French Vocabulary Hacks How to Tell if a Word is Masculine or Feminine

French Vocabulary Hacks How to Tell if a Word is Masculine or Feminine Suzy S. How can a word be masculine or feminine, and how do you tell the difference? Tutor Willy M. shares some secrets to help you memorize your French vocabulary One of the hardest things for many students of French to learn is how to tell the difference between masculine and feminine French nouns.  Gender with regards to words is not something we spend a lot of time thinking about in English, but in French vocabulary every single noun will have either a masculine gender or a feminine gender. Words that use the articles  le  or un  are going to be masculine, and words that use the articles  la  or une are feminine. Sometimes assigning gender to a word might seem arbitrary, but there are a few tricks that will help you tell if a word is masculine or feminine. The best place to start is by looking at the end of a word. Common Feminine Endings There are several endings that will clue you in to a words gender. For example, feminine nouns typically end in the letter “e.” Consider these word endings: esse, enne, euse, orde, anche, ouche, etc. If you notice a word that ends in -e, most of the time that word is feminine. So if you are taking a French test and the teacher wants to confuse you by giving you a word that starts with a vowel, you might see the word lactrice.  An article with an apostrophe can be confusing when trying to determine gender. But if you notice that the word ends in an e, or in this case the ending is â€"ice, you can guess (correctly) that this word is feminine. One other thing that I have noticed about feminine French vocabulary words, is that they also sometimes end with an â€"a. These words tend to be words that came into French from Arabic speaking colonies of French. They are often the French adaptations of Arabic words. Common Masculine Endings There are a couple exceptions to the ends in e rule.  Typically words that end in â€"ege, eme, ome, aume, age and â€"isme are masculine. The following endings also tend to be masculine: an, ent, ai, ou, et, eu, ut, is, â€"il, and ex. There are some endings that are typically masculine such as â€"on, but if you find it coming after a letter s or the letter c, it will often be feminine. Nouns that end in consonants like t, x, d, l, f, m or s, etc. tend to all be masculine words. So if you are taking your French test and you see a word like refus, a refusal, you can see the s at the end and make an educated (correct) guess that it is le refus. So now you have a few tips to help you identify the gender of French nouns. I hope you keep studying and put your French to good work one day. And if you do well, send me un béret  from your travels abroad! Learn more French vocabulary and become fluent with help from a private tutor. French tutors are available to work with you live online via Skype or in-person depending on locations and availability.  Search for your French tutor now!   Willy M. teaches guitar, ukulele, and mandolin lessons in Winston, NC. Willy studied French for over 6 years in high school and at Earlham College. He traveled to Quebec, Canada where he was able to practice with native speakers. While working as an ESL teacher for World Relief, Willy had the opportunity to translate for people from former French colonies, such as Haiti, the Congo and Vietnam.  Learn more about Willy  here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Barret Anspach

Everything to Know About Learning Italian

Everything to Know About Learning Italian Want to Speak Italian Fluently? Here's How ChaptersLearning Italian through ErasmusLearn Italian through a Study AbroadFinish Your Higher Studies in a Foreign LanguageItalian Language learning in ItalyLearning how to speak Italian can be a frustrating, but exciting, journey. Everything from understanding Italian pronunciation, colloquial phrases, difficult grammar and vocabulary. Learning how to speak a new language, however, can be taken to a new level by choosing to study abroad.For many students, the option to study abroad opens up a world of opportunities. Not only will a stay in Italy improve your skills in a language you are passionate about, but will also lead to acquiring skills you never knew you needed â€" such as international networking and living independently.If you’d like to know more about what it’s like to study abroad, and what your options are, it can be difficult to get started on researching all that studying in Italy has to offer. Luckily, this guide will take you through some of the most important q uestions you could have while investigating whether or not studying abroad is worth it.From choosing which programs are available for studying abroad, to understanding what an average monthly budget in Italy might look like, these tips serve as a starting point to what will, hopefully, end up being an unforgettable study abroad experience!Learning Italian words and Italian verbs can go a long way!Tuition fees1000 Insurance150 Food50 per weekLeisure40 per weekTotal1000 per monthLearn Italian through a Study AbroadWhether or not you will be enrolled in Italian courses or a language school during your trip abroad, or if you’re seeking to learn to speak Italian through working, the first step in your preparation for stay in Italy should be to test how fluent you are in the Italian language.Your journey to learn to speak Italian should start with understanding the types of tests that will be appropriate for your situation. While there are many tests that claim to test your fluency i n Italian phrases and culture, there are two tests that will be recognized throughout Italy: the Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera (CILS) and the Certificato dell’Italiano Commerciale (CIC). The information for deadlines, fees and requirements are normally posted for these tests for Italian online.If you’re worried your lessons in Italian vocabulary and grammar weren't’ enough to prepare you to understand the intricacies of the Italian education, medical and housing system, there is no need to worry. Information about the academic year in Italy starts with understanding that there are 60 universities in Italy. These are broken into 17 private universities, where two are especially equipped for international studies. The normal academic semester starts in September or November.Knowing the Italian housing system can teach you many things about Italian culture. The main options for foreigners in terms of accommodation can be found in university residences, public l odging, and shared apartments. Some examples of this are working in Hostels in exchange for accommodation, finding flat shares, or being housed by your university.If you’re worried about the kinds of healthcare options that will be available to you, it will be helpful to start by signing up for the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, or SSN. For more information on this, look to the website for the Italian Ministry of Public Health, or Ministero della Salute.Language skills allow you to travel the worldFinish Your Higher Studies in a Foreign LanguageIf you’re interested in taking learning a new language to the next level, and you’ve decided to do so by studying abroad, there are many administrative tasks you will have to prepare for before being able to take advantage of perfecting your knowledge of Italian language and culture.While we’ve already discussed the importance of taking language tests to determine your skills as a beginner or intermediate Italian learner, obtaining a v isa will be an equally as important task in jour journey towards studying in Italy.Depending on how long your stay will be in Italy, and the purpose of the trip, you will either have to get a tourist or student visa. If you stay exceeds 90 days in Italy, you will have to apply for the latter. Having a conversation with your Italian consulate or embassy about the types of documents you will have to provide is vital. However, in general, you will be required to hand over your passport, a round-trip plane ticket, proof of sufficient financial means, and acquire valid health insurance.If think you might be in need of financial aid to sponsor your Italian lessons in Italy, start by checking out the tuition fees for the school for which you would like to apply or the additional fees involved in a study exchange. The main types of scholarships that can be available to you as a student involve either the Erasmus scholarship or the ones awarded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.If y ou’re looking for some resources for your stay in Italian online, be sure to check out the website of the many Italian cultural institutes spread throughout the world.and Italian language course can change your lifeItalian Language learning in ItalyIf you’re already passed the level of Italian for beginners and are seeking an opportunity for speaking Italian through an immersion program that isn’t Erasmus, you can apply to the Italian University independent of any organization. Whether your goal is to study Italian language and literature, or want to take Italian courses and programs in other subjects, you will need to start by choosing a university.An important first step for this process is to understand the European Credit System, or ECTS. Your trip to Italy will be made much simpler if you determine which university will accept your foreign diploma and what types of programs will correspond with your level of Italian fluency.If you’re worried about taking Italian languag e courses and if what level of conversational Italian you will have to speak throughout the course of your program, it is important to first understand what types of programs you would like to apply to. Here is a list of some of the top universities in Italy according to the Times Higher Education, QS and Shanghai rankings:Times Higher EducationQS Top UniversitiesShanghai (ARWU)Scuola Superiore Sant’AnnaPolitecnico di MilanoU. Sapienza University of RomeScuola Normale Superiore di PisaU. di BolognaUniversity of PaduaU. di BolognaScuola Normale Superiore di PisaPolitecnico di MilanoVita-Salute San Raffaele UniversityScuola Superiore Sant’AnnaU. di BolognaU. degli studi di TrentoU. Sapienza University of RomeU. di FlorenceIf your goal is to learn to speak Italian, you might be interested in the established Universita di Bologna. This university is renowned for its department of latin, and is known to be an Italian language powerhouse.If you know how to speak basic Italian and aren ’t so much interested in expanding your knowledge in Italian words and phrases as you are understanding the physics of motion or the principles of commerce, universities in Milan might be a better option.If you’re looking to take online, paid or free Italian courses on the side and simply want to work and explore Italian culture and life, Rome might be your best option due to its connection to the rest of the country and its rich history.Whatever your reason for moving to Italy for a semester or more, understand that communicating this goal to your family and academic advisors will make the journey much simpler. Take advantage of the many online resources and personal connections around you, and get ready to indulge in Italy’s dolce vita.

Learn to Draw Satirical Political Cartoons

Learn to Draw Satirical Political Cartoons How to Draw Satirical Illustration in the Press ChaptersThe History of Editorial DrawingEditorial Drawing: A Complex ArtBig Names in Editorial IllustrationHow do You Become an Editorial Illustrator?What type of drawing do you most enjoy?Do you like to base your art on dark humour or satire?Is your favourite part of the newspapers the sketches?Less common in the UK than they are in France, where political caricatures have an important position in the country’s cultural history, satirical drawings in the national press often provokes the reader to question their opinions on a topic.Expressing your views through your art with a simple pencil and paper as your drawing materials is often the most effective way to make your view known and to portray current affairs and society from a humorous angle.  â€œA successful drawing makes people laugh. When it has truly succeeded, it makes people think. If it makes people both laugh and think, it’s an excellent drawing.”This quotation from Tignous perfectly sums up the aim of editorial ill ustration.Let’s have a look at the history, characteristics and artists of editorial illustration. FernandoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidDrawing Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenDrawing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Julia janeDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvelinaDrawing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe History of Editorial DrawingThe birth of drawing in journalism can be traced back to the Renaissance, with evidence of satirical engravings, however, this style of art didn’t really take off until the French Revolution.Let’s go back in history and look at three key date s in the evolution of caricature drawings.1789 and Freedom of ExpressionIt all began with the French Revolution.The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which came out of the freedom of expression, had an impact on the development of satirical sketching, even with the constant threat to the lives of the artists.It wasn’t until the beginning of the 19th century that the very first satirical newspapers were compiled. These comic-like items included Le Charivari and La Caricature in the 1830’s.Political satire in the national press kept developing and its authors often found themselves in trouble with the law.This was the case for one Honoré Daumier, who was condemned to 6 months in prison for having depicted Louis-Philippe as a gluttonous king.Daumier's Gargantua appeared in La Caricature in 1831 ¦ source: WikipédiaSince then, many satirical artists have played a safe hand by sticking to social satire and avoiding controversial political humour.1881, a Transition al PhaseThe law on the free press changed the order in France. From this date, newspapers had the right to be published without having been authorised. The ban crept in progressively. With the third republic came the acceleration of this area, with illustrators tackling every theme from political to religious humour.This period became a golden age for editorial drawing.With the evolution of political newspapers and technical improvements in the printing industry, from 1870 to 1940 editorial illustration was everywhere.Press artists took on the controversial topics of their time such as the Dreyfus Affair, which divided French public opinion.Until the end of the Second World War, editorial illustration was everywhere, regardless of whether it appeared in general or satirical news items.1945, a New EraWith the end of the war, the beginning of the decline in ‘generalist’ press and the evolution of photography and television, many factors influenced drawing in the press.From 1945, n ewspapers began using photographs to illustrate their articles. Editorial illustration remained present in generalist newspapers, however, satirical news started to decline as the number of publications continued to fall.Today, satire in the French press is limited to only a few titles. These independent newspapers are wholly financed by their sales.Le Canard enchaîné, Founded in 1915, this current affairs paper is exclusively illustrated by editorial drawings.Charlie Hebdo, First published in 1970 by the Hara-Kiri team (a controversial magazine which was banned by the government), Charlie Hebdo is known around the world for its polemical material.Siné Mensuel, First hit shelves in 2011 and appeared alongside other satirical press after Siné, a former Charlie Hebdo artist, started his own paper.Editorial Drawing: A Complex ArtNewspaper drawings, also known as editorial illustrations are simple sketches, with or without text, which often take the form of comic strips.Editorial il lustrators are artists, but they are also journalists in their own right. This means that they have a good understanding of current affairs, and are therefore tasked with reporting on new stories through their pencil drawings, which are generally humorous or satirical.So, what’s the objective of journalistic illustration? To get the public’s attention, and to make them laugh! Everything that a technical drawing is not.This is something we forget all too often as their jokes, ironic twists and sarcastic overtones provoke a reaction of anger or disgust, making us forget the artist’s motive: to get our attention.For this reason, editorial illustration can reveal facts, give opinions and present a point of view through basic drawing skills such as shading techniques to create shadows in pencil drawing, or using a pen and ink to sharpen an outline.To make it as an editorial artist, you need to be quick-witted and have fantastic drawing skills ¦ source: Visualhunt - Alice Achterhof Uncovering, commenting, explaining, condemning, criticising, shocking and provoking debate are all common objectives among editorial artists, with some going further than others in certain areas.Regardless of the newspaper, story, or the artist’s personal objective, illustration in the press always invites the reader’s criticism.The line between humorous and satirical drawing is very thin, and any caricature or editorial artist should bear this in mind.Humorous drawing doesn’t go by the same rulebook. Sometimes, humorous drawings can achieve their aims purely through making a newspaper’s readership laugh, for example.Satirical drawings often evoke a feeling of shock. Not everyone will necessarily react in the same way to these drawings, regardless of the story they depict, as reactions to such pieces depend on the beliefs of each individual.Satire often touches on taboo subjects, and this is why they are frequently subject to debate. One such example is the depiction of Maho met in Charlie Hebdo.so, how do you get into editorial illustration?Artists often use a number of ways to reach their objective:Practicing their caricature drawing skillsProvoking a responseUsing stereotypesIronyPunsDark humourComparisonExaggerationSelf-deprecation and humour also allow artists to look at a news item in an objective way by distancing themselves from it and expressing their personal opinion on the matter at hand.Editorial illustrators are not obliged to give any view of a story but their own, putting them in a position as observers of the world around us, taking inspiration from current affairs and making the general public laugh with their interpretations.As Cabu said:“We are not messengers. We are simply clowns, entertainers […]. Humour is a language that I have always loved. Our objective is to rid the world of idiocy by making people laugh.”Big Names in Editorial IllustrationEvery era has its renowned artists. It’s impossible to name them all, but there a re some which cannot go unmentioned.Among them are some of the victims of the attack on the Charlie Hebdo offices in January 2015 whose names have become symbols for freedom of expression in France:Charb  had been the manager of Charlie Hebdo since 2009. He had participated in the paper’s relaunch. He also drew for Mon Quotidien â€" a children’s newspaper.Wolinski, had been involved in the creation of a newspaper named L’Enragé with Siné in 1968, and had also contributed to Hara-Kiri. He had worked for JDD, L’Humanité and the Nouvel Observateur.Cabu, also worked for Hara-Kiri and Charlie Hebdo, but his drawings could also be found in Le Monde, Rock n’Folk, le Figaro and Nouvel Observateur.Honoré, worked for many titles including Le Monde, Libération and InrockupiblesTignous, whose art was published in Charlie Hebdo and Marianne.Certain artists are so well-known for their editorial work that their names are often associated with certain newspapers. One such person in P lantu, whose work is featured in Le Monde. Plantu is also a founding member of Cartooning for Peace.How do You Become an Editorial Illustrator?Illustrators who work in journalism often end up working for several different newspapers.Apart from the big names in the business, a large part of the profession involves some level of precariousness and taking on various roles. Young artists tend towards other types of illustration and writing comic books.Do you dream of becoming an editorial illustrator?If you want to create a successful humorous sketch, you first need to get to grips with drawing basics. Mastering this includes learning how to draw faces and the human body, learning about caricature, trying out digital drawing on a tablet and learning about rendering, but also respecting the rules of proportion and one point perspective drawing.It may seem like a lot of hard work, but as you learn how to make still life appear three dimensional, pick up drawing tips from step by step draw ing tutorials, and practice skills such as cross hatching, creating negative space, contour drawing, blending, and how to control your paintbrush strokes to create textures, you will acquire valuable experience which will serve you when you start to draw cartoons.The drawing techniques used in editorial illustration are a far cry from the realism of observational drawing â€" this is down to the difference in objective.In realistic drawing and painting, the aim is to realistically depict an object or person, whereas editorial illustration is more about cartooning and caricature. This means that the artist must learn how to draw a person, an  idea or a story by picking out the important traits and exaggerating them in a humoristic way.This means that if you want to break into the profession, you’ll have to learn about the art of drawing in all of its forms as well as learning to appreciate editorial illustrations in detail.So, before you dive into cartoon drawing, it helps a great d eal to have practiced  portrait drawing, accurately drawing people, drawing faces, eye drawing, learning how to draw hands, copying, freehand drawing, learning to draw flowers, looking into drawing animals to move away from human figure drawing, gesture drawing, trying to see basic shapes in complex objects, trying to accurately draw a sphere, and even using an eraser to highlight areas. All of these things will ensure that you have a sketchbook that shows your experience as an artist in training your mind how to create different effects.Don't try to run before you can walk: master the basics, and then move on to caricature drawing ¦ source: Pixabay - AlexandruPetreBuilding a sketch pad that acts as a demonstration of your ability to produce a variety of different styles including everything from doodling to portraiture with a charcoal pencil will allow others to appreciate your artistic talent and also teaches you to take pride in your work.You’ll have to work hard and make sure you have a good understanding of key issues to be able to tell stories through drawing.As an editorial illustrator, several qualities will be asked of you:Awareness of cultural issuesAttention to detailImaginationCuriosityA creative mindKnowing how to inform the general public about a topic whilst also providing a commentary with a certain degree of humour is no easy feat. When faced with a blank sheet of paper, it is essential that you have the creative ability and critical skills to produce a piece of journalism with your drawing techniques, including  colored pencils, a paintbrush, graphite pencil, chalk, oil pastel, watercolor paints or charcoal.Need help perfecting your artistic talent? Why not solicit the help of a art tutor for drawing lessons. With Superprof you can find a drawing class London, a cartoon course in Manchester and everything in between.

What can you do about Online Math Tutor Right Now

What can you do about Online Math Tutor Right Now Struggling with your math homework? Tutor Pace can help you. Our online math tutor is the best solution for every student’s math problems. Find out how you can improve your grades and show your best math performance from now on wards. Online math tutor: Want to get an online math tutor? You need to read this first! Students across the whole range can benefit from our online math tutor.If you are struggling with a specific class, then you can review concepts with our tutor. This way you will not fall behind in your exam. On the other hand, if you’re already at the top of your class, let’s say you get B+, then you can work toward an A+. Whether an urgent homework or an upcoming assignment, our expert is there to help you. You will get step by step solutions to all your math questions. You can work on your doubts directly with the expert. Our online math tutor gets the best out of you. To fulfill your long term needs, our tutor finds what you normally struggle with and what you’re okay at. The tutor helps you target where you’re in the class and where you want to be in the class. Being a student, it is important for you to know what you’re aiming at. Often, you can’t figure out what you exactly need from your tutoring. Our online math tutor helps you with that. He asks you simple questions to analyze what is your current learning status and how far you can go. Our online math tutor provides you a fulfilling ongoing learning. You get to talk to the expert directly. You meet the tutor regularly over online sessions. You constantly keep checking your performance with the help of the tutor. Tutor Pace’s online math tutor makes you comfortable with hard math topics like calculus, algebra, and trigonometry etc. They help you with every difficult math problem. You can practice better using math worksheets given by them. Math tutoring: What everybody ought to know about Tutor Pace’s math tutoring There are clear reasons why Tutor Pace’s math tutoring excels: Tech support: Learn interactively in our virtual classrooms full of fun tools. Use virtual whiteboard to solve problems in real time. Utilize live chat to talk to our math experts anytime. Listen and watch your tutor live using Skype to Skype connection in our math tutoring. Convenience: Save time by learning from the comfort of your place. Avoid awkward situations of being dressed up rightly for home tutoring. Wear what you feel is comfortable for you and get started with the experts in our math tutoring. Want to hang out with friends now? Attend your sessions anytime you want. Our tutoring is flexible enough to comfort you in every way. Go to a party now and learn when you have time with our tutors. Our math experts are available 24/7. So, connect anytime whether in morning or in night. Connect the moment you need help. Weekends are off for you! 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We have easy plans for elementary, middle, and high school students. Plus there are plans for college level students and SAT/ACT/AP aspirants. The wide range of our plans includes hourly, weekly, monthly, and yearly plans. Click here  to read all about our subscription plans and the related discounts. Math help: Wondering how does our math help serve you all the time? Read this! Tutor Pace’s math help means improved math grades. We work on every specific step of our math help to deliver the best to you. There are three common situations to which our math help responds in the friendliest manner. Last minute math help Most people look for math help because they are in urgent need of great solutions to their problems. Ours can be best value for them. If a parent is not satisfied with his kid’s math score, he will benefit from us. If a college student is going to hit his midterm, he will benefit from Tutor Pace. Thus, we help those who need that urgent helping hand. 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Simple Tips for Success in TOEFL Written Exam

Simple Tips for Success in TOEFL Written Exam You might be able to understand English well when you hear it. You might even be able to speak it perfectly. But how well can you write in English? How would you respond to the sample question below? You have 30 minutes to plan, write, and revise your essay. Typically, an effective essay will contain a minimum of 300 words. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Always telling the truth is the most important consideration in any relationship. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Don’t panic. Here are some tips to help. Start With An Introduction Your essay must start with an introduction, setting out the ideas you will be developing in the body of the text. Some useful sentences in the introduction are: This essay will set out…Here, I will be looking at…..The idea I wish to develop here is… Know How To Develop A Thesis An essay isn’t a set of random sentences. It’s actually about developing an idea or thesis. To do this effectively i n English you will need appropriate words. These are called connectors. They include: Therefore,For this reason,With this in mind,Consequently,As a result, Use Examples To Support The Thesis Rather than making a set of statements, your thesis will be much better if you can support it with examples and evidence. You can introduce these by saying: Evidence to support this idea is included in…This is borne out by the fact that…A great example of this idea is… Pay Attention To Spelling And Punctuation It’s wonderful to have a great idea for your essay, but don’t get so carried away with it you make a lot of spelling and punctuation mistakes. This will take away from the examiner’s impression of your work. Don’t Overcomplicate Ideas or Grammar It might be tempting to try to develop a complicated theory or idea in your essay but this would be a mistake. By keeping things simple you are less likely to make mistakes. Also, as they saying goes in English, less is more! Conclude Just as an essay needs an introduction and main body, it also needs a conclusion where you sum up the ideas you developed in the texts. Words to lead up to a conclusion include: To finish, To conclude,To resume, Did you find this blog helpful? Feel free to share it on Facebook and Twitter.

Five Soft Skills Every Child Needs for Success

Five Soft Skills Every Child Needs for Success Parents hear often that their children need a solid foundation of academic knowledge to flourish in college and beyond. However, there are many other attributes that help children lead successful, fulfilling lives. When it comes to life and career, most people can attest that technical skills only get one so far. We tell parents regularly that while academic aptitude matters, there are a number of personal characteristics that will set their children apart and help them do well in life. Successful students and people possess these five soft skills and encourages parents to nurture them in their children whenever possible: Communication skills Verbal and nonverbal communication skills are frequently touted as the most important skills in any career. Parents should encourage their children to express their ideas and opinions clearly when writing or speaking, but its also crucial to build careful, attentive listening skills as well. Empathy Empathy is one component of emotional intelligence and something that helps people develop strong interpersonal connectionsa key to success in life. Parents can help their children learn to recognize how their actions and words impact and influence others, both positively and negatively. The ability to understand others feelings is critical for building good relationshipswith friends as well as teachers, classmates, coworkers and bosses. Perseverance Most parents have recited the age-old adage, If at first, you dont succeed, try, try again, to their children before. Without question, life is full of challenges. One of the most important skills children can acquire is that of perseverance. Parents can facilitate the development of this trait by teaching their children to set goals and lay out smaller steps toward achieving those goals and by always talking about challenges as opportunities for learning and growth. Teamwork Students who are able to work effectively with all types of people have a leg up in college and the working world. Luckily for parents, todays teachers often have their students collaborate on a variety of projects. At home, parents can offer their children opportunities to contribute and debate ideas and work with their siblings to complete tasks. Problem-solving Children who take a proactive approach to solving problems and overcoming roadblocks have a big advantage. When facing problems large and small, children should try out different solutions. Parents can support this by encouraging their children to talk about what worked and didnt work with each attempted solution and helping them think through alternatives. Soft skills dont come naturally to everyone, but with effort and practice, parents can foster their childrens development of these personal traits. Soft skills are important throughout school, but they become essential in ones career . Parents who consistently and patiently work with their children to help them become adaptable, hard-working problem-solvers with the critical thinking skills to navigate any issue are preparing them for life success.

Certified! Your Guide to Language Certificate Success

Certified! Your Guide to Language Certificate Success Certified! Your Guide to Language Certificate Success Picture it. A large, shining (yet tasteful) trophy.The plaque reads Worlds Best Language Learner.And underneath? Your name.A language certificate is a lot like a sports trophy.You can have a wonderful time playing sportsâ€"or learning languagesâ€"without ever needing something external as proof of your effort.Which is great for learners going it alone, because self-directed learning has a lot of great advantages.But theres a reason why courses, exams, certificatesâ€"and trophiesâ€"exist.Theyre a way of proving not only to others but also to yourself that youve put in the long hours and seen the results.If that sounds like your cup of tea, read on to find out what a language certificate can do for you, and how to go about obtaining one. Certified! Your Guide to Language Certificate SuccessWhy Go for a Language Certificate?Have Your Skills Honestly Assessed by a Third PartyIt can be hard to really know where youre at, especially if youre a self-learner. Nobody likes trying to figure out how big their vocabulary is, or going over the grammar charts for the dozenth time.But assessment can be an important reality check.If you self-assess at a high level but then cant pass even an intermediate-level exam, it means there were some gaps in your knowledge that went undetected for too long.Fixing those gaps is crucial if you want to really use that language in your life, and doing so will make you a better language learner overall.For example, knowing what your real level is can help you better use language resources like FluentU.FluentU makes it possible to learn languages from music videos, commercials, news, inspiring talks and more.With FluentU, you hear languages in real-world contextsâ€"the way that native speakers actually use them.Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of FluentU videos on offer:FluentU really takes the grunt work out of learning languages, leaving you with nothing but engaging, effective and efficient learning. It’s already h and-picked the best videos for you and organized them by level and topic. All you have to do is choose any video that strikes your fancy to get started!Each word in the interactive captions comes with a definition, audio, image, example sentences and more.Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab, and easily review words and phrases from the video under Vocab.You can use FluentU’s unique adaptive quizzes to learn the vocabulary and phrases from the video through fun questions and exercises. Just swipe left or right to see more examples of the word youre studying.The program even keeps track of what you’re learning and tells you exactly when it’s time for review, giving you a 100% personalized experience.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes store or Google Play store.Have a Quick Answer Ready for Questions About Your Language AbilityHow good is your Portugues e?Well, I can read it without much trouble, but its kind of hard for me to follow the newsâ€"oh, and I did a homestay in Brazil three years agoWhats your Japanese level?I passed the JLPT N2 exam last year.Which of the above scenarios do you like more? If youre sitting in a job interview, a quick and decisive answer could be what makes the difference between acceptance and rejection.The presence of a language certificate on your resume is the quickest answer of all.Be Eligible for Employment, Study or ImmigrationSome places set a hard limit on accepting applicants based on how well they can speak a language. No matter how good your other credentials, youre not getting in that door without proof of a certain language level.In Germany, for instance, many university programs require proof of a C1 level. Universities in China generally require about the sameâ€"around an  HSK 5 level, to be exact.And if youd like to live and work in another country, chances are youre going to have to demo nstrate your language ability with a certificate of some sort.In Japan, if you manage to pass the JLPT N1, you prove to the government that youre able to use Japanese at an extremely high level and easily function in the business world. That goes a long way towards getting you a coveted skilled worker visa.But say, what is the JLPT N1 anyway? Read on to find out!5 of the Worlds Most Useful Language CertificatesBelow are five of the worlds most recognized and useful certifications for languages. These arent by any means all the language exams that exist, so dont feel distressed if you dont see your target language represented or are interested in other options.There are many other tests to measure language proficiency, including the DSH for German and the TOEFL for English, but this list covers a broad range of languages and should be helpful for seeing useful examples of whats out there.JLPT  (Japanese)The Japanese Language Proficiency Test measures ability from N5 (basic) to N1 (ad vanced). People who pass the N1 are said to have about the same linguistic ability as a native high school graduate. Its offered at testing centers around the world, though usually only once or twice per year.There are three sections: Language Knowledge (vocabulary and grammar), Reading and Listening. You wont have to produce any written essays, nor will you have to sit through a spoken interviewâ€"but dont let your guard down.Just around 30 percent of applicants on average pass the N1 exam each year. So when you try for this Japanese certificate, make sure you can talk the talk and walk the walk.DELE  (Spanish)The Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language is administered by the Instituto Cervantes in Spain as a measure of European Spanish proficiency. In the past few years, the Instituto Cervantes has worked with test centers in Mexico to design a more international test known as the SIELE, but the DELE still has a powerful presence. There are more than 1,000 test centers worldwide !When you apply for the DELE, you need to pick one of the six CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) levels from A1 to C2 as your test level. Each test has four sections that cover listening, reading, writing and speaking.DELF/DALF (French)Just like the DELE, these two exams are based on the CEFR scale of language proficiency. If you sign up for levels A1 through B2, youll apply for the DELF (Diplôme détudes en langue française).At the C levels, the name simply changes to DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française). These French certificates are organized almost exactly like the DELE in Spanish. You simply sign up at any one of the hundreds of locations around the world.Passing the C2 French exam is no walk in the park, but once you do youll be eligible for all kinds of benefits such as employment in the Francophonie, a job as a teacher or translator and access to French-language higher education.HSK (Mandarin Chinese)The Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, or Mandari n proficiency exam, is well-known all over China. There are six levels of the test, ranging from knowledge of just a few hundred words and characters to many more. Unlike some other exams, there are freely available vocabulary lists published for each level.Theres also no speaking sectionâ€"you have to sign up for the separate HSK speaking exam if you want proof of oral Chinese proficiency.But once youve passed HSK 5, youll be able to take ordinary Chinese classes surrounded by native speakers. And by HSK 6, youll have no problem reading or understanding Chinese that you see and hear around you every day.TELC (several languages)The European Language Certificates (TELC) is a German organization that offers a smorgasbord of languages and certificates to choose from. For major world languages like English and Spanish, youll be able to sit exams rated at any of the CEFR levels.Other languages, like Arabic or Polish, are just as important but dont yet have one unified exam like the DELE or HSK. In this case, TELC also offers a limited selection of exams at the intermediate level that can serve as an important benchmark for your skills.The exams are held in thousands of test centers worldwide, and the results are accepted as valid in just as many places.As a German company, TELC  works especially closely with the governments and businesses in the German-speaking regions of Europeâ€"so if youre looking to study or do business in these places, TELC  may be a perfect option for you.How to Prepare for a Language Certificate ExamTake a Look at Previous ExamsExam agencies often publish mock exams, older questions or practice tests for you to prepare.Some are in book form, and some are even online.  DIALANG is a great one-stop resource for finding practice tests in a ton of languages. Theyre modeled after the standard exams used in Europe like the DALF and DELE. Your results here are likely to be a good diagnostic for what level exam you should take.Another way to find exa ms is by checking the websites of test centers or places that offer exam prep classes. Heres an example from the HSK center at the University of Manchester.If you dont know what youre going to be tested on, youre probably not going to do well. As much as the designers of the test try to make it reflect real-world language use, its necessarily going to be a little bit artificial for the purposes of grading.Thus, just having a high level in your target language never guarantees a solid score.You need to be prepared for each exam section in turnâ€"and, of course, youll need to know how to follow the exam instructions in the target language!Read Nonfiction Articles from Different SourcesThe reading portion of standardized language exams is almost always nonfiction. Fiction reading is extremely important for your vocabulary development, but when you study for a test you need to get used to the type of writing youll encounter on that test.That means you should be extremely comfortable rea ding easy news articles in your target language, such as  those found on news sites like NHK World in many languages.But beyond just news, you should be able to read different types of nonfiction.Can you follow the main arguments of opinion pieces? How about understanding the flow of step-by-step instructions or the pros and cons in a product review?These are just a few of the writing genres we encounter every day in our native languages. If you want to excel at the reading comprehension sectionâ€"a component of every examâ€"you’ll need to be familiar with all of these and more.Ditch Your HeadphonesThis is a small tip, but it might end up making all the difference in your exam preparation.When we sit down to study languages at home, more often than not we use headphones or earbuds. And why not? Theyre comfortable, the sound is clear and theres no risk of bothering others.But if youre used to having your target language piped cleanly into your ears all day, you might start to sweat when you see a cheap boombox at the exam center.Although all the exam centers prepare the same test for you, the conditions for the listening part can be completely haphazard. Its entirely possible that youll be asked to do the listening exam in an echo-y room with construction going on outside.Practicing your listening with computer speakers in a variety of environments will get you prepared for whatever conditions the examiners throw at you.Fine-tune Your Writing with a TutorWhen was the last time you challenged yourself to write something difficult in your target language? Its not something self-learners often do.And in fact, its actually not necessary for all the exams I mentioned or all the exams out there. At lower and intermediate levels, the JLPT and HSK dont test your composition skills at allâ€"the writing section of those exams is multiple choice.But the fact remains that for an advanced language certificate, you had better be able to write well in your target language.T he best way to study writing is to write and get feedback. Some people are lucky enough to have good friends or colleagues that can give them tips on their writing.Even better than that, though, is a tutor who has successfully coached exam candidates in the past. You want a tutor with a proven track record in getting students the language certificates they want.Now that youve taken a look at some of the major language certificates out there, what do you think?Do you want to join the ranks of millions of people around the world who have sat and passed exams in their target languageâ€"proving their ability to themselves and others?Theres no better time than now to start preparing.Get your hands on a copy of a practice exam, read some online articles, browse through some tutor listingsâ€"and be on your way to your first language certificate of many.

5 online resources for Cantonese tutors

5 online resources for Cantonese tutors With China fast becoming one of the world's most dominant economies, it makes sense for tomorrow's business executives to learn its languages, particularly Cantonese. Combine the increasing demand for tuition in Cantonese with the many Chinese students and professionals who live and work in the UK, and it's no wonder the Cantonese tuition industry is thriving! Certainly, there are plenty of Cantonese tutors advertising their services here on First Tutors. Here's our guide to the best online resources for private tutors of Cantonese to use in their lesson plans: 1. Learn Cantonese does what it says on the tin: this is a great website full of reference sheets and revision aids. http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/ 2. So You Want To Learn a Language brings together a wealth of resources for Cantonese students and is a considered introduction to the language. http://soyouwanttolearnalanguage.googlepages.com/cantonese 3. Another site called Learn Cantonese, but this one is Canadian in origin. Cantonese words are grouped by theme and there's lots to here that can be incorporated into lesson plans. http://cantonese.ca/ 4. Chinese Bay allows learners to listen to key phrases in Cantonese and become familiar with what the language sounds like. http://chinesebay.com/cantonese/basic.asp 5. First Tutors carries a number of books and resources for Cantonese tutors to utilise. https://www.firsttutors.com/uk/learning-resources.php