German Lessons in the UK

German Lessons in the UK The Best Cities in the UK to Master the German Language ChaptersLanguage Training Centres to Learn GermanTake a German Course in GlasgowImprove Your German in EdinburghLearn German Pronunciation in BirminghamLearn about German Culture in LeedsLearn to Speak German in BelfastStudying the German Language in CardiffLearn German in LondonOur country’s ties with Germany extend deep into history: our royals married into German royalty, our ideologies and cultures bear strong similarities; even our language has its roots in the German tongue!Notwithstanding the naval and military tensions of the late 19th Century that put us on opposite sides during the two World Wars, as things stand now, we have more in common with the people in German-speaking countries than ever before.There is, however, one area where German speakers surpass us: learning a language.Generally, school students in Germany start learning English around the third grade, although some may start as soon as kindergarten.They continue with their English courses through secondary s chool and often may be compelled to take English as a second language at university.Our forays into learning a foreign language pale in comparison... but we don’t have to let that record stand!With the wealth of language centres, open courses and institutes that cater to those learning German, there is absolutely no reason why we couldn’t learn the language of Goethe at least as well as our Germanic counterparts learn English.Your Superprof now takes you on a tour of select UK cities to find the best German courses.Unlike Glasgow’s courses which last an entire term, these courses last just one month each and, also contrary to the University of Glasgow, you may take these courses with no prior knowledge of German language and culture.If you are somewhere in the intermediate range of German, you should consult their guidelines to see which language lessons would be in line with your current abilities.Did you know that the University of Edinburgh also offers free German lessons? You can find out more in our full-length article...You needn’t worry about being in over your head; through interactive exercises and activities, you will understand German faster than you ever thought possible!The grammar lessons and verb conjugation drills that you anticipated (and perhaps dreaded) do not feature in a language course such as this.Instead, you will be taught common words and German phrases that you can put to use immediately during your learning and in your daily life.Why not learn more about this method of learning a new language in Birmingham?It's not uncommon to see such a halcyon scene at Christmas markets in Germany Image by Dar1930 from PixabayLearn about German Culture in LeedsOur country’s second financial capital has some pretty remarkable German social clubs!In fact, so abundant and so much fun are these associations that we’ve discussed them at length in our article on learning German in Leeds.Each group gets together about once per month to enjoy a meal, usually consisting of German fare, and they discuss upcoming events, such as the city's Oktoberfest celebration or their presence at the city’s Christmas market.Even though they do not (formally) teach anyone how to speak German, if you are a Germanophile whose language skills have grown rusty from disuse, you can count on the friendly folks from the various German associations in Leeds to get your German words flowing again.Learn to Speak German in BelfastThis historic city has a lot to brag about, not the least of which is the open and welcoming atmosphere of its largest college, Belfast Metropolitan.Whether you speak intermediate or advanced German â€" or no German at all, the Met has a course especially for you.If the extent of your German vocabulary is ‘Guten Tag’ and ‘Danke shön’, you need the Met’s German 1 course, replete with new words and German verbs that you can use to put basic sentences together.Conversely, if you’ve already taken several German language classes, you could jump right to German 3 or 4.They also offer several Improver classes; these would be ideal if you’ve studied German in the past but have not had a chance to make use of your language skills in a while.If you are not sure of your German level, you should talk with a student adviser who may give you a short test to find out.By the way, did you know you could stay abreast of your German learning by watching Deutsche Welle television programming?Of course, you could watch German television from anywhere provided that you have a fast Internet connection.But adding Welle to the many opportunities to practise reading and writing in German, as well as developing your listening and speaking skills in Belfast will help you master German that much sooner!Studying the German Language in CardiffRight about now, City Council members are embroiled in setting aside resources and planning entertainment for the Cardiff Oktoberfest.Have you been? Isn’t it great? Do you think it tops the Bavarian one? There’s really only one way to find out...Go to Germany, mingle among native speakers and immerse yourself into the atmosphere to fully experience the authentic German celebration.There is still time for you to partake of language instruction before you go... or, perhaps you would rather visit Stuttgart.Did you know that our lovely city is twinned with Germany’s fourth-largest metropolitan area? What an incentive to visit there... but you should learn to speak a bit of German before you go.The main outlets for learning German in Cardiff are the franchise operations discussed above.However, nothing says you can’t engage a Superprof tutor to learn German online or in your home...You may learn German with a tutor online from anywhere in the country or overseas Image by mohamed Hassan from PixabayLearn German in LondonIt would be a stretch to say that we’ve saved the best for last, but we can honestly say that we’ve saved the most extensive list of opportunities for learning the German language till now.In London, you could (theoretically) throw a rock and, chances are, you will hit someone whose native language is German â€" be they a visitor to our capital city or someone who teaches in a language school.That being said, we hope you don’t put this theory to the test by randomly throwing rocks; much easier will be to follow our guide for finding German lessons in London.What reasons might you have for speaking German?You might, for instance, be planning your move to Berlin â€" one of London’s sister-cities, to work on your startup.  Did you know that the capital of Germany is THE place for tech startups?If you plan to live in Germany, you will certainly need to know more than just a few words and phrases in German; in fact, to register your business there, you will need to prove your German-speaking ability.Fortunately, the London branch of the Goethe Institut not only administers the European Framework of Reference e xam that will certify your language skills; they provide German test preparation classes!As you can plainly see, opportunities to learn German abound in the UK.Whether you would prefer to take classes in a German language school or in your home with a German tutor; even if you opt for lessons at the Goethe Institute...There is no reason for you to sacrifice your love of learning because of a lack of opportunity.All across the UK, ever more people are engaging in German studies â€" for professional reasons, academic reasons or for the sheer love of learning. You'll be happy to count yourself among their numbers, won't you?Wir drücken dir die Daumen! (that means 'good luck'!)

How Long Does it Take to Learn Spanish

How Long Does it Take to Learn Spanish How Long Does It Take to Learn Fluent Spanish? ChaptersBecome Fluent in Spanish: Defining Fluent Before We Get StartedWhat Does Being Bilingual Mean?Learn Spanish Quickly: Is It Possible to Learn Spanish in 6 Months with Total Immersion?How to Speak Spanish Fluently: Take Spanish Classes to Quickly Become BilingualHow to Learn Spanish Fast: Use the Right ToolsYou Could Be Fluent in Spanish with Bilingual SchoolingLearning Spanish while You Sleep: The Key to Bilingualism?Learn Spanish through Hypnosis to Become Fluent in Spanish?The Benefits of Learning Spanish QuicklyCan a Child Become Bilingual in Spanish?When people decide to learn a new language, they’re often concerned with how quickly they can start talking to people without having too many problems.Becoming fluent in Spanish, just like any other language, is usually measured in terms of months and years. The time it takes will largely depend on you, but if one thing is for sure, it's that to be successful, you will need a plan of action for learning Spanish.That said, the re are certain factors that we can look at which can give us a rough idea of how long it would take to learn Spanish if you started from square one.Being bilingual in Spanish means that you can read, write, speak, and listen without any real difficulties. Of course, this is difficult to measure, and is very subjective. In fact one of the only ways to measure someone’s level, is usually in terms of a test.For Spanish, you can opt to take a wide range of proficiency tests, such as the DELE or the SIELE. However, you have to pay for these and the act more as a proof of your level. If you want to take a proficiency test to know your Spanish level before starting out, then you should take an online Spanish proficiency test  that will tell you at roughly what level you are operating at.In general all of these proficiency tests assess  your grammar, vocabulary, and reading. The proficiency tests that give you a language certificate will also test your speaking, writing and listening.  In these language certificate options, the results are graded in terms of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2). A1 is the level of a beginner, and C2 is the level of a native speaker.Learn Spanish Quickly: Is It Possible to Learn Spanish in 6 Months with Total Immersion?You will need to know how to go about learning Spanish if you are to successfully master it. This will require practising as much as possible, and what better way to do this than by living in a Spanish speaking country?If you’re a student, you should consider immersing yourself through a language exchange program.  Share an apartment and avoid other English speakers. That’s not why you’re there, after all.If your level is already quite good, you could apply for jobs in a country where you’ll be speaking Spanish all the time. However, if you don’t speak a single word, you should start off with intensive Spanish lessons and take a basic job. Make the most of the high season by looking for work in hotels or tourism.  Immersion is also great for learning idiomatic expressions and slang.  The first month is your chance to dive straight in. By listening to the locals speaking, you’ll be able to get used to certain words, phrases, and the local accent. However, you should also start speaking as soon as you can. By the second month, you’ll feel more comfortable and won’t be able to stop yourself from trying to speak!How to Speak Spanish Fluently: Take Spanish Classes to Quickly Become BilingualTaking Spanish classes can help you improve your Spanish. In fact, if you want to become fluent in Spanish, classes can help you master the syntax, conjugation, vocabulary, and the pronunciation.You will need to go beyond the level you’re taught in school, though. This is where working with a private tutor can help. They can help you with the basics as well as practising speaking which is essential for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in a count ry that speaks a foreign language.There are professional and qualified tutors available who can use their teaching skills to help you. They are often native speakers who have an unbeatable mastery of the language as well, so your speaking should come along nicely. Of course, the perfect combination is a qualified teacher who’s also bilingual in English and Spanish. Your Spanish tutorials could also be conversational. Conversation classes will help you learn to speak the language fluently.This can help you learn genuine everyday Spanish as its used all around the world as well as receive personalised language coaching.How to Learn Spanish Fast: Use the Right ToolsIf you want to learn Spanish as quickly as possible while taking Spanish lessons near me, you need to use the right resources. These resources will differ depending on the person, so if you are teaching Spanish to children, the resources will differ compared to an adult learning the language on their own. But no matter the situation, if you want to become fluent in Spanish, you’re also going to have to work really hard!Here are some effective ways to help you become fluent in Spanish:Get a Spanish app to practise your Spanish when you’ve got nothing to do: Duolingo, for example, can be installed on both a smartphone and a tablet. It’s completely free and is a fun way to practice your Spanish. With this method, you’ll no longer waste time waiting around.Use free sites to learn Spanish. If you have a break at work or are waiting for your dinner to be ready, why not go online and do a few Spanish grammar exercises to make sure you’ve mastered the basics.Watch or listen to the news in Spanish to train your ear and make you more familiar with Spanish pronunciation. This is a great way to practise without feeling like you’re doing any work. You can also watch plenty of different television channels online in Spanish.Read Spanish as much as you can. There are plenty of Spanish newspapers and mag azines that you can read online for free. You can keep up to date with the news from all over the Spanish-speaking world.You can learn about Spanish customs and culture. (Source: pixabay.com)If you want to become bilingual, you usually have to start young.  There is no minimum age to learn Spanish, and children have a number of advantages when it comes to learning. Plenty of scientific studies have proved it.  If you want to get them into languages at a young age, specialised bilingual schooling is a great option.There are schools that can teach children in both English and Spanish. This means they’ll get a mastery of both languages. However, these schools are mainly for Spanish-speaking families who would like their children to be taught in the language they speak at home.Of course, these places are great for children from English-speaking families  to learn Spanish quickly, too. In fact, practising a language every day is not only the best way to learn but also a great way for t hem to make Spanish-speaking friends.  Why? This is because they’ll learn a foreign language alongside native speakers.There are also bilingual schools where some classes are taught in one language and others in the other.Of course, you can also learn Spanish in Spain. (Source: Agustin Piñero)This means they can also learn Spanish when they’re not even studying Spanish!A student who starts learning Spanish from a young age through until the end of their time at school will have a good mastery of it. The sooner they start, the better. However, this doesn't mean that there is an age limit for learning Spanish. Spanish is a language that is accessible to all people, regardless of their age.Learning Spanish while You Sleep: The Key to Bilingualism?Outside of school, language learning is a real benefit when it comes to your professional life. As an international language, Spanish is no exception to the rule.Becoming bilingual in your free time isn’t as easy as you think even if yo u’re really motivated. There are a few options to help you, though.How can they help you learn Spanish quickly?  While there’s no magic solution, you should still do everything you can to help yourself. Have you heard about learning Spanish while you sleep?Sleeping can be really helpful for learning things, especially foreign languages.Put simply, our brain organises the facts and information from throughout the day while we sleep. There are plenty of studies showing the benefits of sleep in terms of learning. The opposite has also been shown to be true. A lack of sleep can negatively affect memorisation as well as your cognitive development and even your appetite.With this in mind, you can maximise your learning potential by sleeping correctly. Studying just before bed might be a great way to learn, and you might even end up  having dreams in Spanish!Studies on Language Learning and SleepA study performed by researchers in Freiburg and Zurich focused on language learning and sl eep. The participants had to learn vocabulary and then some participants then went to sleep and listened to the words as they slept. The other group remained awake and listened to the words for a few hours. The exams that followed showed that the group that listened to the words while sleeping had learned more. Listening to Spanish as you sleep could help you remember better.Sleeping is really important when it comes to language learning. (Source: pixabay.com)Mosalingua, a language-learning website, also carried out their own study. Their results arrived at the same conclusion as that of the scientists. The results showed that listening to the words you learn during the day as you sleep are better assimilated.Of course, you won’t become bilingual while having a nap. You’ll make much better progress using your free time to study what you’ve learned during the day.Learn Spanish through Hypnosis to Become Fluent in Spanish?Another alternative method similar to learning while you sleep: Learning Spanish under hypnosis.  While this technique is usually used for changing behaviour and stopping people smoking, can it help you become bilingual?Learning Spanish through hypnosis isn't really like what you've seen on TV. (Source: pixabay.com)Hypnotists obviously say that it can. Can it really?  Can we learn a language without being fully conscious?Hypnosis: A Technique for Speaking a LanguageLet’s start with an important fact: Hypnosis isn’t magic. You’re not going to miraculously wake up fluent in Spanish. A few sessions may be necessary since hypnosis is a state between being awake and sleeping where your sole focus is on the hypnotist’s words.In a state of focus, hypnosis can help you with a number of aspects of language learning:Training your ear to new soundsFocusing on speaking and the Spanish accentImproving your concentrationPreventing inhibitionsOne of the hardest things about learning a language is putting the theory into practice. Speaking and co rrectly pronouncing words are often difficult things to overcome. It’s much easier to understand what people are saying but responding to them is a much more difficult challenge to overcome. There’s one simple reason: when you’re an adult, your brain is shut off to new sounds. Sometimes shyness can come into play, too.Hypnosis is a way to overcome some of these difficulties by helping you to improve your speaking.A Typical Spanish Hypnosis SessionYou won’t spend your time sleeping during a Spanish hypnosis session. The session is organised into several parts where you will be under hypnosis. Generally speaking, the lesson focuses on a text. The words studied will be repeated under hypnosis before you work on them while you’re awake. You’ll then repeat the first step.This is oral learning which can teach you vocabulary and expressions but is limited when it comes to learning grammar and conjugations, for example.  However, it is a good way to improve your speaking. If you ’re struggling to express yourself in Spanish, this might be a useful way to complement your traditional classes.Either way, if you want to really benefit, you have to choose the right Spanish tutor or hypnotist.The Benefits of Learning Spanish QuicklyBe careful! Don’t fall for the old “learn Spanish in 30 days” trick.  You have to learn Spanish from the beginning. The sooner you start studying Spanish, the better.If you already have a good level of Spanish, are familiar with irregular verbs, can use the subjunctive, and have a broad vocabulary, you’ll obviously be able to learn more quickly than someone who’s just started studying! Any guide to learning Spanish will include a number of useful tips and tricks to get you on your way to Spanish fluency, and here are our top selections:Speak Spanish every day: whether on Skype or face to face, writing emails or texts, or on social media.Watch movies in Spanish. You’ll soon have watched every movie with Antonio Banderas an d Javier Bardem in the world! When starting out in Spanish, you can also watch TV series.Put your cellphone in Spanish. This will help you learn some interesting vocabulary as well as help you expose yourself to Spanish every day.Learn important joining words and expressions such as “I don’t agree”, “to be honest”, etc. Having a few of these expressions will help you become fluent in Spanish more quickly.Look up new words you hear in a dictionary. As a Romance language, Spanish has a lot of vocabulary from Latin. Half of English vocabulary is from Latin directly or indirectly (mainly from French). Learning Spanish words can help improve your English vocabulary, too.Go out with a Spanish speaker!  El amor te da alas  (Love gives you wings).Can a Child Become Bilingual in Spanish?Of course! For those interested, Spanish can be learned from a very young age.  Don’t forget that the human brain loves learning new things, especially when it comes to languages.The idea that a c hild should master their mother tongue first before learning a second around the age of 7 is complete nonsense.In fact, it’s recommended that a child should learn their second language at the same time as their first by listening to stories in Spanish (every other evening, for example), playing games, and having fun in Spanish (with cartoons, games, or Spanish classes).A child can learn Spanish at exactly the same time as they’re getting ready to say their first words in English.  Now you know that becoming bilingual can be done in a relatively short period of time, you just have to get started. Start by using a few of our tips and tricks.  Learning to speak a foreign language fluently requires that you learn all the different aspects of it (vocabulary, grammar, conjugations, pronunciation). The better you are at each of these things, the better your results will be.   You can start today!

Help With Learning Algebra Pass the parcel

Help With Learning Algebra Pass the parcel After Mark Maclaine’s first blog post explaining how to understand the basics of algebra, he now goes into more depth using his ‘pass the parcel’ method in order to supply another method to help with learning algebra. As a kid I remember playing a game called “pass the parcel” which involved unwrapping a present layer by layer every time the music stopped. It’s one of those games kids play at parties, and can lead to tantrums…. But what has this got to do with algebra? Imagine that the side of the equation containing the unknown (the letter) is a bit like that parcel. It has been wrapped in a set of layers one by one. The order that it was wrapped in can be determined by BIDMAS or BODMAS. See my blog post on how to understand BIDMAS here: For example: 3m + 5 In this case, let’s say m = 10: the first thing we would do is multiply it by 3 (as multiplication comes before addition), and then we would add 5. Now if we were to try “unwrap” this in an equation, just like the parcel in the game, we would have to unwrap it in the reverse order: last layer first, and so on… As we can see the last layer to be wrapped was the “add 5”, so this is the first layer we take off. Only then can we remove the “multiply by 3”. If m was placed into the following equation, the first thing we could get rid of is the “add 5”. Remember, the opposite of adding 5 is subtracting it: From here we are now left with the final layer â€" this is the “multiply by 3”, so to get rid of that we do the opposite â€" we “divide by 3”. Now let’s look at a slightly more complicated question. In the case above, the w is first multiplied by 5, then you subtract 8 and only then divide everything by 4. This may be a little bit confusing; following the rules of BIDMAS, division normally comes first but because the whole sum  â€˜5w-8’ is divided by four (as if there were brackets/parentheses around it) this is done last. Remember: the first thing to unwrap is the last thing that was wrapped: This method takes a little time to get your head around, but once you have it, even hard questions (like the dreaded square roots!) become a whole lot easier. Let’s look at this final example: How has this been wrapped? First ‘m’ was multiplied by 3, then 4 was added 4 and only then was the square root of the whole thing put in. Like the previous example: normally when following the rules of BIDMAS, indices (squares, square roots and other powers/roots) come before multiplication and addition. However, because the whole sum ‘3m+4’ is contained inside the root sign (as if contained within brackets/parenthses) it is done first, and only then is it square-rooted. Now to unwrap the equation and solve it, we must do everything in reverse order. Note: the opposite of square-root is to square, and vice-versa. So… I hope this two blog posts have been helpful in getting your head around algebra. Have a go at some questions? Here are three to get you started: Find the value of  x 1. x-5=12 2. 2x-2=14 3. 3(x+10)=15   Post your answers! If you have any questions or suggestions, please add them to the comments section below. Would you like extra help with Algebra? Search  Tutorfair and find a selection of excellent Maths tutors in your local area.

English Modal Verbs Video 5 Could

English Modal Verbs Video 5 Could Ok, were already to our 5th video on English modal verbs! Were expecting to hear our students using them more often now! Todays video is about could, a very commonly used modal verb that can be confusing, because it has several meanings.Watch the video below to study your modal verbs, then see if you can do the exercises below. English Modal Verb Exercises:1. What is the difference between these three sentences?I should buy a new pair of shoes.I could buy a new pair of shoes.  I might buy a new pair of shoes.2. Rewrite these sentences using could.Maybe we can eat pizza tonight.  Its possible that she is sick.He will maybe be visiting New York.  Perhaps we will have another beer.

More Than Money 4 of the Most Profitable Languages to Learn

More Than Money 4 of the Most Profitable Languages to Learn More Than Money: 4 of the Most Profitable Languages to Learn As youre reading this, I can assume you want to learn a language.But why do you want to?There are as many reasons for learning languages as there are languages themselves.Theres travel, food, peopleâ€"and money.Yes, money is most often the chief reason cited for someone being interested in languages.But there really is no single language thats a perfect moneymaker.If youre in a small and isolated community, you might speak all the languages of the EU for nothing because you cant even buy lunch without the local language.Even rarer languages that are mostly spoken by bilinguals can be profitable if you find your niche.In addition, we can look at profitability in a broader sense. The language that will be personally profitable to you varies depending on what you want to do with it and what your goals are.With that in mind, lets look at some of the most profitable languages on a global scaleâ€"taking more than just money into account. Why Its Still Worth It to Learn LanguagesYou might have read something about how machine translation or the spread of English means that language learning is a waste of time these days.That couldnt be further from the truth. Many speakers of the languages on the list below dont have the best English skills. Even in Western countries with widespread English education, people will always understandably prefer to speak their own native languages because its simply more comfortable for them. And if youre doing business overseas, youll certainly want your clients to be as comfortable as possible!Furthermore, executives and decision-makers in many countries fully expect foreign investors to use an interpreter. When you show up speaking their language on your own, you send an incredibly strong signal that youre willing to put in the time and effort to connect with their culture.More Than Money: 4 of the Most Profitable Languages to LearnMandarinMandarin Chinese is spoken as a lingua franca all across China and Taiwan, as well as in the Chi nese communities of Singapore and Malaysia. Many overseas Chinese people in other parts of the world also use Mandarin to communicate.Why Its ValuablePerhaps youve seen the little phrase Made in China?Any supply chain in the world is likely somehow connected to China, whether its sourcing products directly from the country, or relying on a particular machine part or packaging produced in China.In addition to manufacturing and logistics, though, tourism is actually another great industry where you can use Mandarin. Chinas population and economy has been booming for years, and every year millions of Mandarin speakers go abroad to see the rest of the world. If your hotel, resort or tour agency has a Mandarin speaker on staff, youre likely to get a lot of repeat business.How You Can LearnMandarin grammar is relatively easy for English speakers to pick up, as theres no conjugation or declension.However, youll have to pay a lot of attention to pronunciation, so find a good course with aud io and lay a strong foundation in mastering those tricky tones. FluentU is a great option for this, as it allows you to learn with authentic native speech from the very beginning. FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like movie trailers, music videos, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language lessons. Check it out for our next language (Russian), too!RussianRussian is spoken all over Russia (no surprise), Central Asia, Eastern Europe and in large and thriving diaspora communities worldwide.Russian is actually the second most represented language on the internet  after English.Why Its ValuableMuch like with Mandarin, Russian speakers are going abroad now more than ever, ready and willing to pay for tourist amenities wherever they go. Unlike many tourists from other countries, Russians often dont speak fluent English, which creates a market for Russian-language services in English-speaking countries (as well as other countries where Russian isnt commonly spoken ).And any company, regardless of industry, with eyes on Russia is going to need speakers of Russian to help them close their deals.How You Can LearnRussian might be one of the hardest European languages for English speakers to learn. Its grammar is quite complex and thanks to a long literary tradition there are all kinds of idioms and colloquialisms in common use. But that doesnt mean it cant be done, and the challenge makes the reward all the greater.The best way to tackle Russian is by first getting a strong handle on the grammar, and then doing a lot of reading and listening to absorb the natural patterns as best you can.ArabicArabic is spoken in more than 20 countries across the Middle East and North Africa. The situation with learning Arabic is a little complicated as there are dozens of different vernacular dialects as well as a standardized formal language used in news and writing.So if youre looking for a challenge, look no further!Why Its ValuableThe first thing a lot of pe ople in Western countries likely think of when they think of Arabic and money is oil. And its true, theres a lot of oil in a lot of Arabic-speaking countries.But have you considered marketing?The Middle East is developing at an astonishing pace. More and more people are finding themselves with spending moneyâ€"and foreign businesses are rushing to take it. With knowledge of Arabic languages and cultures, you can position yourself as a valuable go-between for brands looking to break into a particular up-and-coming market.How You Can LearnArabic presents a number of challenges to the foreign learner, but more and more good resources are coming out.Generally, people looking to make connections with locals will want to learn a spoken dialect in addition to the standardized formal language. But you dont have to worry about learning every dialectâ€"most speakers can understand Modern Standard Arabic and the dialects of their neighboring countries.PortuguesePortuguese is spoken mainly in P ortugal and Brazil, though the Brazilian variety is most commonly learned by foreigners because of its massive population of speakersâ€"more than 200 million.Apart from those two countries, its also an official language in six African countries, bringing its total speaker count over 250 million.Why Its ValuableBrazil is an enormous place teeming with diversity. You can find luxury high-rises, beautiful beaches, dense rainforests and uncontacted indigenous tribes all in the same country.Financially and historically, Brazils natural resources have been its largest draws. Lumber from the rare trees in the immense forests is prized worldwide, and huge swathes of land are dedicated to raising animals and plants.However, these industries competing with the natural world have made Brazil an important place for  organizations dedicated to preserving the untouched rainforest. And anyone interested in being a part of these organizations will likely need to speak Portuguese (or at least greatl y benefit from doing so).But dont forget, although the focus in business Portuguese is on Brazil, theres an entire Lusophone world out there to explore.Any country with business in South America, Central Africa and Europe likely has a need for Portuguese speakersâ€"and that could be you.How You Can LearnPortuguese might be one of the easiest languages for English speakers on this list as its a closely related European language.Surprisingly, its often relatively difficult to find classes or courses in Portuguese because it kind of lives in the shadow of its cousin Spanish. However, there are some great apps you can use to learn Brazilian Portuguese. And if youre interested in European Portuguese, check out this awesome resource guide.Portuguese speakers, incidentally, are known to be extremely appreciative of people putting in the effort to learn their language instead of simply speaking Spanish louder and slower.For all the financial benefits that appear in this article, money alone probably isnt going to be enough to keep you invested in a language all the way to fluency.Learning takes time and effort, and its made a million times easier if you have some sort of intrinsic interest in the language as well.There are a hundred reasons to learn any language that dont have a thing to do with the money you might be able to make. Youre picking up more than a line on your resumeâ€"youre picking up a connection to other people.Keep that in mind during your journey. Learn a language, and youll be a more valuable person in every respect.And the extra cash doesnt hurt.

?? How To Make Your First Tuition Lesson A Success

?? How To Make Your First Tuition Lesson A Success How To Make Your First Tuition Lesson A Success So you’ve finally found the perfect tutor for your child, and arranged your first lesson. That’s great! But it’s only the start of your child’s learning journey.If you want that first lesson to go as well as possible, then you need to prepare for it.Here’s how to make your first tuition lesson a success...A few days before…The days leading up to the first lesson provide your child with a great opportunity to prepare themselves for what’s to come.Consult your child’s teacherIt’s helpful to consult your child’s teacher before their first lesson. This does two things.Firstly, it means the teacher is aware of the extra support your child is receiving, and so they can adjust their own teaching accordingly.Secondly, it means they can possibly provide you with useful materials, such as the curriculum or past exam papers, which the tutor can use to personalise your child’s lessons.Remember, your child’s teacher isn’t going to mind that you’re hiring a tutor. It’ s far better for them to know as soon as possible.List your child’s weaknesses Before your child has their first lesson, consider noting down a list of topic areas that they struggle with.You’ll probably already have a pretty good idea of which topic areas your child struggles with, but writing them down in a list will help you cover all of them.More importantly, you can present your tutor with this list so they know where to focus their efforts.If you send this over to them ahead of your child’s first lesson, then your tutor can already start coming up with a plan of action.Ask about initial readingYour tutor will likely have an idea of which topics your child will be studying with them, especially if you followed the advice above and sent a list of your child’s weaknesses.It may be worth asking the tutor for any resources or reading that your child can work through ahead of the first lesson.This helps prepare your child for their lesson, and ensures they get a head start for their learning. Your tutor may even be able to set some work to do before the f irst lesson, which they can then use to ascertain your child’s knowledge levels.Brief your childIf your child has never had a tutor before, then it’s likely that they’ll be nervous about their first lesson.A good way of alleviating some of these nerves is to brief your child ahead of time. This can be as simple as explaining how their tutor is going to help them, and what they can expect from the lesson.It’s also a good opportunity to answer any questions and address any concerns that your child may have.If you don’t know the answer to any of these, reach out to your tutor. They’ll have heard them all before and will be able to answer on your behalf.On the day…The day of the lesson is really important. You need to make sure your child is in the right frame of mind for learning.Eat and drink Staying fed and hydrated is really important when you’re learning. The right diet can increase concentration, aid critical thinking, and improve memory.Some of the best brain foods for kids include fish, eggs, fruit, and nuts. You can find a more comprehensive list here. Essentially, you want to avoid junk foods and stuff that’s high in sugar.You should also make sure your child drinks plenty of water on the day of their lesson. Water offers a wide range of health benefits, and numerous studies have found links between water consumption and brain power.If, like most kids, your child hates the idea of drinking plain water, then even diluted squash or flavoured water will provide that brain boost they need.Keep your child relaxedOn the day of their first lesson, your child will quite rightly be a little stressed out. After all, they’re going to be spending an hour or so with a complete stranger, possibly even in the stranger’s house.A stressed child is not a child who’s going to learn effectively. So you need to make sure they keep calm.You could spend some time with them doing something they enjoy, like playing a video game, before the lesson. This will help take their mind off it.Another great way of calming your child is to ensure they get lots of fresh air. Fresh air can provide you with a lot of health benefits, one of which is reducing stress and anxiety.After the lesson…The teaching doesn’t end when the first lesson is over. That post-lesson period is a good chance to consolidate your child’s learning, and set them up for success.Ask about homework A lot of tutors will give your child some homework to do before the next lesson. If your child is anything like I was growing up, they’ll probably try to mislead you about how much they’ve been given.Despite how much kids hate it, homework helps your child to more effectively learn the content they were taught during the lesson. It’s important, therefore, that your child actually does it.Be sure to ask the tutor about the homework so that you can keep track of whether your child has completed it.If it’s a subject area that you understand relatively well, you can even ask the tutor about how you can help your child with their homework.Debrief your childMuch like the brief you gave your child prior to their lesson, a good debrief can ensure that your child is happy to continue learning, and allows you to address any issues that they have.Now that your child has experienced tutoring, they’ll be in a better position to identify any parts they don’t like. It’s important to l isten to their feedback.Perhaps they don’t understand what the tutor is telling them. Maybe they didn’t find the work challenging enough. It’s even possible that they simply didn’t ‘click’ with the tutor.You should take note of any issues and either address them yourself, or pass them on to the tutor. This will ensure better learning going forward.We can help!We want every child to have the best possible tutoring experience for them. That’s why we carefully match you with the best tutors for your needs. If you haven’t yet found a tutor, then you can use the form below. We’ll get back to you with the top 3 tutors in your area.It couldn’t be easier!All the best with your tutoring!

Feeling at home while abroad

Feeling at home while abroad By Thiago SilvaSo you’ve arrived. After months of preparation, interviews, and a long-haul flight, you are ready to explore your host country and its culture. While everything will look and sound exotic, soon enough, this will be the place you call home for the next one, two, or three years. But what exactly does it mean to feel “right at home”?Different people might have different definitions of “home”. To some, home is where your friends and family are; to others, it’s where you’ve decided to set down some roots. For teachers living and teaching overseas, home can simply be the place where you currently live, where your (physical) heart is.So what if when you got home today your couch was no longer there, or maybe your favourite blanket had disappeared all of a sudden? When you start off in a new country one of the first things you will be doing is setting up your home, the place where you will want to come back to at the end of the day, and this place has to say “h ome” to you. Otherwise it’s just like a hotel room and you will be longing for home every day of your stay abroad.Start off by bringing something with you from your “old” home. It doesn’t have to be your favourite recliner or a 50” screen TV, but a small item like a stuffed animal or a jewelry box could do the trick. Pictures of loved ones and your favourite tunes will also help you settle in to your new home and make it a more comfortable place.Once you have all your special personal tokens, it’s time to arrange your apartment to your liking. If placed in a furnished apartment, don’t be afraid to rearrange the furniture so it suits your needs. If you have to buy your own furniture, you may consider looking for used items since you won’t be living in the apartment for a long time. Check with other teachers at your school, as someone might be going home and selling a lot of household items cheaply. The Teach Away Community page is a good place to start, as many teac hers are active on the page.Whatever your destination, make sure that once you arrive, you make an effort to think of your new surroundings as “home”.Thiago Silva is the  Teach Away  blogger.