What Is Heavy Water In Chemistry?

What Is Heavy Water In Chemistry?What is heavy water? Is it something that is dangerous or something that we need to use in order to function properly? If you are not sure, then you need to do a little research into this question. The answer could be more complicated than you think.We usually associate heavy water with its heavy chemical makeup. The most common misconception in thinking about this substance is that it is hazardous. However, this misconception is outdated and not really accurate. This is because a lot of people actually use heavy water for research purposes.There are a lot of reasons why people would want to use heavy water for science. One reason is the fact that this substance is a mixture of liquid and solid, which is unique. Secondly, this type of substance is inert, which means that it doesn't react with anything when mixed with something else. If these are two things that you are interested in, then you can definitely say that this could potentially be very usef ul for your needs.Another benefit that you can gain from heavy water is the fact that it is extremely dense. Basically, it is composed of atomic weights of carbon and hydrogen. Due to this factor, this type of substance is often referred to as heavy water.If you look at what is in heavy water, then you will notice that there are a lot of different compounds in there. The main compound is composed of hydrogen and carbon. Due to this fact, this compound is often referred to as heavy water because it contains a high amount of hydrogen atoms. Furthermore, it also contains a higher percentage of carbon atoms.There are two different types of heavy water that you can find on the market. The first one is the liquid form. This kind of material is capable of providing you with clean water but is less dense and heavy.On the other hand, the liquid form is heavier than the other type, which is why it is more compatible with other substances. It also makes it less dense compared to the other form . So, if you want to make the best decision, then you should definitely look into the benefits that it has to offer you.

How to Approach Learning a Foreign Language

How to Approach Learning a Foreign Language Cmo ests? Comment a va? Wie geht es dir? If youre taking a foreign language in school, you probably understand at least one of these phrases. Then again, being that these are the most common languages to study and they all mean some version of Hows it going, its likely that you can recognize them all anyway. With most schools requiring a foreign language study, its extremely common for students to begin learning their chosen language in late junior high. Nobody said grasping a foreign language was going to be easy, however. It takes a lot of discipline, thorough review, and determination. Although Spanish and French tend to be the most popular options, other languages like German and Latin are typically available as well. It ultimately depends on the school you attend, but other languages may be offered as well, such as Greek, Italian, Arabic, Chinese, and more this span usually widens once you arrive at the college selection of courses. It is first important that you select a language you feel excited about. If you genuinely want to learn it, youll have an easier time doing so. Sure, this may seem like common sense that applies to all studies, but learning how to speak a language is more than just completing a task for a class. This is a skill that could really affect your life in the long-term. Youll acquire a better understanding of foreign culture, comprehend things about the English language you werent even aware existed, and be more motivated to visit a foreign country one day so you can apply your impressive talents. Truly grasping a foreign language will make you more worldly in ways you didnt even know possible. Here are 5 tips for learning a foreign languagethat you may find helpful. Since learning a foreign language can be, in fact, such a challenge, here are some tips for getting through it as painlessly as possible: Nail down the basic grammar: If you continue to go higher and higher up on the learning ladder but still dont understand the key building blocks of all of these words and phrases, youre never really going to understand the language. Just like you wouldnt be able to naturally put together English sentences if you struggled with its basic grammar rules, dont expect to be able to coast your way through French or Italian without an accurate comprehension of the way their sentences are supposed to be structured. Schools typically incorporate these building blocks in the beginning of the curriculum, and rightfully so, which means some of the most crucial lessons you need to absorb are going to take place right away. Write them down in a page of your notebook you will savor, organize them onto flashcards do whatever it takes to make this information readily accessible to you and simple to review at any time. Once these rules are strongly set in your mind, youll be prepared to take over thi s language properly. You may also want to consider consulting a foreign language tutorto help you. Think the language in your head: When you only leave the language to your classroom practice periods, you are greatly limiting yourself. Even more so, if you only practice the language by speaking out loud, absorbing the material is going to take significantly longer. One of the reasons you are so familiar with the English language is because you hear it all the time, meaning in your head as well as aloud. Given that you are trying to learn a foreign language while surrounded by a society that mostly speaks English, you will not have the benefit of hearing it aloud as frequently as youd like (outside of your classroom, of course). To counter this, and to make it feel more natural to you, train yourself to think in that language. Pause your thoughts and try to make them out in the foreign language you are studying. Nothing is more natural than the words spoken in your brain, so translating those will highly increase your comfort level with the language in question. Have a pocket dictionary and/or translator website easily available: Our worlds vocabulary is endless. There are many words you dont even know in English, so how can you expect to immediately memorize them all in Spanish? Or German? Or Latin? Nothing will slow you down more than missing out on key vocabulary just because you dont instantly have the resources to look it up. By carrying an easy translation material on you at all times, an unknown word is just a page turn or click away. Its near impossible to think up every word you could ever want to know in one sitting, so instead of driving yourself crazy trying to make your own list and memorize it at one time, look up words as they come to you. Youre more likely to remember them when they are terms you genuinely want to use in the moment. Get familiar with the culture: Foreign language teachers make this a part of their program for a reason. Whether youre consciously aware of it or not, understanding American culture significantly contributes to your understanding of the English language. Becoming familiar with the details of a specific culture helps you attain an honest awareness of the way its language is used and approached. This will ensure you really perceive the language in an authentic way rather than just attempting to memorize every aspect of it unnaturally. Plus, youll learn some pretty interesting things along the way that will give you a better appreciation for world culture differences. Have as many conversations as possible: This will easily be covered in your class sessions take advantage of it. Do not blow off these opportunities to practice your language in the most convenient way possible. Similar to thinking the language in your head, using it in conversation after conversation will make you much more relaxed with it. Practicing phrases to yourself is one thing, but having another persons unexpected statements to respond to is another. When you are able to bounce off of your conversation partners use of the language, you will be better trained in saying a wider span of things. You cant plan for the words you will need to say every day, so get as much practice in unscripted conversation as possible. Speak your language whenever you can. Even if you are at home with your family or roommate who dont speak it and you just want to test yourself, go right ahead. The point is to sincerely want fluency in a second language and you will be sure to achieve it with that kind of genuine desire. Get yourself both a good grade and a life-skill to benefit from. You may also want to check out this information on the rise of foreign language enrollment.

5 Must-Read Tips if You Want to Get Signed as a Singer

5 Must-Read Tips if You Want to Get Signed as a Singer Suzy S. Do you dream of getting a record deal? Here, Santa Monica, CA singing teacher  Lauren C.  shares her tips for breaking into the industry and getting your voice heard I coach a lot of young singers who aspire to secure record label deals and establish successful music careers. Some of my students have secured contracts with labels like Motown Records, and I myself have recorded with Grammy-award winning producers in Los Angeles and recorded tracks with chart-topping artists. So, what are the labels looking for today? What tips can you employ to get ahead in the cutthroat, competitive world of recording music? Heres my best advice on  how to get a record deal and make it in the industry. Do invest in voice lessons. We live in the era of The Voice, after all, and there is a taste for truly good vocalists in the entertainment industry as much as ever before perhaps more than ever before. We are in a golden age of vocal acrobats and technique. It’s hard to compete in this saturated market if you do not have real chops. There are always unique and untrained voices in the world of pop and rock, but its important to learn to sing in a healthy way to preserve your voice for many years. You will also more easily and quickly expand your range, and diversify the tones and vocal colors at your disposal. A good teacher will never hinder your style or your unique tone he or she will help you sing with healthy technique and increase your vocal potential. And gone are the days that voice teachers only teach classical technique. Many of us are still grounded in this technique; I am. But these days, many teachers teach all styles (I do) or are particularly suited to a particular singing style or genre. Find a teacher you gel with, and commit to years of study and regular vocal exercise. The Internet is your friend. Use it. We are all familiar with artists who have broken on the Internet. If you want to gain exposure, you don’t need to wait to get signed; in fact you  need  to start gaining exposure and attracting fans before a label is going to look at you these days. Create a YouTube channel, join SoundCloud and post your tracks, join TuneCore and distribute your own music via iTunes and Spotify, and check out ReverbNation. Utilize all social media platforms to cross-publicize your work. Post your latest SoundCloud release on Twitter, on your Facebook fan page, etc. Comment on and follow other artists to expand your network and get their comments and likes back. But don’t forget the Internet is not everything. Sing locally. Sing at your school, church, find a local open mic, get a permit to busk if there is an area in your city this is popular (like the 3rd Street Promenade here in California). Also, network make human contact and collaborate with other local musicians. Try co-writing most songs are NOT written by just one person. Check out Musicnotes.com  and download your favorite pop song. Chances are you will see at least two co-writing credits. Try to connect with people who may have more experience or knowledge than you, and see if they are interested in collaborating. Also, take constructive criticism along the way the only way to get better is to take notes, and improve what you need to improve. Opinions are subjective, but take it on board and see if it resonates with you. Always strive to improve. Note the difference between recording in the studio and performing live. Both are important, but they are two different animals. In the recording studio, the microphone is like a camera it captures everything. So never feel bad if you need a little auto-tune. Auto-tune is like Photoshop. A skilfull producer will auto-tune your tracks so that they sound tuned to the natural ear. You may sing very close to perfect tuning live, but in the studio, a fraction off is picked up and we hear it. Do find producers or a studio you can record some demos with. In the long run, you really want to produce commercial-quality tracks to be taken seriously by labels. And note that long before you have a label, you can get licensing deals on your own and get your songs into a film, commercial, or video games if the recordings are professional enough. Sometimes this is what brings more attention from labels and managers. On the other hand, working with producers can be expensive. If you are just starting out, see if you can find a less-experienced producer, and try to negotiate an affordable fee to start learning the ropes of singing in the studio. It can be nerve-wracking. Here are some additional tips for singing in a studio: Always warm up thoroughly before you begin. Do a full take through of the song, then go back to repeat sections or lines until you are in love with the delivery. When a take is the one, you always know! Unlike singing live, most recordings are takes spliced together. Remember that everyone is unique. What you do may not be what Rihanna does. Be kind to yourself and just focus on getting a great result. Finally, just as you would for singing live, stay hydrated with water, and use lozenges like Ricola. Split up a session over a few days if you need to. Determine what makes you unique. As a recording artist, you are a brand. This is different from someone working in musical theatre, for example that performer is pursuing auditions, getting hired, playing a role already written, and has probably performed dozens of times. You are more or less fitting a mold and doing a job for hire. But when you are a recording artist, you have the opportunity to be your own boss, write your own material, and create your own opportunities. To get ahead, you will need to define what is unique about your music, your voice, and your brand. So take some time to develop this, and think about all aspects of your brand. What do people see when you walk in the room? Is your look working for or against you? Think about clothes, artwork for albums, production styles, instruments, and vocal delivery and tone. Are you a power rock belter? Are you a subdued singer-songwriter? What about your voice is helping or hurting you when you try to convey your style?   If youre wondering how to get a record deal, these tips will help your brand stand out to reps. And that will lead you down the path to a successful music career.  Lauren C. is a singing teacher in Santa Monica, CA. Shes a classically trained soprano with  a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance. She teaches students  of all ages and in all styles ranging from opera to pop to rock.  Learn more about Lauren here! 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 Photo by Jared Polin

Fine-Tune the Way You Learn Music

Fine-Tune the Way You Learn Music Suzy S. Earlier this week, in honor of Presidents Day, we mentioned a few of our nations past leaders who had musical chops and now, President Obama caught the medias attention after singing a verse from Sweet Home Chicago at a White House event to celebrate blues and Black History Month.   PBS will air the event on Monday, February 27th, but you can also check out a video of the performance here. Not bad for a spur of the moment spotlight! As most musicians know, truly learning a piece of music requires more than just recognizing the notes and lyrics on the page.   As a singer, your job is to know the phrasing and structure of the song inside and out, and also communicate the emotions to the audience using your attitude, expressions and movements.   This may be easy for a well-versed singer, but if youre a beginner still learning proper breathing and posture, it can seem a bit overwhelming.   Dont worry heres a great list of the 6 steps to learning a song, as originally posted on Performance-High.net: 1) Learning lyrics, melody, phrasing and structure This means just knowing when to sing and what to sing to get through the song start to finish successfully, even if you have to think about it. 2) Internalizing lyrics, melody, phrasing and structure Know how it all goes without even thinking about it. 3) Fine-tuning:  pitch, when to take a breath, enunciation, etc. Most songs offer some kind of new challenge.  Even when you know how it goes, depending on where you are as a singer you may still need to fine-tune pitch entrances, runs, fast passages, enunciation, or where to take a breath. 4) Interpretation Dynamics.  Attitude.  Vocal texture.  Emotional expression.  What are you going to do to make this song interesting and expressive? 5) Performance Does the song merit movement?  Interaction with band members?  Emphasis of hits or breaks?  Is there a solo where youll step back as lead singer and let the focus be elsewhere? 6) Ownership After youve performed a song live for a certain amount of time, it finally gels.  You figure out how to sing all of it in your style, you get inside of it, you relax into it, it becomes yours.  That takes time, and also requires the previous steps. What other tips can you think of that have helped you master a song?   Leave a comment below and share with the community! Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. You might also like: A Quick Way to Improve Your Next Vocal Performance Can Yoga Help You Sing Better? Simple Steps for Perfect Pitch Photo by Acererak.

The Best Apps for Learning Chinese

The Best Apps for Learning Chinese Which Chinese Language Learning Apps are Best? ChaptersHellotalk Anki for Learning as many Chinese Words as Possible Write Chinese Characters Using PlecoSkritter Hello HSKWhile going to the country where the language is spoken is almost always the best way to learn Chinese, your language-learning desire can sometimes be trumped by simply lacking the funds or means to travel and learn through immersion.  However, a problem that often gets overlooked by both students and professionals is finding the time to actually study. It doesn't matter how interested you are in learning a language if you can never actually find the time to learn it!Whether you’re on the bus on the way to work or university, in a doctors waiting room surrounded by old magazines, stuck in traffic while listening to the same 3 pop songs, or just doing some house work or chores, did you know that you could use your free time to learn a language?You've probably already tried typing things like “learn Chinese” into Google. As you'll have seen, there are plenty of resources for those who want to learn Chinese online. Finding them is easy. Choosing the right ones is hard.While technology doesn’t perform the miracles it often promises to, smartphones can be used effectively to learn languages from distant lands like Chinese.Let’s have a look at the apps and resources that can help you to learn Chinese outside of Chinese language courses. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHellotalkWhether you’re an absolute beginner, inter mediate, or advanced student, this e-learning mobile app, which puts you in contact with native Chinese speakers, is a great addition to your Chinese private tutorials and is incredibly useful if you're hoping to become conversational or steadily working towards fluency.Is there a Swiss Army knife app for teaching Chinese? (Source: Adrianna Calvo)The app is available on both Android and iTunes and requires that its users create a profile including where they live.Whether the user prefers to keep their location hidden or not, they can use the app to find Chinese people near them in order to practise the language they want to learn with them.Once the user’s decided whether or not they want to show that they’re learning Chinese, the app will help them get in contact with native Chinese speakers so that they can get better at the language by.Conveniently, these Chinese native speakers happen to be looking for someone who speaks English natively so that they can practise their Englis h.Once the two have been put in contact with one another, each user can correct their partner’s mistakes in the foreign language in real-time through chat in order to mutually help one another improve their foreign languages. You can also turn text into audio in order to hear the Chinese pronunciation.If you're speaking to a Chinese native speaker who makes a mistake in English, you can immediately correct them in the conversation and they can do the same if you make a mistake in Chinese.This isn’t like other chat clients such as Wechat, Whatsapp, or Facebook Messenger. The functions of this app are geared towards language learningThe goal of this app, which has 4 out of 5 stars on Google Play and has been downloaded 40,000 times, is to improve language skills through conversation, correction, and everyday conversation with native speakers of Mandarin Chinese.Some key points about this app:There are no smileys or emojis in this app since the goal is to express yourself through w riting and speaking rather than “text speak”.This app is “freemium”. This means that although it is free, some functions can only be accessed by paying for them.It features a “feed” like on Facebook where you can keep up to date with your linguistic adventure.If you're an exchange student who's just moved to Beijing, it's a great way to find someone who teaches Chinese or would just like to learn to speak English.You should also check out our books for learning Chinese! Anki for Learning as many Chinese Words as PossibleAnki is the flashcard app par excellence for those taking private Chinese classes!Which apps should you be using to learn Chinese characters, tones, and vocabulary? (Source: kaboompics.com)Highly recommended by almost every Chinese language learner, this app can be installed on both Android and iPhone. Users can use this free app to read, learn, and remember Chinese words and characters.Let me explain how it works: The user can create or import a Chinese vocabulary list and test themselves using text, audio, images, speech synthesis, and spaced repetition in order to improve their Chinese.With an interface that blends simplicity and flexibility, this app is made particularly special by the dedicated community around it.  Thanks to the community, there are so many different vocabulary packets available for beginners, intermediate, and advanced speakers of Chinese.Additionally, since the app is “open source”, there are a huge range of tools and extras being developed for it. This also means that it can’t go bust due to a lack of funding.Did you know you could also learn Chinese by watching videos? NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Di scover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Write Chinese Characters Using PlecoThe Pleco app, which is available on Android and iPhone, is essential for anyone wanting to learn Mandarin Chinese.Some apps can use certain vocabulary, words, and expressions in order gauge a student's level. (Source: pixabay.com)Recommended by Chinese bloggers and professors, this comprehensive app has a number of features that will help Chinese students improve in their foreign language.Chinese-English DictionaryThe really special thing about this mobile dictionary is that you can draw the characters directly into it using your finger or write them out using the Pinyin phonetic transcription system.Optical Character Recognition (OCR)Optical character recognition allows the app to effectively “read” Chinese characters using your phones camera and subsequently give you a translation of these characters in English.Another great feature of the app is that you can save the characters you’ve scanned using the OCR into a deck so that you can go back over them at a later point.This is really useful for students learning to read in Chinese or intermediate students looking to expand their Chinese vocabulary.  Unfortunately, this tool isn’t available unless you pay for the full version and the character recognition works better using the photo function than the live recognition.Flashcard FunctionThis function allows you to practise memorising Chinese characters as well as revising characters that you’ve previously seen like those from your Chinese tutorials, for example.These flashcards, which are quite easy to manage, can be used to create tests. This is particularly useful if you’re studying for a Mandarin Chinese exam, for example.One by one, these Chinese characters will appear before you and you’l l have to prove whether or not you know them. Your final score will tell you whether or not you need to keep studying in order to improve.  This feature, which is available in the free version, is really useful for students that are studying for the official HSK exams since you can choose the word lists for the level you’re studying for.SkritterLearning how to speak a new language is tough and if you're desperate to learn the Chinese language, you're going to need to know more than just a few phrases . Even if you can speak Chinese perfectly and have a fantastic understanding of Chinese grammar, you still need to be able to read it!Learning Mandarin Chinese without being able to read it will leave literature (which is a huge part of Chinese culture) beyond your grasp. Don't worry though! If you're taking Mandarin lessons (where you should be getting a lot of Chinese speaking practice), you should be using the Skritter app in your free time, to help you learn Chinese characters.Thi s app uses Spaced Repetition, a method that can help you learn a Chinese character with a 90% retention rate. While speaking Chinese is only half of your mission, if you want to become fluent, you need to be able to read, write, and speak! You can take Mandarin lessons London, Manchester or anywhere in the World!You might also want to know about the best websites for learning Chinese... Hello HSKThe HSK exam has its own official apps for students wanting to pass the exam with flying colours!The HSK exam uses simplified Chinese characters so you won't need to study traditional characters. (Source: stock.tookapic.com)Since the apps are divided into levels, there are 6 of them and all of them are available on both Android and iPhone. They’re particularly useful for students who need to go back over something they might have missed during their tutorials.The app, which has 4 out of 5 stars, features the following from the exams:ListeningReadingWriting Chinese charactersIt includes a g ood mix of Mandarin Chinese lessons and exercises, making it essential for anyone who’s signed up for the exam. Additionally, it focuses on the key points of Mandarin, vocabulary, and expressions that you’ll see in the exam.It also has HSK practice papers for students to get ready for the big day when they finally sit the most popular official exam amongst those learning Chinese.To get ready for your HSK exam, you can also check out some of the best videos online for learning Chinese or find a tutor for lessons by webcam or in person, including Chinese lessons London.Discover also the best tools for learning Chinese...

5 Fun Italian Games for Learning Numbers

5 Fun Italian Games for Learning Numbers Brooke Neuman Can you count to 10, 20, or 30 in Italian? Below, Italian teacher Nadia B. shares some fun Italian games that will help students learn numbers Learning numbers in Italian is as simple as uno, due, tre. From referencing amounts to sharing phone numbers, learning the Italian numbers will serve you well. Play the following Italian games with your instructor or friends to help you learn and memorize  the numbersand before you know it, youll be using numbers with ease! 1. Bingo An old favorite, bingo can be transformed into an Italian game. Print off a bingo sheet with numbers (there are a ton of websites where you can find blank bingo sheets), then designate someone to call out the numbers in Italian. When someone completes an entire line, he or she yells “bingo” and then recites the numbers he or she has in Italian. If you dont have chips to place on the sheet, try placing a clear sheet over the printout so you can simply erase the xs on the sheet and start over. 2. Catch it! In a circle (or between two people), start tossing a small ball back and forth. Every time a person catches the ball, he or she must say a number in Italian. The next person who catches the ball must say a numeral higher than the previous one. You’ll start to learn more and more as the numbers ascend. Before you know it, you’ll be reciting the number 1,395 or milletrecentonovantacinque. To add extra challenge, you can also recite the numbers in threes, tens, or whatever sequence you wish. 3. Story Time This Italian game is an imaginative way to practice using  numbers in conversation. As a group, create a story by having each person contribute a sentence, one by one, building on the previous sentences. Every third person (or sentence) needs to have at least one number included in it. Here is an example of a story: Mauro è un ragazzo che abita vicino ad un bosco. Un giorno, quando camminava nel bosco, ha visto un lupo. Il lupo gli ha detto, Dopo quattro giorni, vedrai un albero alto e accanto allalbero, due fiori. Questi fiori sono magici. [Mauro is a boy who lives near a forest. One day, when he was walking in the forest, he saw a wolf, and the wolf said to him, After four days, you will see a tall tree and, next to the tree, two flowers. These flowers are magical.] 4.  Solve it In a circle, have someone start by proposing a math question using multiplication, division, addition, or subtraction. For example, tre per tre (three times three), dieci diviso per due (ten divided by two),  or  cinque più tre (five plus three). The next person in the circle has to answer the question, then using their answer  create a new math problem. Keep the equations simpleor else you could end up with complex math to do! If someone gets a problem wrong or mispronounces a number in Italian,  he or she  steps outside the circle. The last person left wins! 5. Number patterns First, have everyone stand in a straight line.  Choose a number pattern to count ( for example, odd numbers, even numbers, multiples of five, etc.). The first person starts off by saying the first number of the sequence and then moves to the back of the line. The next person continues and so on until the number 100  is reached in each sequence. This Italian game is good practice and can also add extra challenge if a quick pace is established. The movement of walking and standing also helps, since learning happens best when the whole body and brain are engaged! These Italian games for learning numbers are playful and fun, so make sure to enjoy yourself. Youll see the benefit of having the numbers on the tip of your tongue when you start to use what youve learned  outside of your Italian lessons, since all sorts of daily activities involve numbers. Post Author: Nadia B. Nadia B. teaches Italian in New York, NY. She graduated summa cum laude from New York University, with a double degree in Italian Language and Literature and Classical Music Performance.  Learn more about Nadia here! 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

Learn Italian Fast

Learn Italian Fast Learn Italian Quickly at Home ChaptersLearn the Important Italian Words FirstLearning Italian Phonetic CharacteristicsConsolidating Mastered Words and PhrasesLanguage Exchange: English for Italian, via Webcam or at HomeLearning Italian would be a great move, for several reasons.In spite of the recent prosecco debacle, Italy is among the top five destinations for holiday-making Britons.In fact, Veneto â€" the region that produces the bubbly wine we love to drink is the second most popular locale for UK visitors.Italy is an important economic partner to our country, consistently on the top ten list of both import and export destinations.One of the best Italian exports that our country enjoys is people: Italian expatriates have declared Great Britain their  number one destination for relocation.Clearly, that indicates long-term, binding relations in which a romance language will be exchanged, right?Finally: as though these reasons weren't enough, let us mention that adding a second language to your CV will certainly boost your chances at professional success.If you are dreaming of Sardinia's sunny shores or Rome's timeless culture, engaging a tutor to help you learn Italian is the sensible solution: your Italian adventure awaits!Luckily so, because studies have shown that, once a body settles on a course of action, s/he wants results as quickly as possible.Learning from a private Italian language tutor is the way to achieve quality results, fast!Whether your desire to study Italian stems from academic need, professional aspiration or the personal wish to speak the language of Dante Alighieri, we have all the hints, tips and suggestions you need.Superprof has all of the tutors you need, too!Are you ready? Andiamo!In spite of our current spat over sparkling wine, we love to visit Italy Source: Pixabay Credit: Matej Tomasinoquestion your teacher about. It will also boost your confidence and assure your ongoing investment in your language studies.Learning techniques like flashcards and vocabulary lists are   great tools for this proposed nightly review. Another good tool would be verb conjugation charts.Here is a great tip: you could practice your oral Italian skills with a native speaker of la lingua, should you have one handy. If not, why not immerse yourself into the culture by taking a cooking class? Language and culture being intrinsic to each other, any cultural approach you take to learning Italian is bound to pay off!You can use apps to find and chat with native Italian speakers Source: Pixabay Credit: Tero VesalainenLanguage Exchange: English for Italian, via Webcam or at HomeTo develop competent language ability, one must practise... of course, especially at home between lessons. Who will you practise with? Short of taking a trip to Italy â€" and barring the aforementioned handy Italian in your midst, chances to speak Italian in Britain don't linger around every street corner. However, there are people from Italia living in the UK, and quite possibly, they want to learn English from a native speaker. Should that be the case, a language exchange programme would be ideal!An abundance of mutual language learning websites and civic programs have cropped up over the last few years, meaning that all you need is a willingness to learn and dedication to the task in order to succeed â€" both at teaching and at learning.Whether you are taking Italian lessons for the love of languages or because your career will take you down the Appian Way, how well you learn depends on:your daily study habitsyour tutor's competencies assessing your language level as well as your learning strengths and weaknessesregular usage of your spoken Italian skillsimmersing yourself into the culture as well as the language Once you have a firm grasp on how to speak Italian, you can raise your confidence level by taking practice tests online.  Learn how to prepare for your Italian lessons.Fallo e basta, caro!

English Listening Exercise President Obama on Between Two Ferns

English Listening Exercise President Obama on Between Two Ferns The video for this weeks English listening exercise is really interesting and funny.President Obama goes on the comedy show, Between Two Ferns which is a really funny and pretty odd type of comedy. It is surprising that he would go on the show and it proves how he is really pushing younger people in the United States to join the health care program he helped create.Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: President Barack Obama from President Barack Obama Try the Listening Exercise:1. Why did he cancel a few times?2. In 2013 you pardoned a turkey. What ___ you ___ planned for 2014?3. Why dont we ______ __?4. What does he compare running 3 times to?5. He kind of ______ that movie didnt he?6. Be short and _____ and ____ like Doritos and try to ___ __ in Hollywood.7. Where are you planning on building your presidential library in _____ or your ___ country of Kenya?8. What would he do if he was president? Why?9. What did Obama go on the show to plug?Writing: Would the leader of your cou ntry go on a show like this? Why or why not? Do you think that stuff like this works?

Building Early Math Skills Key To Later Academic Success

Building Early Math Skills Key To Later Academic Success Building Early Math Skills Key To Later Academic Success Building Early Math Skills Key To Later Academic Success December 7, 2015 Too Small To Fail conducted a QA with Deborah J. Stipek, dean of Stanford Graduate School of Education, on the importance of introducing children to math concepts early. Read that interview here, which includes tips and resources for parents. The importance of early, hands-on experiences with numbers helps explain why Heart’s intervention is necessary and gives the rationale for some aspects of the program. “Children learn best during playful, everyday activities, like counting their toes, the buttons on their shirt, the steps they walk up. They can be asked to count out how many forks are needed to help set the table. Shape hunts through the house can be fun (the clock is a circle; the TV is a rectangle). Children can learn about the importance of numbers by doing a number hunt, with a discussion of how the numbers on the telephone, clock, or elevator are useful.” â€" Deborah J. Stipek Many Heart students did not have the hands-on experiences with numbers described above. Heart uses tutoring manipulates (Connecting Cubes, dice, cards) to create “playful, everyday activities.” We ask tutors to make sure students are the ones touching and moving the objects, even if it takes more time and patience on the tutor’s part. This way, students’ time in Heart attempts to compensate for some of the lack of hands-on experiences with numbers in early ages and at home. As Heart prepares hosts eight holiday events for parents through Dec. 18, the research and ideas cited in the QA with Stipek are a reminder that math can be practiced at home in everyday situations. The article goes on to further emphasize the importance of reducing math anxiety through “playful opportunities to develop math skills.” Heart lessons add elements of surprise, competition, or tracking points to keep an element of FUN in simple tasks! Billingsville teacher Amanda Saunders remarked that sometimes students enjoy the time with Heart tutors so much that they don’t even realize they are practicing math skills that have been very difficult for them in the past. “Some of the biggest needs that I see from the kids is not necessarily even always academic but sometimes it’s just that moral support or having someone that they know is going to be there for them consistently a couple of times a week. A lot of times the kids don’t even pick up on the fact that they really are working on things academically that they need.” â€" Amanda Saunders, second grade teacher, Billingsville Leadership Academy A 2013 study by University of California-Irvine found that “math knowledge at the beginning of elementary school was the single most powerful predictor determining whether a student would graduate from high school and attend college. This 3 -minute NPR audio clip also mentions that meta-cognition (thinking about your thinking) and asking students to explain their reasoning strengthens students’ verbal skills. “We talk a lot about literacy, but not nearly as much about math.… Several studies show that children’s math skills when they enter school are very strong predictors of their academic success later on. One study showed that math skills upon kindergarten entry predicted children’s reading abilities in third grade as well as their reading skills at kindergarten entry. While children can learn beginning math skills after they enter kindergarten, they will be at a disadvantage.” â€" Deborah J. Stipek The achievement gap begins before kindergarten not only in reading but in math, as well, and early math skills predict later academic success. Blog post by Emily Elliott, executive director of Heart Math Tutoring.