Finding a Chinese Tutor in Quezon City

Finding a Chinese Tutor in Quezon CityThe Chinese teachers in Quezon City are some of the best in the country. You can find one who understands Chinese, knows English, and can also speak Spanish and other languages of the world. This is possible because many Chinese people have taken the language as a second language in their family background and with them the desire to learn Chinese as well. Since so many Chinese people have moved to the Philippines and settled here and other countries, most of them have also settled down to work in the different industries here as well.If you need to hire a Chinese tutor in Quezon City, this is an ideal option for you. There are lots of ways to search for one that you will love and that will fit your needs. One way is to consult the online guides that are available. These guides have some helpful tips on the best ways of finding Chinese tutors in Quezon City. You will find the details about each teacher in the guide as well as their contact inform ation and the kind of experience they have in teaching students.The other option that you can consider is to ask around for recommendations from your friends or other relatives. Or you can also do a bit of searching online. In this method, you will also be able to get a lot of good leads about the best Chinese teachers in Quezon City. In addition, you will find all the information about the proper procedures you should follow in your search for a tutor. These include how to find their websites, where to find them on the internet, what to expect from the teacher and much more.Another good online resource for finding a good Chinese tutor in Quezon City is a person's community. If you belong to a society or association, it would be best for you to visit their website and check if they have a list of tutors who teach in their school. You can also check the emails or forums that they have on their website. Some teachers who teach in schools are actually paid instructors while others do i t free.There are also search engines that can help you in your search for teachers. These search engines will have online databases of online classified ads for tutors. If you put in the keywords 'Chinese tutor'teacher' in the search bar, you will come up with a list of teachers who have been recommended by readers or other members of the community. This will give you a better idea of what to expect in your search for a good Chinese tutor in Quezon City.Another great resource that you can use for finding a QCCQ teacher is looking for some reviews online. You can also find other sources that are more specific and which will only recommend one tutor for certain areas of teaching or class. The teacher that you would like to go for will have to be someone who has a good reputation and some online review is probably enough to decide.However, before you choose a QCCQ teacher, make sure that you are comfortable with him or her. Ask questions regarding their fees, are they licensed to teach in the province or are they still studying there, etc.

Making the Most of Summer

Making the Most of Summer Improving Academic Performance Summertime; its when students look forward to staying up late, sleeping-in, hanging out with their friends, BBQs and sunny beach getaways. All fun aside, summer is a great time to get a leg up on the competition and to keep your skills sharp. For younger students, summer is the perfect time to brush-up on those subjects that they may struggle with throughout the year. During the summer when you aren’t inundated with multiple classes and extra- curricular activities you can focus on a specific subject where you would like to strengthen your skills. BRUSH-UP ON YOUR SKILLS Readingis fundamental, it’s true, as it’s one of the best ways to work on multiple skills simultaneously. Reading helps you to develop a stronger vocabulary, better critical thinking skills, improves focus and concentration and can help you enhance your own writing skills. Reading is not only beneficial to younger learners, but high school, college and graduate school students alike, asthe benefits of reading are directly applicable to test taking success! Young readers can read ashort list of their choresand older students can strive tofinish a novel before the movieadaptation hits theaters. Be sure to throw a book into your beach bag or to read on that weekend road-trip. Reading andWritinggo hand-in-hand, being a strong writer will serve you in any academic or professional pursuit. It is imperative to begin writing, early and often. For most students, writing is usually in the context of a school assignment, we should think outside of the box and incorporate writing into or daily lives. Adolescents can practice their writing bywriting a letter home to their parents from sleep-away camporwriting shortsummaries of a movie. Parents can ask teens towrite a persuasive proposalon why they deserve that new expensive gadget or why they should be allowed to attend their first concert with friends. Writing in an everyday context not only helps students develop their writing skills, but ithelps them to develop their “voice.”This is an essential skill for writing that “dreaded” college admissions essay. When asked to write an analytical essay, students should do more than regurgitate the author’s stance, they should know how to use their own words to a nalyze what the reading states and its greater implications. Finally, everyone can always brush up on their math skills.Mathis one of those things, that, if you don’t use it you lose it. You can incorporate math into your daily life bypracticing mental math. When shopping,figure out what your total will be before reaching the register. If that shirt is 40% off, what will the final price be? For younger kids, ask them how long they will have tosave their allowance to afford that new toy? Let kids help in the kitchen;cooking is a perfect time to practice mathusing a measuring cup, cutting pizza or a pie, or doubling a recipe to feed a crowd. TAKE ACTION Now that you have worked on those reading and writing skills, it is time to put them to good use. High school students should use the summer before their Senior year to write theirCollege Admissions Essay.By this time, you have undoubtedly began thinking about where you would like to attend college and even a potential major. The summer is a good time to get started on this essay because during the Fall of your senior year you have your coursework to keep up with, trying to squeeze in that one last ACT exam, taking trips to visit colleges and of course the first College Application deadlines. You have a good idea of the type of student you are, what interests you and what you are passionate about, so get writing! This is also a good time to open afirst checking and savings account. High school Juniors and Seniors probably have a summer job and opening these accounts is a great way to keep them accountable on their spending and the first step in teaching them financial responsibility, an essential skill before they go off to college. For students, high school aged and under, help themchoose camps and summer activities that will enhance their academic skills. A child who has an interest in math or science would flourish at a robotics or coding camp. A more imaginative child would benefit from a creative writing or drama camp. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Summer is also the perfect time to take learning beyond academic to experiential. Use summer breaks to, serve an internship in a field you are interested in pursuing. Though you will need to research and apply tointernshipswell before summer (usually the previous fall), you can continue learning beyond the classroom when you are working in the field. Sometimes, there may not be formal internships offered in a field in which you are interested. In these instances, ask if you mayshadow a professional in the field.Let’s say you are interested in becoming a dentist, write a letter to your family dentist expressing your interest in the profession and ask if you might spend a day or longer shadowing them at work. Time off school is also the perfect time to spend timevolunteeringfor a cause you are passionate about. Philanthropy is accessile to students of all ages. Finally, forgraduate and professional students, summer is a practical time toupdate your CV or Resume. Think back over the previous semesters and list out any courses or professional development you completed, list any classes you taught and conferences you presented at. Always having an updated CV/Resume makes it easier to fire away when a fellowship or job opportunity presents itself.

How to Warn Someone in English - English Lesson via Skype

How to Warn Someone in English - English Lesson via Skype People are always taking risks and as a result they are always likely to have accidents. Lets learn how to warn someone in English.We warn  people about the dangers in many different ways.These are often referred to as warning signs  when it is official.As an example a local government will put up  (erect) warning signs like Danger  keep out. This is to stop people going into a restricted area.A farmer might put up a notice on his  field Beware of Bull, Keep out.And house owners often put up notices on their gates (particularly for the postman!) Beware of the Dog.This warns people in advance so if anything happens the  owners of the land (government or the farmer) have some protection against a legal action. How to Warn Someone in English? There are many more informal ways of warning people in English. Here are some of them:1. MIND YOUR HEADWhere a ceiling or door is low and you might possibly bang (hit) your head then  these warning signs or posters are put up to help you.2. MIND OUT OF THE WAY or KEEP OUT OF THE WAY!This is often shouted when we are in danger of  bumping into somebody who is too close to us.For example, you are running along the street as you  are late for the bus or tram. You shout at the people (politely) to mind out of the way or keep out of  the way so you can get by more quickly.3. TAKE CARE (OF YOURSELF)be careful, be cautious, keep yourself safeTake care driving in foggy conditions.We can also use this phrase when were saying goodbye to family or friends.4. BE CAREFULpay attention to what you are doing, be cautiousBe careful when using  this new app and paying by card!  5. IF I WERE YOUWere using this expression when we want to give someone a piece of advice.If I were you, I wouldnt drive home tonight. How to Warn Someone in English - Infographic Enjoyed this infographic? Here’s what you can do next: Many of warnings in English are written in the form of phrasal verbs  (verb + preposition) but always  remember if you want it to sound important or serious then when writing it use the exclamation  mark! Or when speaking you must raise your voice (not necessarily scream or shout) to indicate it is a warning.Look out!Watch out!Watch it!Careful!Keep out!All of these warnings in English basically mean the same.Look out my hands are full I might drop the plates!Watch out I  am right behind you do not move!Watch it you nearly knocked into me!Careful you are spilling the  wine!If you are in a room (your bedroom) trying to get some peace and quiet then if someone knocks on  your door you might say “go away, I am busy”.   Teenagers will often use these phrases to warn their  parents not to disturb them:GO AWAY CAN’T YOU SEE I AM BUSY  orGET OUT I AM BUSY!(NEVER use it with people you dont know as this is very impolite)As in many languages, warnings in English can be given in many ways to advise us of a possible danger or risk so it is always a good  idea to heed (take notice of) that warning.Scroll down to learn English expressions related to warnings. English Expressions related to Warnings You can also use English idioms and expressions to warn people in English. Here are some examples of English expressions related to warnings:BETTER SAFE THAN SORRYIts wiser to be cautious and careful than to do something in a hurry that you may later regret.RED SKY IN THE MORNING, SHEPHERDS WARNINGA red sky in the morning is a sign that bad weather will follow later.TOO MANY COOKS (SPOIL THE BROTH)When there are too many people trying to do the same job, this job will not be done well.LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAPConsider every possible scenario and weigh all the possible outcomes before making a decision.

5 Killer Language Learning Strategies Guaranteed to Help You Make Time

5 Killer Language Learning Strategies Guaranteed to Help You Make Time 5 Killer Language Learning Strategies Guaranteed to Help You Make Time Have you ever thought to yourself, Id love to learn a foreign language but Im just too darn busy. If only I had more hours in the day?I hear you.Work life and home life are demanding, and those 24 hours a day wont be getting any longer.So when are we supposed to learn an entire other language?I have good news for you. There are effective, surefire ways to make time for language learning.  (Yes, even for those of you with the busiest of schedules!)So sit tight and keep on reading, because here  are my five best strategies to make time for language learning every day and they actually work! 5 Killer Language Learning Strategies Guaranteed to Help You Make Time1. Apply the 80/20 Rule to Focus on What Matters MostThe modern world is a buzzing chaotic mess of activity and it seems to get worse with each passing year. In reality, however, the problem is not a lack of time, but a lack of prioritization.  As Tim Ferriss shares in his best-selling book The 4-Hour Workweek:Most things make no difference. Being busy is a form of lazinessâ€"lazy thinking and indiscriminate action. Being overwhelmed is often as unproductive as doing nothing, and is far more unpleasant. Being selectiveâ€"doing lessâ€"is the path of the productive. Focus on the important few and ignore the rest.This is where the 80/20 Rule (a.k.a. “Pareto Principle”) comes in. This  simple but extremely powerful tool can help you  identify the most important, high-yield activities in your life, eliminate unimportant, low-yield activities and free  up extra time for language learning.In a nut shellâ€"or rather, in a pea podâ€"the 80/20 rule states that  a comparatively large number of effects tend to be the result of a very small number of causes. The ratio is often 80 to 20, but can sometimes be as extreme as 90/10 or even 99/1.This interesting phenomenon was first popularized by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto in the early 1900s when he observed that 80 percent of Italy’s land was held by only 20 percent of its population. Intrigued by the disparity, he then took his curiosity to the garden where he saw that 80 percent of the peas were produced by just 20 percent of the pea pods.You probably dont care about Italian real estate or peas, but Paretos discovery can have a major impact on how you live your life and whether or not you reach your language learning goals.Spending just 10 minutes now to run an 80/20 analysis with these steps can free up massive swaths of previously unavailable time:Jot down as many recurring daily, weekly and monthly tasks as you can think of (work, chores, play, exercise, study, etc.)Review the list and star the tasks that produce the greatest, most perceivable pay-offs. These are the high-yield “big rocks” that you should prioritize.Now identify which tasks create the least benefit or greatest misery. Cross these off the list and do everything you can to cut them out of your life.By applying the 80/20 rule to your language learning endeavors, y oull increase results and have more time to practice.2. Put First Things First: Schedule Time for Language Study Before Everything ElseAnother way to make time for language learning is to make it a higher priority in your life, to have it come first.Fit in the “big rocks” before your life fills up with “small pebbles”Waiting for convenient chunks of time each day to study your target language? Good luck with that; chances are you will end up waiting forever and never even get started. Despite our best intentions, the important things usually get crowded out by the endless flood of little things that fill our days.Dont let yourself get lost in the thick of thin things, as Stephen R. Covey puts it.  If learning a foreign language really is important to you, its up to you to make time for it in your day.No matter how busy you are, you can carve out time for a few high-yield, life enriching tasks ifâ€"and this is a big ifâ€"you put them first.Order of operations is critical here .  As  Covey demonstrates in  his famous big rock demonstration, trying to squeeze in all the big rocks (important things in your life) is impossible if you let your life fill up first with all the sand and small pebbles (the myriad less important things).Study first thing in the morning and right before bedStudying a language right away in the morning has three key advantages:It ensures that you put in at least a little study time every day, no matter how crazy your day becomes. Maybe you find out when you get to work that an urgent report is due by the end of the day. You may grimace at the heavy work load and late night ahead, but at least you can pat yourself on the back for already meeting your daily language learning target.It reminds your brain that language learning is a top priority in your life. By literally putting language first in your day, it keeps the task at the forefront of your mind, and you are then more likely to return to language learning activities when hidden moments arise (more on this below).It reinforces material you studied right before bed the night before.  Repetition is one of the most important (and often neglected) elements of successful language acquisition. By quickly reviewing last nights language material each morning, you create a poor mans spaced repetition system and drive words, phrases and structures further into long-term memory.Studying right before bed has three further benefits:It creates a habit sandwich.  You started the day with language learning and now you end the day in the same way. This positive behavioral symmetry feels good, increases motivation and helps strengthen the language learning habit (more on habit formation below).It can help lull you to sleep.  Maybe you are one of those lucky sons of guns who falls gracefully into La La Land as soon as your noggin hits the pillow. But if you tend to toss and turn, studying a language (especially more mentally taxing tasks like learning grammar rules, conjugat ions and new vocabulary) can be a powerful sleep aid. For most folks, it just takes five minutes looking at a declension table to draw the Sand Man near.It sets the neurological stage for memory consolidation. Our brains interpret, consolidate and store new experiences and information as we slumber (especially during REM sleep). By studying right before bed, you help language cut to the front of the consolidation line.Add language study to your calendar and to-do listA simple way to put language learning first is to schedule blocks of study time on your calendar each week. Treat these like urgent appointments you cannot miss or reschedule. This is  your  sacred time.Or if you prefer, you can use a task management system to remind you each day to put in some study time. Ive tried dozens of task management apps, but my two favorites are:Wunderlist.  Pros: Free for the basic version. Available on all major platforms. Simple, elegant design. Cons: Too simplistic for some business needs. OmniFocus.  Pros: Extremely powerful task and project management system. Integrates well with the Getting Things Done approach. Cons: Expensive! $39.99 for Mac, $29.99 for iPad and $19.99 for iPhone.Putting language learning first by scheduling time or even literally doing it  first every  day will result in more time spent on your foreign language goals, and in return, more progress.3. Harness Hidden Moments Throughout Your DayHarnessing your hidden moments, those otherwise meaningless scraps of time you’d never normally think of putting to practical use, and using them for language studyâ€"even if it’s no more than fifteen, ten, or five seconds at a timeâ€"can turn you into a triumphant tortoise.â€"Barry Farber, How to Learn Any LanguageListen to audio as you do other brainless activitiesListening is one of the most important components of learning to communicate in a foreign language, and lucky for us, one of the easiest to fit into a busy schedule. Since listening doesnt r equire use of your eyes and hands, you can get valuable listening input by listening to audio lessons and podcasts as you go about a host of other activities:Walking/JoggingDrivingShoppingCookingDoing household choresReview flashcards whenever you find yourself waitingAssuming you have free use of your hands, waiting for things is the ideal time to review flashcards. Even 10 seconds is enough time to review a few cards. Get in the habit of whipping out your flashcards (whether actual cards or an app on your smartphone like the  FluentU iPhone  or Android app) whenever you find yourself:Waiting in line at the store.Waiting for the elevator.Waiting on hold.Waiting for a call to connect.Schedule a 15-minute tutor session during every lunch breakBeing able to speak is the primary goal of most language learners, and there is no better way to reach that objective than daily speaking practice.Just 15 minutes of speaking practice with a native speaker or tutor is enough to help solidify the material youve learned in your input activities, identify holes in your vocabulary and grammar, and build motivation to continue learning the next day.  Moreover, knowing that you will be speaking with a tutor each day gives you that much more incentive to put in the study time beforehand.4. Stop Choosing to Study: Make Language Learning a Robust HabitWillpower is a finite resource, and every choice you make throughout your day, no matter how small, uses up your precious reserves. Dubbed ego depletion by psychologists, this  phenomenon is the reason why many people feel so exhausted after shopping and why most find it so difficult to fit in study time after a long, hard day.The good news is that you no longer have to rely on the whims of willpower if you transform language study from a conscious daily decision to a hardwired habit. Heres how:Create positive habit loops”The habit loop is the reason you check your e-mail 100 times a day even when trying to do more important tasks, and the reason you reach for a box of doughnuts even after you have promised to quit sugar. As Charles Duhigg lays out in The Power of Habit, these powerful loops are comprised of four steps:The E-Mail Habit Loop:Cue.  You hear a message notification sound, feel a vibration in your pocket, or see  a new message notification on the screen.Routine.  You check your email inbox for new messages.Reward.  You get a temporary distraction from difficult, uncomfortable or boring work you should  be doing, and feel an increased sense of self-importance or belonging if you receive new messages.Craving.  After checking for new messages and returning to other work, you start anticipating how it will feel to receive the next inbox reward. As soon as the next cue appears, the habit loop is triggered all over again.The Doughnut Habit Loop:Cue.  You  see  or smell  the doughnuts.Routine.  You stuff 2 bacon-covered maple bars into your face.Reward.  You experience the delectable taste on your tongue and get a temporary rush of energy as the glucose spike surges through your blood.Craving.  After your blood sugar crashes, you begin to again crave the sweet doughnut goodness and find yourself back at the box.But not all habit loops are bad for us. With a little psychological engineering, you can hijack the  cue-routine-reward-craving  loop and apply it language learning.  The first step is to create an obvious cue for language study:Place a stack of flashcards on your nightstand.Put your favorite language learning apps on the home screen of your smartphone.Set a recurring alarm or calendar event to review at set times each day.Fill in the blanks in the sentence, After I ____, I study a language for 15 minutes.The routine part is fairly straight forward; just do whatever language learning activities you enjoy most or get the most benefit from:Listen to a podcast.Read a news article, blog post or a few pages from a book.Talk to a tutor or try language exchange.Learn all the vocab i n a music video or movie trailer through FluentU. FluentU takes real-world videos and turns them into language learning experiences. Its the best way to learn a language through immersion, short of actually going to the country.Next comes the reward. This is the most important part of the habit loop; the piece that keeps the whole thing spinning round and round and keeps you coming back for more without even thinking about it. You know yourself better than anyone else; make sure to identify innate and external rewards that will provide true gratification:The buzz from learning new things. Regularly add in new materials and topics to keep things fresh. Try stretching a bit beyond your current level of comfort and competence.Edible treats or guilty pleasures. Allow yourself that glass of wine with dinner or an episode of your favorite trashy television show  only  if you have completed your language study for the day.Study streaks.  Each day in row you study, your streak gets longer a nd longer, and you will be that much more motivated to not break the chain. More on this below.If you have chosen inherently enjoyable language learning routines and effective rewards, you should naturally find yourself craving your next study session. You may even end up adding more than one session a day or extending the length of each. If not, try mixing up your routine and testing out more immediate or tangible rewards (e.g. placing a piece of chocolate on your desk that you cant eat until you finish).Identify your “keystone habits”When people start habitually exercising, even as infrequently as once a week, they start changing other, unrelated patterns in their lives, often unknowingly. Typically, people who exercise start eating better and becoming more productive at work. They smoke less and show more patience with colleagues and family. They use their credit cards less frequently and say they feel less stressed. It’s not completely clear why. But for many people, exerc ise is a keystone habit that triggers widespread change.?Charles Duhigg, The Power of HabitYou may have noticed that when you hit the gym, you are that much more likely to hit the books, too. This is because exercise is a  keystone habit, a heavy domino that once tipped influences a host of seemingly unrelated behaviors.But the reverse is equally true: skip the gym and you will probably skip studying.  Take some time to identify your keystone habits, those powerful triggers that have positive or negative ripples throughout your life. Then do everything you can to eliminate the bad habits and maximize the good.Use a habit tracking app to monitor your progress and build momentumWhile your smartphone will not miraculously change your behavior for you, habit tracking apps like Lift, Chains.cc or Habit List  can  at least help monitor your progress and create a positive feedback loop to help keep you going. The more days in a row you complete a habit, the stronger it becomes and the hi gher the motivation to not break the chain.5. Set Social and Financial StakesTrying to build a new habit is hard, but you can stack the deck in your favor by leveraging the power of competition, social accountability and commitment contracts.Choose a partner in crimePick at least one friend to study with, or better yet, compete  with. Not only is it more fun to learn with other living, breathing human beings, but a little friendly competition can significantly boost compliance.As  Tony Stubblebine (CEO of  Lift) points out:“You’re 50% more likely to succeed in your goal if you know at least one other person doing it.”Make your goals and daily progress publicBeyond just your study buddy, I suggest sharing your learning goals and daily progress with the world at large. You can start a language learning blog, share progress with Give it 100  or just make daily update posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc.  Knowing that people will see whether or not you have studied each day can help p rovide the added push you need on days when you really dont feel like studying.Use Stickk or Beeminder to put your money where your mouth isIf friendly competition and public accountability  arent strong enough motivators for you, try leveraging a more tangible stake: your money. Services like StickK and Beeminder allow you to tie specific financial stakes to each of your goals.If you fail to hit your daily or weekly targets, a predefined amount is charged to your credit card or sent to an anti-charity in your name (e.g. if you are a proponent of gun control, you can choose the NRA as your anti-charity).“People who put stakesâ€"either their money or their reputationâ€"on the table are far more likely to actually achieve a goal they set for themselves.” ?StickKWere all busy people, but if you want more time for language learning then start using any of these five strategies today. The more repetition and consistency you have with your language learning, the faster youll advance t owards your targets.John Fotheringham is a linguist, author, entrepreneur, pun aficionado, and full-time silly goose. As both learner and teacher, he has spent the last decade testing first hand what works, and perhaps more importantly, what doesn’t. He shares these results on his blog, Language Mastery, in his podcast, The Language Mastery Show, and in his comprehensive language learning guides, Master Japanese and Master Mandarin. And One More ThingSo, are you ready to start a healthy language learning habit for life?FluentU can help with that.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 natives  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 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 your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using  FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes store  or from the  Google Play store  to access material on your Android and iOS devices.

World`s Best Teacher - Tutor Hunt Blog

World`s Best Teacher World`s Best Teacher World`s Best TeacherSchools`World`s best teacher` says the arts can save pupils from gang crime A teacher from Alperton Community School in Brent has made the claim that art can help vulnerable young children avoid a lifetime of gang crime. Ms Zafirakou, teacher of art and textiles has said that arts subjects can guide children away from a life of knife and gang crime. Given the spike in both gun and knife attacks in London this year, her claim is a topical one, and certainly worth investigating. Ms Zafirakou voiced a cautionary note, saying that if funding to the arts are cut, and children are restricted from studying them, it could have dire consequences for both their mental health, and physical safety. She went on to say that after school art classes at Alperton have been instrumental in helping children be safe, both by keeping them off the streets, and giving them the confidence to see a different future than just one involving crime. `At Alperton Community School in Brent we have faced many challenges in combating the disenfranchisement that can render children susceptible to gang culture.` Many forms of art have been used as a form of therapy. Music especially has been thought to have a healing influence at least as far back as the Ancient Greeks. Pythagoras expounded the healing properties of certain musical intervals (such as the octave, perfect fifth and perfect fourth); and the writings of both Plato and Aristotle discuss the effect of music on human behaviour. Today music therapy is a major medicinal pursuit, with accomplished musicians from all over the world studying to become qualified practitioners in the science. The British association for music therapy is the accredited professional body for music in the UK, providing training and guidance for practitioners, along with raising awareness as to the benefits of music therapy. Therapy through the medium of painting - commonly known as `art therapy` is a growing field, and though less developed than music therapy, it is increasingly being recognised as a pursuit that can engender numerous health benefits. Writing has long been recognized as a method to alleviate mental stresses - the theory being that the act of writing down troubling thoughts can help the patient realise - clearly and distinctly - exactly what is causing them distress. Rather than a nebulous mass of vague concerns, they can express and distill certain sentiments that they perhaps couldn`t face up to. Putting the words down can be a cathartic precess, while seeing them on the page (or screen) in front of them can be a way of isolating, and focusing on the problem. Ms Zafirakou goes so far as to express the view that art can be used to build confidence, and help guide students away from the path of crime. `Arts subjects help children to clarify their ideas what is right and wrong? Who am I? What is my identity?` Only this week the government has announced that they will be supplying 96 million to support talented drama, music and dance students. The arts have already seen a huge investment over the last two years, and this additional pledge will increase the total funding to 496 million since 2016. Despite this substantial funding Ms Zafirakou has said that the money will have only peripheral impact upon the lives and education of `ordinary pupils` who previously only had limited experiences of the arts. Last month Ms Zafirakou was named the `World`s best Teacher` - collecting a cool $1 dollars in Dubai. It is the first time an UK teacher has won the much coveted title. She has said that children in her area face many complex challenges, which include street violence, and being recruited by gangs. The school where she teaches is cosmopolitan indeed, and has pupils that speak over 35 languages. She has expressed the view that studying art can help children`s mental health, saying in an interview: `These subjects are very challenging but quite relaxing. Students can get lost in them. They don`t want to leave the classroom because they are lost in the journey of their own art form. I see that as therapy. It helps them disconnect from their troubles and be in the moment.` `They are constantly stressing about what`s on social media, what will happen on their way home or when I put the key in the door, who will be there, is there food? For once they feel a sense of calm and peace.` I believe the arts have a vital place in today`s society - but if we want a nation of adults who can both appreciate, and contribute to the artistic scene, they must be introduced to the subject as children. Many people consider the arts to have little or no value beside more academic subjects - but great music, literature and painting can ratify our humanity, and let us feel the presence of, and sympathize with, another human being, who may have lived hundreds of years ago. When Churchill was asked to reduce the funding going to the arts during World War II, he responded `Then what would we be fighting for?` 22 months ago0Add a Comment

Packing Your Life Into One 50-Pound Suitcase

Packing Your Life Into One 50-Pound Suitcase By Dorothee RemboldAt the airport, you see a girl with a 50 pound backpack on her back, 25 pound carry-on backpack in the front, and ski boots over her shoulder in the middle of summer, kicking a duffel bag across the tiles. What would you think? If you are moving all your belongings abroad, you understand. How do you decide what to take and what to leave behind? I was spending only six months in Europe, but even packing for such a short time seemed impossible. The following strategy helped me to successfully take everything I needed:1. Double check how much the airline allows you to take Most airlines let you take a 50 pound bag, a carry-on, and a laptop bag or purse on international flights, but there are always ways to bend the rules a little. You can often take additional luggage for a fee. This can come in handy, as shipping things overseas is expensive.2. Find the lightest possible bags The weight of your luggage is limited, so why waste it by taking a suitcase that weighs 20 p ounds? Duffel bags are a pain to travel with, but may be worth it. I ended up taking a backpack that I could have hiked Mt. Everest with, only I could barely lift it off the ground.3. Think about what you’ll need What kind of clothes will you need? What’s the weather like? Will you need to bring sheets and towels? My plan was to go skiing, backpack through Turkey, and work in a business setting while abroad, requiring me to take a lot of different clothes.4. Pack the essentials first Take the things that you can’t live without, including appropriate attire, teaching materials and electronics. Make sure to also think about upcoming holidays and small items that remind you of home. Try to keep your carry-on light, and don’t bank on it to fit everything your suitcase can’t. Filling it up will never be a problem. And don’t forget to check what you will need to make your electronics work abroad. Voltages and outlets differ internationally!5.  Surprise! You have too much stuff . What now? I thought I was ready to go, everything squeezed into the backpack, but the scale told me that my bag was 20 pounds too heavy. So here’s my tip: Throw out everything you haven’t touched for the past year. You can live without it for another year, so leave it behind. If the bag is still too heavy, it’s time to get creative! Wear as much as you can on the flight - but keep in mind that you have to carry everything if you get too warm. In my case, this meant throwing my ski boots over my shoulder. Worst case scenario, I would wear them as I walked on the plane.6. None of this worked? Consider shipping some items that you won’t need immediately, but remember you will probably have even more belongings the next time you move. This is your chance to downsize. You can live with a lot less than you think, so only take what you’ll really use and enjoy the adventure. Good luck packing!Dorothee Rembold is an intern at Teach Away Inc.

20 Awesome Blogs That Actually Help You Learn a Language

20 Awesome Blogs That Actually Help You Learn a Language On the hunt for the best language learning blogs on the planet?Well, Ive found 20 of the very best, and theyre yours for the taking.Let me clarifyâ€"these arent just informative resources.Theyre not just filled out with basic, lifeless facts and obvious advice.Theyre the type of blogs that are perfect for enhancing your language studies, sure to entertain you while also really getting the ball rolling on your learning of one, two or more languages.Theyll help you pinpoint the right techniques  and give you specific, tried-and-tested ideas that you can apply to your own acquisition of languages.They can also give you great insight into the language-learning tools and resources thatll work best for you.I know you can hardly wait to start reading, but before the blogroll, lets quickly look into some important points about learning a language through blogs. How to Use Language Learning Blogs to Your AdvantageTheir Mistakes, Your GainWhen it comes to learning, the folks behind these blo gs are likely a good number of years and a good number of languages ahead of you. And theyve made a whole lot of mistakes  as well and so are now in a position to dish out some really important firsthand insights and tips. Dont waste this opportunity: Gain from their personal experiences. You dont have to reinvent the wheel yourself because there are people who took the language journey ahead of you.Consider these blogs to be like travel journals for people, like yourself, who will follow and take the same trip.Read their language stories, and stand on the shoulders of giants. Start from a better place than they had when they were starting out.Their Methods, Your MaybeThis is the antithesis of the previous point.You shouldnt necessarily take everything experienced learners tell you hook-line-and-sinker. In fact, most of the folks behind these blogs would probably be the first ones to tell you that theres no one best way, no foolproof method to fluency. Theyre just telling you what w orked for them and what didnt.We all take different roads to the same destination. And learning a new language is as much about learning about yourself as it is about learning new ways of talking. You have to decide which insights, tips  and tricks  from these posts resonate with you. You cant read blogs and consider them dogma. You have to make your own decisions. You have to actively participate in your learning.Their Suggestions, Your ActionSpeaking of actively taking part in your learning, realize that you still have to actually do the dirty work: talking with native speakers, putting vocabulary into memorable contexts, finding language learning partners, researching special points of grammar, learning about the culture, etc.You have to get moving, get speaking, actually open your mouth in the target language. You cant just be sitting around all the time reading all these blogs. You have to actually put into daily application the tips and techniques these bloggers dish out. Its not enough to know these tips. You have to live them.So also consider these blogs as traveling companions. Its nice to have them along, but you actually have to take the literal steps in order to reach your destination.Now that you know how to learn best with these blogs, lets move on to the blogs themselves!20 Awesome Blogs That Actually Help You Learn a LanguageThe Mezzofanti GuildLanguage Focus: General/multiple languagesThe Mezzofanti Guild is named after the Italian hyper-polyglot Cardinal Giuseppe Caspar Mezzofanti, whos considered to have been fluent in more than 35 languages.The guy behind the blog is the famous Australian polyglot Donovan Nagel, who speaks English (native), Egyptian Arabic, Korean, Russian, Irish, Ancient Hebrew and Greek.Like many other bloggers in this list, his unquenchable passion for languages became the raison dêtre for the blog, providing motivation to power through the time-consuming task of writing great content for readers and language learners.S peaking of great content, are you currently experiencing a learning plateau? Read his post  How to Easily Get Beyond Language Learning Plateaus  and discover how to get over those psychological humps.5-Minute LanguageLanguage Focus: General/multiple languagesFor anybody who always says he’s too busy to be learning a new language, Agnieszka Murdoch has set up a blog that contains posts that can be read in five minutes. The blog is eminently practical and actionable because how to articles take up almost half of the content available.Agnieszka is a living testament that it is indeed possible to learn a new language while maintaining a busy lifestyle. Shes learned several languages while having a full-time job. And, if she can maintain a blog, run webinars and hold language masterclasses and still continue to be a language learner herself, then there’s really very little excuse for the rest of us.And in that vein, why dont you read her post 12 Things Ultra-productive Language Learn ers Do Differently  and pick up learning gems that you can apply in your own journey. (And check to see if you indeed finish reading it in under five minutes!)FluentU Learner BlogsLanguage Focus: General/multiple languagesAs you may already know,  FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.But FluentU not only houses the webs best collection of authentic language learning videos, it actually has a growing family of blogs that cover the worlds major languages:ChineseSpanishFrenchGermanJapaneseEnglishItalianArabicRussianKoreanPortugueseThey not only feature insightful posts from language experts and top language learners, theyre also fat with links to the best resources out there for learning languages.So whether youre setting your eyes on Chinese, Spanish, French or German, the FluentU team has got you covered with some very practical and actionable information thats sure t o be effective in your linguistic endeavour. And even if youre not learning one of the above languages, you can still find plenty of insights and tips on our general blog for all language learners right here.Heres just a small sampling of language-specific posts from FluentUs bloggers:The 7 Best Korean Movies on Netflix to Level Up Your Korean17 Superb Websites to Amp Up Your Spanish Listening PracticeHow to Learn German Faster with AudiobooksActual FluencyLanguage Focus: General/multiple languagesThis blog came about as a way to chronicle a person’s linguistic journey. And what started out as an exercise in personal improvement is now a top resource for language learners around the world, inspiring disillusioned learners to continue along the path despite the leaps and hurdles along the way.Kris Broholm is down-to-earth, honest and relatable, and his articles reflect this. The blog is a good starting point for those who want an extensive description and explanation of the leading language learning products and programs available today.Read his review of Benny Lewiss Language Hacking: German to learn what he thinks about the product.I Will Teach You A LanguageLanguage Focus: General/multiple languagesGutsy name for a blog. But maybe you would be a little more than self-confident if, like the blog ownerâ€"Olly Richardsâ€"you could speak eight languages. Youd probably be doing something right. And you probably couldnt be stopped from shouting your secrets and sharing them with mere mortals.Olly is dishing out the 411 on the things that worked and are working for him. The guy is very personable and actually very down-to-earth. The blog does give you great language tips, techniques and tricks, but more than that, Olly’s posts are quite personal and you get the sense that hes really opening up on what he, as a language learner, is going through, sharing with you the ups and downs, the triumphs and defeats of the linguistic journey. The effect on the reader is t hat of quiet inspiration.His uploads are fat with content and well thought-out. He even has videos for you. In this one, he explains to beginners the specific routines he uses when learning languages.If you love learning from Olly, then you might also want to try out his latest and greatest course offerings, like Conversions, Grammar Hero or the Uncovered series (covering popular languages with targeted course options like French Uncovered, Spanish Uncovered, German Uncovered and Italian Uncovered).The Conversations course is designed to get you to conversational mastery within 90 days, so youre speaking like a native faster than you thought possible. Grammar Hero  is a must for anyone who struggles with the building blocks of languages. And the Uncovered courses are longer-term programs to take students from beginner to intermediate levels with 100+ hours of study time and interactive learning modules that harness the power of storytelling and imagination.Speaking LatinoLanguage Fo cus: SpanishYou know the saying the best way to learn something is to teach it? Well, heres where you begin to distance yourself from the pack, because this ones actually a blog for teachers of Spanish.And the most rocking thing about this one are the teacher materials, activities and resources  that you find in the blog. Youll get access to topically structured lessons that you can actually use for yourself. And because theyre often intended for young beginners of Spanish, you can be sure that youll have no difficulties in digesting the material.Instead of making the study aids yourself, you can just get them here. So in essence, you are your very own teacher and you cut out the middleman. In the post 7 Spanish Songs for Kids to Sing Along With,  youll find catchy tunes thatll make learning Spanish seem like a vacation.Mandarin HQLanguage Focus: Mandarin ChineseMandarin is spoken natively by around 873 million people, and over a billion as a second language. If you want to add your self to that number and learn the language, you dont want to miss this blog co-founded by Angel Huang.Mandarin HQ sets out to bridge the gap between the kind of Chinese you read in textbooks and the kind of Chinese you hear in the streets. So in the posts, youll read about grammar, vocabulary and phrases as theyre used in day-to-day communication. The lessons and posts have a rubber-meets-the-world flavor and will get you to a place where you can have meaningful conversations with other speakers.Good thing about this is that you wont just be reading textsâ€"their videos actually allow you to hear how the language sounds. For example, in the The 5 Most Common Yes/No Questions Foreigners Get Asked in China,  you have a video showing you how the questions might be thrown your way in real-world situations.Alex RawlingsLanguage Focus: General/multiple languagesIn 2012, in a competition run by Harper Collins, this blogs founder was named as the most multilingual student in Britainâ€"after being tested for fluency in 11 different languages. So if there’s someone who can claim that he’s especially good at languages, it would be Alex Rawlings.His posts, such as Catalan or Spanish: Deciding which language to speak in Barcelona, are a breeze to read. If you read them out loud, theyd be quite conversational. And hes really blogging, folks, not just writing language lessons. He really lets you in on his thought processes and  opens up on the struggles in his journey, which is ultimately motivational for us, his readers, who might not be so gifted. Just knowing that somebody like Alex struggles with language makes our fumbles more bearable. This blog will make you feel that, as well as teach you some pretty neat language learning techniques.Omniglot blogLanguage Focus: General/multiple languagesIf youre just really in love with languages, then you should check out this blog. Its for people who simply love words, in whatever tongue they may be. It contains the linguistic musings of Simon Ager, a Welsh guy who spends serious time making great content for the blog.You’ll find information thatll make your day. The blog talks about things like why the Japanese say ???? (moshi moshi) when answering the phone or what the Scots call ATM machines.Most other blogs here are centered on speaking the languageâ€"teaching you, for example, how to ask where the nearest train station is or how to say Do you come here often? This blog stands apart in that, in addition to all that, the written form of the language is given its time to shine. So if you want to know the worlds alphabets, writing systems and scripts, Omniglot will be your best bet.A Polyglot WorldLanguage Focus: General/multiple languagesHere youre entering the world of polyglots, guys and gals who seem to be freakishly great at absorbing different languages. But in this world, you dont feel like an outsider, but a welcomed member of the gang, even if youre still working on your first foreign languag e.Youll get posts like The 9 Habits of Highly Effective Polyglots,  where youll learn language learning tips from the worlds best polyglots as they share what worked for them and what pitfalls to look out for.Youll also read their inspiring stories and come out believing that you, too, can be a polyglot, or just tame that language youve had your eyes on for the longest time.Multilingual LivingLanguage Focus: General/multiple languagesThis ones a blog for parents. (I can already hear you saying, Hey!)Maybe you happen to be a parent, but if youre not and have no immediate plans of being one, you might not be able to see, on the surface, what this blog could do for you. But the thing is, with blogs like this, as with teacher blogs, you get to see the behind-the-scenes of the learning process. Because youre using a third-person perspective, reading posts about how to best raise a multilingual child, the veil of language learning is pulled back and you get a meta-education that puts you in a better position to pick the learning system, method or technique that works for you.Explore the blog and youll realize theres so much in here that can resonate with you.  The post Why Should Parents Talk to Their Children in Their Native Language?  is just one example.Create Your World BooksLanguage Focus: General/multiple languagesIf you love reading, if you love to travel, if you adore languages and if youre interested in how music and songs can be tools in language learning, then youve hit a great four-point combo with this blog.Its from Susanna Zaraysky, whos been featured in major media outlets from CNN to the BBC. Shes a writer, traveler and language learner. And perhaps you can add to the list social observer and philosopher.Besides posts that reveal her intellectual bent, youll come away realizing how important learning a language really is, how it enriches your life as a whole, opening opportunities and building bridges where no connections formerly existed. Zarayskys post about linguistic snobbery and how it blocks language learning perfectly exemplifies this philosophy.Language MasteryLanguage Focus:  General, Mandarin Chinese, JapaneseThis blog is from John Fotheringham, a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner who also happens to be a linguist and author and has been teaching languages for over 10 years.Immersion is a big deal, but posts like Myth:  You Have to Move Abroad to Learn a Language Well  explain why you dont need to move to China to learn Chinese. This blog lets you in on the ways you can learn a language without breaking the piggybank. Youll get a fun trip to language-land, sans the boring textbooks, being nudged instead towards the creative use of technology for that much-needed immersion.Reading the posts here, itll be impressed upon you that you dont need to be gifted in order to learn a second or a third language. You only need the right tools and the right attitude. And the right tools come aplenty in this blog.Speaking FluentlyLan guage Focus: General/multiple languagesHeres something from a guy who has studied 40 languages. (Listen to him speak in 16 of them.) Imagine what he could teach you.Well, hed be the first to say that theres no one learning system that trumps all of them. So youll not just get a list of tricks in learning, although there are plenty of those in the blog. Youll also get to explore the different facets and issues in learning a language. And by reading the blog, youll get a bigger picture and a deeper understanding of languages in general.Read his post Whats a Rusty Language?  and better understand how to scrape off the rust in your non-native tongue.Oui, cest ça!Language Focus: FrenchThis ones from Marie, who admits that the idea of the blog came to her when she saw that many online French learning materials were written in French, and thought that something ought to be done about it. While not dismissing the immersive nature of authentic material (shes known to write entries exclusive ly in French from time to time), she sought to create a blog thats fun, practical and accessible to English-speaking learners.Her post How to Pay at the Restaurant  is a good example of the flavor of this blog.Shes a seasoned French teacher from Canada who has taught the world over. And when I say the world over, I mean Japan, British Columbia, Seattle, Costa Rica and Morocco.  You know youre in good hands when the lady writing the blog youre reading has a masters degree in French literature and a B.A. in the French language.German is easy!Language Focus: GermanNow it takes serious guts to say that German is easy. And yet those are the very words on this blogs homepage.But dont be intimidated. The blog is from a fellow language learner whos now teaching to others the lessons hes learned over the years. It has sections like Word of the Day,  which is a great vocabulary builder, Work Out,  where your German gets tested and honed with activities and exercises and Cool Links,  which giv es you a portal to some pretty awesome German language learning content.Read this  post where he adeptly expounds on the German  word alle  (all).And  know that this blogger doesnt take himself too seriouslyâ€"as when he revealed his love for yawning, saying Sometimes when I have a headache I keep yawning for half an hour straight and they go away.Becoming Italian Word by WordLanguage Focus: ItalianLearning a language one word at a time is certainly a good idea. And youll learn not just vocabulary and grammar on this blog. Youll get the whole shebang.This blog gives you a look into the rich Italian culture, its different facets and features. Dianne Hales is the dame behind it. She wrote a book entitled La Bella Lingua, which has so contributed to the promotion of Italian language and culture that she was conferred the title of Cavaliere dell Ordine della Stella della Solidarietà Italiana  (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity) by none other than the Italian preside nt.But just to be assured she doesnt let the accolades go to her head, take a look at the down-to-earth post Washing Up in the Italian Language,  where she dives into the mystery of why there are no washcloths in Italy.All Japanese All The TimeLanguage Focus: JapaneseHeres the simple but deeply philosophical tagline of this blog:You dont know a language, you live it. You dont learn a language, you get used to it.That sums up what the blog, and its author, Khatzumoto,  is all about. That and the philosophy of taking everything that schools do that sucks and…not doing it. And then doing other stuff, that doesnt suck, instead.The blog is approachable with its language, even rambling sometimes, but its actually very deep and intelligent. You get the sense that the person behind the posts is someone who has a strong affinity for books and stays for hours at cafés reading.Its also very practical, providing lots of tips for Japanese language learners. For example, this post on  vocabula ry lists gives you tips on using them correctly.LingholicLanguage Focus:  General/multiple languagesLingholic was designed to be a place for polyglots and language learners to congregate and help each other out. Its accompanying blog reflects this vision and contains helpful tips on learning languages in general as well as some language-specific tricks and techniques.In addition to the usual serious posts that are bursting with language hacking tips, articles like 10 Things Non-language Learners Will Never Understand  and 8 Signs Youre a Language Learning Addict  seem to say, Hey, everythings going to be just fine!Lingholic was founded by Canadian Sam Gendreau, an active and inspiring character in the language learning circuit.Hangukdrama KoreanLanguage Focus: Korean, JapaneseYou get a double hit with this blog, which contains tips and resources on two rich Asian languages that are increasingly having an impact on the international scene: Korean and Japanese.This blog is over five years old and houses around 1,000 postsâ€"from personal stories of learning languages to resource recommendations. Its run by Shanna, a Singaporean girl who took it upon herself to study these languages. She writes some posts in Chinese and others in Korean, but most are in English.In Self Study vs. Foreign Language Lessons,  she talks about the pros and cons of self-study and formal lessons. It might prove instructive for how youre going to manage the task of learning a foreign language yourself.There you go! 20 of the best language learning blogs out there.Theyre yours for the taking.But as always, dont forget: You have to actually do the dirty work!Dont just read these blogs, live them.