30 Must Know High School Chemistry Facts For Exams

30 Must Know High School Chemistry Facts For Exams The content present in this article will help a lot of high school or college students to be used as a guide for their chemistry homework help. They will help students know where they stand and what needs to be done to improve their subject knowledge. Let us check out these fundamental facts of chemistry: 25 Basic And Most Interesting #Chemistry Facts http://t.co/0cstSOtpFj #backtoschool pic.twitter.com/bhKOtnyrMn â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) September 3, 2015 An atom has peculiar characteristics because its matter consists of a core and surrounding electrons. A nucleon is a 100% charged molecule found in the atom core. The degree of atom i.e. negatron consists of an electric charge. A nucleon by itself has no such phenomenon taking place electrically in chemistry. Since the quantity of protons within the core is consistent, variety of nucleus is same all the way. Mass unit comprises of both neutrons and protons. When different nucleus is subtracted from the mass, it says all about the variety of neutrons. Electrons variety in impartial atom associate degree gives the protons variety. 02 x 10^-23 are the number of articles found if you consider 1 mole of a substance, which is also known as Avogadro’s number. The reason of electrons getting electrified in chemistry is their mobility from one level to the next advanced level. You can see a splendid spectra line getting displayed when the electrons radiate vigour while making a transition. Know more about Electrons and Atoms Due to a certain electronic arrangement, negatron associate degree appropriation is disturbed. After molecules produce electrons, negative particles can be measured by using Anions square. After molecules lose electrons, negative particles can be measured by using Cautions square. Immaculate substances consisting of a single or more gear categories in chemistry that are not diminishable into simpler forms, can be measured by Elements square. Manifestation substances consisting of two or more gear categories with same protons and distinct neutrons can be measured by Isotopes square. When 2 or more substances mix together, they form a solution. When different substances are mixed without clashing one another, they form heterogeneous mixtures. Soluble is a liquid known for breaking up the substance. For example, water. When charges associated with ions mark each other successfully, it can be measured by Formulas square. Coefficients are meant to equalize the equation by acting as constants present before reactants and products. Left half of the response shaft is measured by Reactants square. Surrounding energies are ingested through the responses that are endodermal. Physical properties are related to the fabric used in manufacturing rather than the way new substances formed. Chemical properties are related to the substances formed. Law of Conservation states that reactants depend on a plenty of things during mixing of substances. 3 states of matter: Solid, Liquid, and Gas. Solids are the ones having a defined volume as well as form. Liquid particles effectively move near each other. Gaseous particles result in an unambiguous irregular movement as opposed to Liquids. Does Your Child Need Online Chemistry Help? from Tutor Pace Confused on what the above facts really relate to? Consult an online chemistry tutor to help you out with online chemistry tutoring, so that you can relate with each and every fact stated above. Moreover you can draw inferences between each other and draw your own conclusions putting you on the driver’s seat.

The Cost of Visiting Spain

The Cost of Visiting Spain How Much Does it Cost to Visit Spain? ChaptersHow Much Does it Cost to Get to Spain?How Much Do Hotels Cost in Spain?The Cost of Eating in SpainHow Much Does Transport in Spain Cost?How Much Does Shopping Cost in Spain?How Much Do Attractions Cost in Spain?So How Much Should You Spend on Going to Spain?“Of the gladdest moments in human life, methinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands.” - Richard BurtonThe cost of living in Spain is lower than in the UK.But what does that mean for somebody who wants to travel to Spain on holiday?From the north to the south of Spain, food, transport, and accommodation are a significant part of any traveller’s budget. It’s, therefore, very important that you calculate your budget before you go to Catalonia, Galicia, or Andalusia.Whether it’s the cost of paella, a hotel, or getting a ticket for the Madrid metro, you need to be ready to pay for stuff. Since travelling isn't free, you need to learn how to travel on a budget, regardless of your destination. W hether you're a tourist going to the Caribbean, Asia, or just up the road, every tourist needs to work out their budget to pay for airline tickets, accommodation, food, and attractions.Whether you're backpacking or going on a weekend getaway, in this article, we're going to look at how much it costs getting to Spain, how much you can expect to pay for accommodation, budgeting for food and dining out, and the cost of visiting tourist attractions. TadeoSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterSpanish Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MartaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SharonSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TanyaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Jose manuelSpani sh Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow Much Does it Cost to Get to Spain?Before you head on a trip to Spain, this is the first question you’ll need to answer. Travelling by plane, train, or automobile won't cost the same. However, it’s never been easier to get to Spain on a budget. There are plenty of good transport links between Spain and the UK.Before you can visit Spain, you have to get there! (Source: jarmoluk)There are plenty of low-cost airlines offering cheap travel to Spain. You can get trips to top Spanish cities like Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Barcelona, and many others. Generally, airfare can cost as little as £50. Of course, you can expect to see prices increase  during the high season.You can also take the train to Spain. This isn’t the cheapest way to travel abroad, though, as it can cost you several hundred pounds. That said, if you spend time exploring booking sites and price comparison sites, you can sometimes get cheap train tickets.There are also bus companies like Eurolines and Flixbus  that can take you to Spain on a budget. The buses tend to be the cheapest options available. However, the journey will take far longer than it would on the plane!If you like a chat, you may want to travel using a car share option.How Much Do Hotels Cost in Spain?Once you’re in Spain, you need to find the best hotel for your stay. Some people prefer to stay in a large hotel with all the services whereas others may be happy with a shared room.Luxury HotelsOf course, not everyone can afford these types of hotel. A hotel room could cost anywhere between €100 and €250 for the night. The price range is so big because of all the different types of services that could be offered.Small HotelsWhen it comes to hotels, you don’t have to stay in big hotels. You can find cheaper hotels for between €40 and €80 for a double room. However, you mightn’t get to stay in the heart of Madrid or get all the services.Hotel ChainsLike elsewher e in Europe, you can find big hotel chains in Spain. For example, Ibis Hotels offer rooms for between €30 and €150. While these aren’t typically Spanish hotels, you can get cheap rooms in good locations.Youth HostelsBackpackers or those travelling on a budget can get private rooms for a similar price to hotels or beds in a dormitory for much less. Of course, staying in a hostel is an experience in itself and is a great way to meet travellers like yourself. This is especially true if you're travelling on your own and are looking for others to explore the city with.The Cost of Eating in SpainEating in Spain isn’t always cheaper than eating in the UK. If you want to eat in restaurants, you can pay somewhere between €13 and €25 on average. This cost will add up if you eat in restaurants every day.Tapas is more than just food! (Source: unserekleinemaus)You can also eat fast-food for between €6 and €8. You can find all the regular chains as well as other fast-food places. That said, with so much good food and reasonably priced restaurants, it'd be a shame to regularly eat in McDonald's!Don’t forget to try the Spanish specialities. For example, a decent paella can cost between €10 and €15 per person. Make sure you keep in mind that paella is usually for multiple people.  A full Spanish omelette (tortilla) can be found for around €7 or €8.Don’t forget to get tapas, either! These small dishes can be a snack or part of a full meal and cost between €2 and €4 each. Whether it’s meat, fish, or vegetables, there’s something for everyone.When it comes to drinks, small beers cost between €1.50 and €3 and you can find mixed drinks for €5.If you don’t feel like eating out or your budget won’t allow it, you can always self-cater and make food in a kitchen in a youth hostel or an Airbnb. TadeoSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our t utors PeterSpanish Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MartaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SharonSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TanyaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Jose manuelSpanish Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow Much Does Transport in Spain Cost?Accommodation, food, and transport are the three main parts of a travel budget. You mightn’t spend much on transport if you’re staying in the city centre as you can always travel on foot. You just have to walk from A to B, after all.For those who’d like to take a metro or bus, you can pay around €2 per trip. If you’re staying in a place for a while, you’ll probably want to get a weekly or monthly ticket. Make sure you research the different tickets available where you’ll be staying.Trav elling in Spain doesn’t mean that you have to stay in just one city.  Travelling within the country is quite reasonably priced as well. You can get buses between cities for around €30 or the train for around €50.If you want to drive around Spain, you should know that petrol costs around €1.25 per litre.How Much Does Shopping Cost in Spain?Spain is great for shopping since it tends to be cheaper than in the UK.There's also much less tax on cigarettes, for example. This is why many smokers tend to bring back as many cigarettes as they can.Ready to get some souvenirs? (Source: gonghuimin468)Clothes can cost up to a third less than they do in the UK. There are even chain stores charging less than they do in the UK. You could get dresses in chain stores for between €20 and €40. However, prices are getting closer to one another.Check out Spanish markets for cheap products. You can even haggle with some market stall owners.  When it comes to souvenirs, you may want to avoid tou risty stores, especially those in the little side streets. These tend to be more expensive than elsewhere. You’ll probably want to go to markets and get something like a good bottle of olive oil.How Much Do Attractions Cost in Spain?Some tourists only want to do free things like going to the beach or having a walk around. You can save a lot of money travelling like this.On the other hand, some people will want to see all the different attractions, visit museums, and learn a lot about Spain. If you’re 25 or under, you can get discounts or free entry to certain museums and art galleries. Similarly, you can also get discounts for students or seniors.A lot of museums are either free on the first Sunday of the month or free every Sunday afternoon. Check when there's free entry or discounted entry and you could save a lot of money!So How Much Should You Spend on Going to Spain?The budget of each traveller will vary depending on where they go and what they do. A backpacker won’t spen d the same amount as someone looking at cruises or exclusive beaches. However, everyone can save a bit of money on travel.Make sure you budget for visiting the top attractions! (Source: Patrice_Audet)On average, someone travelling alone spends an average of €75 per day. You can bring this number down if you do CouchSurfing, staying a people’s houses for free.If you travel as a couple, you’ll spend less for rooms as you can share. This tends to bring the price down to €65 per person per day.That said, some can spend up to €250 per day whereas others can live off €40 per day. You can find plenty of money saving tips on budget travel sites. Even if you're really frugal, you can travel the world without breaking the bank and Spain is a great destination for sightseeing on a budget. ¡Buen viaje!

Two Codes for Success in College and in Life (According to College Board)

Two Codes for Success in College and in Life (According to College Board) Last month, Thomas Friedman reported on College Board’s commitment to emphasizing the most empowering content areas and skills in the vast array of coursework and testing that they develop. According to David Coleman (Chief Operating Officer) and Stefanie Sanford (Chief of Global Policy and External Relations), for the last few years College Board has focused on two crucial codes: the U.S. Constitution and computer science. What is behind this focus and what does this mean for students? The College Board executives explain it pretty well: “If you want to be an empowered citizen in our democracyâ€"able to not only navigate society and its institutions but also to improve and shape them, and not just be shaped by themâ€"you need to know how the code of the U.S. Constitution works. And if you want to be an empowered and adaptive worker or artist or writer or scientist or teacherâ€"and be able to shape the world around you, and not just be shaped by itâ€"you need to know how computer s work and how to shape them.”The first code, that enshrined by the U.S. Constitution into legal code, is crucial as it applies to all of us and dictates the way society is run. Furthermore, the lively debate and differing readings of the same document offer intellectual challenge and opportunity for students of the law and of history. Our history and social science experts are here to support students who are making their first foray into the workings of legal and government systems in classes like AP U.S. History, AP U.S. Government, or AP Economics.The second code, the kind used by computer scientists, has broad and growing applications in technological and non-technological industries alike. It is clear to us in the Bay Area how computer science has gained a key role in California, the United States, and around the globe as tech companies grow in power and importance. Our AP Computer Science wizards can give students a leg up on some of the most cutting-edge and challenging sk ills and curricula offered at Bay Area schools. Whether it’s to support with a tough class or learn a new programming language over the summer, AJ Tutoring can help.As part of College Board focus, the SAT itself often features an excerpt from a founding document or other form of political writing or speech. Thus, paying attention in AP US History or AP US Government can pay off on the SAT, not just the AP exams! Our SAT experts can also help explain the most important comprehension strategies, which aid in breaking down dense language quickly and efficiently. Please reach out to us today to learn more about how we can help your student master the most important codes for success in today’s world!

How to Read Faster - Private Tutoring

How to Read Faster BobbiM Apr 21, 2014 Are you a slow reader? Would you like to increase your reading speed? Check out these helpful tips. -Choose high-interest material. It is best to push yourself to read faster with material that you are familiar with and enjoy. For example, if you like to read mystery novels, choose one to use for pushed reading. -Practice every day. To increase your reading rate, you will need to push yourself to read faster every day for 10 to 15 minutes. Use your local or school newspaper or anything that will sustain your interest for that amount of time. You might want to choose three or four brief articles and take a short break after each one. -Read at slightly-faster-than-comfortable-speeds. As you read, push yourself to read slightly faster than you usually do. You should feel a little uncomfortable reading at this speed and feel that you would prefer to slow down, but you should also sense that you understand what you are reading. -Check your comprehension. Increasing your reading rate while losing comprehension provides no benefit. Therefore, you need to check your comprehension of the material you are reading. However, because you are changing a habit, it is ok to have comprehension of only 70 to 80 percent of what you read during pushed reading. In fact, if you are having 100 percent comprehension you can probably push yourself to read faster. To check your comprehension, try to summarize the information. Did you identify all the key ideas? What about important details and examples? If you find that you are not comprehending the information, slow down a bit. -Try to read at the same time each day. Finding 15 minutes to read every day should not be much of a problem, but in order to keep an accurate record of your improvement you should try to find the time when you are most alert and try to read at that same time every day. -Dont give up. Improving your reading rate is a slow but steady process. You may make some great improvements one week then see little change the next. Dont worry about the fluctuations in your rate, as long as you are seeing an overall increase. However, if you find that you have gone several weeks without any improvement, make a conscious effort to push yourself even faster when you read. Excerpt from  College Success Strategies  by Sherrie L. Nist and Jodi Patrick Holschuh.

One Stupidly Easy E-book Hack Thatll Supercharge Your Language Learning

One Stupidly Easy E-book Hack Thatll Supercharge Your Language Learning One Stupidly Easy E-book Hack Thatll Supercharge Your Language Learning Reading a full-length book in a foreign language without much prior reading practice?Thats like trying to run a marathon without any training.Sure, it’s a great idea in theory, but youre unlikely to reach your end goal without petering out from pure exhaustion.We know academic research backs up the undeniable benefits of immersing yourself in a foreign text. For example, one study conducted at the Monterey Institute of International Studies showed that students acquire and retain verb conjugation skills through repeated exposure in written texts.And yet, so many of us find cracking open a massive volume of text nearly impossible. What if one simple tool could completely rewrite how you think about reading foreign materials?Instead of spending long hours trying to deduct meaning from confusing words youve yet to master, you could speed through pages and pages of text in about the same time it takes you to read in English. Think this sounds like nothing more than a pipe dream?Prepare yourself for a revolutionary technique thatll change your whole approach to learning through books. One Stupidly Easy E-book Hack Thatll Supercharge Your Language LearningAfter that massive buildup, brace yourself for this one word solution: e-books.Yeah, I know, it sounds super anticlimactic. After all, an e-book is just a physical book in digital form, so what’s the big deal? You see, e-books have one incredible advantage over physical textsâ€"most e-readers support in-line dictionaries.Do you see where this is headed?I stumbled upon this incredible language learning hack a few years ago, and I can honestly say it has changed my whole approach to reading in a foreign language. Simply install a foreign dictionary on your e-reader, download a book in your target language and start reading.As you encounter words youre unfamiliar with, click the text and an English definition (or, if desired, a definition in your target language) will be displayed immediately. Best of all, many e -readers will automatically save searched  words for later reference, making it super simple to engrave those new terms in your brain.Ready to get the ball rolling? Follow the 3 simple steps below to optimize your e-reader for your language learning needs and goals. I personally use this technique on a Kindle device and it works like a charm, but the approach is similar for all e-readers. Stop dreaming about the benefits of mastering a new language and start actually doing it.1. Procure the Right DictionaryIf youre anything like me, youll probably find modern literature a tad bit more stimulating than stuffy prose scribbled down two centuries ago.Yes, theres a time and place for Victor Hugo’s long-winded descriptions and colorful speech, but youll likely enjoy a recent novel more than Notre-Dame de Paris. Not only do contemporary writers tend to keep their stories moving more quickly, but they frequently use slang and everyday language you wont find in the tomes of the celebrated authors of the 1800s.While there are plenty of great dictionaries available to today’s language learners, you need to find an option that includes the commonplace words used by modern speakers. In an ideal world, youd be able to look up WordReference translations  and forum comments in a split second, but e-books havent quite made it to that point yet.Fortunately, you can locate a recent edition of a popular dictionary in most e-reader stores. Be sure to read over reviews from other buyers in order to find the right book for you. Also, keep in mind that you may want a dictionary that provides definitions in English! This could be key to helping you speed through your reading. If youre more advanced or if you feel like challenging yourself, try using a monolingual dictionary (all in the target language).As an aside, its worth mentioning that you can get in-line definitions for text on the web using WordReference’s engine! Plugins are available for both Chrome and Firefox. Feel ov erwhelmed by news stories or foreign blogs? This free tool is an absolute lifesaver.2. Choose a Well-liked BookLet me tell you a little secret: bad literature isnt any better in a foreign language.Don’t go through all the motions to optimize your e-reader only to discover youve picked up something truly atrocious.Instead, take your time reading the reviews for available novels and be sure to pick something from your preferred genre. For example, I eagerly devour mysteries and thrillers, which is why you’ll find my Kindle full of foreign titles in this niche. It’s much easier to push ahead if you enjoy the source material.By the way, if youre still unconvinced about choosing an e-book over a hard copy, I understand your pain. I still love and cherish my physical copies of my favorite books, and I completely sympathize with readers who feel hesitant to go digital.It’s worth noting, however, that unless you plan to make a quick jaunt overseas in the near future, youll likely ha ve some difficulty obtaining copies of recent books in your language of choice. Not only do you have to contend with limited distribution and international copyright issues, but many booksellers can’t justify importing large numbers of a book in a foreign language. Even if you can find a copy of what youre looking for, youll likely spend a small fortune to purchase it.E-books, on the other hand, are much more affordable and easily accessible to everyone. You may still encounter limited availability from time to time, but the problem is much less severe in the digital space. If youre a Kindle reader like I am, you might also want to give one of Amazon’s many independent publishers a shot.Im an avowed fan of many authors, both foreign and domestic, whove chosen to self-publish riveting stories you wont find on the shelves of traditional retailers. For example, if you were looking for a great French read, Id recommend that you check out Jacques Vandrouxs Les Pierres Couchéesâ€"thi s supernatural thriller was a favorite of mine last year.3. Practice Your New VocabularyLanguage learning is immensely enjoyable, but it does represent a certain time commitment.After becoming immersed in a fantastic foreign novel, I have often found myself guilty of speeding through the text rather than pausing to work on the new words Ive discovered. Dont fall prey to this trap, tempting as it may be to read your way to the final page in one sitting.Instead, try to work through your vocabulary in bite-sized chunks. Ive personally found it most useful to refer to my new vocab words after completing each new chapter. Many Kindle devices conveniently file every word you define into an app called Vocabulary Builder. You can refer to these words at any time and the devices even support flashcards for your vocab words.Your mileage may vary with other e-readers, so be sure to read up on the features of a potential device if youre considering a new purchase.As much as I appreciate the inn ovation of digital e-readers, I do have to admit that I still find it easier to retain words with physical flashcards.I simply copy my vocab words from my e-reader onto traditional index cards. And, of course, dont forget to feed your reading with other language development methods throughout your day. The ongoing exposure will help take your language skills into the stratosphere!Acquiring proficiency in a foreign language demands a hefty commitment of time and energy, but the satisfaction of speaking another language makes the sacrifice well worth it.As you use this simple reading tool to supercharge your retention skills, youre bound to notice a difference within a few months.The day you find yourself reading page after page without once referring to the dictionary translation, youll no doubt find yourself ecstatic with the progress youve made.Adam Zetterlund is a language enthusiast living in New York City. He spent five years honing his foreign language skills in Paris and Londo n, and he currently partners with a number of international clients in a marketing capacity. Learn more by reading his blog.And One More ThingIf youre digging these strategies, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  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 Screen.FluentU 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.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more ex amples 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.Start using FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes  or  Google Play  store.

What is 8 x 9 - Tutor Hunt Blog

What is 8 x 9 What is 8 x 9? What is 8 x 9?NewsWhat is 8 x 9? School`s Minister Nick Gibb`s answer: `I`m not going to get into this.` School`s Minister Nick Gibb faced an embarrassing situation recently, when he was asked a simple multiplication question by Good Morning Britain presenter Jeremy Kyle: `What is eight times nine?` The Minister Dodged the question adroitly, employing a sophisticated and cunning retort: `I`m not going to get into this. I`ve learned through bitter experience never to answer these kinds of questions on live television.` He must have been aware that his demurrer was perhaps a little surprising, for he went on to express that he was keen to provide an answer: `I`m very tempted to, but I`m not going to.` If only I had known such tactics were available to me when I was at school, and could be employed whenever I was pounced upon by teachers who succumbed to the urge to become quizmaster. I thought the only options open to me were an array of wrong answers, inevitably leading to a humiliating spectacle of chastisement in front of the whole class; if only I had been aware I could politely decline to answer - simply say `I`m not going to get into this,` and return to my seat, secure in the knowledge that I was a model student. Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway seemed dumbfounded by Mr Gibbs answer, asking him: `Why is it so important for an eight-year-old to do it when clearly you feel vulnerable about it, and there you are, a government minister?` `No eight-year-old or nine-year-old will be doing it on live television,` The Minister replied, settling the matter. Nick Gibb had appeared on the morning show to discuss the Government`s new times tables tests, which are part of a numeracy programme to help ensure school children are proficient in their multiplications up to 12. A brief, five minute online test is being trialled in march, with plans for it to become mandatory for all year 4 students by 2020. Many teachers are strongly opposed to this new test, seeing it as just another incarnation of the SATS test in mathematics, which was phased out after numerous complains that it placed an excessive amount of stress upon seven year old pupils. Nick Brook, deputy general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, expressed his dismay about the proposed new test: `We`re working constructively with the government on primary assessment generally so it`s hugely disappointing that they are still intent on the introduction of a multiplication tables test, which the NAHT opposes.` In my opinion ensuring children have a good grasp of their times tables can only be a good thing - many complain that this kind of teaching is just brute force memorisation, but numerical proficiency will actually be useful in day to day life. Given the ever increasing technical demands of the modern workplace, more attention needs to be focused on mathematics at a younger age. This test will ensure each pupil can be accurately assessed, and any pupils that are struggling can be helped. Nick Gibb himself has extolled the virtues of this new times tables check: `Just as the phonics screening check helps children who are learning to read, the multiplication tables check will help teachers identify those pupils who require extra support.` `This will ensure that all pupils leave primary school knowing their times tables off by heart and able to start secondary school with a secure grasp of the fundamental mathematics they need to fulfil their potential.` Given his enthusiasm for times tables mastery, it is disappointing that he failed to display the skill he means to inculcate in pupils. To put it in stark terms: the School`s Minister failed to answer a question he expects all 11 year old children to be able to answer. He is of course not the only politician to come unstuck when presented with a numerical conundrum - who could forget Diane Abbot`s flailing when asked about the funding for extra police officers? Her calculations, given live on LBC radio, meant that each officer could expect to be paid about 10 pence a day! If only to avoid embarrassing (and potentially career ending) situations like this, and Mr Gibbs` muted calculations, the formalised teaching of times tables to young children can only be a good thing. 2 years ago0Add a Comment

6 Online Language Learning Communities Thatll Make You Feel Like Family

6 Online Language Learning Communities Thatll Make You Feel Like Family Its common for language learners to feel a bit isolated at timesâ€"especially when learning an uncommon language or self-teaching.Even if youre attending classes, doing homework and preparing for exams  can be isolating activities.Ready to make one of the best decisions youll ever make as a language learner?  Good!  You’ll never regret it.Diving in and joining  online language learning communities or forums can be highly beneficial to learners of any language.  But which communities will really help you get where youre going?I’ll give you six that are definitely worth your time. Make one (or more of them) your new home online. But first, here are three good reasons why you should join, just in case youre still on the fence. The Benefits of Joining an Online Language Learning CommunitySay “Hello” to Fellow Language LearnersJust knowing that youre  not alone  can be a great comfort  to  the language learner. Sooner or later, you’re gonna be discouraged. You’re gonna feel down and out. (Hey, that’s a normal part of the language journey.)The forum can put all your struggles with language into perspective. Imagine a class of several hundred million. When you come to the forums and read that someone else asked the same language question you’ve been asking yourself the past few days, you realize you’re not that bad. There are people ahead of you, whove been though it all and found ways to overcome difficulties. There are people behind you who are still looking for guidance and direction. When you come to the forum and read a language question that you actually know the answer to, you realize you’re really not that bad!In addition to getting awesome tips that have worked well for  others, forums can create invisible bonds that connect you to every other language learner there, even if you’re studying different languages. There’s some kind of bond that exists between fellow language learners, making an online community like a band of brothers w here you end up cheering each other on and hoping for the others to succeed.Be Up Close and Personal with Native SpeakersDid you know that you can learn a whole new language without ever spending a dime? Native speakers have a lot to do with it. Native speakers are those lucky enough to be born in a country where your target language is spoken.It used to be that gaining access to them involved buying a plane ticket, getting lost in their city and asking where the nearest bathroom is. But that seems like a very long time ago. Today, you can get access to native speakers and you don’t even need to give them the courtesy of introducing yourself. You simply proceed to your question, type away and you’ll have knowledgeable and helpful  native speakers answer your question, sometimes in seconds.Now, I’m not saying that native speakers are necessarily linguistic geniuses. They may very well be average. But they possess the very thing you’re working your tail off to possess: fluency in their language.And because theyre native speakers, they wont think its too big of a deal to dish out some help. Often, they’ll do it pro bonoâ€"or, more often, theyll do it in exchange for help with learning your native language.Beyond language, native speakers can give you the inside information on cultural practices, idiomatic expressions, slang, pop culture and other areas where a textbook can’t go. Through the guidance of these creatures, you’ll have more insightful and enriched time with the language.Get Honest Reviews on Resources and ProductsJoining forums is one of the best ways to go after honest reviews of language learning resources. The wisdom of numbers will shed light on the true nature of products.If a particular language course is good, you’ll hear about it from someone who has actually taken it. Sometimes you’ll hear mixed reviews, which is a reality of life anyway. Then you can engage those members and asked them what they liked or didn’t like about the product/course. Its always possible that their cons will be your pros, and vice versa.So, type your query in the forums and ask away. Ask if such and such is a good product. Or better yet, ask for pros and cons. Youll be a more empowered and informed language learner by doing so.6 Online Language Learning Communities You Should Be a Part OfFluent In 3 MonthsFluent In 3 Months is the one of the largest, most popular and best known language learning blogs online. It’s managed by the fun-loving and globe-trotting Irishman Benny Lewis. Hes fluent in seven languages and intent on adding more tongues to his already robust repertoire.“Three months?” you asked. “That’s like less than a hundred days, right?”The blog talks about different language hacking techniques Benny discovered on his journey towards speaking different languages. He also writes balanced reviews of the different language products online and posts articles like, Learn to Speak Multiple Languages (Without B urning Out)  and What’s Your #1 Challenge in Language Learning?Benny’s philosophy is that if you wanna learn how to speak a language, then you’ve gotta speak it on the first day. Mistakes and all.The Fluent In 3 Months forum reflects this philosophy because you will see that he devotes a section/category to discussions about “Speaking the language” and lumps the other non-speaking components of language (writing, reading, listening) into one category.Speaking of categories, the forum, interestingly, also has a special section for “Ladies Only” which cannot be viewed by non-members.Benny is effusive about what’s going on in his life and shares a lot on the forum about his travels, projects and, like I said, reviews different products he’s tried. So if you want an honest review by someone who’s actually tried the product, Benny’s your guy.With the many resources, tips, techniques and helpful discussions that are happening in Fluent In 3 Months, well, maybe it is  possible to be fluent in three months.OmniglotOmniglot is a compendium of linguistic knowledge and the different writing systems used to represent language. In short, the blog is big on the written wordâ€"one of the best online. Its run by Simon Ager, an unassuming fellow who speaks French, German, Chinese and Japanese. What started out as a hobby in 1998 became what it is today by organically growing and continuously taking in quality content.I’ve included this one on the list as a nod to learners of the written texts. There’s a disproportionate number of excellent learning communities for spoken language, but only  a few focusing on its written form. Omniglot  is one such place.Its forum has sections on con-scripts, extinct languages and even translation requests. But lest it be mistaken for a “writing only” learning community, you’d be happy to know that Omniglot contains voluminous tips, tricks and techniques for learning how to speak different languages. It really co vers all the aspects of language education.Omniglot has attracted serious language learners, so its  here that you’ll find people whose passion is really learning. The crowd here has somehow taken on the unassuming and simple nature of the founder, Simon, and you can really feel genuine curiosity within the forum’s pages. Youre also more likely to bump into really intelligent people in this blog. Just sayin’.So if you want a place that’s low on negativity but high on learning, check out the Omniglot forum.LinguaholicSome communities make you wonder if there are actually people behind it or if they’re busy doing something else. With some forums, you try to contact an admin and it takes you ages to get a reply, if you get one. With Linguaholic, you feel that the people behind it actually care what’s going on in the forums, what’s being talked about or whether the latest queries have been answered.The forum, I think, is in an ideal size where it’s not too big to be out of control, but still active enough to be a platform for communicating with fellow language learners. They have sections for “Language Study Apps,” “Language Teaching” and even a “Language Exchange Corner” where you can find people who can help you learn your target language.With Linguaholic, you get a sense of kaizen, the Japanese concept of continuous improvement. For example, the forum has a section for requests and suggestions, which the moderators don’t treat blithely.So with Linguaholic there’s always some new “cool thing” that’s being developed. They’re continually adding languages and continually tweaking the site. As a yet non-household name, my guess is, it will be big very soon. And I encourage you to join this community. Not just because of its potential (although it would be very cool to be part of something before others flock to it), but because, as it exists today, Linguaholic is imminently useful for the language learner who wants to surround himself with support from like-minded souls.Reddit (/r/languagelearning)Think Reddit is just for upvoting and downvoting items you find interesting (and otherwise)? Think again. Reddit has an awesome list of language learning communities called subreddits that can be as specific and as broad as you want it to be.One such subreddit is  /r/languagelearning.The forum is for anyone interested in learning a language whether they be an absolute beginner, a raving polyglot or a person whos just plain interested in linguistics. Queries submitted here include: Which languages are phonetically similar to English? What fun websites do you visit in your target language? Tips on raising a trilingual child?You can ask anything you want in the language learning niche. Remember what I told you about forums being lounges for other language learners and native speakers? The language learning subreddit has them in good numbers and theyre actively ready to help.The subreddit has the added functionalit y of the Reddit upvote and downvote. An upvote floats the post higher up the page, which means members get to see it first over others. A downvote sinks it to the lower areas of the page, where many readers don’t get to see. This allows members to efficiently interact with one another and bring attention to the highest quality content.While other forums present the latest threads or most recently commented threads, here you’ll see the posts that other members have found particularly interesting or helpful. Trusting in the wisdom of communities, you’re able to save time and don’t have to wade through all the topics before you get to one that’s worth your time.WordReferenceYou’ve probably had your first brush with WordReference because you wanted something translated. WordReference is often considered the top dictionary-translation site online. But working as a translation  service is just one of its virtues. WordReference houses a lively learning community, and a forum se ction to boot!And its forums  are nothing to sneeze at. At the time of this writing, there are 6,000 active users that are “online.” (How may forums can raise up a number like that?)WordReference has forums for Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Slavic, Semitic and many other minor languages. In true tradition as a translation service, the forums for major languages like Spanish, French and Italian come in language pairs. For example, in the French forum, there are subsections on French-English, French-Spanish and French-Italian. So if you want a translation of a French phrase or sentence into English, then you go to the appropriate section. Or if you’re an English speaker who wanted to ask something about the French language, you go to the same section.The queries and topics that you find here are heavy on the translation, vocabulary, meaning, usage, sentence structure, pronunciation, tenses, parts of speech and grammar elements. So for example, in the French-Engli sh section, someone might asked: Can you subject-verb invert on the imparfait?For queries of this nature, your best bet would really be WordReference.UnilangThe Unilang platform probably serves the most number of languages online (including Polynesian languages, Basque, Faroese, Sami languages and even Kurdish).The interface may look basic but, underneath the surface, you’ll be treated to some community-generated resources  like: courses, videos, podcasts, dictionaries, scripts, vocabulary lists, phrasebooks, stories, software,  games  and exercises that no other platform can provide.Unilang even supports live text chat (with Unicode scripts) so you can type in Chinese, Arabic and Russian.The theme in this forum is collaboration. You not only have the chance to take advantage of the resources made by others, discuss them and ask your questions, youre encouraged to create resources of your own. In so doing, you not only help your fellow language learners, but youre also learning an d immersing yourself more in your target language. And isn’t that a win-win?Those are six of the language learning communities that are worth checking out.Come, dive in.Meet the folks, the fellow language learners who are effusive about their journeys, the patient native speakers who help you for nothing in exchange and the lovers of language who not only make you appreciate your  target language more, but your first language as well.They’re all there waiting for you, so what are you waiting for?! And One More ThingIf youre digging these communities, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  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 Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definiti on, 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.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to 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.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes store  or Google Play store.