Where to Find Ann Arbor Tutoring

Where to Find Ann Arbor TutoringAnn Arbor is one of the biggest cities in Michigan. In addition to the Ann Arbor State universities, it also has the city's major universities as well as other schools and colleges. The City of Ann Arbor is a beautiful city that has a very interesting history. In fact, the name itself stems from a Native American phrase, 'Ch'i o'Ri', which means 'Old Indian Place'.This explains the central location of Ann Arbor for the training of tutors. This is where tutors are usually located for all their needs. However, some people may not know the best place to look when looking for an Ann Arbor tutoring service.In fact, it is easier than ever to find tutoring services now. It is very easy to find online tutoring services that are willing to come to your home or office. This is an advantage for those who live on the outskirts of Ann Arbor and want to know what is going on at the City of Ann Arbor. Of course, you will need to do some research first before making a ny final decisions.Of course, you may want to find a tutor online if you are comfortable working from your home. There are many websites that offer tutoring online as well as in-person tutoring at very reasonable rates. You will be able to choose your own schedule and find the tutoring that you need most.All these tutoring services will come with the following: The internet. All you have to do is just log on to your computer and it is ready to go. You will be able to search for the tutoring company that fits your schedule and meets your requirements.Of course, you will need to spend some time comparing prices, getting a phone number and finding the right tutor for you. By doing this, you will be able to save yourself some time and money.Even though there are plenty of tutoring services out there, you will still need to make sure that you choose the best for you. That means that you will have to find the one that best suits your needs. This will help you find the perfect tutoring ser vice that you need.

The Best Dutch Films for Learning How To Speak Dutch

The Best Dutch Films for Learning How To Speak Dutch How To Learn Dutch With Films And Movies ChaptersWhy Use Dutch Films And Movies To Learn A LanguageThe Benefits Of Watching Dutch Language FilmsThe Best Ways To Learn Dutch With Movies And FilmWhere To Find The Best Films To Learn To Speak DutchExamples Of Great Movies To Learn DutchHow To Learn Dutch On NetflixI grew up watching prestigious movie awards. In fact, this may be where my true love of film started as I would always go off and research the nominated movies and try to find a way to watch them. All I knew was that any film with a nomination was one of the best films. I didn’t mind the genre or if it was a feature film, independent film, short film or indie film. I did, however, enjoy remarkable creativity in film, that could inspire diverse ideas within me. JessicaDutch Teacher 5.00 (5) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NaomiDutch Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EliseDutch Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MichelleDutch Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CéliaDutch Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VanshikaDutch Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MichelleDutch Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LizaDutch Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Use Dutch Films And Movies To Learn A LanguageIt wasn’t until much later that I stumbled upon the brilliant coincidence of learning a language with feature-length martial arts DVDs (staring the legendary Bruce Lee). I had always watched the martial arts genre of movies with my family, at that time most of the films were in their native language of Mandarin Chinese with awful subtitles that put a spotlight on how different the languages were.One day I noticed that I could understand parts of the movie when I wasn’t even looking at the screen. It was a surreal moment when I realised that education is not just what we receive in school. Although an experimental idea, I grew up celebrating the fact that everything around us is an opportunity to learn.Arguably Chinese is one of the harder languages to learn to speak. So if it works for Chinese, it will definitely work for Dutch. While watching films to learn Dutch, you don’t want just to watch passively, although passive watching works too, but takes longer. Instead, you need to get active and engage with the film.The great thing about using something as entertaining as a film to learn a new language is that you will definitely enjoy the process. Learning and having fun seems to be mutually exclusive but they should work together. Because when you enjoy something you allow yourself to supercharge your brain into full engagement.Don't just sit back and watch, you need to be active. Photo Source: UnsplashThe Benefits Of Watching Dutch Language FilmsWhile most of us love to watch movies, the vast majority of us do so in our native language. When faced with the option of watching a movie or film in our native language or the original language with subtitles. Most of us would pick to watch in our native language, often because we don’t want to mix reading with our enjoyment of the film.But actually, once you start watching films entirely subtitled in your native language. The eye reads automatically, and after a while, you hardly realise that you are reading at all. This is one of the benefits of watching movies and films to support you with learning a new language. As your eye automatically reads your brain begins to associate the words with the sounds that it is hearing via the audio.The best way to learn a language, without doubt, is to live in the country and be immersed in the language and culture. But when that isn't convenient, spending your evenings watching movies in the native language is a great way to immerse yourself in the language and fast track your learning.Dutch cinema which is based in the Netherlands is tiny, and there is almost no market outside of the country for Dutch made movies. Becaus e of this many movies are made using funding from various sources such as the Netherland film fund (Wikipedia).However just because the film industry is relatively small, it hasn’t stopped the Netherlands from hosting their own film festivals which run throughout the year. Most of the most recognized festivals are held in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. While these don't have the popularity that the Oscars or the Cannes international film festival have. They are still full of talented films that showcase gifted actors, filmmakers and directors who really do deserve to be highlighted and celebrated internationally as well.The  International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam  (IDFA) focuses entirely on showcasing documentary films, this festival has international acclaim so is an excellent opportunity for Dutch filmmakers to present their documentary to the world. This is where you will find some of the best documentaries.The  International Film Festival Rotterdam  (IFFR) celebrates and showcases independent filmmakers who make unique feature films, short films and motion pictures. The film production is artistic and presents the true diversity of dialogue and expressionThe  Nederlands Film Festival  (NFF) recognizes the talented independent film maker and storyteller in an epic 7 days of film. Actors, Crew and well everyone who worked on the film gets recognised here. This is a genuine opportunity to celebrate award-winning films. This festival is supporting films that deserve to be seen on a world stage. This festival is held in Amsterdam. JessicaDutch Teacher 5.00 (5) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NaomiDutch Teacher £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EliseDutch Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MichelleDutch Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CéliaDutch Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VanshikaDutch Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MichelleDutch Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LizaDutch Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Best Ways To Learn Dutch With Movies And FilmLearning to speak Dutch with Movies and films is fantastic, fun and alternative way to learn a language. If you enjoy watching Dutch video, then this could be an excellent way for you to integrate something that you love into your language learning routine.Check the best Dutch language learning apps.Find a Dutch movie that you like and watch it with the subtitle on in EnglishWatch the same movie again with the subtitles in Dutch and the audio in EnglishAs you improve in your understanding of Dutch watch the film in Dutch with Dutch subtitlesDon’t just watch the movie, be an active learner and read the Dutch captions, pause the movie and practice your pronunciation.Break the Dutch film into chunks, focus on learning each chunk slowlyUsing your whole body and being active is very important when learning, so speak out loud, get up and act the pieces out as if you were in the movie.Dutch films are a great resource to support your learning. Photo Source: UnsplashWhere To Find The Best Films To Learn To Speak DutchWhen we think about trying to find Dutch films it can put a spotlight on how little we know about international movies. But you don’t have to have these struggles, when searching for Dutch dubbed, subtitled or natively made Dutch films. We can use the locations of our native language films as a clue of where to look.Dutch cinematic films could be found in your local art house or indie cinemaFilm awards for Dutch movies could be found at your cities annual international film festivalYou can check the film festival Dutch nominees, Dutch winners, and Dutch screened films from last year and follow the filmmaker and their film on the internet. Becoming one of their viewers or supporters could get you access to new filmed content.Dutch speaking theatres are more likely to be found in native speaking cou ntries or in opera, but you may be able to find a touring company.A Dutch exhibition in a gallery or museum may have an area where they stream the artist'sStreaming films on Netflix make it easy to access, world cinema and filmsYouTube and Vimeo have millions of videos starring native Dutch speakers who upload filmed clips and allow you to subscribe and become a fan for free.Often, during my Dutch lessons London, my teacher gives us a heads-up about new titles to watch for!Examples Of Great Movies To Learn DutchPaul Verhoeven is a Dutch director, screenwriter and filmmaker, although you may not know his name, he is one of the most famous and well known Dutch directors. He has made a long list of hugely popular movies in both English and Dutch.Total RecallFilmed in the 90's this film is a sci-fi about conspiracy and interplanetary politics. Schwarzenegger is the lead, Verhoeven makes this sci-fi into an action-packed adventure which has cult status for many film fans. Even though thi s is an old film, it is definitely an enjoyable way to learn Dutch if you can find it.The Black BookThis is one of Verhoeven's best films based on WW2. This thriller was filmed in the Netherlands and was awarded the best Dutch film of all time. The film follows a spy of Jewish descent who infiltrates the Gestapo.The very best ways to learn Dutch, include Dutch movies. Photo Source: UnsplashHow To Learn Dutch On NetflixNetflix has a massive catalogue of movies, and it can be hard to find what you are looking for at times. A quick hack for finding your Dutch film is to enter the following URL and then add the country code for the Netherlands at the end of the URL, and you should see the list of videos on Netflix with Dutch audio www.netflix.co.uk/browse/audio/NLWhile this trick may not work for everyone, it is worth looking for the films in Dutch on Netflix. As it is a fantastic resource for finding movies and films in the original native language with audio and subtitles available in Dutch for many movies and films.Sometimes when we are learning, we don’t want to experiment. But learning using different mediums is not an emerging way to learn. It has been the focus of how we have acquired language for centuries and is how we have mastered our own native languages.Using music, movies, books and other alternative media can give you a head start in your language learning journey. Because it allows you to surround yourself in Dutch language and the more often that you can do this. The easier it will become when producing Dutch words, phrases.Quiet your inner critic and give this a try.

Mastering Your MCAT Prep Consistency is Key

Mastering Your MCAT Prep Consistency is Key MCAT Medical School Admissions In my years as a scientist, I have found that in a world as diverse and unpredictable as our own, it is paramount to remain consistent in the ways we study the world and conduct experiments. Good studies need to have control groups that do not receive treatment and reflect the status quo. Likewise, when preparing to battle the beast that is the MCAT, consistency is key. While the ideas below are broadly relevant to any type of standardized exam, they are particularly important when preparing for the MCAT. Why? Because the MCAT requires memorization of so many facts across multiple subject areas, understanding of a broad range of concepts, and the ability to focus to apply these facts and concepts to correctly answer difficult questions. The GMAT by contrast, a test taken for admission to graduate business school, requires absolutely no knowledge of business subjects at all. Here are a few factors to consider keeping consistent when preparing for the MCAT. Do you use caffeine regularly? Do you always have a cup or two of coffee and ride that caffeine buzz while you’ve been studying over the last 1-3 months? If yes, you should try your best to avoid making any drastic changes (and thus, your physiology) leading up to your exam. If you’re always stimulated with caffeine or other stimulants while studying, you want to make sure you’ve recreated those same conditions on test day. Your brain actually stores the information you’re learning in a fashion where recall is easier if you are able to reproduce that same state of mind. Therefore, try not to start or discontinue use of caffeine before the exam. What is your posture/position like when you study? Are you someone that likes to sit in your bed and study? How study about lying down? Perhaps you regularly study in a hammock out on the beach by the ocean…If yes, you’ll probably want to change your study strategy for several reasons. As you may know, you will be sitting down, in a chair, at a desk and in front of a computer on test day. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, sitting with good posture is important! It really allows your whole body to function better as well as offers the psychological benefit of feeling more powerful, confident and strong as opposed to slouching. Confidence is another key element to success that we will discuss is another article. What does it sound like where you study? The exam room will be quiet with the option of putting on noise cancelling headphones. Try not to listen to music when you’re taking practice tests and in the month or so leading up to the exam. Do your best to try and find a quiet place to study. While this may be challenging for some people, there are significant benefits. If you do choose to listen to music earlier on, classical music has been shown to be beneficial for the mind when learning math and science. How are you taking your practice MCAT tests? Take all practice MCAT exams (the best thing for you is to take as many of these as humanly possible) in the morning, at the same time the test is to be scheduled, in a quiet room in your house with no distractions. Bring a paper bag with snacks, even though you’re in your own home. Don’t go to the fridge and turn on the TV during break…try to feel yourself at the testing center instead of feeling totally comfortable in your own home. The idea is to eventually feel more comfortable at the testing center and these practices should help do that. Of course, study regularly and pace yourself so that you are consistently strengthening your knowledge and test taking skills every day. The only way to climb this mountain is one step at a time. The MCAT is a challenging exam and using these techniques to condition your mind to get accustomed to testing conditions along with keeping its physiology consistent is critical to achieving the score you need. Be sure to stay tuned for more great MCAT Test Prep advice!

What are the 3 best TOEFL and IELTS grammar courses

What are the 3 best TOEFL and IELTS grammar courses Are you concerned about your English grammar for the TOEFL and IELTS exams? You can learn English extensively by writing meaningful messages and getting feedback on errors using a grammar checker like the Virtual Writing Tutor. You can also learn English intensively by taking a grammar course. Both methods work. If you feel you need a grammar course to help give a boost to your English writing, you will probably be interested in my selection of three of the most highly-rated English grammar courses on Udemy. Depending on your level, I can recommend either an advanced course, an intermediate course, or a basic course. I will let you choose which level is best for you. AdvancedEnglishCourseforTOEFLandIELTS (4.6 stars) If you make occasional errors, especially when you attempt to write complex sentences, an advanced grammar course might be what you need. Annamaria Ibos has created two courses on Udemy, both are highly rated. She says she has been teaching English for more than 10 years and her superpower is to make English grammar easily understandable. I believe her. The reviews left by her students attest to her teaching skill. She seems to be able to make learning English fun and efficient. 5-star review 5-star review Take the Advanced English Grammar Course if this describes you: You have at least intermediate English knowledgeYou are serious about sharpening your English grammar knowledgeYou are preparing to take the TOEFL and/or IELTS exams Learn Advanced English Grammar Intermediate English Course for TOEFL and IELTS (4.7 stars) Annamaria Iboss most highly-rated English course is her Intermediate English course. If you make frequent errors in your English writing and if you make a range of different grammatical errors, an intermediate level course might be what you need. 5-star rating You should take this course if you have the following: You have at least pre-intermediate English grammar knowledgeYou have some familiarity with English verb tensesYou have a basic understanding of how English grammar works Learn Intermediate English Grammar Basic English Grammar and Structures (4.6 stars) If you need a more basic introduction to English grammar, you might benefit from an introductory course to English grammar. The Basic English Grammar and Structures Course on Udemy is also highly rated. The videos provide slow and clear explanations in English. There are activities at the end of each video. And you can ask questions to the instructors to get help at any time. 5-star review 5-star review Learn Basic English Grammar Whichever course you choose, dont forget keep using the Virtual Writing Tutor and keep writing. Please follow and like us:

Explore the Outdoors and Learn!

Explore the Outdoors and Learn! Explore the Outdoors and Learn! It may not come as a surprise that spending time in nature reduces stress and anxiety. But did you know that it can also help kids focus and learn? Studies have shown that taking a walk in nature improves peoples’ moods, raises short-term memory test scores, and even increases concentration levels in children with ADHD. In one experiment, teachers holding lessons in nature noted far fewer interruptions from students than when the same lessons were taught indoors. Nature’s benefits are endless. Take advantage of them with these four tips. Bring the outside world inside. Research has shown that natural environments improve children’s ability to focus and learn. However, if you live in a city or are experiencing inclement weather, you may not be able to spend much time in nature itself. Why not bring nature indoors, instead? Create an atmosphere that is more conducive to learning by incorporating plants and encouraging the use of natural light in your kids’ study area. Adding just a little bit of greenery can brighten your kids’ moods and even improve their health. Integrate learning with nature. Turn the natural world around you into a learning opportunity. Do your kids enjoy gardening? Encourage your little ones to count out the seeds needed for a planting and see how many colors they can identify in your flower garden. Older kids can learn about volume by filling planting containers with soil or can help plan out a large vegetable garden by calculating the perimeter and area needed to accommodate all of your plants.   The learning opportunities are endless! Math is everywhere in natureâ€"even in plants themselves. Take the Fibonacci sequence, for example. The Fibonacci sequence is a numerical pattern that begins with 0 and 1, continuing its sequence with the sum of the previous two numbers (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34…), and is found almost everywhere in the natural world. You can find the pattern in the florets of a sunflower, the branches of a tree, even in the spirals of galaxies. Geometric shapes like triangles, cylinders, arcs, and lines can also be found throughout nature. Build nature into your children’s learning by selecting and reading books about specific topics such as galaxies, oceans, geology, and plants. Kumon’s Recommended Reading List features books about children exploring nature, such as  The Secret Garden  and  In the Tall, Tall Grass,  which will help pique your children’s interest in the natural world. Opt for a change of scenery Encourage your children to learn outside. Suggest reading books in the backyard or at a nearby park. By planning ahead, you can spend the entire day learning outside. Pack a picnic, books, and plan some fun outdoor games to play. Whether your kids simply take their Kumon to a park bench or you turn the woods into your own classroom, the trees and fresh air will give your kids’ brains a boost! Play with nature Turn your natural surroundings into the setting for a game. Scavenger hunts are a lot of fun, but can also be very educational. Have younger children find objects in every color of the rainbow, like red maple leaves and yellow dandelions. Older kids can identify different types of flowers and trees or even try to find as many examples of the Fibonacci sequence as possible. The opportunities are endless! Looking for more ways to explore the outdoors? Check out these helpful resources from our friends at PBS Kids. And explore the outdoors along with Jet in four all new episodes of Ready Jet Go! airing on PBS Kids this week! You might also be interested in: Explore the Outdoors Giveaway Reduce, Recycle, Reuse 5 POPULAR CHILDREN’S BOOKS-TURNED-MOVIES TO EXPLORE THIS SUMMER What are the School Readiness Skills that Preschoolers Learn in Kumon? Explore the Outdoors and Learn! Explore the Outdoors and Learn! It may not come as a surprise that spending time in nature reduces stress and anxiety. But did you know that it can also help kids focus and learn? Studies have shown that taking a walk in nature improves peoples’ moods, raises short-term memory test scores, and even increases concentration levels in children with ADHD. In one experiment, teachers holding lessons in nature noted far fewer interruptions from students than when the same lessons were taught indoors. Nature’s benefits are endless. Take advantage of them with these four tips. Bring the outside world inside. Research has shown that natural environments improve children’s ability to focus and learn. However, if you live in a city or are experiencing inclement weather, you may not be able to spend much time in nature itself. Why not bring nature indoors, instead? Create an atmosphere that is more conducive to learning by incorporating plants and encouraging the use of natural light in your kids’ study area. Adding just a little bit of greenery can brighten your kids’ moods and even improve their health. Integrate learning with nature. Turn the natural world around you into a learning opportunity. Do your kids enjoy gardening? Encourage your little ones to count out the seeds needed for a planting and see how many colors they can identify in your flower garden. Older kids can learn about volume by filling planting containers with soil or can help plan out a large vegetable garden by calculating the perimeter and area needed to accommodate all of your plants.   The learning opportunities are endless! Math is everywhere in natureâ€"even in plants themselves. Take the Fibonacci sequence, for example. The Fibonacci sequence is a numerical pattern that begins with 0 and 1, continuing its sequence with the sum of the previous two numbers (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34…), and is found almost everywhere in the natural world. You can find the pattern in the florets of a sunflower, the branches of a tree, even in the spirals of galaxies. Geometric shapes like triangles, cylinders, arcs, and lines can also be found throughout nature. Build nature into your children’s learning by selecting and reading books about specific topics such as galaxies, oceans, geology, and plants. Kumon’s Recommended Reading List features books about children exploring nature, such as  The Secret Garden  and  In the Tall, Tall Grass,  which will help pique your children’s interest in the natural world. Opt for a change of scenery Encourage your children to learn outside. Suggest reading books in the backyard or at a nearby park. By planning ahead, you can spend the entire day learning outside. Pack a picnic, books, and plan some fun outdoor games to play. Whether your kids simply take their Kumon to a park bench or you turn the woods into your own classroom, the trees and fresh air will give your kids’ brains a boost! Play with nature Turn your natural surroundings into the setting for a game. Scavenger hunts are a lot of fun, but can also be very educational. Have younger children find objects in every color of the rainbow, like red maple leaves and yellow dandelions. Older kids can identify different types of flowers and trees or even try to find as many examples of the Fibonacci sequence as possible. The opportunities are endless! Looking for more ways to explore the outdoors? Check out these helpful resources from our friends at PBS Kids. And explore the outdoors along with Jet in four all new episodes of Ready Jet Go! airing on PBS Kids this week! You might also be interested in: Explore the Outdoors Giveaway Reduce, Recycle, Reuse 5 POPULAR CHILDREN’S BOOKS-TURNED-MOVIES TO EXPLORE THIS SUMMER What are the School Readiness Skills that Preschoolers Learn in Kumon?

How to Teach Your Kids About the Stars This Summer

How to Teach Your Kids About the Stars This Summer How to Teach Your Kids About the Stars This Summer Oh, summer nights! They bring us right back to memories of eating ice cream on the porch, watching a baseball game, or playing with friends. These are the carefree nights filled with experiences that you and your kids will remember for a lifetime. Summer is also the perfect time to teach your children about the stars. Treat your kids to a late night (they don’t have to worry about waking up for school, after all!). Grab some blankets and head out to your backyard for a fun, educational evening gazing at the night sky. Here are some tips to make it the perfect night: Choose a Moonless Night A bright, full moon may be beautiful, but moonlight can make it more difficult to see the stars in the sky. Choose a clear night during the new moon when it is just a sliver in the sky and won’t obscure your view. You can take this opportunity to teach your kids about the phases of the moon. Discover Constellations Constellations are groups of stars that form a pattern when viewed from Earth. Many of the constellations we still look for today were discovered and named over 2,000 years ago by the Ancient Greeks. Explain to your kids that viewing constellations is just like playing connect the dotsâ€"in the sky! Before you go stargazing, try these fun activity sheets from Ready Jet Go! on PBS Kids. Kumon is a proud sponsor of Ready Jet Go!, an animated series that teaches kids about science and astronomy. Your kids can “connect the stars” in several constellations on paper before they see them in the night sky. Bring the completed sheets with you on your stargazing adventure to help guide your experience. Start With the Big Dipper The Big Dipper is one of the easiest constellations to spot, and a great starting point to find others. Once you find the Big Dipper, follow the two stars at the end of the cup to see the North Star, Polaris. Polaris is the final star in the handle of the Little Dipper, also known as Ursa Minor. If that’s all you spot in the night sky, you’ve already learned a lot! Photo Credit: Jerry Lodriguss Did you know that the Big Dipper is actually just a small part of a larger constellation called Ursa Major? Like its smaller counterpart Ursa Minor, Ursa Major is in the shape of a bear. See if you can connect the stars for the entire Ursa Major constellation. Source: PBS Kids After you’ve found Ursa Major, your options are endless. You can try to find more constellations, like Draco, which is most visible in July. Or you can look for planets, which may appear at first to be stars, but don’t have the same twinkle. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to catch a meteor shower! Keep Learning The fun doesn’t have to stop just because of a rainy or cloudy day. If you can’t see the stars in the sky, watch an episode of Ready Jet Go! and get transported into the stars yourself! Jet and his friends Sydney, Sean, and Mindy will take you with them as they explore space. Learning opportunities are all around us, including in the sky! Summer is an exciting time to explore the world around us. Discover 6 more ways to make summer learning fun. You might also be interested in: 6 Practical Tips for Summer Parenting Meet Etash, a Kumon Program Completer Who is Using his Technology Skills to Teach Kids to Code What Could Your Kids Gain (or Lose) This Summer? Soar Past the Summer Slide with Kumon’s Summer Learning Roundup How to Teach Your Kids About the Stars This Summer How to Teach Your Kids About the Stars This Summer Oh, summer nights! They bring us right back to memories of eating ice cream on the porch, watching a baseball game, or playing with friends. These are the carefree nights filled with experiences that you and your kids will remember for a lifetime. Summer is also the perfect time to teach your children about the stars. Treat your kids to a late night (they don’t have to worry about waking up for school, after all!). Grab some blankets and head out to your backyard for a fun, educational evening gazing at the night sky. Here are some tips to make it the perfect night: Choose a Moonless Night A bright, full moon may be beautiful, but moonlight can make it more difficult to see the stars in the sky. Choose a clear night during the new moon when it is just a sliver in the sky and won’t obscure your view. You can take this opportunity to teach your kids about the phases of the moon. Discover Constellations Constellations are groups of stars that form a pattern when viewed from Earth. Many of the constellations we still look for today were discovered and named over 2,000 years ago by the Ancient Greeks. Explain to your kids that viewing constellations is just like playing connect the dotsâ€"in the sky! Before you go stargazing, try these fun activity sheets from Ready Jet Go! on PBS Kids. Kumon is a proud sponsor of Ready Jet Go!, an animated series that teaches kids about science and astronomy. Your kids can “connect the stars” in several constellations on paper before they see them in the night sky. Bring the completed sheets with you on your stargazing adventure to help guide your experience. Start With the Big Dipper The Big Dipper is one of the easiest constellations to spot, and a great starting point to find others. Once you find the Big Dipper, follow the two stars at the end of the cup to see the North Star, Polaris. Polaris is the final star in the handle of the Little Dipper, also known as Ursa Minor. If that’s all you spot in the night sky, you’ve already learned a lot! Photo Credit: Jerry Lodriguss Did you know that the Big Dipper is actually just a small part of a larger constellation called Ursa Major? Like its smaller counterpart Ursa Minor, Ursa Major is in the shape of a bear. See if you can connect the stars for the entire Ursa Major constellation. Source: PBS Kids After you’ve found Ursa Major, your options are endless. You can try to find more constellations, like Draco, which is most visible in July. Or you can look for planets, which may appear at first to be stars, but don’t have the same twinkle. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to catch a meteor shower! Keep Learning The fun doesn’t have to stop just because of a rainy or cloudy day. If you can’t see the stars in the sky, watch an episode of Ready Jet Go! and get transported into the stars yourself! Jet and his friends Sydney, Sean, and Mindy will take you with them as they explore space. Learning opportunities are all around us, including in the sky! Summer is an exciting time to explore the world around us. Discover 6 more ways to make summer learning fun. You might also be interested in: 6 Practical Tips for Summer Parenting Meet Etash, a Kumon Program Completer Who is Using his Technology Skills to Teach Kids to Code What Could Your Kids Gain (or Lose) This Summer? Soar Past the Summer Slide with Kumon’s Summer Learning Roundup

21st Century Learning 4 Smart Strategies to Master a Foreign Language Online

21st Century Learning 4 Smart Strategies to Master a Foreign Language Online 21st Century Learning: 4 Smart Strategies to Master a Foreign Language Online Mastering a foreign language requires access to the best language instructors, curriculum and exchange partners.Whats a modern language lover to do?Why, turn to the Internet of course!With its dizzying array of educational blogs, entertaining videos and training sites, the web offers avowed linguaphiles countless resources for learning a foreign language.Before you set off on a road trip to fluency, however, its important to plan your voyage efficiently.From studying the grammatical principles of your chosen language to reinforcing your vocabulary through word exercises, building a study map will help ensure you reach your final destination. Use the following essential tips to learn a foreign language online successfully. 21st Century Learning: 4 Smart Strategies to Master a Foreign Language Online1. Choose the Right Instruction ToolsA veritable embarrassment of riches awaits the modern pupil looking to the net for learning resources.  Of course, not all training programs and teach ing tools provide the right keys for achieving your language learning goals. As you embark on a quest to learn a new tongue, youll want to search out two different forms of learning materials: educational programs and source content.In a case study conducted in 2012, researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center discovered that the way were exposed to a language determines whether or not we achieve native-level brain processing. Both classroom learning and immersion methods contribute toward this goal, but immersion has been shown to be more effective at mirroring the brain activity of native speakers. This is an important caveat youll want to consider when searching for instructional tools.A fantastic learning platform for online language immersion is FluentU.  FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.It lets you  browse videos  by difficulty (beginner to native), topic (arts and entertainment, health and lifestyle, etc.) and  format (video blog, news,  shows, etc.). And FluentU isnt just watching videosâ€"its about learning and actively practicing the language you hear in videos. You can use  the interactive subtitles, flashcards, audios and vocabulary lists to learn modern languages better than ever!Of course, one of the driving factors in any self-study learners ultimate success is ongoing motivation. Unlike classroom students who are expected to show up for class each day, the online learner has to remain proactive. The internet is awash with source content that would make the language learners of yesteryear salivate. From viral videos to web series, blogs and forums, its simple to access content that correlates with your personal interests.Ready to get started but not quite certain where to start? Consider the following links for learning tools in your chosen language:English: cartoons |  Facebook  | karaoke songs |  memes |  social med ia sitesChinese: audiobooks | Disney movies  | internet slang |  online radio  |  talk radioFrench:  blogs |  hashtags | online immersion  | online radio  |  radioGerman: audiobooks  | audio dramas |  blogs | online radio | pop bands  |  TwitterJapanese: Netflix movies | online TV |  Twitter | song lyricsSpanish: advanced practice  |  blogs  |  BuzzFeed  |  Facebook  | Pinterest  | online radio  |  Twitter2. Find a Language Exchange PartnerIts not usual for language teachers to ask their pupils to spend some time conversing with one another, but the power of the World Wide Web opens doors in a whole new way. Fortunately, its not that difficult to find a language exchange partner, but you should think carefully about how to maximize the fruit of your discussions.Making small talk and chatting about current events offers a simple way to expand your vocabulary and get your verb conjugations down pat, but dont shy away from creating a more structured exchange with your partner. Why not attempt to replicate the experience you might otherwise share in a classroom? For example, ask your friend to role play as a shopkeeper and act out a scenario at the checkout line. Let your imagination run wild!It might feel a little silly at first, but sharing a few laughs together can help break the ice. Youll probably want to use Skype for your video exchanges, but dont discount the long form letter altogether. Pen pals have long served as a resource for language learners, and sharing written correspondence can still pay a valuable role in a language exchange.Why not make an effort to email each other once a week, and use simple word processing tools to make corrections for each other? It takes a bit of extra effort to sit down and write a message, but doing so will ensure you dont neglect the written word, which plays an equally important role as the speaking portion of a language.Finding a language exchange partner is a free solution, but if you really want to supercharge your learning prowess, you might also want to work with an online language tutor. With a tutor, you wont need to focus on correcting or teaching someone to better speak English, but you can instead work to fine tune your language skills exclusively. Tutors may also be better able to explain complicated linguistic principles. Many different websites offer tutoring solutions, including Verbalplanet.com and tutor.com.If youd like to get some extra help from a native speaker, but you dont have a large budget to work with, you might want to consider using a freelance site to connect with an independent worker. For example, Fiverr allows you to post one-off jobs at just $5, and there are many language teachers offering various services there. You might also want to consider posting a gig on Craigslist to find a language tutor on the cheap.3. Make Study a Daily HabitRemember when you had endless assignments, syllabuses and tests in school? As an online learner, you wont deal with any of those. Instead, youll need to find innovative ways to make your study habits part of your daily routine. If you find it challenging to keep yourself focused, follow this simple game plan to develop healthy study patterns:Set Mini GoalsYou might be surprised to learn the powerful potential of your inner voice. Research shows that nothing more than encouraging yourself to keep going can have a profound impact on your long-term stamina. Just as the age old expression goes, Rome wasnt built in a day, and neither is it plausible for you to become a world class linguist in a few short months.Instead, set mini goals you can achieve as you progress through your studies. These goals might look like:Master a challenging verb tense in both spoken and written form.Expand your vocabulary by memorizing 100 new words.Read a full novel in your target language.To successfully reach these goals, dont forget to break them down further into even smaller tasks. For example, if  youve chosen  a novel to read, s et smaller goals by chapter or even by pages (i.e. read two pages every morning and night). The feeling of elation you experience when you meet those goals will help propel you further.Eliminate Deterrents and DistractionsTuning out the outside world is hard enough with a traditional textbook, but the internet offers a tempting array of distractions that can keep you from focusing on your studies. If you find your study habits just arent making the cut, proactively examine where youre breaking down and try to work out how to overcome those obstacles.If you just cant seem to steer clear of social media networks or your favorite blog, use a tool like Anti-Social  to prevent your computer from accessing those sites. Its a simple fix that can keep you on track.Develop AccountabilityTry as you might to keep your studying in check, many of us still find it hard to stay motivated. When push comes to shove, sometimes its necessary to find a real-life accountability partner for your language learning.Why not make some new friends  through a service like Meetup and establish accountability goals? Celebrating your successes and working on your weaknesses with the help of a friend often proves immensely helpful in keeping learners focused.Or you could commit to practicing your target language  for 100 days, and track your progress  via 10-second daily videos on Instagram with  Give It 100. The supportive community will keep you motivated, as will the joy of actually  seeing  your progress over time.4. Put Your Skills into PracticeAs great as the internet can be for language enthusiasts, its only a tool for learning, not a magic potion. As you learn the various aspects of a foreign language, you need to put your new-found skills to work. Speaking the language will not only help you build confidence, but it also works to cement those ideas in your brain.In an ideal world, youd spend some time studying abroad.  Youll have no choice but to speak the language on a daily basis, and when surrounded by foreign speakers the real power of immersion becomes evident. If you have the means to do so, why not schedule an overseas excursion to coincide with an important language learning goal? When you know a trip is on the horizon, you may be more motivated than ever to keep studying diligently.Of course, classroom studies arent the only activity you can pursue abroad. Consider tapping into your benevolent side by volunteering with a non-profit, charity or religious group. If youre not already familiar with groups operating abroad, learn more by visiting a directory like  Go Abroad. For a really affordable way to spend a longer amount of time abroad, check out  HelpX  and  WWOOF, where you work in exchange for food and accommodation.If spending an extended period in a foreign country isnt a possibility, why not get involved with local organizations where foreigners tend to gather? Many communities have active cultural groups that sponsor events and meet-ups. If yo u live near a university, inquire as to whether the school sponsors any institutions that offer learning opportunities. Volunteering with one of these groups or attending special events can help you meet new people to speak to and learn from.Learning a new language takes hard work and dedication, and there really are no shortcuts to fluency. Nevertheless, the internet and its myriad resources can serve as an invaluable learning tool for the modern student. By procuring the right learning tools, finding practice partners, studying diligently and putting your language skills to work, youre bound to find success learning in the digital age.Adam Zetterlund is a language enthusiast living in New York City. He spent five years honing his foreign language skills in Paris and London, and he currently partners with a number of international clients in a marketing capacity. Learn more by reading his blog.