Understanding How to Train a Dog to Sit, Stay and Listen

Understanding How to Train a Dog to Sit, Stay and ListenOne of the most useful methods to understand how to train a dog to sit, stay and listen is to use a Kumon tutor. You can find this kind of training a lot of places, including your local pet store. As you are looking around you will probably notice many different things about these tutors, but now you need to be sure that you have all the information before you get one.To begin with, you must find out the exact difference between a Kumon dog and any other kind of dog. Some people use terms like class and breed, but those don't really matter. Class and breed are only for dog owners who own one specific type of dog. You are looking for a different kind of dog that you can actually train. In this case you will need to find a trainer who specializes in training in a specific manner.A Kumon trainer can help you get a dog who learns to learn right away. They will allow you to train your dog right in the comfort of your own home, which makes them great to use at first. They will start off by teaching the dog what you want it to do, and then they will teach it other things such as socialization. The trainers will teach you the basic manners as well as train your dog from inside the house.Some trainers will simply walk your dog outside to start the training while others will actually put on a class or a training session before your pet leaves the house. If you want to make sure that your pet is going to learn how to behave properly when you have it, then a trainer is something that you should consider getting. You can find trainers in your local area by asking the neighbors if they know of anyone that teaches dogs.If you do decide to go with a class or training before your pet leaves the house, you must ask the trainer to start the training immediately. This is to give your pet the maximum opportunity to learn. When you put your pet on a long leash and let it wander around outside all day, it is going to need time t o learn how to behave around you. You want to make sure that you train your pet to be sociable and to sit when you are around. The training session will also let you know the right way to use your training tools and you will know that it is going to help the dog understand what you want it to do.Some trainers, on the other hand, use a Kumon trainer to help teach your dog to control his energy when it is not going properly when you use the leash. If you use this training system, it will teach your dog to behave in a proper manner and to stay in one spot or another. There are trainers who will come to your home and take your dog for a run around the block in their specially-equipped vans so that they can give them a lot of exercise, which can help them control their energy.It is not too difficult to choose the right trainer for your needs, so choose a trainer who is used to working with Kumon animals. Make sure that they offer good training techniques and you will be doing your best t o train your dog with them.

3 Questions to Ask Your High School Guidance Counselor This Month

3 Questions to Ask Your High School Guidance Counselor This Month The start of the spring semesterregardless of your high school gradecan be a pivotal time in your college admissions journey. You likely have a plethora of questions, most centered around what progress you should be making by this time in your high school career. In order to ensure youre on track, meeting with your high school guidance counselor can be immensely beneficial. Questions to ask your guidance counselor include verifying that your class schedule has you on the right track, understanding which standardized tests are best for you, and learning how your extracurriculars factor into college admissions. Hoping to start the spring semesterand continue your college searchon the right foot? Here are three questions to ask your high school guidance counselor this month: Question #1 to ask your high school guidance counselor: Is my high school schedule fully supporting my college admissions chances? Its vital that you follow a high school schedule that will set you up for success in the long-term. While there are likely a list of required courses you must take, be sure that your selected electives and subject-specific course choices will ultimately promote a well-rounded academic profile. Review your remaining required courses with your guidance counselor, as well as any opportunities your schedule may offer for you to complete classes that will best reflect your academic abilities to prospective colleges. Additionally, discuss with your counselor any dual credit options your school may offer so that you can potentially enter your freshman year of college with credits in hand. [RELATED: 4 Small Ways to Strengthen Your College Applications This School Year] Question #2 to ask your high school guidance counselor: Which exams will set me up for college admissions success? This month is an excellent time to create a test prep plan for the year. Deciding which standardized tests to take, however, can be more complicated than you might initially believe. Its important to research whether the schools youre most interested in have a preference between the ACT and SAT, and make your plan accordingly. In addition, your guidance counselor can help educate you on other testing options that may further bolster your application. These options may include: AP and IB courses SAT Subject Tests If you feel particularly strong in a specific subject, for example, an SAT Subject Test or enrollment in an AP course may help your college application stand out. Your guidance counselor can help you analyze your academic profile to decide what testing options will be best for you. [RELATED: 3 Questions to Ask Yourself When Narrowing Your College Search] Question #3 to ask your high school guidance counselor: How do admissions officers view high school extracurriculars? In addition to ensuring youre taking the right exams and courses that will showcase you as a well-rounded applicant, its key to participate in extracurriculars while in high school. School-sponsored clubs offer the unique opportunity to enhance your college application while participating in activities you enjoy. Your guidance counselor can help you discover what groups are available at your school surrounding your interests. In addition, your counselor may be aware of community organizations that you can join that will elevate your college application. [RELATED: What to Do After Youve Submitted Your College Applications] Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

This stuff is archaic.-Burton Guster And really old.-Shawn Spencer - Private Tutoring

This stuff is archaic.-Burton Guster And really old.-Shawn Spencer BobbiM May 23, 2014 Its important to learn these words so you dont embarrass yourself when you are on your TV show.  Just kidding it was part of the script, but still learn these words so you catch all intentional mistakes in TV shows? Neophyte; n. A recent convert; a novice or beginner. Though I am merely a neophyte in this church I am eager to learn. Neoteric; adj. Of recent emergence; beginning; modern. The ideas were neoteric and because they were in the beginning stages of production, they werent of much use to us. Postulant; n. New to a situation; a petitioner or someone who is starting out on a new endeavor. The postulant girl was confused with her new schools rules. Proselyte; n. A newcomer or someone newly converted; novice or beginner. I am a true proselyte with this new change of policies. Raw; adj. Uncooked or untried; inexperienced; unpracticed; experimental. I was raw in the marines and the work was killing me. Rudimentary; adj. Elementary; being in the earliest stages if development. My knowledge is rudimentary but I am willing to learn. Shaver; n. Informal, somewhat colloquial expression used to describe a young boy; one without experience. He was a young farming shaver, yet he thought he could write a book about his farm life. Stripling; n. an adolescent male. The stripling warrior fought valiantly. Untried; adj. Not tried or experienced; fledgling; without skill or knowledge. The young police force dog was untried and violent. Antiquated; adj. Too old to be fashionable or contemporary in thinking or style; very old or aged. The antiquated clothing sat in the attic and collected dust. Archaic; adj. Out if date; old; out of style, fashion, or contemporary thinking. The equipment was archaic and needed a replacement. Dateless; adj. Having no date; so ancient that no date can be determined; having no limits in time; timeless. The woman wore a dateless dress that left everyone in awe. She looked refreshingly classy. Fossilized; adj. Converted to a fossil; made outmoded or inflexible with time. The fossilized mosquito in the amber looked interesting. Full-fledged; adj. Fully developed mature; attaining full rank, status, or experience. The full-fledged bird flew away from the nest, never to return. Geriatric; adj. Of or related to the aged or the aging process. The doctor continued his study in geriatric research. Gerontic, gerontological; adj. Of or relating to very old age; having to do with the last stage of life. All the gerontic men were knowledgable of the old war. Hoary; adj. White or gray, as with age; old and venerable with wisdom and age. The old man shook his hoary head as he told me I couldnt enter. Obsolescence; n. Something out of use or need; a dying breed or of unnecessary or unimportant need. The appliances obsolescence was the reason they were in the dump. Outmoded; adj. Out of fashion; of no more use, need, or practicality. Last years fashion may be outmoded but surely the styles will come back eventually. Passé; adj. Out of mode or fashion. To some people, it is passé for the man to open the door for the woman, but it isnt for me. Prehistoric; adj. Of or relating to prehistory; slang-old and out of touch. That man is so old he is prehistoric and not worth listening to. Primeval;  adj. From the earliest times or ages; original or ancient. The primeval need for man is to survive. Primitive; adj. Primary or basic; of or relating to an earliest or original stage or state; primeval. I still own a primitive record player. Primordial; adj. Early in the developmental stage; basic and ancient. Many people know the primordial feeling of loving a child. Seasoned; adj. Characterized by experience, skill, or practice. I am a seasoned hockey player, Ive played for 10 years. Superannuated; adj. Retired or outmoded; no longer in use or need. During spring cleaning, I discarded all the superannuated things Ive collected. Venerable; adj. Worthy or respect or reverence; honorable. My grandmother is a venerable person full of wisdom. Veteran; n. A person who is long experienced or practices in an activity or capacity; often associated with past military personnel. My grandfather is a veteran who served in World War II.

During, For, and While Problem words for English Language Learners

During, For, and While Problem words for English Language Learners There are some words that are difficult to use and easily confused by English language learners. I know from learning Spanish that time expression words can be especially difficult. To add further complication, Spanish and Portuguese have a word durante that sounds similar to during but isnt used in exactly the same contexts. If you find yourself using during a lot you may want to ask yourself if you are using it correctly.Look at this sentence:During many years she worked at the factory.  Correction:  For many years, she worked at the factory.During she was speaking I got a phone call.  Correction:  While she was speaking I got a phone call.During the break I ate lunch and had a coffee.  YES!Do you know the difference between the above sentences? Watch the video and do the exercises to test your knowledge of during, while, and for.Write your answers in comments and we will respond. 1. Angie has been waiting ______ me at her house and Im stuck in traffic.2. I went running _______ h e was making dinner.3. We lived in Argentina ________ two years.4. My sister came to stay with us _____ 10 days _______her winter break.5. Janet called me ________ I was on the other line.6. ________my holidays I like to hike and camp. Jefferson 1- For 2 While 3 For 4 For During 5 While 6 During LOIEnglish Nice work! Pedro Messias Lopes 1. for 2. while 3. for 4. forduring 5. while 6. during LOIEnglish Good! Guto-Carlos Augusto Ferreira B 1. For2. During3. For4. For While5. While6. During LOIEnglish You are still confusing during and whileNumber 2: I went running while he was making dinner. -You have 2 actions so you need while. Also, while is followed by a SUBJECT + VERB whereas during is followed by a NOUN PHRASE.Number 4: My sister came to stay with us for 10 days DURING her winter break.HER WINTER BREAK-this is a NOUN PHRASE; there isnt a verb involved.I hope this helps! JG 1 for 2 while 3 for 4 for / during 5 while 6 during LOIEnglish Good work! cleriston 1 . for - initially the best 2. while 3. for 4. for, during (not sure about during) 5. while 6. During LOIEnglish Excellent! Number 4 is correct. You should use during for the last gap because it is followed by a noun. Rafa 1. Angie has been waiting for me at her house and I’m stuck in traffic.2. I went running while he was making dinner.3. We lived in Argentina for two years.4. My sister came to stay with us for 10 days during her winter break.5. Janet called me while I was on the other line.6. during my holidays I like to hike and camp. LOIEnglish Nicely done! Patty Mares Angie has been waiting for me at her house and Im stuck in traffic. I went running while he was making dinner. We lived in Argentina for two years. My sister came to stay with us for 10 days during her winter break. Janet called me while I was on the other line. During my holidays I like to hike and camp. LOIEnglish Excellent Patty! I think you have it. Lenka 1. Angie has been waiting for me at her house an d I’m stuck in traffic.2. I went running while he was making dinner.3. We lived in Argentina for two years.4. My sister came to stay with us for 10 days during her winter break.5. Janet called me while I was on the other line.6. During my holidays I like to hike and camp. LOIEnglish Good Lenka! LOIEnglish Good !

6 Quick and Easy Meals for Dorm and Apartment Life

6 Quick and Easy Meals for Dorm and Apartment Life pexels.com Wait, do not click away from this article. Stay with me now. Cooking does not have to be too much of a chore with the right recipes! Read on to find the best, quick and easy meals for college students. Breakfast Spicy Breakfast Burritos If you are craving Taco Bell, but lack the time or the money, cooking a quick and easy breakfast burrito will be muy bueno! You will need: •One egg •Baby tomatoes •Shredded cheese •Hot sauce •Tortilla 1. Spray down a pan with oil or Pam and put the stovetop on medium heat. 2. Slice the baby tomatoes into smaller portions. Sautee the spinach and baby tomatoes for a few minutes, then add salt and pepper, or whatever other seasonings you prefer. Pour this mixture into the tortilla. 3. Next, scramble an egg, or cook it sunny-side up whatever your preference is. 4. Place the cooked egg in the tortilla and sprinkle cheese on top. Use as much hot sauce as you would like. Wrap the tortilla together and say adios to hunger! Omelets pixabay.com If you have a little extra time to try something classy and sophisticated, making an omelet is the right choice for a top-notch breakfast. You will need: •Three eggs •Spinach •Baby tomatoes •Cheese 1. Spray down a pan with oil or Pam and put the stovetop on high heat. 2. Slice the baby tomatoes into smaller portions. Scramble three eggs together, but do not add milk. 3. Sauté the spinach and baby tomatoes for a few minutes, then pour the egg mixture in. Immediately lower the heat levels down to low or medium. Let the egg mixture cook, occasionally using a spatula to lift the cooked egg portion to allow the uncooked egg mixture to reach the bottom of the pan. 4. Once the mixture is solid enough, it’s time to flip it. If you are brave, try to flip the omelet using only the pan and your strength. If not, that’s okay, use the spatula to flip your omelet. Once your omelet is completely cooked, feel free to sprinkle some cheese in the middle and then close it up, allowing the cheese to melt on the inside. Bon appetit! Lunch Ramen Stir-fry Take a college classic and make it into something healthy and extraordinary. You will need: •Ramen noodle soup (any flavor) •One egg •Spinach 1. Take a saucepan, fill it with three cups of water, and place it on the stove to boil at high heat. Once the water is boiling, toss the Ramen noodle block in the saucepan and allow it to cook for three minutes. 2. Spray down a pan with oil or Pam and put the stovetop on medium heat. Sautee the spinach for a few minutes, then add salt and pepper, or whatever other seasonings you may prefer. 3. Scramble an egg in the same pan as the spinach. Once the Ramen noodles are done, drain the saucepan completely of water. Pour the noodles into the pan and mix them with the spinach and egg, while mixing in the Ramen noodle seasoning, or seasoning of your own choice. 4. Continue to mix and sauté the mixture until the seasoning has been equally dispersed. Enjoy! Caprese Salad Image via: Wikimedia Commons Take a classic Italian dish and bring it into your dorm for an excellent, tasty lunch. You will need: •Mozzarella cheese •Basil leaves •Tomato(es) •Balsamic vinegar dressing 1. Slice up a block of mozzarella cheese and a tomato, or tomatoes, depending on how many people you are serving. 2. Layer the slices of mozzarella and tomato one by one, including a basil leaf in between each. 3. Drizzle with Balsamic vinegar salad dressing and enjoy! Dinner Bagel Pizza Put your local pizza delivery order on hold and make your own savory pizza dish today! You will need: •One bagel, sliced into two •Shredded mozzarella cheese •Pepperoni slices 1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees (or opt to use a microwave whichever is more convenient!). 2. Sprinkle a generous amount of mozzarella cheese onto your two bagel slices. Toss as many pieces of pepperoni as desired. 3. Bake for 10 minutes for ultimate crispiness, or microwave until the cheese melts. Remove the bagel pizzas and allow them to cool for two minutes. Enjoy! Quesadillas Image via: www.pexels.com This fun dish is easier to make than you might imagine! You will need: •Two tortillas •Shredded Mexican cheese 1. Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded Mexican cheese mixture onto a tortilla. 2. Place the other tortilla on top and microwave for two minutes. If you would prefer a crispier quesadilla, pan-fry the quesadilla on your stovetop until the tortilla begins to lightly brown. 3. Slice into eight pieces, allow the dish to cool, then enjoy! Learn more about Kaplan’s test prep options and start building the confidence you need for Test Day.

29 Powerful Language Learning Tools Within Your Reach

29 Powerful Language Learning Tools Within Your Reach 29 Powerful Language Learning Tools Within Your Reach Learning a language is like doing an extreme home makeover on  your brain.Sometimes the construction  work leaves you with some quirky new  polyglot problems, the mental equivalent of stumbling over half-demolished doorways youve been walking  through on autopilot for years.But the benefits and value added to your mental real estate make it more than worth the temporary mess.And if  youre committed to adding on a sunny Spanish-style veranda, fancy French doors or a whole new Japanese pagoda  to your monolingual starter home, youre gonna need the right tools.Starting with a solid foundation and all the way up to the linguistic detail work, there are an abundance of language learning tools to help you build your multilingual dream home.Some youve considered  using before as youve idly debated whether today is the day to start learning a new language, and others have been hiding in plain sight, masquerading as simple social networks or entertainment sites.But all of them will make excel lent additions to your linguistic toolbelt and better equip you to give yourself a  huge mental upgrade and a life-changing linguistic add-on. Here are some of our favorites from across the web. 29 Powerful Language Learning Tools Within Your ReachLaying Your Linguistic Foundations: Listening ToolsSeek first to understand, then to be understood.This insightful quote was popularized by the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and was intended as a general piece of life advice, but its particularly relevant to language learners who want to start constructing their new linguistic knowledge upon solid foundations.There are a lot of reasons listening is vital for language learning, but first and foremost is that no matter how many phrases you memorize, you cant do anything with a language until you understand the sounds that make it up.There are many tools in the digital and analog world to help you down the path of listening proficiency, from video and radio to podcasts, music  and good old-fashioned conversation. Heres an assortment of listening tools to train your ear to the acoustics of your target language and start building on a sound foundation.Innovative LanguageFrom Afrikaans to Vietnamese, Innovative Language has you covered with one of the best free podcast series for language learners on the web. This podcast series includes video and audio lessons that often focus on cultural aspects of the country or region thats home to the target language, complete with vocabulary building exercises and helpful word lists.Its updated with new lessons every week, with material geared towards absolute beginners all the way up to advanced learners nearing fluency. You may recognize it from its podcast sites (for example, Portuguesepod101) These are the language-specific sites youll be directed to once you enter your email and pick a language. Heres just a sampling of the many popular foreign languages they currently offer:Spanishpod101Frenchpod101Germanpod101 Chineseclass101Russianpod101The material is made and presented by professional teachers, and it’s one of the most prolific and consistent language sites in the game.  Although they have a paid version of the service, thousands of professionally produced audios and videos are given absolutely free.You can benefit from this flood of language content regardless of your state of fluencyâ€"they’ve got something for absolute beginners as well as advanced learners.8tracksOne of the best ways to sensitize your ears to the sounds of a new language is by listening to its music. 8tracks is full of music playlists in any genre or language you can think of: Type your target language in the search bar at 8tracks and click go, or browse through the associated tags and artists that pop up as suggestions.Youll  not only give your ears a glimpse into the sounds of your new language, but also open yourself up to new genres and artists you may not have had the chance to listen to before, giving you a new target-language hobby from day one.Lyrics TrainingLyrics Training takes  a karaoke-style approach to language learning with music. Choose your language, pick a music video and select a level from beginner to expert: From there, the game begins, and depending on the level youve selected, youll have to fill in anywhere from a handful of key words to every word of the lyrics as you sing along. Pick a time of day when your neighbors and roommates are gone, and learn by clumsily belting it out.News in SlowMakers of the News in Slow series, Linguistica 360 helps you train your ear and build your language skills through current events. Choose from French, Spanish, Italian or German and start listening to the days events.Each episode includes a transcription in the target language with helpful vocabulary tips and explanations of the more difficult terms you encounter, a great way to build vocabulary in context while learning to recognize the sound and feel of the language.The Buildin g Blocks of Language Learning: Vocabulary-building ToolsWith some good listening tools under  your belt, your foundations are laid, and youve got some basic knowledge upon which to build the rest of your linguistic talents.The next step is to move on to the raw materials of your construction, the bricks and mortar: learning foreign language vocabulary.Its hard to say exactly how many words you need to really speak a language, or what  the best way to learn new vocabulary words  is.  Start out with some of these tools, and use your imagination to figure out which strategies work best for you.FluentUFluentU exposes you to your target language in action. FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.When it comes to vocabulary-building tools and language learning in general, FluentUs video immersion method is just about the closest digital equivalent to booking a flight and movi ng abroad.Each FluentU lesson will use video content appropriate to your learner level to expose you to new vocabulary, which youll learn not through memorizing dictionary definitions, but by actually seeing how natives use words and phrases in daily speech.In addition to being one of the best ways to build up your foreign language vocabulary, FluentUs use of real-life video content makes it an excellent source of culturally-relevant language learning. As you proceed through the lessons, youll increasingly be watching the same TV and movies that native speakers of your target language are watching in their free time, giving you a better insight into whats current in pop culture and go-to conversation topics for when you run into natives.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that real people speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, defin ition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word 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.DuolingoAs a language learning tool, Duolingo turns a hammer and box of nails into a game youll actually enjoy playing. That pushy little green bird will coach you through the days you really dont feel like working on your linguistic construction project, and youll  come out of them having perfected  new words and phrases  that youll continue to strengthen as you build up layer aft er layer of vocabulary.MemriseAnother of the most popular vocabulary-building tools on the web, Memrise is the DIY flashcard tool that lets you personalize your language learning. Mix and match vocabulary lessons ranging from basic color and number words to phrasal verbs to different ways to say I love you, and make your own mems as you go, selecting pictures and other mnemonic devices that you custom-make for your own brain.AnkiAnki is most famous for popularizing the Spaced Repetition System or SRS method of vocabulary learning. Anki is open source SRS software that you can download to your computer or use on your phone in app form, downloading any of the over 80 million available pre-made flashcards, making your own or doing a little of each.Anki uses an algorithm to track your progress and knowledge of each vocabulary term you study, helping you prioritize which words need a bit more repetition and which can go on the back burner for now, helping you repeat your drills until you ve mastered the vocabulary.The Mortar Between the Language Learning Bricks: Reading ToolsOnce  youve got some words to build with and a sound understanding of the speech sounds that make them up, one of the best ways to cement your  knowledge is through reading.Reading in a foreign language is one of the safest and most stress-free ways to explore the meanings of those words and how theyre used, as well as to continue building new vocabulary in context. These reading tools will help you develop a foreign language reading habit that  ensures your construction holds together as you continue building.WikipediaWikipedia  for the most part remains  an undiscovered treasure trove for language learners. With millions of articles available in 295 languages, it offers contextualized target language reading replete with images and links that allow you to clarify things you dont understand by reading about them in the language youre practicing rather than reaching for a dictionary definition o r a translation.FeedlyPleasure reading shouldnt be limited to your mother language. Feedly is an RSS tool you can use to create your own customized content streams, with daily updates from blogs, online magazines and other digital content in your target language. You could create different feeds for different languages or divide them into categories like Spanish periodicals, Korean film blogs and news in Farsi.Amazon Foreign Language BooksIn addition to all the free e-books available across the web, Amazon has a robust foreign language books section thatll help you find the right reading material without breaking the bank.Search for a title or just by language, and be sure to download a free sample of the book before buying it, so that you can read a few pages and make sure its both at your reading level and something youll actually enjoy swiping through.Writing Tools to Help Furnish Your LanguageWhen it comes to your literacy in a foreign language, youve gotta use it or lose it.Lea rning a language through reading books  sounds like heaven on earth for some bookworms, but if you really want to pull your freshly-mortared language together, youll need to put pen to paper. Writing in a foreign language, much like speaking, helps solidify some of the connections youve made while listening and reading, and it gives you a safe space to trial-and-error your way through new words, phrases and grammatical constructions. Here are some tools to help you get started.Lang-8Lang-8 is an online community of natives and learners where you can practice your writing and get feedback and corrections from those who know the language best. Write a few lines about what you did today, or maybe  some musings on a movie youve recently seen in your target language, then publish it and wait for the natives to come.Dont forget that exchange goes both ways: Earn points in the community by helping others and suggesting improvements on their writing in your native language!HelloTalkHelloTal k is a mobile app that lets you connect to native speakers of your target language and learners of your language via text. Once you find some conversation partners and start chatting, you can take advantage of the apps integrated translation and transliteration functions (for those learning an unfamiliar writing system), and use the in-app function to hear the pronunciations of the words youre being texted.Foreign Language JournalsFor many learners, a foreign language journal or just an unstructured space where they can try out their language is the key to learning through writing.You can start your own page on a site like Tumblr or start a WordPress blog where you scribble random thoughts and make up your own writing exercises. Adjust your settings to keep it private if youre feeling shy, or go public and actively solicit comments and feedback from speakers of the language.Omniglot Writing SystemsParticularly for those learning a language with a non-Latin alphabet, Omniglots Writin g Systems resource is a spectacular place to start. Familiarize yourself with the new script and find links to online resources for learning it, or just keep the page bookmarked for reference as you get started writing or texting with  some of the other tools mentioned here.Touching Up the Paint: Pronunciation ToolsPronunciation is a tricky part of language learning: Its important to be easily understood, but its easy to get so lost in perfectionistic phonetic details that you lose sight of the bigger linguistic work in progress.An accent wall or some contrasting throw pillows in your house might add a pleasant pop of color, but when were talking about speaking a foreign language, accents sometimes draw the kind of attention that makes us feel less confident in our speaking and leads to making more stress-induced mistakes.You dont need to amaze the natives with your perfect pronunciation, but you also dont have to buy into the myth that adults cant learn languages as well as kids in the pronunciation department. Intermediate and advanced learners who feel like theyve got a handle on everyday communication in their target language can use some of these tools to touch up their foreign language accent.Sounds of SpeechThe International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is one of your best resources for learning about the many different speech sounds that make up the worlds languages, and Sounds of Speech is one of the best tools for practicing it.The University of Iowas Sounds of Speech tool is an excellent interactive visual guide to the mechanics of the mouth, demonstrating exactly how you need to move your tongue and other speech organs to produce specific consonant and vowel sounds, helping you get past the uvular Rs and ambiguous mid-vowels that otherwise trip  up your tongue.ForvoForvo is an exhaustive online pronunciation dictionary, and it belongs in your bookmarks bar no matter where you are in learning a language. Just search the word thats giving you trouble  and listen to user-provided pronunciations from native speakers.Getting Wired: Tools for Connecting to NativesAt the end of the day, language is about communicatingâ€"what good is your new language if you dont have anyone to speak it with?As you finish up construction on the language youre learning, be sure to find a place for yourself in its community of speakers. There are plenty of online tools for finding a language exchange partner,  but here are a few to get you started.VerblingIf you want something a little more formal than your casual language exchange, Verbling is a good place to start looking. Here you can search for professional native teachers, schedule classes with them, and make a schedule and personalized lessons as you go. Its not free, but youll find its a good bit cheaper than most in-person professional teachers, and you can go to class without getting off the couch.You’ll be able to explore hundreds upon hundreds of online language teachers and find exactly the on e who’s right for you. When you search, you’ll get to search based on prices, availability and even the other languages they speakâ€"so if your native language is Chinese or German, you can find a teacher to instruct you in that language. Plus, the technology here makes accessing tutoring sessions extra smooth! You don’t need Skype or another third-party program. It’s all here!WyzAntWyzAnt is an incredible resource for locating stellar language teachers near you. This site is professional and polished, and it features well-educated and well-qualified tutors in your local area. Why not start by seeing whos close to home? You might even find someone you know in your community who can teach you! Then your new language classes can take place at your favorite coffee shop or at your house.HiNativeHiNative lets you casually reach out to native speakers of your target language with the simple questions you never really know how to ask. Is this word masculine or feminine? How come th is word is spelled differently sometimes? Its like carrying a no-strings-attached native in your pocket, and its great in a pinch to answer those pesky questions that otherwise keep you up at night.SpeakySpeaky is one of the biggest free online language exchange communities, and youll find it offers many of the same benefits as similar sites that charge a monthly fee. Use it to find and coordinate Skype exchanges with native speakers of your target language, and be ready to help them with learning your native language as well.MeetupSites like Meetup  arent necessarily meant for language learners, but youre bound to find many linguistically like-minded individuals who are either your neighbors or travelers passing through your community. Meetup is often host to either a general language exchange meetup or sometimes a slew of language-specific meetups depending on the size of the city.CouchsurfingCouchsurfing events also often include regular language exchanges, plus the handy user se arch tool allows you to search for speakers of a particular language in your area who you can meet up with for a coffee and a multilingual chat.Making Sure Youre Up to Code: Translation Tools for In-context Language LearningThere are all kinds of technology hacks for learning a language that can help you navigate your linguistic construction site, but keeping that translation app on your phones home screen might not be  the best one. Relying on translation to build up the foundations and basic structure of your language is a bit like building your house with duct tape and paperclips.However,  once youve built something that more or less looks like a language, it can be an invaluable tool for checking and expanding your knowledge.In general, simple machine translators like Google Translate should be taken with a huge dose of caution: Theyre stripped of the kind of context you find in a visual dictionary, and machine translation is always an approximation at best. The urge to copy and paste into the magic decoder is strong enough that we all succumb to it in moments of weakness, but there are better options for translations that dont damage the structural integrity of your language learning. Here are a few good ones:LingueeLinguee is an online translator that offers contextualized translations that take into account the many different phrases and shades of meaning that can be applied to a single word.Type your query into the search box and youll receive two columns: the language you searched in on the left, and the target language on the right. Each will include the same sentence or paragraph in both languages, giving you the extra context to make sure the word youre translating doesnt mean something totally off the wall.Bab.laBab.la is similar to Linguee in its use of in-context definitions pulled from across the web. It also offers a few handy extra tools like a verb conjugator that will help you explore different forms and uses of the new words and phrases yo ure learning.LinqappLinqapp is the social translation app that lets you go directly to the source and get a native speakers take on your translation query. Despite all the advances in language technology in recent years, machine translation still usually isnt up to the challenge of providing descriptive idioms and native-like turns of phrase that capture nuance and connotation. Instead, turn to Linqapp to get a digitally-enhanced human translation.Welcome to the Neighborhood: Cultural Learning ToolsCulture is inseparable from language. Whatever language youre learning, its a living, growing thing, and theres no better way to learn about its life and those of the people who speak it than through target language media like TV, movies, journalism, literature and the other products of the culture that gives meaning to the language in question.Cultural learning is an abstract thing that  can be  hard to pin down in concrete terms, but there are a few tools that can help you learn more de eply about the meanings behind the words and better appreciate  the cultural benefits of being bilingual.StreemaStreema is a website and app that provides free online access to TV and radio stations in over a hundred countries around the world. Popular world languages spoken across many countries will have a wealth of stations available, but even less widely-studied languages like Amharic or Zulu are available on Streema: just browse through the Ethiopian and South African TV channels until you find something in your target language that takes your interest, and tune in to what the locals are watching.BBC LanguagesBBC Languages is one of the biggest online repositories of free language learning material, including not only free lessons and foreign language cheat-sheets, but also links to real media like TV shows, newspapers and blogs that native speakers are regularly following.Other international news outlets like CNN, Al Jazeera  and Euronews that serve linguistically diverse publ ics across the globe also frequently offer streaming news and other media resources that language learners can easily make use of to inject some current events into their language learning.AlexaOne way to get insight into what matters to speakers of your language is to see what websites they visit most frequently. Alexa is a web tool that ranks the authority of websites, and it offers a list of the most popular websites by country. Youll see many of the same usual suspects across the globe (Facebook, Wikipedia), but keep an eye out for blogs and other media sites that you can read, listen to or otherwise consume to get a feel for your target language in action.Bonus: A Good VPN ServiceMany countries offer public television stations freely online for their citizens, but that means youll need to access the content from a local IP address. Look into some free and cheap VPN (Virtual Private Network) services and install one thatll let you change your web browsers IP address at will, con vincing those servers halfway across the world that youre really logging in from within the country, and get online and oh my god this is almost over now.An easy way to set up a VPN and magically change your location to Germany, France, Korea or any other country of choice is by installing HideMyAss! VPN on any of your devicesâ€"this one works on your computer, smartphone and internet-enabled TVs and game systems.Enjoying Your New Mental SpaceJust like any construction work, your linguistic  remodel is going to be a messy process with lots of ups and downs and mental debris.But dont give up out of frustration: Just remind yourself that its worth it, and  unlike a real home makeover, youll start reaping the benefits of bilingualism long before you close up shop and finish the job.Taking advantage of the best language learning tools available and using them to learn a language efficiently  will give you a smooth path forward and leave you feeling well-equipped for the next linguistic challenge.

What Every Student Should Know About Scholarships and Tuition Discounting

What Every Student Should Know About Scholarships and Tuition Discounting via Pexels What is tuition discounting? This is a term that some of you may be unfamiliar with, but tuition discounting generally refers to grants and scholarships that colleges and universities give students. In some situations, it is put into practice when colleges and universities charge high tuition and then offer large “discounts” (aka merit aid) to their qualified candidates. Why is tuition discounting put into practice? Tuition discounting is most prevalent in small, private colleges and universities, and was originally put into practice to allow students to attend college without the price tag, or their families’ financial situation, preventing them from doing so. Having started out as need-based financial aid, tuition discounting now encompasses merit-based aid as well (such as merit scholarships). As tuition discounting often makes a private college or university much more affordable, it helps these private schools attract and enroll more students over time. This potentially raises the question of why all schools don’t just make their tuition or sticker price more affordable in the first place an act that would, in many situations, eliminate the need for tuition discounting. However, a school that offers tuition discounting actually appears more attractive to college applicants, based on surveys that found both parents and students prefer schools with high costs that offer large discounts instead of schools with a lower original cost. Why, you may ask? It’s because of an idea that has become ingrained in the minds of the general public: that the higher the price, the higher quality it must be. As a result, schools that have high sticker prices appear to be “better” in the eyes of college applicants and their parents, which leads to more applications, more scholarships being given out, and ultimately, more enrollment. Offering tuition discounts is a win for private colleges and universities, and receiving such discounts is seemingly a win for the students as well. What are the disadvantages of tuition discounting? On the flip side, tuition discounting can lead to some pretty negative consequences, both for schools and students. Some colleges and universities offer such large discounts to their students that it’s eating into their revenue, which is certainly not sustainable in the long run. What’s more, the high cost/high aid model can sometimes discourage low-income students from attending costly private institutions, mainly because some of these students and their families are unaware that financial aid is available. How do you receive a tuition discount (e.g. a scholarship)? There are a number of ways to receive a tuition discount. One way is to qualify for a tuition waiver based on your family’s income level. If your family’s income falls below a certain threshold, you may be able to qualify for a tuition waiver. Another option is to see whether the college and/or university you’re applying to offers legacy scholarships. If you have a family member who once graduated from that school, it might be worth looking into a possible legacy scholarship. Another totally classic and viable way to receive aid is by actively applying for scholarships. With so many different kinds of scholarships out there, you have many options to choose from. For example, there are a number of academic scholarships that you can apply for, which are based on your academic performance, including your GPA as well as standardized test scores (such as the SAT and ACT). Other types of scholarship options out there may include athletic, community service, minority, creative, and other unique scholarships. Where can you find them? Lucky for you, finding scholarships isn’t the hard part there are so many places you can look. One option is to visit your career center and inquire about available scholarships. Another option is to look to organizations in your community and find out if they’re offering scholarships for college students. Even if they’re not large companies or organizations, some local businesses in your neighborhood or community might have an annual scholarship that they give out. If you want to search for scholarships from the comfort of your own computer, there are many websites at your disposal, such as Fastweb.com. When it comes to applying for and receiving tuition discounts of any sort, it’s important to be informed about what it can do for you.