How to Find the Right Tutor For You

How to Find the Right Tutor For YouVector tutoring online has opened up many doors to both adults and students who would like to increase their knowledge. Tutors are not only in the business of giving lectures, but they are also in the business of helping students develop their academic skills. Learning has taken a different turn over the past few years and a lot of people have started taking an interest in studying. If you want to take your study seriously, you need to learn from a tutor who will teach you what you need to know.Learning to read and write is no longer a luxury. It has become a necessity for those who want to find a job or for those who would like to get a better education. But how do you find tutors? Is it possible to find one online?Sure, you can look on some free lists to find someone to teach you. The thing is, most of them are not doing well and can offer no guarantees. Many of them only want you to pay them and when you do, they often start teaching you about a subject you don't need. Not to mention, if you pay them, they won't be able to help you.This is where many students and adults get confusing. Tutors can do very well online and it is much easier to search for one. You can look for teachers, colleges, and universities that offer tutoring and ask for a recommendation. It is almost as easy as browsing through some lists.You can also look for a good tutor. You can visit the websites of tutors and try to contact them. If you don't get a response, you can check out their ratings online. People who rate online tutors are usually very satisfied with their services.Check out the school's website and find out if there are a lot of students who are willing to seek their help. This is a good indicator that the school has enough tutors to work with. When you find a school, visit the student forums and see if there are any teachers who are willing to give out advice. This way, you will be sure to find a tutor who you can actually work with.When y ou choose the right tutor, you will be able to improve your studies as well as your career. This will definitely boost your confidence and increase your motivation.

Start Cooking on a Budget

Start Cooking on a Budget How Much Does it Cost to Learn How to Cook? ChaptersHow Much Does Cooking Equipment Cost?How Much Do Cooking Courses Cost?How Can You Learn to Cook for Free?Easy Recipes for Under £5“Cooking is just as creative and imaginative an activity as drawing, or wood carving, or music.” - Julia ChildHave you thought about opening a cookbook and making your own dishes rather than eating ready meals, instant soups, and leftovers?A lot of people enjoy cooking.What about you?Learning to cook can be quite the investment once you’ve bought the equipment you’ll need to make your own dishes. However, once you've got the equipment, it'll pay for itself as you can make hearty and healthy meals.Whether you’re cooking simple recipes or haute cuisine, you should probably opt for seasonal produce. In addition to saving money, you’ll also get the nutritional benefits of these products and you'll find it much easier to eat well. GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (12) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1s t lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow Much Does Cooking Equipment Cost?To change your eating habits and start making your own delicious meals, you’ll need to get a few essentials. While you might think cooking on a budget is difficult, you don’t need a kitchen like they have on Masterchef.You don't need to offer haute cuisine to provide good food. (Source: neshom)You’re not going to be doing molecular gastronomy but rather some simple home cooking and healthy meals.Here is some essential cooking equipment you should get for preparing y our ingredients and how much they cost.A peeler for fruits and vegetables. These usually cost under £10. You should pay attention to what it’s made of (stainless steel, ceramic, plastic) and how sturdy the handle is.A good knife for cutting, slicing, etc. You’ll probably pay around £20 for a decent knife. Cheaper knives don't tend to last. Don’t forget a knife sharpener, too.A chopping board since you wouldn’t want to wreck your bench. This usually can work out between £5 and £10 depending on what you go for.For cooking meat and vegetables, you should get the following:A saucepan. If you live on your own, one should be enough. However, it’s recommended that you get two. A 20cm diameter saucepan ranges between £15 and £30.A frying pan. The price will vary depending on the quality and the covering. A 28cm diameter frying pan can cost between £15 and £40.A wooden spoon and spatula. These are often sold as a pack and are useful for mixing and won't scratch your pan whe n you stir a sauce. They usually cost around £5.Lids so that your sauces don’t spit onto the counter. You can get glass or stainless steel lids. You can buy them separately for between €15 and €25 or get pots and pans that come with them and you’ll save more money doing the latter.A strainer. Opt for a strainer with small holes so you can use it for stock, rice, and any type of pasta. This usually can work out between £5 and £10 depending on what you go for.An oven dish. This is essential for cooking stuff in the oven. They’re usually made of glass, but you can also get stainless steel ones. They cost between £5 and £20, depending on the size.Of course, if you’re interested in baking, you’ll probably want a measuring cup, kitchen scales, and mixing bowls.  When you cook for yourself, you can choose what you eat and, therefore, eat more healthily and save money.So when are you going to start?How Much Do Cooking Courses Cost?There are several options for those who w ant to learn how to become a chef:Attending a cookery schoolDoing a cooking workshopStudying a degree in gastronomyTaking private cooking tutorialsThere are cooking schools in larger cities. Thus, a student who wants to learn traditional recipes may have to spend a substantial amount of money.Simple ingredients can make simple dishes that taste delicious. (Source: congerdesign)For example, the Cordon Bleu in London is a culinary arts, wine and management school that was founded in the early 1930s with a focus on the cooking techniques that were being taught to gourmet French chefs. The school was initially founded as L’Ecole du Petit Cordon Bleu by Rosemary Hume and Dione Lucas after being allowed to take the Cordon Bleu tradition to the UK.Did you know that Hume created the recipe for “Poulet Reine Elizabeth” for the Queen's coronation?This recipe is more commonly known as “Coronation Chicken”.The longer courses (such as the Grand Diplôme) can cost nearly £35,000 for 9 months. This is the kind of course where you will learn the art of cooking, every single technique, and all the cooking methods that the worlds best chefs have mastered. Of course, since you'll learn how to prepare a large variety of dishes, you'll be expected to handle seafood, veal (amongst other meats), and alcohol.There are four main culinary arts diplomas offered by the school: cuisine, pâtisserie, boulangerie, and gastronomy and nutrition.There are plenty of cooking workshops up and down the country.The Diplôme de Cuisine can be studied over 9 months or intensively over 6. This is the course that teaches students classic techniques.The Pastry and Confectionary diploma (Diplôme de Pâtisserie) also lasts for 9 months (6 months intensive) and includes cake making and decorating.The Diplôme de Boulangerie focuses on making bread dough, viennoiserie, and other baked goods. This course lasts 7 months and is useful for anyone wanting to open and run their own bakery.Le Cordon Bl eu also offers short courses on various techniques, summer cooking courses, wine tasting, and cake decorating. These courses can be as short as two hours or as long as three weeks. These could be ideal for amateur chefs who want to get better at preparing pastry or gain some fundamental knife skills (in the kitchen, of course!).You could also opt for private cooking tutorials if you’re interested in learning a few different recipes or culinary techniques.On Superprof, a private cooking tutorial costs around £25 per hour. However, a lot of tutors offer their first hour of tutoring for free. This is a good opportunity to see if you get along.  Of course, the cost will vary depending on where you are and your tutor’s experience and qualifications.Find cooking classes london.How Can You Learn to Cook for Free?You don’t have to break the bank to learn how to cook. Quite the opposite. You can learn to make gourmet dishes for very little money.When done right, cooking can be a lot o f fun. (Source: 089photoshootings)As a beginner learning to cook on a budget, you might make a few mistakes, so here’s some advice to help you:Be organised: from going to the supermarket to making your dishes, you should avoid waste at all costs.Read the recipe before you start cooking so that you know what to expect.Test the recipe before you cook it for your friends and family.To learn more about stress-free cooking, there are a few good options:Cooking MOOCs: a MOOC is an online course and you can study a variety of different subjects. There are MOOCs on cooking and you can learn the basics as well as more advanced techniques thanks to them.Video tutorials on YouTube: there are plenty of freely accessible video tutorials on YouTube with recipes and explanations of certain cooking techniques.Cooking websites and blogs: again the internet is home to a lot of useful resources for those on a budget. Check out some of the most popular websites and blogs for useful recipes and advice .When it comes to cooking, practice makes perfect! You can find recipes for whatever you fancy from ham omelettes, lasagna, stuffed vegetables, beef stew, etc, and more often than not, the simplest dishes are the best!Easy Recipes for Under £5When we say dishes for less than a fiver, we’re not talking about canned beans on toast, instant noodles, or prepackaged sandwiches or leftover curry from the night before! When you go grocery shopping, you can fill your pantry with inexpensive and nutritious ingredients and start making healthier meals.You need to be organised from the very moment you arrive at the market! (Source:Make sure your cupboards are stocked up with useful vegetables like potatoes, broccoli, peas, etc. You can also keep veggies in your fridge or freezer for making filling stews, a casserole, a broth, or other money saving dishes like a stir-fry, chilli con carne, etc.There are plenty of budget recipes available online or in cooking magazines and recipe books. Here are a couple of examples to inspire you.Roast Camembert SurprisePreparation time: 15 minutes.Cooking time: 40 minutes.Ingredients for serving four people:1 Camembert1 yellow onion3 tablespoons of brown sugar10g of raisins4 large slices of breadParsley and chives100g of unsalted butter1 tablespoon of brown sugarCiderPreparation:Peel and slice the onion before browning it in a frying pan with butter.Add the vinegar and reduce for two minutes. Add the sugar and reduce for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.Cut an 8cm diameter hole in the Camembert and remove it.Full the hole with onions, raisins, and herbs.Put the lid back on the Camembert and wrap it in tinfoil.Cook for 20 minutes at 200 °C.Toast the bread and cut it into soldiers.Serve with a green salad and cider.Chocolate/Orange/Apricot Gooey CookiesPreparation time: 15 minutes.Cooking time: 20 minutes.Ingredients for 16 cookies:50g of unsalted butter50g of slightly salted butter1 egg100g of cane sugar200g of flour1 orange8 tender a pricots1 teaspoon of baking powder75g of milk chocolatePreparation:Dice the apricots, zest the orange, and grind the chocolate.Beat the eggs, baking powder, and half of the flour.Add the butter and sugar and work the dough with your hands.Add the chocolate, apricots, and orange zest before adding the rest of the flour.Create 40g piles of dough (around a tablespoon) onto a baking tray.Bake for 12 to 14 minutes at 180 °C.Cooking VocabularyWhen you learn how to cook, you’ll also need to learn the jargon. In each of our cooking articles, we’ve included a few definitions to help you so make sure to read the other articles.ZestZesting is when you remove the zest (the outer coloured part of a citrus fruit peel) to use to flavour food. Don’t use the white part.ConcasseThis is when you crush or grind something into large pieces. It commonly refers to a process used on tomatoes.

Math Tips from a Calculus Tutor

Math Tips from a Calculus Tutor Today we welcome Cory Sweet, veteran math tutor and South Bay calculus department head, to our blog! Cory is sharing his top three math tips for success in any math class, from algebra 1 all the way up through AP calculus and beyond.Math Tip #1: Show your work! (No mental math!)My first math tip to help you succeed is something all of your math teachers are already telling you to do on every test, quiz, and homework assignment: show your work! By showing your work on every problem, you’re actually helping the teacher and yourself. On tests and quizzes, this is your chance to show your teacher what you know. When you only write down the final answer, the teacher has no idea if you know and understand the process of getting to that answer. It might as well be a random guess, or even a result of cheating! When you present your work neatly and efficiently, you demonstrate that you know all of the steps to reach the answer. In case you still have questions, consider Private Tutoring At Home.There is a second part to this math tip: by showing all of your work, you’re not doing any math in your head. One thing I tell all of my students is that doing math in your head is a great party trick, but it gets you nothing on tests and quizzes. I can’t even begin to count the number of mistakes I’ve seen students make when they could have easily used a calculator or written out the problem. By doing math in your head, you’re more likely to make a mistake! Instead, write out each step, check your math with a calculator (if allowed), and work methodically and at a decent pace. Writing down your work won’t fix every mistake, but it will reduce your chances of making them. Bonus: if you do make the occasional mistake, your teacher is more likely to give you partial credit if they can see your process.Math Tip #2: Study a little bit each dayMy second math tip has to do with worst and best studying practices. Imagine that you have a test on Friday, and you estimate that two hours of studying should be plenty. Some students will study for two hours the night before the test, thinking that this will be enough time to learn the material.I’m here to tell you that cramming the night before the test is one of the most inefficient ways to study. It is only slightly better than not studying at all! By having a two-hour study block the night before, you might create more problems for yourself. First, You might stay up late to finish other homework and so are too tired to do well on the test. Also, you might encounter a concept that you don’t understand, with little time to learn it. Lastly, you might not actually learn the material that well!I want you to think of something you enjoy but need to practice to improve. This could be an instrument, a sport, a gameâ€"anything that requires effort. Now, I’m going to offer you two ways to study: you can practice for two hours at 4 p.m. for a week or for ten hours on a Saturday. Which did you choose? Hopeful ly the first option! Both take the same amount of total time, but you will retain more over a longer period. One word comes to mind when I think about practicing for ten hours straight: fatigue. Instead, the best way to study is to practice persistence and do a little bit each day. With regular practice, you can train yourself to think differently, develop muscle memory, and improve performance and technique. After all, slow and steady wins the race!Math Tip #3: Spaghetti on the wallMy final math tip concerns what you should do when you come across a problem that you’re not sure how to tackle. I am a huge advocate of throwing spaghetti at a wall and seeing what sticks. No, this doesn’t mean you should start playing baseball with pasta. Rather, it means that trial and error in math is often a valid approach. Far too often I’ve seen this situation: a student will read a math problem and then will think and think and think but never do anything, frozen with indecision. My advice: pick something and just give it a try.There’s no way of knowing if that problem-solving method in your head will work until you actually put pencil to paper and try it out. If it doesn’t work, it’s not a big dealâ€"turn your pencil around, erase, and try again! Each time you try a new strategy, you’ll get a little closer to solving the problem. You might notice a piece of information you missed the first time, spot a careless mistake, or realize that you need to draw a diagram. Even if you don’t end up getting the right answer, you may still get some partial credit from your teacherâ€"better to have something written down on the paper to show that you engaged with the problem!Thanks, Cory, for all those great math tips! To learn more about tutoring at AJ and math homework help from homeworkdoer, click here.

Meta Testing Strategy for the LSAT

Meta Testing Strategy for the LSAT LSAT Law School Blog There are many things to keep in mind while studying for the LSAT exam. It’s overwhelming enough to try to master techniques for each of the sections. But at some point, take a break from driving yourself crazy with the logic questions and the games, and consider some other overall strategies that can help improve your score: Bring your own watch. It’s essential to keep track of time. Who knows if you can see the clock â€" who knows if there will be a clock? Control your conditions as much as you can. Learn to shake it off â€" Just like the Cash Cab host tells contestants who miss the red light challenge to “shake it off,” train yourself to shake off sections that you feel don’t go well. Don’t pay attention to the people around you - Chances are you aren’t even working on the same sections at the same time. The exam booklets are shuffled into different orders. You don’t know what your neighbor is working on and you shouldn’t care. Don’t let yourself get distracted; don’t break your rhythm. Don’t talk to others about the test on breaks - If someone tells you they thought the reading comprehension was easy and you thought it was hard, you may just waste energy worrying about it. Plus, you may have taken an experimental section, and you might get the easier one later in the day. Never leave a question blank. There is no penalty for wrong answers. Always take the last few seconds before time is called to go back through to answer the ones you weren’t sure about. Make blind guesses on the rest. If I haven’t even looked at a question, I always choose “B.” Don’t put your pencil down until you absolutely have to. Keep your energy up - It’s a long day. Bring energy snacks to have on hand when you’re flagging. These strategies can help you from losing points, and may even help you gain some. I also found that it gave me a sense of calm and control going into what is such a high stakes situation. By being more relaxed, it may help you as you work the questions as well.

Language Textbook Central 6 Textbook Sources Youll Love

Language Textbook Central 6 Textbook Sources Youll Love Language Textbook Central: 6 Textbook Sources Youll Love Textbooks  are too academic!If you want to learn how to swim, you need to be in the waterâ€"not sitting in the shade, reading some book about swimming.Textbooks lack real-world, real-life flavor, which makes them less useful for language learners.Why use textbooks when youve got the whole internet at your disposal?These are just some of the good arguments put forth by fellow language learners and experts.Should they spell the end of textbooks?Are you ready to swear off them and toss those thick tomes into the dumpster?Not so fast.For all the flack that they get, language textbooks are still some of the purest and most robust language learning material you can get your hands on. What Can Language Textbooks Do for You?Think about this: How many equivalent hours of podcasts, videos or in-field training will you need to cover as much material as just one thick textbook?The whole thing is right there. I mean, its literally in your hands! While were also going to cover the usefulness and money-saving power of electronic textbooks in this post, one advantage to textbooks is that you dont necessarily need to boot up a gadget or drain precious phone battery to access all that information. Even if you do, you can often do it offline.But beyond logistics and ease of use, language textbooks quickly zero in on those things about the language that are the most usefulâ€"the building blocks, the rules of the road, the pitfalls you need to avoid so you quickly graduate from being a language toddler making linguistic booboos and join the ranks of decent speakers.Textbooks as a broad category can be as general or specific as intended. They can be general like Schaums German Grammar,  which talks about  everything grammar-related from verbs to tenses. They can be specific and zero in on a certain subject, like Practice Makes Perfects Italian Pronouns and Prepositions  (some would consider this a workbook, but were not here to split hairs).  General titles are often fatter, for o bvious reasons, and the more specific ones are more bite-sized.But all the same, textbooks are written in such a direct way that they take away any guesswork about the topic, giving you the exact things you need. In fact, they spoon-feed you the target language so you dont need to figure anything out on your own. You just need to believe that this is indeed how one conjugates a particular Spanish verb, or that this is how one forms the past tense of that English word. Boom! Youve learned a valuable lesson good for a lifetime. Literally.Deducing grammar rules yourself takes a whole lot of trial and error and is prone to incompleteness. (Many native speakers dont even know the rules to their own languageâ€"because theyre too close to the subject to notice. They simply know how theyve always talked.)Language textbooks strip and slow everything down so you can actually notice the unmentioned laws and assumptions that animate everyday communication. They superficially slow things down an d break the language into constituent elements so that in the normal speed of actual conversation, you at least now have the requisite tools and insights you need.Owing to the technological advances of our time, textbooks now come in various formats. You have the classic paper-printed thing, which your grandfather will swear by, and you also now have paperless digital versions. Publishers have also been brilliant enough to bundle some textbooks with audio CD or online material so learners can follow along on their headphones and hear how the target language is actually spoken. In addition to audio, your purchase sometimes comes with additional online information, like this one from Living Language Korean,  which comes with online access to flashcards, games and interactive quizzes corresponding to lessons in the books.All language textbooks are not created equal. So in this post, well be looking to recommend some very good ones that you can check out. But before that, we turn to the next section and look into the most important things to remember when working with textbooks.Oftentimes, were overly critical of textbooks, when we need to manage our expectations so that we can truly appreciate the awesome role they play in our language goals.5 Important Things to Remember When Working with Textbooks1) Dont overwhelm yourself with material.Did you know that you can easily intimidate yourself into language failure?Yup, it can happen. You can overwhelm yourself with so much material that youll begin to think learning the language is actually impossible. In this day and age, when access to an infinite number of textbooks has become so easy, a diligent language learner can easily amass piles of textbooks without the hope of ever getting through every last one of them.The thinking behind this is, The more, the better. I need to cover all my bases.Before long, youve started to intimidate yourself into thinking, This is harder than I thought.Testimonies of failed languag e ventures almost always come along with something like, Ive tried them all Well, maybe part of the reason they failed is that they jumped from one textbook to another.Dont overwhelm yourself with a preponderance of material. Start with a general textbook. After that, make sure you dont use more than one book for the same thing. For example, you really need just one grammar title. Only when you think its absolutely necessary should you get a different one for a more specific topic, like verb conjugation, for example. And that only after you finish the general textbook.So, how do you deal with the one that you have in your hands? You overlearn it ‘til kingdom come. You go at it day and night. Take it with you on dates, read it while standing in line at the ATM. Master the material like the back of your hand, and youll have learned more in that one book than a whole stack that you never got to read because merely looking at it extinguished your motivation.2) Choose the appropriate l evel of content.So if youre to start with just one textbook, then which one?How do you choose from the buffet thats before you? Let the list presented in the next section be your guide, but here are a few specifics to consider.Price you should definitely take into account, but at the end of the day, a textbook that efficiently teaches you the target language will pay for itself many times overâ€"no matter how expensive at the outset.You should be asking instead, What language skill or topic am I after?Not all textbooks are created equal. And not all of them are talking about the same things. So dont expect a single textbook to be equally strong on all fronts. Textbooks have different specialties and personalities, much like the authors behind them. Even a more general grammar textbook may be skewed towards a particular topic. One could specialize in conjugation, another in sentence construction, etc.Know what you hope to learn. Because when you know what youre after, youre in a bett er position to evaluate if a certain title can deliver what you need.Another thing you should consider is the difficulty level. This is very important because many learners have actually challenged themselves out of the running. There is such a thing as too difficult. And you definitely dont want that.If you’re a beginner, then get the book for beginners. Dont go for advanced courses and assume youll pick up the fundamentals along the way. Things will just go over your head.The fastest way to lose your motivation is looking at the pile of textbooks youve amassed. Then opening one just blows you out of the water.3) Textbooks can be entertaining, but their true purpose lies deeper.Language textbooks that have a breezy style of writing, some catchy fonts and pictures are awesome. They can make study sessions quite effective.But dont be too quick to discount those titles that people often describe as too dry or too academic. These no-frills materials, stripped of the fluff, are packed to the rafters with language gems. They teach you more per page because they get straight to the point and tell you what you need to know.Entertainment is good, and heaven knows we need more of that in education. But dont knock textbooks just because they dont jump at you with vivid graphics, colors and sound. Dont wave them off just because they come in a form and format that reminds you of the libraries of yore.The main job of textbooks is not to sing and dance, its to make plain the hidden, elucidate on concepts that even native speakers are not aware of. If you think the book in your hand is able to do that, then keep it within arms reach. Thats a good textbook.4) Get a healthy mix of language material.Even Michael Jordan needed teammates. No language textbook, no matter how good at sinking jump shots, will ever be sufficient on its own.Your language textbook plays a vital role in your language goals, but so do many other things. Its this concoction of different and synergetic content that turns a non-speaker into a fluent one. Besides your textbook, immerse yourself in the  videos, apps, blogs  and websites  that are available for every language learner.Get your hands on different tools. They have a specific part to play in your learning. They stimulate a variety of senses, and the more experience you have with the language, the more immersive your experience and the more memorable the target language becomes.But again, dont overdo this by overwhelming your attention with three or five of each material. Just as you really only need the one general textbook to get the ball rolling, you really only need one flashcard app, or one online course. I dont mean that you should close the door to other apps or courses, of course not! I just mean that you should prioritize one and take it as far as it can go, and then, only then, should you see how other sources in the same category can fill in the gaps or take you farther.Just pick one material in each category, a nd accept that every material will have its limitations, but put all your energy into it, anyway.If youre looking for the closest you can get to a one stop shop, FluentU gives you a flexible online course with videos and multimedia flashcards that are tied together for a varied and optimized learning experience. FluentU takes online videosâ€"like movie trailers, music videos, vlogs, cartoons, news and moreâ€"and makes them into personalized language lessons. Throw it together with a decent textbook, and youll have a feast of learning material to work with that isnt overwhelming.5) Read, but dont forget to practice.Reading is one thing. But practicing, that is, actually getting your mouth, lips and tongue moving in specific ways is an altogether different proposition. Getting in front of native speakers and conversing with them is also quite another.Textbooks are just a means to an end.  They impart knowledge. Then its up to you to put that knowledge to work.Think of it this way: Te xtbooks get you off to a great start, but theyll never take you to the finish line because they were never designed for that. They were made for a specific purpose and that is to tell you flat out what the rules of the language are. They are instructions for action. Textbooks presuppose action. Reading and rereading? Thats not action.Some language learners use textbooks as a means to escape the actual work of speaking the target language. They put in the hours, cooped up inside their rooms, reasoning that when theyre ready, when they get all the vocabulary and the grammar rules down, then they’ll open their mouths. I can really relate to this feeling, having been once very much like thisâ€"procrastination and all.Well, Ive since learned better.You dont need to finish a textbook cover to cover before you actually get dirty. You can read a little, then get to work on that specific material immediately. Work on it by chapter, for example. If the chapter is about prepositions, then pr actice them as soon as you finish the chapter. For instance, describe the location of objects in your room in the target language. Dont just write this, say it! And repeat it a dozen times during the rest of your day, when you go out, when you see a vase on top of  a table, when you see a boy inside  a car, when you get your shoes from behind the door. Begin to think (and talk) in the target language.Thats how you put your textbook to work. Thats how you take it as far as it can go.That said, and now with a little appreciation for textbooks, where do we go looking for them? Heres your top six sources for these babies.Language Textbook Central: 6 Textbook Sources Youll LoveLiving LanguageHead on over to Amazon and youll see that the Living Language materials are consistent bestsellers, perennially topping their particular language categories.Living Language is an imprint of Random House, one of the biggest paperback publishers in the world. The self-study language outfit currently of fers material for more than 20 languages, including American Sign Language and Dothraki, the artificial dialect created for the hit series Game of Thrones.Living Language, developed by language experts from the U.S. State Department for America’s diplomats and overseas-bound personnel, has been around for over 65 years. The Living Language Method rests on four philosophies that are reflected in every Living Language textbook:Build a Foundation. Your native language will be used as a bridge to your target language. Through direct translation and a bit of memorization to start the ball rolling, learners will be given some basic and essential words (vocabulary) that are to be used and practiced from Day One.Progress with Confidence.  The building block approach is used and each lesson will build on the previous one. So you go from words to phrases to sentences (grammar) and then to full conversations.Retain What Youve Learned. Exercises, games and reviews are used to transfer the lea rning from short-term memory to long-term memory.Achieve Your Goals.  With those three bases covered, youre now ready to build the specific language skills that you want.Living Language courses now include audio components, interactive online games and smart flashcards, keeping pace with the times. But at the heart of every language course are still their textbooks. You can choose from the Essential Edition ($22.99), Complete Edition ($49.99) and Platinum Edition ($179).McGraw-HillMcGraw-Hill is one of the big threeâ€"that is, three of the largest textbook publishers in the world (the other two being Pearson and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).McGraw-Hill houses some of the most trusted foreign language textbook series. Theyve touched the lives of literally millions. Here are some of their best.Practice Makes Perfect.  This language series offers learners bite-sized lessons on the many different language skills and topics that they want to focus on. For example, there’s French Conversa tion,  French Reading and Comprehension,  French Sentence Builder,  French Vocabulary Games,  French Verb Tenses  and even French Pronouns and Prepositions.  So whatever language skill needs work, or whatever level youre at, this series has got you covered.Easy Step-by-Step.  Learning languages has never been easier! The books in this series take absolute beginners by the hand and show them the structures and rules that give a language life. The lessons progress slowly, so they dont end up confusing or overwhelming you. When they say step by step, they do really mean it.Dont be troubled if your book suddenly approaches 400 pages. Thats just so you get a solid grounding of the basics, whether it be in  Italian, German, French  or Spanish. Every page is paced so that youre prepared for the next one. There are even a handful of exercises that develop your confidence as you move forward. This building block approach is the fastest way to master grammar and comprehension.Schaums Outlines .  Traditionally known for its excellent series on hard science topics like physics, biology and chemistry, Schaums have tackled languages like French, German and Spanish. There are several focuses for each language. For example, if you want to study French grammar, theres Schaums French Grammar.  For vocab needs, theres French Vocabulary.  Then theres just French.  Theres also  French: Crash Course  and Communicating in French. And I have to say, true to form, the language exercises in these titles are quite extensive. Case in point, the grammar book alone has 578 exercises to hone your language chops.BarronsBarrons is the leading name in test prep and has a formidable catalogue  of language textbooks that covers the major languages.For example, the Spanish language alone has over 40 different titles ranging from Mastering Spanish Grammar to 1001 Pitfalls in Spanish. The books, which sometimes come with an audio CD, cater to all types of learners from beginners to advancedâ€"even t o specific categories of learners like attorneys, paralegals, healthcare practitioners and law enforcement personnel.Barrons has come a long way from just being a test prep outfit. But youll still get the Barrons flavorâ€"signs of their origins like clear-cut examples, rigorous review exercises and on-point, no-nonsense explanations.Once youre at the main page of the Barrons website, go down through the categories, past Childrens Books and Crafts and Hobbies. Locate Foreign Languages. Click on it and youll be brought to a page that contains all of Barrons language titles. There are 13 sub-categories on this page. For example, Arabic is one, and clicking on it will land you on a page that displays all books related to learning Arabic.Other languages covered are English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Russian and Spanish. Clicking on these subcategories will get you a list of all titles concerned. Most of the books here are ideal for beginners, such as  Modern Mandarin Ch inese for Beginners  and Italian Now! Level 1.Theres a section called Other Languages that you might be interested in. Its actually a catch-all for the other languages available: Swedish, Hebrew, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish, Latin, Korean and even American Sign Language. Most of the textbooks here are concerned with verbs. (Except, of course, the American Sign Language books.)BerlitzBerlitz has a rich history of language instruction, from 1878 in Providence, Rhode Island to its present-day global headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey. The company, which was once a subsidiary of Macmillan, has a post in over 70 countries around the world and boasts of training for every living language on the face of the earth.The Berlitz Method, named after its founder Maximilian Berlitz, utilizes the direct method of teaching languagesâ€"meaning the target language is used as the medium of instruction. So a German class is taught in German, a Chinese class is taught in Chineseâ€"not English.Language is not merely a set of grammar rules, but a means of communication. So instead of drilling on grammar, students observe how a language is used to convey a message and are encouraged to figure out the meaning and the grammar rules for themselves. In a class where the direct method is used, a lot gesturing and repetition is employed to help students figure out what the teacher is talking about.But werent we talking earlier about how textbooks are especially vital for grammar? Well, yes. And as a proponent of the direct method of learning languages, youd think that Berlitz would shy away from releasing grammar textbooks of their own. Not so. They actually have grammar handbooks for English, German, Italian and French.When even a company with a school of thought that seems antithetical to the grammar-translation method releases a grammar textbook of their own, it speaks volumes to the special role or function that such a text plays.The best place to access Berlitz textbooks is through A mazon rather than their website, which is really a platform to promote their training programs around the world. So head to Amazon and search for Berlitz and the language youre learning.Its also worth mentioning that their forte is really in the production of phrasebooks. Berlitz has phrasebooks in practically any language you can think of, and this can be great for learners who might be grateful to find any kind of learning material in a more obscure language. If the language youre interested in is not as popular as Spanish or French, your best bet would be Berlitz. They have books for Vietnamese, Finnish, Hindi or Croatian, for example.For DummiesIt might seem counterproductive to denigrate your readers right off the bat. But theres actually something so comforting about a title that says, Weve really dumbed this down for you. It relieves people of any pressure to learn because, hey, they’re dummies. It places them in a position to just sit back and relaxâ€"knowing that what the y have in their hands is the most simplified, most undemanding and foolproof language text on the market.The Dummies franchise, published by John Wiley Sons, Inc., has over 2,700 titles to its name. Granted, many of these titles will never interest you (The Royal Wedding for Dummies, anyone?), but language learners would do well to check out their foreign language series, which covers the major world languagesâ€"from Arabic to Russian, Spanish, Italian, etc.Once on the Dummies site, look for the Shop for Books link and click on it. That will open another page which will take you to the Dummies store. The  search box will be easy to spot. Just type your terms in the box. For example, Spanish. Hit Enter and youll get all the relevant titles, from Spanish Grammar for Dummies  ($19.99) to Intermediate Spanish for Dummies  ($19.99).Decent descriptions are written about the books, and youre given the chance to see the Table of Contents and Author Information so you have an idea of what y oure getting into. For most books, youll also be alerted to the e-book option (which is cheaper).Most of their language books are in the $9.99 to the $19.99 range. Although their all-in-one titles naturally cost moreâ€"$34.99 for Spanish, for example.The Dummies series specifically caters to beginner and intermediate language learners. They pretty much deconstruct the basics of the language. There are also helpful sidebars that emphasize a certain point or bring up interesting trivia, making the lessons really come alive.VitalSourceWhat if the reason youve been balking at textbooks is that you have a bad back? Besides, you cant possibly be caught looking all nerdy lounging around with piles of textbooks.Well, you remember that there are often digital versions of these babies, right?And VitalSource is your most trusted, well, source of e-textbooks offered at reasonable prices. Your chosen book can immediately be downloaded onto your smartphone, tablet or computer. So not only is the weight issue obliterated, the wait issue becomes a non-issue. No more wondering when your package will come knocking.Now, you have the freedom and flexibility to chip away at those language goals anywhere and anytime you want. As of this writing, there are almost 2,600 textbooks  available for languages like German, Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Portuguese and Greek. (They have textbooks available on other subjects, too, so if youre a student or lifelong learner, you may find shopping with them especially convenient.)Download Bookshelf,  VitalSource’s free app, for an intuitive and intelligent reading experience. The app allows you to make highlights and create notes so you can personalize the pages of your textbook. You can also locate a specific text faster with its smart search capabilities. So whether online or offline, you get an enhanced studying experience, which inevitably results in an enhanced learning power.Oh, and did I mention you can re nt e-books instead of buying them? Yep, so the price gets even lower.So that ends our explanation of why you still need textbooks today, and why you should get your hands on one right now. You really just need to manage your expectations and see textbooks for what they areâ€"tools that are limited like any other, but eminently useful for the language learner.I wish you all the best on your language journey!

Singapore American School

Singapore American School Singapore American School SAS is an independent, non-profit, co-educational day school offering an American-based curriculum for preschool through grade 12. With more than 3,800 students from more than 50 nations, and approximately 70% hold U.S. passports. SAS is recognized by the Office of Overseas Schools, U.S. State Department, is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and is the largest single-campus international school in the world. SAS is located on a 36-acre campus in the Woodlands area of Singapore, approximately 35 minutes drive from downtown Singapore. The campus is purpose built, supports classroom spaces for music, art, and drama, and includes state-of -the-art facilities for students at all grade levels. The campus includes three distinct divisions: elementary school (preschool through grade five), middle school (grades six through eight) and high school (grades nine through twelve). A separate and purpose built early childhood center (ECC) provides a special learning environment for preschool and prekindergarten (age 3 and 4) students.

2015 June Language Challengers- Make a Public Video Pledge and earn 50 ITC!

2015 June Language Challengers- Make a Public Video Pledge and earn 50 ITC! So in the spirit of giving, were offering this bonus again to help you complete the Challenge! If youve signed up for the italki June 2015 Language Challenge, were giving away even more  ITC to motivate you to succeed!  Do you really want to complete the challenge?  Use peer pressure (in a good way) to help yourself achieve your language learning goal! Life Hacks research has shown that if you put yourself up to something by doing it in public, you follow through because others are watching. Things that you put on the Web have a better chance of getting done! BONUS 50ITC! Upload your Language Challenge Public Video Pledge Make a Public Video Pledge by uploading a video to YouTube or Youku before you begin your first session (or your first few sessions). What should you say in your Public Video Pledge? Youtube video: Youku video: Speak in your native language Tell us why you are taking The Challenge and what language you are learning Tell us what you will commit to (e.g. I promise to take at least 3 sessions a week) Tell us your Language Challenge Goal (e.g. Five minute conversation with a co-worker) Speak in the language you are learning Repeat the above in the language you are learning If you can’t say anything, or your language level is at a beginner level then try to say a few words you know in the language or just say you have no ability. Label the video: “(italki username)’s  italki June 2015 Language Challenge Public Pledge” The video should not be longer than 2 minutes in length. Write a Notebook Entry “I’ve made a Public Video Pledge for the italki June 2015 Language Challenge” and paste the YouTube/Youku URL. We will immediately award you with 50ITC once you post your notebook entry and we verify the video! Just send us an email to support@italki.com and let us know your username so we can view the Notebook entry with the Public Video Pledge link! If youve signed up for The Challenge and you really want to finish, you should make the Public Video Pledge now!  Youll get paid for it and it will help you complete the Challenge! 2015 June Language Challengers- Make a Public Video Pledge and earn 50 ITC! So in the spirit of giving, were offering this bonus again to help you complete the Challenge! If youve signed up for the italki June 2015 Language Challenge, were giving away even more  ITC to motivate you to succeed!  Do you really want to complete the challenge?  Use peer pressure (in a good way) to help yourself achieve your language learning goal! Life Hacks research has shown that if you put yourself up to something by doing it in public, you follow through because others are watching. Things that you put on the Web have a better chance of getting done! BONUS 50ITC! Upload your Language Challenge Public Video Pledge Make a Public Video Pledge by uploading a video to YouTube or Youku before you begin your first session (or your first few sessions). What should you say in your Public Video Pledge? Youtube video: Youku video: Speak in your native language Tell us why you are taking The Challenge and what language you are learning Tell us what you will commit to (e.g. I promise to take at least 3 sessions a week) Tell us your Language Challenge Goal (e.g. Five minute conversation with a co-worker) Speak in the language you are learning Repeat the above in the language you are learning If you can’t say anything, or your language level is at a beginner level then try to say a few words you know in the language or just say you have no ability. Label the video: “(italki username)’s  italki June 2015 Language Challenge Public Pledge” The video should not be longer than 2 minutes in length. Write a Notebook Entry “I’ve made a Public Video Pledge for the italki June 2015 Language Challenge” and paste the YouTube/Youku URL. We will immediately award you with 50ITC once you post your notebook entry and we verify the video! Just send us an email to support@italki.com and let us know your username so we can view the Notebook entry with the Public Video Pledge link! If youve signed up for The Challenge and you really want to finish, you should make the Public Video Pledge now!  Youll get paid for it and it will help you complete the Challenge! 2015 June Language Challengers- Make a Public Video Pledge and earn 50 ITC! So in the spirit of giving, were offering this bonus again to help you complete the Challenge! If youve signed up for the italki June 2015 Language Challenge, were giving away even more  ITC to motivate you to succeed!  Do you really want to complete the challenge?  Use peer pressure (in a good way) to help yourself achieve your language learning goal! Life Hacks research has shown that if you put yourself up to something by doing it in public, you follow through because others are watching. Things that you put on the Web have a better chance of getting done! BONUS 50ITC! Upload your Language Challenge Public Video Pledge Make a Public Video Pledge by uploading a video to YouTube or Youku before you begin your first session (or your first few sessions). What should you say in your Public Video Pledge? Youtube video: Youku video: Speak in your native language Tell us why you are taking The Challenge and what language you are learning Tell us what you will commit to (e.g. I promise to take at least 3 sessions a week) Tell us your Language Challenge Goal (e.g. Five minute conversation with a co-worker) Speak in the language you are learning Repeat the above in the language you are learning If you can’t say anything, or your language level is at a beginner level then try to say a few words you know in the language or just say you have no ability. Label the video: “(italki username)’s  italki June 2015 Language Challenge Public Pledge” The video should not be longer than 2 minutes in length. Write a Notebook Entry “I’ve made a Public Video Pledge for the italki June 2015 Language Challenge” and paste the YouTube/Youku URL. We will immediately award you with 50ITC once you post your notebook entry and we verify the video! Just send us an email to support@italki.com and let us know your username so we can view the Notebook entry with the Public Video Pledge link! If youve signed up for The Challenge and you really want to finish, you should make the Public Video Pledge now!  Youll get paid for it and it will help you complete the Challenge!