How Effective Is Self-Education?

How Effective Is Self-Education?The subject of self-education, how it is done, and how we go about it has been on a great deal of media these days. Most of us believe that it is through the power of education that we can improve the quality of our lives. This is not the case, you need to be self-motivated, and willing to dedicate your time and energy to the task. The more your will to succeed, the more you can obtain.Why we need to learn how to achieve the right way in regard to improvement with regard to self-education? Well, a lot of people are looking for the answer to this question. In the event that you need to find the answer, then this article is worth reading and providing with the benefits.A highly effective method of efficient progress report tutoring would be offering our students an alternative learning method. As soon as they are ready to learn, whether they like it or not, you must provide them with the best tutoring methods that would make them progress in their studie s. We all have self-confidence issues as far as learning is concerned. If you would teach your students, they would easily forget the reason why they need the teaching in the first place.You need to inspire your students' self-motivation skills. It is a good way to make them pay attention to what you are saying. You can tell them what you believe in and tell them how it could be accomplished. They would definitely feel happier about their efforts, and you would get a better success rate.If we see it from a different angle, we can understand the value of progress report tutoring in the classroom. You have to get your students to realize that they are not better than other students. There is no reason to avoid learning from someone else, as you'd prove any performance is better than another. You should be able to treat them as an equal student who also has their own skills, who can help them get better by using their own smarts. These strategies could assist your students in being suc cessful.If you are going to find out about the right way to give instructions to your students, look for an idea about how the teacher really is, as well as how he learns. Talk about this to your students, as you would find out how they would respond to a lot of your ideas. This would allow you to understand what your students really want, and what they think they can learn from their teachers.In conclusion, you should find out about the best way to improve your personal relationship with your students. You need to find out the answer to the question, how we educate ourselves.

The Clothes You Need for Dance Classes

The Clothes You Need for Dance Classes How to Dress for a Ballet Class ChaptersChoosing a Leotard for BalletBallet Slippers and Pointe ShoesHow Much Does a Ballet Outfit Cost?Stage Makeup for Ballet Dancers“The job of feet is walking, but their hobby is dancing.” - Amit KalantriThere are an estimated 17,000 dancers in the UK. With many different dance clubs and dance schools, you might be wondering if there’s anything, in particular, you’d need to wear to attend.Some dance schools have a very strict dress code including a leotard, tights, and ballet slippers, whereas others will let you wear anything suitable for dancing. So far, so good. In some cases, the colour of your leotard will indicate your level. In most schools, however, you’ll just be expected to wear clothing appropriate to the style.In this article, we’ll look just at what you need to wear for ballet classes. SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5 .00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsChoosing a Leotard for BalletThe leotard is a close-fitting garment that allows you to effectively dance without being bothered by your clothing and it also helps your teacher to see your movements. It was invented by French trapeze artist Jules Léotard to help him with his work. Tutus are only usually worn during performances and not during practice. (Source: nikidinov)Not to be confused with a bodysuit, which is also worn by dancers, particularly in modern dance. The leotard looks a lot like a swimsuit. It’s often worn without underwear. Tights are often worn under the leotard.The small skirt sewn into some leotards is known as a tutu. The leotard can be worn with a tutu, shorts, leggings, trousers, or a cache-cÅ"ur.There are various types of leotard and you need to choose for the one that fits the best and works well with your dancing:Thick strapsThin strapsCriss-cross strapsBacklessCrew neckShort sleeves3/4 sleevesLong sleevesLeotard with shortsThe second decision you need to make is the material that your leotard is made of. Leotards were originally made from cotton. This is a comfortable material but it doesn’t wick away sweat very easily. It will also become rougher after multiple washes. Don’t hesitate to try different materials: lycra, elastane , microfibre, polyester, polyamide, Tactel nylon. Each has its advantages and disadvantages so it's up to you to see which works the best.The best thing is to try them on in the shop, especially if it’s your first time buying one. Each brand is different and sizes might be bigger or smaller than what you’re used to. A leotard needs to be tight-fitting but shouldn’t leave marks on your skin when taken off. Make sure that the straps stay in place and you can move easily.In terms of colour, that’s up to you: pink, red, black, white, blue, green, etc. There’s something for everyone.Ballet Slippers and Pointe ShoesWhile a lot of little girls dream of owning some pointe shoes, we’re not going to start there. Before you can use pointe shoes, you need solid heels so that you don’t injure yourself. Generally, young girls will start wearing pointe shoes from 11 or 12 depending on their strength. There are many different factors to consider when buying ballet slippers. (Source: StockSnap)Pointe technique is very demanding so you need to have the technique mastered before you can try. If you’re starting ballet as an adult, you’re going to need to be patient before you can start dancing in pointe shoes.You’ll need to invest in some good demi-pointe shoes before you can start doing pirouettes and a grand jeté!There are several types of ballet slipper. Similarly, there are many things you need to consider:The sole of the demi-pointe shoes: when you first start doing ballet, it’s recommended that you opt for a full sole to offer you stability. When you get to an intermediate level, you can move onto half-sole demi-pointe shoes, which means the middle of your foot is free to move around in the slipper, which can help you for pointe technique. There’s also leather or suede parts under the heel and under the ball of the foot to facilitate turning.The material of the shoe: leather is more durable but less supple. Canvas is supple but tends to wear. You’ll also need to buy demi-pointes if there are holes in them. There are also satin or mixed materials (leather and canvas or elastane) options available.The colour: pink is one of the most common colours but there’s also beige, black, white, red, etc.For pointe shoes, there are also a few other things to consider:The width: this has to be according to the width of your foot. If they feel tight, you may need wider shoes. If you’re sliding around in the shoe, go for narrower shoes.The durability of the sole: Beginners will start with a supple sole and move up to harder soles over time. Each time you buy new ballet shoes, you’ll need to ask yourself whether or not they need to be harder.The length of the upper: This is how much of the shoe covers the top of your toes and foot.The shape of the inside of the shoe: This might be square or conical depending on the shape of your foot.It's very important choosing the right ballet shoe or dance shoe to take your time and make sure that you try them on.How Much Does a Ballet Outfit Cost?Starting ballet classes requires a bit of investment both in terms of the classes themselves and the ballet outfit. You might be happy starting to do ballet in a t-shirt and bottoms but you’ll soon see that you need to free up your movements. The leotard-tights-slippers combination is the obvious one to go for. While entry-level ballet outfits are quite cheap, you can spend a fortune on professional gear. (Source: Vladislav83)Leotard: this can cost between £10 and £60 depending on the style and brand you go for. You can get leotards from Decathlon for just over £10.Tights: these aren’t like your regular tights that ladder at the slightest movement. Ballet tights are reinforced and more resistant. You need to pay around a tenner for a pair of ballet tights. Don’t hesitate to get a few pairs to find your favourites.Dance shoes: these can also cost between £10 and £60 according to style and brand. Block demi-pointes are the professional standard but you’ll expect to pay a good amount for them. If you want to get pointe shoes, you’ll be paying upwards of £50.Other items: leggings, bottoms, tutu, cache-coeur, brassier, etc. There’s plenty of choices for those who don’t feel comfortable in just a leotard and tights. That said, it will cost you a bit more. You can pay around £40 for each of the above.Clothing for warming up: cache-coeur, gaiters, warm-up boots, etc. The price will vary according to what you opt for!Dance accessories: bag, hair accessories, pointe protectors, etc. It’s up to you how much you’re willing to spend on these.The average cost of a basic ballerina outfit (leotard, tights, slippers) should be around £50. However, this will depend on what you get.Stage Makeup for Ballet DancersIf you’re going to be performing on stage, you’ll need to think about the makeup you’ll be wearing and learn how to do stage makeup. You won't apply makeup for a dance performance in the same way you usually do. (Source: kinkate)The most important thing to know is that stage makeup is made to be seen. Your audience won’t be close to you and stage lights and spotlights tend to make faces paler. Thus, you’ll need to exaggerate the colour of your eyes, mouth, and complexion.Start by applying makeup to your eyelids with three lots of eyeshadow. Apply the lightest layer first, a darker second layer in the middle, and the darkest layer around the edge. Then, add a thicker eyeliner than you’d usually wear. Next, generously apply mascara to your eyelashes.Now let’s look at your complexion. Consider using a liquid foundation and working from the centre of your face outwards. Powder and matte your skin so that it doesn’t appear shiny on stage. You can also add blush to your cheeks to give your face some contrast.You’ll want your mouth to be a matte red. Shiny lipstick won’t pop with stage lights. The best idea is to apply it to the contours with a brush. Finish by accentuating your eyebrows.For more information, don’t hesitate to check our full article on makeup for dancers.So when will we see you in your first ballet lesson?If you need more help with ballet, think about getting in touch with the talented and experienced tutors on Superprof. You can get either face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials and since each comes with its pros and cons, make sure you carefully consider which one will work best for you, your preferred learning style, and your budget.

Look Up To - Phrasal Verb of the Day

Look Up To - Phrasal Verb of the Day Todays phrasal verb of the day is: Look Up ToInfinitive form: Look Up ToPresent Tense: Look Up To/ Looks Up Toing form: Looking Up ToPast tense: Looked Up ToParticiple: Looked Up ToLook Up To is an inseparable English phrasal verb. It is also a three word phrasal verb.This particular phrasal verb is mainly used when you  view someone with respect and/or admiration1. When the teacher asked who my idol is, I answered with, Ive always been looking up to Mother Theresa since I was a kid.2. People generally look up to people who exudes confidence, strength, and faith at all times.Exercises: Write your answers in comments and we will correct them.Complete the sentences below with the correct form of Look Up To.1. Heidi ____ ___ __ her mother since her mother has always been there for her.2. Sam does not ____ ___ __ people who disrespect him.3. Sandra used to ____ ___ __ Lance Armstrong, but changed her mind when she learned about his doping .4. My uncle _____ ___ __ a Nelson Mandela. For him, that man serves as his inspiration in life.5.  Whenever you feel unsure about a situation, it helps to think how the person you _____ ___ __ wouldve handled it.Change the example sentences above to negative sentences (or positive, if the sentence is already negative). Then change them to questions.

Four Great Common Core Resources for Teachers

Four Great Common Core Resources for Teachers As your school navigates the significant changes resulting from the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, you may need help. Here are four great resources to help you make the transition.As your school navigates the significant changes resulting from the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, you may need help. Here are four great resources to help you make the transition.EduCore: www.educore.ascd.org - This collaboration between the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ACSD) and the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation offers resources, tools, professional development resources and more for teachers who are implementing Common Core.Achieve the Core: www.achievethecore.org - Achieve the Core was developed by Student Achievement Partners, which is composed of authors of the Common Core State Standards. On their website, you can find free curricular tools, professional development materials, Common Core-aligned writing samples and lessons, and much more.National Education Association (NEA) Common Core State Standards Toolkit: www.nea.org - This NEA publication offers all kinds of helpful curriculum and instruction resources, a list of resources by state, professional development modules and much more.

Vice Presidential Debate Live-Journal

Vice Presidential Debate Live-Journal eonline.com 8:47: The panel seems to think it’d be a good idea for Pence to tell some personal stories about his blossoming relationship with the Trump family, the idea being that this would be a good opportunity to humanize Trump. Yeah, maybe. But it isn’t it discomfiting that we’re casually discussing the fact that it’s a month away from the election and we’re not totally convinced of Trump’s humanity? 8:56: Coop’s elegant style, sharp comportment, and sophisticated incorporation of spectacles makes the whole idea of aging a lot more palatable. 8:59: Get me out of this panel purgatory. 9:00: Cutting directly from Coop to Wolf Blitzer is hilariously unfair to Wolf. 9:02: The Candidates make their distinguished walk to the stage and then just kind of plop down in goofy swivel-chairs. usatoday.com 9:07: There’s a kind of refreshing sense of old-school cordiality between the candidates as they both begin the debate with pretty strong, clearly rehearsed answers to Elaine Quijano’s first question. 9:10: Kaine seemed like a relatively banal pick for Clinton, but it’s becoming clearer why she tipped him. He appears to really relish being her cheerleader/chief attack dog. He also follows the same “affable everyman” role that Biden filled so effectively. 9:12: Pence says the Clinton campaign has been an “avalanche of insults”… I genuinely think he’s never seen Trump’s Twitter account. 9:15: Maybe framing a debate as an “open discussion” isn’t the most prudent move. Candidates constantly interrupting each other. 9:16: That cordiality, yeah, it didn’t last. 9:18: Pence is pretty strong on the economy, inasmuch as he can tout some specious economic arguments while seeming credible. 9:19: “Do you want a ‘you’re fired’ plan, or do you want a ‘you’re hired’ plan?” Kaine asks. The Clinton campaign really needs to put the kibosh on the witticisms. 9:21: Pence has resting “I’m so disappointed in you” face. Probably an appropriate demeanor for a Trump VP. 9:23: “You can roll out the numbers, but people in Scranton know different” Pence says. Anti-intellectualism is core to his economic arguments. 9:25: Pence is so weak answering questions about Trump’s taxes. Absolutely flailing, it’s gotta be embarrassing for him. Kaine’s attacks are obvious but they’re scathing. “He’s going to release his tax returns when the audit is over.” Yeesh. 9:30: I wonder what Coop thinks about all of this. 9:35: Pence just explicitly said that we need to stop accusing police forces of institutional racism. “When African-American police officers are involved in the shooting of an African-American, how can Hilary Clinton bring up bias?” he asked. Just a total misunderstanding of what how institutional bias metastasizes throughout institutions, regardless of the individual. 9:42: Pence finally brings up the “basket of deplorables.” It’s astounding that it’s taken one and a half debates for this to come up. I’d almost forgotten about it. I think it shows a serious paucity of political acumen that it’s taken so long for them to try and capitalize on one of Clinton’s only real gaffes. cnn.com 9:46: Kaine has been taking up Trump’s interrupter mantle all night. It seems like a deliberate strategic move but I’m not sure how well it’ll play. Trump supporters will definitely revel in the fact that they can finally accuse a political opponent of being obtrusive. 9:50: Kaine, and the Clinton campaign in general, has always been at their best when simply reciting Trump’s words back verbatim. There’s absolutely no convincing retort that Pence can muster. 9:52: Pence’s revisionism on Iraq is crazy. His conception of history seems to be that we won the initial war without significant difficulty or consequence, and that failed negotiations and management on the part of the Obama administration were the only direct antecedents to the rise of ISIS. Maybe some of his supporters will buy that, but it’s patently insane. Pence’s ardor for the Iraq war also chafes against his running mate’s (er, false) claim that he didn’t support the invasion. But, I mean, I guess the Trump campaign has more pressing problems to address than message coherence. 10:00: I disagree with nearly everything Pence is saying but he is SO MUCH MORE competent than Trump. If Trump was asked specific questions about no-fly zones in Syria it would be an abject disaster. Pence can, at the very least, articulate a response. 10:04: The way Kaine keeps invoking Raegan makes me uncomfortable as a progressive. I get the political calculusâ€"he’s trying to attract disaffected republicansâ€"but I don’t like our only viable left-of-center ticket valorizing Reagan Conservatism. 10:05: It seems like Pence’s plan is to simply act disgusted/dismissive whenever Kaine makes obvious attacks against Trump’s character. In a way, it works. The conversation moves on. But it’s also hilarious to see Pence try and dismiss the asinine things Trump has said. 10:10: Pence just said “this isn’t the old days where you can just say stuff and people will believe it.” I mean… come on… does he have no sense of irony? 10:15: Extensive talks about Russia. Putin probably loves the fact that there’s an entire segment in a major vice presidential debate devoted to talking about him. This is the kind of exertion of soft power that he thrives on. Dude is a cold war thinker and we’re kind of servicing him here. 10:17: It took nearly two full debates for Trump/Pence to bring up the Clinton Foundation, which is one of the main sources of her popular distrust. But here’s the thing, nobody has ever found any creditable examples of malfeasance perpetrated by the foundation. In fact, it’s one of the most successful charity organizations in history. 10:20: I wish there was a box in the bottom corner of the screen showing Coop’s real-time reactions. 10:24: Kaine fails to talk about how he reconciles his faith with his pro-choice political stance, when the moderator seemed to be setting him up to talk about that specific topic in detail. It’s worth nothing that he was something of a late-adopter of both pro-choice and LGBTQ rights positions. 10:27: Lots of scripture quoting going on. Makes me queasy. 10:35: As the debate ends, both candidates explain that they’re confident that they’ll be able to unify the country if elected. If this debate, and this entire election cycle, has shown us anything, it’s that there are serious fissures in the American polity that can’t be remedied over the course of one or two terms. It’s nice to think that we’ll all come together again after November, but this election has revealed how fractious our politics have really become. These aren’t problems of ideology or policy disputes, they’re problems of identity anxiety. There’s a profound fear of change that can’t be assuaged by any one president. But the country won’t stop changing, so either these problems will continue to grow in extremity, or we’ll do some serious collective introspection and decide that a shifting world doesn’t actually portend disaster. 10:47: Back to you, Coop. salon.com

Learn to Speak a Foreign Language from Scratch in 8 Steps

Learn to Speak a Foreign Language from Scratch in 8 Steps Learn to Speak a Foreign Language from Scratch in 8 Steps Learning a new language can be an emotional roller coaster.Youll hit plenty of highsâ€"now were going to help you avoid the lows.At first, theres something magical about the newness of it all.The new sounds.  The new words.  The new culture youre becoming immersed in, whether youre at home or abroad.  Its pure ecstasy.But then you hit a wall.  You realize that after those first few days of fun that its beginning to be a slog. Youre barely moving forward, or at least thats how it feels.Youve got no real direction, little structure and youre just trying to conquer that burly, expansive language by pure force of will. What was once fun is now intimidating.This cycle of feelings is normal for any language learner or anyone whos studying anything. There are times when our knowledge seems to rise effortlessly upward, like a  Chinese lantern balloon in the night sky. And then there are times when our progress plateaus out, like a fatigued runner midway up a hill who is too exhausted  climb any higher.For someone trying to tackle a new language though this can be terrifying. Theres no sign that language learning will ever be as fun as when you started and you might not be aware of the steps to take to make sure you keep learning at a quick pace.Thats where this post comes in. Outlined below is a rough road map for planning your venture into language learning.  Because everyone is unique and inevitably wants to emphasize different parts of the language, its difficultâ€"if not impossibleâ€"to make a plan that works for everyone. But if you follow these general points you should be well on your way to earning bragging rights for your foreign language skills. Learn to Speak a Foreign Language from Scratch in 8 Steps1. Plan, plan, planFirst things first. Youre going to want to lay out your goals on paper.These goals should incorporate all of the four language skills: Speaking, listening, reading and writing. The amount of time or effort you spend on each one will vary dep ending on your personal preferences, learning goals and learning style, but its a good idea to include them all since they help to reinforce each other.It doesnt have to be too much. If all you want to do is converse with people you meet, then writing an essay every day is probably overkill, but keeping a journal where you write a few sentences a day will go a long way.In addition to these four main language skills you should make sure to tackle supporting skills, which are the backbone of language. Im talking about things like grammar, vocab and pronunciation. You can do separate exercises with these or try to roll them into your work on the four language skills. For example, you might ask a Skype language partner to correct you whenever you make a pronunciation mistake while having a conversation with her.Learning the four language skills plus grammar, vocab and pronunciation can take up a lot of time, so its best to rotate them if you  dont have the luxury of being able to study the whole day long. For instance, on Monday you could study vocab for an hour and then read for an hour. By doing so, youve hit on one of the core language skills (reading) and a key supporting skill (vocabulary). Your vocab learning will be reinforced by your reading and vice versa. Then on Tuesday you could mix it up with pronunciation (supporting skills) and listening practice (core language skill).And dont give short shrift to those supporting skills. If you need to, streamline your study habits for them and make sure you get in some studying for at least one of them each day. By streamlining Im talking about good old flashcards combined with some newfangled spaced repetition.  Well talk about vocab below, but for grammar you can try sentence mining and for pronunciation try writing  a difficult word to pronounce on one side of a card and the IPA pronunciation on the other.To make sure that you accomplish your goals take some time to read over what it is that defines a SMART goa l.  If you set clear, measurable goals with deadlines, youll be a lot more likely to make headway than with a wishy-washy Ill do whatever I can.2. Build your foundationThe first thing youll probably want to focus on is memorizing some basic vocab and common phrases.For vocab, try to find a list of the hundred most commonly used words in the language you want to learn. In the English language the hundred most common words account for 50% of language use.  With a couple hours of work, youll be understanding half the words coming out of the mouth of anyone speaking your new language!As for phrases, you can either use one of those nifty travel books that includes a list of useful phrases, use a site like Memrise  where you can find courses that people have created to memorize phrases, or create your own deck of phrase flashcards with software like Anki.3. Language skills, activate!New language learners often have a tendency to study vocab and grammar and then not really use it for much. Its intimidating to speak to other people when youre just starting out, and foreign texts often just look like a jumble of characters.However, once youve got some studying hours under your belt its essential to activate those skills. By activate I mean put them into practice with a strong focus on writing and speaking. These two skills are the productive skills. You need to produce language with your knowledge. If you can get a grip on these, that means you really know something.If youre listening or reading you can half-know a word and still understand the sentence as a whole. But if you need to use that word in speech or write it down then youre forced to really understand how it should be used.In order to make sure you activate the things that youve been studying there are a couple of things you can do.When youre doing speaking practice you can use conversation topics that steer your dialogue towards what youve been learning.To get in some writing practice, you can try to write out a story, blog post, journal entry or anything else using the grammar and vocab youve learned. Preferably it should be profane, bizarre, erotic, eccentric, deranged, etc. Basically anything that will make new language stick in your mind.4. Let your passion burn with the fire of a thousand eruptionsMotivation is one of the key factors in being a good language learner, so be sure to have some good reasons why you think you really  need to learn the language. And to pile motivation on top of motivation, always stay on the lookout for new sources of inspiration.This could mean joining a volunteer group where your new language becomes essential, as it might be if you were teaching English to immigrants.Another option could be inventing a project that requires your new language. Maybe translating your favorite novel is a bit beyond your abilities at this point, but if you have younger relatives, why not try translating childrens books for them to read? Or you could simply sign up for a n officially recognized test like the JLPT for Japanese or the TOPIK for Korean. Any one of these options would help, and if you combine them then youll really be cooking with gas.5. Become a new youIm an INFJ. What are you?If you know what Im talking about you probably have your own four-letter characterization of your personality forever burnt into your mind. For those of you who dont know, these letters come from the Myers-Briggs personality test which has become quite popular despite a lack of scientific evidence to support it.In fact, personality is much more malleable than most of us think and is strongly shaped by what we believe about ourselves. This is good because learning a new language may require some personality changes for a least a few of us. Learning a language means allowing yourself to be open to constant criticism and willing to say whatever comes to your mind, even if its not perfect. Thats the key. Being sociable and willing to make mistakes.If this sounds diff icult, take it one step at a time. You can try to be less of a perfectionist in your native language first, which may seem less frightening. Or you could try meditation,  which has been shown to reduce neuroticism over time. Whatever suites your personalityfor the moment.6. Pulling out all the stopsIn order to really take your learning to the next level take some time to learn about new technology and techniques that will help immerse you in your language. For starters theres the classic change-the-language-of-all-your-electronic-devices trick as well as the spaced repetition memorization technique.Other favorites include language learning apps such as Duolingo and the aforementioned Memrise. Then theres also an extension for Google Chrome that will change just a few words on each page to the language youre trying to learn so its not too intimidating. And of course theres FluentU! Youll have the ability to select a video in the language of your choice from an extensive library, incl uding subtitles in the target language, explanations for unknown vocab, audio pronunciations and active learning tools.7. Improve your study habitsDespite spending years and years of our lives in the school system being forced to study, many of us have never seriously considered how to study effectively. Thankfully weve got science to direct our pursuits.What do these studies show? Mostly that taking some simple actions can have clear impacts on how well we learn. For instance, if you just switch the room where you study every now and then it will help you retain words you want to memorize. And again, if you just switch the skills youre working on every now and then, provided theyre at least somewhat related, it will help you improve more than just honing in on one skill for several hours at a time.While it may seem like were getting more work done when we sit in one place and focus on one task the whole day, the reality is quite different. This uses so much willpower that its harde r to get stuff done. So remember: Variety is key.8. Get some sleepI know, I know. Youre busy. Youve got things to do. Theres no way I can work all day, see my friends, study a language and get as much sleep as I need, you say.But its worth the extra effort to plan out your day down to the fine details to ensure you get enough sleep. The early part of our sleep cycle is the part that helps our brain with learning languages and lack of sleep has been shown to hurt students even when they are using that time to study.  If youre serious about learning, then sleep has got to be up there on the priorities.Youll finally be able to rest easy at night after laying down your road map to language learning success.Sure, languages can sometimes seem like big, scary monsters that resist all our attempts to get them under our control.But thats just an illusion.With the right frame of mind, some tools, your passion and a lot of persistence, that new language will be your tame little pet before you know it. And One More ThingIf you want the ultimate in language learning support from the newbie stage through fluency, youve got to check out FluentU.FluentU takes real-world videos like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks, and turns them into language learning experiences, 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 learn 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% p ersonalized 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 Google Play store.

How to Land an Internship for Winter Break

How to Land an Internship for Winter Break via Pexels Start early. If the thought of getting an internship for the winter only just entered your mind a few weeks before break starts, your chances are pretty slim. Instead, it’s important to take action early on preferably October or early November during the fall semester, according to this helpful site,  The Balance   so that you have time to start thinking about the internships out there, do your research, and contact employers. Waiting until the last minute will only leave you in a bind. On the flip side, starting early will certainly work in your favor, as you’ll not only leave yourself some breathing room but also show potential employers that you’re proactive and know what you’re doing. Network. Putting yourself out there is undoubtedly a significant part of landing any internship, regardless of whether it’s for the winter or summer. Especially during the winter when internships may be scarce, networking is important for getting your name and face out there, so that you stand a better chance of being noticed. Make the most of the connections you have, whether they be formal or informal. The Balance suggests reaching out to people in your own personal circle, such as friends, family members, faculty, previous employers, etc. Taking advantage of your personal connections might provide you with a quicker “in” compared to other options (although it certainly will not be a guarantee). Especially if you have a relative or friend’s cousin’s mom who is involved in a field or career you would like to pursue as well, simply inquiring about possible internship opportunities runs a low risk. Asking previous employers is also a great option, particularly if you had a good relationship and a decent experience working with them. Reaching out to previous employers shows that you are willing to keep in touch, that you enjoyed working for them, and that you liked them so much you would love to return, all of which they will certainly appreciate. If you think contacting past employers is a helpful option, here is an email template provided by emmeliedelacruz.com for reaching out to them, if you need guidance or feel a little stuck on what to write. Volunteer. If you’ve been searching and searching for internships over winter break but can’t find any that you would want to apply to, or ones that are even still accepting applications, you might want to consider volunteering instead. While volunteer work isn’t going to help you get paid, it can certainly be just as useful and look just as good on your resume as a regular internship could; volunteering in the field you want to pursue will still allow you to gain valuable experience. What’s more, your willingness to spend your own time volunteering, unpaid, can show a great deal about your character as a motivated and selfless individual to prospective employers.