4 Steps to take when youve damaged your Personal Brand - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 4 Steps to take when youve damaged your Personal Brand - Introvert Whisperer 4 Steps to take when youve damaged your Personal Brand Personal Branding starts with how well you speak about YOU.   I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook â€" The Definitive Guide to Creating and Using an Elevator Speech.   In this guide, I give you simple to follow instructions for creating a “wardrobe” of ways to talk about you â€" to leave a lasting impression.   Get your copy now: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

Why You Should Consider a Guitar Teacher for Your Child.

Why You Should Consider a Guitar Teacher for Your Child. Guitar Lessons Near Me? There are So Many Reasons to Them for Your Child. ChaptersGuitar Classes with Professional TeachersThe Intellectual Benefits of Playing GuitarPersonal Benefits of Guitar ClassesThe Emotional Benefits of Playing GuitarThe Physical Benefits of Playing Guitar for ChildrenThe Cultural Benefits of Learning GuitarTo Recap: Why Your Child Needs a Guitar Teacher.Music has always been considered beneficial for children, and taking guitar lessons will only re-enforce those benefits.Even when a baby is just a few weeks or months old, they can already recognise their parents’ favorite songs by the ones they hear most frequently. And music helps babies relax and also engages them physically and mentally.As a child begins to get older, music will remain important to them, and this comes in handy once they begin learning different styles of music and cultures - particularly if they then consider learning how to play guitar and taking beginner guitar lessons. All that music they have previously heard will help their general musicianship and, if i t's becoming a guitar player that they become interested in, they will be hungry to learn everything from jazz guitar to classical guitar, blues guitar to rock guitar.Once a child is old enough to learn guitar, it's well worth the investment to buy them their first guitar and sign them up for some guitar lessons for beginners. This is the theme of this article - because the best guitar players are those who grew up with a good guitar instructor.And there are so many benefits to taking a guitar lesson - either in a guitar course at a guitar school or in private guitar lessons. Indeed, your child's music teacher may be one of the most important people to them throughout their childhood and beyond.By learning guitar and taking beginner classes, the child is not only socialising, but is sharing their interests and enriching their world. And, obviously, they are learning a skill which brings so much joy: learning to play the guitar!A child can learn very quickly and deeply from a young a ge.Once they’re older, children can easily join a band and begin to play on a stage, or maybe even perform solos in public.By taking guitar classes, your child will have learned the techniques and basics necessary to even begin teaching others and sharing their passion for guitar with a new generation of music students. PeterGuitar Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EdgarGuitar Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PaulGuitar Teacher 5.00 (12) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToddGuitar Teacher 4.75 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamueleGuitar Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RyanGuitar Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsGuitar Classes with Professional TeachersYou can sign your child up for guitar classes in a local music store, conservatory, a rec center, or for private lessons at home. You can even have guitar lessons online these days.Classes at an Independent StudioAt music schools, classes are often highly regimented. Teachers follow a specific methodology and curriculum for all the children, that introduces them to music theory and basic chords before teaching them how to read guitar tabs and work on chord progressions. Regimented yes, but the level of knowledge of those who teach guitar in these contexts is usually very high.Students learn to practice guitar in individual and group lessons, which allows them to meet other children and learn from one another, and teaches them that music is a passion that is meant to be shared.Whatever level your child is at, classes at a music school will allow them to join a group of fellow students and learn more about the worlds of guitar and music.Guitar Classes at HomeBy engaging a teacher to come to the house, your child will benefit fro m the best learning environment possible  - they will be at home in an environment that they know and where they are comfortable.The teacher can walk them through the parts of the guitar like the strings, fretboard, and neck, and teach them how to tune it and take care of their new guitar. Then they can move on to other skills, like pentatonic and barred chords, licks and riffs.Security and comfort will help them improve - your child won’t have to go anywhere to take guitar lessons, and you can arrange the classes to better fit their schedule.By taking classes comfortably at home, your child will be able to build a stronger relationship with their teacher.The atmosphere will be more relaxed to practice playing guitar.Firstly, learning guitar, simply, is just great fun!From their point of view, the guitar teacher will be able to adapt lessons to your child’s level, needs, and goals. Guitar instruction  can be tailor-made and adapted.The Intellectual Benefits of Playing GuitarTaki ng guitar lessons can help your child succeed in many areas, especially mentally.In addition to the music itself, there’s the personal enrichment that your child will develop and have for the rest of their lives.Music and Self-EsteemTaking guitar classes requires discipline, and developing this skill will help children succeed at school.Numerous studies have shown that taking music lessons, and more specifically, learning an instrument like guitar, has a strong link to success at school for kids. Learning about C chords and C major, say, will also help your child gain confidence and improve their self esteem, increase their ability to concentrate, and learn to develop a critical appreciation for the arts.Music and Self-ExpressionIf your child decides to take guitar lessons, they will develop their language skills, enrich their vocabulary with words like arpeggio, riff, and progression, increase their attention span and improve their sense of rhythm.All these skills will also impro ve your child’s memory. They will learn to structure their thoughts, begin to associate joy with the effort they put in practicing the guitar, and  naturally develop their memory.Classes with a music professional, like a guitar teacher at a music school or conservatory, will also help your child learn to express their emotions.Music and guitar will become the medium through which your child channels  emotions (sadness, anger, joy, etc), and thanks to this, they will be better able to master their emotions and express themselves to others.Other benefits from taking guitar lessons with a teacher include the fact that music and guitar will improve their hearing and develop their memory for sounds and rhythms. They will refine their hearing to differentiate between a A chord and a G chord, and will know what C major or the E string should sound like.The cognitive skills of the child will also be reinforced - the left side of the brain, the side that is linked to verbal memory, is more developed in musicians and children who play an instrument.Guitar is also a great opportunity for your child to develop their creativity and free their imagination to express themselves in different ways. Once they graduate to jamming and writing their own music, their full artistic sensibilities will be unleashed.Personal Benefits of Guitar ClassesLearning music and guitar will help develop the personality of your child.They will learn to find a balance between their intellect (necessary to learn an instrument like the guitar and deploy perseverance and patience), and their emotions (sensitivity, feelings).Defeat Stage Fright by Playing GuitarIf your child is taking guitar classes, they will eventually play not only for their teacher, but also for people they don’t know and other students and their parents.This situation will shake them in a good way - your child will have to master their emotions to perform and deal with nerves, stage fright, and their shyness and fear of stran gers.Strengthen their Self-Confidence on the GuitarThis will increase their self confidence and they will be more comfortable communicating and expressing themselves.Passing on KnowledgeWhatever their level, once your child has mastered the basics of music theory and playing the guitar, they will be able to tutor others, and pass on their passion for playing to others.They will also be able to play in a band, play on a stage by themselves, jam with their friends, and write their own music - the possibilities are endless once they’ve gotten to the next level and begun perfecting their guitar playing.The more their passion for guitar is encouraged during lessons, the more your child will gain artistic as well as technical expertise. They’ll need both of these skills in order to pass on everything they’ve learned about guitar once they’re older. PeterGuitar Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EdgarGuitar Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PaulGuitar Teacher 5.00 (12) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToddGuitar Teacher 4.75 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamueleGuitar Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RyanGuitar Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Emotional Benefits of Playing GuitarChildren, and especially boys, can often have trouble expressing what they feel.Communication isn’t always easy when your child closes up or shuts themselves up in their bedroom.Music and guitar can help provide an emotional outlet for your child, and gives them a way to say what they’re feeling inside.Finding your child a guitar teacher will bring emotional, physical, and cultural benefits.By playing any style of music - blues, rock, hard rock, funk, classical - your child will also be able to explore that facet of their personality.If the music is too loud for your neighbours, you can look at ways to limit the noise from the guitar.The Physical Benefits of Playing Guitar for ChildrenIt may not seem immediately obvious, but playing guitar is somewhat of a sport on its own, and requires children to learn more about their body in order to develop more control.By becoming more conscious of how their bodies work, regulating and work on their breathing, and developing better posture, your child will also gain muscle, especially in their hands, arms and shoulders.Flexibility and StrengthYou need to have both flexibility and strength to play the steel or nylon guitar strings properly and make the sounds you want.Your child’s guitar teacher will make sure that they hold themselves correctly and place their hands and arms properly to play without causing any aches.Health BenefitsLearning guitar and taking lessons will also benefit your child’s health, especially by helping the m learn how to manage their stress and anxiety.Your child’s body will release ‘happy’ hormones (serotonin and dopamine) when they’re in their own world and they can express themselves freely.The Cultural Benefits of Learning GuitarBy taking regular guitar lessons, your child will learn about music, as well as be exposed to culture and the arts more generally.Their teacher will introduce them to the world of music, and expose them to new styles like rock, pop, funk, country, and reggae.Playing Guitar Helps Introduce Children to Different Cultures and the World.Under the aegis of their teacher, your child will discover new cultures and music styles, learn about music history, and gain an appreciation for different styles and trends throughout the ages.In conclusion,  taking guitar classes will give your child  a new set of tools which will help them, not just in the music world, but also throughout their life at school and as an adult.Guitar lessons help teach patience, discip line, and self reflection, and will help your child become a well adjusted adult.To Recap: Why Your Child Needs a Guitar Teacher.Intellectual BenefitsYour child will perform better at school if they learn an instrument. Knowing an instrument also helps them to develop their language skills.Personal BenefitsBy playing an instrument, your child can improve their confidence, combat fear, and pass on knowledge to others.Emotional BenefitsMusic is expressive - and by learning an instrument they can find a new way to express themselves.Cultural BenefitsYour child will learn a lot with a guitar teacher - about the history of music to different genres and cultures today.

Get Mentored-Get Promoted - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Get Mentored-Get Promoted - Introvert Whisperer Get Mentored-Get Promoted We often hear of mentors in all kinds of settings.   Having a well-placed mentor in your life can really be a great thing.   It not only makes you feel great having a supportive person in your life, it can also enable great things for your future. What is a mentor and why do you need one professionally?   To start with the basics, you can have a mentor and be a mentor.   Specifically, I’m writing about a mentor for your professional growth.   A mentor is a person that acts as a coach, guide, counselor, teacher, and advisor.   In the business setting, a mentor could be someone to provide you with input that will assist your professional growth.  Obviously, a manager could perform in the same role to a degree, but the roles are different.   A mentor doesn’t direct your work assignments and is an objective third party.  A well-placed mentor can be a superior strategic move if you think it through and utilize the resource appropriately.Here are some tips and guidelines for establishing a mentor. Here are some tips and guidelines for establishing a mentor: Select a person who is a level or two above where you are right now.   You want to identify a person who has had a successful track record with your company and is on an upward growth path.   This person should be well thought of up and down the organization.   This person should be thought of as someone that has the next promotion aced or is positioned to take over the next upward management position.   Securing the right mentor in this way enables you to see what kind of successful behavior they have that you can emulate.   You should be looking for a couple of “Hallmark” traits that you can adopt without looking like a mimic.   You’re looking for things like their ability to collaborate or magically see things around the next corner.   People that do well in the organization usually achieve results, and additionally possess specific traits of how they function that work well within the group. Results and accomplishments aren’t enough.   While you and your potential mentor will be ahead of the pack if you can obtain great results, results alone aren’t enough for high-level growth.   Your mentor has to demonstrate that they can play well with the big dogs and it must be obvious that the big dogs generally respect this person.   You should see signs of this person being included in higher level meetings and interaction on a periodic basis with the higher brass.   These are indicators that they possess the “total package”. Don’t pick someone that may be a built-in a competitor.   If both of you do pretty much the same work, this person could view you as a potential threat to their growth.   You need to find someone close enough to your area of work that they genuinely know the work you do without the potential for competition.   I have seen senior people mentor junior people in the same exact area so it can work; however, you should think through how the other person is going to view you and the future impact on them. Select a person that has many of the same values and whom you respect.   If you are unable to find a person above you that you think much of, you may need to rethink your growth strategy with your current company.   It could be that the company culture doesn’t honor the kind of person you are.   However, if you can find someone that you think well of and demonstrates values that you also find important, that person will be a good candidate.   You will find you can work well with them and most likely you will have a mutual appeal to each other.   Since a mentor is most likely going to give you advice and guidance, it needs to come from someone you will listen to.   It will also be easier for you to adapt your behavior if is already closer to who you are authentically. Be clear about what you want.   When you approach your potential mentor to request a mentoring relationship, you need to be clear about what you want from the relationship.   If you are fairly new to the organization, you may want to not only understand players and positions but who the alpha dogs are and the informal decision process.   You may have observed things they do well that you want to learn.   Consider opening the relationship by asking for ongoing feedback of your performance and how you are viewed in the organization.   Feedback is a gift, but often people aren’t comfortable giving it if the feedback won’t be well received or is perceived to be not wanted.   You need to let them know that you want feedback and will take the information seriously without getting defensive or taking offense.  Whatever it is you are seeking in terms of your growth that is how you want to frame the relationship.   Once you have established the relationship it can evolve to include addit ional elements for growth. Be sensitive to their time.   Most likely this person is going to have a full plate already so your request for mentoring will most likely be an additional time drain.   To keep the role from being overwhelming you need to be ready to offer up some structures that will be helpful without much time consumption.   If they are willing to take on this role, you could meet monthly for an hour but that your primary input from them could come in the form of emailing and impromptu hallway “sound bites”.   Since you are the one seeking the relationship, you need to be flexible about the logistics. How the relationship can unfold.   The potential for how the relationship could unfold has no limits.   Minimally, you can expect to have a well-developed relationship for life that you can tap on an ongoing basis.  Being a mentor to someone, particularly if it is solicited, is extremely flattering.   It’s hard to resist liking someone that has high regard for you. It could turn into a fantastic friendship based on mutual respect.   I have also seen mentors become the key catalyst to promotions for their mentees as they are often positioned to provide input within the organization.   These people often become your advocate simply because they know you so well, have witnessed your growth and are invested in you.   They may also want to hire and promote you by virtue of this level of insight into your performance.   Of course, you never know in advance how the course of the relationship will go; it almost always will nurture both people in a very positive way. If you’re ready for some upward career growth it may be time to put a mentor in your career life.   It will be a worthwhile investment that could pay dividends for years to come. Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable.   Get your copy now and start your action plan today: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

Striking a Balance Overscheduled vs. Too Much Free Time for Kids with ADHD

Striking a Balance Overscheduled vs. Too Much Free Time for Kids with ADHD Childhood today is very different from childhood 30 years ago, when time outside of school was spent playing in the neighborhood, often unsupervised and undirected by adults. Today kids and teens typically attend a host of extracurricular activities after school, with little free time in-between. Do a quick search online for overscheduled kids and youll find hundreds of articles warning parents about the perils of enrolling kids in too many extracurricular activities. These articles typically highlight the negative effects that too little free time can have on creativity, imaginative play, and social development. What these articles rarely discuss, however, is the reality faced by many parents who frequently work during the after school hours and need these activities to keep their children and teens safe and occupied. Parents of children and teens with ADHD face another reality as well: unstructured and unsupervised downtime often quickly leads to impulsive and sometimes unsafe beha vior as well as sibling arguments. As a result, unstructured time often ends with a punishment for bad behavior, or is simply replaced by screen time in an effort to keep the peace at home. When you look closely at the research youll find that involvement in extracurricular activities actually comes with many positive benefits, even at an early age. A recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that when infants (9-18 months) who were overly motivated by food were enrolled in music classes with their parents, they began to find more pleasure and motivation in activities other than eating.1 The researchers propose that this may help prevent obesity later in life. For adolescents, most research studies have found that participation in after school activities is associated with improved well-being and school engagement. Even with the positive study findings, when it comes to the number of activities kids participate in, there does seem to be a tipping point. Enroll them in too many extracurricular activities, especially those that are performance or achievement-based, and kids and teens can end up stressed and anxious. How many activities are too many? T hat really depends on the child. Some kids with ADHD need more downtime in order to recharge. Others thrive on back-to-back activities each day. But even for kids who thrive on a busy schedule, some free time is important for their development. Like participation in extracurricular activities, research shows that free time and free play come with many benefits. Kids and teens do in fact need this time to help develop their creativity and imagination, as well as the ability to think for themselves without been told what to do by adults. However, they likely do not need large daily swaths of free time to reap these benefits. As parents of kids with ADHD the trick is finding enriching, motivating afterschool activities, and balancing these activities with at least a few weekly opportunities for safe and enjoyable unstructured time. What are some signs that your child or teens extracurricular activities or schedule may not be meeting their needs? Your child asks to skip activities, or regularly complains of headaches or stomach aches when its time to attend. Your child seems less motivated at school, during afterschool activities, or at home. Your childs grades are falling and they dont have time to get the extra academic support that he or she needs. Your child is regularly going to bed late in an effort to fit in school, extracurricular activities, and homework. Your childs activities are all performance or achievement-based, leaving little time to explore new activities without the pressure of having to meet the expectations of adults. Your child is showing symptoms of unhealthy levels of stress (see my previous post for more details on signs of stress in teens with ADHD). If your child or teen is displaying one or more of these signs, it may be time to take a step back and reconsider his or her schedule and activities. Talk with your child or teen about how he or she is feeling about his or her extracurricular activities. Are there activities that he or she enjoys more than others? Do they think that he or she needs more downtime? Kids and teens will often have difficulty noticing when they are overscheduled and may be reluctant to cut back on their activities. As a parent you have an opportunity to help them problem solve, streamline their schedule, and build in necessary downtime (Ill talk about strategies for creating manageable downtime for kids with ADHD in my next post). With your help your child will reap more joy and enrichment from his or her activities, and will build motivation and academic skills along the way. ________________ 1 Kong, K. L., Eiden, R. D., Feda, D. M., Stier, C. L., Fletcher, K. D., Woodworth, E. M., Epstein, L. H. (2016). Reducing relative food reinforcement in infants by an enriched music experience. Obesity, 24(4), 917923. 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.

A primeira vez que eu ouvi a voz de Bruce Willis

A primeira vez que eu ouvi a voz de Bruce Willis Conforme a gente vai crescendo, vai também ganhando admiração por certos atores. Porém, como a gente vive em um país onde os filmes e as séries são, por norma, dublados, nem sempre a primeira impressão que temos de um ator é a verdadeira. De certa forma,  essa cultura da dublagem de praticamente tudo o que passa na televisão, aliena um pouco as pessoas.  Não querendo desfazer de quem trabalha como dublador, longe disso!Não me lembro ao certo de quantos anos tinha, sei apenas que tinha mais de 11 anos, porque Armagedom, o filme que me permitiu ouvir a voz do Bruce Willis pela primeira vez, estreou no Brasil em 1998. Todavia, a sensação que tive aquando dessa experiência está bem viva na minha memória.Eu estava com a minha mãe, que prefere filmes dublados porque detesta usar óculos, sendo que sem eles ela não consegue ler nada. Fomos ver o filme, quando ela viu que era legendado, começou logo a reclamar. Eu não me importei, até que ouvi a voz de Bruce Willis pel a primeira vez na minha vida.Foi tão chocante perceber que a voz que eu associava a ele não era a dele, aquilo fazia com que eu ficasse muito confusa. Por isso, eu acabei por passar o filme todo pensando no assunto, sendo esse o motivo pelo qual eu não entendi nada do filme até vê-lo pela segunda vez. Ainda hoje, quando vejo algum filme que é dublado, fico uns minutos perdida nos meus pensamentos, por mais idiota que isso possa parecer.Durante muitos anos tentei entender o motivo do meu choque. Há algum tempo cheguei a uma conclusão: Para mim, o problema não foi a dublagem em si, mas ninguém ter dito que aquilo não era real. Sim, com 12 anos, supostamente, a pessoa já sabe que os filmes não são realidade e eu sabia isso. Só que em uma época em que crianças e adolescentes não tinham acesso à internet como têm hoje, o que eu não sabia era que os filmes dele que eu tinha visto eram dublados! Eu era/estava realmente alienada!Não digo que quem dá voz ao ator no Bra sil faça um trabalho ruim, que as dublagens sejam um mal da humanidade que deve ser erradicado, nem que quem tem 12 anos hoje em dia não saiba que está vendo algo dublado. Apenas acho que, se queremos promover a aprendizagem de línguas estrangeiras (seja o Inglês, o Espanhol, o Francês ou outra qualquer), as crianças devem ter contato com a língua falada também, porque existem estudos que confirmam a eficácia disso na aprendizagem de idiomas (assunto sobre o qual pretendo falar mais detalhadamente em outro post), mas também para que não haja esse choque entre aquilo que nos habituamos a ver/ouvir e aquilo que, de fato, é a realidade.E você? Já teve alguma experiência semelhante?

Balboa City School International

Balboa City School International Balboa City School International BCS Sino-U.S. Dual Diploma Program Balboa City School works closely with cooperating schools abroad to allow international high school students to register with a program offering a dual-country education. Students must meet all academic requirements in order to receive a diploma from each school. Highlights: Designed to work within the students current high school program Integrates TOEFL SAT preparation into the high school course curriculum All courses conducted using American high school textbooks aligned with Common Core State Standards College preparatory curriculum Students grades are evaluated using the most advanced grading and student evaluation system, ensuring that all students are assessed in the best way possible Successfully helps high school students attend his/her dream university in the U.S. Balboa City School provides dual diploma schools with an excellent support team All students receive the letters of recommendation that are required by U.S. university applicants Students are given many opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities

Welcome Josie and Ethan! New italki Support Staff!

Welcome Josie and Ethan! New italki Support Staff! We wanted to give a big welcome to our newest support staff Josie and Ethan who have recently joined us to help with our Customer Support Services. They are both avid language learners and teachers so know exactly the types of problems and challenges you might be encountering! We asked them to introduce themselves to everyone on italki! Josie My name is Josie and I am Swedish by blood, but was born and raised in Surrey, England. Going to an international school gave me the privilege to make friends with people from all over the world, meaning I have always been surrounded by different languages and cultures. I grew up speaking English and Swedish, studied Spanish at school and am currently learning Mandarin. Growing up in a multicultural environment and having done a lot of solo traveling after school gave me a great insight into how exciting different languages can be and how important it is to learn about different cultures. italki is the perfect platform for learning a new language and I am so glad to be a part of it. I understand how difficult (and at times scary) learning a new language can be, so I will make sure that I am here help you out with any problems that you may face in your new and exciting journey! Ethan Hey all! Im Ethan and I’m from the United States, specifically the Washington, DC area. I fell in love with the Chinese language in high school and have since been studying hard each and every day to achieve the fluency of a native speaker. I know how difficult language learning can be and that’s why I’m happy to work for a great company like italki! It makes language learning easy and is suited to meet your individual needs. I’m here to help you out with any problems you may have in the language learning process! Learning a new language is hard enough, so I want to make sure your experience goes as smoothly as possible. I wish you all the best of luck. ??! Welcome our new support staff Josie and Ethan! #italki #leanonme #support #newstaff #customersfirst #friendly #justgoodpeople #languagelearning #languages A photo posted by Italki (@italki) on Dec 12, 2014 at 11:33pm PST Welcome Josie and Ethan! New italki Support Staff! We wanted to give a big welcome to our newest support staff Josie and Ethan who have recently joined us to help with our Customer Support Services. They are both avid language learners and teachers so know exactly the types of problems and challenges you might be encountering! We asked them to introduce themselves to everyone on italki! Josie My name is Josie and I am Swedish by blood, but was born and raised in Surrey, England. Going to an international school gave me the privilege to make friends with people from all over the world, meaning I have always been surrounded by different languages and cultures. I grew up speaking English and Swedish, studied Spanish at school and am currently learning Mandarin. Growing up in a multicultural environment and having done a lot of solo traveling after school gave me a great insight into how exciting different languages can be and how important it is to learn about different cultures. italki is the perfect platform for learning a new language and I am so glad to be a part of it. I understand how difficult (and at times scary) learning a new language can be, so I will make sure that I am here help you out with any problems that you may face in your new and exciting journey! Ethan Hey all! Im Ethan and I’m from the United States, specifically the Washington, DC area. I fell in love with the Chinese language in high school and have since been studying hard each and every day to achieve the fluency of a native speaker. I know how difficult language learning can be and that’s why I’m happy to work for a great company like italki! It makes language learning easy and is suited to meet your individual needs. I’m here to help you out with any problems you may have in the language learning process! Learning a new language is hard enough, so I want to make sure your experience goes as smoothly as possible. I wish you all the best of luck. ??! Welcome our new support staff Josie and Ethan! #italki #leanonme #support #newstaff #customersfirst #friendly #justgoodpeople #languagelearning #languages A photo posted by Italki (@italki) on Dec 12, 2014 at 11:33pm PST Welcome Josie and Ethan! New italki Support Staff! We wanted to give a big welcome to our newest support staff Josie and Ethan who have recently joined us to help with our Customer Support Services. They are both avid language learners and teachers so know exactly the types of problems and challenges you might be encountering! We asked them to introduce themselves to everyone on italki! Josie My name is Josie and I am Swedish by blood, but was born and raised in Surrey, England. Going to an international school gave me the privilege to make friends with people from all over the world, meaning I have always been surrounded by different languages and cultures. I grew up speaking English and Swedish, studied Spanish at school and am currently learning Mandarin. Growing up in a multicultural environment and having done a lot of solo traveling after school gave me a great insight into how exciting different languages can be and how important it is to learn about different cultures. italki is the perfect platform for learning a new language and I am so glad to be a part of it. I understand how difficult (and at times scary) learning a new language can be, so I will make sure that I am here help you out with any problems that you may face in your new and exciting journey! Ethan Hey all! Im Ethan and I’m from the United States, specifically the Washington, DC area. I fell in love with the Chinese language in high school and have since been studying hard each and every day to achieve the fluency of a native speaker. I know how difficult language learning can be and that’s why I’m happy to work for a great company like italki! It makes language learning easy and is suited to meet your individual needs. I’m here to help you out with any problems you may have in the language learning process! Learning a new language is hard enough, so I want to make sure your experience goes as smoothly as possible. I wish you all the best of luck. ??! Welcome our new support staff Josie and Ethan! #italki #leanonme #support #newstaff #customersfirst #friendly #justgoodpeople #languagelearning #languages A photo posted by Italki (@italki) on Dec 12, 2014 at 11:33pm PST

How to Study Any Language Effectively 7 Common Study Time Mistakes to Avoid

How to Study Any Language Effectively 7 Common Study Time Mistakes to Avoid How to Study Any Language Effectively: 7 Common Study Time Mistakes to Avoid We all make mistakes.There, its out there.Thats probably no big newsâ€"but when you learn a foreign language, you might be surprised by just how many mistakes you end up making.Too many language learners assume that this is a bad thing and end up feeling discouraged.But mistakes can be very productive!The best way to improve your language skills and make the most out of the learning process is to identify  these mistakes, learn from them and try to avoid them as best you can.Even if you study languages at school or college where professional educators help you deal with pitfalls, mistakes are still bound to happen to you, in class and after class.Now, were going to discuss  how  to turn  these mistakes into productive learning experiences.Language study cant be called a one-size-fits-all process. Learning styles vary, learning techniques develop and upgrade and students open up to new ways of learning, but we all want one thing: to master the language were learning.We have something else in common. There are some common mistakes that far too many of us make! Lets learn from those who have gone  before us. Here come 7 common mistakes  for you to remember and avoid while learning foreign languages. These are so common, and so very subtle, that they often arent recognized as mistakes that make an impact on learning. How to Study Any Language Effectively: 7 Common Study Time Mistakes to Avoid1. Try to remember tons of new words at onceWhen you learn a foreign language, its needless and virtually impossible to remember ALL the words.Even native speakers dont use them all, only regularly dealing with 2,000-3,000 on average. For example, while an adult native English speaker might have tens of thousands of words stored in their brain,  you only need about 3,000 words to be able to read the vast majority of modern English texts in existence.The same goes for most languages: To understand and speak a language, several thousand words will be enough to get by in convers ation and while reading modern writing. Youll need more if youre going to tackle more specialized or academic writing, or perhaps if youre going to become a translator or interpreter. But we all have to start somewhere.How do you know which words to learn and remember?We live in the digital era when the Internet surrounds us everywhere. So, check the list of most widely used words in the language youre learning or download some applications that show you popular words, helping you to remember them along the way.You can also watch FluentU videos in your target language. Thanks to the vast array of modern, relevant video content here, youll be able to become more strongly familiar with the most common words used by natives.With FluentU, you hear languages in real-world contextsâ€"the way that native speakers actually use them.Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of FluentU videos on offer:FluentU really takes the grunt work out of learning languages, leaving you with nothing but engaging, effective and efficient learning. It’s already hand-picked the best videos for you and organized them by level and topic. All you have to do is choose any video that strikes your fancy to get started!Each word in the interactive captions comes with a definition, audio, image, example sentences and more.Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab, and easily review words and phrases from the video under Vocab.You can use FluentU’s unique adaptive quizzes to learn the vocabulary and phrases from the video through fun questions and exercises. Just swipe left or right to see more examples of the word youre studying.The program even keeps track of what you’re learning and tells you exactly when it’s time for review, giving you a 100% personalized experience.Start using FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes store  or  Google Play store.Tip: Using vi sual elements is the best method to learn new words, as they cause associations in our head, making it easier to remember permanently, not just learn by rote. (Another reason to try FluentU!)2. Try to memorize  all grammar rulesCertainly, grammar is important, and no one is going to say that you shouldnt learn it.Regardless of the language, grammar is always tricky for non-native speakers (well, let’s be honest: it’s often tricky for native speakers, too). All those gerunds, tenses, infinitives and exceptions are useful when you write academic essays,  do research or write professional emails. You need to build a foundation of great grammar in order to speak and write correctly.However, if your primary goal is to communicate, prepare for a trip abroad or master just the basics, dont stress about this too much. If youre seriously turned off by the nitty gritty of grammar, dont torture yourself trying to remember all the rules at once.Many learners get discouraged by the idea of s tudying grammar and end up avoiding their daily practice. Dont procrastinate. On days when grammar fills you with dread, treat yourself to some movies, games or music videos in your target language. Keep building familiarity with the language every day, and  youll start learning grammar naturally.Some educators recommend starting off with full immersionâ€"constant exposure to the language through a diversity of authentic materialsâ€"and never cracking open a textbook or starting formal grammar study until youve developed basic proficiency in the language. You can always give this route a try!Tip:  Write something every day. Write blog posts, diary entries, shopping lists, notes to yourself or anything else that is already part of your daily life, but do it all in your target language.  Using grammar in practice will improve your skills many times over.3. Forget about listeningWhile learning a foreign language, we usually pay lots of undue attention to vocabulary and grammar. Our goa l is to learn how to read, write and speak.That’s all well and good, but we often forget about listening to a target language despite the fact that its key to understanding and communication.Learners too often discover the hard way that speaking a language and understanding it arent the same thing.Sometimes one can speak but can hardly understand native speakers at all while listening to songs or watching a movie in the target language. Never underestimate the importance of listening skills; you need to practice them on a daily basis.Tip: To develop your listening skills, you can watch movies or TV shows with subtitles, listen to a radio show in your target language, play games, try to understand all words from your favorite songs and so on. Keep it fun and casual! Listening to  TED lectures  is always a good decision, too.4. Read classic literature to learn new wordsFive bucks say Im right: Your past or current language teachers have assigned  you the task to read a book in the l anguage youre learning, make a vocabulary list  of unknown words from it, learn them and discuss the book in the classroom afterward. I got those five bucks, didn’t I?Such exercises are great unless your teacher asks you to read classic literature in the target language. They often dont, and instead opt for abridged and otherwise simplified reading material.Why?First of all, it can be difficult to understand a plot and get pleasure from reading a book if you dont know the meaning of most words. The extensive reading method encourages learners to choose texts where they know 95% of the words on any given page.Secondly, books of classics may contain lots of  archaic vocabulary (lets take Shakespeare, for example). Theres no real need to learn all words from classics, as no one uses them in everyday language anymore.However, many language learners make the mistake that teachers strive so hard to avoidâ€"they dive into deep, complex literature and other texts that are well outside the ir reading level. They want to read what they want to read, even if they cant read it! As you may already know, it can be very discouraging when you dont understand most of what youre reading.Youre not giving yourself the chance to develop good reading habits. You wont learn how to get into the flow of a native text if youre constantly stopping to use your dictionary. You also wont be able to pick up words via context if most of the language is way above your head (for the time being), and this kind of deductive work is critical for learning a language effectively.So, what to do?If youre at the beginner level of learning, childrens books would be the best option  for you. Intermediate and advanced learners can always try reading simplified versions of classics to learn some new words and grammar rules. If youre pretty advanced, you can start tiptoeing towards the classics. Start with modern classics.No matter your level, always  read books that suit  your learning level.5. Spend all your time studying from textbooksGoing by the book is  one of the biggest mistakes you can make while learning a foreign language.The textbook can give you all the essential building blocks, but it cant take you much farther.Have you ever heard the people speaking in the audio files accompanying English textbooks? Theyre speaking perfectly correct English, but they sound a bit forced and awkward at times. Thats because theyre reading a script designed for learners. Its easy on the ears, and great for becoming familiar with the basics of language, but youll probably never hear a native speaker who talks quite like that.Slang, idioms, jokes, regional dialects, pop culture referencesthey usually cant be learned from standard textbooks. To really understand native speakers, you must learn casual language.This doesn’t mean that you shouldnt use textbooks at all. Some of them are worth trying, and one can find many reasons to use modern textbooks: Theyre well-designed, they provide use ful content and a road map for learning, they give lots of practice opportunities and they usually offer audio components.Just don’t make them the only instrument  you use for  learning that target language.6. Consider the target language a task to completeSome learners arent super passionate about languages, and instead  consider reaching fluency  just another task to complete. Its just another task on a life list, bucket list or resume building plan. There are a couple of noteworthy problems with this:Its very difficult to pinpoint the exact moment you reach fluency, so you may never be able to check the task complete box.You dont know a language just because  you score all As and 100s on your exams.You need to find some personal motivation coming from within to really master a language without ever losing focus.You cant just study for the test. Fluency doesnt come until after youve put your language skills into action, spoken with natives for hours, listened to native speakers intently and followed their directions. You also need to learn the culture behind the language to a certain extent, or youll find a large gap between you and natives while communicating.Not to mention, you have to constantly be updating your language knowledge. Languages change and develop all the time. Don’t miss a chance to learn the culture of those people whose language you learn, chat with your native speaker friends, watch movies, listen to songs, travel to countries and interact with locals.If you make the language enjoyable and something you genuinely look forward to studying, it will be much easier for you to master it.7. Rely on language schoolsThis may be the most common mistake made by language learners. They rely on whatever course theyre taking, whether theyre taking it  through a college, university or institute online, at home or abroad. This reliance comes in two forms:Relying on the course to give you all the material and exposure you need to learn.Holding the co urse or teacher responsible for your successes and failures.When you learn a language, its good to have a teacher who will help and support you, but it doesnt mean he or she can  do everything for you. Teachers guide youâ€"they cant inject the language straight into your brain. Its only you whos  responsible for your learning.If you feel like  the books and materials your school gives you arent effective or sufficient on their own, find a different textbook or other language learning materials to accompany the coursework. If the coursework doesnt target your preferred learning style, learn how you learn best on your own time. If you learn best through music or visual cues, but simply dont get enough of that in class, take care of yourself at home later.Dont only do your homework, study for tests and call it a day. Read and listen to your target language every day, communicate in it, go to language exchange clubs, make friends with native speakers and seek out new articles, blog post s, YouTube videos and more in that language. Become ravenous. Consume as much of the target language as you can on a daily basis.Ask your school to assist you where needed, manage your emotions and try to stay motivated and optimistic.If you dont study properly and perform poorly on tests, take responsibility for this. If you ace all the reading and writing assignments but cant speak without a heavy accent, then take responsibility for this and double up on speaking practice. The teacher and coursework can only get you so far.Its you whos learning the language.Its you who needs it.And its you who will succeed.