50+ Free Online Resources for Teaching Spanish to Kids

50+ Free Online Resources for Teaching Spanish to Kids Suzy S. Teaching kids Spanish doesnt need to be difficult. Whether you homeschool your child or you simply want them to become worldly citizens, learning  Spanish will benefit them tremendously. In fact, raising a child bilingual  is one of the best educational decisions a parent can make. Why Should You Teach Spanish to Kids? Childhood is the perfect time to learn a new language. As early as infancy, we learn language by  listening. Frequent exposure to different words and sounds fosters and develops these skills. As we get older, however, it gets harder and harder to learn and retain new languages. The benefits of being  bilingual are vast,  and by teaching your child from an early age, he or she will be at an advantage over their peers. Even a basic knowledge of a second language can help them immensely  when they get to high school or college courses and dive deeper into more advanced Spanish grammar and vocabulary. Later in life, being bilingual can even lead to more job opportunities, a wider cultural understanding, and even a higher salary. So, where should you start? Below  are some great options for you to  explore, from websites with learning modules to fun and addictive online Spanish games for kids. And if you dont speak Spanish yourself, dont worry you can learn together! Feel free to jump ahead by category with these links: Spanish Websites for Kids Free Spanish Worksheets for Kids Free Spanish Games for Kids Spanish Videos for Kids Spanish Vocabulary for Kids Bonus Spanish Resources Bilingual Parenting Blogs Spanish Websites for Kids 1 2 3 Teach Me This is a great site with pronunciation guides (audio),  flashcards, videos, songs, lyrics, and more. For vocabulary in particular, check out these flashcards. SpanishDict Here you can find interactive flashcards  to teach kids the Spanish words for  colors, clothing, numbers, and more! Digital Dialects This site is full of fun, easy-to-play games that teach Spanish grammar, vocabulary, and conversation skills. The Spanish games cover a wide range of topics, including greetings, colors, numbers, foods, units of time, animals, and clothing. GeoCom for Kids This is a fun-filled site featuring games, animations, coloring books, and printables for learning Spanish. Salsa This  is a children’s TV show that is free to watch online. Its all in Spanish, but it includes a translation of each episode. There are also a few games and activities for kids to play. BBCs Mi Vida Loca Mi Vida Loca is another free Spanish TV show, but its meant  for older kids. The series includes lessons and learning activities, as well as  a teacher’s guide and syllabus to follow. Rockalingua This subscription-based site also offers a lot of free content, including  songs, videos, games, and picture  dictionaries. Online Free Spanish This  site is full of resources in Spanish from level one up to advanced. It includes songs, vocabulary, and grammar lessons. Spanish Town This site  has several different activities to learn Spanish, including crosswords, word finders, tests, and  lessons in vocabulary and grammar. Spanish Playground This site includes  vocabulary lessons, songs, printables, crafts, activities, books, and more. BookBox Bookbox  offers online books available in different languages. Your kids can build reading and listening skills while they listen to stories with Spanish subtitles. Calico Spanish Calico Spanish is a wonderful resource for elementary Spanish curriculum. In addition to their classroom and homeschool materials, they offer free online Spanish videos via YouTube. PBS Kids Noah is the protagonist of the  PBS Kids digital series Oh Noah!  The series is designed to introduce children ages four through seven  to Spanish in an entertaining way. Story Place Toggle over to the Spanish version of the site for books and activities in Spanish. Spanish Simply This blog, written by an elementary Spanish teacher, has some great ideas for activities that work for in-home practice as well! BBC This BBC site features  vocabulary lessons, games, videos, photos, and songs. Hello World Spanish This website has more than 700 free Spanish games and activities, including logic puzzles, matching games, and bingo. Fluent in Spanish? The following websites offer games and activities for kids but theyre all in Spanish, so youll need to know how to speak it yourself! 9 Letras This is a blog by Alberto Abarca Fillat of Huesca, Spain. Alberto shares his free elementary Spanish resources,  along with  several printable activities for young Spanish learners. Pakapaka This site features activities, games, videos, stories, printables, and tongue-twisters! Make Beliefs Comics Have some ideas for what you want to teach your kids? Use these blank comic templates to create your own lessons! Educapeques This site offers exercises categorized by grades and subjects. Proble+ Math word problems are excellent reading comprehension practice! Proble+ (pronounced  proble-mas) offers engaging online games that combine Spanish reading comprehension and basic math skills. Chile Crece Contigo Created by the Chilean government, this site offers online games for preschoolers. The games are an excellent introduction to preschool vocabulary and concepts for Spanish language-learners. Manualidades con Niños This is the Spanish companion site to SimpleKidsCrafts, featuring hundreds of short tutorials for simple crafts with Spanish audio. Try having your kids watch a video and translate the Spanish, then use the language you heard while completing the craft. Discovery FamiliaThe Spanish version of  Discovery Family  offers  videos, games, and printable activities in Spanish. Chillola Learning Spanish is easy here with lots of games (with audio) and free printable resources for parents. Disney Check out the Spanish version of Disneys official website to  play a variety of games and watch video clips! El Abuelo Educa This is a great site to learn Spanish, with lessons and games categorized by topics (math, geography, etc.). Enchanted Learning This site features fun activities, printables, and a vocabulary builder. Cuentos Interactivos This site has interactive stories for intermediate and advanced Spanish speakers. Looking for worksheets, games, videos, or vocabulary specifically? Check out the lists below for direct links. Spanish Worksheets  for Kids Gus on the Go   This site offers several free Spanish printables and worksheets, including numbers flashcards and an animal vocabulary fortune teller. They also offer a great app for $3.99 (available for both iOS and Android), in which kids interact with Gus, an adorable owl character, for games and vocab lessons. Spanish4Teachers Although this site is geared toward Spanish teachers, many of these worksheets offered are simple enough for parents to understand and use with kids. GeoCom for Kids Printables View and print vocabulary activities organized by themes like animals and seasons. Rockalingua Worksheets These worksheets also teach Spanish vocabulary, including words for seasons, colors, numbers, and weather. OnlineFreeSpanish Coloring Pages Download and print these coloring pages to learn numbers, animals, and more. SpanishTown Vocabulary Sheets Practice vocabulary with these printable activities and worksheets. Enchanted Learning Printables Here you can find short, printable books to practice vocabulary and Spanish reading comprehension. Living Montessori Now Check out Debs list of free Spanish printables and Montessori-inspired activities for some great ideas! Spanish411 Printable Resources This site offers maps, charts, activity sheets, handouts, games, and posters. Memorizing the Moments Spanish Resources Here youll find flashcards and lessons created by Kaysha, who blogs about early education. Nick Jr Dora Flashcards Learn simple Spanish greetings with these flashcards featuring Dora and all her friends. Boca Beth Free Bilingual Resources Boca Beth offers free language card downloads, as well as coloring and activity pages. Free Spanish Games for Kids 123TeachMe Games This is a great list of links to interactive games on other sites, such as Sid the Science Kid on PBS Kids. GPB Kids Practice vocabulary with the interactive games and coloring books here. Rockalingua Games This site has interactive games for learning about colors, numbers, feelings, and more. Spanish Playground Toys and Games Here youll find printables and online games, as well as app recommendations for kids. Calico Spanish Flashcard Games Flashcard games, matching games, and concentration games for beginner Spanish learners. Oh Noah! Games Check out these interactive games with the same characters as in the videos. Spanish Games Choose a topic, learn with tutorials, and then select from seven free Spanish games to practice. Spanish Videos for Kids Calico Spanish This website features paid curriculum programs, but also offers tons of great free videos on their YouTube channel. 123TeachMe Here youll find short stories, along with questions that test your childs understanding of the stories. BBCs Mi Vida Loca series BBC offers this interactive video drama and Spanish course geared toward older kids who are beginners. Rockalingua Videos These Spanish videos for kids include songs about numbers, colors, feelings, parts of the body, and much more. Spanish Playground Videos On this site you can explore many  clips with easy vocabulary for kids. Oh Noah! Young kids will love this video series featuring Noah and his language-learning adventures. Spanish Vocabulary for Kids Rockalingua Picture Dictionaries Review easy Spanish words for kids with these worksheets to color. 19 Easy Spanish Vocabulary Words to Teach Your Kids Check out TakeLessons handy guide and infographic with Spanish words for kids! Spanish Town Vocabulary Here youll find vocabulary with audio, as well as printable vocabulary sheets in PDF form. Bonus Spanish Resources Billboard Latino Check out the charts for the top Latin artists, then use Spotify to stream them online at home! (See also: How to Use Fun, Creative Songs to Teach Spanish to Kids) YouTube Explore Latin music videos and additional Spanish lessons simply enter your search terms and see whats out there! (Hint: Check out Señor Jordans channel    one of our favorites!) Wikibooks This open-source Wikimedia project is designed to extend educational material to anyone willing to learn it. The website’s Spanish section starts off with basic conversation and grammar lessons, which gradually increase in complexity. ¡Hola Viajeros! This site provides a series of free audiobooks in slow Spanish along with transcripts. By listening to the audio while reading the transcripts, you and your children will quickly learn Spanish pronunciations, inflections, and other nuances. Amy Leonards Pinterest Boards If youd like to create your own curriculum for your kids, this Spanish teachers resources are a fantastic place to start. Her website has additional worksheets and lessons. Pimsleur Approach Another great site for creating your own curriculum, where you can find tons of helpful links and resources for teaching Spanish. Bilingual Parenting Blogs Finally, want a little inspiration as you teach your child another language? The following are a few bilingual bloggers we love: Latinaish Married to a man from El Salvador and raising two sons, blogger Tracy shares her insight  on Spanish  language, culture, food, and family. Mommy Maestra Written by a homeschooling Latina, Monica, this blog is an amazing resource for anyone raising or teaching bilingual, bicultural kids. All Done Monkey Leanna writes wonderful articles on language and culture  in a  balanced and inspiring approach to parenting. Spanglish House In this blog, Cece, a Bolivian mom in the U.S., shares her experiences keeping her language and culture alive for her children. Discovering The World Through My Son’s Eyes Written by a Puerto Rican mom, Frances, this blog is full of resources and inspiration for raising children with two languages. A Life With Subtitles In this blog, Sarah, a mom married to a man from Guatemala, shares her family’s experiences and her insight in funny, yet moving articles. Juan of Words Juan, Anjelica, and son Edgar share their experiences in the leading U.S./Hispanic Lifestyle blog on Mexican living. Los Gringos Locos In this blog, Tina shares funny stories about living abroad in Mexico with her husband and four kiddos. Españolita Living in the US but raising a bilingual daughter, Audrey  blogs about Montessori education, parenting, language tips, and more. What other Spanish websites, games, and worksheets did we miss? Let us know in the comments and well add it in. Want to take it a step further? Consider signing your child up for private Spanish tutoring for additional practice and  customized lesson plans. Make learning fun, and youll set your child up for success! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

What Are Public Speaking Skills

What Are Public Speaking Skills Public Speaking Skills Explained ChaptersWhat Is Public Speaking, Anyway?Why Is Public Speaking Important?When Will I Need To Use Public Speaking?Do people keep telling that you need to speak up? Or maybe you've heard on the contrary that you'd be fantastic at giving speeches?If you have a job or will soon have a position that requires you to speak in public to colleagues in small groups or in the masses, then finding out a little more about effective public speaking and what this skill entails could help you gain better presentation skills and banish nervousness. TraceyPersonal development Teacher 4.92 (9) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors IsamPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyPersonal development Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MichelePerson al development Teacher 4.73 (7) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlloydPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliverPersonal development Teacher 4.33 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Is Public Speaking, Anyway?Public speaking is, in essence, any form of addressing a crowd.It could be reciting a poem in front of your classmates, being a toastmaster at a wedding, making a new proposal in a meeting at work, or you could be inspiring a group of fellow activists on a subject you're passionate about. Regardless of why you're speaking publicly, the ultimate aim is to get your message across despite any presentation anxiety.This act of communication to an audience requires quite a lot of preparation for some whereas, for others, it comes somewhat naturally. That said, different environments and audiences can play a big part in how you react under pressure so even the most confident speakers can crumble under extreme pressure and get stage fright.When public speaking, the information is intended to have a purpose, i.e. to educate, influence or entertain the listeners. Addressing a crowd can have many purposes, but the principals are always the same. Photo credit: governortomwolf on VisualHunt.com / CC BYThere are a few principal elements of public speaking that must be carefully considered, and which can reduce public speaking anxiety:who is the message aimed at (managers, authorities, colleagues, students, etc...)?what is the message itself being conveyed?who is the audience (a deeper analysis of the group - age, gender, their position or stance on the subject in question, etc...)?how will the message be delivered (i.e. with humour, using facts, etc...)how will the speech be closed (will you ask the audience to do something?)Public speaking has been used by billions of people over a number of centuries, probably since the beginning of time itself. However, it's still one of the most important skills we can have. So, why is it so important to know how to do it and what public speaking tips can we give you to prepare you for speech writing?Why Is P ublic Speaking Important?There are a number of reasons why being good at public speaking is important. Below, we'll run through just a few of the advantages of taking the podium with confidence and rolling with the adrenaline:1. It will boost your self-confidenceVerbal communication is one of the best ways to throw yourself in at the deep end, but of course, it won't feel like you're being thrown in with the sharks if you have no issue at all addressing a crowd. The more you do it, the more you will feel comfortable speaking and voicing your views and opinions. In turn, your increase in self-esteem will only add to the respect that others have for you.Not only will regular public speaking help you to hone your skills at passing on information, but it will also help you to better understand people's reactions to your message.2. It can teach you to be comfortable around othersFollowing on from the above point, communicating from a podium, all alone, can actually improve your relations with others. It sounds weird but the increased level of speaking and understanding means that, when you're in social situations, you're less likely to get nervous or fumble around awkwardly thinking of things to say. So, basically, standing up there on your own can make you much better at standing around... not on your own!3. It can benefit you professionallyIt goes without saying that public speaking is vital to people with power. Do you think that the leaders of the largest businesses got there by sitting quietly amongst the crowd? Not likely.If you own a business or are trying to drum up business as we speak, then getting your head around public speaking is really important and will help you to generate sales. Public speaking doesn't have to be for crowds; learning to get your message across and the emotion that is tied to it, can help you to build one on one relationships with suppliers and other important contacts.If you work as part of a larger company yourself and want to ge t a promotion, then public speaking skills will help you. Interviews, meetings... they all require a level of confidence when addressing the panel or colleagues and being good at it could reward you with a better-paid job.4. It can have a positive effect on other areas of your lifeWe've focused heavily on public speaking in the workplace, but have you ever wondered how this skill can affect you at home too? Developing the general ability to speak publicly will mean that you become better at leading, communicating and reading situations which can be just as important in your home life as in your professional one. You may find yourself being more respected in other areas of your life and this could be very fulfilling. Working on public speaking can get you respect in your family life as well as at work. Photo on Visualhunt.com5. It will prepare you for lifeIt's a fact of life - you have to speak to get heard. So there's really no time for fear of speaking in public.It's not just office workers in the city who need to communicate publicly, almost everyone will need to use this specific set of skills at some point in their lives, whether that be in their career or in a social situation that requires it. In fact, we will now take a look at just some of the situations you may face in life where you are required to stand up and be heard.When Will I Need To Use Public Speaking?As we've already said, public speaking isn't just reserved for the board room. You can speak confidently to crowds in a number of quite varied situations. Just see below!A Wedding ToastFather of the bride, best man, maid of honour... if you are or will be one of these at a loved one's wedding then the chances are that you may be a sked to conquer your fear and give a speech. And what a pressured situation - giving a speech on the happiest day of someone's life in front of all those people! Not only that, but the message will have to be heartfelt and genuine, with humour optional.It's okay though if you haven't had any experience of public speaking before this. There are many ways you can prepare for a speech like this such as looking for tips on the Internet, practising your speech in front of a smaller group or partner, and making some flashcards to help you remember the order. If you are storytelling, then be sure to memorize your story and captivate the crowd yet if you are sharing a special memory, try to speak from your heart instead of relying too heavily on cues. Are you preparing for a wedding speech and feeling nervous? Photo credit: Mr Moss on Visualhunt.com / CC BYWork PresentationYour job may require you to lead weekly meetings, or you may be asked to prepare something for your AGM. Either way, you can prepare for this in a number of ways. If you are allowed to use visual aids, this could help you as each new slide will be an automatic cue and will mean it's unlikely for you to get lost and mess up. Don't read the text in your speech word for word though, these should simply be a summary of key points and then you should engage with your audience and elaborate.Prayer At A FuneralIf you've been asked to say a few words at a family funeral, then you might find it very emotional to write it, for one, but also to rehearse the words again and again. The important thing here is to speak truthfully and with gratitude. What's more, people don't expect a long speech from you at this time, keeping it short and sweet is normally quite appropriate.C lass PresentationSome schoolkids get nervous about standing up in front of the class while others love clowning around in front of a crowd and getting the chance to get speaking. If you are someone who gets butterflies in their stomach when they get up to the front, then good preparation will certainly help you to get past these flutters of emotion. Confidence is essential in this environment because children can be mean and insensitive.If you practice your presentation then go up and ooze self-confidence, your classmates won't even consider mocking you as they will have the utmost respect for you. Also, you may find that if you deliver your presentation solidly, they might actually listen and learn something!A Birthday PartyIt's your birthday. You've invited all your friends and family. You've opened presents. Now it's time to address the crowd and offer them your thanks! Even though you may so grateful for their kindness and can express this internally, it can be hard to find the words to actually communicate this out loud. Once again, keep it short and sweet but be sure to get the main message across.As you can see, public speaking or impromptu speaking isn't just for politicians or the workplace. Not all of us are natural-born leaders, so we need to work harder on developing these skills. But with many opportunities to practise, we all become better with each and every speaking situation!Do you think you could be a professional speaker now?See here how you can get better at speaking in public.Check out the online resources that could help you to become a more confident speaker.

Math Anxiety - Private Tutoring

Math Anxiety BobbiM Apr 17, 2014 Math is the worst for me. It is hard. So I definitely have gotten anxiety when it comes to getting a good grade in math and trying to understand whats going on amidst the xs and square roots. As with writing, some students feel stress when they encounter anything that has to do with numbers. Students who experience math anxiety usually try to avoid taking math-related courses. For most students, math anxiety usually results from previous experiences in math classes. You may have had some trouble with a particular topic and have told yourself I cant do math ever since. For some reason math anxiety seems to be the most traumatic and widespread. However, just like any other type of stress, math anxiety is an overreaction to a situation and, therefore, you can change your response to mathematics. Lets try these tricks for coping with mathematics anxiety. -Face it head-on. Dont wait until your senior year to take your math courses-take them early and overcome your fears. -Take a class that is at your level. Dont try to get into calculus if you have never had a pre-calculus course. -Spend some time each day reading the textbook and doing the practice problems. Going to class is not enough, because you must be able to apply what you have learned to new situations. -Talk the problems through. One of the best strategies for learning math is to solve problems with words. That is, explain in words how to solve the problem rather than just trying to plug in numbers. -Get help early on. If you find that you are having trouble learning math concepts, see help as soon as you need it. Get help from a classmate or the instructor, and plan to work with a tutor weekly if necessary. In math classes, the information you are learning usually builds on itself so if you dont understand what you learned in chapter 2, you will have even more trouble learning the material in chapter 6. -Use positive talk. Dont say, I cant or Ill never to yourself because these thoughts can be self-defeating. Instead, try to focus on the positives. Reward yourself for figuring out a tough problem and keep trying to do your best. Excerpt from  College Success Strategies  by Sherrie L. Nist and Jodi Patrick Holschuh.

Staff Spotlight Lan Nguyen - Heart Math Tutoring

Staff Spotlight Lan Nguyen - Heart Math Tutoring Staff Spotlight: Lan Nguyen Staff Spotlight: Lan Nguyen March 7, 2017 Lan Nguyen graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from UCLA and a M.A. in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In 2012, Lan joined Teach for America and taught 5th grade for three years in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. That experience solidified her belief that all children deserve a quality education. After relocating to Charlotte, Lan joined Heart in August 2015 to continue her commitment to education. Lan deeply believes that a quality education is our greatest tool to breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering our students to create the change they want to see in the world. Lan was the Program Coordinator at Montclaire Elementary for the 2014-15 school year and is currently the Program Coordinator at Billingsville Leadership Academy and Highland Renaissance Academy. Here are Lans answers to our spotlight questions: What is your favorite or book? My favorite books are the Harry Potter series! What is your favorite education quote? “Every child deserves a champion â€" an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be”- Rita Pierson What is your favorite number? 16, the classroom number of my favorite teacher in 3rd grade.

The Scene Approach How to Really Learn Language Through Movies

The Scene Approach How to Really Learn Language Through Movies The Scene Approach: How to Really Learn Language Through Movies That little skeptic in your head is getting to you.Its telling you that you cant learn a language through movies.It sounds like a myth, like Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy.Well, let me give it to you straight: It can be done!Yes, its totally possible to learn your target language  just by watching movies. And in this post, Im going to tell you exactly how.But first, let’s talk about some common reasons why people have a hard time learning language through movies. 4 Reasons Language Learners Have a Hard Time with Movies1. They watch the movie once, then move on.When a language learner sits down to pick up lessons from a movie, they dont fare as well when they treat it just like any other movie.Meaning, when they watch it only for the story and its twists and turns. When they know the plot, how it ends or how the bad guy was thwarted from his evil plans, they move on to the next foreign feature. Often, theyll just watch the movie one single time.This is a case of close, but no ciga r.”Repetition, and lots of it, is the name of the game. You don’t have to watch a dozen different films to learn language lessons. You only need to watch just one or two, but you have to really focus on them. You have to go deep instead of going wide. As youll see later, there’s a very specific way of doing this so you can maximize every minute of the film.2. They study the movie as one big chunk.A 90-minute film is too long to be properly absorbed by language learners, especially at lower skill levels.You not only have the language to contend with, but the culture as well. Theres a ton of nuance in the spoken words, gestures, expressions, behaviors, customsâ€"even the dress and chosen sceneryâ€"and youll miss out on these rich lessons if you watch the movie once and only focus on understanding the words.Watching a movie just once, its no wonder that even well-intentioned students only scratch the surface.To use a movie as a learning tool, you have to use the pause, replay and loop buttons strategically throughout the movie, and not just pause when you need a bathroom break or a popcorn refill.A movie isnt one single language lesson. It’s actually packed with so much content that it can yield dozens, even hundreds, of language lessons for you. Watching it from start to finish, in a single stretch, wont release all its language secrets.3. They dont take advantage of the subtitles.You know subtitles are there to let you know whats happening in the movie. Even non-learners benefit from the subtitles, when all they really want to do is enjoy the film that their friend recommended.As a language learner, you need to do more with subtitles. You need to mine them for linguistic gems like grammar lessons and vocabulary insights.There are two things needed for this to happen:1. Accurate subtitles. These can be harder to find than you might think. Sometimes, youll be watching a French movie and notice that the French subtitles are off, using different vocabulary or phrasing things differently than whats spoken. If youre a beginner, you might not realize whats going on and end up confused.2. You need to have a copy of whats being said. You need to print it up and be holding that thing in your hand! But how many language learners actually do this? To get your own copies of scripts, you can try looking on the Internet Movie Script Database  or SimplyScripts.You have to believe me when I say that the movie will be a whole different animal when you have an accurate copy of its dialogue in your hands.4. They let the dialogues go by too fast.One of the most common reasons language learners don’t get as much as they can from watching movies? The dialogues are simply too fast for easy comprehension. The lines are hard to follow, the individual words almost possible to tease apartâ€"the native speakers blur words together, drop syllables, play with tone and rhythm, use slang.Its hard to follow all of this when youre still learning. Especially at th e beginner and intermediate levels, this can be discouraging.Of course, the movie was made for native speakers, not language learners. Native speakers eat, sleep and drink with the language so there’s really no need to artificially slow things down. They may even know what a character is naturally going to say before the line is delivered.But for the noble and well-intentioned language learner, the lines whiz by too fast. Even if they have the subtitles printed up and know what was said, its still hard to catch the words or to repeat the line.I bet at least one of the above situations sounds familiar.It might be exactly the reason why your inner skeptic is telling you its not possible to learn language through movies.After all, remember that time you tried and it was way too hard? Or you just didnt learn anything new?Now, to combat these problems, Im going to share  an effective strategy called the Scene Approach.The Scene Approach: How to Really Learn Language Through MoviesThe A dvantages of the Scene ApproachAt its core, the Scene Approach is simply the strategic splitting of a film into its component scenes.A scene is a segment in the movie where events happen in a single sequence. A scene in the movie Titanic, for example, is Jack successfully intervening before Rose jumps off the ship into the water.In the Scene Approach, scenes that are fat with language content are studied relentlessly, repeated over and over till the cows come home. Other, less linguistically valuable scenes, like the movies big car chase, are skipped.The approach comes with hefty benefits.1. It makes the whole movie manageable.Who has the time to watch the same 90-minute foreign language movie 200 times, anyway? Imagine how much that would eat into your dayâ€"or into your life!And, as said before, not all scenes are created equal. There are scenes, like the training montages of all Rocky films, that could otherwise be skipped. They have no serious value for the language learnerâ€"as ide from being entertaining.Splitting the movie into component scenes is altogether a different proposition. It’s more manageable this way. A single scene fits nicely into the length of an average, everyday study session.Dividing the whole movie into manageable chunks means you can now focus on learning fewer lines and fewer vocabulary words in each viewing session. And youll have fewer fast-paced, back-and-forth dialogues to contend with.Plus, you don’t have wait for the whole movie to end before you hit replay. When you’re dealing with scenes, if some linguistic confusion happens in the third  minute, you dont have to suffer through the whole thing and wait for the final credits to roll before you seek clarification.Divide and conquer!2. It gives you the necessary context.But why scenes? Why not split the movie into discrete five-minute segments instead?Scenes are natural cut-off points. They contain continuous action that happens in a single place and without a break in tim e (usually, though more experimental films may skip around a bit).By their very nature, scenes are more palatable to the mindâ€"unlike a random five-minute segment where two characters are talking one minute, followed by a different set of characters talking about a totally different thing the next.Now consider that language and meaning never happen in a vacuum. Its not just about the words. Each scene really gives you the context for everything the characters are talking about. A scene is a world unto itself. It has its own purpose, characters, character motivations, scenery, costumes, background sounds and outcomes.Movies help language learners because they give all the necessary context for understanding language. The Scene Approach just amplifies this advantage by dividing the whole movie into its scenes.3. It slows things down.In this approach, you don’t move on to the next scene until you’ve mastered the one you’re currently on.So, instead of watching the movie as one lo ng stream, feeling helpless with the speed and flood of information, you deal with individual scenes. You can pause and rewind any time to replay it over and over. You now deal with the thing line-by-line, so even if the dialogue goes very fast, you can always play it back.Speaking of playbacks, our new technology allows us to replay a clip without losing quality. It used to be that, in the era of VHS tapes and DVDs, you would get diminishing audio and video quality for every replay. Can you imagine?Today, because everything is digital, you get the same quality no matter how many times you replay a clip. Its also easier to click and drag back to the beginning of the sceneâ€"just jot down the time at which the scene starts.Things still going too fast? Theres now video functionality that literally helps you slow things down to 75%, 50% or 25% of the normal speedâ€"even YouTube videos offer this.Language learners are really running out of excuses not to learn from movies.Now, were goin g to talk about how to implement the Scene Approach, step by step.How to Learn Language with the Scene Approach1. Watch it like any other movie the first few times.Go ahead. Watch the movie like any other movie.Get it out of your system. Watch the movie with popcorn and soda while stretched out on your couch. You can even invite some friends over and view it on a Friday night. Ogle the good-looking actors, laugh at the jokes, be surprised by the unexpected twists. Focus on the story and get the big picture.So, are you done?Now let’s really heat things up.2. When you dive into the scene, stop treating it like a movie.After watching the film as a moviegoer at least once, its the perfect time to put on your language learning cap.Go to the first scene and take out a notebook. Jot down the timestamp of when it starts and when it ends.Focus on this one scene and nothing else.Understand the specific context. What’s happening in this scene? Is the villain interrogating and torturing the hero in some dark dungeon? Listen to the back-and-forth volley of dialogue. Only this scene exists!This is very important. When you’re working with scenes and you know in the back of your head that its part of something bigger, the temptation to proceed to next scenes is very real. Movies are designed to be that way, to take you from scene to scene in a frictionless fashion. A director might prick your heart early so you feel for the main character later. And as for the villain? You cant wait for the satisfying revenge where you get to see the jerk get his just desserts and fall off a cliff.It’s cathartic to go through the entire journey of the film, I know. But then you would still be treating the whole thing as a movie.You’ve donned your language learning cap now, and it shouldn’t matter if the hero gets his revenge or not. Think instead of the language learning opportunities in the scene. Is the bad guy asking questions? “Who stole the computer chip?” “Where is the gold hidden?” Then take them as lessons in question construction!Yes, theres high drama happening in the scene, but you should rather be interested in more earthly matters. That’s why you already watched the whole movie like any other blockbuster. So,  when you end a day’s session, you won’t be left hanging on the scene where  Liam Neeson  is  threatening his daughter’s kidnappers over the phone by touting a very particular set of skills. That would be too much a cliffhanger to stop at!3. Go from English subtitles, to foreign language subtitles, to no subtitles at all.Master the scene starting with English subtitles first, then foreign language subtitles second, then no subtitles at all.This seems to be the subtitle study sequence that yields maximum learning.The English subtitles will ensure that you fully understand whats happening in the scene.After a few tries with English, you then use subtitles in the target language. You now begin to follow the mouth, the movements and the lines that are being delivered. Your eyes are trained on the scene, your ears are listening to the sounds. You listen more closely this time, even pushing the headphones closer to your ears.If you forget whats happening, switch back to English subtitles. You can actually ping back and forth as often as you like. Or, if it’s at all possible, display both English and target language subtitles at the same time, like you can with your  FluentU videos. This visual gives you unprecedented comparison of vocabulary.Finally, watch and comprehend the scene without crutches, without subtitles, just like native speakers do. Watch the scene, without the subs, several more times. More than you think you need to.4. Write the subtitles down.It pays to have the scenes transcript in your hand, instead of trying to catch them on your screen where they quickly disappear.Whether or not youve already printed the transcript out, take the time to write down the text of the particular scene.  By hand, if possible.This shows not only commitment, but writing the subtitles down will help you remember the words better. Research has shown that the act of writing makes it easier for the brain to store and retrieve information from memory.Instead of thinking of subtitles as aids for films, think of them as language materials in and of themselves. Or better yet, think of it the other way around. Think of the scene as an aid for the subtitlesâ€"a video clip to help language learners understand whats written on the page.This is the principle thats put into practice by FluentU, a unique language learning program that transforms short, authentic video clips into full language lessons. Its basically an entire program that operates on the Scene Approach.FluentU takes authentic videosâ€"like news segments, short interviews, movie clips and music videosâ€"and makes them approachable and valuable for language learners of any skill level. This is done through accurate, interactive subtitles that appear on screen. You can click on any word or phrase to get a definition, in-context usage examples and pronunciation.5. Memorize the lines and talk along.Believe it or not, you have to memorize some lines. Not because youll be blurting them out in real life. Well, maybe you will, maybe you won’t.Memorizing the lines is really just a way for you to improve your memory, open your mouth and indeed say the words used in the scene. The speaking practice mattersâ€"language isnt just in your head.Speaking is a physical act, and like any physical activity, you reach mastery when you actually do it over and over.A movie, even if you take it one scene at a time, can only do so much. You better be talking, yelling, mumbling, gesturing and generally acting in front of the TV or your computer screen if you want to get the most out of it. Say the lines as the actors say them, talk back to the actors, shout comments out loud, get involved.So, there you go! You now know how to really learn a language through movies.The Scene Approach lets you do a deep dive into a 90-minute feature film so you come away with a wealth of lessons.Good luck, and happy watching!

Math Careers - ALOHA Mind Math

Math Careers Have you wondered what kind of career you can have if you love math? Have you ever wondered how much math you need to do certain jobs? Take a look at some of these sites Mathematical Association of America is an organization to which you can belong that also offers a rather extensive listing of career areas in which a background in mathematical sciences is useful. While not all of the jobs are require advanced mathematics, some may include features that involve the ability to solve complex situational problems. They are written by real people to whom students could reach out and do informational interviews. Read more Cool Math is a website with a number of tools and resources to help you while away the hours over a variety of math situations. One of the pages is a list of resources that could help you figure out what you could use math for as a career. Read more We Use Math offers a number of resources for people in math and investigating a career in math. They have a list of 40+ careers that require a the use of math in some fashion. The jobs include salary information, education, math required, when math is used and other facts about the jobs. Red more What are some resources you have found?

TutorZ Receives the 2013 California Excellence Award

TutorZ Receives the 2013 California Excellence Award The Small Business Institute for Excellence in Commerce (SBIEC) recognized TutorZ LLC with the 2013 California Excellence Award. A panel of industry executives and consultants oversees an annual survey commissioned by the SBIEC on various industries and determines which companies meet and exceed the industry benchmarks that have been set forth. Tutorz LLC was one of those selected this year. We are all thrilled at TutorZ to recognized with such a high award. 7 years of hard work is leaving a mark in the industry, especially in our home state of California. says Dirk Wagner, CEO of TutorZ.com LLC. The SBIEC has publicized this award with the following press release: August 30th 2013 Tutorz LLC has been selected for the 2013 California Excellence Award amongst all its peers and competitors by the Small Business Institute for Excellence in Commerce (SBIEC). Each year the SBIEC conducts business surveys and industry research to identify companies that have achieved demonstrable success in their local business environment and industry category. They are recognized as having enhanced the commitment and contribution of small businesses through service to their customers and community. Small businesses of this caliber enhance the consumer driven stature that California is renowned for. Tutorz LLC has consistently demonstrated a high regard for upholding business ethics and company values which is a trait seldom found in its industry. This recognition by SBIEC marks a significant achievement as an emerging leader within various competitors and is setting benchmarks that the industry should follow. As part of the industry research and business surveys, various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the selected companies in each category. This research is part of an exhaustive process that encapsulates a year long immersion in the business climate of California. TutorZ Receives the 2013 California Excellence Award The Small Business Institute for Excellence in Commerce (SBIEC) recognized TutorZ LLC with the 2013 California Excellence Award. A panel of industry executives and consultants oversees an annual survey commissioned by the SBIEC on various industries and determines which companies meet and exceed the industry benchmarks that have been set forth. Tutorz LLC was one of those selected this year. We are all thrilled at TutorZ to recognized with such a high award. 7 years of hard work is leaving a mark in the industry, especially in our home state of California. says Dirk Wagner, CEO of TutorZ.com LLC. The SBIEC has publicized this award with the following press release: August 30th 2013 Tutorz LLC has been selected for the 2013 California Excellence Award amongst all its peers and competitors by the Small Business Institute for Excellence in Commerce (SBIEC). Each year the SBIEC conducts business surveys and industry research to identify companies that have achieved demonstrable success in their local business environment and industry category. They are recognized as having enhanced the commitment and contribution of small businesses through service to their customers and community. Small businesses of this caliber enhance the consumer driven stature that California is renowned for. Tutorz LLC has consistently demonstrated a high regard for upholding business ethics and company values which is a trait seldom found in its industry. This recognition by SBIEC marks a significant achievement as an emerging leader within various competitors and is setting benchmarks that the industry should follow. As part of the industry research and business surveys, various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the selected companies in each category. This research is part of an exhaustive process that encapsulates a year long immersion in the business climate of California.