Applerouth Tutoring Locations

Applerouth Tutoring LocationsApplerouth tutoring locations offer your child many hours of fun. What's more, many of these schools are community-based institutions and the people who run them are just as interested in your child's success as you are. To be certain, you will receive personalized attention from the right professionals. The first thing to do is simply to begin looking for a school that you believe can help your child.Look for a school that features high quality tutors. Don't settle for less. What are they teaching? Who is teaching the students? This is the most important thing you can look for.You have to consider many factors, such as the curriculum, the leadership, the students, the facilities, the financial situation, the reputation, the reputation of the school, and the support system. A successful program needs all of these elements. It is not enough to find the best school with the best faculty.Applerouth does not have the facilities that other communities have. In fact, it does not have a single school. So this means that the entire system works together as one.It's true that there are some very high cost homes here. And yes, there are teachers who work very hard, but you have to look at this from your child's perspective. They will not get enough tutoring. And it is quite possible that they will drop out of Applerouth school.They may get enough money for their living expenses, but they may be required to pay for housing, food, and other miscellaneous costs. Many Applerouth schools offer meals, but they do not offer adequate transportation. Some children have to walk to the school.Many parents are encouraged to move their children to the more affluent Applerouth areas. This is a good option for them, but we believe this strategy has many disadvantages. While they are paying more, many of these families are moving to areas where they are not as likely to meet people from other ethnic backgrounds. In addition, many of these families are raisin g children who will grow up with much higher risk for criminal activity.

Holiday Break Learning Activities

Holiday Break Learning Activities For most families, holiday break is symbolicyouve reached the midway point of the school year and its time for a breather. However, that doesnt mean your child should spend the next two weeks scrolling social media. Here are eight holiday activities for kids you can try over the break that will boost your childs brain power: Reading Dont force your child to crack those textbooks, but do encourage him or her to choose a book (or several) to enjoy over break. Head to the library for an afternoon at the start of break to stock up. Consider reading something together to make it a fun family activity. Classes for fun Look around and youll discover many fun holiday learning activities and classes for children over break. Your nearby recreation center, library or bookstore are good places to look for winter break classes and workshops on things like cooking, holiday crafts, writing, art or even sports. Museum hopping Art galleries, history museums, and nature and science museums make ideal day trips for children of all ages. Check out those in your town for any special exhibits for the holidays. Holiday break is a chance to explore some of those lesser-known museums too, like a heritage museum or sports museum. Educational movies/TV Who doesnt love curling up on the couch around the holidays to enjoy some entertainment on screen? When you visit the library, look for interesting documentaries or based-on-true-events movies that might pique your childs interest. Perhaps theres a thought-provoking TV series (think science, animal and history channels) that your family could watch together over break. College research If you have a high school student, holiday break is a great time to do some college research and/or preparation. That might include browsing college websites to start gathering information, reading up on financial aid or fine-tuning that admissions essay if you have a senior who is working on applications. Cooking Many families do a lot of entertaining and hosting over the holidays, which means lots of food. And guess what? Cooking involves practical math skills such as measuring and shopping, and time management skills for the planning and preparation. Hand your child a cookbook and put him or her in charge of your holiday menu. Family history documentation Your child could devote some time this break to creating a cherished book of family history. Have your child call or visit family members to ask about their childhoods or favorite holiday memories. Science projects What is your child curious about? Whats going on around you? Have your child come up with a few things to track or measure over break (e.g. snow accumulation or hourly temperature). Have him or her research easy science experiments online that he or she can do with household materials and try a few a day. Holiday break is the perfect chance for your child to explore something new and relish learning for the fun of it. Get creative. There are all kinds of ways for your child to keep her mind engaged over break while having fun at the same time.

Heart Expands Program To Sedgefield And Piney Grove

Heart Expands Program To Sedgefield And Piney Grove Heart Expands Program To Sedgefield And Piney Grove Elementary Schools Heart Expands Program To Sedgefield And Piney Grove Elementary Schools May 18, 2015 Thanks to the good work of our volunteers and the willingness of more Charlotte community members to become volunteer tutors, Heart Math Tutoring will partner with two additional schools in 2015-16 to ensure that all students develop the strong foundation in math and enthusiasm for academics needed for long-term success! Sedgefield Elementary and Piney Grove Elementary will join Heart’s five Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools partners in welcoming 50-70 weekly volunteers to work one-on-one with students in grades 1-5 who are performing below grade level in math. Heart’s existing school partners are Billingsville Leadership Academy, Highland Renaissance Academy, Montclaire Elementary, Westerly Hills Academy, and Winterfield Elementary. Volunteer tutors provide academic support using a structured curriculum and build valuable relationships with students over the course of the school year. Many tutors come before work or at lunchtime to spend 30 minutes to an hour with their elementary-aged mentees. To date, 98% of students have met program growth goals in math. Sedgefield and Piney Grove were chosen among more than 10 applications based on factors including school leadership, community partnerships, and location. An eighth school for 2015-16 is yet to be named and will depend on funding availability as of June 2015. Heart places a Program Coordinator and tutoring materials at each school. The program was designed to be replicated, and Heart plans to provide tutoring to additional schools that applied within the next two years. Thank you to our tutors, our school partners, and our funders for making this math intervention available to some of our most valuable citizens â€" our children in need! Sign up to volunteer at Sedgefield, Piney Grove, or any of our existing schools. Make a donation to help Heart reach an eighth school next year.

4 Reasons Internships Prepare You for the Real World

4 Reasons Internships Prepare You for the Real World Image via pexels.com In this aspect, transitioning well from your educational field to a real-world job almost requires some internship experience. There are many reasons internships prepare you for the real world. Here are four key reasons: 1. Grunt work One great thing about doing internships is the ease of the initial shock of entry-level jobs. Because you’ve likely been studying hard during your undergraduate, or perhaps graduate degree, you’ve been doing very specialized and advanced things. However, entry-level jobs can be a bit of a letdown when you realize you aren’t doing the high-level stuff, but the grunt work. Many of your initial duties will be boring, repetitive, and feel less fulfilling than you thought at first. However, many internships will also make you do a bit of the grunt work around the office, so you know what kind of balance to expect from a real-world first job. This takes away the lag time in being productive and also helps you jump right into what you’re supposed to be doing. If you’re already fluent in the basics, it will take less time for you to move up the ranks. 2. Diversity Depending on your university, you may have a very diverse student body or a very similar one. However, one thing usually stays the same when it comes to college student bodies: age. A majority of the students will be in their late teens to mid-twenties when it comes to undergraduate degrees, which means that besides the likely older professors, you’re only really being exposed to people similar to yourself and of similar experience. However, when you enter an internship, you’ll realize that the scale of diversity expands even wider with age, background, education levels, and experience levels. An internship really helps you learn to navigate the many different people you’re going to be working for and working with. If all your assumptions and work-ethic based actions center around your undergraduate peers, you may make some crucial mistakes when it comes to working with others. An internship beforehand will nurture those techniques to include a broader array of people. 3. Experience You may be lucky to go to a university that cultivates a hands-on approach to learning, but for most of us, our learning comes through reading and lectures. However, reading and lectures are great for your personal knowledge, but really fail to enhance the skills needed for putting that knowledge into action. Internships are a key factor in bridging the gap between education and industry. Internship coordinators are well aware of the educational background most of their interns will have. They are well-versed in techniques to build that knowledge into real-world skills. As an additional note, a common complaint by entry-level applicants is the amount of experience needed to qualify for entry-level jobs. Internships are a great way to earn that experience even before graduation and get a leg up on the other applicants. 4. Connections As you grow older and learn even more about the tricks of the real world, you’ll soon realize that you’re more likely to be hired just because you know someone. Of course, it is always important that you possess the skills and education needed to fill the role, but almost all positions are filled simply by word of mouth. Because of this, connections become extremely important to thriving in real-world jobs. One of the reasons entry-level jobs receive so many applications is because many applicants don’t know anyone yet and this is their only way to get their foot in the door. However, an internship allows you the time and resources to make those connections early on. It may not be that you are offered a job at the same company after the internship ends, but your coworkers and managers may be likely to call you if they hear something open up elsewhere. You can also talk to the company about other similar companies they have connections to. An internship coordinator is a great person to have as a reference or recommendation. Indeed, the list of reasons could be nearly endless. If internships are available to you, it would be a mistake not to capitalize on all the benefits it could have for your career now and later. The knowledge and experience you gain about the real world from an internship become  an invaluable resource.

Memrise vs Duolingo Which of These Popular Language Learning Programs Is Right for You

Memrise vs Duolingo Which of These Popular Language Learning Programs Is Right for You Memrise vs Duolingo: Which of These Popular Language Learning Programs Is Right for You? Tesla or Edison?Coke or Pepsi?Superman or Batman?Marvel or DC?The world is full of tough choices.And in the field of language learning, in this clash of titans, which should you pick: Memrise or Duolingo? It is a tough decision!By the end of this post, we will settle the scores so that you will know which program you should choose.Are you ready to dive deep into each platform?Let’s begin with Memrise. Memrise vs Duolingo: Which of These Popular Language Learning Programs Is Right for You?MemriseAvailable: iOS | AndroidWhat Is Memrise?What would you call an app that is designed to help you remember words?Rightâ€"Memrise seems like the perfect name! It seems even more so when you realize that one of the apps founders, Ed Cooke, is himself a memory grandmaster.The other two masterminds behind the project are Ben Whately, who studied experimental psychology at Oxford, and Greg Detre, a neuroscientist who studies the science of remembering things.So, the very first thing you need to k now about Memrise is that it was shepherded by guys who know what they are doing.The next thing you need to know is that Memrise is a flashcard app/software on steroids. These are not your grandmother’s flashcards where she writes Spanish words on one side and their English translations on the other. Memrise works with audio, video and text. When you are looking at video clips of native speakers (and replaying them as often as you want), rifling through a bunch of audio samples and typing your answers on a keyboard, you know you have come a long way from grandma’s ol’ school flashcards.Memrise uses spaced repetition to help users remember vocabulary. This means that difficult words show up in the exercises more frequently while those that you have already mastered are replaced by newer words. Memrises algorithm “knows” the words you are struggling with because of instances when you make errors while the app is testing you on a particular word.Say you are given an audio cli p of the Spanish word “ ¡Hola!” (Hello!), and the app then asks you to pick its English translation from the given choices. If you answer, “Thank You,” for example, Memrise thinks, “Hmmmm, he got that one wrong. I better drill him more on this.”On the whole, Memrise is an excellent app for learning target language vocabulary. It offers plenty of languages, including Spanish, French, German, Chinese and Italian. The basic app is free, but a premium subscription is $8.99 for one month, $5 per month with an annual subscription and $99.99 for a lifetime subscription.The Memrise InterfaceMemrise is available both as an app and as a website. The two interfaces are intuitive and sleek. You will not have too difficult a time navigating them.The app and website do vary a bit in terms of what is available and what can be done on each platform (and sometimes they do not sync perfectly).With its “flashcard” technology, Memrise can do more than teach you a language or help you me morize new words. It can basically help you memorize anything: trivia, capitals of the world, currencies, geography you name it! It can also teach you the vocab for any subject: design, history, science, etc.And, with this “flashcard” technology, Memrise users can personalize decks. As a matter of fact, a lot of content on Memrise is user-generated, and this is one of the programs strengths. You can learn so much just by clicking around and exploring their “Courses” section.The website reflects this and shows you the many things outside of language that you can learn with Memrise. The app, on the other hand, seems to focus on language learning. (It also prompts you to upgrade more often than most users would like.)Below, we will look more closely into what is under the hood of this great learning tool.FeaturesMaking Words and Phrases MemorableThere are two main activities that can be done in the Memrise app. The first is “Learn,” and the second is “Review.”The Learn section is further divided into “Words and Phrases” and “Learn Grammar.” These divisions are self-explanatory. You will probably spend most of your time initially in the “Words and Phrases” subsection, drilling new vocabulary, looking at videos, listening to audio clips and tapping correct answers for any given task.The “Learn Grammar” subsection is where you get a little bit of grammar instruction. The operative phrase here is “a little bit.” Do not expect too much handholding. You will get grammar highlights but not the deep instruction that some students may be looking for. (But for the grammar concepts that they do tackle, expect the same engagement and finesse offered in the vocabulary section.)The second main section of the app is the “Review” section, which is further divided into six different activities: “Classic Review,” “Speed Review,” “Difficult Words,” “Learn With Locals,” “Pronunciation” and “Listening Skills.”You will ha ve already encountered most of these activities when you initially learn words and phrases. But here, they are split into specific categories for further focus. If you want to specifically review pronunciation, for example, head to “Pronunciation.”Here is a quick look at what each of these subsections offers:Classic Review This drills you on the words you have already learned (no new words are introduced). You will once again take on different tasks that allow you to engage and work with the vocabulary. You will do back-and-forth translations, type words into boxes, listen to audio clips and arrange phrases in their proper order. This is where your learning is cemented.Speed Review This is a run-through of all the words you have learned, but with the added pressure of being timed. For example, you will see an English word and four options. Your job is to tap on the correct translation of the English word before the allotted time expires.The longer you take, the more your screen will be taken over by the color red. The speed review is an important gauge of how well you recall learned words under pressure, which reflects how deeply embedded the vocab is in your memory.Difficult Words A session here will give you the chance to really drill those words marked by the app as “difficult.” Maybe you made multiple mistakes during the learning session. Those relevant items are added to the Difficult Words section. Another way of populating this subsection is by marking the words yourself.If you encounter a word which, at first sight, sends a chill up your spine, you can preemptively mark it as difficult and it will be added to this section. This will afford you more opportunities to practice the word.Listening Skills This has everything to do with sounds and how you are able to make out the different words of the target language. Some words in languages like French have pronunciations that are quite different from how the words are spelled. This subsection lets you listen to audio clips and hone your ears to the tonal flow of your target language.Pronunciation Just because you have consistently tapped on correct translations does not mean you know how to actually say a word. This section prompts you to pronounce the words and phrases you have learned.So, speak up on your phone’s mic and say the word or phrase just like the native speaker does. Memrise’s technology will “listen” and determine if you have done it reasonably well. If not, do not worry, you can always try again.Learn With LocalsNow, this is where the platform really shinesâ€"even the spokespeople for alternative Memrise programs would probably agree.Here, you work with short video clips featuring native speakers to learn the most basic expressions. The advantage here is that you are not just seeing pictures or hearing audio. You are actually seeing short clips of native speakers demonstrating how words and phrases sound. So, you have the benefit of both audio and movin g visuals working together to make the vocabulary really stick.This is where the target language comes alive through you observing facial expressions. For example, you see a smile when a native French speaker says, “Merci!” (Thank You!) or pursed lips when she says, “Non” (No).In the “Learn With Locals” subsection, you really begin to understand the communicative aspect of the language.If you think videos are great, then FluentU is right up your alley! FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like movie trailers, music videos, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into language learning opportunities. You will gain access to a vast collection of videos that are specifically chosen for language learners like you. The videos are ideal for both vocabulary and grammar practice.Each video clip on FluentU uses interactive transcription technology. The subtitles you will see do not just help you follow along but also give you the opportunity to click on any word to find out more a bout it. You can see words and phrases broken down and used in example sentences and other videos.FluentU also offers fun quizzes, customized vocabulary lists and dynamic flashcards for additional learning.Do not just take my word for it. Check out FluentUs free trial and see for yourself!Mem CreationWith Memrise, you can personalize each flashcard by creating a “mem.”“Mems” are mnemonic devices in the form of text or pictures that help make the words and their translations memorable to you.For example, for the Spanish word “Hola,” you might add a picture of a bearded man holding a donut in one hand and waving “Hi!” with the other. So, in your head, you are thinking, “There is a hole in the donut and it could be the letter O in hola.  And, the guy holding it is waving hi or hello. Perfect!”So, for you, that picture makes “hola” stick in your head. You decide to make it a “mem” so that each time “hola” is presented, the donut guy also appears.How are y ou going to set that up?Well, making one is really easy. (Note that it is much better to use the web version of Memrise for this.)As the words are initially presented to you during the learning phase, there is a “Help me learn this” button. This is your first step to mem creation. Click on it and you will get to see if other people have already created a mem for the word or phrase. Some words may already have several mems created by other users, and you might decide to use what is already there. Or, you can add your own mem by clicking on “+ Add a mem.”You will then be given the chance to upload the picture that you want and even write a caption or accompanying text. Anything goesâ€"you can choose any picture or write any text.  Think of something that is going to make the word stick for you.“Mems” are highly personal. Since you make them yourself, they are meaningful and memorable to you. But, that does not mean you cannot share them. Other users can also benefit from t he mems you make.Some learners forgo this feature and simply make do with the standard Memrise presentation, thinking it takes too much time to find that perfect picture or write that ideal caption. I think this is a big mistake. In order for something to be memorable, you need to wrestle with it. You need to invest time and effort into it.The very act of creating a memâ€"searching for the picture and thinking of a good captionâ€"is a memory-enhancing process. Yes, it is time-consuming, but it will also embed the word in your memory. As a result, you will be much more likely to remember the vocab.In other words, your brain becomes actively involved in the learning process instead of just passively memorizing things.Chatbots and GrammarbotsMemrise Pro, which is available for $8.99 a month, comes with two additional “techie” features: the chatbot and grammarbot functions.ChatbotIf your imagination works just fine, you might enjoy the journey this feature offers. The goal here is t o let you practice the target language without the stress of embarrassing yourself in front of a real person.The chatbot transports you to the country where your target language is spoken. He then lets you “interact” with the locals.What actually happens is that you will be placed in an imaginary situation, say, a “Meet Greet,” with a friendly local (a bot). You will be given options of what you can say in a standard back-and-forth conversation. For example, you can pursue an interaction by saying, “ ¡Hola!” back to a stranger who is trying to get to know you, or you can click “Adios” to extricate yourself from the scenario.This feature resembles a choose-your-own-adventure game in a chat environment. It is only available with the later levels of major languages, though.GrammarbotThis is a chatbot that focuses on grammar and parts of speech.This is essentially the “Learn Grammar” section but in chat form. The grammarbot will send you messages that explain differ ent grammar concepts. It will then test your comprehension of the lesson. For example, it will ask you to arrange words in the correct order.These two features obviously offer a number of possibilities for improvement. However, more content needs to be developed so that users do not cycle through the same lessons over and over again.You now know the ins and outs of Memrise.Next, we will head over to the green corner and look into the language learning platform Duolingo.DuolingoAvailable: iOS | AndroidWhat Is Duolingo?Offering more than 30 language courses, Duolingo is a behemoth of a learning platform. The app alone has already been downloaded over 100 million times. You cannot get into language learning without coming into contact with, or at least reading or hearing about, Duolingo. (The discussions from its forums alone can often crop up in your Google searches.)Duolingo is the brainchild of Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker. The former invented the “Captcha,” and the latter is a multi-awarded entrepreneur and brilliant Swiss computer scientist.Duolingo is a language learning platform that shares a lot of the features we have already talked about with Memrise. That is why these two programs have naturally been pitted against each other. Duolingo offers language exercises and drills that train users in both vocabulary and grammar. It engages learners through tasks like translating between languages, identifying pictures, listening to audio and typing on a keyboard.Duolingo bills itself as “the new way to learn a language,” incorporating game elements into its standard operation.The first “F” of the Duolingo philosophy is that language learning should be “fun.” Later we will talk about exactly how Duolingo injects this into every lesson.The second “F” is that it is “free.” (Isn’t everything though, these days?)Duolingo earns its keep some other way, so you get a ton of material without ever spending a dime. Not much is hidden behind a payment wallâ€"no new content or intrinsically advanced features are offered. The most you get by upgrading is that ads magically disappear. You even get the sense that Duolingo is not really pushing very hard for Duolingo Plus, its premium subscription option, which costs $6.99 a month.The Duolingo InterfaceLike Memrise, Duolingo is also available as a website and as an app.Whether you are working on your computer or going mobile, you get to experience the same instinctive interface. The layout is easy to navigate and you should not have any issues getting where you want to go. But, just like with Memrise, the website and app do not always perfectly sync. (This is what naturally happens when tech teams are tinkering behind the scenes and trying to make the product a little better.)In terms of fonts, colors and graphics, Duolingo is a little bit more playful than Memrise, as it features cartoon-like images. And, of course, do not forget Duo, the lovable green owl who is the face of Duolingo. This cutie peaks out from your screen every once in a while to cheer you on.There are also plenty of dings and dongs, sounds that tell you each time you get a correct or incorrect answer. The app is pretty vocal, meaning that introduced words and phrases often come with an audio componentâ€"which you would do well to repeat after.So, for best results, even if you are on your phone and using headphones, it is better to be somewhere private where you can say the words aloud. Duolingo would not mean very much if you just master tapping on the right answer without ever opening your mouth.That said, let’s dive a little deeper into Duolingo and see what it brings to the language learning table.FeaturesBuilding Memorable SentencesAs mentioned earlier, many of the mechanisms for learning that we have talked about with Memrise also exist with Duolingo.Your language course is one, long learning “tree,” which is divided into numerous mini-sections that go from the absolute basi cs to an intermediate level. Each mini-section has an over-arching theme, like sports, recipes, couples, etc.There is a set sequence to these sections, and each one is locked until you complete the previous sections satisfactorily.Duolingo gets you to perform different simple tasks, like matching words and their translations, matching images with their foreign language names, saying a word or phrase presented on the screen, listening to audio or typing on the keyboardâ€"practically the very same type of exercises in the “Words and Phrases” section of Memrise.They drill the vocab items over and over, from English to the target language (and vice versa!) so that what you are learning becomes firmly embedded in your long-term memory.Duolingo starts with vocab and slowly builds words into phrases until you get to full sentences. There is a seamless transition between old words and new ones because they are presented side-by-side. The mastered words are slowly phased out while the ne w ones are gradually worked in. Before you know it, you have already picked up several new German words by simply working on pint-sized tasks. (The grammar-heavy elements eventually come at later parts in the course.)Admittedly, Duolingos sentence examples do have a lot of room to improve. Sometimes they can be funny, sometimes even downright weird. Users might find that the sentences they are working on are not especially helpful in actual conversations.Duolingo also has a “Stories” feature, which can easily rival Memrise’s chatbot function. The stories also happen in a chat environment. You are taken to a specific scenario where you need to answer comprehension questions in order to move the story along. For example, in a French dialogue between a husband and wife, you might be asked to choose the correct topic of their conversation.So far, Duolingo “Stories” are only available for major languages.Gamified Language LearningDuolingo says it only takes five minutes a day t o learn the language. But, you can bet your bottom dollar that they want you in the Duolingo ecosystem for the long haul.Look at how the whole experience is set up: The platform has poured gaming elements into every lesson, making it fun and motivating. There are also game elements in Memrise, but it just seems that Duolingo has the high ground on this one.Each move you make in Duolingo is recorded. Each correct answer has a corresponding number of Experience Points (XPs), and the longer you work on tasks, the more XPs you earn.Reaching a certain number of XPs increases your level, which soon leads to “lingots.” They are the virtual currency of the platform that you can use for things like buying bonus skills and power-ups. You can even give lingots to other users and spread goodwill. You can also use lingots at the virtual store to buy different costumes for Duo, the mascot.In my opinion, Duolingo has not really tapped the full potential of their lingot system. If they add more uses for these, it could potentially be a game-changer.Another metric to watch out for is your “Streak.” This refers to the number of days that you have met your daily XP goals. (You can set your goals in the “Settings” section.)There are progress bars all over the place, telling you how you are doing with the lessons. These bars go down the longer you do not practice. So, you have to go in and review the lessons in order to keep those bars at 100%.There are also leaderboards that tell you your position vis-à-vis others.I think the most important metric is the “Streaks” number, the number of consecutive days you have worked on Duolingo. Language learning needs consistency. If you work at it erratically, you will never reach fluency. So, you better make those “Streaks” as high as you possibly can.Lively Forum DiscussionsOne awesome thing about Duolingo is that you can post a comment at practically any point in your session. Every time you see the message icon, it me ans there is already a discussion happening about that particular question. These threads are fertile with insights from native speakers and fellow language learners.Duolingo has some of the most active language forums around. They are wellsprings of insight and information. That is what happens when you have around 300 million users worldwide. There are bound to be interesting and engaging discussions all around.While Memrise makes the platform social by making “mems” shareable to others, Duolingo can boast of these lively conversations going on between learners who are sharing language resources, asking study advice or just engaging in a random conversation between kindred spirits. You will never feel alone.Check out this even deeper look at Duolingo  and whether it works or not.Memrise vs Duolingo: Who Wins?So, after all has been said and done, which one is the better platform: Memrise or Duolingo?Memrise Pros:Free!User-friendly interfaceElegant vocabulary-learning toolAbilit y to incorporate user-generated contentVideo clips featuring native speakers make the language come aliveMemrise Cons:Too much push for the upgradeDoes not have many grammar lessons or much content for advanced learnersDuolingo Pros:Free!User-friendly interfaceCan teach you grammar and sentence structuresGamified learningActive language forumsDuolingo Cons:Needs more relevant sentence examplesDoes not have much content for advanced learnersSo, who wins?!Clearly there is only one winner and that is you, the language learner!You have access to two of the most technologically-advanced language learning systems developed by folks who love what they are doing and who have learners’ interests at heart.For instance, if you want to learn vocab, maybe you can start with Memrise to get the ball rolling, and when you want to graduate to sentence structure and grammar, you can opt for Duolingo. (You can take Duolingo’s placement exam and skip to the later lessons.)These platforms are certai nly not mutually exclusive. They nicely complement each other.And, on that note, I would like to add FluentU to the mix. This platform, which focuses on language learning videos and helps learners every step of the way, can easily go hand-in-hand with Memrise and Duolingo.Take advantage of the free FluentU trial and see for yourself.I salute all of your efforts and wish you the very best on your journey to learn a new language.Good luck!

6 Ways to Deal with Workplace Conflict

6 Ways to Deal with Workplace Conflict image via Isorepublic.com Try to resolve it before it escalates When a conflict is left unresolved and allowed to escalate, it can cause people to bottle up emotions and to be passive aggressive. After some time, someone might burst from holding in all those emotions. This will not be pretty, and of course, it will affect the quality of your work. So, try to resolve the conflict before it gets to that point. This will save you from many headaches! Try to resolve it among yourselves before involving anyone else Try talking through the conflict, just the two of you, before involving anyone else. Your boss and your company’s HR department are busy, they don’t need to deal with yet another employee conflict. Instead, talk to each other in a neutral space (in other words, not your office and not their office) that’s free of distraction. If you two can’t come up with a solution on your own, then feel free to involve other people, higher up in the chain. Try to get to the root of the problem Many times, in order to solve the conflict, you need to look past the surface. If you just look on the surface, you will only be solving the symptoms, not the problem itself. On the other hand, if you figure out the root of the problem, you can focus your energy on solving that, rather than just resolving the symptoms. In the next few points, we’ll talk about how to get to the root of the problem, so you can reach an effective solution. Listen to the other person with understanding Part of resolving a conflict is communicating, which involves listening to the other person with understanding. Let them speak uninterrupted. Obviously, we are all different, and we have differing points of view. Try to understand theirs. Do your best to step out own head. Focus on the problem rather than on the person. Of course, expect the same respect from them, conflict resolution must be mutual. Again, seek someone higher up if you can’t resolve it yourselves. Use the common strategies for conflict resolution According to Chron, there are five main conflict management strategies. Read about each of the strategies and figure out which one works best for your particular situation. Accommodating: one person submits to the wants of the other person. In other words, you let go of what you want so the other person can have what they want. (This strategy works if you realize the problem is not that important anyway.) Avoiding: ignoring or putting off the conflict. (This is not the best strategy, as I mentioned earlier that unresolved conflict can lead to bottled up emotions!) Collaborating: multiple people come together to create a new solution to the conflict. Compromising: both people agree to give up a little bit of what they want, but they also receive a little bit of what they want, too. (This is the most popular conflict resolution strategy.) Competing: one person wins, the other person loses. The losing side submits to the wants of the winning side. (This strategy works best if decisive action needs to be taken immediately.) There is a reason these strategies for conflict resolution are so popular. Choose one to apply to your situation. Try to avoid getting involved in conflict in the first place Now let’s discuss the best way to resolve conflict: avoid getting into it in the first place! Here are some ways to help you avoid getting into a conflict at your workplace. Only talk about professional matters while you are at work. Avoid telling your co-workers much about your personal life. Do not participate in any form of gossip. Just listening to gossip is participating in it. Plus, if they are talking about someone else to you, then they’ll likely talk about you to someone else. These are the people that will start drama and conflict. Avoid them! Do not talk about other people. This goes with the previous point, but it’s worth restating. If you talk about someone else, it’s easy for your words to be twisted and to start a conflict. To prevent this, have a general policy of not talking about other people. Be positive. You don’t have to be cheerful all the time (because no one is!), but don’t be constantly complaining or being a “negative Nancy.” This will just cause conflict. Prevention is the best way to avoid getting involved in a conflict. Don’t be a gossip or a bully, and don’t hang out with gossips or bullies. Unfortunately, we are all likely to fall into a conflict sooner or later. But the good news is that these conflicts can be resolved! Follow these tips and the conflict resolution strategies, and you should be good to go.

10 Untranslatable Words to Help You Describe the Complexities of Life

10 Untranslatable Words to Help You Describe the Complexities of Life 10 Untranslatable Words to Help You Describe the Complexities of Life Sometimes you just dont have the right word.You can stammer and gesticulate, but without the right word, youll be like a fish out of whatever-it-is-that-fish-live-in.And the unfortunate thing is that sometimes the word youre looking for simply doesnt exist in the language youre speaking. When you speak multiple languages, trying to find a word that translates to the word you want can become a polyglot problem. Luckily, theres an easy and fun solution for this: just use an untranslatable word from a foreign language!Untranslatable words are descriptive, entertaining and just downright cool. Just because your parents didnt give you a cool foreign name doesnt mean you still cant have something foreign and exotic in your life.Before we get too far in, lets be straight: untranslatable words are not universally recognized.  Scientific American  points out that even the idea of an untranslatable word is up for debate. Some argue that no words are untranslatable since you can usually explain any words meaning in a few words. Others might argue that since all words have complex meanings, all words are untranslatable. But whether you think everything or nothing is translatable, the fact remains that some words are more difficult to translate or explain than others.In fact, many languages have words that are often considered untranslatable. For example, there are plenty of Spanish words and Japanese words that fit the bill.So whether you believe in untranslatable words or not, theyre still fun to learn more about. Today well look at 10 entertaining words that some consider untranslatable. Why Should You Learn These Untranslatable Words?One popular reason to learn untranslatable words is that they offer vivid descriptions for things you wouldnt otherwise be able to describe easily. Some languages have developed words for concepts, actions, feelings and things that other languages dont necessarily have words for. Maybe theyre ahead of the trend and other languages will fo llow, but the fact remains that these words capture essential meanings that words in other languages do not.Additionally, untranslatable words add color to your vocabulary. Theyre interesting and dynamic, and using them will certainly make an impression and leave others asking more about the curious words.Plus, untranslatable words are just plain fun. Theres something indescribably appealing about them. You may even find yourself sharing them with your friends and/or trading them like Pokemon cards. Theyre the gift that keeps on giving.Resources for Learning Untranslatable WordsIf you finish this post and find you just cant get enough untranslatable wordsâ€"they  are addicting, after all!â€"here are a few resources to help you get your fix.The School of Life flashcardsThis 20-card set introduces some vibrant untranslatable words, with colorful illustrations to accompany each words definition. You may use them as a crash course in untranslatable words or simply a fun item to display proudly on your coffee table.Untranslatable WordsUntranslatable Words is a Tumblr account dedicated to sharing and discussing some of the strange and exciting words that are out there. Its archives are vast, so it could fill your brain for days. Plus, you can also filter by language or part of speech to make it easy to find just the right word.Lost in TranslationLost in Translation is a beautifully illustrated book that contains 50 untranslatable words. The definitions also include part of speech, making the words significantly easier to work into your everyday vocabulary.Dictionary of Untranslatables: A Philosophical LexiconIf you fancy a more academic approach to untranslatable words, you might try Dictionary of Untranslatables: A Philosophical Lexicon. This volume contains about 400 words related to politics, philosophy, literature and more. It features words from over a dozen languages with entries written by over 150 scholars. Entries are quite thorough, so this is best for in- depth study rather than casual perusal.10 Untranslatable Words to Help You Describe the Complexities of Life1. SchadenfreudeLanguage:GermanDescription:Schadenfreude is pleasure derived from someones misfortune. Thanks to the popular musical Avenue Q, which dedicates a whole song  (with adult content, so be warned) to it, schadenfreude is perhaps one of the better known untranslatable words.Usage Example:â€"Why do you want to go to the park? It just started raining. â€"Because a lot of people were picnicking there, and watching them frantically pack up is the best schadenfreude.2. IktsuarpokLanguage:Inuktitut (an Inuit language from Arctic region in central and eastern Canada)Description:The feeling of anticipation when you are waiting for someone to arrive and keep checking to see if he/she has arrived yet.Usage Example:I have too much  iktsuarpok. Im just going to wedge myself into the windowsill until he arrives.3. UtepilsLanguage:NorwegianDescription:Utepils literally means outdo ors lager. It can be used to refer to a beer you drink outdoors, or to the act of drinking beer outside on a nice day.Usage Example:After nine months of winter, its finally nice out. Want to come over for an  utepils?4. LítostLanguage:CzechDescription:The sudden feeling of recognizing your own failures and miseries. Its a combination of humiliation, remorse and self-pity.Usage Example:Blair posted on social media about her tour of five-star restaurants in France. My most notable dining experience recently was last week when the food trucks refrigerator went out and they had that seafood sale. I dont know whats worse: the  lítost  or the food poisoning.5. MokitaLanguage:Kilivila (an Austronesian language used in the Trobriand Islands of Papua New Guinea)Description:Something everyone knows but does not discuss.Usage Example:Id love to find out where Sharon got her new calf implants, but I cant ask anyone. Its a  mokita.6. MamihlapinatapeiLanguage:Yagán/Yaghan (an indigenous langua ge from Tierra del Fuego, the southern tip of South America)Description:The Guinness Book of World Records named mamilhlapinatapei the most succinct word. Thats quite an accomplishment for a word thats 16 letters long! Mamihlapinatapei refers to an expressive exchange of glances when two people share the same thought. That thought may very well be romantic, but it doesnt have to be.Usage Example:When the boss started talking about how his employees needed to work harder after he himself had taken a two-hour nap in the copy room, Matt and Dave shared a mamihlapinatapei.7.  ?? (Wabi-sabi)Language:JapaneseDescription:?? means beautiful imperfection. Its a popular aesthetic concept  that stems from Buddhist teachings.Usage Example:My eyebrows arent unevenly plucked! Theyre just  ?? (wabi-sabi).8. TingoLanguage:Pascuenese/Rapa Nui (indigenous language of Easter Island)Pronunciation:Since this is an uncommon language, audio pronunciations are few and far between. However, the pronunciatio n is approximately TEEN-go.Description:Depending on the source,  you might find two different definitions for  tingo.  The first is to haul as much as you can. The second is to borrow your neighbors belongings one at a time until theyre all gone. The second is definitely more colorful.Usage Example:My neighbor just went to IKEA, so Im going over to  tingo  the heck out of that place. I just hoped they saved a few leftover meatballs.9. TrepverterLanguage:YiddishDescription:A witty comeback you think of too late.Usage Example:Five minutes after she told me that my shoes were ugly, I finally came up with a trepverter: Well, at least I have a sole.10. TartleLanguage:ScottishDescription:Hesitation when youre about to introduce someone but have abruptly realized youve forgotten his or her name.Usage Example:When I tried to introduce my great-grandfathers girlfriend to my boss, I had a tartle. She told me shed forgive me as long as I helped her apply her eczema cream.So if you just cant pu t your finger on the right word to communicate an idea, dont hesitate to throw in an untranslatable word!

How to Choose Between Chemistry and Physics?

How to Choose Between Chemistry and Physics?Chemistry and Physics are two terms for the same science. Each has a different branch or department which offers different classes. If you are going to major in chemistry, you can choose between Engineering Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry.Chemistry is a branch of science and it focuses on the study of substances or elements. If you are going to minor in chemistry, you can choose from pure chemical sciences or one of the branches like Bio-Chemistry, Applied Organsics or Biochemistry. When it comes to making chemical reactions, chemical theory is the main aspect. Physics is an ideal branch for those who want to acquire more knowledge on concepts such as energy, mass, force, space, time, inertia and motion.Many of those who study in the Chemistry Department also go on to do their degree in the Physics Department. The Chemistry and Physics majors often study the same things. The Physical Science curriculum that focuses on atoms, molecules, an d properties of gas and particles is one of the main subjects that is taught in the Chemistry Department. The Physical Science curricula that focuses on atoms, molecules, and properties of gases and solids is one of the main subjects that is taught in the Physics Department.When it comes to working, you will have to take various branches of the course. The courses available in the Chemistry Department are Physical and Chemical Processes, Analysis and Motions, Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Kinetic Chemistry, Optical Sciences, Pure and Applied Mechanics, Materials, and Nanoscale Physics.With the class at the University of Texas where you will also learn about the chemical process and element nature. These classes also help in selecting the right career field that is suitable for you.The courses in the Biology Department that you can take include the Structure and Function of Cells, Cell Signaling, Molecular Biology, and Developmental Biology. These cours es help in filling the gap in your curriculum.You can also do a course in the Physics Department if you are doing your primary area of study in Chemistry. These classes help you in forming your research work. The way the physics and chemistry interact with each other is very important and is the reason why they are called major or minor branches of the same science. Your choice of major is an important decision that is made after discussing with your guidance counselor, teachers, and advisors.

Chemistry Conversion Problems - How to Solve Them

Chemistry Conversion Problems - How to Solve ThemSome chemistry conversion problems are simple, but they can be too easy to solve. That is why the online communities can be so valuable. You will be able to find many tips that you can use in the real world, as well as professional advice from people who have solved this problem before.The easiest conversion problems are those that involve metal. In order to solve a problem with gold, for example, all you need to do is mix all the chemicals together. However, if the metal is rather soft, the solution may not be a good one.Chemistry conversion problems with carbon can also be very easy. All you need to do is mix all the different substances together and leave them to react. Once the carbon is no longer reactive, it will be easy to get rid of the rest of the chemicals.If your goal is to convert lead into a more inert substance, then converting the lead can be a very simple process. All you need to do is mix together all the various compo nents and leave them to react. Once the mixture has been solidified, you can easily dump the whole mixture.Those conversions that involve pure metal, such as bronze, can also be simple conversions. The only thing you need to do is to make sure that the mix is stable enough for its conversion. You don't want to start a really messy experiment, do you?As you can see, converting problems involving heavy metal and carbon aren't that hard to solve. Even simple ones like mixing all the substances together can be quite easy, once you have a basic idea of how it works. Once you have this, all you need to do is to find a solution that works.When you start working on these conversion problems, you should always remember that there is more than one way to do it. You can either use the process to solve a problem, or you can even start on a completely new process. Whatever the case, the key is to come up with something that is useful and safe.