What do Companies Think of Introvert Behavior - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / What do Companies Think of Introvert Behavior - Introvert Whisperer What do Companies Think of Introvert Behavior? What Classifies as an Introvert? What do Warren Buffet, Abraham Lincoln, and JK Rowling all have in common? Surprise! They are all introverts. Often overlooked, introverts are typically more laid-back individuals who perform better in calm, controlled, and predictable environments. They prefer to engage with smaller groups of people in more personal ways. Introverts in the workplace are often perceived as quiet, shy, or even non-contributors. However, it is more likely something different altogether. Introverts tend to take more time to process potential solutions. They work out problems on their own before discussing them, do their best work alone and may avoid water-cooler conversations in place of being alone at their desk. Even more surprising, when compared with their counterparts, extroverts, they may make better leaders. In 2018 LinkedIn reported in their post “How to Hire Introverts,” that “introverted leaders outperform extroverted ones in many organizations.” This article was based on research from the University of Pennsylvania (Penn). The Problems with Being an Introvert at Work.

50 Fun French Games That Will Help You Master the Language

50 Fun French Games That Will Help You Master the Language Megan L. Whatever your level of French mastery, you can always improve your language skills  by playing fun  French games! In this list, you will find 50 of the best French games that can be played alone, with a partner, or in a group. Are you ready to have some fun? Lets get started! French Card Games 1. Piquet A trick-taking game played by two people, Piquet dates back to at least 1535. If you enjoy card games, purchasing a Piquet deck is a good move, as the cards are needed for many other fun French games, too. 2. Bezique A derivative of Piquet, Bezique requires two decks and offers additional scoring opportunities. 3. Belote One of the best French card games, Belote requires two, three, or four players, depending on the variation. Rules vary around the world, but you should try the French version for an authentic experience. 4. French Tarot After Belote, the most popular card game in France is Tarot, also called Jeu de Tarot. It typically requires four players, but three or five can play when you use a variation. 5. Bouillotte This is one of the quickest French card games to play. It uses a Piquet deck but with just 20 or 24 cards, depending on the number of players. Bouillotte involves betting, calling, raising, and dropping out, much like poker. 6. Lanterloo Also called Loo, Lanterloo is a trick-taking game originating in the 17th century. Today, there are many variations, all of which are quite like the English game All Fours. You can play with 3 to 8 players but it is best with 5 to 7. 7. Rams Another one of the many French card games to choose from, Rams is similar to Lanterloo  except you can play with up to nine people. In the U.S., a version of Rams is often played as Rounce with a 52-card deck, but the traditional French game calls for Piquet cards. 8. Polignac Polignac also goes by the names of Jeux des Valets and Four Jacks. Although it is related to Hearts and Black Lady, it uses a Piquet deck. Games usually require three to six players, but it is possible to play with more by using a 52-card deck. 9. Commerce For a larger group, Commerce is ideal, as you can play with up to 10 people using either 52, 40, or 32 cards. Much like Thirty-One, the aim is to finish a round with the best three-card hand. 10. Mille Bornes Meaning “thousand milestones,” Mille Bornes is an easy game to play in French, as you only need to learn a few words and know the numbers. 11. Manille Yet another option for the Piquet deck, you can play Manille with just two people, but it is best to have four players competing in pairs. As you can see, there are tons of fun French games that you can play with a Piquet deck! French Learning  Games 12. KidSpeak KidSpeak is a package of interactive computer games that introduces children to the French language, but adult beginners can use them too! These fun French games cover a variety of topics across three levels of difficulty. 13. Puzzles Crosswords, word searches, and other puzzles are ideal for learning French words and simple sentences. You can find plenty for free online, or in puzzle books at your local bookstore. 14. Tongue Twisters There are a huge number of tongue twisters in French. Use them to learn new vocabulary and push your pronunciation to the limit. 15. Hangman Think of a French word and ask a friend to determine what it is by playing hangman. This is an ideal opportunity to practice the alphabet and some basic vocabulary. 16. Escargot Meaning “snail,” escargot is a game like hopscotch featuring 15 to 20 numbered squares in a spiral formation. Players hop on one foot to the center of the spiral, and those who succeed write their initial in any square. Subsequent players must not land in marked squares, making it increasingly difficult to reach the middle as more squares have initials. 17. Role Play Many of the fun French games in this section dont require any supplies, so they can be played any time you want to practice your French! In this game, simply create a scenario such as store clerk and shopper, and then practice the vocabulary you know in conversation with a friend. Video Games in French 18. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker Did you know you can switch the language of Wind Waker to French to practice your reading? With ample text, you are sure to encounter new vocabulary in this video game. 19. Indigo Prophecy There are so many more fun French games you can play by simply changing your language settings. This one is available with full audio and subtitles in French, and the game has an extensive dialogue for extra practice! 20. Heavy Rain Another story-heavy game, Heavy Rain will push your French skills to the limit as you work hard to make fast decisions. 21. Beyond: Two Souls Beyond: Two Souls is a game from Quantic Dream, the French developer. Many gamers agree that the voice acting is actually of better quality in French than in English! 22. Assassin’s Creed: Unity Although all the Assassin’s Creed games are available with French audio, Unity is a top choice purely because it is set in Paris at the time of the French Revolution. 23. Deus Ex: Human Revolution If you have difficulty understanding French audio alone, Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a great choice, as you can set the audio to one language and subtitles to another. 24. Minecraft Minecraft is an ideal way to learn vocabulary you may otherwise not pick up. Play online in French servers to practice your conversation skills with French natives. 25. Mario Party If you grew up playing Super Mario Bros., you’ll love the challenge of turning one of your favorites into French. Mario Party and some others are available to play as French games. 26. World of Warcraft To interact with French speakers, you will need to purchase the French version of World of Warcraft. However, it is certainly worthwhile, as the large amount of communication needed provides you with an excellent opportunity to practice. Fun French Board Games 27. Le Donjon de Naheulbeuk This complex game involves passing through dungeons to defeat the sorcerer Zangdar and recover the last of Gladeufeurha’s statuettes. To win timed battles and skill checks, you will need to push your French skills to the max. 28. Scrabble Many fun French games like this one are also available in English, so youll already be somewhat familiar with them! You can use a regular Scrabble board and create only French words, or purchase a French Scrabble set for a better mix of letters if you prefer. 29. Race to Paris Race to Paris is designed to help players learn French. You will need to build sentences to earn points â€" the longer the sentence, the more points you receive. 30. French Bingo Work on your speaking skills as well as recognition of words by playing French bingo. You can purchase a game or make your own by printing out cards. 31. Fief Fief is a strategic game set in the Middle Ages. It is best to play with at least four people to form alliances and see a greater number of wins each round. 32. Spot It! For beginners looking for simple yet fun French games, you can’t go wrong with Spot It! Match cards while learning basic French vocabulary with up to eight players. 33. Djam Djam is slightly more challenging than some of the other board games, as it requires a greater knowledge of vocabulary to create words beginning with a certain letter on different themes. 34. Mundus Novus Set in 16th century Spain, Mundus Novus is available entirely in French. The game involves accumulating enough doubloons and resources to beat your opponents. 35. Jarjais Play during the French Revolution, collecting clues to gather details about the lost treasure and free Queen Marie-Antoinette. 36. Monopoly Monopoly comes in a huge number of editions, including Paris-Saint Germain. The board and all the cards are in French, allowing you to practice your comprehension skills. 37. Off the Dead: Chapitre 1 â€" Morts à Venice Beach The first chapter of the board game Off the Dead is available in French. Use your language skills to kill zombies while avoiding the loss of human lives. 38. Jeu du Nain Jaune One of the classic fun French games, Jeu du Nain Jaune combines skill and luck. Rack your memory to create sequences in your favor and win rounds. This game is simple enough for kids but involves enough skill that it is fun for adults, too. Fun French Games Online 39. Spelling Game Identify the correct spelling of words and phrases, using a picture for help. In this spelling game, you can choose from numerous topics to practice different aspects of French. 40. Languages Online The French section of Languages Online features 35 topics to learn, accompanied by several interactive tasks to practice each. 41. Lingo Hut Featuring 109 lessons in French, each category has activities and fun French games to learn vocabulary. 42. Whack-a-Word In Whack-a-Word, you must act fast to choose the right English translation of words in French. 43. Memorama Most of these fun French games help you practice your language skills while youre at it, and this one is no exception. This  memory game will help you learn vocabulary for increasingly difficult topics. SEE ALSO: 50 French Quotes to Inspire You French Party Games 44. Karaoke All you need to add karaoke to your party are French songs with lyrics and a microphone! You can easily find French  karaoke versions of songs on YouTube. 45. Scattergories Compile a list of categories and pick a letter at random. Participants need to think of as many words as possible beginning with that letter for each category. Award bonus points to those who come up with words no one else does. 46. Trivia This is another one of our favorite fun French games that you can play anywhere. Make up your own questions or find some online. Play in teams to help each other out with understanding questions and figuring out answers. 47. Qui Suis Je? You can easily turn the classic Who Am I? into French. Everyone receives a card with the name of a famous person (it’s even better if you use French celebrities). Stick the cards to your foreheads and ask questions in French to figure out who you are. 48. Maman, veux-tu? Mother, May I? is a great game to enjoy practicing French in a group. Add complex commands that will be difficult to understand to make it a challenge for players to reach the finish line. 49. Sabine a dit Sabine a dit is Simon Says in French. Start easy, gradually increasing the difficulty until only one player is left standing. 50. Pétanque Take your daytime party outdoors to play Pétanque. Keep score by calling out numbers in French. Playing fun French games like these is definitely a blast. But if you want to truly master the language try taking French lessons, or online French classes. The more French you have in your toolkit, the easier these games will become! 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

16 Christmas Phrasal Verbs Learn English with Harry ????

16 Christmas Phrasal Verbs Learn English with Harry ???? Learn 16 Christmas phrasal verbs! Hang up meaning, put up meaning, take down meaning. You can use festive phrasal verbs in your English conversations throughout the holiday season. Enjoy your English! 16 Christmas Phrasal Verbs LOOK FORWARD TO?? Meaning: to wait for something with pleasureAre you looking forward to the holiday season or are you feeling a little grinch-like?HANG UP?? Meaning: to fix something or secure something somewhere from the top of the objectLast year we had a large tree, the whole family was helping my father to dress the tree and hang up decorations.PUT UP?? Meaning: to place something somewhere in an upright position so everybody can see itWhen do you usually put your Christmas tree up?BUILD UP?? Meaning: to increase graduallyThe excitement builds up in anticipation of the holiday season ahead. 16 Christmas Phrasal Verbs DRESS UP?? Meaning: to put on clothes that is more formal than you usually wear or to put on a special costume that makes you look like someone/something elseLast Christmas we dressed up our baby son in a Buddy the Elf costume.  COME DOWN?? Meaning: to descend from a higher levelFather Christmas doesnt go through the door, he comes down the chimney on Christmas eve.SING ALONG?? Meaning: to sing a song with someone who is already singingWe have the radio on and we are singing along the Christmas songs.MEET UP?? Meaning: to meet with somebody in order to do somethingWe should meet up before Christmas. 16 Christmas Phrasal Verbs GIVE OUT?? Meaning: to distribute something among a group of peopleSanta was about to head off on his sleigh to give out presents on Christmas Eve.GIVE UP?? Meaning: to stop doing something, to quit, for example, a bad habitAre you going to give up smoking in the new year?WRAP UP?? Meaning: to cover something completely by putting paper or other material round itMany people love wrapping up Christmas presents in a pretty way.END UP?? Meaning: to reach a particular place or situation, often somwhere you dont intend to beLater we went out to see the City lit up by the Christmas lights and it was not long before we ended up in a nightclub. Christmas Phrasal Verbs GO OUT?? Meaning: take part in a social activity outside the homePeople are more likely to go out before Christmas.BUMP INTO?? Meaning: to meet someone by chanceLast Saturday I bumped into my college friend when I was doing my Christmas shopping.PUT OFF?? Meaning: to delay, to postponeLets be honest, we all put off buying presents until the last minute.TAKE DOWN?? Meaning: to remove something that was previously put upIt is considered unlucky to take down your decorations before the 12th day of Christmas.Practise your English skills, put up a few sentences with Christmas phrasal verbs.

Find a PSAT Tutor Near Me What You Need to Know About the PSAT

Find a PSAT Tutor Near Me What You Need to Know About the PSAT Anna L May 7, 2018 Find a great PSAT tutor near you! It's simple and secure - Get real results fast. Find expert private tutors at reasonable rates today! InPerson or Online Online InPerson Are you looking for a PSAT tutor? Every year, approximately 3.4 million 10th and 11th graders take the PSAT across numerous high schools.   The acronym PSAT stands for Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, which essentially means that it is taken just before the SAT exams. The test that is given to high school juniors and sophomores every October, is sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Foundation (NMSC), the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSC) The two-hour PSAT is set to act as a precursor to the SAT, which is important in the life of every high school student. The PSAT is designed in a way that mirrors the SAT in terms of scoring, structure, and content. However, unlike the SAT, they do not factor towards your GPA or college admission application. However, it is important to note that the PSAT is not mandatory for juniors and sophomores in all high schools. It is at a school’s discretion to offer the PSAT to their students. If your child’s school does not have this as an option, you are free to look around for the schools in your area and have your child take the test there. One of the BIG reasons that many consider taking this test or having their children take it is because only the scores from the PSAT are factored into the National Merit Scholarship Competition.    So if your child might qualify for that, this test is a must! Why Is the PSAT Important? As much as the PSAT does not factor into your childs GPA, it is a prerequisite for consideration in the National Merit Scholarship Competition. The cutoff marks vary from state to state. The prestigious scholarship competition starts by selecting the commended scholars and semi-finalists. The semi-finalists are required to feature in the top 1% margin of students in their particular state. On the other hand, the commended scholars are required to score between the top 1% and 4% of students in their region. On average, the National Merit Scholarship Competition has an estimated 16,000 finalists from the list of semifinalists. They aim to award up to 8200 scholarships every year. The winners each get a $2500 scholarship and the prestigious distinction of being a National Merit Scholar. PSAT Prep How to Prepare Your Child for the PSAT With the importance of the PSAT for not only the National Merit Scholarship but also as prep for the upcoming SATs or ACT exams, it’s best to spend some time getting adequately prepared for it. Preparation can be extensive, and without proper guidance, your child might be overwhelmed and end up more confused and frustrated. While many high schools offer assistance with PSAT preparation, numerous factors need to be considered to ensure that your child is receiving adequate preparation. For example, is your child or are you getting what you need from your school to prepare for this test?   Not everyone has the same needs or learns the same way and making sure that you get what you need is critical.   Is the right amount of time being spent preparing for the test and is the speed with which the material is being covered sufficient? Students learn at different rates and some require more time than others. A tutor can become a valuable asset for your child during this time. This is where exploring options such as PSAT tutoring online to locate experienced PSAT tutors who are accessible via the Internet at hours that work for you or ones that area available to come to your preferred location.   There are also PSAT prep classes near you might be what’s needed especially if there’s only a few weeks left before you take the exam. PSAT Tutoring How Will a Tutor Help Your Child to Prepare? PSAT private tutoring sessions are becoming the preferred choice for a large number of parents owing to their flexibility and their effectiveness as well. Your child is able to get undivided attention from the tutor and is even given practice tests that closely resemble the actual SAT. Just like the SAT, the PSAT is made up of a math, grammar, and verbal section. Your child will be required to answer math problems that cover geometry questions, trigonometry as well as algebra. Solid PSAT math tutoring is highly integral in preparing your child to tackle these questions. They will also come across passage-oriented questions that will sometimes have charts, graphs, and tables. The scoring rate for each subject is on a 20 to 80 scale. So, what are the benefits of taking your child through a PSAT prep class online or in person with a tutor? The tutor will cover any topics that your child didn’t grasp in class. It is difficult for an instructor to follow up with each student to ensure that what is taught is perfectly understood. Thus, the tutor will assume the role of the instructor in a more relaxed environment and cover every question that your child may have. The tutor will solely concentrate on the questions that will be featured on the PSAT. The plan that a tutor can offer is optimized for PSAT prep thus your child will get the most out of that experience. Your child will receive tips and tricks for tackling the PSAT questions as well as how to make the most out of the two-hour testing window. The tutor will work at your child’s pace to cover every inch of the PSAT prep course to ensure that your child is mentally and generally prepared for the test. How Do You Find A Good PSAT Tutor? Presently, tutors can be freelancing or can also be part of a company. No matter how you choose to find a one, the individual tutor that you select for your child needs to have skills and qualifications as well as a positive reputation and reviews in test taking, particularly for this exam. You can easily check the tutors previous work and reviews to that effect. What to Look for in a PSAT Tutor: Make sure your tutor has complete knowledge of the subjects that are featured on the PSAT. The sessions have to be relevant so that your child or you can get the most value out of the sessions. Check the reviews and comments from prior students See what topics and subjects the student has tutored in before. You don’t want to be their first student in this subject area (usually). Ask the tutor questions before hiring! See how they respond and if they can explain in a way that works for you or your child. Also, verify that the tutor is going to be available up as long as you will need one. It is very distracting to have to switch between tutors during the PSAT prep period. What will PSAT tutoring cost?  There is a misconception that the it is incredibly expensive.   Frequently clients are surprised at how affordable quality tutoring can be.   And if you choose an online tutor, it might be even less expensive since tutors don’t have to transportation time or costs. Conclusion Preparing for the PSAT is a big stage in your childs life. See that you or  your child fully comprehend the importance of the PSAT and how it can benefit you and make sure to adequately prepare for it. This will not only prepare your child for the SAT, it will also give them an opportunity to get an idea of what the future school years hold for them.   Best of luck on the PSAT test this year! 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

How the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) Can Teach You to Chat Like a Diplomat

How the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) Can Teach You to Chat Like a Diplomat How the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) Can Teach You to Chat Like a Diplomat Ever wonder how diplomats get their language groove on?Citizens sent abroad to represent the United States need to navigate important diplomatic affairs with cultural awareness, and often they need to survive among a population that  doesnt speak English.Thats why one vital part of the diplomatic program is the language program.The U.S. Department of State has a facility for diplomats known as the Foreign Service Institute  (FSI). There are four schools and one center. One of the schools is the School of Language Studies  located in Arlington, Virginia.The FSI has a long history of teaching diplomats how to speak and survive in foreign countries.  How else would they do that if not by specialized programs?Diplomats attend the training facility to learn through instruction, but theres also a lot of  self-study that takes place during their courses. To complete this additional self-study in their own time, they use language modules  designed for solo learning. Were going to focus most intensely on these self-study materials, but first lets look at the program at large. How the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) Can Teach You to Chat Like a DiplomatWhats it like to study in an actual FSI environment?The actual environment is a cool and diverseâ€"but quite intenseâ€"place where students undergo rigorous language training. The FSI offerings are incredibly expansive. For example, the Arlington, Virginia school offers over 80 languages to Foreign Service Officers.Every day, the  diplomat-students at this institute study  for a minimum of five classroom hours, are assigned homework and must work independently as well to supplement these lessons. Sounds grueling, but the process works!How can non-diplomats benefit from the FSI?The good news is, non-diplomats can utilize FSI courseworkâ€"without getting a job with the U.S. Foreign Service.The countrys primary training for diplomats works just as well for civilians.Of course, civilians cant  access the same classroom setti ngs or intensive training, but the solo learning materials can be accessed and used online on an individual basis.All this information is free for the  taking.Among hardcore language learners, the FSI material gets high marks. In fact, many consider these the best free language courses available anywhere.The courses in the public domain can be accessed by anyone with  a desire to master a language. Some material may be vintage but the majority is still on point and useful. A handful of idioms or cultural references have grown old but grammar and vocabulary remain the same.The Arlington school offers 80+ languages. There isnt such a wide range of choices online, but even this less extensive digital selection is still amazing.Dozens of languages, most with multiple, in-depth courses, are available.Its a veritable language learners paradise! The Simple Action Plan for Learning Languages with FSIFirst,  browse the courses and investigate whats available in your target language.1. Star t with the first course.Its almost an extra windfall that most languages have more than one course available! Some have as many as a dozen. But of course, the best place to begin is at the beginning, even if you already know a bit of the language.There are a couple of ways to access the courses.Yojik shows the courses and provides a link to learn more about FSI.Live Lingua  hosts the courses to keep the material from becoming lost. There are 49 languages available through the site. Many have more than one course in the target language.Your progress will be determined by your desire to learn rather than limited by the materials at hand. Whats not to love about a setup like that?  Then download the next level,  and then the next, doing the work in steps until all levels of proficiency are achieved.Materials vary from language to language so take into consideration how deeply you want to pursue the language. If youre only looking for a basic or intermediate functionality, almost every language provides materials to accomplish that mission.2. Download all the course materials.You can access the courses on a come-and-go basis, but you can also download the e-books and audio files to keep them on hand. That way, youll have all the coursework right at your fingertips whenever you want to use it.  Downloading makes for a no-excuse, travel-friendly language experience. Wherever you are, your lessons are too. Win-win!Each course has an outline included in the files that sync with the audio files. Its independent study, but very self-explanatory.There are courses that have little extras, so look for those. My favorite? Some courses include flashcards which I find particularly helpful. Use the resource!3.  Check your pronunciation with every lesson.It might be painful to hear yourself speak when youre first learning a language but thats a hurdle worth clearing. Record responses to the language drills and compare them with audio files.Diplomats record themselves when study ing at the Institute. Its been proven a valuable exercise so dont skip this part.4. Supplement your FSI course.If youre like most of us, your schedule is crazy busy. A job, family, school, travel or any number of responsibilities keep spare time to a minimum.Often, the lack of time leads to lackadaisical language learning habits. But there are so many ways to incorporate language learning into even the busiest schedule.Learn from experts such as Russian translator Olga Dmitrochenkova  who advises that you should use every opportunity to get exposed to the new language. She suggests inviting the language into everyday life by labeling objects in your home, reading books in the target language and even holding conversations with imaginary friends in the new language.To get started with some of these practice ideas, you can spend an hour writing vocabulary words on Post-Its and sticking them all over your house. And you can outsource your label-making for the most important words by us ing a Vocabulary Stickers set, which gives you well over 100 words to put on items you use and see every day around your home and office.The point isâ€"dont use just the FSI coursesâ€"do as the diplomats do and  add language exercises  whenever you can to enrich the coursework.With So Many Languages to Choose From, Which Will You Learn First?Included in the more than 40 languages the FSI has made available to the public are some uncommon ones.Fula  is spoken in the Senegal River Valley. Im not sure theres a huge demand for it, but I did listen to some of the tapes and its interesting to hear.Hausa is spoken in a handful of African nations, so if you plan to travel to one of those countries, theres a  good  way to learn to speak like a local!Spoken in the Philippines,  Tagalog is represented well in the FSI courses. If youve ever had a heart for the language, theres more than enough material available to get you beyond the basics.Some of the more common foreign languages have many co urses on the FSI language list. There are book lessons, audio material and flashcards to take some learners through basic, intermediate and advanced levels.FrenchThere are eight  French courses available! These courses will give you hundreds of pages of text and hundreds of audio files to work with over a long period of time.SpanishSpanish  language learners hit the jackpot with the FSI courses. There are eight courses for this language as well, including a few specialized for use in particular parts of the world, such as Puerto Rico.GermanIf youre interested in learning to speak German, youre in luck. There are five courses, including one FAST course designed to let learners hit the ground running!ChineseChinese  is a specialty at the FSI. There are so many courses to choose from, theres bound to be one to suit any learner. Youll have the opportunity to freely explore all 16 Chinese courses, including modules that deal with very specific linguistic and cultural topics, as theyre al l free for your learning pleasure.For example, the FSI Mandarin Chinese Car Module, along with an assortment of other interesting modules, teach learners how to manage in a Chinese-speaking environment even when dealing with unexpected emergencies. Not a bad resource to have at your fingertips!JapaneseFor Japanese learners, there are two FSI courses: a FAST course and a Headstart course, which clock in with a combined ten hours of audio learning and six e-books.How FSI Taught Me Conversational German in 28 DaysLearning, speaking or even just listening to a foreign language makes my heart beat faster. And Im curious by nature.So you know what happened next, dont you? Thats rightâ€"I had to give these FSI resources a test.German has been something Ive flirted with for about a year but theres been no actual commitment. Hey, we werent even going steady.  You could say I had no real prior German language skills.  None. As in, pretty clueless about the language.FSI  has five courses avail able. I didnt expect to become fluent within a short time span, so that seemed more than adequate for my experimental purposes.The course selection includes:HeadstartFAST CourseBasic Course: Volume 1 and 2Programmed Introduction CourseI perused the selections and chose to do all the courses, beginning with the Headstart course. I figured that Headstart and Programmed Introduction Course might be repetitive so I decided to skip the latter.Of course, learning is a personal adventure and someone else might have discounted Headstart instead. Or you might opt to try both! There isnt a right or wrong way to approach this.Anyhow, I added up the materials: Eight e-books, 129 audio files with a run-time of over 52 hours and over 1,000 pages of coursework. It was daunting to look at it this way, but I felt pretty safe knowing that I wasnt going to run out of lessons!Leading a busy life, and not being a diplomat able to devote every day to language learning, I decided that for this short-term experiment I could commit four hours daily to learning German. Two hours in the morning and two more in the evening.As I said, languages make my heart beat in double-time, so I dove right in and stuck with that study routine. The material is relevant, despite some of it being beyond the social expiration date. I skimmed past references to outmoded issues and concentrated on learning the core language.The basic course, which I took on after the Headstart program,  was assembled more than 50 years ago but the stated goals of the courseâ€"to speak accurately, fluently and easilyâ€"are still relevant and attainable.The e-books break  each lesson down so well that its nearly impossible to get lost. The material is  divided into sections, and learning builds upon what has been already absorbed.Verbs and tenses are covered so well that, by the end of the drills, I was able to conjugate with very little hardship. The material is a bit formal, but Ive got to hand it to those who wrote the co urseâ€"the repetition and the strong presentation of various tenses did make it all sink in.Getting the hang of making sounds that are incomparable to anything I use in the English language stumped me at first. Long and short vowels were honestly a bit confusing but the textbook explanation allowed me to eventually decipher the nuances. Im not totally on top of reading and properly pronouncing unfamiliar German words but Im managing to get most of them.Progress, even in small measure, works!I did have issues, but not with the courses. Squeezing the time Id committed to language learning was the main challenge, but I managed.The outcome of my 28-day test? Actually, its positive!Im not fluent in German by any means but Im certainly able to conduct basic conversation and read a bit. Im capable of discussing  everyday topics, asking for (and giving!) directions, ordering in a restaurant and dealing with grammar issues. Im reading basic level graded readers now. Comprehension is greater than Id hoped so Im feeling pretty successful.The courses do work and theyre not at all difficult to follow. Everything is presented in a logical way and its no big deal to move between the different courses.Would I recommend taking the FSI courses? Absolutely! I had a blast in my four weeks doing this.  Sure, it was work. Were there times I was discouraged? Definitely. But I pressed on and am so glad I did. I think anyone with a love for languages could benefit from  checking the FSI material out.Taking It to the Next LanguageIm already planning on my next language courtesy of the FSI courses. Why not take full advantage of a resource thats time-tested and has been shown to work with both diplomats and ordinary language learners like myself?And if I can do it, anyone can!If youre adventurous, try learning two languages  at once from these dynamite courses.Grab your passport, put your diplomatic language dancing shoes on and test out your new skills.Me? Im headed to Germany!Auf Wied ersehn!

Teach Away International School

Teach Away International School Teach Away International School Welcome to Teach Away International School. We havediverse student, faculty, and parent communities. Regardless of what continent, nationality, or cultural background one comes from, our goal is to provide an educational experience that meets the academic, social, physical and emotional needs of every student. This goal provides our focus as we develop our curriculum, plan our instruction, and develop our co-curricular activities. We students with a comprehensive university preparatory education utilising best practices in education. Our school is a partnership of excellent staff, committed parents, and dedicated students. Our students are challenged to reach their maximum potential through academic growth, becoming socially responsible and active global citizens. The International Baccalaureate programme gives our students a programme of study recognized around the world for its excellence. Webelieve it is the close relationships between students, faculty, and parents that makes us unique from other schools. The size of our school and the size of our classes allow students and teachers to form close relationships where it is possible for every student to be known and nurtured. In addition, we are able to have close ties with our parent community so that parents, teachers, and students are all closely involved in the education of each child.

Preparing for the World Cup Language Challenge

Preparing for the World Cup Language Challenge My 8 World Cup (Language Challenge) Goals! As the World Cup Language Challenge start date slowly approaches, one of the most common questions we receive is, How do I prepare for a Language Challenge? Well, you can simply dive right in and start taking lessons or you can plan each week and maximize your learning. Our guest blogger and World Cup Challenger Lindsaydoeslanguages shares with us her weekly Language Challenge goals! This post originally appears on Lindsaydoeslanguages. ITALKI WORLD CUP LANGUAGE CHALLENGE: MY WEEKLY GOALS With the italki World Cup Language Challenge creeping ever closer, now seems like the perfect time to give you a quick update before it all kicks off. (I’m just gonna keep the football puns coming…) Have I started? Nope! The italki World Cup Language Challenge begins on June 1st, so there’s still time to sign up! What I have done though is booked all 25 lessons in advance because I know that for me, having the lessons booked now will take away the pressure of booking last minute. I have also set myself 8 weekly goals. (Told you, there’s plenty more where that came from…) My 8 World Cup (Language Challenge) Goals! Week 1  To read a short chapter of “Caro Bruce Springsteen” out loud on video. This may sound completely random but this is to prove that language learning doesn’t have to be expensive. I picked up this book from a book stall in Portugal last year for just 50 cents! Week 2  To read a random news article from the internet out loud on video. This may sound like a lot of reading, but in the early stages, I really want to work on improving my pronunciation and making it sound more Portuguese and less Spanish. Personally, I find reading really helps with this. Week 3  To learn the entire lyrics to Ai Se Eu Te Pego So this is, like, the greatest song ever. And it’s Portuguese. It just seems rather fitting! Week 4  To write and recite on video a short piece written about myself by myself As arrogant as it sounds, being able to talk about yourself is pretty useful for making friends in other languages. It also helps to learn any random vocabulary that you need, such as “I jetski” or “I love my Jack Russell puppy”. Week 5  To identify the difference between the Spanish and Portuguese in Danza Kuduro Ok, so maybe this is, like, the greatest song ever. I can’t call it between the two. However, I think being able to identify the different between the Spanish and Portuguese in this song will really help me to split Spanish and Portuguese in my brain. Week 6  To commentate a bit of the World Cup…(maybe) live! This is the goal I’m most nervous about â€" but also most excited about! (Like a penalty…oooo, that was bad) I’m going to do my best to describe what the heck is going on in the World Cup final in Portuguese. And I might do it live. Let me know in the comments if you think I should do it live! Week 7  To describe on video, in Portuguese, script-less, my experience commentating football After the rush of last week’s goal, I think this week will need to be a little more relaxed for my own personal sanity! I plan to talk scriptless about a past experience â€" meaning I’ll have to use different tenses, adjectives, emotions (maybe that means subjunctive in Portuguese?! Eek.) and lots of other jazzy constructions sans-script. Week 8  To use 8 Portuguese idioms naturally in a video Throughout the Challenge, I’ll be avoiding red cards (That one’s weak. I apologise.) by learning 1 common Portuguese idiom each week. I plan to use them as naturally as possible in the final week’s video! So there you have it. My 8 goals for the italki World Cup Language Challenge. Let’s just hope England can score as many as that over the next few weeks. Dont forget: theres still time to nominate me for Top 100 Language Lovers 2014! Find out how and what youll get from me if you do right here. Are you taking the Language Challenge and setting yourself goals? Share them in the comments below to help keep you motivated! Preparing for the World Cup Language Challenge My 8 World Cup (Language Challenge) Goals! As the World Cup Language Challenge start date slowly approaches, one of the most common questions we receive is, How do I prepare for a Language Challenge? Well, you can simply dive right in and start taking lessons or you can plan each week and maximize your learning. Our guest blogger and World Cup Challenger Lindsaydoeslanguages shares with us her weekly Language Challenge goals! This post originally appears on Lindsaydoeslanguages. ITALKI WORLD CUP LANGUAGE CHALLENGE: MY WEEKLY GOALS With the italki World Cup Language Challenge creeping ever closer, now seems like the perfect time to give you a quick update before it all kicks off. (I’m just gonna keep the football puns coming…) Have I started? Nope! The italki World Cup Language Challenge begins on June 1st, so there’s still time to sign up! What I have done though is booked all 25 lessons in advance because I know that for me, having the lessons booked now will take away the pressure of booking last minute. I have also set myself 8 weekly goals. (Told you, there’s plenty more where that came from…) My 8 World Cup (Language Challenge) Goals! Week 1  To read a short chapter of “Caro Bruce Springsteen” out loud on video. This may sound completely random but this is to prove that language learning doesn’t have to be expensive. I picked up this book from a book stall in Portugal last year for just 50 cents! Week 2  To read a random news article from the internet out loud on video. This may sound like a lot of reading, but in the early stages, I really want to work on improving my pronunciation and making it sound more Portuguese and less Spanish. Personally, I find reading really helps with this. Week 3  To learn the entire lyrics to Ai Se Eu Te Pego So this is, like, the greatest song ever. And it’s Portuguese. It just seems rather fitting! Week 4  To write and recite on video a short piece written about myself by myself As arrogant as it sounds, being able to talk about yourself is pretty useful for making friends in other languages. It also helps to learn any random vocabulary that you need, such as “I jetski” or “I love my Jack Russell puppy”. Week 5  To identify the difference between the Spanish and Portuguese in Danza Kuduro Ok, so maybe this is, like, the greatest song ever. I can’t call it between the two. However, I think being able to identify the different between the Spanish and Portuguese in this song will really help me to split Spanish and Portuguese in my brain. Week 6  To commentate a bit of the World Cup…(maybe) live! This is the goal I’m most nervous about â€" but also most excited about! (Like a penalty…oooo, that was bad) I’m going to do my best to describe what the heck is going on in the World Cup final in Portuguese. And I might do it live. Let me know in the comments if you think I should do it live! Week 7  To describe on video, in Portuguese, script-less, my experience commentating football After the rush of last week’s goal, I think this week will need to be a little more relaxed for my own personal sanity! I plan to talk scriptless about a past experience â€" meaning I’ll have to use different tenses, adjectives, emotions (maybe that means subjunctive in Portuguese?! Eek.) and lots of other jazzy constructions sans-script. Week 8  To use 8 Portuguese idioms naturally in a video Throughout the Challenge, I’ll be avoiding red cards (That one’s weak. I apologise.) by learning 1 common Portuguese idiom each week. I plan to use them as naturally as possible in the final week’s video! So there you have it. My 8 goals for the italki World Cup Language Challenge. Let’s just hope England can score as many as that over the next few weeks. Dont forget: theres still time to nominate me for Top 100 Language Lovers 2014! Find out how and what youll get from me if you do right here. Are you taking the Language Challenge and setting yourself goals? Share them in the comments below to help keep you motivated!