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Thursday, March 26, 2020
Study Your Maths at MIT With a Tutoring Center
Study Your Maths at MIT With a Tutoring CenterMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offers a variety of tutoring services for students who attend the college. If you are interested in attending MIT, then consider enrolling in its degree program. Many other universities also offer the same degrees but only one of them offers a curriculum that is specifically designed to cater to individual learning styles.If you are interested in earning a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) degree from a private institution, then the best option is to sign up for a math tutoring center at MIT. Math tutors at MIT offer education to students as well as undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate level classes. When taking the class, students can choose to work in groups or individually.Whether you are working alone or with other students, your math tutor will ensure that you have all the necessary resources to succeed in class. For example, most tutors are very knowledgeable abo ut current technology and have online connections to make study time more productive. Also, you can often choose your class based on your availability.At the MIT calculus tutoring center, you can expect the tutors to provide you with assistance in both verbal and written materials. They help you navigate through difficult concepts while reinforcing concepts that you have mastered. Additionally, they will analyze and highlight what you have learned so that you can fully understand the material.Unlike the more traditional method of classroom lectures, tutors at MIT offer their services via an online tutor session. You can take their lessons in your free time without taking up valuable study time. Tutors give you a personalized service that helps you meet your goals while achieving academic success. They will give you the confidence you need to succeed in a challenging course.While you are enrolled in theMIT calculus tutoring center, your tutor will give you individual attention, but t he approach you get from a tutor will vary according to what level you are currently enrolled in. One of the advantages of this type of tutoring is that you do not have to worry about repeating the same material twice. You can follow along with a tutor, even if it is just a short phone call or chat, to ensure that you are familiar with all the rules and regulations related to the course.There are many online tutoring centers available. All you have to do is select the one that has the tutoring that is most appropriate for you. Do your homework to make sure that you are choosing the right one and you will be very pleased with the results.
Friday, March 6, 2020
French Pronunciation Guide When to Pronounce the Letter T
French Pronunciation Guide When to Pronounce the Letter T Megan L. French pronunciation is full of little tricks that trip beginners up. Tutor Annie A. shares her tips for pronouncing the letter T Try reading the following French words aloud: tarte, partons, portions, democratie, septieme, mangeaient, amitie, and vert. Do you pronounce all the Ts in the same way? Do you pronounce them at all? There are no simple answers, and you will run into many questions about the letter T as you practice proper French pronunciation. There are many different rules that govern whether you hear a T sound, an S sound, or nothing at all. And as with many other things in the French language, there are always exceptions to those rules. First of all, the French pronounce the letter T slightly differently than English-speakers do. In French, your tongue rests against the tip of your upper front teeth, whereas in English your tongue stays behind your teeth. This tongue position results in a softer and smoother T in French. When to Pronounce the Letter T Always pronounce T when it comes at the beginning of a word. train, tourner, tomber You will also always pronounce double-Ts. grotte, cette, attitude Th- is pronounced just like T because the H is silent. the, theatre, theme T is also pronounced when it is at the end of a word and followed by E. droite, carte In many nouns and adjectives, words ending with -te denote the feminine form. vert, verte; petit, petite When to Pronounce T Like S In cases where ti- is followed by another vowel, it is pronounced as the sound sy. Information, fiction, democratie, diplomatie, patient Exceptions to the Rule However, as always, there are exceptions to the ti- rule. When ti- is followed by a vowel but preceded by S, you will pronounce the letter T. amnistie, bestial, vestiaire You also pronounce T in all forms of verbs ending in -tions and -tiez. portions, portiez, inventions, inventiez, etc. (Note: this is not in the case of nouns ,eg. des portions, des adoptions, des inventions. Here the sound will be sy) T is pronounced in all forms of verbs and nouns derived from the verb tenir, even the forms in which ti- is followed by another vowel. Je soutiens, lentretien, je maintiens T is also pronounced in ordinal adjectives ending in -tieme. septieme And in feminine past participles of verbs ending in -tir. partie, sortie, garantie Pronounce your Ts in nouns and adjectives ending in -tiers or -tiere. matiere (n), sentier (n), entier (adj.), entiere (adj.) There are still other exceptions to the ti- rule. For example, pronounce the T in the following words: moitie, pitie, amitie Liaisons or Linking Sounds in French The practice of linking a word ending in a consonant with the following word beginning with a vowel is compulsory in some cases. Often, liasons will cause you to pronounce Ts that would otherwise be silent. When an adjective ending in T precedes a noun that starts with a vowel, the T will be pronounced, joining the two words together. le petit enfant T is also pronounced when a word starting with a vowel follows est. Il est utile Third person verbs, singular or plural, ending in T link with the following word starting with a vowel. Il chantait une chanson When is T Silent or, as the French Say, Muet? When T is the last letter of a word, it is silent. et, est, abricot, salut However, there are a few words that are exceptions to this rule. Always pronounce the T at the end of the following words: ouest, est (n), huit, brut The T in et is always silent. Never make a liaison with et. Elle est bavarde et impolie. When a verb ends in -ent, the -ent is not pronounced. ils tombent When a verb ends in -ait or -aient, the T remains silent. il tombait or ils tombaient When a word ends in -at, the T is silent. attentat With so many rules and exceptions it seems a daunting task to learn French pronunciation, but it is not so. You can get used to the correct pronunciation by studying with a qualified teacher and practicing every day. Listen to as much spoken French as you can, keep working hard, and someday those tricky Ts will come naturally to you! Master French pronunciation with the help of a private tutor. Tutors are available to work with you online via Skype or in-person depending on locations and availability. Search for your French tutor now! Annie A. is a French instructor whose lessons are conducted exclusively online. Teaching for the past 12 years, she found her passion for the language while studying in Paris as a teenager. Learn more about Annie 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 Franck Mahon
GCSE Poem Analysis Nettles by Vernon Scannell
GCSE Poem Analysis Nettles by Vernon Scannell Vernon Scannell is a British poet who was born in Lincolnshire. Having fought in the World War Two, Scannell was most famous as a war poet. His poetry often reflect his experiences at war, as in this poem, Nettles. An analysis of the GCSE poem Nettles by Vernon Scannell. What is it about? The poem is a short account of the day that the poetâs son was stung by nettles â" and what happened afterwards. But more interesting than the events are the shadows of war that linger in the mind of the ex-soldier father, causing him to meditate on the cyclical nature of pain and violence. Nettles by Vernon Scannell My son aged three fell in the nettle bed. 'Bed' seemed a curious name for those green spears, That regiment of spite behind the shed: It was no place for rest. With sobs and tears The boy came seeking comfort and I saw White blisters beaded on his tender skin. We soothed him till his pain was not so raw. At last he offered us a watery grin, And then I took my hook and honed the blade And went outside and slashed in fury with it Till not a nettle in that fierce parade Stood upright any more. Next task: I lit A funeral pyre to burn the fallen dead. But in two weeks the busy sun and rain Had called up tall recruits behind the shed: My son would often feel sharp wounds again. Overview The nettles of the title are introduced in a simple, rhythmically regular end-stopped line consisting of a single clause: noun phrase followed by verb phrase. Yet they change their character â" first, âcuriousâ to the adult poet who is interested in the paradoxical language with which we describe them, and then a âregiment of spiteâ, when we, the child and the father all discover what they can do. Form and Structure The poem is a single stanza of four, cross rhymed quatrains. Each line is written in very regular iambic pentameter: lines of ten syllables with five stressed beats alternating with unstressed beats. Only a single line (âAnd went outside and slashed with fury with it) breaks the pattern of ending on a stressed syllable â" sometimes called a âfeminineâ ending. When iambic pentameter is used so regularly it achieves a very steady, relentless rhythm, helped here by the simple rhyme scheme abab. This is another decision to relate the story in simplicity and most of the rhyme words are monosyllables with simple, everyday meanings â" shed, bed, tears, skin. Language In fact itâs worth noting that Scannell achieves quite a nuanced, subtle perspective with only the simplest vocabulary. In the 137 words there is only a single word of three syllables â" âregimentâ. Almost all of the others are âcore vocabularyâ â" everyday words. By mixing in a few pieces of military language â" âspears, regiment, parade, recruitsâ and âwoundsâ â" he dresses the mundane event in a light metaphor that encourages us to rethink the meaning of other words. The image of the father âhoning the bladeâ becomes more vengeful, more intentionally violent, in the context of this language. The rhyme is largely of the simplest kind: short, common monosyllables rhyming with âfriendlyâ words. In one place an unstressed pronoun (âslashed in fury with itâ) rhymes with a stressed verb âlitâ, perhaps giving a sense of release from effort that chimes with the frantic slashing. There is also internal line between âtookâ an âhookâ, which simply brings those words to our attention. Note that the father is probably using a billhook to hack the weeds, rather than a scythe, as some notes comment. Themes Scannellâs metaphor of nettles as soldiers is simple enough â" the fresh shoots called ârecruitsâ, the âfierce paradeâ conjuring an image of hostile ranks â" but its power is in the application. This enemy stands just âbehind the shedâ and the son canât possibly escape them in his play, so the first theme has got to be vulnerability. Then thereâs the matter of the fatherâs emotional reaction. His anger seems disproportionate and though he âslashed with furyâ it is also ultimately in vain, because the nettles grow back! Perhaps the second real theme is the vanity of a violent or vengeful reaction. As an ex-soldier, Scannell would certainly have empathised with men who lashed out in anger, still holding back their pent-up reactions to the atrocities of war. Perhaps the reader is also glimpsing a battle-scarred man lashing out? But finally thereâs a powerful sense of the fatherâs love for his son here. If this poem is an accurate account of a real event, then Scannell positions his narrative voice quite carefully: âmy sonâ becomes âthe boyâ. By making the language less specific, less personal, the poet asks his reader to imagine âaâ boy â" not a specific named child â" a boy suffering. The detail of the blisters âbeaded on his white skinâ acts like a zoom lens, drawing the readerâs eye up close, before we back away and observe the consequence. There is an intimacy here that adds depth to our picture of the family in the garden. Conclusion Using only the simplest poetic tools, Vernon Scannell creates a sequence of focused visual images with subtle overtones of much deeper themes. You might describe such poetry as âdeftâ or âworkmanlikeâ and be able to back up your opinion with any of the points above! Cross rhyme - A rhyme pattern alternating line endings, so that the first line rhymes with the third, and the second with the fourth, often notated abab and actually much simpler in practice than explanation! Also one of the most common regular rhyme patterns. Quatrain - Four lines rhyming together and acting as one unit of verse. Not necessarily grammatically complete or set apart as their own stanza. Stanza - A number of lines of verse laid out together on the page and separated by empty lines from the remainder of the poem. This is chiefly a matter of a poetâs personal taste as well as visual appeal. Need an extra hand with your English? Why not book a private GCSE English tutor to come to your home from the Tutorfair website? More GCSE poem analyses: The Yellow Palm, Praise Song for My Mother, My Last Duchess, and Medusa
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Questions to Ask Your Students to Get Them Thinking About Post High School Education
Questions to Ask Your Students to Get Them Thinking About Post High School Education As a teacher, part of your job is to get your students thinking about the future. And while some high school students already know what they might like to study after high school, others dont have that kind of direction. You can help get your students wheels turning by asking the right questions. Heres a shortlist to weave into class conversations throughout the school year: What do you do in your free time? For some students, that might include volunteering with children, playing a sport, or playing an instrument. Those activities could help your students identify what types of activities they enjoy, like working as part of a team or mentoring others. What topics get you excited? Encourage students to contemplate what topics, subjects, and current issues in the world pique their curiosity and make them feel energized. Those areas could be budding passions that later turn into career interests. What subjects are strengths? Students dont always see how a subject translates into different career paths, but this is one of the best starting points for students without many ideas. What adults do you know who have cool-sounding jobs? An aunt who is an attorney or a family friend who owns a business are great resources. Encourage them to ask the adults they know what they do and what they like about it. What kind of lifestyle are you seeking? Too few students reflect on what is important to them in their life long-term when choosing career paths. It is early, but teens would still be smart to consider things like whether they want to travel or climb the career ladder as they weigh options. Do you like/dislike the idea of graduate school? Some jobs require advanced degrees, such as an attorney, doctor, or veterinarian. Students dont need to decide on graduate school now, but its good to think ahead. Where do you see yourself after college? This is the ultimate college admissions interview question, so its good for students to ponder it throughout high school. Students might not have the answer figured out now, but pondering the question is worthwhile. Is a traditional four-year college the right fit? A post-secondary education program such as a vocational school prepares people to work as a technician or in various jobs such as a trade or a craft. If students are looking for more practical skills and a quicker pathway to the workforce, this might be the best choice. No matter what subject you teach, your students will benefit from a little effort to prepare them for the future. That class time is definitely time well spent!
Equal Work Deserves Equal Pay
Equal Work Deserves Equal Pay Equal Pay Banner via thecontributor.com In my lifetime, I am expected to make on average one million dollars less than a man doing the same job as me. For every dollar a man makes, a female makes 77 cents of that doing the same exact job. Why, when I am just as smart, educated, capable, and competitive as a man, do I get paid less? Although, there are many factors that contribute to this, the most important thing to do is try to avoid this injustice so it does not happen to you. The first step, which will decide your pay, is how well you can negotiate. The time between when you are offered a job and when you agree to take the job is the ideal time for you to negotiate your salary because that is when you have the most power. The wage gap between you and another employee at start might be small, but as time goes on, it only increases. So before negotiating your salary, do your research and know the average salary for job positions in your area by using websites such as www.wageproject.org and www.payscale.com. Knowing your value and what youre worth is key when agreeing on your salary. Employers assume that I will be leaving my job for some time when I have children. Will this affect my job? Because of this assumption, employers often divert females onto side tasks because they know that soon work will not be their focus. This is not okay. You might not even have kids or maybe you will adopt and your partner will decide to take a step back from his/her career to focus on raising the children. Regardless of the situation, you should be able to get ahead in your job whether you have kids someday or not. Since talking about salary at a workplace is often not appropriate, it is hard to tell if you are making equal to that of a man, or even, the rest of your coworkers. Make sure you do your research and talk to human resources so your paycheck is the exact same as the manâs in the cubicle right next to you.
What I Wish You Knew About Borderline Personality Disorder
What I Wish You Knew About Borderline Personality Disorder Image via: Unsplash This happened two years ago and honestly, I feel no closer to reaching peace with my condition. As a matter of fact, it took every bone, muscle, and cell of courage to write this article. After all, I am very passionate and serious about mental health and eliminating the stigma associated with it. I was inspired by a friend of mine who created a social media campaign to educate others about Borderline Personality Disorder and decided that my condition was nothing to be ashamed of. Its a part of me. It may not be the best part of me, but Im choosing to turn my struggle into education and support for others forced into silence out of fear of judgment or ostracization. So, buckle your seat belts and get ready to learn more about borderline personality disorder and things that those who have the illness wish you knew. Lets get started. What is Borderline Personality Disorder? The medical definition of Borderline Personality Disorder is a personality disorder that typically includes the following symptoms: extreme emotional reactions, impulsive behavior, and history of turbulent or unstable relationships. To be diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, you must demonstrate at least five of the following symptoms: Distorted and unstable self-image Intense and highly changeable moods Chronic feelings of emptiness and/or boredom Inappropriate, intense anger, and/or issues controlling temper Intense and stormy relationships Extreme and/or inappropriate reactions Impulsive and typically dangerous behaviors, such as drug and alcohol addiction Chronic suicidal behaviors or self-harm Borderline personality disorder got its name in 1938 and the term was used to describe patients who were thought to be between, or on the borderline, so to speak, of psychosis and neurosis. In other words, Borderline Personality Disorder is a very difficult disorder to diagnose and an even harder illness to treat. Image via: Pexels The worst part of Borderline Personality Disorder, besides the symptoms and the occasional inability to separate your emotions from symptoms, is the stigma surrounding it. I can count the number of people who know about my condition on one hand, as a matter of fact. I created this article in the hopes of changing how people view Borderline Personality Disorder, otherwise known as BPD. Its an extremely misunderstood and widely feared condition. One of the first things people ask when I disclose this information is typically Didnt Jodi Arias have that? or As long as you dont brutally murder me, were cool. Comments like this are hurtful and made me afraid to have such a serious condition, even though people made those comments in joking. So, lets leave stigma, misconceptions, and judgment at the door. Here are things I wish you knew about Borderline Personality Disorder*: People with Borderline Personality Disorder Arent Monsters Lets get one thing straight right off the bat. Borderline Personality Disorder is not an inherently violent condition. In fact, people with BPD are much more likely to be a danger to themselves than anyone else. Yes, intense anger and other emotions are a part of BPD symptoms, but that doesnt mean that theyre at risk for hurting someone else. The key word of BPD tends to be self-destruction, meaning that those with BPD are more of a danger toward themselves than they are to those close to them. People with Borderline Personality Disorder Feel Things Very Deeply Imagine for a moment if you were born without skin. Imagine how intense every single sensation would be. Now, imagine being punched in the gut. Sounds pretty agonizing, right? Emotionally, people with Borderline Personality Disorder have no outer shell to protect their emotions from triggering events and upsetting news, whether its a breakup or a last minute cancellation. Unfortunately, its easy for someone with Borderline Personality Disorder to interpret any change of behavior as abandonment. Imagine being terrified (like, life or death terrified) of your significant other breaking up with you. You now have some insight into what it feels like to have a BPD brain. People with Borderline Personality Disorder Are Not Manipulative Theres a really horrible myth that people with BPD manipulate others and seek attention for the fun of it. However, there is nothing fun or enjoyable about this condition. Actions that appear to be attention-seeking or manipulative typically originate from fear of separation or abandonment from those that they care about. This behavior isnt malicious in the slightest; rather its an attempt to seek relief from their anxieties about abandonment. People with Borderline Personality Disorder Dont Threaten Suicide/Self-Harm for Attention This is important, so Im going to write it twice. Here we go: Always take suicide threats seriously. Did you hear that? Let me say it again: ALWAYS TAKE SUICIDE THREATS SERIOUSLY. Often, people assume that suicide threats and self-mutilation are attempts to get attention or manipulate others into doing what they want. However, this is not the case. Statistics reveal that 10% of people with Borderline Personality Disorder will commit suicide and many more engage in self-mutilating behavior, like cutting, burning, and more. Even if you feel like someone is holding themselves hostage for you to come to the rescue, you must take any and all suicide threats seriously. Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder Are Not the Same Conditions A common misunderstanding people fall into is thinking that Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder, when this is the furthest thing from the truth. First off, one is a personality disorder and the other is a mood disorder. Both are very different types of mental illnesses. Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating episodes of depression and mania that can last for days, weeks, or even months. Borderline Personality Disorder is characterized by mood swings caused by interpersonal conflicts and can last for minutes, hours, days, and weeks. Remember that the abbreviation for Bipolar Disorder is BD, while the abbreviation for Borderline Personality Disorder is BPD. People with Borderline Personality Disorder Are Not All the Same I found a very sweet post on Reddit that someones boyfriend wrote about their girlfriend who was diagnosed with BPD. After scrolling a little further, I found a post that broke my heart. A young man made a post about a new girl he met with BPD and if she would be worth dating. Of course, being the Internet, people had nothing nice to say. Some of the comments that stood out to me were: They dont have personalities. Theyll steal yours and make you fall in love with them. Run for your life. Shell ruin your life. Of course, I found these comments to be incredibly painful to read. So, I feel the need to put it out there that not everyone with BPD is the same. Sure, there are genuinely cruel people out there, but just because someone has been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder doesnt inherently make them evil or out to ruin your life. As a matter of fact, people with BPD are typically considerate, caring, loving, and loyal people. This brings me to my next point People with Borderline Personality Disorder Are Not Unlovable or Unbearable Okay, lets be real. Its a challenge to live with or be in a relationship with anyone who has any kind of disorder or illness, whether its mental or physical. While its a challenge, its not impossible to learn how to live and function in a healthy, happy way. So, to call people with Borderline Personality Disorder unbearable, unlovable, or unworthy of love is a strong, not to mention cruel, generalization. Every person is different and has their own set of issues to deal with. People who have Borderline Personality Disorder tend to find success and inner peace with the help of medications, therapy, and DBT therapy. Image via: Unsplash People with Borderline Personality Disorder Can Never Be Cured This statement is both true and false. With that being said, unfortunately, there isnt a cure for Borderline Personality Disorder, but with the right treatment plan, those with BPD can find peace and happiness. A cure for Borderline Personality Disorder means the ability to tolerate distress and regulate emotions. Someone who has been cured of Borderline Personality Disorder is serious about treatment and improving their situation. There isnt a cure that will make BPD completely vanish, but there are ways to make life enjoyable and worth living nonetheless. I hope that I achieved my goal of educating you about Borderline Personality Disorder and getting rid of some of the myths about the condition. I received my diagnosis of BPD two years ago and Im nowhere close to finding my own cure, but I know with hard work, persistence, and treatment, I will find peace. If you have Borderline Personality Disorder, no matter where you are in your treatment plan, you are strong and you will make it. *These are things that I, personally, wish other people knew about Borderline Personality. Every person with this condition is different in their own way and struggles with different issues. To learn more about Borderline Personality Disorder, check out the following resources: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality-disorder/index.shtml https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Borderline-Personality-Disorder https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/borderline-personality-disorder-bipolar-disorder#1
How to Speak 10 Languages Without Losing Your Cool
How to Speak 10 Languages Without Losing Your Cool How to Speak 10 Languages Without Losing Your Cool Is it an addiction?Maybe its just insanity.Nobody knows.The result is the same either way you look at it. Once you learn one language, youll want to learn another.And another. And another.Heres a little secret: If youre going to get addicted to something, let languages be your vice of choice.The only side effects are enhanced cognitive function and long-term brain health.But how can you feed your addiction? Once youre driven to learn 10 language or more, whats the best way to go about it?In this post, well show you tips for pairing languages, scheduling study time and more secrets every aspiring polyglot should know. Is It Even Possible to Learn 10 Languages?Short answer: yes. Many polyglots say theyve learned 10 or more languagesâ"its been said that the 19th-century priest Giuseppe Mezzofanti spoke 50 languages!Was he fluent in all of them? And what does it take to say you can speak multiple languages, anyway?Thats a more complex question.In the article linked above, University o f California Berkeley linguist Claire Kramsch argues that because of all the cultural nuances that come with a language, you must live the language in order to truly speak it. That requires long-term, in-depth contact with the language and its speakers. Kramsch estimates that you could really only live in four or five languages, tops.That makes sense. Its hard to keep languages fresh in your mind if you dont regularly use them. Just trying to keep four or five fresh is a hefty undertaking.However, consider your personal goals for learning 10 languages. Do you need to have complex philosophical discussions in each one? Or do you want to know enough to travel, meet new friends and watch movies without confusion?The important thing is to weigh your language learning goals against your own needs, to identify the type of fluency thatll work for you in each of your 10 chosen languages.Everyone has their reasons for wanting to be a master of language. It could be for career advancement, t ravel, communicating with a multinational family or just a passion for learning. It doesnt matter.If you want to learn 10 languages or 10,000 languages, then its what you should do and dont let anyone try to make you feel bad about it.Inspiration for Aspiring PolyglotsThomas Edison. Harriet Tubman. Albert Einstein. All of these crazy people accomplished things that others could only dream about. So why cant you?Aim for as many languages as your heart desires! If youre willing to go for the gold, then go for it. You wouldnt be the first. Take a look at the comments from these language superstars about being multilingual.No language is justly studied merely as an aid to other purposes. It will in fact better serve other purposes, philological or historical, when it is studied for love, for itself. J.R.R Tolkein, who spoke more than a dozen languages.Nothing is impossible. Audrey Hepburn, who spoke six languages.The difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone is how hig h you raise your foot. Benny Lewis, who speaks seven languages and counting.Be firmly convinced you are a linguistic genius. Kató Lomb, who spoke 16 languages.How to Speak 10 Languages Without Losing Your Cool1. Adjust Your ExpectationsThis is probably the most important step to keeping your sanity. There are many language learners out there who strive for perfection. Theres nothing wrong with that, especially if youre focusing on one or maybe even two languages.However, once you get past that, being a perfectionist (i.e. striving for native-like fluency on every single language) isnt practical.Instead, set small goals for yourself. Slow and steady wins the race. Its a cliche, but that doesnt mean its not true. If you try to achieve ultimate mastery in a short time youre only going to disappoint yourself.For example, set a goal to learn 20 new words or phrases per day, or schedule an hour of practice for one language on Monday, another on Tuesday, etc.Taking this approach will get you where you want to be much faster than if you try to race against the clock. Youll be surprised to see how much you retain if you just pace yourself.2. Go with What You KnowThis goes against all things millennial. Were always trying something different. We love stepping outside of our comfort zones. When youre trying to learn several languages, though, its okay to stay in your comfort zone. The comfort zone will make your life a thousand times easier.So, if you have any experience or familiarity with a foreign language whatsoever then put that language on the top of your learning list. Thats your starting point.For example, if you know a few phrases in Spanish from a trip you took last year, then start with Spanish. If you had a little French in high school but forgot it, then start with Frenchâ"itll come back to you.You can also start with languages that are similar to what you already know. For example, if you speak Spanish, another Romance language like Portuguese or Ita lian would be a great next step. If you speak a Scandinavian language, learn another Scandinavian language. Youll find its much easier to adjust to some of the rules, because many of them are the same.But what if you only speak English? Youre not out of luck. Again, you can always start with Spanish, because its been said that its one of the easier languages to learn for English speakers. But if you want to take the road less traveled, then perhaps you might want to try Afrikaans or Dutch.Those languages are very similar in their structure to English even though it might not seem like it at first glance.3. Pair Up Your Target LanguagesIf youre even thinking about trying to learn 10 languages then youre probably just ambitious by nature, and not afraid of a little challenge.If you want to get to 10 languages more quickly, try learning two of them at a time. Will it be easy? Of course not, but there are ways to make it less miserable.It may seem crazy after our tip above, but it can actually be best to combine completely unrelated languages for simultaneous learning. Something like Portuguese and Farsi or Spanish and Mandarin.The idea is to minimize overlap and confusion between your language lessons and practice. You want the languages to be worlds apart so that theres no chance of muddling them up in your brain.How does this look in practice, especially bearing in mind our tip above?Well, you can try to learn two languages that are both somewhat familiar to your native language, but in different ways. For English learners, you might try French (which shares a ton of vocabulary with English) and Dutch (which is from the same language family as English).You could also start with a language thats familiar to you, then throw in a wildcard for simultaneous learning.Setting the schedule is the trickiest part. If youre going for two languages at a time, make sure to leave some time for practice at the beginning and end of the day to squeeze them in. Or study each l anguage in a different environmentâ"maybe one at home and one on your commute. You get the idea.Only you know what your day looks like. Spread out your study time so that youre not studying both in one marathon study session, because even if the languages are different, youd risk overworking yourself and burning out.4. Immerse Yourself in Each LanguagePart of learning a language is being entrenched in the world of the native speakers. How do they think? What do they eat? What music do they listen to? What do they find rude? What do they find humorous? What kinds of idioms do they use?So how do you actually immerse yourself in your target languages and start answering these questions? Here are some tips to get you started:Spend some time in a place where they speak your target language. This is the total immersion option, where you have no choice but to use the language every day, sink or swim.Check out immersive language learning tools like FluentU. What makes FluentU great is the access to authentic, entertaining videos in a range of target languages. But better yet, each video comes with flashcards, exercises and interactive captions. That means youre actively building your vocabulary while absorbing languages the way native speakers really use them.Its super easy to switch between languages on one account, and with the FluentU mobile app for iOS or Android devices you can squeeze in some practice anytime, anywhere!Get a language exchange partner (or two, or three or ten!). There are several websites that can connect you to native speakers in other countries or even in your own community. Try these fun language exchange apps for starters!5. Be Okay with Being a CopycatDifferent languages have different sounds. Obviously, right? Let me go a step further.These sounds come from the different ways we use our mouths and throats. Some of its very obvious like the rolled r in Spanish or the guttural throat sounds of Arabic. Then there are the subtle, more nua nced differences such as how we move our mouths, or where we place our tongues.Some people find it very difficult to adapt to these strange new sounds and thats fair. Its the reason why people have accents when they speak a different language. This stuff is just hard to master.However, you can try. The key is to observe and mimic. When you watch native speakers talking, pay close attention to how they move their mouths and jaws. Even pay attention to their hand movements.Many of these natural inclinationsâ"that native speakers arent even conscious ofâ"can help a great deal if youre trying to achieve native-like fluency in another language.This technique probably works best when watching target language videos. If you do it in person, unless the person understands what youre trying to accomplish, youll most likely just weird them out.6. Get Over EmbarassmentRemember just a few moments ago when we were talking about accents and sounds? These often become a source of embarrassment fo r many language learners. People can feel foolish when they try to mimic foreign sounds that theyre not used to making.Let go of the idea that people will point and laugh at you if you have a funny accent or make a mistake. First of all, its just not realistic. It almost never happens.Second of all, its a huge mental block that can prevent you from learning one language, let alone 10. Just accept right now that there will be times when you mispronounce a word or make some other frustrating mistake. Its part of the learning process.The good news is that as you practice more and more different languages, youll have an easier time tackling unfamiliar sounds. On the most basic level, youre exercising your mouth, strengthening your tongue. Youre teaching it to twist and contort in new ways that your native language never required. With practice and with each new language, itll get easier.7. Practice Multiple Skills Every DayWe click on these articles hoping that someone will finally have the answer to making us fluent overnight, but it all comes back to practice. You just have to do it. And you have to do it the smart way.Lets say your language practice consisted only of drilling vocabulary flashcards in 10 languages every day. Your memorization skills might be top-notch but could you order coffee in 10 different countries and be understood? No.Its important to try and get listening, reading, speaking and writing practice in your target languages regularly. That doesnt mean you need to practice every single language every dayâ"rather, when you practice each language, you should focus on strengthening all four major skills.You can keep a language diary with entries in different languages every day. You can pick a novel in a new language to read each month. You can watch movies every weekend in one of your target languages. The options are endless!However you decide to tackle this, make sure you enjoy it. When you reach your goal, itll have been so worth it. So go f orth and good luck! And One More ThingIf youve read this far, you must be serious about language learning, which means you should know more about FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ"the same way that real people speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word youâre learning.FluentU Has Quizzes f or 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.
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