SAT Preparations Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

SAT Preparations Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace SAT is the exam taken by high school students to showcase their ability and academic knowledge to gain admissions in colleges and universities in the United States. SAT exam is considered one of the challenging tests because of its format and the limited time given to the students to answer the questions. SAT test paper majorly consist of multiple choice questions ranging from low to medium to high difficulty level, with negative penalty on wrong answers formultiple choice questions. SAT Reasoning test consists of 3 main sections: Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing. The other type of SAT test is the SAT Subject test which is given in about 20 individual subjects, each of one-hour duration. An SAT Subject test, unlike the reasoning test is taken in different subject areas like History, Biology, Mathematics, Literature, Physics, and Foreign Languages etc. Preparing for SAT is a process most high school students go over but it is important to realize that this test is conducted based on the academic level and standard of a high school student only. Hence it is not impossible for any student to achieve a top score as it only requires good amount of practice and good conceptual knowledge in a subject. Students should practice at home answering each question in less than a minute so that they get used to this format during the main test. By learning and improving the concepts learnt at school and by practicing SAT questions daily, it is possible for any student to achieve high scores.

Learn Biology The Best Biology Courses in Leeds

Learn Biology The Best Biology Courses in Leeds Study Biology in Leeds ChaptersWhy Study Biology?Where to Revise for Your Biology ExamsFind a Private Biology Tutor with SuperprofStudy for Biology A-Level or an Adult Learning CourseStudy Biology OnlineThere’s nothing like a good teacher to inspire you in a subject: that applies to whatever you are learning about. From science to the guitar and from history to painting, a teacher who knows their stuff and who can ignite in you a passion for it is indispensable.In your studies of the diverse discipline we call biology, getting to grips with the theory and remembering the facts is crucial. Learning from a  teacher who knows and loves their subject matter is the best way to learn any of it. This is why we have put together a selection of some of the best teachers, tutors, and classes around to help you in your journey through the biological sciences â€" no matter at what stage of your studies you are and no matter what qualification or branch of the discipline you are aiming for.If you are based in Leeds, quit struggling with your biology textbook and listen up!Whether you are an undergraduate looking for further help in your biology degree, a GCSE or A-Levels student hoping to smash your exams; or even an adult learner approaching this Life Science for the first time â€" have we got the courses for you!(If you are not based in Leeds, we have some different articles that might be beneficial to your study of biology. Try out our piece on biology classes in Manchester, biology lessons in London, teachers of biology in Birmingham, and biology courses in Glasgow.As such, it is a fascinating science to grapple with â€" and studying it formally can take you anywhere you might want to go in life. If you want to be a laboratory researcher, you’ll need to study at least a bit of the subject â€" and if you are hoping to study medicine, you’ll definitely need it. Otherwise, you might want to go into sports physiology, into a postgraduate research programme, or even work in a zoo. All of the se things will require a bit of biology.Check out some A level biology courses for adults available on Superprof.Where to Revise for Your Biology ExamsWhy not study biology? It's wonderful!No matter which path you are hoping to follow - which aspect of biology you intend to specialise in, you will first have to sit exams to gain entrance to any university at home or abroad.Fortunately, these review courses will have you covered â€" whether you want to study full time or if you need your study schedule to be a bit more flexible, or if you've long held a fascination of all things biological but are not yet ready to commit to a formal learning programme.Justin Craig EducationJustin Craig is a prestigious revision organisation that helps to train students studying for GCSEs and A-Levels so that they excel in their exams. There are Justin Craig branches all over the country and, for people in Leeds, the centre in Harrogate is a short drive up the road.The journey is well worth it because Justin Craig has offered specialist revision courses for nearly forty years. The small class sizes and experienced teaching provide a learning experience of superior quality and effectiveness.The majority of these instructors are in fact teachers in local schools; they know first-hand what the Department for Education and exam boards expect out of their students. They keep their class sizes limited to six people and offer one-to-one tuition as well.In short, the school in Harrogate will go a long way towards ensuring you or the student in your life will  excel in any exam subject from physics to the humanities, from chemistry to the social sciences.As though that weren't enough for you to enrol there, each revision course is exam board specific: if you anticipate sitting an AQA or Eduquas exam, your Justin Craig study materials will reflect those exams' criteria.So, if you want to hone your knowledge of ecology or evolution â€" or if you want to refine your thoughts on microbes or the pathogen â€" this might be the place for you!Saturday Science Revision Sessions at EducateFirstEducateFirst runs a number of revision centres across the north of England, providing supplementary education in mathematics, English, and the sciences to students up to GCSE and A-Level in Leeds, Huddersfield, and Bradford.The EducateFirst Tuition Centre in Leeds runs from the Bangladeshi Community Centre on Roundhay Road on Saturday mornings from 10:00 to 13:15 throughout the academic year. And at just over six quid an hour, it’s very unlikely that you will find tuition at a better value anywhere.You will be put into different classes depending on your level and ability and then taught by one of the professional, specialised teachers alongside like-minded students.If your Saturday mornings are already fully booked, you may look to EducateFirst for private, one-to-one tuition sessions. Getting started is simple: fill in an application form, specifying your tutoring needs - the mater ial being studied, the Key Stage your student is at and the difficulties s/he is having, if any.Once your application has been approved, EducateFirst will select a tutor for you and the learning begins! Sessions cost between £18-30 per hour, depending on what level your learner is at.EducateFirst’s philosophy is all about the community, as they seek out and work with communities in which educational support is below standard. They are doing really important work in Leeds, and may well help you to nail your biology course.Check out our guide to biology learning opportunities across the UK.Wouldn't it be great, though, to be able to select the best tutors for you from an available pool of teaching talent? To compare the merits of one tutor to the next and benefit from competitive pricing?Superprof links curious students to supportive, passionate, and knowledgeable tutors all over the world.This tutor marketplace allows you to compare tutor profiles and select the one that best suit s your learning needs, schedule and budget.You may further be pleasantly surprised to find that most Superprof tutors would rather find out exactly what you need from them and discuss with you how they can best serve; to that end, most Superprof tutors do not charge a fee for their first hour spent with you.      In Leeds alone, Superprof lists 87 biology tutors for you to choose from, offering classes at an average rate of £17 an hour.However, you are not restricted to those numbers! If you were to consider online tuition - learning with a tutor via webcam, you might learn better, faster and perhaps even less expensively with a tutor in London, Glasgow or Manchester.There’s no doubt that learning the ins and outs of biochemistry or microbiology is not easy when you are working alongside a classroom full of students, all with different educational requirements, who are taught by a teacher stretched to the limit of endurance in his/her efforts to personalise everyone's learning ex perience.A private biology tutor can provide you with independent research, tailored lesson content, and attention to the aspects of your biology curriculum that you need most focus on.With so much choice to be had through Superprof, you are sure to find the tutor that best suits your educational needs and style of learning â€" and your busy schedule.Studying zoology, genomics, animal physiology, or cellular biology will never have been so easy!Find a biology revision class in Leeds.Study for Biology A-Level or an Adult Learning CourseTill now, we've provided 'generic' solutions to the in-depth study of biology; solutions suitable for any student at any Key Stage, for exam prep, university studies and for adult learners with a fascination for the subject.In all of these cases, supplemental instruction and mentoring simply make sense.Now, let us take a look at biology study programmes at various colleges around the city.Leeds City CollegeIf you are beyond the point at which you need to revise for your biology exams and are instead thinking about what course of study you wish to undertake at university, you should consider Leeds City College as a place to study for your A-Levels.The City College offers A-Levels in a broad range of subjects, all set up as a full-time study programme distributed over two years.The biology A-Level takes place on the Park Lane Campus and will have you studying things like population biology, human disease, biochemistry and molecular biology. The course will prepare you both for your exam and for admission to a biological sciences degree programme at university. If you are not interested in studying for an A-Level, there are other options available for you â€" from the Step-up Pathway, in which sixteen- to eighteen-year-olds can study GCSEs if they have not previously, to the part-time adult courses for those who want to develop their education further.Both of those study programmes provide access to science labs so that you may cond uct the experiments your curriculum calls for, but the Combined Science: Synergy GCSE will prepare you for professional studies and opportunities in the sciences.The University of LeedsFeeding your curiosity for the science of living things is all well and good and, if done properly, could lead to a lifelong commitment.If you are prepared to go the whole hog and want to become a proper biologist, you’ll need to apply to an undergraduate degree programme in biology after sitting your A-Levels.The University of Leeds is a brilliant place to do just this.The Bachelor of Science degree in Biology will teach you in all aspects of modern biology, from human biology to the study of life in all its forms. The curriculum is based around key biological themes, from immunology to organismal biology. The fun thing about the biology course at the University of Leeds is that you have the opportunity to go straight into a graduate degree â€" a Master’s â€" in biology too, by adding an extra ye ar to your course.For those serious about biology, this will be an important step in your scientific career.Leeds Beckett UniversityFar from being a second choice school, Leeds-Beckett offers a dynamic study programme in the biomedical sciences.  Your first year of study would include classes in infectious diseases, blood diseases and the biology of cancer, among others.Beyond year one, you may continue that multi-disciplinary study, learning about everything from medical genetics to clinical biochemistry or you may choose to specialise, taking courses in tandem with the standard curriculum.Those speciality courses include:Pharmacological Sciences: have you ever wondered how a doctor knows exactly which dose of medicine to prescribe? This study course will help you understand how the medicine affects the body and specific drugs are used for the treatment of diseases.Medical Biochemistry: learn how doctors diagnose biochemically related diseases and study biochemical reactions within the human bodyMolecular Biochemistry: as opposed to treating the entire organism as you would through the subspeciality listed above, this speciality concerns itself genetics and gene technology; how advances in these fields are combating disease.Medical Microbiology: the study of pathogens that cause disease.Leeds-Beckett's Biomedical Sciences programme is even open to non-traditional students; namely, those who are looking for a new, exciting career to embark on. You may choose to attend full-time or part-time, ultimately finding work in the pharmaceutical industry, in a diagnostic laboratory or even becoming a part of a scientific research team.Naturally, you may choose to extend your studies; to earn your Masters degree, after which you may appeal to their career counsellors to help you find the most suitable employment your degree qualifies you for.What do you need to gain access to these study programmes?If you are coming in via UCAS, you need at least 112 tariff points; a mi nimum of 40 of which must have been earned from a biological science.If you are what is called a 'mature applicant', your admission will be contingent on your having recently taken any access courses. Failing that, your work experience may be considered sufficient to earn you a spot on the rolls.The rainforest is one of the most biologically diverse habitats in the world.Study Biology OnlineMuch as we revere the idea of coursing down hallowed halls of higher learning and relish the prospect of wearing a cap and gown at our formal graduation ceremony, the truth is that there are several drawbacks to such an experience.Money: higher education is frightfully expensive, especially for subjects such as biology. Not only must you bear the cost of course fees and accommodations (should you be a live-in student) but you also incur lab fees and further cash layouts for workbooks and specialised equipment such as lab coats and safety goggles.Time: what do three years represent when you are st anding on the very cusp of life? Some students revel in campus life, making the most of their experiences. However, for a significant segment of the student population, three years is a substantial chunk of time away from more pragmatic concerns such as earning their living.Rigidity: a course syllabus and schedule is seldom deviated from, no matter why individual students would like or need to deviate from them. Furthermore, individual professors may not be tolerant or understanding of extraneous circumstances that might keep you from handing a paper in on time or even from attending class.An insulating experience: for the most part, the traditional education model limits student exploration to the subject material, classroom, instruction and student group s/he is assigned to. In itself, that is not a bad concept but, especially in the study of sciences, the greater diversity in learning, the more concepts can be studied.For students needing flexibility in their schedule, learning h abits and payment plans, and for those who seek the greatest knowledge base, massive open online courses - MOOCs - are a perfect solution!MOOCs are generally sponsored by prominent universities around the country. They address topics related to a field of study - biology, maths, chemistry and the like, but do not touch on any school's set curriculum.Many of them are completely free and all of them are conducted online. Some even offer degree plans entirely online!We now take a look at some of the more prominent MOOCs that offer courses in Biology.The Open UniversityYet, studying a full-time degree at a university can be difficult for some in terms of time-tabling and juggling other commitments. That’s why there is a wonderful thing called the Open University, an institution that leads the way globally in terms of flexible, distance learning qualifications.The Open University offers BAs and BScs in biology, with courses in Natural Sciences (with the option of specialising in biolog y), in Environmental Science, and in Health Sciences. These are full degrees, but you can study them at home, and they can prepare you for entrance to the world of work or for a progression in your career.They offer Certificates and Diplomas in Higher Education too â€" for those who do not yet have the qualifications for admission to a degree course.Experience Biology with Future LearnThe people of Leeds benefit from another great thing: FutureLearn, the partnership project between the University of Leeds and other universities across the world. This provides online educational videos to anyone who cares to watch them â€" on topics that range from human disease to skeletons.Whilst the videos themselves are more for casual educational purposes, they can be combined to gain you credits from the University of Leeds.Biology Courses through CourseraCoursera is an American MOOC platform with lessons sponsored and hosted by the finest universities that country has to offer.While they do no t offer a degree plan in biology specifically, they do have nearly 200 courses on offer; some which may even be related to your fields of interest!Did you want to learn more about the biology of cancer or is plant biology your bailiwick?If you are an A-Levels candidate undecided over which branch of the discipline fascinates you more, signing up with Coursera (it's free!) and taking a few of these online classes may help narrow your perspective and lead you to decide which field of biology you'd like to specialise in.With choices ranging from molecular biology to systems biology, you would certainly have a wide selection to choose from!These MOOCs would also be great for more mature learners; those contemplating a career change who are seeking out the education to do so, or those who simply want more information to satisfy their own curiosity.One more instance that makes MOOCs indispensable: whether preparing for GCSEs or A-Levels; as a casual continuous learner or someone actually enroled at university in a Biology programme of study, these online learning initiatives provide a broader look at the subject you are so intensely focused on.Why not ask your teacher or tutor if s/he might know of a few such online courses to recommend?

7 Motivational Tips to Become a Successful Speaker for Best Leadership - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 7 Motivational Tips to Become a Successful Speaker for Best Leadership - Introvert Whisperer 7 Motivational Tips to Become a Successful Speaker for Best Leadership “You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart.” Personal Branding starts with how well you speak about YOU.  I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook â€" The Definitive Guide to Creating and Using an Elevator Speech.  In this guide, I give you simple to follow instructions for creating a “wardrobe” of ways to talk about you â€" to leave a lasting impression. Get your copy now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Should I Go To the Georgia Institute of Technology

Should I Go To the Georgia Institute of Technology The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Katie is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology from which she holds both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Aerospace Engineering. She is an Atlanta tutor who specializes in Calculus tutoring, Earth Science tutoring, Geology tutoring, and much more. Check out her review of her alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Katie:The campus is in the heart of midtown Atlanta, but it is very much a campus bubble environment. The campus is compact and easy to walk across in about 15 minutes. The campus bus system rings the campus and travels to the nearest train station. The area is quite hilly, but it can be biked if you are in shape. If you have an on-campus meal plan, there is no need for a car or bike. However, if you need to travel to the grocery store, you definitely need a car. The campus bus system provides a weekend grocery shuttle, but it is not convenient for most students. Traveling around the city does require a car, as the public transit options are limited. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Katie:The Georgia Institute of Technology (Tech) is a large school, so you do have to compete with a lot of other students for time with faculty. Generally, professors and teaching assistants (TAs) are more than happy to schedule a meeting, but you have to take the initiative and reach out to them. Advising is done on a school-by-school basis; some colleges have dedicated advisors, while some require that the academic faculty take on advising in addition to teaching. In the latter case, advising is minimal, and students really have to figure out their own schedules. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Katie:Campus is structured with two clusters of dorms, one on East Campus and the other on West Campus. Within those clusters, there is ample opportunity for socialization and interaction. There are two dining halls in the East cluster and one in the West cluster. The food is decent, but not spectacular. In the center of campus is the student center, with a wide variety of commercial dining options that are quite good. Life in the freshman experience dorms is a lot of funyou live with other freshmen and often take the same classes. The rooms are small, but is the same not true of all dorms? Most of the dorm buildings have been renovated in the past five years, so the finishes are new and the buildings are much more energy efficient. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Katie:Tech is most definitely an engineering school, first and foremost. I major in Aerospace Engineering, which is one of the shining stars in the schools belt. While all of the engineering programs are difficult, they are some of the best in the nation. I chose Aerospace Engineering because I wanted to work in the space exploration field, and Tech allowed me to get started with that my freshman year through the co-op program. The school encourages and strongly supports co-oping, internships, and undergraduate research, which lets you start your career years before people at other schools. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Katie:I met people very easily my freshman year, mostly through classes. I met many people in the freshman-only dorms. I bonded with the people around me in class, as well as my lab partners, some of whom I am still friends with today. Additionally, there are tons of student organizations that hold a fair during freshman orientation to recruit new members. While Greek organizations are present on campus, only a small portion of the student body participates. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Katie:My interaction with the Career Center was during my freshman year, when I worked with them to find a co-op job. They were incredibly helpful, providing resume work, counselors, and access to interviews. All the major companies come and recruit on campus during the career fairs (held each semester) and throughout the year. Most students find a job with their choice of employer quickly, and many receive multiple offers. Often the recruiters are Tech alumni, which makes the interviews much more friendly. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Katie:Dorm lounges fluctuate in their availability; they are empty most of the semester, then packed right before exams. The student center has limited study options, but the Undergraduate Learning Center/library is massive and has every possible studying option. There are many computer workstations for individuals and groups, rooms that you can reserve for group sessions, and study carrels for individuals. You do have to plan and reserve space during busy times, but you can find it. Also, Atlanta has great weather in the spring, so studying outside in the spring and summer is really nice. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Katie:Like I said before, campus is kind of a bubble. Most students stay on campus, or just off-campus in an area called Home Park, for social activities. No one, students and residents alike, goes downtown for pretty much anything. However, there are lots of little neighborhoods to the north and east of campus that have great nightlife. The city can be a lot of fun, but sometimes you have to dig for what to do. We have fantastic restaurants for all palates and budgets, but our arts scene is limited. Atlanta is fairly close to the North Georgia mountains, so many students go hiking or camping as a close, weekend-long vacation. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Katie:The student body is large and growing, and there are definite growing pains in some areas. The introductory freshman classes often have several hundred people in lecture, and they may have additional sections added during registration. Upper-level classes are typically 30-50 people, depending on your major. While the classes are large, most professors and TAs are more than happy to work one-on-one with students who need help. Classes are rarely canceled for low registration. You may have trouble getting the classes you want, and you are unlikely to have much ability to tailor your schedule in the first few years. In the upper-level classes, your school will usually only offer the classes that the bulk of the students need that semester, so you may get stuck taking an extra semester. It all depends on good planning early in your career. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Katie: My best experience was a combination of a class, a professor, and my co-op job. Starting in the second semester of my sophomore year, I worked at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, the research arm of the school, as a research engineer. I alternated semesters between working full-time and attending school full-time. My boss at my co-op job served as a great mentor, and he encouraged me to enroll in his graduate-level classes that summer. I learned a ton, and I developed my independent research skills under his guidance. Those skills served me well throughout my undergraduate studies and set me up for graduate school. Check out Katies tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Everything you Need to Know about Spanish for Beginners

Everything you Need to Know about Spanish for Beginners A Guide to Learning Spanish for Beginners ChaptersFrom Beginners Spanish to Having an Advanced LevelIs There a Minimum Age to Learn Spanish for Beginners?How Can You Teach Your Child to Speak Spanish?From Spanish Basic Vocab to Fluency: How Long Does it Take to Become Bilingual?Is There an Age Limit for Learning Spanish?When Will I Start Dreaming in Spanish?Tips for Starting to Learn Spanish as a BeginnerStarting to learn a language isn’t easy. You need to put together a battle plan. A strategy.  This is important for anyone setting out to learn a language as it allows to you follow a route whereby you can see real tangible progress. It also limits the chances of you wasting your time aimless sifting through language textbooks, or doing the odd grammar exercise online.Spanish is a language that is spoken by around 440 million native speakers worldwide. It's global appeal is therefore obvious, and it is subsequently held in high esteem in schools and universities in all four corners of the globe.Learning to speak Spanish re quires patience, motivation, and a plan of action. This plan will be different depending on you, your goals, and your budget.Starting out to learn any language can be tough, so here at Superprof we have put together a few ideas about how, as a beginner, you can start to learn Spanish, as well as some of the things you should look out for.In an age where there’s the internet and private tutors, starting to learn Spanish online isn’t that much of a problem. Since some English vocabulary has Spanish roots,  certain words that you see during your Spanish lessons will be instantly recognisable.However, when you try to look for a Spanish course, you'll find so many different options like “learn Spanish free”, “Spanish classes online”, “free Spanish classes”. No matter what you type into Google nowadays, you get thousands of results.You will find that certain methods are more useful at different stages of your Spanish learning journey, so don't be afraid to switch them up w hen you feel like a particular method of learning Spanish is no longer useful. In fact, any plan of attack for learning Spanish will involve a whole variety of methods to help your reach true fluency.It's a long road to becoming fluent in Spanish, but don't lose hope! (Source: pixabay.com)When you do come to learn Spanish, you’ll need to first learn the basics:The Spanish alphabetSpanish grammar (pronouns, adjectives, personal pronouns, adverbs, etc.)Expand your vocabularySyntaxThe verbs “ser” and “estar”.Conjugations that can be a bit of a nightmare for English speakers who’ve never studied another language before.NegationOnline Spanish can help you do this, or you can take a beginners class at a local language school.After you have mastered the basics, it’s time to start improving your Spanish. This is where a private Spanish courses or a Spanish teacher can be really useful. When you learn Spanish with a private tutor, they can adapt their classes to you and your le vel. You can also learn how to speak Spanish in a comfortable environment such as your own home.Don’t forget you can complement language courses with multimedia resources such as films, podcasts, and dedicated smartphone and tablet apps. These are great for studying basic Spanish phrases and expressions as well as just kill some time while the commercials are on.The next step might be spending some time in a one of the 20 Spanish-speaking countries across the world. Spanish is spoken far and wide, so why not travel to Latin America for example? You can learn about plenty of different Spanish accents and improve your speaking, pronunciation, and comprehension.Finally, you can start working on moving from conversational Spanish to advanced Spanish and gaining fluency in your new language. How can you learn Spanish easily? Through immersion, of course! However, living in a Spanish-speaking country isn’t immersion if you don’t use Spanish every single minute of the day.  Remember that you can immerse yourself in Spanish to a certain extent at home. Watching Spanish movies, listening to Spanish radio, and reading Spanish newspapers, are all ways of increasing your exposure to the Spanish language.Is There a Minimum Age to Learn Spanish for Beginners?Parents often ask this question as they’re eager to raise their child as bilingual, rather than having them learn it as a foreign language at school.  So when should they start learning Spanish or a second language?There’s not really a minimum age to start learning Spanish! It’s recommend that you start teaching them Spanish as soon as you can so that they become familiar with the sounds and vocabulary of the language. So, if you're a Spanish speaker, make sure that you’re speaking to them in Spanish from an early age.Parents can teach their children Spanish from a very young age. (Source: www.lifeofpix.com)If you want to raise your child as a bilingual speaker, each parent needs to decide on a different l anguage to speak. This way, the child will find it easier to distinguish the two languages in the same way they can distinguish the two parents.This is how bilingual families tend to do it. It’s generally thought that the child will be able to distinguish the two languages by the age of 4. By the age of 7, they’ve reached the age at which language learning slows down a bit. After this age, they won’t be able to learn the language as another mother tongue. This idea is known as the “critical period hypothesis”.If you want your child to learn a second native language from a very young age but you aren't a Spanish speaker, you could try to find an  immersion daycare centre where they can learn the Spanish language.How Can You Teach Your Child to Speak Spanish?Let’s put the theory into practice!While we know that older children can always do exchange programs in Spanish-speaking countries, study languages at college, or practice speaking with a friend, how can you teach Span ish to kids?Why not put them on the path to becoming fluent and start teaching them Spanish with the help of tablets? There are plenty of dedicated websites and apps for parents wanting to teach their child the basics of almost any language. There are also cartoons and books for learning Spanish that children will love! They’ll learn to love Spanish with fun stories and colourful pictures.A private Spanish tutor is also an effective option. There are tutors available who are happy to teach children between the ages of 3 and 10 all , and will even travel to your home to do it. While your child won't be learning all the different Spanish tenses in their Spanish lessons, they can play games and listen to native Spanish speakers. A number of the tutors on Superprof even offer free Spanish lessons for the first hour so you can see if you like them or not, but you should check with each individual tutor to confirm this.Finally, there’s always family. If you’re lucky enough to have a ny family members who speak Spanish, you should make the most of visiting them and making sure that your children benefit from free and effective Spanish practice!This is also one of the most common questions we get about learning Spanish: how long to learn Spanish?  First of all you will need to define what is means to be bilingual. Do we mean being able to write, read, speak, and listen in Spanish? Does it mean getting a good result in a Spanish test? Dreaming in Spanish? Being a native speaker?The time it takes to learn Spanish depends massively on the methods you use. (Source: pixabay.com)The other part of this conundrum is that the answer will differ depending on your objectives.  The time will also depend on which methods you use. If you’re opting for private tutorials, you can expect it to take months or years. When it comes to total immersion you can do it in around 6 months if you’re using Spanish at home, at work, and when out with friends.Additionally, you should also complement these methods with smartphone apps, podcasts, studying in classes, and using dedicated websites. These methods can also be great for training your ear in Spanish.Don’t forget that it’s also much easier for younger children to learn to speak Spanish fluently, than it is for adults so don't postpone it for the future; start taking Spanish classes near me today!Is There an Age Limit for Learning Spanish?Yet another question about time.  Is there an age limit for learning Spanish? Whether you’re learning Russian, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese, you could ask the same question!Of course not! There’s no age limit when it comes to learning a language.Even if a child can learn a language quickly, adults have certain advantages over them, including:MaturityKnowing how to learnConcentrationPersonal motivationFamiliarity with similar concepts in their own languageAn adult can also make use of all the learning methods we mentioned earlier: they can hire a priv ate tutor, travel to a Spanish-speaking country, watch films in Spanish, make Spanish-speaking friends.You should therefore never think that you are too old to learn Spanish, because that is simply not true!When Will I Start Dreaming in Spanish?Would you like to dream in Spanish?  Dreaming in Spanish is literally the dream when it comes to learning Spanish. When you reach this stage, it means that you’re either bilingual or that you’ve completely fallen in love with the language.Does dreaming in Spanish mean that you're bilingual? (Source: pixabay.com)Unfortunately, there’s not really any significant studies showing when this starts happening.However, it does seem that neither high school nor college Spanish is enough to start dreaming in Spanish. It seems to be that you need to be bilingual or completely immersed in a Spanish-speaking culture.Listening to, and speaking, only Spanish every minute of every day will force your brain to think in the language. It'll happen quickly if you practice every day!Then, as if by magic, your subconscious will, too!Tips for Starting to Learn Spanish as a BeginnerLet’s finish with a few tips for those just starting their journey into the world of Spanish.  Knowing how to go about learning Spanish is one of the most important steps that you will take in your Spanish learning process. This is because if you don't know how to start, you will almost definitely feel like you are aimlessly wandering through the Spanish language with no real objectives and goals, and no real plan of how to progress.In doing so you will more than likely see less progress, and you won't be able to make connections between the different aspects of the language that you learn which can result in you becoming disheartened, and thinking that learning Spanish is an impossible task.Therefore, when it comes to learning Spanish, keep the following tips in mind:Stay motivatedDefine your goalsSet realistic targetsFind a method that works for youStart w ith the basicsPractise, Practise, Practise!Following these tips won't make you bilingual overnight, but they will help you get yourself on the road to bilingualism. Remember that attitude is equally important as how to learn the language, so always try to stay positive and keep focused on your end goals (maybe a holiday to Spain or a job in Argentina) when you are having a difficult day with the Spanish language.

Pen Pal Exchange Project

Pen Pal Exchange Project Useful links on the pen pals: Start a Pen Pal Exchange project for studentson the Virtual Writing Tutor. For instructions on how to create a pen pal exchange for your students, check out these step-by-step pen pal exchange creation instructions for teachers.Click here for an article on pen pals that students can read to introduce them to the concept of pen pal writing.? What is a Pen Pal Exchange? The Virtual Writing Tutors Pen Pal Exchange is a type of online forum, moderated by one or more teachers, with messages written by students and replies from their pen pals. Teachers can match up pen pals from the same group, from different groups, or from groups taught by collaborating-teachers located anywhere in the world. Whereas pen-and-paper pen pal writing projects generate stacks of handwritten letters forthe teacher to give corrective feedback on, the Virtual Writing Tutors Pen Pal Exchange provides automated feedback on grammar, spelling,and vocabulary. How? Two Essentials of Great Pedagogy The Virtual Writing Tutors Pen Pal Exchange links two very powerful elements of good pedagogy: teachers and technology. Yes, every teacher uses technology, whether they realize it or not. Blackboards and photocopies are forms of technology too, right? Skilled teachers The first element of great pedagogy is the teacher. The Pen Pal Exchange system depends upon a skilled teachers ability to plan a successful writing project, with goals, lessons, and evaluations. (We have preloaded an example of pen pal writing tasks that you can use or modify.) To support this half of the equation, we have developed a pen pal template development page that guides the teacher step-by-step in specifying the topics the students write about, in itemizing the required vocabulary, in establishing the minimum number of words for each message, and in tolerating no more than the maximum number of errors you are willing to allow. Powerful technology The second part of the equation is the technology. The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry if the available resources are missing. Planning to have 150 students write 10 well-developed meaningful messages to pen pals in 10 weeks and receive handwritten feedback on errors and vocabulary is likely to exhaust even the most energetic teacher. Thats why I have incorporated the Virtual Writing Tutors grammar checker, word counter, and target structure checker into both the editor students use to compose their messages, and behind the scenes to check their messages automatically for the requirements of the assignment and record scores for the teacher to review. Skill + Power = Good Pedagogy Combining your plan for a series of form-focused writing tasks with the Virtual Writing Tutors onboard corrective feedback tools ensures good English language pedagogy: maximizingthe repeated exchange of meaningful messages with a form-focus. Add in Mastery Model scoring so that the students grade matches his or her effort and ambition, and students keep working and working at their English writing until they get the result they want. There is another way that technology can support the success of a pen pal exchange project. Tracking who wrote to whom is a major headache for teachers in trying to develop a pen pal writing project involving students in different classrooms. It seems simple enough: have students write messages, collect them up, and redistribute them to students in a different group the next day. However, the mounds of paper to collect and distribute can get messy when playing postman. So, the Virtual Writing Tutors ability to track and directmessages to multitudes of pen pals with email reminders helps to ensure a successful pen pal exchange for English Second Language learners. Your Virtual Writing Tutor Pen Pal Exchange is sure to help your students develop their basic interpersonal communication skills very quickly. Ready? Start your Pen Pal Exchange project here. FYI: its free, I dont send spam, and you can delete all traces of your project when you are done. What can a teacher do? Teachers can set the following required elements of a pen pal exchange: Topics the number of writing topics to write pen pal messages aboutMinimum word count the minimum number of words and a score for meeting or exceeding the minimum word count.Max # of errors the maximum number of grammar and spelling errors to allow in a message to receive the full score.Required target structures a list of target structures to use in a message, the minimum number of those target structures to include in a message, and the score for meeting or exceeding the minimum number of targets in a message.A photo depending on the topic, the teacher may wish to require a photo.A voicerecording students benefit from a 10% improvement in explicit recall of vocabulary items when they are read aloud (compared with silent study), so a teacher may want to require a voice recording of each message to enhance recall. Teachers are also able to do the following: create pen pal templates with all of the settings listed aboveimport existing templatescreate groupscreate an online invitation to join a particular groupmatch up pen pals with pen pals in different groupsshare groups with other teachers to create exchanges involving different students around the province or around the worldmonitor students progress and scoresremove absentee or misbehaving students What are students able to do? Pen pals are able to do the following: delete every trace of themselves from the website (The Virtual Writing Tutor respects your right to be completely forgotten)add one photo to discussadd a voice recordingcheck grammar and spellingcheck for the target structures required by the teacherpost and repost messages What can the system do? The Virtual Writing Tutor can detect thousands of error patterns and provide explicit feedback on spelling and grammar errors. It can also count words and detect the use of target structures in a message. Based on what the VWT finds, the system automatically generates a score determined by the number errors, number of words, number of targets structures, and the inclusion of a photo and an audio recording in the pen pals message. It also calculates a score based on the number of replies a student makes on other students messages. What do students write about? The system allows pen pals to write on any topic. This semester, I intend to get my students to write on a series of standard topics. To see the writing project I have planned for them, download my list of topics below. * writing topics for the VWTs Pen Pal ExchangeDownload What does the Pen Pal Exchange look like? The topic list looks like this. You can have as many topics as you like. The first topic in blue is standard. It is a message form the teacher who moderates the exchange. The topics in red that follow are set by the teacher using a template creation tool. The teacher can add as many topic as he or she wants. The editor used to write a message to your pen pals looks like this. Message tools for pen pals to use when writing their messages The feedback on spelling looks like this. The feedback on grammar errors looks like this. You get feedback on target structures like this. The list of target structures set by the teacher in the exchange template is automatically added to the search tool like this. The feedback on the the use of target structures looks like this. Students have a dashboard that gives them access to a range of information, which they can access with hyperlinks. For example, they can hop over to their own messages, the messages posted by their pen pals, and see the people in their group. Clicking on a score take the student to a detailed view of their feedback. Teachers also have access to this view. What do the teachers tools look like? You can match students like this. You can add pen pal guests to an exchange manually or automatically. Teachers can see group members, deploy a template, and match students with pen pals from the same or different groups. The teacher can get an overview of the students score or see in more detail the individual scores that contribute to the students total score. An Article on Pen Pal Writing Click on the image below to read the article about pen pal writing. It could serve as good introduction to students in preparation for a pen pal exchange. Pen Pal Listening Exercises To see online activities that you can share with students to introduce them to the concept of pen pal writing, click on the images below: Please follow and like us:

Dont Confuse These Words!

Dont Confuse These Words! I recently wrote  a post about common mistakes people make when learning English.  It got me thinking about many  words that are commonly confused for English learners.  Maybe its because the words look alike or sound alike, but often they have completely different meanings and could sound a bit silly.  We dont want to sound silly when were asking to use  a pen, right?BORROW vs. LENDThis is  one of the most common confusions for Spanish speakers.  This is because in Spanish, the same verb, prestar, is used for both borrow and lend.  Just try to remember: borrow=take, lend=give.  So, if we want to take something from someone (and of course give it back), we use borrow.  If you are giving something to someone (temporarily), we use lend.Can I borrow your pen?(Can I take your pen?)Can you lend me your pen?(Can you give me your pen?)You can borrow my pen.(You can take my pen.)I can lend you my pen.(I can give you my pen.)When in doubt, try filling in the sentence with take and give , and see which makes sense.  For example, if you try saying, Can I give your pen? that doesnt sound right, so we would not use lend.  Then, try saying, Can I take your pen?  That makes sense, so we know we use borrow.CLOTHS vs. CLOTHESThese nouns look similar and have similar meanings, but there is a difference in pronunciation.  To understand their slight differences, lets take a look at the meanings of these three words:Cloth  |klôTH|: fabric; the material used to make clothes.  This is an uncountable noun.Pronounced with short /o/ and soft /th/Example: I bought some cloth to make a dress.(pl. cloths |klôT?Hz, klôTHs|):  pieces  of fabric; the material we use to make clothesThis is a countable noun.Pronounced with short /o/ and soft /th/Example: I used two cloths to clean the kitchen.Clothes  |klo(T?H)z|: things we wear to cover our bodies.This is a plural uncountable noun.  It has no singular form and cannot be used with numbers.Pronounce with long /o/, hard /th/, and / z/ sound at the endExample: My clothes are in the washing machine.DEAD vs. DIEDeath is never a fun topic of conversation, but it can be improved  with the correct use of these words.  In Taiwan, my students often said things like, My grandmother is die, or She dead last year.Lets clarify:  Dead  |ded|  (adjective): no longer aliveRemember that we use the be verb with adjectivesExample: My fish is dead.Die  |di| (verb): to stop livingRemember that since this  is a verb, we need to use the correct tense.Example: My fish died yesterday.So, when you  are discussing this unfortunate topic, just  remember which one is the  adjective and which is the verb.EXPERIENCE vs. EXPERIMENTThese words are easy to confuse because they sound so similar, but they have completely different meanings.  Many native Spanish speakers confuse them because the noun, experiencia can sometimes mean experiment.Experience  (noun): there are a few different ways to talk about experience:Skill, practical knowledge , backgroundExample: She has a lot of experience, so she got a job easily.Event, incidentShe traveled to Chile.  It was a great experience.Involvement, participation, contact withThe new job was his first experience  with business.Experiment (noun): a scientific procedure to discover, test, or demonstrate somethingThe class did an experiment to see if a plant would grow without sunlight.ADVISE vs. ADVICERemember that advise means to give advice  or a suggestion to help  someone.  With these two, people usually mix up the pronunciation, so lets practice:Advise: the second syllable has a hard /z/ soundMy teacher advised me to  take a class with LOI to improve my English.Advice: the second syllable has a soft /s/ soundMy teacher gives a lot of good advice.Time to put it all together!  Complete the sentences and write your answers in the comments section.Its getting cold!  We should buy some _______ to wear this winter.We will all ___ someday.When she went to University, she had to ______ money from her parents.The ______ got really dirty when I used them to clean the oven.My mom gives good ______ about raising children.Scientists conducted an __________ on mice to learn more about the disease.The dog I had when I was little is ____ now.My friend asked me to ____ him my car for the weekend.They didnt hire her for the job because she has no __________ in the field.They always ______ you to wash your hands.Want to make sure youre not confusing any more words?  Sign up for a class with LOI, or check out these posts for more practice:say vs. telljob vs. workhear vs. listenspeak vs. talk

GCSE results out today! Congratulations your hard work has finally paid off

GCSE results out today! Congratulations your hard work has finally paid off The long wait is over for the 500,000 students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland waiting to hear their GCSE results. We hope all that hard work has finally paid off and you can now make clear decisions about where you go from here. Figures out today reveal a mixed picture as schools and teachers have had to deal with extensive exam reforms this past year. Overall though students achieving grade C or better at GCSE increased for the first time in three years. Student getting at least a grade C or higher in Maths has gone up slightly. Those getting an A* increased from 4.9% to 5.4%, while those students receiving an A* or A increased from 14.3% to 15.2%. Although the percentage of students that achieved a C or higher at English was slightly lower this year, those getting an A* increased from 3.3% last year to 3.6% and those students getting an A* or an A increased from 14.2% to 14.3%. There was also significant increases in those achieving a C or higher in science. There is a 6% increase on last years figures although those students achieving an A* remains static at 1.4%. We wish all our students, and of course all those parents that have been anxiously biting their nails the past few months, the very best for the future and would love to hear your good news stories and what you intend to do next.