Utilizing The Services Of The UW Lutherans Militants of Pittsburgh PA Tutoring Center

Utilizing The Services Of The UW Lutherans Militants of Pittsburgh PA Tutoring CenterAt a time when there is so much going on at the high school level, it is good to know that you can also find a place to take your college students when they start looking for something else to do in order to fulfill their education requirements. The United Way Lutherans Militants of Pittsburgh PA Tutoring Center has the right course for every student's academic needs. Not only can you find students who want to take the course, but you can also work with them to find a mentor to accompany them to the next level in their education.This tutoring center also makes it possible for college students to receive feedback from teachers and other professors. In addition, you can also work with student counselors to help make it possible for students to continue their education while they are in college. Students in college sometimes feel as though they are the only ones in the entire world who are going to coll ege, and there is nothing that they can do about it.If you are going to be raising funds for financial aid, you need to understand the financial aid process and the requirements that are involved. This tutoring center will help with all of this. They can even help with getting students the financial aid that they need if they are currently in need of it. You can even work with your financial aid counselor to set up a plan for financial aid that meets the needs of the students that you want to bring into college.While working with college students, it is important that you make sure that you build up their self-esteem. It is important that you understand that in order to succeed in college, students must have confidence in themselves. When students are confident about their ability to succeed, they are more likely to complete their degree, and when they are not concerned about whether or not they can perform, they are less likely to complete their degree.Make sure that you work with your college students to see if they are able to take a course that they would like to take when they are done with college. If the students choose to take a course that is related to what they already have, make sure that you work with them to get them to take the course. You will find that students with questions about their courses are much more likely to work with you to figure out what they need to work on, and this will make their studies more effective.Another area where you can help with college students is working with them to ensure that they do not drop out of college during their sophomore year. The students who drop out usually do so because they have been too busy with their studies. If they are doing well with their college studies, it is easier for them to focus on their academics, and it is much harder for them to quit college.Working with the tutoring center is another way to help students who are having trouble with their studies. You can be there with them to hel p with getting them on the right track for success. Find out if they are a good fit for the tutoring center, and make sure that you set up a meeting with them as well.

Learn Yoga Poses to help with Back Pain

Learn Yoga Poses to help with Back Pain Can I attend Yoga Classes with Backache? ChaptersBackache, the plague of the twenty-first centuryDoing Yoga for a Bad BackYoga Moves that Relieve BackacheBack pain is a common source of discomfort for many of us. If you've never suffered from backache, you should count yourself very lucky indeed.According to the British Pain Society, almost 10 million Britons suffer pain almost daily resulting in a major impact on their quality of life. This in turn leads to more sick days, amounting to a total loss of £1 billion in earnings per year.Lower back pain, specifically, is the leading cause of disability, affecting nearly 1 in 10 people and becoming more common with increasing age.The good news is, not only does back pain still allow you to do yoga, but certain poses will even reduce the discomfort.What tips should  I  follow?  Which poses should I avoid and which should  I focus on?The world of yoga encompasses a range of yoga styles: hatha yoga, ashtanga yoga, iyengar yoga, kundalini yoga ... And those who practise it can see real improvements in their back.Find yoga near me in London. CarleyYoga Teacher 5.00 (5) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GenYoga Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JulieYoga Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LynnYoga Teacher 4.89 (9) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AliceYoga Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LauraYoga Teacher 5.00 (6) £70/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UndramYoga Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LottieYoga Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsBackache, the plague of the twenty-first centuryOur lifestyle is conducive to back pain. Backache can occur as a result of a poorly executed movements or excessive sport, but it can also be unavoidable, because of our daily habits:Poor sleep, bad bedding,Sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical activity,Sitting down for extended periods, in the office or on the sofa,Stress, an important factor with the onset of back pain,Poor nutrition, deficiencies can promote backache.Any of these or a combination of them can result in chronic back pin or even a slipped disc!How can I reduce the impact of a lifestyle causing me back pain?At first, it is important to look at the causes of a sore back and change what you can: walk more, eat better, play sports, etc.However, when you spend 7 hours a day in front of a computer in an office, it's hard to escape. This is the perfect reason to take the yoga option.Did you know you can also relieve osteoarthritis pain and even tendinitis through regular yoga practice?Doing Yoga for a Bad BackThe child pose is easy to perform and relieves back pain. Source: PixabayYoga does not only relax the body, but also the mind.A yoga session will help soothe your body and ease your mind. In this sense, with a yoga class dedicated to fighting backache, you will effectively fight physical pain, but you will also be better equipped to deal with stress and anx iety.Even if you strive daily to adopt a better posture in front of your laptop screen, or if you have invested in an ergonomic seat, you are not immune to back pain. The stresses and tensions of everyday life is a major factor in triggering back pain.Attention, Ladies: did you know that menstrual discomfort can be exacerbated by back pain? Learn how yoga can relieve your menstrual symptoms...With regular yoga practice, you can effectively prevent back pain. The benefits of yoga are countless, both physically and spiritually:Strengthen your dorsal muscles,Stretch your body,Become aware of your body and learn to listen to it,Improve flexibility,Relax and unwind,Relieve tension,experience general pain relief,Etc.This list could be longer, of course. More than just a physical exercise, yoga is a true way of life that promotes harmony between body and mind.The yoga classes near me all promote this form of healthy living!Yoga Moves that Relieve BackacheOf course, if you suffer from lower back or neck pain, you should opt for yoga poses that specifically work the painful area to alleviate discomfort.Avoid some classes like dynamic yoga. Choose Hatha Yoga classes instead, which combine poses focusing on concentration and breathing, as well as relaxation.Gently working the spine and stretching it, effectively soothes back pain.We find that the following poses (asana) work best to reduce pain:The child pose, to relax and stretch the back,The cat pose, to soften the spine and strengthen the deep abdominal muscles,The camel pose, to relax the back and soften the shoulders,The cow face pose, to relieve the back and soothe sciatic pains,The downward dog pose, a classic that is very good for stretching the back and softening the legs,The twist pose, to soften and straighten the spine, also good for scoliosis,The half-bridge pose, to strengthen the lower back and stretch the abdominals,The turtle pose, to stretch the lower back (only for experienced yogis),The rolling stone pose, to stretch and relax the spine.Learn how to do these poses and more from your gaming console!The turtle pose requires some practice, but is very effective in relieving back pain. Source: Yoga International.For effective relief from back pain, it is important to take your time to perform these moves gently, to ensure good posture. Poorly executed moves can cause injury.Remember to find a suitable yoga class, therapeutic yoga should be done with a qualified yoga instructor. They will be able to provide you with the basic knowledge and teach you the specific poses tailored to your needs.Once you've mastered these moves, you will be able to practice yoga at home on your own yoga mat with no difficulty. Not only will the back pain go away, but you will also get rid of day-to-day stress.Hello, new mothers! Learn all you can about the benefits of postnatal yoga classes!

Recognizing Screen Addiction in Kids with ADHD

Recognizing Screen Addiction in Kids with ADHD If youre the parent of a child who spends hours each day playing video games, watching YouTube videos, or checking out friends social media posts, youve probably wondered at times whether all of this screen time is problematic or if its just part of growing up in the 21st century. While all kids benefit from reasonable limits around screen time, kids with ADHD may need stricter limits than most to prevent them from becoming addicted to their screens. ADHD and Screen Addiction Research shows that kids with ADHD are at high risk for developing screen addiction. In fact, its estimated that up to 25% of kids and teens with ADHD suffer from some form of screen addiction. Why are kids with ADHD at increased risk? The constant simulation and reinforcement that comes from fast paced video games, videos, and even social media sites triggers a release of dopamine in the brain the same reward chemical that is implicated in other addictions (food, drugs, gambling, etc.). The brains of kids and adults with ADHD are especially sensitive to this dopamine release, and as a result, have a harder time disengaging from triggering activities than individuals without ADHD. What are the Signs of Screen Addiction? How can you tell if your child is actually addicted to screens, or just really enjoys spending time on his or her iPad or playing video games? Start by thinking back to times when you have tried to set screen time limits. How has your child reacted when you put the limits in place? Most kids will be disappointed and upset, but kids with a screen problem will quickly escalate verbally and sometimes physically. They will act as though their world has just been crushed, and will try just about any tactic to their screen time back. They will often become very sneaky in their efforts to get back in front of a screen, and will typically lie when confronted about their behavior. Children with a screen addiction prefer playing videogames or going online much more than any other activity. In fact, they may seem to no longer truly enjoy any activity that isnt screen-related. As a result, their relationships with friends and family and their grades at school begin to suffer. How Do You Help Your Child Break the Addiction? There isnt a one-size-fits-all approach to screen addiction. However, there are four basic principles that apply to everyone: Limit the number of screens in your home. Keep televisions out of your childs bedroom and do not allow any tablets or smartphones in his or her room overnight. Have one central charging station in the house where everyone leaves their devices at the end of the day and during mealtimes. Limit internet access. Set up website blockers for all of your childs most addictive sites and apps. Also, work with your internet provider to disable your childs internet access at a set time each day. Be a good role model. Set limits around your own screen time. Pay attention to the amount of time you spend on your phone or tablet. If your child sees that you are constantly in front of a screen, then you are sending the message that excessive screen time isnt a problem. With these two steps in place, your path forward will depend on the age of your child and his or her level of screen addiction. If you have a younger child with a relatively mild problem, then putting firm limits into place (e.g., 30 minutes of iPad time a day) and sticking to them despite the behavior outbursts, will help dramatically. In addition, if your child has not started playing videogames yet, then do not let him or her start now. In my experience, the most severe cases of screen addiction among kids and teens with ADHD all involved videogames. With any type of addiction, the best strategy is prevention. If you have an older child or teen with a moderate or severe screen problem, then intervening is more difficult. Kids and teens who are addicted to screens rarely have any insight into their problem, so talking to them about their behavior and encouraging change is very challenging. Its best to work with a child and adolescent cognitive behavioral (CBT) therapist who has experience treating screen addictions. A good therapist will work closely with both you and your child to set limits on screen use at home, and help your child learn to enjoy activities that dont involve their phone, tablet, or gaming console. Screen addiction is a very real problem for many children with ADHD, and its not something that will simply get better on its own. Look out for the signs of screen addiction and get help if you think your child is struggling to manage healthy limits around screen time. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

US Constitution Test Study Guide - Private Tutoring

US Constitution Test Study Guide Anna L Jan 12, 2020 Oops, cramming for that Constitution exam tomorrow? This US Constitution test study guide will cover the main areas you need to know to approach it with confidence. Key terms and subjects that you’ll need to remember are in bold and be sure follow points of interest to develop your answers. Need more help? What Came Before The United States Constitution was not the first document to dictate the political and judicial makeup of the country. The Articles of Confederation (1771-1789) provided a generally weak framework for a central government since it wanted to emphasize the independence and free-will of the 13 states. Its powers were limited to international diplomacy, national territory, and declaring war (no plans for taxation are a key problem here). Its President (the President of the Congress) was largely ceremonial as a debate moderator for the 13 states. Failure of the states to work together meant that a better system with a strong central government needed to be put in place. However, it would be enough to win the revolutionary war and establish the Declaration of Independence (1776). This saw the 13 states as independent from Britain and that they would unite to form a nation-state. The Constitution would then need to perform a balancing act between centralizing power (not allowing states/the electorate to do as they please) and avoiding tyranny (not becoming like Britain). Points of interest: How did the War of Independence shape the political foundations of the United States? What previous document/s dictated the government of the United States? What were their limitations? Writing the document The United States Constitution (1787) was drafted during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and defined the American government as a constitutional republic. It gives power to its citizens in the preamble by beginning with “We the People” rather than owing itself to the inherited position of a throne (Britain’s constitutional monarchy). Those who helped draft the Constitution alongside the signers of the Declaration of Independence were the Framers of the Constitution. As expected, most of these 55 men were wealthy land-owners with a significant portion owning slaves (a smaller number were entirely dependent on slave-labor). While it only required 9 of the 13 states to be enacted, it was ensured that amendments to the constitution could be made in future. Rhode Island was the final state to ratify the constitution. Like the Articles of Confederation, many disagreements were made over its contents which meant that compromise needed to be made. The Virginia Compromise called for representation of each state to be determined by population whereas the New Jersey Compromise wanted equal representation for each state. The joining of the two, the Connecticut Compromise, made Congress bicameral. Points of interest: Who wrote the Constitution? Where and when was this conducted? What are amendments and how many have been made? What is the term for how power is shared between federal, state and local government?   How the Constitution designs our Political System The Constitution divided the government into three branches who would provide checks and balances on their powers. These were the Legislative (congress), Executive (the president) and Judicial (the supreme court). Legislative The Legislative Branch is set out first and given the most attention. It’s job is to make laws in congress which is separated into two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. It is a requirement of the constitution that Congress assembles at least once a year. As of 2019, the House of Reps (lower chamber) consists of 435 seats that are divided amongst the 50 states on the basis of their population size. At the time, Native Americans were not counted in the census and “all other persons” (slaves) were counted as 3/5 of a person, although this was stopped by Amendment 14. Elections for representatives are held every 2 years with candidates needing to be residents of their state, 25 or older and having been a citizen for at least 7 years. The Speaker of the House is elected by majority, meaning it will be the leader of the controlling party. The Senate (upper chamber) is comprised of 2 seats for each state, making 100 members total as of 2019.  Senators serve 6 year terms with the requirement that they are at least 30, have been citizens for at least 9 years, and are residents of their state. The Senate is led by its Presiding Officer who is usually the Vice President. Congressional members are elected by direct popular vote from their constituents (congressional districts elect the House of Reps whereas Statewide elections appoint senators). This system of legislature is a representative democracy where citizens elect members to make laws on their behalf (this is opposed to direct democracy where citizens would vote on matters individually). This is an example of the constitution centralizing power while avoiding tyranny of monarchy. Section 8 approves Congress to conduct taxation which avoids the problem of weak governance set out in the Articles of Confederation. Bills can originate from both houses but must also be approved by the majority in both. The President must also approve, but this can be avoided in different circumstances. If the President rejects a bill it can return to the chamber it was proposed by and become law if 2/3 of its seats approve. Similarly, if the President sits on a bill for 10 days without rejection it will become law. Congress has the power to impeach the President. It is initiated in the House of Reps and subsequently tried in the Senate. Congress also has the ability to declare war. Test your knowledge: Which chamber has two representatives from each state? Senate House of Reps What is the difference between representative and direct democracy? An election is being held for the Senate in Ohio. Who determines the vote? The House of Reps Residents of Ohio The Electoral College No one, senators are appointed by local judges Executive The Constitution then defines the Executive branch made up the President, the Electoral College, and the Cabinet. The Electoral College is responsible for electing the President. The amount of Electoral College members in each state is equivalent to the sum of their congressional seats: Senate seats + House of Representative Seats = number of electoral voters per state When citizens vote ‘for the President’ they are effectively voting for a potential elector who will in turn vote for their Presidential choice. No part of the constitution requires electors to vote in accordance with the popular vote. The candidate must win the majority of electoral votes (270 out of 358) to assume the Presidency. The President is titled the ‘Commander in Chief’ by the Constitution, assuming the highest position in all branches of the United States Armed Forces and the executive. A President is tasked with directing foreign treaties and nominating judges to the Supreme Court. Presidents enforce bills passed by the legislative branch. Presidential candidates must be at least 35, a natural-born citizen, and a resident for at least 14 years of their life. Presidents serve 4 year terms and could initially serve as many terms as possible, although 22nd Amendment (1951) placed a 2-term limit on the position. FDR is the only President to have served 4 terms. If a President is incapable of holding office then the Presidential line of succession determines who takes their place. The Vice President would be first followed by the Speaker of the House and so on. The President is able to pardon anyone who commits crimes against the United States. The President can also veto any bill put forward by Congress. Test your knowledge: True or false: the President is elected via popular vote. What decides the number of Electoral College Voters? The exact number is ratified in the Constitution Proportional to population-size of each state with a maximum of 538 Sum of Congressional Seats What are the three requirements for Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates? Points of interest: What could have motivated the constitutional framers to enact an Electoral College?   Judicial The 3rd article establishes the Supreme Court comprising of 9 judges who serve life appointments, although they can be removed via impeachment. Congress has the ability to set up inferior courts. These courts can rule on all cases that full under the Constitution. The Supreme Court is charged with interpreting the law and deciding what is constitutional and unconstitutional. The Constitution outlines treason as its only crime. The Supreme Court is able to declare any law or act committed by the Executive or Legislature as unconstitutional. Test your knowledge: How many Judges are on the supreme court? 7 9 13 How are Supreme Court judges selected? Nominated by the President and confirmed by both chambers of Congress Nominated by the President and confirmed by the House of Reps. Nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate Directly appointed by the President What branch of government can have their actions deemed unconstitutional by the Judiciary? Legislative Executive Both Federalism and Amendments The Constitution has been very effective in centralizing the power of government compared to previous attempts. Some feared that this threatened the rights of states and individuals, namely James Madison who had written the first 10 amendments to the Constitution entitled the Bill of Rights. Notable was the freedom of speech and separation of church and state (1st), the right to bear arms (2nd), the need for warrants (4th) and the right to not plead against yourself in court (5th). The 10th amendment ensures Federalism, in that power is shared between national and state governments. This meant that any power that isn’t described as Congressional belongs to the states of the people. However, the Elastic Clause allows for Congress to act outside the explicit language of the Constitution if it can rationalise that it fits within its delegated powers. Amendments can be proposed by 2/3 of both chambers of Congress or state legislatures. They are ratified by ¾ of state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. The president has no official role in these proceedings. As of 2019, 33 amendments have been made to the Constitution. Points of interest The 33 amendments vary in scope and effect. What are the most important amendments in your view? What are the least important? What is problematic about the Elastic Clause? Would it be supported or objected by federalists? You Might Also Be Interested In: Learn How to Study for a Test or Course the Easy Way United States Constitution Test Study Guide  These are some of the topics that you want to dive into deeply and make sure that you can cover at least the basics of each whether its for the US History exam, government and politics test or an AP Exam. Often youll see questions coming right from these topics, so take the time to check them out and know the answers! Functions of the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive Branches Definition of Pardon Head of the Executive Branch # of Justices, including the Chief Justice, make up the Supreme Court Term of a Supreme Court Justice Term of a member in the House of Representatives and Senate Qualifications for a member of the House of Representatives Who holds the concurrent powers? What Amendment states no state can deny people their basic rights? 1st Ten Amendments is called what? What year did the Constitution become effective? Who presides over the Senate? What amendment guarantees the right to bear arms? What amendment provides rights for the accused in terms of punishment? What amendment contains a due process clause? What amendment ended slavery? What 2 things did the Declaration of Independence do? Who had the final say in all matters under the Articles of Confederation? What was the form of government in which power is handed down from one generation to the next? What were the most striking characteristics of the framers of the Constitution? What city did the constitutional convention take place in? Know the difference between direct and representative democracy. How many Presidents have served a complete four terms in office? What amendment addresses the term limits of the President? What group elects the President? Know the differences between the Virginia, New Jersey, and Connecticut Compromises. What is impeachment an example of?   Who holds the power of impeachment?   Who is the jury? How many colonies were at the First Continental Congress? What is the minimum number of electoral votes to be elected President? How many members are there in the House of Representatives and Senate? What type of government does the Constitution create? Know what the elastic clause does for the constitution. In order to add an amendment to the constitution â€" it has to pass by what margin and does it need a presidential signature? What does the Constitution state that no person may be deprived of? A trial by jury cannot be denied if the value of the lawsuit exceeds what $ amount. What is the minimum infraction necessary for the impeachment of a judge? How many times per year is Congress required to be assembled by the Constitution? Know what a warrant does for law officials. Does the Constitution state anything regarding Church and State? Know the Presidential succession. Know the President’s job descriptions â€" chief citizen, chief diplomat, commander-in-chief, chief legislator, and chief of state. Be able to identify procedures of the US Government as expressed, implied, inherent. (4.1 worksheet) Be able to identify what 10 key Presidents were known for.   (list of Presidents on Review Day) How many amendments are in the Constitution. What is a filibuster? Who has the power to declare war? When are congressional elections held? Does the 5th Amendment guarantee that you can’t be tried twice for the same crime? What 2 groups make up Congress? What court case established Judicial Review? Which state was the last state to ratify the Constitution? Where does all of the power of government agencies come from? We can help you find the best private tutor near you! It’s simple and secure â€" Get real results fast. Your first hour with any tutor is protected by our Good Fit Guarantee: You don't pay for tutoring unless you find a good fit. Choose Your Subject â€" Add Your Zip Code â€" Find Top Rated Tutors Starting Today! InPerson or Online Online InPerson

2013 Language Challenge has ended!

2013 Language Challenge has ended! After 90 gruelling days the italki Language Challenge has ended!  This was our biggest language challenge to date as we had hundreds of participants who completed over thousands of sessions! For those of you that participated in the language challenge and completed it, a super big congratulations on completing the Language Challenge! Doing 20 sessions (or more!) in 6 weeks is no small feat!  That amounts to at least 2-3 sessions per week and some serious commitment and persistence! We had tons of great feedback regarding this language challenge but we wanted to share one experience in particular. Daniel is one of our Language Challenge winners and after he finished his challenge, he wrote a Notebook Entry describing his experiences learning Chinese for the past 4 weeks. Whats particularly impressive is that he wrote the Notebook entry in Chinese, the language he is learning! Italki????? ??????italki?????. ?????????,????????? ??,?????? ???20??,italki???????? 300ITC. ??????????. ?????,????????,????100ITC? ???????,italki???????. ??????,?????????????,????????? ??????HSK6, ??????? ????????, ?????????????,????????????????????????,??????????????????????,??????30????????????????21??????????,????????????? (translated from above) The italki Language Challenge I recently took the September italki challenge. The purpose of this challenge is to have students take more lessons. So, if a student is able to complete 20 lessons, italki will give them a reward 300ITC. But you also need to take a risk. Before the challenge begins, any student who wants to participate in the challenge has to pay 100ITC. If you fail the challenge failed, then italki will not refund the money. The reason I participated in the challenge is because I felt that if I did not have pressure, I would not so many lessons. In December I am taking the HSK6 test (a test for Chinese proficiency), so I decided to participate. The challenge actually lasted six weeks, but I didnt find out about it until September (two weeks into the challenge), so for me, I only had a months time to complete the challenge. Of course, taking so many lessons was very tiring, but I still enjoyed the process. My teachers are very understanding and very hard working. On September 30th, I finished my last session. I had completed a total of 21 lessons (in one month!). Now I just want to take a break and review everything that I had learned from my teachers. Top 2013 italki Fall Language Challenge Quick Summary We had no idea what results to expect when we created the Fall Language Challenge. We just wanted to make sure the challenge would be difficult but achievable. After 6 weeks, the results are in and we wanted to share what weve learned. The Language Challenge is Completely  Achieveable. Out of the hundreds of Language Challenge participants, just under 50% (47%) completed the challenge! Out of the Language Challenge Winners 35% actually completed more than 30 sessions or more! Its  Fun! Out of all our Language Challenge participants 40% of  were learning 2 languages! We had one italki Language Challenger who completed over 70 sessions during this session!  Thats more than 1 session a day! Interesting Tidbits! The top 3 languages that our Challengers were trying to learn were English, Spanish and Chinese! Strong representation from lesser learned languages saw a big increase including    Croatian, Slovak, Polish, Vietnamese, Dutch, Swedish and Thai! We had the most challenge participants from the United States, but they also had the highest failure rate! Russia Rocks!  More than 80% of Russian Participants completed the challenge! Weve gotten tons of positive responses from our 2013 Fall Language Challenge.  If you enjoyed this challenge or would like to participate in future italki Language Challenges, please click on the link below. I want to receive more information about  future italki Language Challenges! 2013 Language Challenge has ended! After 90 gruelling days the italki Language Challenge has ended!  This was our biggest language challenge to date as we had hundreds of participants who completed over thousands of sessions! For those of you that participated in the language challenge and completed it, a super big congratulations on completing the Language Challenge! Doing 20 sessions (or more!) in 6 weeks is no small feat!  That amounts to at least 2-3 sessions per week and some serious commitment and persistence! We had tons of great feedback regarding this language challenge but we wanted to share one experience in particular. Daniel is one of our Language Challenge winners and after he finished his challenge, he wrote a Notebook Entry describing his experiences learning Chinese for the past 4 weeks. Whats particularly impressive is that he wrote the Notebook entry in Chinese, the language he is learning! Italki????? ??????italki?????. ?????????,????????? ??,?????? ???20??,italki???????? 300ITC. ??????????. ?????,????????,????100ITC? ???????,italki???????. ??????,?????????????,????????? ??????HSK6, ??????? ????????, ?????????????,????????????????????????,??????????????????????,??????30????????????????21??????????,????????????? (translated from above) The italki Language Challenge I recently took the September italki challenge. The purpose of this challenge is to have students take more lessons. So, if a student is able to complete 20 lessons, italki will give them a reward 300ITC. But you also need to take a risk. Before the challenge begins, any student who wants to participate in the challenge has to pay 100ITC. If you fail the challenge failed, then italki will not refund the money. The reason I participated in the challenge is because I felt that if I did not have pressure, I would not so many lessons. In December I am taking the HSK6 test (a test for Chinese proficiency), so I decided to participate. The challenge actually lasted six weeks, but I didnt find out about it until September (two weeks into the challenge), so for me, I only had a months time to complete the challenge. Of course, taking so many lessons was very tiring, but I still enjoyed the process. My teachers are very understanding and very hard working. On September 30th, I finished my last session. I had completed a total of 21 lessons (in one month!). Now I just want to take a break and review everything that I had learned from my teachers. Top 2013 italki Fall Language Challenge Quick Summary We had no idea what results to expect when we created the Fall Language Challenge. We just wanted to make sure the challenge would be difficult but achievable. After 6 weeks, the results are in and we wanted to share what weve learned. The Language Challenge is Completely  Achieveable. Out of the hundreds of Language Challenge participants, just under 50% (47%) completed the challenge! Out of the Language Challenge Winners 35% actually completed more than 30 sessions or more! Its  Fun! Out of all our Language Challenge participants 40% of  were learning 2 languages! We had one italki Language Challenger who completed over 70 sessions during this session!  Thats more than 1 session a day! Interesting Tidbits! The top 3 languages that our Challengers were trying to learn were English, Spanish and Chinese! Strong representation from lesser learned languages saw a big increase including    Croatian, Slovak, Polish, Vietnamese, Dutch, Swedish and Thai! We had the most challenge participants from the United States, but they also had the highest failure rate! Russia Rocks!  More than 80% of Russian Participants completed the challenge! Weve gotten tons of positive responses from our 2013 Fall Language Challenge.  If you enjoyed this challenge or would like to participate in future italki Language Challenges, please click on the link below. I want to receive more information about  future italki Language Challenges!

Language Learning Plateau 8 Ways to Get Unstuck and Back in the Game

Language Learning Plateau 8 Ways to Get Unstuck and Back in the Game 8 Ways to Get Unstuck and Back in the Game Youve already come so far with your language learning.In theory, having learned even  some of a language is pretty great.The view from the intermediate level should be beautiful.But its hard to enjoy the view when youve hit an unexpected slump on your way to language fluency.Its an experience many have faced before you, but that doesnt make it any less daunting.Were talking about the dreaded language learning plateau.Yep, your language education was moving along smoothly, and then it suddenly seemed to halt or slow down drastically, right?Youre not alone.Moving Beyond the Intermediate EFL Learning Plateau  by Qing Xu points out that this plateau is unavoidable but can be overcome.In  Moving Beyond the Plateau: From Intermediate to Advanced Levels in Language Learning,  Professor Jack Richards also describes this unique challenge and related issues.So its time to get past whats keeping you from fluency.But before you can move forward, you need to understand what exactly that is. Wha ts a Language Learning Plateau?A language learning plateau occurs when you stop learning as much as quickly. Its easy to make quick progress early on, but as you learn more, you naturally slow down. Because of this, a language learning plateau frequently occurs when learners reach an intermediate level of language proficiency.Why Do Language Learning Plateaus Occur?There are a few reasons why you may be experiencing a language learning plateau.Youve met your goals.  A lot of learners set goals that are reached by the time they reach an intermediate level. For instance, you might want to be able to hold a basic conversation or be able to read a newspaper or book in your target language. If youve met all your learning goals, your learning will naturally pause.You dont have goals. Whether you never had any goals to begin with or you just havent set new ones since you achieved your previous objectives, not having goals can halt language learning progress. Without a clear idea of what yo u hope to achieve, you dont have a clear direction for focused study.Youre stuck on a loop, doing the same thing all the time.  If you keep doing the same thing, youre likely to keep getting the same results. However, once youve milked one particular method for all its worth, youll see your learning plateau.You lack confidence. As an intermediate learner, youve come a long way, but you also know enough to realize theres a lot you dont know. This can diminish confidence and make you feel like you cant possibly become fluent or communicate as clearly as youd like.Theres a natural slowdown. Even if you do everything right, language learning plateaus can naturally occur. Its not a fun truth, but at the same time, at least you arent solely responsible for your current rut!8 Ways to Get Unstuck and Back in the Game1. Set clear goals.Once youve plateaued, not knowing what to do next can be a big part of the problem. If you dont know what to do next, your studying will be less focused, so y our learning will slow down.Clear goals will alleviate this by providing you with the focus you need to surge ahead. Its important to base these goals on your current language level and make them realistic. Setting a specific timeline for your goal is also a good way to keep yourself on the right track.Overly ambitious goals, like becoming fluent in a week, can demotivate you by setting you up for failure. Set realistic goals that are somewhat challenging but that you know you can achieve.For instance, you might resolve to learn a new set of vocabulary words or memorize irregular verb conjugations in the next week.Regardless of what your goals are, having these clear benchmarks will help keep you moving in the right direction.2. Use authentic material.Most students will have focused on resources for learners up until they plateau. While this is a helpful way to understand the underlying structure and rules of a language, youll need to start consuming more authentic material to make your push towards fluency.FluentU is a fun, easy tool that lets you take in more authentic material without being overwhelmed by words you dont know. FluentU collects authentic videos like movie trailers, music videos, news and more. However, thanks to captioning and careful annotation of each word, youll never be in over your head. Word definitions, example sentences and associated images are at the tips of your fingers. If you want to see how a word is used in other contexts, you can even click it to see other videos that contain that word.Plus, FluentU is convenient. You can use it online or download the app on iTunes  or Google Play.3. Try new methods.Since your language learning has slowed down, now is the perfect opportunity to change up whatever youve been doing. Its possible that youre just stuck in a rut with that method. Trying something new could reinvigorate your language education.Trying  creative language learning methods  is a fun way to approach this new phase in you r learning process. But regardless of what approach you take, the main goal is to do something different.One method you may not have tried is double translation. In double translation, you translate a text from one language to another and then back again. Conventionally, you use a dictionary for all of this. However, since you already have language skills, you can skip this with the exception of any words you dont know. This is a helpful way to build vocabulary and practice your reading and writing skills.Other approaches may vary based on how youve studied in the past. For instance, if youve been taking a class or studying a textbook, you might try immersion, language learning software or language learning apps.Or, you could even continue by taking a course. But instead of taking a course about your target language, you could take a course in your target language. Here are some platforms that can help you with that:Coursera offers courses on a variety of subjects, and in addition t o courses taught in English, you can find some taught in French, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and other languages. Finding what youre looking for is easy. Just type a subject that interests you in the search box (like art, math, etc.), and then filter using Course Languages on the left-hand side of the screen.Udemy offers self-paced courses accessible on any device that cover many topics. Once again, you can just search by subject and use a drop-down menu to browse courses for a particular language.If you want to try the challenge of taking a real university-level course in your target language, edX has courses from schools like Harvard and MIT. Search for what youre looking for and then scroll down to the bottom of the page. On the left-hand side, youll see the courses broken down by language.If youve relied on immersion, on the other hand, now would be a good time to crack a textbook to get a more thorough understanding of underlying grammar rules.Regardless of what youve been doing, changing things up is an easy way to get out of your rut and see the language from a new angle.4. Focus on problem areas.At the plateau level, bad habits or mistakes start to become more ingrained, so its time to correct them.Taking proficiency tests and assessing your own skills will help you determine what areas you need to work on. Dialang is a particularly useful free online proficiency test because you can test multiple skills individually to see what skills are your weakest.Another way to assess your own skill without a proficiency test is to think through what youre most comfortable with. If you had to communicate with a native speaker, would you feel more comfortable doing it through speaking or writing? Would you feel more comfortable hearing or reading a native speakers response? Chances are that the skill you prefer is your stronger skill, so focus on the skill you didnt choose.While you may be at an intermediate level overall, chances are that you have some areas that a re stronger and some areas that are weaker. Once you find these areas, all you have left to do is work on improving your weak points!For instance, if you struggle with listening, do more listening exercises. Sure, it may seem obvious, but taking the obvious steps that you may have previously overlooked is important at this point in the process.Similarly, if you struggle with speaking, find opportunities to speak. You might even start a public speaking club in your target language!Additionally, if you struggle with a particular grammar rule, you can dedicate more time and effort to finally nailing it down.Not only will putting time and effort into improving your problem areas improve your language skills, it will also make your confidence skyrocket.5. Learn more vocabulary.Limited vocabulary is one of the main hurdles that keeps intermediate learners stuck in the plateau phase.Fluency in a language requires wordsâ€"a lot of words. While an intermediate learner usually knows the most common words, the depth and breadth of their vocabulary is usually lacking.To push away from the plateau,  learning vocabulary  is essential.You can choose vocabulary sets by considering what words your vocabulary lacks. For instance, many intermediate learners dont have as many verbs as would be desirable, so this is a good place to start. You might also be lacking more academic language, so words related to your academic interests could also be beneficial.Quizlet is a helpful place to find and study thematic vocabulary sets. All you have to do is type in key words (for instance, academic Spanish) and youll find plenty of user-created lists. You can print off the lists to study, you can play games on the site or you can use flashcards on the site.VTrain.net is a free software you can use to create and review your own flashcards, allowing you to choose the vocabulary that you find most important. Flashcard apps like Cram  (available for iOS and Android) are also useful learning tool s that allow you to build your vocabulary in whatever minutes you have to spare.Building your vocabulary wont only help you keep your learning on track, it will also help you communicate more clearly and concisely.6. Interact with native speakers.Most language students focus on a generic form of their target language early in their educations. Once youve plateaued, the next logical step is to learn to speak more like a native. Interacting with native speakers is terrific for speaking practice, listening practice, vocabulary building and pronunciation improvement.It can definitely be intimidating to try to speak your target language with a native speaker. Luckily, conversation exchange is an awesome tool for this. Conversation exchange is when you partner with a speaker of your target language. You get practice in your target language, and you give your partner practice in your native language. This is ideal because theres a strong chance that your partner has also encountered a lang uage learning plateau that theyre trying to escape from.If you cant find a native speaker near you, there are plenty of online solutions. Skype language exchange  is a popular way to connect with native speakers all over the world.  Finding a language exchange partner  doesnt even need to be difficult since there are a wide variety of online resources that will help. Plus, many conversation exchange sites even offer estimated skill levels for participants. If you find someone at an intermediate skill level in your native language, they, too, are probably around the language learning plateau stage.For instance, Conversation Exchange can help you find a native speaker near you or arrange a penpal correspondence. TalkAbroad can also help you schedule online video conversations with a native speaker.Once you start speaking your target language with native speakers, your skill and confidence will propel you past the plateau.7. Build confidence with other learners.Weve mentioned confidenc e a few times before, but it really is that important.Working on your skills in general will help improve your confidence, but the best way to improve your confidence is to use your target language and use it often.If you dont speak, listen to, read and write in your target language often, you wont have the time to build the confidence you need to continue forward towards fluency. When youre learning, native-level skills seem impossible. This is why its important to use your skills in a supportive context. Get together with or make friends who are at a similar stage in their learning progress. If youre not sure how to do this, check out some language learning communities.Together, you can commiserate about the difficulties youre facing and get some valuable practice in. Even if you make friends with someone learning a different language, theres nothing to stop you from speaking to them in your target language (and it might even be less daunting this way)! Similarly, if youre reading or writing alongside a friend, theres someone there to push you forward if you ever feel like quitting.As long as you use the language more often, your confidence will grow until full fluency is within reach.8. Nip discouragement in the bud.Once your learning slows down, it can be easy to become discouraged. You may even stop trying to improve your language skills. But dont let discouragement weigh you down! Learning a language is like a marathon. When you start, its easy to move quickly. However, the farther you go, the more your pace is likely to slow. When things seem impossible, its important to remember that youve come a long way.Sure, it was more fun to move faster, but quitting now that the finish line of fluency is in sight is a mistake you may regret. Youve already put this much work in. Dont let discouragement stop you from finishing the race!The road to language fluency may not be a continual rise.There will definitely be some flat ground along the way.But if you follow these tips, you can overcome your language learning plateau and continue along your way to fluency with confidence! And One More ThingIf FluentU doesnt nip your discouragement in the bud, nothing will. (But dont worry, FluentU will!)FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way real people speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right t o see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Life

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Life Sumitro Basak (artist)- Kolkata, India Isabel Briggs Myers and her mother Katherine Briggs created the Myer-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality assessment test in 1962 (The Myers and Briggs Foundation). It is based on 20th century psychologist Carl Jung’s theory of personality types. Everything we do in the world is based on how we use our energy and how we make judgments. A more intuitive person would be more interested in relations between objects and their meanings, while a sensing person would focus on concrete detail. These small variations in “type” could make a huge difference in a person’s professional life. An intuitive person’s nature would make her more successful in work that involved studying patterns, like a systems analyst. A sensing person’s nature makes her a better technician. My naïve hope was that my MBTI results would help me in my formidable job search. Results in hand, I felt I had a formal personality report to guide me. But my relief also came from the fact that my results did not surprise me. My type, the suggested career paths and recommendations for further exploration of my “goals” all made sense to me. Yes, this is how I was. According to the report, one of the challenges for an INTP is that we get distracted too easily, plan to take on too many projects at the same time and can’t finish them. This too was true of me. So the MBTI must be popular because it gives logical form to things about oneself that one already knows, including one’s fundamental drawbacks. Seeing these ‘reported’ gives them all legitimacy and (most of the time) makes them easier to acknowledge. It is tempting for young job-hunters to get carried away with quick assessments of who they are and what they can do. It is true that the MBTI does in a way encapsulate how we have formed over the years, but it is also like a standardized test: easy, intelligible, and also kind of fun. It is a multiple-choice survey of oneself. This makes it attractive. It is undoubtedly illuminating and useful. But no one should have the naïve hopes that I did when I took the test and attended the workshop. MBTI results should serve only as a small confidence booster and a reminder of the many ways a person can function. Like its name suggests, it should be an indicator but not a guide. Bibliography The Myers and Briggs Foundation. Myers and Briggs Foundation Home. 11 October 2012 http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/.