Friday, March 27, 2020

A Great Program For College Is GED-Tutoring

A Great Program For College Is GED-TutoringThe program that Steven Hennager, the current college president of Stevens Henager College, believes in has changed many people's lives. The program is called GED-Tutoring.There are two main types of GED tutors. One works with students from birth to graduation, allowing them to choose their own schedule as needed. The other, known as a Parent Teacher Association (PTA), works with students during their school career to make sure they get every opportunity to complete the program. Those who opt for GED tutoring offer the greatest education to their students.Students in GED tutoring find that their parents and siblings are also getting out of high school and attend college. While this is generally welcomed, some are still a little apprehensive about the GED. That is why GED-Tutoring provides the opportunity for those students who want to take advantage of the opportunity of college, without the huge cost. They can do it for very little money an d get the chance to see how much time and money it will save them. Although the GED is not meant to be a traditional diploma, it does provide a unique way to show people how much education they have earned.It is true that the program is very low cost. The cost is less than what a private school would charge to a student. Additionally, if you take away one of the three items that this program gives students, the cost would be even lower.The reason this program is so valuable is because of the teachers who work with these students. Unlike private tutors, who may not be college educated themselves, the GED tutors are usually graduates of higher learning institutions who have received training in the ways of teaching GED students. This means that the students are provided a very clear idea of what to expect from the class, and they understand why the teachers are teaching them the way they are. That is the main reason these classes are held. The curriculum is such that the students will need a lot of patience in order to finish the course. The teacher will give enough information in order for the students to understand how much they have learned.Another great thing about the program is that the students are going to be encouraged to participate in activities that they enjoy doing outside of the classroom. Some people say that this is one of the reasons why this program has so many students. If you are looking for something that will help you with your college application, the GED tutoring program is the one to go for. You are most likely going to get more out of this program than the traditional diploma.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Heart Math Tutoring Thanks Charlotte-Area Media - Heart Math Tutoring

Heart Math Tutoring Thanks Charlotte-Area Media - Heart Math Tutoring Heart Math Tutoring Thanks Charlotte-Area Media Heart Math Tutoring Thanks Charlotte-Area Media September 16, 2016 As part of our volunteer recruitment drive to secure volunteer tutors to serve 600 students during the 2016/17 school year, we have been busy spreading the word. We are very grateful to our Charlotte-area media for helping raise awareness about Heart and our recruitment drive for volunteer tutors! The following are media outlets and links where we have made recent appearances. Happy watching! • WCNC “Charlotte Today” • FOX 46 Charlotte “Good Day” • Time Warner Cable News Charlotte “In Depth” • WBTV • Bounce TV on WBTV • WCCB “Wilson’s World” • CharlotteFive • The Charlotte Observer/South Charlotte News For more information about becoming a Heart tutor, call 704-931-3209 or email eaton. To sign up online, visit http://hearttutoring.org/volunteers/become-a-volunteer/.

Positive ACT Changes for ADHD Students

Positive ACT Changes for ADHD Students Standardized tests like the ACT can be extremely challenging for students with ADHD. The exams are long, requiring a level of sustained focus that is difficult for many students with ADHD to achieve. These are also not forgiving of careless mistakes, which are a hallmark symptom of ADHD. And they require students to perform well across multiple subject areas, which can be stressful for students with ADHD, who often have marked strengths and weaknesses. Changes to the ACT, coming in September 2020, may help students with ADHD better manage some of these test-taking challenges. While the content of the ACT will remain the same (with English, math, reading, science, and writing sections), students will have the option to retake individual sections of the exam without having to retake the entire test. The first time they take the ACT, all students will still be required to complete the exam in its entirety. But with section retesting, any time they retake the exam, they can choose which sections they want to complete. This can mean completing only one section during a testing session, or two or three sections if they prefer. So, if a student scores well on the English and reading sections and poorly on the math and science sections, for example, they can be more focused in their study efforts and retake only the math and science portions of the exam. For students with ADHD, who tend to have less predictable test performance, this means that they will not need to worry about putting their stronger section scores (like English and reading, in our example) in jeopardy when they retake the exam. Theres no limit on how many times a student can retake sections of the exam, but there are of course fees that apply, and the cost of multiple retakes can add up. When reporting scores to colleges, students will have the option of selecting their highest individual section scores along with an ACT Superscore, which is a composite score that reflects the average of the four best subject scores from each of the test attempts. So, colleges will have no indication of how many times a student completed each section. A more minor change to the test will also help students with ADHD who may need to retake a section more than once. Students who take the computer-based version of the test will receive their score within just two days. With this quick turn-around, students will know which sections to focus on during the retest and can study and retake the sections fairly quickly, leaving enough time for an additional retake if its needed. Standardized testing is stressful for all students, and it is especially stressful for students with ADHD. The upcoming changes to the ACT wont eliminate all the stress, but they will help students with ADHD overcome some of the unique challenges that come with taking college admissions exams. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Online Language Tutoring The Groundbreaking Solution to Your Learning Woes

Online Language Tutoring The Groundbreaking Solution to Your Learning Woes So you say I should go out and  find a language tutor, huh?Someone who I can meet up with for valuable face-to-face learning?  Oh, no thank you. Ill stay right where I am, curled up on the couch with a steaming cup of coffee.But then the guilt wells up.Ohhh, how long will it take before Im fluent at this rate? I certainly wont be a bilingual casanova anytime soonThats when it hits me. I  can have it all. I  can  get language lessons and be lazy at the same time.Its time for some mindblowing online language learning. Boot up the computer. Open the web browser. A little searching and then, yes!Online language tutoring. A cure for what ails me. And whatever may afflict you as well. For the world of online language tutoring is both broad and deep, and whatever goals you may be seeking in your language learning, youre likely to reach them there.But this is a new field for many of us. Naturally, we feel skeptical, and a multitude of questions arise whenever were approached with something n ew.Lets have a close look at just what this world of online language tutoring is all about, and see for ourselves that its an invaluable tool worth a small investment of our time. Why Choose Online Language Tutoring?Now the first question that springs to mind is why choose online language tutoring at all? What advantages could it possibly have over the time-tested, one-on-one, in-person language tutoring sessions that have existed since time immemorial?One answer to this question has already been given: Location, location, location. You can meet anywhere you like and, moreover, whenever you like. It has the convenience factor. Not only does this mean that you can have your tutoring sessions while wearing your leopard print sweatpants, it means that youll be able to save some serious time by avoiding commutes back and forth from a physical classroom.If thats not enough, how about saving a good chunk of change?  Online language tutors can be significantly cheaper than in-person tuto rs. Since they also can avoid commutes, are often self-employed and may be living in a country where the cost of living is much lower, online tutors are able to charge significantly less and often make just as good of a living as they would through traditional in-person tutoring.And of course theres perhaps the most important advantage of online tutoring: availability. Whether youre trying to learn an obscure language that has few tutors anywhere or whether youre living in a small town in the rural Midwest with an extreme dearth of foreign language speakers, online language tutoring makes possible that which would otherwise be impossible. Anyone with a decent connection willing to shell out a bit of cash can now fulfill language learning dreams regardless of physical location.How Can I Identify a Good Online Language Tutor?Unfortunately, the Internet is rife with bad deals, if you havent learned that yet from the talking moose in the popup window asking for your credit card number. So obviously were going to need some clear and hard criteria to ensure were getting our moneys worth.FlexibilityFirst off,  your tutor should be willing and capable of tailoring their lessons to your needs and interests.For beginners, this perhaps is not so important. Everyone starts out needing to learn the basics, and your conversation topics will probably be constrained to food, colors, introductions and other fundamental building blocks.But at higher levels, a tutor should be able to properly assess your weak points, as well as focus on any points you wish to improve upon, and continually present fresh lesson topics rather than hashing out 50 lesson plans around ordering in a restaurant when youre already an advanced speaker.InteractionNext on the criteria list is interaction, which is one of the most important criteria because its the thing most often complained about with online language lessons.Good teacher-student interaction and interaction between the student and online me dia leads to greater, higher-order critical inquiry skills.Interaction is all about having tasks that motivate a learner to use their language skills. This could be role-playing a real-life situation with your tutor or posting a video project on YouTube around some specific goal. Whatever gets you to interact with the language in a new way.Resource knowledgeThe third and final criteria is how well the teacher helps you to find new resources. While this may not be hugely important for advanced students, students new to language learning often cant tell which resources would be helpful for learning their target language. This is a fairly easy and straightforward service that any tutor worth their salt should be able to provide.Where Do I Find Tutors?Now that we know what qualities we should be looking for, the question arises as to where exactly these people can be found.Most people will probably find that Verbling satisfies most if not all of their demands. It seems to outstrip any o ther online teaching platform in its popularity, and it may well offer access to the most professional teachers and the most languages of all the online teaching sites.You’ll be able to explore hundreds upon hundreds of online language teachers and find exactly the one who’s right for you. When you search, you’ll get to search based on prices, availability and even the other languages they speakâ€"so if your native language is Chinese or German, you can find a teacher to instruct you in that language. Plus, the technology here makes accessing tutoring sessions extra smooth! You don’t need Skype or another third-party program. It’s all here!WyzAnt is an incredible resource for locating stellar language teachers near you. This site is professional and polished, and it features well-educated and well-qualified tutors in your local area. Follow this link to see whos available close to home.italki is a well-designed website for finding tutors and casual language exchange partne rs, equipped with easy-to-use features such as a calendar converter for figuring out schedules (a huge time-saver for tutors and students separated by time zones).But How Do I Find the Right Tutor for Me?Finally, we reach the most concrete of decisions. Who, when it finally comes down to it, will be the person staring me down from the other side of the screen on a weekly basisand will they be nice to me?Thankfully, most sites offer a rating system for the teachers with a comments section, and some sites,  such as italki, even separate the teachers  with certification from those without so that you can be sure of who has what experience.Remember to look out for the hallmarks of a quality teacher that we talked about above when trawling through those comments and teacher profiles:tailor-made lessonsa high level of interactivitya wealth of knowledge concerning learning resourcesWhile that last one probably isnt talked about too much, the other two at least are probably common sense to most individuals and are likely to be major points of praise or criticism for each teacher.But when it comes down to it, were all individuals and we click with people in different ways. A teacher I might have great respect for could very well bore you to death.Naturally then, its best not to stop at one or even two different tutors. Rather, pick out a handful you like and try each of them out, even if you think you really like the tutor you have your first session with. By having several different teachers, youll be able to see each of their strengths and weaknesses before you whittle down to your final selection.So, How Effective Is Online Tutoring?This is all very wonderful, you say, but is it really worth my time and money? It may be cheap, convenient and adaptable, but am I going to learn anything?The answer to this question is quite simple: yes. But just as with the traditional learning methods, online language tutors are a tool, and your success with them depends on how much e ffort you, as a learner, put in.So go take a look and start breaking ground on your new online tutoring experience.Then youll be lounging inside with a beverage and a comfortable chair, and of course with your new online friend who hopes to have you fluent within a few months.

Thanksgiving Day Are You Ready For an Annual Food Coma

Thanksgiving Day Are You Ready For an Annual Food Coma Thanksgiving Day, currently celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, is a joyous festival when families and friends get together for a special meal. Similar celebrations are also observed in Canada, Liberia, Norfolk Island, Puerto Rico and several other countries. Today, Thanksgiving is a preliminarily secular holiday but it has deep religious and cultural roots, longstanding traditions and a sometimes dim history. The history of this holiday in North America descends from traditions of Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving which were carried by Pilgrims and Puritans who started emigrating from England in the 1620s and 1630s. In the United States, the origins of the modern Thanksgiving Day are usually traced to the harvest celebration that the Pilgrims held in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. There are also claims that the first Thanksgiving Day was held in the city of El Paso, Texas in 1598; in the Virginia Colony in 1619; and in Saint Augustine, Florida in 1565. These early Thanksgivings took the form of special church ceremonies, rather than a feast and the practice of holding annual harvest festivals did not become regular in the United States until the late 1660s. Thanksgiving Day was held on various dates throughout history, the date also varied from state to state. In the beginning of the 19th century the final Thursday in November became the conventional date in most U.S. states. In 1863 president Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held on Thursday, November 26, Thanksgiving Day had become an official holiday and was first celebrated on the same day by all states. Lincoln proclaimed the date to be the final Thursday in November in an attempt to foster a sense of American unity between the Northern and Southern states. However, because of ongoing Civil War the tradition of a nationwide Thanksgiving celebration did not totally take effect until Reconstruction was completed in the 1870s. President Franklin D. Roosevelt broke with the tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving on the final Thursday in November. The country was in the midst of The Great Depression and Roosevelt hoped that the earlier Thanksgiving could give the U.S. economy a boost by providing merchants a longer period to sell goods before Christmas. On December 26, 1941 by federal legislation the unified date was fixed as the fourth Thursday in November. At present Thanksgiving is one of the major holidays of the year in the U.S. Some of the modern Thanksgiving traditions are inherited from the first celebrations of this holiday, others were cultivated in later times. The holiday has lost much of its original religious significance but like then, it is celebrated with a huge feast. The Thanksgiving dinner, with a roasted or baked turkey as a center item, is an integral part of this day. Turkey has become a symbol of the holiday. Other traditional Thanksgiving meals include pumpkin pie, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce and various vegetables. Thanksgiving was established as a religious holiday of giving thanks to God and this tradition is continued today in various forms. In many families Thanksgiving dinner is preceded by a special prayer of thanks. For irreligious people Thanksgiving Day is a good time to express gratitude to relatives, friends and dear ones for their love support. A four-day weekend, feasting with friend s and family, parades, festivals and football complete the concept of Thanksgiving day as one of the most delightful and fascinating holidays. “I have become very fond about this day; Coming from Germany to study at UC Santa Barbara, Thanksgiving is was initially a new Holiday for me. I was invited by Judy my former landlady to celebrate with her family and many international UCSB students. She served roasted Turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing and vegetables on a beautiful decorated table. My favorite part was her New York style cheesecake with ice cream. After the dinner and conversation we played games in the yard and drank more California-made Cabernet wine.” recalls Dirk Wagner, CEO of TutorZ.com. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for confidence in our company and for using our service for your educational and job search needs. TutorZ’ team wishes all tutors and students a Happy and Joyful Thanksgiving Day! Sincerely, The Tutorz.com Team Email: contact@tutorz.com Phone: (805) 288-7338 Thanksgiving Day Are You Ready For an Annual Food Coma Thanksgiving Day, currently celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, is a joyous festival when families and friends get together for a special meal. Similar celebrations are also observed in Canada, Liberia, Norfolk Island, Puerto Rico and several other countries. Today, Thanksgiving is a preliminarily secular holiday but it has deep religious and cultural roots, longstanding traditions and a sometimes dim history. The history of this holiday in North America descends from traditions of Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving which were carried by Pilgrims and Puritans who started emigrating from England in the 1620s and 1630s. In the United States, the origins of the modern Thanksgiving Day are usually traced to the harvest celebration that the Pilgrims held in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. There are also claims that the first Thanksgiving Day was held in the city of El Paso, Texas in 1598; in the Virginia Colony in 1619; and in Saint Augustine, Florida in 1565. These early Thanksgivings took the form of special church ceremonies, rather than a feast and the practice of holding annual harvest festivals did not become regular in the United States until the late 1660s. Thanksgiving Day was held on various dates throughout history, the date also varied from state to state. In the beginning of the 19th century the final Thursday in November became the conventional date in most U.S. states. In 1863 president Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held on Thursday, November 26, Thanksgiving Day had become an official holiday and was first celebrated on the same day by all states. Lincoln proclaimed the date to be the final Thursday in November in an attempt to foster a sense of American unity between the Northern and Southern states. However, because of ongoing Civil War the tradition of a nationwide Thanksgiving celebration did not totally take effect until Reconstruction was completed in the 1870s. President Franklin D. Roosevelt broke with the tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving on the final Thursday in November. The country was in the midst of The Great Depression and Roosevelt hoped that the earlier Thanksgiving could give the U.S. economy a boost by providing merchants a longer period to sell goods before Christmas. On December 26, 1941 by federal legislation the unified date was fixed as the fourth Thursday in November. At present Thanksgiving is one of the major holidays of the year in the U.S. Some of the modern Thanksgiving traditions are inherited from the first celebrations of this holiday, others were cultivated in later times. The holiday has lost much of its original religious significance but like then, it is celebrated with a huge feast. The Thanksgiving dinner, with a roasted or baked turkey as a center item, is an integral part of this day. Turkey has become a symbol of the holiday. Other traditional Thanksgiving meals include pumpkin pie, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce and various vegetables. Thanksgiving was established as a religious holiday of giving thanks to God and this tradition is continued today in various forms. In many families Thanksgiving dinner is preceded by a special prayer of thanks. For irreligious people Thanksgiving Day is a good time to express gratitude to relatives, friends and dear ones for their love support. A four-day weekend, feasting with friend s and family, parades, festivals and football complete the concept of Thanksgiving day as one of the most delightful and fascinating holidays. “I have become very fond about this day; Coming from Germany to study at UC Santa Barbara, Thanksgiving is was initially a new Holiday for me. I was invited by Judy my former landlady to celebrate with her family and many international UCSB students. She served roasted Turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing and vegetables on a beautiful decorated table. My favorite part was her New York style cheesecake with ice cream. After the dinner and conversation we played games in the yard and drank more California-made Cabernet wine.” recalls Dirk Wagner, CEO of TutorZ.com. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for confidence in our company and for using our service for your educational and job search needs. TutorZ’ team wishes all tutors and students a Happy and Joyful Thanksgiving Day! Sincerely, The Tutorz.com Team Email: contact@tutorz.com Phone: (805) 288-7338 Thanksgiving Day Are You Ready For an Annual Food Coma Thanksgiving Day, currently celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, is a joyous festival when families and friends get together for a special meal. Similar celebrations are also observed in Canada, Liberia, Norfolk Island, Puerto Rico and several other countries. Today, Thanksgiving is a preliminarily secular holiday but it has deep religious and cultural roots, longstanding traditions and a sometimes dim history. The history of this holiday in North America descends from traditions of Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving which were carried by Pilgrims and Puritans who started emigrating from England in the 1620s and 1630s. In the United States, the origins of the modern Thanksgiving Day are usually traced to the harvest celebration that the Pilgrims held in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. There are also claims that the first Thanksgiving Day was held in the city of El Paso, Texas in 1598; in the Virginia Colony in 1619; and in Saint Augustine, Florida in 1565. These early Thanksgivings took the form of special church ceremonies, rather than a feast and the practice of holding annual harvest festivals did not become regular in the United States until the late 1660s. Thanksgiving Day was held on various dates throughout history, the date also varied from state to state. In the beginning of the 19th century the final Thursday in November became the conventional date in most U.S. states. In 1863 president Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held on Thursday, November 26, Thanksgiving Day had become an official holiday and was first celebrated on the same day by all states. Lincoln proclaimed the date to be the final Thursday in November in an attempt to foster a sense of American unity between the Northern and Southern states. However, because of ongoing Civil War the tradition of a nationwide Thanksgiving celebration did not totally take effect until Reconstruction was completed in the 1870s. President Franklin D. Roosevelt broke with the tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving on the final Thursday in November. The country was in the midst of The Great Depression and Roosevelt hoped that the earlier Thanksgiving could give the U.S. economy a boost by providing merchants a longer period to sell goods before Christmas. On December 26, 1941 by federal legislation the unified date was fixed as the fourth Thursday in November. At present Thanksgiving is one of the major holidays of the year in the U.S. Some of the modern Thanksgiving traditions are inherited from the first celebrations of this holiday, others were cultivated in later times. The holiday has lost much of its original religious significance but like then, it is celebrated with a huge feast. The Thanksgiving dinner, with a roasted or baked turkey as a center item, is an integral part of this day. Turkey has become a symbol of the holiday. Other traditional Thanksgiving meals include pumpkin pie, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce and various vegetables. Thanksgiving was established as a religious holiday of giving thanks to God and this tradition is continued today in various forms. In many families Thanksgiving dinner is preceded by a special prayer of thanks. For irreligious people Thanksgiving Day is a good time to express gratitude to relatives, friends and dear ones for their love support. A four-day weekend, feasting with friend s and family, parades, festivals and football complete the concept of Thanksgiving day as one of the most delightful and fascinating holidays. “I have become very fond about this day; Coming from Germany to study at UC Santa Barbara, Thanksgiving is was initially a new Holiday for me. I was invited by Judy my former landlady to celebrate with her family and many international UCSB students. She served roasted Turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing and vegetables on a beautiful decorated table. My favorite part was her New York style cheesecake with ice cream. After the dinner and conversation we played games in the yard and drank more California-made Cabernet wine.” recalls Dirk Wagner, CEO of TutorZ.com. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for confidence in our company and for using our service for your educational and job search needs. TutorZ’ team wishes all tutors and students a Happy and Joyful Thanksgiving Day! Sincerely, The Tutorz.com Team Email: contact@tutorz.com Phone: (805) 288-7338

Private Santa Ana Tutor Help Your Kid Stay On Top Academically

Private Santa Ana Tutor Help Your Kid Stay On Top Academically Tips from a Private Santa Ana Tutor: Help Your Kid Stay On Top Academically Through a Transition All kids go through phases and come out the other end okay. However, it can be difficult to maintain good academic habits so that students dont have to do too much catching up once they get through their transition. They might be five years old and learning how to make proper use of the word no, or they might be enduring the transition from 8th to 9th grade. Regardless of their current age level, there are lots of ways to help kids stay on top of the game academically through these normal childhood transitions help your kid stay on top of their academics with the help of a private Santa Ana tutor. 1. Patience Patience is one of the best ways to help kids endure a transition but maintain good grades. Students will go through phases where their behavior is less than stellar, or their concentration seems to disappear. Its mostly important for parents to see some improvement even if the progress is relatively slow. Its more important that students are doing better today than they were doing three months ago than to receive an excellent grade on a specific assignment. Of course, this amount of patience is easier said than done but it’s a key to success. 2.   Small improvements mean success Its also important to look at small improvements when determining levels of success. If a student starts organizing their school binder to prioritize assignments or if they sit down and do their homework without being prompted, for example, they are definitely on their way to a better school experience. What seems like a small achievement to an adult might be an immense change for a student going through the transitions that occur in middle school, so its important to celebrate them and acknowledge their importance. 3.   Balance A proper balance is another thing that can help kids stay on top of their schoolwork if theyre going through a phase. If they feel like theyre coming home to several hours of homework, students are not likely to get motivated under any circumstance. They may need to have scheduled breaks so they dont feel overwhelmed or they might want to have something fun to look forward to on Friday after school. Once students learn how to study efficiently, this balance will occur a lot more quickly (READ: Tips from an Irvine Language Arts tutor: Ace Your Language Arts Final). 4.   Perseverance when it comes to the important things Although rest are part of an overall well-balanced academic life, sometimes students just have to push through even if theyre going through a phase or transition that makes studying difficult. College applications have strict due dates, and standardized tests are held regardless of how prepared a student is. For younger students, learning how to read is often the thing that holds them back but, they have to push through and master the skill. A student might need to work with their classroom teacher or have a private tutor come to the home to help them out. Perseverance is one of the best skills kids can learn for both school and life in general. 5.   Academic support Sometimes, kids just need to have some extra academic support to help them be successful throughout their transition. A second-grader who is starting to have trouble concentrate might need to work with a tutor to help them learn how to organize for a few weeks here and there while a college prep student might need extended help outlining essays and studying for entrance exams. Its hard for kids of any age to deal with lifes changes all by themselves and its important to know when its time to call for extra help. Our private Santa Ana tutors are here to help with any academic transition! All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

How Foreign Language Magazines Can Be Your Key to Learning

How Foreign Language Magazines Can Be Your Key to Learning How Foreign Language Magazines Can Be Your Key to Learning Imagine this: outdoors, sunshine, cup of coffee and a magazine.That could be your new study routine.I love magazines.When you have lofty language learning goals, you need to give yourself a break from time to time.Magazines  win every time, giving us learners a refuge  from  the formality of textbooks, length of novels and challenging language of newspapers.They let you  study from anywhere, even from your cozy bed or a sunny hammock, and youll definitely be having fun while learning.Theres nothing I enjoy more than relaxing with a crisp new magazine in my lap (or on my Nook!).In fact, it was through reading magazines that I was able to learn French.Thats how I discovered that magazines are a great way to learn languages!Scroll down, and Ill share with you how I used magazines as a powerful tool to improve my language skillsâ€"and how you can too! How Foreign Language Magazines Can Be Your Key to LearningThere are tons of different language learning resources out there for modern l earners, so why are magazines so special? Lets take a look at what makes magazines uniquely effective for learning languages.Why, of All Things, Magazines?Magazines are interesting!  Textbooksâ€"especially foreign language textbooksâ€"can be  boring or feel too formal. Magazines just are never boring or formal. Theyre written for mass consumption, and magazines tend to publish only the most fascinating content. Plus, there are so many magazines out there that they cover an enormous variety of subjects.  And because theyre written in a style to appeal to a mass audience, youll often find that the content is easy to digest.Images help you learn.  This isnt my opinion, but rather a fact. Remember when you were a child and loved childrens booksâ€"those wonderful, colorful books with brilliant covers and thick pages filled with beautiful artwork? Well, magazines are just the adult versions of childrens books. Theyre filled with images: photos, artwork, graphs, charts, you name it!Science actually shows this is true. Children learn language through images. This can work just as well for adult langauge learners, and what better place to find images than a colorful magazine?Youll often find that you can understand the gist of an article just by looking at the images. My tip: Focus on the images and their captions, and try to piece together what they mean without touching your dictionary.Magazine content will teach you about culture.If youre like most people, youre not just learning a language cause you have a fascination with grammar. Youre probably interested in the cultures and societies connected to that language. Perhaps you dream of ordering bread at an authentic French boulangerie, or maybe you want to what theyre really saying in your favorite Japanese anime show (we all know the subtitles arent telling the whole truth!).Magazines allow you to learn language and culture at the same time. Digest some knowledge about French gastronomie while reading cooking magaz ines, or devour manga  to  improve your Japanese. Theres a multitude of ways that you can discover more about culture through magazines!How Any Language Learner Can Use EmNow, I know what youre about to ask  me. I dont speak the language Im learning that well. How can I pick up a magazine now and be able to read it?Its a common misconception that you need to be experienced in a language to read it well. You have to remember that magazines are a tool  for  communication, and that each magazine is targeted to a different audience. The key is finding the right magazine at the right level for you.Start at your levelThis is true in English as well as a foreign language. For example, Im not going to pick up an issue of Rocket Science Today,  because its way above my level. Similarly, dont get an overly complicated or difficult magazine in the language youre trying to learn.If youre a complete beginner, why not start with childrens magazines? They use simple language and often includes cop ious amounts of picturesâ€"and who doesnt understand pictures? In fact, as Ill explain futher, images are one reason that magazines are such a fantastic resource for language learning.If youre studying a particular topic in school, focus on that topic for perfect learning synergy. For example, if youre studying economics and love the course content, then why not try to read an economics magazine? You may find that a lot of the material in there is quite similar to what youre learning in your classes. This will give you an “in” to learning the language! This applies equally to professionalsâ€"choose a magazine related to the field you work in!Dont panicLet me tell you, you may struggle a bit at first. Learning through magazines is, sadly, a stark contrast to how were taught to learn languages in school. In my college classroom, each unit focused on something specific. Perhaps it was gender, then the past tenses, then prepositions, one at a time, with the idea being that you neede d to steadily add building blocks to understand a language.When reading magazines, youll get gender, verb tenses, prepositions and dozens of things you dont understand all at once. Dont let that scare you. Re-read articles and try to learn enough to get the meaning. Focus on what you do understand and try to improve piece-by-piece.Keep a notebookA great way  to  aid your steady improvement in comprehension is  to keep a notebook. It can be a physical notebook or an app on your smartphone, it doesnt really matter. Whenever you come across a word that you dont understand, write it down and look it up.Organize, organize, organizeThe notebook strategy ties into another critically important factor: staying organized!This means setting realistic goals, reading some of the magazine every day and creating a system where, when an article is too difficult, you file it away and come back to it later, when, hopefully, your language skills have improved and you can better understand it. I bet yo ull be surprised to see how much  your comprehension has grown!Create manila folders of magazine cut-outs (if youre using print magazines) or a electronic filing system (for e-mags). Note a date on each magazine piece that you want to return to in the near future, giving yourself a week, month or multiple months to improve before returning to that piece.Increasing your exposureOrganization leads us to the most important point: To learn a language, you  need to be exposed to it every day. Magazines can be a great way to finally make learning a language a part of your daily life. Make a plan and stick to it so that you can get the most out of magazines.Electronic vs. Hard-Copy Magazines?Much like the Kindle vs. Print debate, this one has no simple answer. Heres my handy list of pros and cons to help you decide which tool is best for you. Ill also provide you with some recommendations for how to track down magazines in each format.Electronic MagazinesProsTons of free magazines out ther e (see below for my top resources) in a wide variety of languages.Dont take up much space. You can fit more than you could possibly ever read on a single USB drive.Can work on multiple devices: PC, Mac, iPhone, Blackberry, Kindle, Kobo, Nook, you name it!ConsYour eyes can get tired of staring at a computer screen.E-book readers, such as Kindles or Nooks, are easier on the eyes but can have difficulty rendering certain files properly.Virtual highlighting tools arent as good as an actual highlighter, and oftentimes you cant chop down magazines files into individual articles.Quantity can be a curseâ€"youll have to filter through the mediocre content to find a magazine you truly like.ResourcesIssuu:  Issuu is a website where people from all around the world upload magazines, articles and other digital content. The best part? Most of this is free! Click on the link here  to explore their vast database of free digital content which you can then read on your PC, Mac or portable device.Scri bd:  Similar to Issuu, though with a greater focus on technical content. Check Scribd out if youre looking for something more niche or specific. Scribd is especially good for Spanish language magazines as its very popular in Latin America.Print Magazines ProsTime-tested format. No batteries needed, never loses charge and is portable.Malleable. You can take a pen, highlighter or scissors to turn that magazine into a learning tool from your own imagination.You can easily make a filing system using manila folders to keep track of articles you understood, found difficult or want to get back to.ConsCan be tough to find magazines in less common languages, especially if you dont live in a big city or have access to a quality university library.Purchasing them can be expensive over time.Can become bulky. Weve all seen hoarders with boxes of magazines.ResourcesBookstores:  Despite what you may have heard in the media, bookstores still exist and many carry a large selection of magazines. You may want to see if theres a bookstore for the language you want to learn in your city. In fact, most cities have specialty stores that cater to minority communities and they often carry magazines.Libraries:  What better place to learn a language than your local library? Most have an extensive magazine selection in multiple languages, and you can check out copies for free! Some even allow you to make photocopies of particular articles.If you happen to live near a quality university, take advantage by exploring their librarys selection (most universities let members of the public browse freely, and a few even let you check out materials). They often have materials in more languages than public libraries and offer more extensive titles.In the end, I recommend choosing what works best with your lifestyle. If you prefer reading from your Nook, then go digital. If you like the feel of glossy paper, then go with print.You could always strike a compromise, downloading electronic copies and then printing them out.Whatever you want to do, magazines are flexible enough to meet your needs and preferences! And One More ThingIf youre digging these strategies, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples f or the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.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.