion is the deliberate termination of a pregnancy. It is different from a miscarriage, which is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy before term.” Step 5:State your thesis Develop a clear and concise main idea in the form of a thesis statement. A thesis statement is a sentence that identifies the purpose of the essay. It usually appears at the end of the introductory paragraph and serves as the organizing principle of the essay. Thesis statements can be either strong or weak. A strong thesis statement makes a claim and summarizes support for it: X is Y because A, B, and C; or X should be Y because A, B, and C. A weak thesis statement is self-conscious in that it makes reference to either the essay in which it appears or to the essayist writing it. Weak theses often follow this formula: In this essay, I will show that X is Y because A, B, and C. Avoid weak thesis statements. Step 6: Organize your essay Arrange your body paragraphs so that they develop the topics in the same order as they are outlined in your thesis statement. This will give your essay structural cohesion. Arrange your arguments from strongest to weakest or weakest to strongest. Write an outline of your essay to help you arrange and organize your ideas. Organize your essay into a 5 paragraph hamburger essay Step 7: Develop your paragraphs Each paragraph should be developed using a single development method. When you change methods, change paragraphs. Example: The example method is the simplest method of development. Each sentence provides examples to support the controlling idea in the topic sentence of the paragraph.Cause and effect: Like the example method, the topic sentence identifies a cause, and each sentence thereafter provides examples of effects. Alternatively, the topic sentence identifies the result, and each subsequent sentence lists the causes for it.Comparison by criterion: A paragraph developed using comparison by criterion involves comparing items one criterion at a time. For example, you might describe the size of item 1 and the size of item 2, shape of item 1 and the shape of item 2, the price of item 1 and the price of item 2, etc.Comparison by item: A paragraph developed using comparison by item involves describing item 1 using a variety or criteria, like size, shape, and price, etc., before describing item 2 in terms the same criteria of size, shape, and price, etc.Narration: A paragraph developed by narratio n involves a description of a series of events that happened in the past in the sequence in which they occurred.Process analysis: A paragraph developed by process analysis describes a repeatable series of steps using words like first, next, etc.Description: When you are writing about an object or scene and want to consider its physical or spatial characteristics, you will want to compose a paragraph of descriptive details. Introduce details in a sequence, moving from top to bottom, left to right, center to periphery, large to small, east to west, and so on. Be systematic.Classification: A paragraph developed by classification analyzes the components of an item or an idea.Definition: When you develop a paragraph by definition, you will identify a class and then list differentiating characteristics. Step 8: Build cohesion with transition words Use the connective words below to show the relationship of ideas from one sentence or paragraph to the next. Exemplification: to illustrate, for instance, for exampleEmphasis: in fact, most significantly, specifically, in particularAddition: furthermore, moreover, in additionContrast: although, however, even so, nevertheless, conversely, yetQualification: for the most part, generally, often, of courseSequence: first, second, third, next, subsequentlyConclusion: in conclusion, to conclude, finally, to sum up Step 9: Develop a conclusion Restate your thesis by rewording or rearranging the words in your thesis. This will remind the reader what you have been trying to achieve. Include a concrete suggestion. What should the reader do now? Finally, make a prediction about the benefits of adopting your proposal. What will happen if enough people accept your point of view? How will things change? Use the Virtual Writing Tutors 100% free essay checker.Become a member to gain access to the essay outliner and other cool free tools. Please follow and like us:

10 Study Skills That Will Help You Achieve Academic Success

10 Study Skills That Will Help You Achieve Academic Success Long term academic success depends on solid study skills. What you do today will have an impact on your immediate understanding and is also important for your ongoing knowledge. The skills and understanding you acquire today will build the foundation of success for tomorrow. There are many surefire study skills that are certain to boost your long term academic success, including: Finding The Perfect Space Preparing the area where you'll study is crucial to long term academic success. Find a place that is quiet, free of distractions, and offers a comfortable place to work. Gathering Materials Before You Start Take a few minutes to assess what you plan on studying and then gather all the necessary materials. If you have to break from your studying to find a book, calculator, or set of notes you will likely loose your focus and waste precious studying time. Planning Your Work Having a weekly study schedule is a great way to ensure you spend plenty of time on each subject area. Find regular blocks of time, each week, that can be dedicated to studying. Use these blocks of time wisely by prioritizing which subject areas require the most time each week. Being Patient It can take time to learn new skills and master new concepts. Be patient with your learning and information retention. Repeated practice and review can help cement new concepts and propel you toward mastery. Using Your Notes Make sure you are taking notes during your classes that you can refer to once you start studying. It is hard to remember everything that is covered in class and taking notes will help you reconnect with the days in-class learning. Note taking is a skill. If you could use some help learning the best way to take notes the tutors at Huntington Learning Centers can help. You will benefit from personalized sessions that teach efficient note taking strategies. Starting Early Cramming rarely works. Waiting until the last minute to start studying may result in temporary understanding but will do very little to impact overall knowledge. Plan ahead to ensure you have plenty of time to study before exam day. EliminatingDistractions Turn your cell phone off, log off of social media sites, and fully connect with your studying. Its ok to go offline during these sessions because you want to ensure you can focus completely on the subject you are studying. TakingA Break If you plan to study for an extended period of time make sure you find time to take a few breaks. Leaving the books behind for a short walk, snack, or brief conversation will help recharge your batteries to finish the study session strong. DiscoveringWhat Works For You Each student is different. What works for others may not be what is best for you. The most important part of studying isknowing what works for you and sticking to your plan. The professionals at Huntington Learning Centers can work with you to help discover which strategies work best for your learning style. These personalized sessions will transform your studying and can help ensure long term academic success. PreparingYour Body And Mind In order to get the most out of our your study sessions you should pay attention to both your body and your mind. Being hungry or tired can affect your study habits and may prevent you from learning. Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep at night and are eating a balanceddiet. Stay away from sugary snacks and caffeine to ensure mentalacuity. The tutoring professionals at Huntington Learning Centers are specially trained to help you improve your study skills. What are your studying strengths? What could use improvement?

How I Learned to Speak 5 Languages (and You Can, Too)

How I Learned to Speak 5 Languages (and You Can, Too) How I Learned to Speak 5 Languages (and You Can, Too) In August of 2015, I made one of the scariestâ€"but most rewardingâ€"decisions of my life.I decided to become a polyglot. I wanted to successfully speak five languages: English, Arabic, German, French and Berber.At the time, I only knew very little French vocabulary that I learned from school and had intermediate Arabic skills. I also spoke Berber natively.Its been a little more than two years since I made that ambitious decision.  Where do I stand today?Well, for one thing, Im able to write this blog post in English! Ive also met hundreds of German, French and Arabic speakers along the way and have communicated with them in their native languages. As of this writing Im an expert in Berber, upper-advanced in Arabic, advanced in English and intermediate in French and German.If youre an aspiring polyglot, Ill show you exactly what Ive been doing in the past two years to be able to speak five languages today. There are five key strategies I used to learn my target languages, which you c an apply to your own multilingual goals.Ready to join the polyglot club? How I Learned to Speak 5 Languages (and You Can, Too)1. Taking One-on-one Online Language LessonsLearning a language by yourself is an admirable (and totally possible!) goal. Solo education can also work for learning multiple languages, but if you have the time and some spare funds, one-on-one lessons make the process so much faster and more effective.A language tutor will help you tackle the most important facets of your target language(s) and identify your personal linguistic weaknesses. But as expert language educators, theyll also be able to help you accelerate the language learning process in general, with tricks you can apply to more than one languageâ€"whether its improving your memory for vocabulary words, finding cognates between languages, etc.Theyll also keep you accountable in your studies, always pushing you forward.To make learning fun, I always make sure I connect with teachers who share the sa me interests. I find this a crucial strategy to have a successful learning experience, especially as it minimizes um moments and keeps the conversation going.Just recently, I met a Spanish teacher from Catalonia and talked to her about her experience studying translation in Barcelona (which is something Im interested in) and she helped me learn more about the courses available in Spain. Throughout our conversations, shes taught me some basic Spanish vocabulary related to academics and translation.Besides Spanishâ€"which I dont speak fluentlyâ€"Ive also scheduled online language lessons for learning German and English.There are a number of great online platforms where you can find tutors in any language. In particular you might want to check out Wyzant, which allows you to find experienced, vetted tutors both locally or online. That gives you tons of flexibility for learning a range of languages, no matter where you are or what your busy schedule looks like.2. Making Language Partner s on HelloTalkLanguage partners are two people who each want to learn the others native language. For example, during a language exchange session between an English and Spanish speaker, the conversation could be in English for 30 minutes and then Spanish for 30 minutes, so both people get to practice their target language.After testing many language exchange  platforms, the mobile app  HelloTalk  stood out to me in particular.For me, what sets HelloTalk apart is the chat features (e.g. instant translation, voice-to-text recording, grammar correction, video and audio calls). Its language learning forum and huge user base (over 7 million members from all over the globe) also make it appealing.With the basic free plan, you can only communicate with learners of your native language and speakers of one target language. But if you get a pro subscription, which costs about $2 per month depending on length, youll be able to switch between multiple target languages.You may decide to chat in one language for a set period of time (say, a month) and then switch to another for the same period.To ensure I dont get ignored when I pitch prospective language partners, I usually include a hook in my first message. Heres one of the messages I recently sent to a language partner from the U.K.:Hi Jessica! They say an Englishman laughs three times at a  joke. The first time when everybody gets it, the second a week later when he thinks he gets it and the third time a month later when somebody explains it to him. Is this true?I only copied this joke from Reddit, but it was enough to leave a positive impression and win a new language partner.3. Watching Authentic Videos on FluentUDeveloping a native-level accent and comprehension skills is hard enough with one target language. How can you possibly achieve this for five separate languages?Fortunately, there are innovative online tools that make it totally possible. FluentU is one that I always recommend when my friends ask me how I le arn languages. FluentU will expose you to real-world videos, like movie clips, funny YouTube videos, news broadcasts and more, whichve been supercharged with interactive captions. Just click any word you dont recognize and youll get an in-context definition and native pronunciation.Each video also comes with flashcards and exercises to ensure that you retain the new words. Its an efficient and entertaining way to build your vocabulary, while absorbing your target languages the way they sound in real life.Best of all, its quick and easy to flip between multiple languages. Just select your language on the Settings page and FluentU will reload with the relevant videos. FluentU has videos in many Romance languages, Asian languages, English, German, Russian a polyglots paradise!4. Keeping a Language(s) JournalSince I set off on my language learning journey, Ive always kept a multilingual language diary to expand my vocabulary and improve my writing.My method consists of jotting down rand om words Ive learned throughout the day and then mixing them up to create a story, opinion or to capture an idea.Usually, I start off with English, then I translate the text into French and German.At the beginning, I was only capable of writing one to three sentences a day in each language, which sometimes has taken me up to an hour. But now, because I worked at this consistently, writing has turned out to be one of the easiest and most enjoyable daily language learning activities I do.In fact, I now  am able to write one to two pages of German, English or French text in just a few minutes.If you want to use this method, I highly recommend taking advantage of Google Translate (to translate idioms and words) or  Ludwig (to learn how to put words and expressions into context).Visual Thesaurus is another great tool for finding synonyms in English, German, Dutch, Italian, French or Spanish. Its especially useful for language learners because it creates animated, interactive word maps to show you how different synonyms are related.This is more memorable than a simple list of unfamiliar words that you get from a traditional thesaurus. You can even get the results displayed in multiple languages!5. Integrating Foreign Languages into My Day-to-day LifeIf you can make the move to regularly exposing yourself to a language’s vocabulary while going about daily tasks, chances are youll get them down pat more easily than with a textbook or grammar books.I first started integrating foreign languages into my day-to-day life using my devices. I changed the display language on my phone, computer, Facebook account and games I sometimes play. I also switched the language I used in my hobbies. For example, I watched YouTube travel vlogs in German.This can apply to you too. Whether you like watching football games, listening to podcasts, watching TV series or anything in between, you can always do those activities in one of your target languages.This technique is useful even if y oure only learning one languageâ€"applying it to learning five languages is very simple. Just head to your calendar and assign a different language to different weeks or months.  Because this learning technique is designed to give you an immersive language experience, its advisable to focus on one language for a set period of time.For example, I recently changed my email and Twitter languages to French, after Id used them in German for the last six months.Even though my language learning experience has totally improved important aspects of my life, I should admit that it wasnt all sunshine and rainbowsâ€"especially when I first started out.Therefore, if you also want to embark on a language learning journey, stay consistent and patient until you reach your target level.Stay fired up!Yassir Sahnoun  is a writer, polyglot and content strategist.  You can learn more about Yassir at  his website.

Advanced Language Lessons Unique as You Are 15 DIY Tips

Advanced Language Lessons Unique as You Are 15 DIY Tips Advanced Language Lessons Unique as You Are: 15 DIY Tips You may not have a horn.But that doesnt mean youre not a glorious unicorn!Each language student is as special and rare as the majestic mythical beast.But the one problem with being so magnificent is that you set your own standard.The  best ways to learn a language  for other people might not be the best ways for you.And that means you need lessons  as unique and unmatched as you are.This is especially true once you get into the advanced stage. Going forward, you can no longer just rely on the basics.You need to start becoming yourself in your target language.But how do you accomplish that?While some  advanced language lessons  may be too formulaic and textbooks may not address your specific needs and concerns, theres one surefire way for you to keep improving your skills: By  crafting your own customized advanced language lessons.With a little effort and attention to detail, you can create your own advanced lesson plan to nudge you that much closer to fluency.These language study tip s and tricks will help get you on the right path! Why Use Your Own Customized Advanced Language Lessons?Advanced students have more diverse skill sets, so one size does not fit all. All beginners start at the same point. However, as learners skills grow, theres much more variation in what they can do. By the time students complete  intermediate language lessons, even those who started learning a language together may have vastly different skills. This means that by the time you get to an advanced level, you may very well need more customized lessons.As an advanced student, you have a much clearer idea of your own skills and what you need to work on than lower level students, which makes  advanced self-study  an appealing option. You know what rules you feel comfortable with and what youre more nervous about, so you might as well address your own needs.With more advanced skills and more experience learning a language, youre also skilled enough to know what works for you. Some peopl e enjoy reading textbooks. Others learn by doing. By the time youve reached an advanced level, you know what language learning methods work for you, so you can easily apply them to your own customized lessons.Putting together your own lessons is also usually cheaper and more flexible than traditional study methods. Conventional advanced classes can get pricey and weigh you down with a set schedule you must strictly adhere to. Putting together your own lessons can save you valuable coin and keep your schedule flexible and fun.How to Get the Most Out of Your Customized Advanced Language LessonsDont worry, in a moment were going to get into how to actually create great low-cost, low-effort advanced language lessons for yourself. But first, here are some general tips that will help you get the most out of your customized coursework.Focus on filling in gaps in your education.As your skills have gotten more advanced, chances are, some skills have lagged behind. Maybe your classes didnt co ver them. Maybe you just struggle with them. Or maybe, you learned them so long ago you cant remember the exact details. Regardless of the cause of the gaps in your education, using your DIY advanced lessons to fill them will help ensure your skills are well rounded and ready for action.Aim for native-level proficiency.If youve been taking conventional language classes, theres a strong chance that you speak your target language like a student. However, now that youre an advanced student, your aim should be to move towards native-level proficiency. You should be able to understand the speech of native speakers. You should be able to use the words and phrasing natives would lose. And, you should aim to make your pronunciation much more like native speakers. The best thing you can do to move towards more native-level proficiency is by using authentic resources intended for native speakers.Get more specific.Rather than focusing on broad grammar and vocabulary, hone in on the nitpicky ru les and words that separate students from natives. For instance, perfect tricky conjugations and irregular verbs and learn to use them seamlessly in context. Fine-tuning the little details can take your skills to the next level.Get hip with the lingo.Its time to learn slang! Slang is one big area that usually separates native speakers from students. While your language lessons may have taught you some basic, common slang, learning a wider array of regional slang can expand your functional vocabulary and help you recognize commonly-used words that you might otherwise miss.Use FluentU.Since FluentU comes pre-loaded with video language lessons for all levels of learner, you might wonder why were mentioning it here. Well, first of all, its automatically personalized, so its a lazy way you can always get complete customized lessons as an advanced language student.Plus, FluentU is a fun way to add authentic resources to any advanced lesson plan, including any you come up with from the ide as below.FluentU uses real-world videosâ€"like movie trailers, news, informational talks, music videos and moreâ€"and converts them into powerful learning tools. Each video is captioned and the captions are annotated, so you can easily check any words definition, read example sentences and see an associated image.Want to change it up? Try quiz mode. In this mode, videos, example sentences and images are combined into activities and flashcards for an irresistibly interactive learning experience.Regardless of your skill level or how much time you have to commit, FluentU can work for you. Thats because you choose what you watch and for how long. Meanwhile, FluentUs algorithm tracks your learning to present you with level-appropriate questions that build on what you already know.Always have goals.Youve gotten pretty far in your language education; now is not the time to take your eye off the prize, so keep firm goals to drive your learning forward. Without clear goals, it can be temptin g to quit and assume youre already good enough at your target language. Youll never reach fluency that way!Advanced Language Lessons Unique as You Are: 15 DIY TipsVocabularyDevelop more specialized vocabulary based on your interests.As an advanced student, you probably already know a lot of the most common vocabulary words youll encounter. However, there are still plenty more vocabulary words to learn!One major vocabulary area you may not have fully explored is vocabulary based on your interests and plans. Learning terms related to things youre already interested in will not only expand your vocabulary, it will also provide you with words you might want to use in your personal and professional lives.For instance, if youre going into the medical field and youre studying Spanish, you might read a helpful book like Spanish for Healthcare Providers.Love movies? Learn more specific film terms. If youre studying French, you could check out a film website, like Cinéma français (French ci nema).As you go over materials in your target language, jot down vocabulary you want to learn. Then, you can use flashcard  resources to reinforce your new vocabulary. If you have FluentUs Plus plan, you can actually make your own customized flashcard sets and the program will automatically grab multimedia material to supplement your vocab list!Seek out sources for practicing targeted vocabulary in context.Consider what specific vocabulary youre studying and what sources might actively use that vocabulary. Then, seek out sources that are likely to use those words.For instance, if you want to practice industry- or interest-specific vocabulary, you can read trade or scholarly journals in your target language.  Spanish students can practice more advanced vocabulary with Spanish-language academic journals. German students can find specific, targeted vocabulary used in trade journals through Deutsche Fachpresse  (German Trade Press).Below, well give you more ideas for reading, writing, l istening and speaking activities that you can use for practicing vocabulary in context. Actually using the vocabulary youve learned will help reinforce it and prepare you to use it more seamlessly.GrammarHandle more complex ideas in reading and writing.Earlier levels of students often rephrase what they want to say to make it easier. Its a natural habit acquired through limited skill. After all, as a beginning or intermediate student, theres a lot you dont know how to say, and you have to adjust to accommodate this.However, advanced students need to break this habit to get a better handle on more advanced words and phrasing.At first, it might be best to practice this in low-pressure situations where youre not interacting with native speakers.You might even do it privately to see how it works out:1. Come up with the most complex sentence you can in English.2. Try to communicate the same idea in your target language. Jot down what you come up with.3. Check your work with an online tra nslator, your favorite language tutor or a friend whos a native speaker to see if it makes any sense.Determine which conjugation or grammar rules still require thought.For full fluency, you should be able to communicate without having to think about grammar rules. No one wants to pause mid-conversation to have a think break. Because of this, you should take a careful look at what rules you still struggle with and practice until these rules come naturally to you.One way to see what areas you might still be struggling with is by taking a language proficiency test. Transparent Language  offers free proficiency tests for an array of common languages. The tests examine grammar, vocabulary and reading. Most of the questions are fairly basic, but if you pay attention to the questions that take you the longest to answer, you might notice youre struggling with certain words, rules or conjugations. If you want a detailed breakdown of what you got right and what you got wrong, you can also hav e Transparent Language email you this information, giving you a more precise look at what you might be struggling with.Once you know what you need to work on, you can continue with the complex-sentence procedure above, putting the rules you need to focus on into practice.Have a tutor assess what specific skills or rules you should work on.Some issues are easy to notice. If you refuse to talk about what you did yesterday because of your phobia of past tense verbs, clearly thats a problem. However, some problems that advanced students have arent as obvious.To get a little extra direction on what specifically you should be working on, you might consider hiring a tutor. You could certainly take ongoing lessons in which the tutor also helps you correct your problems, but even a one-time session can help set you up for success. A good tutor can help you not only identify areas youre struggling with, but also give you personalized tips to improve.If you need help finding a tutor, you might check out some quality online tutor services, such as  italki. Not only does italki help you find available language tutors, but tutor accounts feature useful profiles that help you find someone you truly want to talk to.ReadingRead academic journal articles or abstracts.Up for a challenge only suitable for advanced students and beyond? Dive into academic literature. Its not only great for learning about a specific field or industry, as mentioned above, but it can be challenging to read in any language, so it will be a much greater challenge in your target language. Its a great way to strengthen advanced-level reading skills and prepare yourself in case you ever want to study abroad.If you only have a moment, you can just read an articles abstract, which is a brief summary of the findings. If youre feeling more ambitious, you can delve into the whole article (including detailed methodology and findings).You can access many materials for free on Google Scholar. To find works in your target language, all you have to do is search in your target language. For instance, if you search ?? (medicine), youll find dozens of article titles and quite a few full-length articles in Chinese.Read full novels in your target language.Novels, whether they were originally written in your target language or translated into it, are intended to entertain native speakers. However, for non-native speakers, they can be a fun and entertaining way to improve your reading skills.You can easily find novels in your target language on  Amazon. There are several ways to find the right novel for you.Many popular novels are translated into a wide array of world languages. For instance, you can find the Harry Potter series in countless languages, including Japanese,  Russian  and so many more.If authentic works are more your style, you might look up popular international authors and then look for works in the original language. For instance, you can easily find O Alquimista (The Alchemist) in t he original Portuguese.There are also filtering and search options that ostensibly allow you to filter by language, but these searches still sometimes yield English-language results, so it may be faster to go in with a specific book or author in mind.Read news articles in your target language.Reading the news in your target language is so much more than great reading practice. You can also stay up-to-date on the latest events all while learning relevant vocabulary.News coverage usually assumes the reader is at least somewhat well-educated, so its particularly good practice for advanced speakers. Plus, its a self-renewing resource, so youll never run out of learning material.One of the most reliable places to find multilingual content is BBC News. They offer articles in a variety of world languages, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.WritingInteract on message boards and social media websites in your target language.Message b oards and social media can give you both reading and writing practice with your target language. Plus, the language use is authentic and colloquial, preparing you to understand the language as its used in real life (even though you might not learn this version in most classes).One way to interact online is through country-specific subreddits on Reddit. There are subreddits for a huge array of countries, so it shouldnt be hard to find a subreddit for a country where your target language is spoken. While these subreddits may contain some English, they also usually feature a hefty dose of the local language.For example, there are subreddits that focus on France,  Italy, Mexico,  Russia  and other countries.Start a blog in your target language.Getting enough writing practice in your target language can be hard. However, if you start a blog, you can get plenty of writing practice without having to think too much about it. And once you get some readers, youll feel that much more obligated to keep posting (and therefore practicing) regularly.Blog about whatever you like. You could start a makeup blog, an entertainment blog or just a personal blog. Each blog would feature different vocabulary, so your goals (and imagination) can help you find the right topic for you. If you need a little help getting started, check out this guide on starting a blog.In summation, there are plenty of easy, affordable ways to start up your own blog, whether youre using WordPress, Blogger or Tumblr. Getting your first followers can be as simple as posting in the comments section of blogs you already read in your target language. You might even reach out to bloggers to see if theyd like you to write a guest post.Plus, once you get followers, theyll probably be happy to point out any errors for you. After all, an eagerness to correct people is the same across cultures! Luckily, when youre writing in your target language, these corrections are handy learning opportunities.SpeakingStart a You Tube channel in your target language.Like a blog in your target language can get you writing practice, your own YouTube channel can get you speaking practice.You can talk about life where you are, your favorite hobbies or whatever you like. Over time, you might even try engaging with viewers in the comments section for additional reading and writing practice.Do a podcast in your target language.As with YouTube, podcasts can help give you valuable speaking practice. However, unlike YouTube, making a podcast is also great for camera-shy learners.Again, any topics work when youre podcasting. Podcasts can focus on business, unsolved crimes or virtually any subject you can imagine. You might even try teaching your native language. The Podcast Host can walk you through how to start your own podcast, but getting started doesnt require too much work. You can record using programs already on your computer and post to iTunes for others to enjoy.ListeningDo a Netflix binge without subtitles.Th eres a strong chance that Netflix  has tons of awesome shows in your target language, so go ahead, find your next favorite show and binge away. But dont go too easy on yourself! Turn off those subtitles.Your main focus should be on comprehension rather than entertainment. At first, it will require focus to understand everything in your target language without subtitles, but this can help you transition towards full fluency. Part of why this works so well is that as you watch, youre likely to translate in your head less and less, instead understanding your target language itself rather than mere translations.But if theres a particularly challenging or fast segment, you can turn those subtitles back on for a moment. We wont tell anyone!Listen to audiobooks in your target language.Childrens stories can be fun. Short stories can fill in gaps in your schedule. But youre an advanced student nowâ€"try to delve into full-length adult audiobooks to practice your listening.Audible  offers ple nty of foreign language audiobooks. You can peruse non-English audiobooks before you even subscribe to see what sorts of options you might enjoy.Download the right audiobook before your next road trip or long flight, and youll jam-pack advanced language listening into your adventure.Watch news in your target language.Like reading news, watching news can be excellent language practice.The commentators usually speak clearly using standard language, but you may encounter challenging vocabulary that youre not yet familiar with.Again, BBC News  offers coverage in a number of different world languages, so its YouTube channel can be your go-to to watch news in Arabic, English, Portuguese or Russian.Spanish students might like the  Noticias Telemundo  YouTube channel for live coverage and a nice assortment of news videos, both new and old.With these ideas, you can craft advanced language lessons as unique and wonderful as you are.