Friday, March 27, 2020

A Guide to Private Spanish Tutor Rates

A Guide to Private Spanish Tutor RatesPrivate Spanish tutors are available to help people of all ages. Some of the best places to find a teacher for your child or young adult to learn Spanish can be found online. There are many teachers offering private lessons, and they all claim to offer superior care and training. Here are some things to look for before you make a decision about who you want to help you learn Spanish.The Internet is a good place to start. Compare a few different websites to see which one has the most interesting reviews. If a website does not have positive reviews from other visitors, then it is probably an unreliable website. The more positive feedback, the better the overall reputation of the company.Take a look at their websites. Read through all the information they offer, including testimonials from previous students and how they helped them to understand and communicate better with others. If they do not have pictures of what they teach, then it is probably because they do not provide pictures of their activities. Make sure that all the information on their websites are accurate.Do not hire a private tutor until you have received a list of questions. This is important because the price may be one thing, but if you cannot speak to a teacher in person about the details and how you will be taught, then you are being given the wrong impression. In addition, it will be important to make sure that the teachers are certified and have experience in teaching the language. See if they have any awards and certificates from colleges or universities. If the teacher does not have a degree, that could indicate that they lack the required education.Take the time to actually sit down with a teacher. Meet them in person and ask them questions. Make sure that you take notes, make suggestions, and ask for clarification of any questions that you have. Pay attention to the payment plan offered by the private tutor. Is there a fee for each lesson? Are they o ffering a money back guarantee? If so, it is important to know what this means.Pay close attention to the hours you are allowed to work by the tutor. Do they have any restrictions about the number of hours that you can spend speaking Spanish every week?

Friday, March 6, 2020

4 Reasons Internships Prepare You for the Real World

4 Reasons Internships Prepare You for the Real World Image via pexels.com In this aspect, transitioning well from your educational field to a real-world job almost requires some internship experience. There are many reasons internships prepare you for the real world. Here are four key reasons: 1. Grunt work One great thing about doing internships is the ease of the initial shock of entry-level jobs. Because you’ve likely been studying hard during your undergraduate, or perhaps graduate degree, you’ve been doing very specialized and advanced things. However, entry-level jobs can be a bit of a letdown when you realize you aren’t doing the high-level stuff, but the grunt work. Many of your initial duties will be boring, repetitive, and feel less fulfilling than you thought at first. However, many internships will also make you do a bit of the grunt work around the office, so you know what kind of balance to expect from a real-world first job. This takes away the lag time in being productive and also helps you jump right into what you’re supposed to be doing. If you’re already fluent in the basics, it will take less time for you to move up the ranks. 2. Diversity Depending on your university, you may have a very diverse student body or a very similar one. However, one thing usually stays the same when it comes to college student bodies: age. A majority of the students will be in their late teens to mid-twenties when it comes to undergraduate degrees, which means that besides the likely older professors, you’re only really being exposed to people similar to yourself and of similar experience. However, when you enter an internship, you’ll realize that the scale of diversity expands even wider with age, background, education levels, and experience levels. An internship really helps you learn to navigate the many different people you’re going to be working for and working with. If all your assumptions and work-ethic based actions center around your undergraduate peers, you may make some crucial mistakes when it comes to working with others. An internship beforehand will nurture those techniques to include a broader array of people. 3. Experience You may be lucky to go to a university that cultivates a hands-on approach to learning, but for most of us, our learning comes through reading and lectures. However, reading and lectures are great for your personal knowledge, but really fail to enhance the skills needed for putting that knowledge into action. Internships are a key factor in bridging the gap between education and industry. Internship coordinators are well aware of the educational background most of their interns will have. They are well-versed in techniques to build that knowledge into real-world skills. As an additional note, a common complaint by entry-level applicants is the amount of experience needed to qualify for entry-level jobs. Internships are a great way to earn that experience even before graduation and get a leg up on the other applicants. 4. Connections As you grow older and learn even more about the tricks of the real world, you’ll soon realize that you’re more likely to be hired just because you know someone. Of course, it is always important that you possess the skills and education needed to fill the role, but almost all positions are filled simply by word of mouth. Because of this, connections become extremely important to thriving in real-world jobs. One of the reasons entry-level jobs receive so many applications is because many applicants don’t know anyone yet and this is their only way to get their foot in the door. However, an internship allows you the time and resources to make those connections early on. It may not be that you are offered a job at the same company after the internship ends, but your coworkers and managers may be likely to call you if they hear something open up elsewhere. You can also talk to the company about other similar companies they have connections to. An internship coordinator is a great person to have as a reference or recommendation. Indeed, the list of reasons could be nearly endless. If internships are available to you, it would be a mistake not to capitalize on all the benefits it could have for your career now and later. The knowledge and experience you gain about the real world from an internship become  an invaluable resource.

Memrise vs Duolingo Which of These Popular Language Learning Programs Is Right for You

Memrise vs Duolingo Which of These Popular Language Learning Programs Is Right for You Memrise vs Duolingo: Which of These Popular Language Learning Programs Is Right for You? Tesla or Edison?Coke or Pepsi?Superman or Batman?Marvel or DC?The world is full of tough choices.And in the field of language learning, in this clash of titans, which should you pick: Memrise or Duolingo? It is a tough decision!By the end of this post, we will settle the scores so that you will know which program you should choose.Are you ready to dive deep into each platform?Let’s begin with Memrise. Memrise vs Duolingo: Which of These Popular Language Learning Programs Is Right for You?MemriseAvailable: iOS | AndroidWhat Is Memrise?What would you call an app that is designed to help you remember words?Rightâ€"Memrise seems like the perfect name! It seems even more so when you realize that one of the apps founders, Ed Cooke, is himself a memory grandmaster.The other two masterminds behind the project are Ben Whately, who studied experimental psychology at Oxford, and Greg Detre, a neuroscientist who studies the science of remembering things.So, the very first thing you need to k now about Memrise is that it was shepherded by guys who know what they are doing.The next thing you need to know is that Memrise is a flashcard app/software on steroids. These are not your grandmother’s flashcards where she writes Spanish words on one side and their English translations on the other. Memrise works with audio, video and text. When you are looking at video clips of native speakers (and replaying them as often as you want), rifling through a bunch of audio samples and typing your answers on a keyboard, you know you have come a long way from grandma’s ol’ school flashcards.Memrise uses spaced repetition to help users remember vocabulary. This means that difficult words show up in the exercises more frequently while those that you have already mastered are replaced by newer words. Memrises algorithm “knows” the words you are struggling with because of instances when you make errors while the app is testing you on a particular word.Say you are given an audio cli p of the Spanish word “ ¡Hola!” (Hello!), and the app then asks you to pick its English translation from the given choices. If you answer, “Thank You,” for example, Memrise thinks, “Hmmmm, he got that one wrong. I better drill him more on this.”On the whole, Memrise is an excellent app for learning target language vocabulary. It offers plenty of languages, including Spanish, French, German, Chinese and Italian. The basic app is free, but a premium subscription is $8.99 for one month, $5 per month with an annual subscription and $99.99 for a lifetime subscription.The Memrise InterfaceMemrise is available both as an app and as a website. The two interfaces are intuitive and sleek. You will not have too difficult a time navigating them.The app and website do vary a bit in terms of what is available and what can be done on each platform (and sometimes they do not sync perfectly).With its “flashcard” technology, Memrise can do more than teach you a language or help you me morize new words. It can basically help you memorize anything: trivia, capitals of the world, currencies, geography you name it! It can also teach you the vocab for any subject: design, history, science, etc.And, with this “flashcard” technology, Memrise users can personalize decks. As a matter of fact, a lot of content on Memrise is user-generated, and this is one of the programs strengths. You can learn so much just by clicking around and exploring their “Courses” section.The website reflects this and shows you the many things outside of language that you can learn with Memrise. The app, on the other hand, seems to focus on language learning. (It also prompts you to upgrade more often than most users would like.)Below, we will look more closely into what is under the hood of this great learning tool.FeaturesMaking Words and Phrases MemorableThere are two main activities that can be done in the Memrise app. The first is “Learn,” and the second is “Review.”The Learn section is further divided into “Words and Phrases” and “Learn Grammar.” These divisions are self-explanatory. You will probably spend most of your time initially in the “Words and Phrases” subsection, drilling new vocabulary, looking at videos, listening to audio clips and tapping correct answers for any given task.The “Learn Grammar” subsection is where you get a little bit of grammar instruction. The operative phrase here is “a little bit.” Do not expect too much handholding. You will get grammar highlights but not the deep instruction that some students may be looking for. (But for the grammar concepts that they do tackle, expect the same engagement and finesse offered in the vocabulary section.)The second main section of the app is the “Review” section, which is further divided into six different activities: “Classic Review,” “Speed Review,” “Difficult Words,” “Learn With Locals,” “Pronunciation” and “Listening Skills.”You will ha ve already encountered most of these activities when you initially learn words and phrases. But here, they are split into specific categories for further focus. If you want to specifically review pronunciation, for example, head to “Pronunciation.”Here is a quick look at what each of these subsections offers:Classic Review This drills you on the words you have already learned (no new words are introduced). You will once again take on different tasks that allow you to engage and work with the vocabulary. You will do back-and-forth translations, type words into boxes, listen to audio clips and arrange phrases in their proper order. This is where your learning is cemented.Speed Review This is a run-through of all the words you have learned, but with the added pressure of being timed. For example, you will see an English word and four options. Your job is to tap on the correct translation of the English word before the allotted time expires.The longer you take, the more your screen will be taken over by the color red. The speed review is an important gauge of how well you recall learned words under pressure, which reflects how deeply embedded the vocab is in your memory.Difficult Words A session here will give you the chance to really drill those words marked by the app as “difficult.” Maybe you made multiple mistakes during the learning session. Those relevant items are added to the Difficult Words section. Another way of populating this subsection is by marking the words yourself.If you encounter a word which, at first sight, sends a chill up your spine, you can preemptively mark it as difficult and it will be added to this section. This will afford you more opportunities to practice the word.Listening Skills This has everything to do with sounds and how you are able to make out the different words of the target language. Some words in languages like French have pronunciations that are quite different from how the words are spelled. This subsection lets you listen to audio clips and hone your ears to the tonal flow of your target language.Pronunciation Just because you have consistently tapped on correct translations does not mean you know how to actually say a word. This section prompts you to pronounce the words and phrases you have learned.So, speak up on your phone’s mic and say the word or phrase just like the native speaker does. Memrise’s technology will “listen” and determine if you have done it reasonably well. If not, do not worry, you can always try again.Learn With LocalsNow, this is where the platform really shinesâ€"even the spokespeople for alternative Memrise programs would probably agree.Here, you work with short video clips featuring native speakers to learn the most basic expressions. The advantage here is that you are not just seeing pictures or hearing audio. You are actually seeing short clips of native speakers demonstrating how words and phrases sound. So, you have the benefit of both audio and movin g visuals working together to make the vocabulary really stick.This is where the target language comes alive through you observing facial expressions. For example, you see a smile when a native French speaker says, “Merci!” (Thank You!) or pursed lips when she says, “Non” (No).In the “Learn With Locals” subsection, you really begin to understand the communicative aspect of the language.If you think videos are great, then FluentU is right up your alley! FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like movie trailers, music videos, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into language learning opportunities. You will gain access to a vast collection of videos that are specifically chosen for language learners like you. The videos are ideal for both vocabulary and grammar practice.Each video clip on FluentU uses interactive transcription technology. The subtitles you will see do not just help you follow along but also give you the opportunity to click on any word to find out more a bout it. You can see words and phrases broken down and used in example sentences and other videos.FluentU also offers fun quizzes, customized vocabulary lists and dynamic flashcards for additional learning.Do not just take my word for it. Check out FluentUs free trial and see for yourself!Mem CreationWith Memrise, you can personalize each flashcard by creating a “mem.”“Mems” are mnemonic devices in the form of text or pictures that help make the words and their translations memorable to you.For example, for the Spanish word “Hola,” you might add a picture of a bearded man holding a donut in one hand and waving “Hi!” with the other. So, in your head, you are thinking, “There is a hole in the donut and it could be the letter O in hola.  And, the guy holding it is waving hi or hello. Perfect!”So, for you, that picture makes “hola” stick in your head. You decide to make it a “mem” so that each time “hola” is presented, the donut guy also appears.How are y ou going to set that up?Well, making one is really easy. (Note that it is much better to use the web version of Memrise for this.)As the words are initially presented to you during the learning phase, there is a “Help me learn this” button. This is your first step to mem creation. Click on it and you will get to see if other people have already created a mem for the word or phrase. Some words may already have several mems created by other users, and you might decide to use what is already there. Or, you can add your own mem by clicking on “+ Add a mem.”You will then be given the chance to upload the picture that you want and even write a caption or accompanying text. Anything goesâ€"you can choose any picture or write any text.  Think of something that is going to make the word stick for you.“Mems” are highly personal. Since you make them yourself, they are meaningful and memorable to you. But, that does not mean you cannot share them. Other users can also benefit from t he mems you make.Some learners forgo this feature and simply make do with the standard Memrise presentation, thinking it takes too much time to find that perfect picture or write that ideal caption. I think this is a big mistake. In order for something to be memorable, you need to wrestle with it. You need to invest time and effort into it.The very act of creating a memâ€"searching for the picture and thinking of a good captionâ€"is a memory-enhancing process. Yes, it is time-consuming, but it will also embed the word in your memory. As a result, you will be much more likely to remember the vocab.In other words, your brain becomes actively involved in the learning process instead of just passively memorizing things.Chatbots and GrammarbotsMemrise Pro, which is available for $8.99 a month, comes with two additional “techie” features: the chatbot and grammarbot functions.ChatbotIf your imagination works just fine, you might enjoy the journey this feature offers. The goal here is t o let you practice the target language without the stress of embarrassing yourself in front of a real person.The chatbot transports you to the country where your target language is spoken. He then lets you “interact” with the locals.What actually happens is that you will be placed in an imaginary situation, say, a “Meet Greet,” with a friendly local (a bot). You will be given options of what you can say in a standard back-and-forth conversation. For example, you can pursue an interaction by saying, “ ¡Hola!” back to a stranger who is trying to get to know you, or you can click “Adios” to extricate yourself from the scenario.This feature resembles a choose-your-own-adventure game in a chat environment. It is only available with the later levels of major languages, though.GrammarbotThis is a chatbot that focuses on grammar and parts of speech.This is essentially the “Learn Grammar” section but in chat form. The grammarbot will send you messages that explain differ ent grammar concepts. It will then test your comprehension of the lesson. For example, it will ask you to arrange words in the correct order.These two features obviously offer a number of possibilities for improvement. However, more content needs to be developed so that users do not cycle through the same lessons over and over again.You now know the ins and outs of Memrise.Next, we will head over to the green corner and look into the language learning platform Duolingo.DuolingoAvailable: iOS | AndroidWhat Is Duolingo?Offering more than 30 language courses, Duolingo is a behemoth of a learning platform. The app alone has already been downloaded over 100 million times. You cannot get into language learning without coming into contact with, or at least reading or hearing about, Duolingo. (The discussions from its forums alone can often crop up in your Google searches.)Duolingo is the brainchild of Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker. The former invented the “Captcha,” and the latter is a multi-awarded entrepreneur and brilliant Swiss computer scientist.Duolingo is a language learning platform that shares a lot of the features we have already talked about with Memrise. That is why these two programs have naturally been pitted against each other. Duolingo offers language exercises and drills that train users in both vocabulary and grammar. It engages learners through tasks like translating between languages, identifying pictures, listening to audio and typing on a keyboard.Duolingo bills itself as “the new way to learn a language,” incorporating game elements into its standard operation.The first “F” of the Duolingo philosophy is that language learning should be “fun.” Later we will talk about exactly how Duolingo injects this into every lesson.The second “F” is that it is “free.” (Isn’t everything though, these days?)Duolingo earns its keep some other way, so you get a ton of material without ever spending a dime. Not much is hidden behind a payment wallâ€"no new content or intrinsically advanced features are offered. The most you get by upgrading is that ads magically disappear. You even get the sense that Duolingo is not really pushing very hard for Duolingo Plus, its premium subscription option, which costs $6.99 a month.The Duolingo InterfaceLike Memrise, Duolingo is also available as a website and as an app.Whether you are working on your computer or going mobile, you get to experience the same instinctive interface. The layout is easy to navigate and you should not have any issues getting where you want to go. But, just like with Memrise, the website and app do not always perfectly sync. (This is what naturally happens when tech teams are tinkering behind the scenes and trying to make the product a little better.)In terms of fonts, colors and graphics, Duolingo is a little bit more playful than Memrise, as it features cartoon-like images. And, of course, do not forget Duo, the lovable green owl who is the face of Duolingo. This cutie peaks out from your screen every once in a while to cheer you on.There are also plenty of dings and dongs, sounds that tell you each time you get a correct or incorrect answer. The app is pretty vocal, meaning that introduced words and phrases often come with an audio componentâ€"which you would do well to repeat after.So, for best results, even if you are on your phone and using headphones, it is better to be somewhere private where you can say the words aloud. Duolingo would not mean very much if you just master tapping on the right answer without ever opening your mouth.That said, let’s dive a little deeper into Duolingo and see what it brings to the language learning table.FeaturesBuilding Memorable SentencesAs mentioned earlier, many of the mechanisms for learning that we have talked about with Memrise also exist with Duolingo.Your language course is one, long learning “tree,” which is divided into numerous mini-sections that go from the absolute basi cs to an intermediate level. Each mini-section has an over-arching theme, like sports, recipes, couples, etc.There is a set sequence to these sections, and each one is locked until you complete the previous sections satisfactorily.Duolingo gets you to perform different simple tasks, like matching words and their translations, matching images with their foreign language names, saying a word or phrase presented on the screen, listening to audio or typing on the keyboardâ€"practically the very same type of exercises in the “Words and Phrases” section of Memrise.They drill the vocab items over and over, from English to the target language (and vice versa!) so that what you are learning becomes firmly embedded in your long-term memory.Duolingo starts with vocab and slowly builds words into phrases until you get to full sentences. There is a seamless transition between old words and new ones because they are presented side-by-side. The mastered words are slowly phased out while the ne w ones are gradually worked in. Before you know it, you have already picked up several new German words by simply working on pint-sized tasks. (The grammar-heavy elements eventually come at later parts in the course.)Admittedly, Duolingos sentence examples do have a lot of room to improve. Sometimes they can be funny, sometimes even downright weird. Users might find that the sentences they are working on are not especially helpful in actual conversations.Duolingo also has a “Stories” feature, which can easily rival Memrise’s chatbot function. The stories also happen in a chat environment. You are taken to a specific scenario where you need to answer comprehension questions in order to move the story along. For example, in a French dialogue between a husband and wife, you might be asked to choose the correct topic of their conversation.So far, Duolingo “Stories” are only available for major languages.Gamified Language LearningDuolingo says it only takes five minutes a day t o learn the language. But, you can bet your bottom dollar that they want you in the Duolingo ecosystem for the long haul.Look at how the whole experience is set up: The platform has poured gaming elements into every lesson, making it fun and motivating. There are also game elements in Memrise, but it just seems that Duolingo has the high ground on this one.Each move you make in Duolingo is recorded. Each correct answer has a corresponding number of Experience Points (XPs), and the longer you work on tasks, the more XPs you earn.Reaching a certain number of XPs increases your level, which soon leads to “lingots.” They are the virtual currency of the platform that you can use for things like buying bonus skills and power-ups. You can even give lingots to other users and spread goodwill. You can also use lingots at the virtual store to buy different costumes for Duo, the mascot.In my opinion, Duolingo has not really tapped the full potential of their lingot system. If they add more uses for these, it could potentially be a game-changer.Another metric to watch out for is your “Streak.” This refers to the number of days that you have met your daily XP goals. (You can set your goals in the “Settings” section.)There are progress bars all over the place, telling you how you are doing with the lessons. These bars go down the longer you do not practice. So, you have to go in and review the lessons in order to keep those bars at 100%.There are also leaderboards that tell you your position vis-à-vis others.I think the most important metric is the “Streaks” number, the number of consecutive days you have worked on Duolingo. Language learning needs consistency. If you work at it erratically, you will never reach fluency. So, you better make those “Streaks” as high as you possibly can.Lively Forum DiscussionsOne awesome thing about Duolingo is that you can post a comment at practically any point in your session. Every time you see the message icon, it me ans there is already a discussion happening about that particular question. These threads are fertile with insights from native speakers and fellow language learners.Duolingo has some of the most active language forums around. They are wellsprings of insight and information. That is what happens when you have around 300 million users worldwide. There are bound to be interesting and engaging discussions all around.While Memrise makes the platform social by making “mems” shareable to others, Duolingo can boast of these lively conversations going on between learners who are sharing language resources, asking study advice or just engaging in a random conversation between kindred spirits. You will never feel alone.Check out this even deeper look at Duolingo  and whether it works or not.Memrise vs Duolingo: Who Wins?So, after all has been said and done, which one is the better platform: Memrise or Duolingo?Memrise Pros:Free!User-friendly interfaceElegant vocabulary-learning toolAbilit y to incorporate user-generated contentVideo clips featuring native speakers make the language come aliveMemrise Cons:Too much push for the upgradeDoes not have many grammar lessons or much content for advanced learnersDuolingo Pros:Free!User-friendly interfaceCan teach you grammar and sentence structuresGamified learningActive language forumsDuolingo Cons:Needs more relevant sentence examplesDoes not have much content for advanced learnersSo, who wins?!Clearly there is only one winner and that is you, the language learner!You have access to two of the most technologically-advanced language learning systems developed by folks who love what they are doing and who have learners’ interests at heart.For instance, if you want to learn vocab, maybe you can start with Memrise to get the ball rolling, and when you want to graduate to sentence structure and grammar, you can opt for Duolingo. (You can take Duolingo’s placement exam and skip to the later lessons.)These platforms are certai nly not mutually exclusive. They nicely complement each other.And, on that note, I would like to add FluentU to the mix. This platform, which focuses on language learning videos and helps learners every step of the way, can easily go hand-in-hand with Memrise and Duolingo.Take advantage of the free FluentU trial and see for yourself.I salute all of your efforts and wish you the very best on your journey to learn a new language.Good luck!

Thursday, March 5, 2020

6 Ways to Deal with Workplace Conflict

6 Ways to Deal with Workplace Conflict image via Isorepublic.com Try to resolve it before it escalates When a conflict is left unresolved and allowed to escalate, it can cause people to bottle up emotions and to be passive aggressive. After some time, someone might burst from holding in all those emotions. This will not be pretty, and of course, it will affect the quality of your work. So, try to resolve the conflict before it gets to that point. This will save you from many headaches! Try to resolve it among yourselves before involving anyone else Try talking through the conflict, just the two of you, before involving anyone else. Your boss and your company’s HR department are busy, they don’t need to deal with yet another employee conflict. Instead, talk to each other in a neutral space (in other words, not your office and not their office) that’s free of distraction. If you two can’t come up with a solution on your own, then feel free to involve other people, higher up in the chain. Try to get to the root of the problem Many times, in order to solve the conflict, you need to look past the surface. If you just look on the surface, you will only be solving the symptoms, not the problem itself. On the other hand, if you figure out the root of the problem, you can focus your energy on solving that, rather than just resolving the symptoms. In the next few points, we’ll talk about how to get to the root of the problem, so you can reach an effective solution. Listen to the other person with understanding Part of resolving a conflict is communicating, which involves listening to the other person with understanding. Let them speak uninterrupted. Obviously, we are all different, and we have differing points of view. Try to understand theirs. Do your best to step out own head. Focus on the problem rather than on the person. Of course, expect the same respect from them, conflict resolution must be mutual. Again, seek someone higher up if you can’t resolve it yourselves. Use the common strategies for conflict resolution According to Chron, there are five main conflict management strategies. Read about each of the strategies and figure out which one works best for your particular situation. Accommodating: one person submits to the wants of the other person. In other words, you let go of what you want so the other person can have what they want. (This strategy works if you realize the problem is not that important anyway.) Avoiding: ignoring or putting off the conflict. (This is not the best strategy, as I mentioned earlier that unresolved conflict can lead to bottled up emotions!) Collaborating: multiple people come together to create a new solution to the conflict. Compromising: both people agree to give up a little bit of what they want, but they also receive a little bit of what they want, too. (This is the most popular conflict resolution strategy.) Competing: one person wins, the other person loses. The losing side submits to the wants of the winning side. (This strategy works best if decisive action needs to be taken immediately.) There is a reason these strategies for conflict resolution are so popular. Choose one to apply to your situation. Try to avoid getting involved in conflict in the first place Now let’s discuss the best way to resolve conflict: avoid getting into it in the first place! Here are some ways to help you avoid getting into a conflict at your workplace. Only talk about professional matters while you are at work. Avoid telling your co-workers much about your personal life. Do not participate in any form of gossip. Just listening to gossip is participating in it. Plus, if they are talking about someone else to you, then they’ll likely talk about you to someone else. These are the people that will start drama and conflict. Avoid them! Do not talk about other people. This goes with the previous point, but it’s worth restating. If you talk about someone else, it’s easy for your words to be twisted and to start a conflict. To prevent this, have a general policy of not talking about other people. Be positive. You don’t have to be cheerful all the time (because no one is!), but don’t be constantly complaining or being a “negative Nancy.” This will just cause conflict. Prevention is the best way to avoid getting involved in a conflict. Don’t be a gossip or a bully, and don’t hang out with gossips or bullies. Unfortunately, we are all likely to fall into a conflict sooner or later. But the good news is that these conflicts can be resolved! Follow these tips and the conflict resolution strategies, and you should be good to go.

The Magical Guide to Finding and Reading Bilingual E-books

The Magical Guide to Finding and Reading Bilingual E-books The Magical Guide to Finding and Reading Bilingual E-books Books turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.They transform and transport us.And sure, sometimes they tell magical stories about frog princes and enchanted worlds, but theres something magical about all stories when you think about it.They allow entry to places we wouldnt otherwise have access to.They shout open sesame to doors that seem locked.Language learning does all of this, too. Thats why reading is not just a practical and fun way to learn a language, but a magical one, too.With dual language or bilingual books, you can actively learn your target language and enjoy a good story at the same time.And more recently, you can get that enjoyment not just among the dusty shelves of your local library, but by literally just hitting a button.Yep, were talking about bilingual e-books. They may be  the most magical items around.The magic of e-readers is that they turn heavy books into mobile, weightless takealongs, that are available for near-instantaneous download on a whim.Lets see w hy bilingual e-books work, how to add them to a language program andâ€"this is where the magic really comes inâ€"where to find them! The Magical Guide to Finding and Reading Bilingual E-booksWhy Bilingual E-books Make Target Language Reading Practice a SnapBilingual books are typically formatted so one page or passage  of foreign language reading is  paired up with  the corresponding English language translation of that material, and e-books can make bilingual formatting even more practical. For example, sometimes the translation is accessible on a paragraph-by-paragraph or even line-by-line  format and  appears when  the reader  clicks or taps on what needs to be translated. Other times,  pages are divided into columns  with both languages represented. And some books present translations following the foreign text, so you can swipe or click back and forth between the two languages.It’s definitely less frustrating to read without having to use a translation app or dictionary, an d bilingual e-books (as opposed to just bilingual books) also have the added advantage of separate dictionary look-ups if youre using an e-reader like a Kindle. For example, if youre reading a bilingual e-book that switches between original text and translation every page, you can choose to just look up a single word with your default dictionary rather than flipping to the next page and spoiling your initial try at interpreting the general meaning of the text.For the above reasons, many learners feel that bilingual e-books are less intimidating than regular foreign language books. Remember,  foreign language books that arent  bilingual present the entire text in the target language.  Thats fine if the book is  basic level for beginners or if a learner is fluent and  possesses a  sizeable vocabulary. But unless thats the case,  endless pages of foreign text can be off-putting, especially if you can physically measure exactly how long the book is. The fact that bilingual e-books trans late  a text and place it within eyeshot  of readers through the convenience of weightless technology makes this a doubly friendly and accessible method of reading.Plus, just like with any e-book, once a bilingual e-book is downloaded onto a Kindle, phone or tablet, it’s completely mobile. Since reading enables language acquisition,  anything that makes it easy to take target language reading along wherever you go is definitely worth adding to your program.Tips for Adding Bilingual E-books to Your Language ProgramFirst, while looking at whats out there, consider all types of books. Dont limit yourself to just one scholarly source or even a language learning text. With bilingual e-books, all reading genres are represented. Choose something that piques your interest.Theres no shame in starting smallâ€"what I mean is, keep it basic to begin with. You don’t need to grab War and Peace for your first e-bookâ€"or even your twenty-first. Childrens books or comic books are solid reading materials and both are available for bilingual e-reading.Consider reading a book youve already read or a story that youre familiar with, but in electronic bilingual format. Doing that eliminates some potential vocabulary or storyline questions. You already have an idea of who the characters are and how the plot progresses, so its not a stretch to figure a few things out without having to look at the translated page. But when all else failsâ€"thats why the books are presented in two languages. Use the translations.As you learn new words and phrases while reading your e-book, compile a vocabulary list or add to the one youre already curating. Vocabulary lists are a language learners best friend. They can go anywhere and are perfect for filling up empty minutes spent waiting in line or on your lunch break. I carry vocabulary lists everywhere!Then, take that vocabulary list and plug it into a customized flashcard set on FluentU. The program will pull clips using that vocab from videos a cross the site, transforming the vocab from your reading practice and re-contextualizing it into real-world interactive reading and listening practice. FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like news, music videos, vlogs and moreâ€"and turns them into personalized lessons that maximize the language learning experience.Try to choose at least some books that have more idiomatic language to increase your ability to know and use lingo appropriately. One way to do this is to choose contemporary titles rather than classics. Its more likely that a current bestseller set in the present will contain  more current idioms than a book written in the last century! Classics are still a great way to go with bilingual texts, especially since they tend to be so widely translated and easier to find in bilingual formatâ€"just make sure to mix it up a bit.6 Sources for Finding Fabulous Bilingual E-books in Multiple LanguagesThere are some outstanding sources for bilingual e-books! Here are some of the best .Bilinguis.  Bilinguis is a great spot to check out if youre interested in reading the classics. There are five classic titles available in an assortment of language pairs. You can read them right on the site, and theyre available absolutely free!Unite for Literacy.  Unite for Literacy offers bilingual childrens e-books in Spanish and English. Navigating the site is simple. Use  the tool bar at the top to  check out  the various book  categories  (nature, technology, health and others) or search for specific titles. Its also the place to select the text language (either English or Spanish) and audio translation. Audio translation is available in over 30 languages!VitalSource. VitalSource is a site that allows you to rent or buy e-textbooks, which in the Foreign Language Study category includes readers and dual-text books in a variety of languages. The cool thing about using VitalSource is that you can rent or buy multiple language learning books and access them through the sites own reading appâ€"its a great way to save money and keep your language study library clutter-free.Doppeltext.  Doppeltext is an excellent resource for bilingual e-booksâ€"particularly if you enjoy works by famous authors or well-known pieces of literature. Books are available in French, German, Russian and Spanish, and translated text fragments appear in English.With these books, the entire page of foreign language text doesnt have a corresponding full-page translation in English. Rather, the text is translated in small bites to encourage authentic reading. Following along is easy because the translations are generally sentence-long bits. If youre struggling, just click and the translation appears above the passage. This works on a tablet, smartphone, e-reader or PC.Alba Learning.  Alba Learning carries parallel text books in various combinations of English, French and Spanish as well as foreign language audio books. Their titles cover many genres, including short stories and biographi es.Amazon.  Amazon is undoubtedly a leader in providing bilingual e-books. Just search for bilingual e-books with your target language pair within the Kindle store to see what’s available. Some Kindle titles are free, so that’s a big plus. Download and begin readingâ€"the whole process is so streamlined it makes this a very simple way to add relevant material to your reading program.Looking for a Particular Language? Here Are a Few Suggestions!Japanese learners will be impressed with the stunning drawings in Yuko-chan and the Daruma Doll: The Adventures of a Blind Japanese Girl Who Saves Her Village because they beautifully portray the sweet story. The tale is told in English with the Japanese kanji directly below the corresponding text.French readers will appreciate Victor Hugoss “Les Misérables.”  The translation from the French version keeps true to the original version, so the vocabulary and idioms are authentically presented.Fyodor Dostoevskys Crime and Punishment in t his Russian-English bilingual volume is a snap to read. The individual paragraphs are translated, so going between languages requires minimal work. Reference the corresponding paragraph if theres a question, and then continue reading!Italian language learners will fall into the rabbit hole with Alice in “Alice nel Paese delle Meraviglie” (“Alice in Wonderland”)â€"and have no problem at all understanding every bit of the adventure! I doubt Lewis Carroll could have imagined that this beloved tale would ever be available in a format that provides both English and Italian text side-by-side.This e-book also allows readers to highlight passages, take notes and search the book. I actually have this book on my Kindleâ€"and I love it. Its impossible to dog-ear e-books, but believe me, this one has been read and enjoyed more than once.Spanish Stories: A Dual-Language Book is a collection of thirteen classic Spanish short stories. Theyre arranged in chronological order (oldest to most recently written) with accompanying text that gives readers insight into the authors who wrote them as well as the period in which they were written. Its a book thats not only entertainingâ€"with sound Spanish language learning valueâ€"but educational in a historical and cultural sense as well. This Kindle edition allows readers to highlight passages, take notes and search the book, so it really has a lot to add to a Spanish reading program!A Whale Who Dreamt of a Snail is the ideal beginning dual-text Portuguese story. The illustrations are charming, the story is encouraging for both children and adults and the text appears in both English and Portuguese.Chinese learners are in for a truly magical experience with The Mystery of Dragon Bridge: A Peach Blossom Village Story because its as beautiful as the title suggests. Its a childrens book suggested for intermediate level readers, but its gorgeous watercolor illustrations and uplifting tale are suitable for all ages. English and Si mplified Chinese text is presented on each page.Alice Hoffman was right that books may well be the only true magic. They transport and transfixâ€"and they teach.For language learners, anything that increases the potential for trouble-free reading is a resource that needs to be explored. E-books are portable and hit every mark. Theyre truly an ideal tool for language learners.So, what are you waiting for?Power up your Kindle, phone or tablet. Download a selection or two.Make your own magicâ€"and see how your language skills benefit from bilingual e-books! And One More ThingIf you love the idea of learning languages with bilingual ebooks, you may love learning with FluentU even more.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, including movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, de finition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive Transcripts You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word 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.

How to Choose Between Chemistry and Physics?

How to Choose Between Chemistry and Physics?Chemistry and Physics are two terms for the same science. Each has a different branch or department which offers different classes. If you are going to major in chemistry, you can choose between Engineering Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry.Chemistry is a branch of science and it focuses on the study of substances or elements. If you are going to minor in chemistry, you can choose from pure chemical sciences or one of the branches like Bio-Chemistry, Applied Organsics or Biochemistry. When it comes to making chemical reactions, chemical theory is the main aspect. Physics is an ideal branch for those who want to acquire more knowledge on concepts such as energy, mass, force, space, time, inertia and motion.Many of those who study in the Chemistry Department also go on to do their degree in the Physics Department. The Chemistry and Physics majors often study the same things. The Physical Science curriculum that focuses on atoms, molecules, an d properties of gas and particles is one of the main subjects that is taught in the Chemistry Department. The Physical Science curricula that focuses on atoms, molecules, and properties of gases and solids is one of the main subjects that is taught in the Physics Department.When it comes to working, you will have to take various branches of the course. The courses available in the Chemistry Department are Physical and Chemical Processes, Analysis and Motions, Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Kinetic Chemistry, Optical Sciences, Pure and Applied Mechanics, Materials, and Nanoscale Physics.With the class at the University of Texas where you will also learn about the chemical process and element nature. These classes also help in selecting the right career field that is suitable for you.The courses in the Biology Department that you can take include the Structure and Function of Cells, Cell Signaling, Molecular Biology, and Developmental Biology. These cours es help in filling the gap in your curriculum.You can also do a course in the Physics Department if you are doing your primary area of study in Chemistry. These classes help you in forming your research work. The way the physics and chemistry interact with each other is very important and is the reason why they are called major or minor branches of the same science. Your choice of major is an important decision that is made after discussing with your guidance counselor, teachers, and advisors.

A Brief Introduction to the Modern Day Future of the Popular Online Magazine Millikan Chemistry

A Brief Introduction to the Modern Day Future of the Popular Online Magazine Millikan ChemistryThough it is only an online magazine that is published once a year, Millikan Chemistry attracts a large number of readers. In fact, its circulation is only small, and this is probably the reason why it is still considered as one of the best online magazines in the world. It also has an extremely large market, as it has a strong brand identity. The magazine has gained wide popularity in the age of information and communication technologies and has gained a massive amount of popularity, not only among a particular group of people, but all over the world.For the earlier Millikan magazine, that was published from 1986 to 1994, there are only those that survived this online edition. However, even the material that was published by Millikan in this magazine has been collected, and is now accessible online. Millikan Chemistry has some of the best technology, for it can be downloaded from the inter net. However, it is important to note that it is important to acquire permission from the publishers before downloading the material from the internet. If you do, you will surely enjoy the benefits of the amazing Millikan Chemistry.The common ways of reading the magazine have changed considerably over the years. It is essential to know the different approaches to read this magazine. In addition, it is imperative to know that the magazines of Millikan are suitable for you. In this way, you will be able to choose the right approach. Thus, we will introduce some of the most popular approaches to read the latest issue of Millikan Chemistry.First, if you want to understand what kind of issues are being published by Millikan, you must follow the magazine on line. You can easily choose from among the different categories of issues that the magazine will be covering. Also, you can choose from among the different sub-categories in this magazine. The main aim of this magazine is to provide th e reader with reliable information regarding various subjects.Second, you can simply read the magazine online, or even get some articles printed in the magazines. There are many areas in this magazine that you will not only be able to find information, but also get a chance to have an insight into the latest news and trends. This is the best way to get to know more about the latest developments. However, it is important to remember that if you desire to get more information, you can always download the issues from the internet.Third, if you would like to keep yourself updated with the latest developments of the Millikan Chemistry, you can subscribe to the magazine. This will provide you with unlimited access to the latest issues. You will also be able to get the opportunity to have a feel of the Magazine. Thus, you will know when to expect the next issue of Millikan Chemistry.Fourth, if you are passionate about Millikan Chemistry, you can join the internet forum. You can sign up in this forum and connect with the other Millikan Chemistry users from all over the world. Then, you can enjoy your life as the free subscriber and will not have to pay anything. You will also be able to enjoy a unique opportunity to learn about different areas of Millikan Chemistry.