3 Crafts to Promote Literacy Skills This Summer

3 Crafts to Promote Literacy Skills This Summer Since summer is typically dedicated to rest and relaxation, improving your students literacy skills may not be on the forefront of your mind. The summer months, however, provide a unique opportunity to incorporate literacy skills into activities. Using crafts to promote literacy this summer can encourage your student to keep their mind active and sharp, while participating in fun and engaging activities. Crafts that encourage literacy skills include creating comic strips, incorporating theater activities, and designing menus. Looking to both engage your student and maintain the fun of the summer months? Keep reading to learn three crafts to promote literacy skills this summer: Summer literacy craft #1: comic strips A comic strip craft can be a great way to encourage literacy practice this summer. Read a favorite book together, and then have your child recreate the story in the form of a comic strip. This employs their visual skills and improves their comprehension skills as they translate what theyve read into their own version. You can also have your student create comics that extend the storyline of one of their favorite books or characters. Additionally, they can create their own stories altogether. Regardless, visit the local library or bookstore and have your child pick out examples of comics and graphic novels that will get them excited for reading and creating. [RELATED: How to Enhance Your Students Experience with Literature] Summer literacy craft #2: readers theater Readers theater is a performance technique in which actors read directly from the script, without memorizing lines. This is a great opportunity for your student to improve their fluency and vocabulary, while also having fun and utilizing their creative side. Essentially, the goal of this activity is to read the words of the story in the moment, using creative ways of acting out the dialogue. Your child can craft props and costumes out of everyday materials to further illustrate the story they will be telling. You can access scripts for free online, or you and your child can create your own. Acting out words and passages can help students further grasp vocabulary concepts they may have previously found difficult. [RELATED: 4 Tips to Prevent Summer Slide] Summer literacy craft #3: book design Young students can benefit from projects that involve writing and illustrating because it provides the opportunity to gain a firmer grasp of the meanings of everyday words in a creative and engaging way. There are a plethora of written materials your student can create, including: A menu for a pretend restaurant A newspaper of household events or happenings Encourage your child to be creative when it comes to selecting materials for this project. They may choose to create the illustrations from watercolors, paints, oil pastels, or a variety of other creative methods. If your child comes to you for help with a word, help them sound it outbut dont give them the answerin an effort to let them come to the correct conclusion on their own. [RELATED: How to Create a Summer Reading Program For You and Your Child] To help create a healthy balance of fun and learning for you and your family this summer, try these crafts focused around literacy skills. It can be a great benefit to teach your student how learning and creativity intertwine. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us atblog@varsitytutors.com.

Online Symmetric Property of Equality Tutors

Online Symmetric Property of Equality Tutors The Symmetric property of equality states that if first expression is equal to the second expression, then the second expression should also be equal to the first expression. Let a and b be any two expressions, then according to the symmetric property of equality, it can be stated as, if a = b, then b = a. This property is true because in an equation, the right side and the left side are equated, and hence it should be valid even if they are flipped around. Example 1: Show the symmetric property of equality for the given equation, 3x+ 2y= 5x+ y when x= 1 and y= 2. In order to prove the symmetric property of equality, lets take the right side and the left side expressions. Right side: 3x + 2y when x= 1, y= 2== (3* 1)+ (2* 2) = 3+ 4= 7 Left side: 5x+ y when x= 1, y= 2== (5* 1)+ 2= 5+ 2= 7. Since both the sides are equal, we can also say that 5x+ y = 3x+ 2y. Example 2: Show the symmetric property of equality for the given equation, 2x y = x+ 2y when x= 3 and y= 1. In order to prove the symmetric property of equality, lets take the right side and the left side expressions. Right side: 2x- y when x= 3, y= 1== (2* 3) 1= 6- 1= 5. Left side: x+ 2y when x= 3 and y= 1== 3+ (2*1) = 3+ 2= 5. Since both the sides are equal, we can also say that x+ 2y= 2x- y.

What is it Like to Attend Marist College

What is it Like to Attend Marist College Christina earned her bachelors degree in biomedical sciences from Marist College. She specializes in elementary math tutoring, chemistry tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at Marist College. Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Christina: The campus, located directly on the Hudson River, is one of the most beautiful in America. Its fairly small, with a lot of greenery and an amazing view from the majority of student housing and academic buildings. Students are often found relaxing or studying on campuswhether it be by the river, on a patio, or in the newly renovated library. Students walk to their classes from their dorms, and can reach any establishment on campus within ten minutes. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Christina:Professors host office hours multiple times a week and are very accommodating to their students needs. Advisers, too, are very accommodating and always available to meet and discuss whatever questions their students may have. Additionally, the science departments academic advisers host presentations about how to prepare for graduate schools in the health professions and how to prepare for a successful career post-graduation. How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Christina:The dining hall looks like Hogwarts from the Harry Potter movies. Its brand new and the food is great. Options include sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, and sushi, among other things. The freshman and sophomore dorms are close to the dining hall, one of which is directly connected to it. Marist is well known for the upperclassmen dorms, as they are huge and rated as one of the nicest in the country. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Christina:Marist has a very strong science program. I was enrolled in it as I prepared for medical school. Marist now has a physician assistant program and offers other graduate degrees in the health professions. All of my professors taught our classes, and most had a PhD. They were all very attentive and passionate about their field of study and excited to be teaching at the college. The fashion program is very strong and highly reputable at Marist, too. Most students graduate from the Marist fashion program employed and earning above average salaries. 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? Christina:Everyone makes friends in the dorms and through extracurricular activities. Greek life is present on campus, but very small. Most students opt not to become involved with it, as they are able to meet others who have things in common with them without doing so. How helpful are the Career Center and other student support services? Christina:I am not too sure about the Career Center, as I was always taking the initiative to seek employment in my related field on my own during school. From what I've seen through the opportunities my peers have been given, companies like KPMG, Morgan Stanley, IBM, and other respected businesses do recruit Marist students for internships and permanent positions. How are the various study areas, such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Christina:The library is the best place to study. Its three floors and has plenty of room for students to prepare for their courses. It also has quiet rooms, small meeting rooms for groups, and numerous computers available. Describe the surrounding town. Christina:Students mostly stay near campus. While there is a nightlife scene in the city of Poughkeepsie, most choose to only go to that area in large groups and on Friday and Saturday nights when establishments have their venues reserved for college students. The Culinary Institute of America is down the street from Marist. I would say this was one of my favorite parts of being in the area. The food is unbelievable, as is the food at many of the restaurants in Poughkeepsie and in the surrounding communities. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Christina:The student body was about 3,500 undergraduate students. My classes typically had anywhere from 10-20 people in them. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most. Christina:One of my most memorable experiences was when my general biology class had one of our lab sessions on a sailboat on the Hudson River. I probably would have never gotten the opportunity to sail if we had not done that. It was an experience Ill always remember. Check out Christinas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

50+ Inspiring Choir Songs From Every Genre

50+ Inspiring Choir Songs From Every Genre 50+ Choir Songs From Every Genre Jessica Dais There’s no better opportunity to practice all youve learned in singing lessons than in a choir. You can use choir rehearsals to work on proper vocal production and technique, while also learning to harmonize and sing with others. Plus, sometimes choruses provide solo opportunities which will help you gain audition experience, overcome performance anxiety, and showcase your hard work! Need some choral inspiration? Check out this list of over 50 choir songs in every genre! 50+ Choir Songs From Every Genre Large Choral Works Messiah by George Frideric Handel     Requiem in D Minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart The Creation by Joseph Haydn Magnificat in D Major by Johann Sebastian Bach Stabat Mater by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi Carmina Burana by Carl Orff Annelies by James Whitbourn Missa Solemnis by Ludwig van Beethoven Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi Symphony No. 8 by Gustav Mahler Early Music Choir Songs Hear My Prayer, O Lord by Henry Purcell   Come Sweet Death by Johann Sebastian Bach Ave Maris Stella by Guillaume Dufay Ave Maria by Josquin des Prez Ave Verum Corpus by William Byrd Et in terra pax hominibus by Antonio Vivaldi Contemporary Choir Songs Sleep by Eric Whitacre         Carmina mei cordis (Songs of my heart) by Abbie Betinis Evening Prayer by Ola Gjeilo O Nata Lux by Morten Lauridsen Ingrian Evenings by Veljo Tormis The Bridegroom by John Tavener Ubi Caritas by Maurice Durufle Gospel Spiritual Choir Songs Battle of Jericho arranged by Moses Hogan       Deep River arranged by Andre Thomas Ezekiel Saw the Wheel arranged by Mark Hayes Give Me Jesus arranged by Mark Patterson “My Lord, What a Mornin' arranged Harry T. Burleigh “Ride on King Jesus” arranged by Stacey V. Gibbs SEE ALSO: 4 Must-Read Choir Audition Tips Barbershop Choir Songs Aint Misbehavin' arranged by Marge Bailey       Smile arranged by Carolyn Schmidt Mister Sandman arranged by Bertha Bradley Georgia, On My Mind arranged by Mary K. Coffman My Romance arranged by Joey Minshall Let Me Call You Sweetheart arranged by June Berg Come Fly With Me arranged by Kevin Keller Sacred Hymn Choir Songs Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty arranged by Patti Drennan   How Great Thou Art arranged by Stuart K. Hine It Is Well With My Soul arranged by Rene Clausen His Eye Is on the Sparrow arranged by Mark Hayes Simple Gifts arranged by Lloyd Larson Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing arranged by David Schwoebel Amazing Grace arranged by Craig Courtney Popular A Cappella Choir Songs Royals arranged by Deke Sharon     Here Comes the Sun arranged by Kirby Shaw Hallelujah arranged by Deke Sharon Fix You arranged by ACappella-Songs.com Landslide arranged by Deke Sharon Titanium arranged by Deke Sharon Somebody to Love arranged by Deke Sharon Broadway Musical Choir Songs Seasons of Love arranged by Roger Emerson     Hello Dolly arranged by Kirby Shaw Climb Evry Mountain arranged by Ed Lojeski For Good arranged by Mac Huff Memory arranged by John Leavitt Singing in a choir is an excellent way to develop your voice to its fullest potential. Studies have even shown that singing in a choir helps relieve stress and decrease anxiety! Need help finding a choir to join? Thanks to the internet, finding a choir near you is easy. Simply search online for choirs or choruses in your town or state. Other resources include local American Choral Directors Association chapters, Choralnet.org, or a local choral consortia. Need Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Guest post by Tori Cook from Chorus Connection. Tori directs the Harborlight Show Chorus and acts as Section Leader in Chorus pro Musica in the Boston area.

Master Conditionals in 5 Days or Less!

Master Conditionals in 5 Days or Less! Trying to learn  all of the English conditionals at once can be a daunting (and confusing!) task.  So, I suggest splitting up  the following 5 mini lessons over 5 days.  That way, you can let your brain digest the information and maybe even  get a chance to use your new knowledge  in a conversation  that day.  If you need a native speaker to practice with, schedule a class with one of our friendly, professional English teachers!  So, well spend a day on each of the four conditional types, and then take  a quiz at the end.  Lets get started!Types of Conditionals:ConditionalUseIf clause (condition) Main clause (result)Zero                           General truth, imperativesPresent simplePresent simpleFirstReal and probable situationsPresent simpleFutureSecondUnreal, imaginary situationsPast simpleWould + verbThirdUnreal past situation and probable result in pastPast perfectWould have + past participleDAY 1: ZERO CONDITIONALIf/When + (subject) + (present simple), (subject) + (pres ent simple)If/When this thing happens, that thing happens.If/When + (subject) + (present simple), (imperative)If/When this thing happens, do thisUses:We use zero  conditional to talk aboutFacts: If water temperature goes  below 0 °C, it freezes.General truths:  When I take the train, I bring  a book.  Imperatives: If you see him, be nice.Good to know:For all of the conditionals, we can flip the sentences around by putting the main clause/result first and the if/when clause second.  Like this:(Subject) + (present simple) if/when (subject) + (present simple).  That thing happens if/when this thing happens.We can use both if and when for zero conditional, but if suggests that something happens less often.  For example, If she gets a day off from work, she spends time with her  son.  This gives the idea that she doesnt get many days off work.  On the other hand, when suggests that something happens more frequently.  For example, When I read a book, I dont listen to music.  This gives the idea that I read books frequently.Practice:  For each exercise, write your answers in the comments section.When he (have/has) time, he (cook/cooks) dinner for me.We (go/went) to yoga together when we (had/have) the same day off.I _____ (to ride) my bike to work when I ____ (to have) time.If she _____ (to go) to a friends house, she usually (not/to bring) drinks.____ (to read) the newspaper if there ___ (to be) nothing on TV.Great job!  Remember, the best way to learn is to practice, so try to use this grammar in a conversation today.  Maybe youll talk to someone about what you usually read  when you take the train.  Need a chance to practice English with an LOI instructor?  Schedule a conversation class today!DAY 2: FIRST CONDITIONALIf/When + (subject) + (present simple), (subject) +  will/(be) going to + (verb)If this thing happens, that thing will happen.When  this thing happens, that thing is going to happen.Uses:We use first conditional to talk aboutWhat you think will happen in a specific situation in the future: If the weather is nice, I will bike to work.When I have a day off work, Im going to visit my sister.Good to know:If and when can both be used in first conditional, but if suggests that youre not sure if something will happen or not.  For example, If it is sunny tomorrow, Ill wear  sunglasses.  We dont know what the weather will be like.    When suggests that you know this thing will happen at some point.  For example, When I see her, Ill give that to her.  You know you will see her at some point.Conditional modals:Could:  We could go swimming if its sunny tomorrow.Should:  If she asks you on a date, you should say yes.Might:  If she invites me to the party, I might go.Watch and listen:  Heres a quick, helpful video to clarify the uses of first and zero conditional.Practice:If we (went/go) to her house tonight, we (should take/should taken) a bottle of wine.Q: What are you going to do if it (snow/snows)?A: Im just (going to shovel/will shovel) the snow away.When you ____ (to call) me, I ____ ____ (to give) you my address.We ____ ___ (to hug) her if we ___ (to see) her.Excellent work with day 2!  Only 3 more to go.  Dont forget to practice this conditional in a conversation today.  Maybe you can talk with a colleague about what you will do in future scenarios at work.  Dont forget to schedule a conversation class with LOI if youd like to practice with a native speaker.DAY 3: SECOND CONDITIONALIf + (subject) (past simple), (subject) would + (verb)If this thing happened, that thing would happen.If + (subject) (past simple), (subject) + would be + (verb)ingIf this thing happened, that thing would be happening.Watch and learn:Uses:What we would generally do in imaginary situations: If I won the lottery, I would buy a vacation home.Good to know:We cant use when since were talking about  imaginary situations that probably wont happenIt is considered grammatically incorrect to use was, in this conditional.  For example:If he were rich, hed buy a car.If he were rich, hed be buying a car.Conditional modal verbs:Might: If he had time, he might be able to do it.Could: If I had a lot of money, I could  take us to the beach.Should: If she asked you to help, you should help her.Practice:  Fill in the gaps below. You’ll use a verb in the past simple for the first part, followed by a modal verb in the second part of the sentence.  (See Pauls full second conditional lesson here!)1. If you ___  more time, you ____ be able to study more English.2.  If you _____ more, you ____ be healthier.3. If I ___ more money, I ______ work so much.4. If you ____ more money, you ____ have to work so much.5. If he ____ a lot of English classes, his English _____ be great.Complete the sentences below.1. If I had a million dollars, _____________________.2. If you were smart, ____________________.3. ________________________, I would be happy.4. _________________________, I would travel the world.5. _________ ________________, I wouldn’t study English.Now, practice with Beyoncé:  (See the full lesson here!)If I were a boy I’d _______out of bed in the morning and go.If I were a boy _______ drink beer with the boys.If I were a boy I’d ______I could understand. (Note: could is the participle hear.)If I were a boy, I swear to you, I would ______ a better man.……______ listen to her.If I were a boy I’d ______off my phone.…____put myself first.Youve had lots of practice today.  Great work!  Remember to reinforce  all this new knowledge in a conversation sometime today!DAY 4: THIRD CONDITIONALIf + (subject) + (past perfect), (subject) + would have + (past participle)If this thing had happened, this thing would have happened.If (subject) + (past perfect), (subject) + would have been + (verb)ingIf this thing had happened, this thing would have been happening.Uses:Imaginary situations in the past:  If I had won the lottery last week, I would have bought a house.What you would have done differently:  If I had known better, I would have payed more attention in school.Good to know:Only use if to discuss imaginary situationsConditional modals:Could have:  I could have practiced Spanish if I had gone on the trip.Should have:  If I had had money, I should have gone to the concert.Might have:  If I had had time off work, I might have gone home for the holidays.Practice:If he had (had/has) more time, he (could have go/could have gone) to the gym.You (would have read/would had read) more as a child if you (hasnt/hadnt) played so many sports.If I ___ ______ (to work) harder, I _____ ____ ____ (to make) more money.We _______ ____ ____ (not/to do) it if we ___ ____ (to know) it would upset you.If you ___ _______ (to decide) to move to Europe, what city _____ you ____ ______ (to choose)?Awesome!  Youve almost completed the five day challenge.  For a little something extra today, try this 3rd conditionals  quiz!DAY 5: PUT IT ALL TOGETHER!Congratulations, youve made it to the fifth day!  Hopefully by now youre feeling pretty confident with all of the conditionals.  Today well put all that knowledge to the test with a quiz and yet another challenge.Quiz:If the weather is nice tomorrow, he  ____ ____ (to take) her out for a picnic.Im sorry, I didnt realize you were allergic to peanuts.  If I ___ _____ (to know), I _____ ____ ____ (to tell) you.  (If/When) I go out to lunch, I usually go to the Thai place down the street.If I ___ (to have) enough money, I _____ __ (to go) to Canada.  Unfortunately, I dont have any money!She doesnt like running, and she thinks its really boring.  (If/When) she goes running, it is a very short distance.Please ___ (to set) the table when the guests ______ (to arrive).We _____ __ ______ (to be laying) on the beach right now if we ____ (to be) still on holiday.My friend is always texting.  (If/When) she gets a text message, she writes back immediately.I love to go running!  When I ____ (to have) enough energy, I ___ (to run) in  the park.I really wanted to go running with my friend last night, but I was too tired.  If I ___ ___ (to have) enough energy, I _____ ____ ____ (to go) with her.A: Im sorry, I dont know what he got you for Christmas.  B:  _____ you  ____ (to tell) me if you ____ (to know)?Im not a man, but if I ____ (to be) a man, my name _____ __ (to be) Derrick.Its a shame Phil is not here.  If he ____ (to be) here, he _____ ____ (can/to cook) us something nice.If you ____ (to help) me carry these boxes, I ____ ___ (to buy) you a beer later.If you ___ (to eat) too much, you ___ (to get) sick.Dont forget  that singing is also a great way to remember grammar, learn new vocabulary and practice fluency.  So, review  all the conditionals with  these hit songs!If you just cant get enough of conditionals, dont worry, heres a bonus challenge for you.  Its a short video about how we mix our tenses  when using conditionals.  Watch it  and try the exercise below.  (Click here for Pa uls  full post).1. If you __________ (insulted) him yesterday, he _______ __ ____ to the wedding tomorrow. 2. If she __________ (accepts) the promotion, she ____ __ ____ to Brazil in 2015. (future using will) 3. I ________ ______ (speak) fluent Spanish, if I ____ lived in Spain for 10 years. 4. He _____ _____ ____ (left), if he ____ _____ (known) you were coming.

Listening Exercise Can you ride THIS bike

Listening Exercise Can you ride THIS bike Can you ride a bike? Most people can, but I bet you cant ride the bike in the video below. This video is of a fascinating brain experiment and listening exercise. We can learn a couple of things from this experience.1. You are never too old to learn something new, including a new language.2. It is easier to learn new things when we are younger, especially language!Watch the video below, then answer the questions. This is a great lesson to talk about abilities in the past and present.Answer the questions below in comments and well respond.What does its just like riding a bike mean?When did he first learn to ride a bike?Explain why this bicycle is different.Here he is ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Destin Sandlins first attempt at riding ___ bicycle.Why does he use the definite article in the sentence above? Click here for more information on articles.Could  you ride this bicycle? Why not?How long did he practice every day?How many months did it take him to learn to ride the bike?What facto rs made him wreck?How long did it take his son to ride the bike?How long did it take him to re-learn the new bike?The audience or crowd thought he was faking. T/FClick here to learn more about can for abilities.

How to Learn a Language at Home 9 Fun and Practical Activities

How to Learn a Language at Home 9 Fun and Practical Activities Where are you right now?At the instant that you’re reading this very statement, where are you on God’s green Earth?If you’re not on your coffee break, commuting or out at a cafe with friends, you’re at home.Well, let me guess something else  about you then.Unless you’re some transatlantic business superstar jet-setting around Europe, I’m gonna say that you’re at home a lot.Am I right?Home can be an apartment, a rented room, a bungalow or even a mansion. At the end of the day, we all come back to this place.  To rest. To eat. To watch TV. To play with the kids.Well, why not add one more thing to the list?How about we add: learn a new language.It might be hard to think of home as a place for productivity. But if people can earn a serious living by working from home or create a business out of thin air from home, don’t you think you can easily learn a new language there too? Plus, youll never even have to change out of your pajamas.Learning a language at home is so much easier than you think. Why Learning Languages at Home Is Much EasierIt’s cheap (if not free!)“Language courses are so expensive,” said the guy from the 1940s.Today,  information is transmitted at the speed of light  and at the price of air. Information has been so democratized that you wont even need to waste 2 whole minutes Googling about  free  language courses on the internet.  Yeah, you may still find it hard to believe, but there are a million ways to learn  French, German, Spanish, Italian and more for free online. Not to mention educational websites are doing it with huge smiles on their faces.You can find free  books, e-books, podcasts, videosâ€"all related to the language that you most badly want to learn.  And guess what, you can access all of it at home with the click of a mouse or a tap of the touchscreen.  So I suggest you find a better excuse than, “it’s too expensive,” because that’s not gonna fly in this day and age.No commute  necessaryAnother great thing about learning language at home is that you don’t have to wake to the irritating sound of your alarm clock, hurry your breakfast and rush out the door, only to join thousands of others stuck in  bumper-to-bumper traffic.By learning at home, you’re eliminating the commute. You’re not only saving time and money, you’re also saving yourself the headache caused by that  guy who cut you off. Why learn after 2 hours of commute when you can learn right now,  from the  comfort of your couch?You already have all the tools you needIve already mentioned your computer and your phone. Just these two can make a multilingual out of you, but lets have a good  look around your room. I see your pens, your paper and scissors.  Your headphones, your cooking utensils, your cable TV.  The books on your shelf, the songs in your playlist.Think about this for a moment. Everything that youll ever need to learn Spanish, German, French, or Mandarin Chinese already exists inside your home. Tons of materials in your home can be easily reappropriated for your language learning purposes. Later, we’ll find out exactly how.The internet brings the world to your desktopTo achieve full  language immersion, you used to need to buy a plane ticket, pack your bags and go live in a  country where they speak your language of interest. Then the pace of globalization quickened, bringing all diverse nationalities and languages to virtually  every  country.  Culture and language is constantly being shared online, and you can be a part of this.Today, you can welcome native speakers of any language on Earth to your living room while you’re having breakfast. You never have to step outside to be immersed in your language of choice. The world is in your home.Are you feeling it now?Are you starting to understand how easy home-based learning is?Are you getting to the point where you know you can do this?Good! Then before we get started with our at-home language learning activities, Im going to g ive you a few  tips to make this process even easier.The Keys to Learning Languages at HomeIncorporate learning in everything you doNotice that you naturally involve  your first language in everything you do.  You watch TV and youve got language filling your ears. Open the fridge and you’ll find yourself reading ingredients and expiration dates. The pizza guy comes and you say,  â€œthanks!” The phone rings andwell, you get what I mean.You’re incorporating language in everything you do at home. Language is an integral part of your life. So guess what you’ll need to do to acquire your target language?  Cmon, guess!You’re gonna have to  swap out your native language for your target language, as much a you possibly can.Change the language settings of your phone and other gadgets into French (or whatever your target language may be). It’ll definitely be weird at first, but you’ll get the hang of it soon enough.You can place sticky notes  on the objects you use every day and label them with their French names. So now, your cup will be labeled with the French “tasse.”You can even get a fun, color-coded Vocabulary Stickers set, which gives you over a hundred of the most common words in French (or whatever your target language is) for items youll find in your home and office.Rather than watching the same old programs, you can frequent the French channels on cable or pick out some great French movies with accompanying subtitles.Make your  second language a part of your daily existence and, one day in the near future, you’re gonna find yourself thinking in that language.Embrace the weirdness factorAdmittedly, learning languages at home, on your own, can feel a bit weird sometimes. Imagine having the objects at your house covered with yellow Post-Its as you open the door for some relatives who are going to stay for the weekend. Can you imagine how weird that’s going to look?Nevertheless, you’re going to  have to go through all these things.But here ’s the most important thing to remember: itll all be worth it! When you get to that tipping point where you can converse easily with a native speaker, you can leave behind those bedroom walls covered in  foreign scribblings (aka your “cheat sheet”), but never forget all that wonderful weirdness you started with!Fun is a must (and here’s why)Brain studies have shown that learning is facilitated by performing fun activities. The brain pays more attention to the lesson when its delivered in a novel and engaging way. In short, it’s memorable. Because of this, the lesson is saved in the long-term memory and is ready to be accessed at any moment. That’s when we can say that some effective learning actually happened.Now, the word fun is a broad concept. Fun can mean funny and hilarious. Fun can also mean engaging and challenging. Fun can even mean cuteâ€"as used in this article.In addition, fun can mean many different things for different people. Like, watching dogs can be fun, but not all cat-lovers would agree.  In the end, only you can decide whats fun for you.Pick and choose from the following nine activities. Whichever ones seem most fun and effective, those are the activities youve got to try at home!How to Learn a Language at Home: 9 Fun and Practical Activities1. Family Games with a TwistIf having fun makes for efficient learning, then playing games is a very important language learning tool. Truth is, there’s an infinite number of games one can play, limited only by your imagination. Let’s look at one game in particularâ€"charades, with a twist.Let’s say you want to  learn French. How are you going to incorporate that in this game?Simple. Do French charades! (Keep in mind, youre going to need a few friends for this one.)To play French charades, make a list of 20 common French verbs. Be sure to include key words like danser (dance), nager (swim) and sauter (jump). Write each of them on  a small sheet of paper  and have people draw from a hat or fish bowl. If youve got enough participants, you can play this with 2 teams.One team member draws from the bowl and acts out the word. The other member has 30 seconds to guess the verb. When time expires and the team member fails to give the correct answer, the other team can steal and give one  guess. Only one guess is allowed. If the other team guesses correctly, they get the point. Then the other team proceeds to take their turn drawing from the bowl and acting.This game is particularly effective if youre a kinesthetic and visual learner who remember words better with movement and picturesâ€"that is, you can recall sauter  better when you see your partner jumping or feel your own legs springing for a jump.2. Cooking and Eating Your Way to FluencyWho knew making your own meals could  have healthy linguistic consequences?Getting busy in the kitchen can teach you vocabulary. A big part of cultural identity is food and its preparation. If you open your mind to this, youll get to taste  language in its most flavorful form. But where will the language lessons come from?Cookbooks. Read recipes online or get a cookbook in print.  There, youll meet food-related Italian words like  pesce (fish), manzo (beef),  pollo (chicken), al dente (the correct degree to which pasta should be cooked) and  antipasto (appetizer).Food labels.  On labels you might  learn the French words arôme (flavoring), eau (water), sel (salt) and  oeuf (egg).Menus.  These provide Japanese words like  yaki (grilled), tori (chicken) and  yakitori (grilled chicken)Who knew? Going to the kitchen and taking a break from your language lessons can be a language lesson in and of itself!3. Entertain Yourself with FluentUs Authentic ContentFluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them.  And weve got something for eve ryone, with diverse content ranging from news features on Charlie Hebdo to documentaries on Nicaraguan boxing, cooking shows, trailers for The Hunger Games and Guardians of the Galaxy clipsâ€"all 100% authentic content made by and for native speakers of your target language.FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending vid eos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes  or  Google Play  store.The whole learning experience is  personalized to suit  your skill  level, learning style and personal interests based on the content youve been watching. Its the ideal balance of fun, immersion and active learning!4. Foreign Language Bedtime StoriesWhen you were a kid, you probably went  through dozens of children’s books. From Goldilocks to Little Red Riding Hood, you stared at the colorful pictures for hours almost ignoring that there were lines of text on the page.You’re going to do that again, but this time using foreign language children’s books. You’re going to read and savor every word as if they belonged to  the original 10 Commandments written in tablets of stone.You’ll still look at the colorful pictures, but the real purpose here is to absorb sentence structure. Children’s books are written with basic sentence structure that all  second  language learners would do well to spend time with.There’s no shame in an adult tucking himself or herself in with a foreign language bedtime story. Hey, nobody’s looking!5. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner!You may be home alone, but that doesnt mean that you have to slug it out solo.Open your house to friends and acquaintances who speak your target language. If you dont have any, go to language clubs and cultural organizations to make new friends who fit the bill.  Invite them for dinner or a coffee. Youll learn much more from a native speaker than anywhere else.Native speakers can give you insights into the language and culture you’re interested in. They have firsthand experience. They know the do’s and don’t’s. They know what it’s like to be on the other side of the fence, too.Don’t be surprised if you’re getting more than a language lesson over dinner. You’ll get to hear great stories from their home country, little-k nown facts about their culture and tips on  linguistic  nuances that  only come from knowing the language in the real world.6. Wall of KnowledgeThis one is a vocabulary builder in the guise of a scrapbook-on-a-wall.Are your walls bare? Are they showing the same boring pictures for the last decade?  Why don’t you make them useful by turning them into a giant scrapbook or language cheat sheet?Be creative. Get your pens, scissors, glue, tape, paints and magazine pictures ready. You’re about to make a beautiful mess out of this space.Place pictures of the vocabulary words that you want to remember. Write grammatical rules on your wall. Go ahead, don’t be shy. For Spanish, you might write, “El is masculine. La is feminine.” Place a picture of your favorite Spanish actress. And below it write a list of adjectives that describes her: bella dama (beautiful lady), buena actriz (good actress), de buen corazon (kind-hearted).You get the idea? Do everything you can so that your days will be spent staring at a creatively-used wall. This will keep the language in the forefront of your mind, whether you like it or not!7. Multitasking in Your Target LanguageYou’re gonna be doing other things at home, right? You could be doing aerobics exercises or cleaning your car. Why don’t you incorporate language into these affairs?Exercise body and brain. You could be doing you usual aerobics in Italian, for example. Get some Italian aerobics tapes or find videos on YouTube. Instead of counting one, two, three, you’ll be puffing uno, due, tre. Instead of moving  left and right, you’d go sinistra and destra.  The added advantage of this is that, because you’re using new words  in a specific  context, youll find the words easier to remember.Keep your target language in the background.  While cleaning your car or cooking, listen to language lessons or podcasts. This way, youre hitting two birds with one stone. If you could listen to lessons that talks about what you’r e doing at the present (like cooking), then so much the better.Multitasking and incorporating your target language frees you from the excuse of being “too busy” for a second language.8. Teaching Sparky a New TongueYep, you read that one right. You may have taught your best friend a few  dog tricks already, but when it comes to learning a new language he has one more trick to show you. Let me explain.Do  you remember how many times you had to repeat command words when you first taught Sparky to  do things like  fetch or roll over? It took many repetitions before he even noticed that you wanted him to do something.At first he just looked at you cluelessly. Then at the 10th or the 15th time you mentioned the word fetch, he noticed that you had the habit of throwing the ball. Then on the 20th or 30th time, he observed that you wanted the ball back. Then around the 35th time, he started playing the game and began fetching the ball.  Guess how many times you  had to say fetch.A lot! I f you connect this with Psychology studies that point to repetition  as one of the main accelerators of learning, youll start to appreciate shouting fetch to Sparky in a foreign language.So for example, you can repeatedly tell him “habla” (speak in Spanish). Dogs learn commands in other languages very quickly, and hell be speaking Spanish too before you know it.  Cool, huh?9. Word-of-the-day LotteryThis one will ensure that you learn a new word every day.Let’s say you want to  learn German. Track down a handful of new German words youd like to learn.  Write one word per piece of paper, including its translation, pronunciation, part of speech and sample use in a sentenceâ€"basically, a dictionary entry.Pick common nouns, verbs, adjectives and prepositions that you need to know. Your pool might contain: stehen (stand), laut (loud), bekloppt (crazy) and  auf (on). Keep these little papers in a bowl near your bed.Every morning when you wake up, pick from the set. That lucky word w ill be the  one  youll practice all day long.  Use it in conversations with dogs, Facebook chats and comments, in your journal, etc. Use it 15  times at least!This repetition will store the word in your long term memory. For more effective results, incorporate past words-of-the-day in your activities so you can keep everything fresh in your mind.Before long, youll  find yourself holding a formidable vocabulary list in your brain!Soam I right or am I right?Learning a language at home is not only possible, its fun and easy!

Preparing your child for A-levels

Preparing your child for A-levels With competition for university places getting steeper, the pressure on A-level students is more intense than ever before. So how can you prepare your child for sixth form without stressing them out? Here are a few of our top tips: 1. Your child may have mixed feelings about their A-levels before they've even started them. Assure your child that with the right discipline, they have as much chance as anybody else of attending a good university. 2. Unfortunately sixth form coincides with a very busy social time for teenagers. Explain to your child that if they do well in their A-levels they can socialise all they want at university. It's worth keeping social activities to a sensible minimum for two years to secure a bright future. 3. Check that your child is happy with their choice of A-level subjects and that their choices are accepted by their target universities. The top institutions are very fussy about what they accept. If they're not happy, they must tackle this and change subjects as early on as possible. Better to change and do some catching-up than to suffer later on. 4. Make sure that your child feels organised, happy and on top of things generally. Check in with them on a regular basis and reassure them that they can discuss any problems or issues with you - you're there to help. 5. Encourage your child to supplement their studies with some well-chosen activities. Not only will these help to refresh and recharge their brains, but they'll also look good on their UCAS forms. It's often these activities which help candidates to stand out. Visiting old people's homes, learning an instrument and taking the Duke of Edinburgh awards are good examples.