Books on writing essays
Green Chemistry Examples
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Chemistry Tutor Jobs
Chemistry Tutor JobsYou may not have taken much interest in chemistry tutor jobs, but you should. It may seem easy to think about applying for these positions, as many online employers accept resumes with the right English skills.If you are out of a job you want to get back into and you can't afford to pay the teacher's salary back, this is a job that will help you get back on your feet. There are several places you can look for jobs like this, but I recommend visiting one of the local Charlotte NC offices of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This will give you a good idea of how many teachers there are in the state and they will give you the year salary for teachers.Look for job listings at the local Chamber of Commerce or talk to school administrators to see if they know of any openings. Not all Charlotte NC teachers are making a full time salary, so you may have to compete with other applicants for some positions.You might be wondering where you can find out more about teacher s in Charlotte NC, so why not ask your school district to post details about their teachers. You can also check with the colleges near you.A job like this is perfect for someone who is looking for a career change. It's a great way to improve your resume and make you money while learning. This is a wonderful opportunity for those who have taken an online chemistry class, and it can also be a great way to get back into teaching if you are a teacher or currently working at another job.Don't forget that this job has its challenges too. In order to make the best use of your time, the best thing you can do is to research all the different jobs available and work out what you are most interested in. If you are interested in becoming a teacher, this can be a great way to start out. So why not explore the possibilities of becoming a chemistry tutor, you may be surprised to find that it is something you can enjoy and succeed at.
Friday, March 6, 2020
The Best Places for Arabic Classes in Cardiff.
The Best Places for Arabic Classes in Cardiff. Want to Learn Arabic? Here are the Top Spots for Arabic Lessons in the Capital of Wales. ChaptersWhy Study Arabic?The Importance of Arabic Lessons.Best Opportunities for Learning Arabic in Cardiff.Take a guess. In Cardiff, which is the language most commonly spoken after English and Welsh? Itâs a bit of an easy one, isnât it? Yes, of course, it is Arabic!Whilst the numbers arenât huge â" weâre talking 1.1% of Cardiff residents who speak Arabic as their native language â" itâs quite an interesting figure. It bucks the trend across the rest of the UK, where, in general, the second language most commonly spoken is Polish.This is because of the communities of mainly Yemeni and Somali Arabs who came to our port city back in the nineteenth century. And after a century and half, they have come to call Cardiff their home too.Lucky you guys, we guess, because it makes Cardiff the perfect place to take Arabic language classes! With options to learn Arabic with a private tutor or in a formal Arabic language course, youâll be bowled over by the opportunities that Wales âs beautiful capital has in store.Take Arabic classes in Edinburgh or learn Arabic in Belfast! HalimaArabic Teacher £13/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KotaibaArabic Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SoledadArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NancyArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TaouesArabic Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DinaArabic Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AbrarArabic Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UsamaArabic Teacher 5.00 (1) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Study Arabic?You may well be asking, why would someone like me want to learn Arabic? And, honestly, like most questions, itâs a legitimate question to ask.Yet, it is worth stressing just how important a language Arabic is these days.The Importance of Arabic.With over four hundred million native speakers, it is one of the top six mo st widely spoken world languages.It is one of the official languages of the UN â" meaning that it is a global language of government â" and it is thought that it is going to be one of the top ten languages in the world that will be most influential for the UK in the coming century.As you can see, a lot is expected of Arabic in the coming years as a major international language. Some of the richest countries in the world are in the Arab world.The Influence of Arab Culture.And besides the growing influence of the Arabic language across the world, you might want to consider the things to which you would have access if you were to understand it.Arabic script, sure, is notoriously hard. Yet, having a greater understanding of this foreign language would open up all sorts of doors for you. From the beauty of Arabic poetry and Arab calligraphy to the historical contributions of the Arab world to science, medicine, and philosophy, classic Arabic learning has changed the way that people of the world think.It is worth noting that you can unlock so much merely by taking the time to learn other languages.Learn Arabic across the UK or find Arabic courses in London.The Benefits of Learning Languages.You have probably heard spoken of before the importance of learning languages. And weâre talking importance for you, as an individual and as a body.Because learning language s changes the way you think. It literally changes the way your brain works.Learning a new language can make you live longer. It can prevent the onset of Alzheimerâs and dementia. It makes you literally just cleverer, allowing a greater dexterity in your brain and a greater focus.And then you have all the benefits that your teachers probably told you in school. Employers love people who can speak a second language â" particularly in this ever-increasingly globalised world. You can communicate, make friends, and fall in love with millions more people if you can speak their language too.All in all, itâs a pretty good idea. Weâre endlessly surprised that more of us Brits donât do it.Find Arabic classes in Birmingham and Arabic courses in Glasgow. Learn how to read Arabic in CardiffThe Importance of Arabic Lessons.Yet, Arabic, in particular, is one of those languages that you canât really just pick up. Unlike the European languages â" which will probably be at least a little familiar to most people â" Arabic is probably going to be a little alien for you.Arabic letters, Arabic vocabulary, and the difficulties of Arabic pronunciation will all pose a challenge. And it is unlikely that youâll get through these challenges just by yourself.This is the importance of Arabic lessons then. A good teacher will walk you through all of these struggles, ironing out the creases in your reading, your speaking, and your understanding.And, when the going gets tough, theyâll remind you that it is all worth the effort in the long run.Best Opportunities for Learning Arabic in Cardiff.So, here are some of the best places in which you can learn Arabic in Cardiff.There are a range of options â" but this is only because there are a range of different types of learner in the world too.Whichever you pick, there is no right way to learn. Just make sure, before you take the plunge, that the course or tutor youâve found feels right for you.Take a Part-Time Arabic Course at the University of Cardiff.Unfortunately, the University of Cardiff does not yet offer the opportunity to study Arabic to degree level â" even though it boasts quite an impressive languages department.What it does do, however, is run regular part-time courses for adults who want to start out in their journey into a new language.This includes Arabic, and the classes run in parallel to the Universityâs academic term time. So, you can start in September, January, and sometimes April.The silver lining to the lack of an Arabic degree is the fact that you wonât be required to sit any examinations. What you will have instead is fun, social, and interactive classes focusing on the Arab script, reading and writing in Arabic, and speaking about the basic Arab ic features you might need: numbers, greetings, and descriptions of yourself.It is an entry-level â" complete beginner â" Arabic course. And, as a result, you wonât be flailing around in Arabic grammar or exploring the depths of Arabic literature. Rather, youâll be focusing on managing to talk to Arabic speakers, when â" say â" you are in the Arab world on holiday. Welcome to the world of Arabic!Find a Private Arabic Tutor with Superprof.If you are studying Arabic at a different university and want a helping hand during holidays â" or you are seeking to learn the language from scratch or to just brush up on your language skills â" you might find that the best option for you is private Arabic language instruction.At Superprof, we pride ourselves on hosting a global community of passionate private tutors and enthusiastic students like you â" whom we connect through our online platform. Through Superprof, over eight million teachers guide students in over a thousand subjects across the world.You can have lessons at your home, at your tutorâs home, or have language lessons online. In any case, you will find a tutor who is committed, professional, and friendly â" and guaranteed to improve your fluency and your knowledge of Arab culture.We have three tutors available for private tuition in Cardiff. And itâs about time you got in touch!Choose from the Arabic Courses at the Fayza Arabic Centre.One of the great institutions that Cardiff boasts is the Fayza Arabic Centre, a dedicated place for learning Arabic. Besides translation, interpretation, and a bit of cultural advocacy, Fayza is entirely set up to teach people of all ages this most important of languages.Among the language courses that they offer, from the centre in Cathays, are classes in Modern Standard Arabic, GCSE Arabic language training, and language programs for those who are just seeking a basic knowledge of Arabic.The classes are entirely tailored to your specific needs in language learning â" and youâll find yourself speaking Arabic in no time at all.Try Conversational Arabic Meet Ups with My Language Exchange.For those of you who donât necessarily want formal face-to-face tuition, the world these days is full of novel ways of becoming fluent in a different language and culture.One of these is the conversation class â" or the âlanguage meet upâ a s they are often called â" which sits you down with a native speaker for the sole purpose of developing your own spoken language.The point of these is entirely communicative. You wonât necessarily be looking at the Arabic alphabet, or Arabic writing at all. Youâll rather focus on becoming more proficient in Arabic speaking.My Language Exchange is a platform that organises such meet-ups, and there are many people involved in Cardiff. Itâs a really important initiative â" social, challenging, and mutually supportive â" and it will help your spoken Arabic no end.Learn Arabic for Business in Cardiff with the UK Language Project.One of the things about Arabic is that it is an increasingly important language for business, international relations, and commerce.This means that, if you are a businessperson hoping to take your organisation worldwide, you might want to train your staff in the art of speaking Arabic.Luckily enough, there are plenty of organisations offering language pr ogrammes to corporations. And one of these is the UK Language Project.Across most of the UKâs major cities, the UKLP has been working with businesses and individuals for ages. And, in Cardiff, they are based on the Newport Road.So, whether you are the managing director of a company with global ambitions, or an employee who has been tasked with finding a language school for the business, you should consider the UKLP.Try Arabic lessons in Leeds or Arabic tuition in Manchester.
Importance of Emotional Intelligence
Importance of Emotional Intelligence You may have heard how important emotional intelligence is for students as they navigate school, but what is emotional intelligence? Simply put, it involves the ability to understand ones own feelings as well as the emotions of others. Children and teens with high emotional intelligence tend to be more mature and responsible. Here are some of the other reasons children need emotional intelligence: To be able to relate to their peers better. The ability to understand, communicate and work with others effectively will benefit children tremendously. To learn to read social situations. Knowing how to read social cues and body language is a life skill many of us take for granted. Children who are more emotionally intelligent are adept at reacting and responding to others in different scenarios. To foster responsible decision-making. With emotional intelligence comes the ability to make decisions thoughtfully and learn from those decisions by weighing consequences and how different actions can impact different people. To become more skilled at tackling problems. When people are emotionally intelligent, they have greater empathy for others perspectives and can more easily resolve conflicts. Theyre also able to solve problems methodically and thoroughly. To build leadership competencies. The world needs great leaders and emotional intelligence is an essential trait of a great leader. These individuals are good at building relationships based on trust and mutual respect. They listen well and know how to make others comfortable enough to share their ideas and input. Because they are skilled at relating to people, they are also good at building teams and motivating others. So, how can you work on raising an emotionally intelligent child? Here are several tips: Help your child develop his self-awareness. Encourage your child to be more mindful and more willing to take note of his emotions, good or bad, and talk and think through those feelings. Invite conversation. Encourage self-reflection. Nurture the development of good friendships. Children should recognize the difference between healthy and unhealthy friendships. Teach your child what to expect of all friendships and how to be a respectful, encouraging friend to others. Build your childs confidence. To cultivate emotional intelligence, help your child become comfortable with who he is and the decisions he makes in life. Help your child think critically. Because emotional intelligence is all about recognizing ones emotions and reactions and those of others, it also requires trusting ones feelings and conclusions about different people and situations. Make sure your child feels empowered to use his perspectives to make decisions. Teach self-regard for strengths and weaknesses. Theres great value in acceptance. Teach your child to be realistic about who he is and confident enough to believe he can improve on those weaker areas. Its a fact: students who possess emotional intelligence often outperform their peers. Teach your child to develop his and you will set him up for success in all aspects of life. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader.Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com.
Thursday, March 5, 2020
English Expressions Connected with Theatre - Learn English with Harry ????
English Expressions Connected with Theatre - Learn English with Harry ???? A trip (visit) to the theatre or cinema is always a welcome event. A visit to the theatre is a less common than a trip to the cinema for most of us. Here are some English words and expressions connected with a night at the theatre.We usually plan a visit to the theatre well in advance (several weeks or months) as tickets sell out (fully booked) quickly. Good shows (the theatre performance) are advertised many months in advance and you have to be quick off the mark (react quickly) to get your tickets. Online booking makes it a lot easier now so you avoid lengthy periods of time in a queue. However, if you apply for (to reserve) the tickets through a booking agent you get hit with (have to pay) an agents fee in addition to the ticket fee. English Expressions connected with Theatre Ticket prices will vary depending on where you wish to sit in the theatre. You can sit in the stalls (usually ground level) or in the circle (upper level) or if you do not mind the price you can also reserve a box for you (private rooms to the left and right of the stage) and your guests. Opening night (first performance) usually costs more but people like the thrill of the first night performance. Often some well known celebrities may attend the opening night so you get to rub shoulders with (be next to) them!The atmosphere is great and there is a real buzz (excitement) until the curtain rises and the actors appear on the stage. There is usually an interval in most performances and it is nice to be able to sip (to drink slowly) a cocktail during the interval and discuss the first part of the play. When the play ends the cast (actors and actresses) appear on the stage together and take a bow (acknowledge the audiences appreciation). There are often cries of encore (again, aga in) and much clapping and cheering. The leading actor/actress will usually get the most applause or even a standing ovation (everyone in the audience is on their feet clapping and cheering). So a little different than a night at the cinema but without the popcorn! English Vocabulary about Theatre Enjoyed this infographic? Hereâs what you can do next:Share on vk VK Share on twitter Twitter Share on linkedin LinkedIn Facebook English Idioms connected with Theatre Here are a few English idioms connected to the theatre: TO WAIT IN THE WINGSThe wings are situated on the left and right of the stage. Here the actors wait to take their part. They enter and exit using these wings. However, we can use this expression to indicate when somebody is going to get their opportunity to perform.ex. Philip had been working for his father for many years but did not make any important decisions. He did however know the business very well. When his father became seriously ill he had to take over. There was no problem as he had been waiting in the wings for many years waiting for the opportunity to show what he could do.A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOWWhen someone is very good at their job but is about to retire or move elsewhere we refer to them as a tough act (a good performer) and they will be a tough act to follow for whoever takes their place.ex. The manager of the football team had been in charge for 10 years. They had won everything. The won the cup several times and the league on more than one occasion. He deci ded to retire. He was a tough act to follow for which ever manager was appointed in his place. THE SHOW MUST GO ONNo matter what happens in show business they always perform. If someone is sick they have an understudy (a replacement ready). If the theatre goes on fire (burns down) they move to a new location. This is what we mean by the show must go on.ex. The leading actress had played this role for 5 years in the West end of London. She was everyoneâs favourite. However, one weekend she was very ill and could not perform. Her understudy who knew all the lines had to step in (replace her). No matter what the show must go on.TO BE OUT OF STEPA step is part of a dance routine. To be out of step means that you are not in time with the music or that you are not keeping up with the other dancers. We can say somebody is out of step when they do something different than everyone else.ex. Michael was a bit of a rebel at school. He was always out of step with the other students. When they wore the uniform he refused. When they wanted to play rugby he wanted to play footba ll. This continued into his adult life. He was always out of step with everyone. He liked to be different.
Entrance exam preparation
Entrance exam preparation Those who have gone back to school for their final year will already be thinking about what comes next, with some pupils facing the rigours of entrance exams or coursework submission for secondary school and university places. When submitting coursework as part of an application, the student and tutor should work together to choose the best examples of work from the previous year. Nothing should be written solely for the application as universities want to see natural potential. However, it is acceptable to 'tidy up' the document, removing minor typos, grammatical errors etc. which may have been missed the first time around. For entrance exams it is important that students remember the same rule applies - schools look for potential, not present ability. If pupils were already perfect, there would be very little point in continuing with education. Devise an entrance exam revision plan, in that same way that you would for any other exam. Most importantly, make sure you stick to it - this also helps identify and improve on any weak points. The school's selection criteria should be identified. This is especially relevant if the student is applying for a scholarship. This knowledge will help to create a strongly targeted and concise study plan, increasing the chances of success. Do enlist the help of a private tutor to help with exam preparation and revision. Home tutors are usually more than happy to advise and assist those students who are bright enough to consider sitting these non-compulsory exams. As well as mental preparation, it is important to prepare physically as well. A good night's sleep, healthy diet and exercise will all come together to ensure any student is as prepared as it's possible to be.
The 6 Most Bingeable Language Learning Roku Channels
The 6 Most Bingeable Language Learning Roku Channels The 6 Most Bingeable Language Learning Roku Channels Watching stuff on Roku is entertaining but not always productive.Studying a language is productive but not always entertaining.But what if you want it both ways?Cant we have our fun and get fluent, too?Luckily, learning a language on Roku will help you do just that.The right Roku channels can give you essential language training with the click of the remote. Many of them offer highly immersive learning experiences all from your TV roomâ"and many are even free.These six Roku channels will give you all the material you need to turn your TV into your new favorite learning device! Why Learn a Language on Roku?First, learning a language on Roku is convenient. Roku is a handheld, portable device, so you can use it to turn any TV into a language learning tool. Youll instantly gain the benefits of learning a foreign language at home (or at your parents house, an AirBnB, an empty waiting room, you name it).And its a very affordable little gadget!Plus, learning a language on Roku is more fun and relaxing than learning through many other methods. No need for an office, desk and set of pencils. Youll be learning while watching TV and movies, maybe from your favorite couch with a cup of tea in hand.Since youll be comfortable and entertained, your motivation to keep learning will go up.Finally, Roku offers diverse learning techniques. There are specific resources for language learners, but there are also resources that can hook you up with authentic international content. With these international options, youll hear your target language in many different, entertaining contexts.This is the same idea behind FluentU, another great option for fun language learning. Like Roku, FluentU hooks you up with real-world target language videos (like movie and TV clips, music videos, inspiring talks and more).Better yet, each video is organized by level and comes with interactive captions, flashcards and exercises, so youre actively building your vocabulary while you watch.Being a c ouch potato is starting to sound pretty smart, isnt it?The 6 Most Bingeable Language Learning Roku ChannelsInnovative LanguageInnovative Languages Roku channel offers lessons that incorporate cultural information, grammar, popular vocabulary and more. Each lesson features conversations to illustrate key rules and phrases.Plus, lessons are delivered by native speakers to give you a more authentic experience.With over 40 hours of content per language, Innovative Language is appropriate for all levels of language learner and aims to get even beginning learners speaking within minutes.The Roku channel offers lessons for 30 different languages, including popular options like Chinese, French, German and Japanese, along with less common options like Cantonese, Finnish and Polish.For $0.99 a month, youll have access to one language. Aspiring polyglot? For $3.99 per month, you can access material for all the languages.If you like this Roku channel, you can keep learning even when youre away from your TV. Innovative Language also has a series of popular audio and video podcasts for targeted language learning.The team is always churning out new lessonsâ"there are already more than 1,000 available on their SpanishPod101 and ChineseClass101 apps, among several others. They also offer PDF lesson notes and access to a worldwide language community for a varied, immersive learning experience.Just try not to get in too deep all at onceâ"its important to sleep every few days.Little PimLittle Pim is a popular language learning system for children and anyone with a childlike sensibility.Since Little Pim is meant to be a convenient option, it should come as no surprise that in addition to apps, CDs, DVDs, flashcards and books, Little Pim also offers a Roku channel.Designed for beginning students, Little Pim uses spaced repetition to teach key words and phrases at the optimal moment, making memorization easier and faster. Words are presented with associated images and animations to help learners connect the word or phrase with its meaning.Additionally, children are featured in many videos, which is engaging for kid learners and adorable for adult learners.There are a dozen popular languages offered.NetflixIf you like TV and movies, chances are that the very word Netflix fills you with an overwhelming sense of joy and contentment.And not only can Netflix fill the extra hours you have each day, it can also help you learn a language. Thats because Netflix offers tons of international movies and TV.To browse, all you have to do is select the International category and go to town. Otherwise, you can search your target language and browse from there. Once you watch one foreign-language program, Netflix will start suggesting plenty more, so youll never lack for options.For instance, Spanish learners will love compulsively viewable TV series, like El barco (The Boat) and El internado (The Boarding School), though you may get a little paranoid that someone is out to get you. Netflix is even producing original Spanish-language content now, including Club de cuervos (Club of Crows) and Las chicas del cable (Cable Girls).For French students, TV shows like Les témoins (Witnesses) provide handy language practice. Netflix also has an original French series, Dix pour cent (Call My Agent!).There are plenty of options for other languages, too. For instance, language students might dive into the German TV show Der gleiche Himmel (The Same Sky), the Chinese movie ?????? (Secret) or popular Japanese anime like ????????? ?????? (Pokémon: XY).Plus, Netflix offers fairly flexible captioning on Roku. By going to the options menu, you can choose to eliminate captions or set captions to English or your target language.This way, you can practice listening without assistance, enjoy your favorite international entertainment with English-language support or listen in your target language while being able to refer back to the printed words.Amazon Prime V ideoAmazon offers some free international content for any Prime subscriber, so if youre a sucker for free two-day shipping, you can also go ahead and enjoy some language learning on your Roku.While Amazons international selection isnt huge, it does have a few quality options. You can find them by browsing the foreign movies or foreign TV categories.Amazon Prime is particularly friendly to Russian learnersâ"one TV show to get started with is ????????? (Ekaterina).While the selection isnt as vast as Netflixs, Amazon does offer some unique choices you wont find elsewhere.HuluHulu may not have a lot for language learners on Roku, but it does have some nice options that you might want to consider.You can browse using the international TV and international movie categories. Unfortunately, these categories arent consistently browseable without an existing subscription.Hulu is perhaps best suited for anyone interested in Asian languages, since it offers a decent selection of material in Chinese, Japanese and Korean.For Chinese students, there are options like ???? (Shaolin Soccer). Japanese students can enjoy movies like ?????? (13 Assassins). Meanwhile, Korean learners might like ?? (The Host).French learners might like the TV series Engrenages (Spiral).If youre interested in Scandinavian languages, you might like the TV show Bron/Broen (The Bridge), which is in Danish and Swedish.YouTubeYouTube is everyones favorite free source of kitten videos and makeup tutorials. But YouTube is so much more than that for language learners on Roku!YouTube has videos on virtually any language you can possibly think of and some you could never imagine. For instance, if youre looking for a little !Xóõ listening practice, YouTube is there for you, though trying to replicate the sounds could literally give you a lump in your throat.But between the free grammar lessons, vocabulary lists and authentic material, YouTube is a language learners dream come true!Make heavy use of t he search barâ"just type in your target language plus the topic youre hoping to learn, or even broader keywords like grammar lesson or for beginners. You can also search for your hobbies or areas of interest with search terms in your target language for fun, free authentic content.Bonus: An International Roku Channel in Your Target LanguageThis isnt just one channel: its a bunch.Thats because there are quite a few international Roku channels that focus on providing content from one specific region. You can select a region where your target language is spoken, download a channel that focuses on that region and enjoy learning material.For instance, learning Chinese, Japanese or Korean? Try DramaFever. Spanish more your speed? Chile TV en Vivo (Chile Live TV) might be right up your alley.Learning a language doesnt need to feel like youre swimming upstream. With these Roku channels, youll be streaming your way to fluency in no time!And One More ThingIf youve made it this far, youre p robably pretty interested in video learning (and with good reason, its awesome!).So we thought wed offer you a more detailed look at FluentU.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ"the same way that natives speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, including movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive Transcripts You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word youâre learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that youâre learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.
How to Unleash Your Mind Power 5 Ways to Learn Any Language with a Growth Mindset
How to Unleash Your Mind Power 5 Ways to Learn Any Language with a Growth Mindset You can learn any language.There, I said it.How can I make such a bold claim, without knowing you personally?Because I know you have thoughts.And by using your thoughts to develop a growth mindset, you can absolutely learn a foreign language.Yes, even if youve never learned a language before or if you think your memory isnt the sharpest.And for those of you who have been learning languages steadily for some time now, if this is the first youve heard of a growth mindset, prepare to be amazed.Ive taken the five main elements of a growth mindset and applied them to language learning, sharing specific actions you can take today for incredible results. Are you ready to redesign your mind? What Is a Growth Mindset?You might not have seen the name Carol Dweck before now, but this world-renowned Stanford University psychology professor is a bit of a celebrity in the field of motivation. She has spent decades studying why people succeed, and that research is what led to her r evolutionary discovery of mindsetsâ"which well be using to succeed in learning a language.In her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Dweck explains that there are two contrasting mindsets people may have: fixed and growth. While this isnt a black-and-white situationâ"you probably fall somewhere on a scale between the two, depending on the situationâ"were going to look at them individually to better understand each.People with a fixed mindset are concerned with judgement, afraid of failure and cannot self-correct. They generally stick to what theyre good at so that others will view them as successful, and they think intelligence is somewhat fixed.People with a growth mindset see value in improving and learning, love challenges, self-correct and believe in effort. Theyre not afraid to make mistakes while trying something new, as they know thats simply whats necessary when you learn by doing. They agree you can significantly change how intelligent you are, at any point in time.Not only will a growth mindset help you learn new skills and overcome setbacks in any area of your life, but its also the key to learning a foreign language, as youll see in the five tips below.How to Unleash Your Mind Power: 5 Ways to Learn Any Language with a Growth Mindset1. Change Your Inner DialogueDepending on where you currently fall on the fixed/growth mindset scale, acquiring a growth mindset can be a big change, and will require development. Youll literally need to change the way you think, and I have some action items below which will help you do this.But bear with me here, because this step is vital to learning a foreign language. Dweck writes in her book:The view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life.Its equally true that the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects how well you learn a language. So, how should you think of yourself with a growth mindset? First, no more I cant ~ or Im so bad at ~ statements. While it is i mportant to be able to identify your weaknesses (as well see in #5), the language you use to pinpoint these matters.Then, we need to eliminate fear of failure, and furthermore, the idea of failure altogether. Especially in todays society with pristine profiles, photos, websites and online portfolios plastered all over the Internet, many of us have this false idea that anything less than perfect is failure.What you usually dont see online is the behind the scenesâ"the grit, effort (and mistakes!) it took to get there. Being imperfect is not failure; its perfectly natural. And when you begin learning a new language, theres a ton you wont know. Thats because youve just started learning!When theres a lot you dont know, youre going to make mistakes, youre going to feel unsure and youre going to have questions. This is how you acquire new knowledge and abilities.People with a growth mindset understand to their core that qualities can be cultivated; youre not born with it. By putting in continual effort and following the four tips to come, you can learn a foreign language. Take your focus away from success/failure, and place it on the learning.Heres an example of how you might change your thoughts:Fixed mindset: Im so bad at Chinese; people never understand me and I can never remember the words for what I want to say!Growth mindset: Today people had some trouble understanding me, so Im going to work on my pronunciation with my language partner. It may be hard for me to remember words right now, but I will study with FluentU to improve over time.I highly recommend reading Mindset to help you develop this type of thinking, but here are three actions you can do which will also set you on the growth mindset path.Actions to change your inner thoughts:Create inspirational quotes: Find some relevant quotes in English (such as any of these, these or these) and translate them into your target language. If youre not a beginner, go ahead and search for the quotes directly in your target language, skipping the translation process. Write them out by hand on notecards and post them up in your room. Put one on the bathroom mirror and read it aloud every morning and night, and bring a few more quotes (or copies) to work. Change your phone and computer backgrounds to one of these quotes. Read it again and again, and youll actually begin to change your thinking.Identify worry/fears: To help overcome any fears of failure or leaving your comfort zone (#2), I recommend using Dale Carnegies method to overcome worry from his lovely book How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. For any situation that makes you uneasy, ask yourself, Whats the worst that could possibly happen? Mentally picture the worst that might happen, and write it down. Then, accept the worst (pretend thats what has happened), and try to improve on it.Stop comparing: You can gain awesome motivation and tips from polyglot stars, but dont let yourself into the comparing trap (i.e., Ill never be li ke him, But she went to an immersion high school!, etc.) Be on the lookout for comparingâ"especially when browsing social media or interacting with fellow language learners in your class or at language exchanges. You need to catch yourself in the act, and then change your internal dialogue. The next time you come across someone with a higher skill level in your target language, rather than compare, ask them for advice! Remember, they were once at your exact level.2. Push Outside of Your Comfort ZoneAnother big characteristic of people with a growth mindset is that they push beyond their comfort zone. Pushing beyond this zone will feel, well, uncomfortable!â"but its necessary to gain new skills, like speaking a foreign language.If you want something to become easy and familiar, you have to do it over and over; you cant avoid it. Our natural hesitancy, however, is to stick to the comfortable. To remind me to watch out for this tendency, I have a quote up in my room that says:Choose growth over comfort.Any time Im hesitant to make a phone call in French, for example, those four words remind me that being uncomfortable or nervous for the duration of a quick phone call will only help me become more at ease in the long run. The more I do it, the less of a big deal it will seem.If youre just starting out learning a language, youll soon become comfortable with the present tense, or some basic words when speaking and writing. Its a lot easier to say I went than to learn and use a more accurate description such as I fled, I drove, I set off, I moseyed on over, etc. Our third action item below will help you get past this very language comfort.Another phrase to remember is Start before youre ready.So many people unfortunately take away their own opportunities to learn by thinking they arent ready. Im not good enough for a conversation partner, I couldnt understand a movie or I cant order from an all-Chinese menu are all thoughts that will prevent you from improving.Ag ain, its doing the actions that will make you ready, or rather, allow you to progress. The sooner you jump in and leave your comfort zone, the sooner that zone will expand to where youve gone.Dont forget that you can also push outside of your comfort zone when it comes to learning methods. Maybe youve been sticking to homework assigned in your language class, or to one favorite language learning app, for example. Expand your learning tools and give some new methods a try.Actions to push your comfort zone:Go to a language exchange: Go to a language exchange or have a video call with a native speaker before youre ready. If youve never done this before, now is the time. If youre nervous, know that all of the other language learners were once in your exact shoes; they had to start somewhere. Prepare a quick intro and a few questions ahead of time, so that you have somewhere to start. Remind yourself throughout that its all a learning experience.Make calls on G+: Every two weeks, load up $5 on Google Hangouts, call a business/hotel/restaurant/university somewhere in the world where your target language is spoken and ask them some basic questions. Even if its your first month of language learning, you can do this! The distance and triviality of the call should make you much calmer and relaxed. Make several calls during a single session, and feel free to choose a target topic/phrases each week to focus the calls.Eliminate five: Choose five foreign words that you use most frequently (i.e., good, bad, go, etc.). For the next week, youre not allowed to say or write these words. Instead, look up synonyms before the week begins, and carry them around with you. You could do a week of adjectives, another week of five verbs, etc. If you arent using your target language that frequently, feel free to extend the ban to several weeks or a monthâ"though we recommend increasing your frequency too!Block sites: Use a free site blocker (like this Chrome extension) to blo ck your regular news site and delete any news apps you might have in your native language from your devices. Replace it with a news site in your target language by adding it to your browsers favorites bar and downloading any apps. For the next three weeks, every time you want to check the news, use the site in your target language.Have a weekly hour of attack: Keep a running list of the hardest/scariest/most confusing topics for you right now. If you were an English learner, for example, topics might include if clauses, who vs. whom, take vs. bring or how to ask questions. Spend one hour each week investigating these topics in-depth. (Feel free to break this into two half-hour sessions, by the way.) Start with the first topic on your list and look up various explanations of the concept (blog posts, websites, workbooks, etc.). Ask a tutor or teacher for help if its still unclear after referencing a variety of sources.Then, look for usage examples in various media (podcasts, sho ws, FluentU clips, magazines, etc.). Finally, bring together all youve learned into an ultimate resource on the topic. I make a rough draft on printing paper as I collect information, and then neatly write the final page of notes in a notebook used just for this purpose. You might end up spending several weeks (aka several hours) on a single concept. The goal is to know the topic so well that you could teach someone else, and your final page of notes will be a great tool for reference and review.While Ive personally only used this technique with tricky grammatical topics (after all, those are often the scary topics we want to avoid), you can certainly adapt it for themes as well. You might explore broad themes like home and weather, or more specific topics like a current event, ordering food at a restaurant or writing an email.3. Pursue Your CuriositiesPeople with a growth mindset plunge in wholeheartedly, because they have a genuine desire to know more. Perhaps the language it self is a huge curiosity for you, but more likely you can pair another interest with your target language to authentically get pulled in.Julia Childs account of learning to cook French cuisine in her delightful book My Life in France is absolutely fascinating. At the age of 37, upon moving overseas to Paris for her husbands job, she became so curious about and interested in French cuisine that it ended up shaping the rest of her life.It was speaking with the vendors at the local markets and with chefs at restaurants that helped her French to progress. She wanted to know more about the foods and their preparation, so she needed the language to find answers. Here are two quotes from the book that show just how strong Julias passion was for French cuisine:One of the things I loved about French cooking was the way that basic themes could be made in a seemingly infinite number of variations I wanted to try them all, and I did. I learned how to do things professionally, like how to fix properly a piece of fish in thirteen different ways, or how to use the specialized vocabulary of the kitchenâ"petits dés are vegetables diced quite finely; a douille is the tin nozzle of a pastry pan that lets you squeeze a cake decoration as the icing blurps out.When I wasnt at school, I was experimenting at home, and became a bit of a Mad Scientist. I did hours of research on mayonnaise, for instance, and although no one else seemed to care about it, I thought it was utterly fascinating.Julia admits that she made so much mayonnaise during that phase of experimentation that she and her husband could hardly stand to eat it anymore, so she actually started dumping batches down the toilet! What a shame, writes Julia, But in this way I had finally discovered a foolproof recipe, which was glory! Clearly Julia was propelled forward by the desire to know more about French cuisine.Some interests may align strongly with a languages culture, but definitely dont limit yourself to cooki ng in French, dancing tango in Spanish or doing taekwondo in Korean, for example.Actions to pursue your curiosities:Use Google or Wikipedia to look up curiosities: Often, when I have a small curiosity to learn about something, Ill do a quick search on Google or Wikipedia to learn a bit about it. Im assuming you probably do the same. So for one week each month, do every single Google and Wikipedia search in your target language. For that week, you could change your Google location to a country where your target language is spoken (heres how to do that). Or, you can change your home page to the Google domain of a country that speaks your target language (e.g., www.google.co.jp is Japans Google domain). Heres a list of Google domains. On Wikipedia, the language settings are on the left-side panel.Start a passion project: Start a focused project exploring something youre excited about. This is something youd do in your free time purely out of interest and pleasure. Today, the term pas sion project is often equated with a small side business, but generating income is not what were aiming to do here. For a quick non-language-related example, Sarah Coyne loves national parks, sending snail mail and painting, so she began a personal project called Post for the Parksâ"which uniquely combines all three interests.Here are some ideas for your project: writing a childrens book in your target language, interviewing immigrants (or natives of another countryâ"dont forget you can do Skype interviews too!) about a topic of your choice, making a calendar in your target language tracking an event (political, historical, current, science, etc.) or composing a song with lyrics in your target language. For more ideas, consider tweaking one of these school project ideas to involve your target language and interests.4. Take On Challenges That Will Stretch YouA fourth quality of people with a growth mindset is that they wont shy away from a hearty challenge. In this instance, I m using the word challenge to signify an undertaking that should be quite difficultâ"think 48 Hour Film Project, Tough Mudder or The Big Moment (Anyone else remember that 90s TV show?).So ideally there should be a hard deadline, a shorter timeline (from two days to three months), and it should feel like a sprint. Its not something you could do all the time, such as Study 10 minutes every day this month. Rather, this is on top of your regular language practice time.Make sure your challenge lines up with your learning objectives. For example, if youre learning German in order to read original works of German philosophers, a speaking challenge clearly wont be the best way for you to get there.Once youve chosen your challenge and start date, begin telling all of your friends and family about it. This will help hold you accountable. You might even find someone who wants to do the challenge with you, which would be excellent for accountability! Share your progress throughout the ch allenge so you dont lose steam.Like the passion project, your challenges could take on many shapes and sizes (and should be interesting to you), but here are a few ideas to get you started.Possible challenges to take on:1000 Words Challenge: If youre a total beginner, try the 1000 Words Challenge, created by Vocab Express in association with Oxford University Press. You get a free account with a simple registration (email, username, password), which lasts the duration of the 1000 Words campaign. The current languages offered in this particular platform are French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese and Arabic. Vocab Express has organized the 1000 words by category, and it teaches you the vocab through various learn modes and tracks how much youve learned. Youll have to give yourself your own deadline, though. How about three months?Add1Challenge: The Add1Challenge was designed specifically for language learners. The goal is to hold a 15-minute conversation with a native speaker in 90 daysâ"even if youre starting from zero. The challenge is for serious participants only, as you must pay 97 USD to join the community. Whats more, if you dont submit a required video by the deadline, for example, youll be removed from the Facebook groupâ"no refund. But if youre all in, the support from the community and structure of this challenge can produce incredible results.Ignite presentation: Igniteâ"whose tagline is Enlighten us, but make it quickâ"is a type of presentation where you have 20 slides, which automatically change every 15 seconds. That means you have 5 minutes to give the presentation. For a language challenge, prepare and give an Ignite presentation in your target language about something important to you. Due to the automatic advancement of the slides, youll have to practice to get your timing rightâ"so those repetitions will be great for getting comfortable in your target language. Choose a specific deadline thats honest ly challenging for you. Olivia Mitchell, who prepared her first Ignite presentation in 3 hours, shares her tips for speedy preparation here.5. Examine Yourself and Self-correctThe final major quality of people with a growth mindset is that they regularly examine themselves and confront the truthâ"good or badâ"to self-correct. If you dont know whats not working, how can you fix it?We said earlier that you should eliminate negative language from your internal dialogue (i.e., I cant ~), but positive, talent-based praise is also a slippery slope. If you repeatedly tell yourself Im so good at vocabulary, a fixed mindset would want to prove that statement true, which makes it hard to admit when something needs attention. (A better praise, by the way, would be one that praises effortâ"not abilityâ"such as, Im working so hard to learn this vocabulary. Gold star for me!)Since people with a growth mindset know its effort that produces results, and arent afraid to be seen as faili ng, they more accurately assess their progress, strengths and weaknesses. Regularly assessing your language-learning progress from day one will allow you to spend your study time more efficiently, working on what actually needs the most attention. This, in turn, will drastically speed you closer to your goals.Keep in mind that youll want to measure both your language skills and your language-learning methods. Maybe youve been listening to podcasts for Japanese learners every day on your way to work, but youre often distracted by the traffic and havent held on to a single phrase that was taught. Taking the time to stop and reflect on your methods will allow you to realize something needs to changeâ"perhaps you should listen to Japanese music on the way to work instead, and listen to the podcast in the evening with a transcript in front of you, for example.Actions to examine yourself and self-correct:Set specific goals: In order to examine your progress, the first step is to know where youre headed. Sit down for 15 minutes and write down your language goals. Use this guide to set effective language-learning goals, and you can download a free goal planning sheet here made specifically for language learners by Lindsay Does Languages. The worksheet is great because in addition to your goals, it has you pinpoint exactly how youll measure your progress. You might end up inventing some sorts of tests so that you can track hard numbers/documentation, to see change over time. (I record a video of myself speaking unscripted in French for about 5 minutes each month as one of my ways to measure progress, for example.)Have monthly check-ins: Check in at least monthly. Block off 15 minutes at the end of each month by writing it in your planner or scheduling it on a calendar app. A good time to do this scheduling is right once youve finished your goal setting; go ahead and pencil them in for the next 6 to 12 months. When you sit down, look at what youve tracked over the previous month. Ask yourself basic questions: What went well? What didnt go well? Are my methods effective? Celebrate your progress and make a plan of attack that adjusts your methods and hones in on your weakest skills. Keep a color calendar: Last spring, I used four different colored highlighters to track how much time I was spending on the four skillsâ"speaking, reading, writing and listeningâ"in my paper planner. When I went to a language exchange, I colored in that time slot with the color for speaking. When I watched a movie in French, I colored in listening. At the end of each week I would look back and easily see how I had spent my time, and plan for the next week accordingly. I tracked all four skills because I wanted to learn all four, and I used paper because I prefer it, but you might want to track something else or use a slightly different system. Note that time doesnt necessarily equal progress in that skill, but this is a nice basic way to get you started self-examining.Ask for feedback: Tell your private tutor/classroom teacher/language exchange partner that youd like to know the top three areas where you need the most work. Give them some notice so that your teacher/tutor/partner can pay attention during the next couple of class periods/sessions to give you accurate feedback. This will help you fix mistakes much quicker because theyll be clearly identified for you!By developing these five qualities of a growth mindset, you can nurture thoughts that will not only help you learn any languageâ"but change your entire life.Rebecca Thering is a writer, editor and English teacher who has lived abroad in Spain, South Korea and France. Valuing education and things that arenât things, she inspires and helps others by blogging about her experiences abroad, cultural insights and self-improvement pursuits at Rebe With a Clause.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)