4 Important Facts to Know About Your GPA

4 Important Facts to Know About Your GPA At the end of your report card every year, listed under your current grades, is your cumulative GPA. You might know what is typically seen as a great GPAfor example, something at or near a 4.0 and what numbers represent weaker GPAs. But you may not know how your GPA is calculated, how it will influence your college admissions process, and how you can use it to decide what kinds of colleges might fit you best. Your cumulative GPA is a powerful marker of where you are academically and what kind of academic performance you might be capable of later on. When looking at your GPA from this past school year, keep these four important facts in mind: 1. Your cumulative GPA may be weightedand different schools have different methods of weighting GPAs If you take some honors or AP classes, your grades from these classes might result in your cumulative GPA being calculated with higher numbers. For example, some schools grade AP classes on a 5.0 scale and honors classes on a 4.5 scale, thus making it possible for your cumulative GPA to be over a 4.0. If your school weights these more advanced classes by adjusting the grading scale, then your cumulative GPA may be a weighted GPA, intended to reflect the increased rigor of your courseload. Furthermore, the way one school weights its more challenging classes may not be the way other schools weight theirs, and some schools may not weight their classes at all. Before you get excited about your GPA, figure out if your school weights classes and if the cumulative GPA on your report card is weighted or unweighted. [RELATED: How LSAC Calculates Your GPA] 2. Colleges may place more emphasis on your unweighted GPA Colleges receive a copy of your official high school transcript that may include both your unweighted and weighted GPAs. Because high schools calculate their weighted GPAs in a myriad of ways, many colleges look to standardize the grading scales of their applicants by putting everyone back on the old 4.0 scalemeaning that colleges may look at your unweighted GPA as well. Colleges can then assess the rigor of your courseload by looking at which classes are listed on your transcript. Thus, if you have an unweighted GPA of 3.7 and took four AP classes, you might be more enticing than a candidate with an unweighted 4.0 who took no challenging courses. 3. You can use your GPA to determine how competitive of a college applicant you might be Most colleges share the average GPAs of students in their recent entering classes, and you can use this data to help determine if you are a competitive applicant for certain schools. Applying to a few reach schools is standard for most students, but it should be noted that your reach schools should be just thatwithin reach. Use your GPA as a guideline during your application process. However, keep in mind the college admissions process is typically holistic, meaning the application reviewers review all aspects of your academic history and what you have to offer, so try not to completely write off a potential school due to a target GPA mismatch. Your GPA can act as just one of many guiding factors as you research colleges to find which are the best statistical fits. [RELATED: Is MCAT or GPA More Important for Med School?] 4. Colleges may use your GPA as an indication of how well you will perform academically at the collegiate level Colleges know that a past record of strong academic performance typically begets future strong performances. Colleges look at GPAs not only as evidence of your high school accomplishments, but as likely predictors of future promise. Your GPA may represent what you will bring to a school academically and how well you might do once you graduate from college. Make sure youre putting your best foot forward by working consistently hard and challenging yourself throughout your high school career so that your GPA reflects a promising candidate who is ready to take on a collegiate courseload. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us atblog@varsitytutors.com.

Poetry Competitions in the UK

Poetry Competitions in the UK How to Find and Enter UK Poetry Competitions ChaptersHow to Find Poetry Writing Contests to EnterEntering a Magazine Poem CompetitionPopular UK Poetry CompetitionsHave a Go at Poetry ReadingWhat is a Poetry Slam?Poetry is a popular creative outlet among all kinds of people, but attitudes to one’s own work can differ greatly. While some prefer to keep their poems private, others are keen to share their work with others.One popular way that budding poets share their work is through entering poetry competitions.There are many advantages to submitting your work to be judged other than the possibility of a prize; some writing competitions offer feedback on your work, regardless of how far you get in the competition, and some organisations may publish entrants’ work in an anthology or poetry collection â€" so you might even get spotted!Whatever your motives for entering your work in to a poetry competition, whether you have one poem you’re particularly proud of, or you simply want to share your work with the general public, ent ering a competition is a great way to get to know the world of poetry in a new way, one which will boost your self-esteem both in general and as a poet.It may surprise you to know that the world of poetry competitions is diverse in several aspects.Some competitions involve writing poetry around a certain theme, while others impose a word limit, a certain rhyme scheme or a particular form such as a haiku, however, you don’t even have to be a poet yourself, as there are also poetry recitation competitions to choose from.If you’re looking for information on the different types of poetry competition, or you’d like to find a competition to enter, you’ve come to the right place!Find good poetry lessons here.

What Kind Of Job Can You Do With A Physics Degree

What Kind Of Job Can You Do With A Physics Degree Looking For The Best Jobs In Physics ChaptersWill I Have To Work In A Physics-Related Job If I Have A Physics Degree?How Can I Increase My Chances Of Success When Applying For Physics Graduate Jobs?Getting Your Physics Degree Is Just The First StepIf you’re considering taking a physics course at university, or you’re already studying a physics degree programme as an undergraduate and are considering your next steps after graduation, it’s only natural to spend some time thinking about what kind of jobs you might be able to get with a physics degree.There are a lot of wonderful skills that you learn as part of a physics degree that many employers value, whether that’s:Numerical skills;Report writing skills; orResearch skills.As a result, it can sometimes feel quite overwhelming when deciding what kind of jobs you might like to apply for after university. This article outlines the kinds of roles that physics graduates tend to enter into, and outlines ways that you can maximise your chances of landing your dream rol e.Some graduates with a physics degree end up working within business and finance. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, Free-Photos, Pixabay)Government research;Oil and gas;Science and engineering; andTechnology, among many others.When it comes to specific roles, jobs that physics graduates could apply for which are usually related to their degree include jobs such as a nanotechnologist, physicist, astrophysicist, geophysicist, and research scientist.However, your options aren’t just limited there. You could also apply for roles that aren’t directly related to physics, including jobs such as a management consultant, patent attorney, accountant, meteorologist, or investment analyst. Equally, jobs that place emphasis on strong mathematics skills can also be good options for physics graduates to pursue.One of the more overlooked roles that a physics graduate with a bachelor of science degree could take is that of a physics teacher.Currently, the UK is facing a shortage of teachers in particular disciplines, including physics and mathematics. As a result, the government is keen to attract physics graduates to teaching roles, offering incentives such as bursaries in order to help get more teachers into the classroom.If you’ve always thought that teaching could be for you, then now is a great time to consider teaching as a career once you’ve completed your physics studies at your  university or your graduate studies.Note that the jobs described above are just some examples of the kinds of jobs that you could get, so keep an open mind when applying for positions and think about your own career goals. When pursuing your dream job try to focus on a field that interests you and apply for positions that you think you would like to have a career in.Not All Physics Graduates Enter The Workforce Straight AwayAnother thing that’s worthwhile considering is the fact that not every physics graduate will enter the workforce straightaway after graduating.Some may decide to take a ye ar or so out of study and work, perhaps to go travelling and explore the world, or to help out on a few charitable projects that are close to their heart.Equally, other graduates might decide that postgraduate study is right for them. This might mean taking the plunge and taking on a master's degree in physics or a related discipline with your university's physics department, such as:Theoretical physics;Engineering physics;Quantum mechanics;Thermodynamics; orAstronomy.Alternatively, graduates could take on a postgraduate study from a different field entirely, such as a subject from the humanities, or business and finance.If you feel as though your future may lie in academia and you would ultimately like to work towards a PhD, or you have a passion for physics and would love to study it further at your academic institution, then completing a form of postgraduate study is certainly worth considering.If it is a route you would like to go down and would like further advice, your schoolâ €™s or university’s careers adviser should be able to give you the information you need regarding the admission criteria of various universities that you would need to meet to undertake postgraduate study.You might have a long conversation about your future opportunities with your physics and maths tutor...An undergraduate physics degree could lead to further academic study. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Pixabay)How Can I Increase My Chances Of Success When Applying For Physics Graduate Jobs?It’s no secret that if you want to land your dream job you should try and stand out from the crowd as much as possible.While physics graduates generally have a lot of skills that appeal to employers, that’s not to say there aren’t other ways to also make your application shine.Which Skills Do Employers Value?There’s no single right answer when it comes to what qualities each employer looks for in job applicants, but as a general rule, employers may value some of the interdisciplinary skills that a physics graduate has picked up throughout the course of their degree, including:Communication skills;Data analysis and research skills;Problem-solving skills; andI.T. skills, potentially including some knowledge of programming.To use an example, if you apply for a position as an investment analyst, an employer would be very interested in the strength of your numerical and data processing skills, as it’s highly likely that part of your role will involve working on or with data models.What Else Can I Do To Boost My C.V.?One of the best ways to make an impact on potential employers in your prospective application for a role is to show that you have relevant work experience under your belt. This shows that you have some insight into what the job will entail and have experience working in a position that other applicants may not have.The kind of work experience or internship you should apply for will depend on the types of jobs you would like to apply f or. For instance, if you would really like to remain working within physics or the sciences, then gaining some work experience as a laboratory assistant may prove invaluable.You might also be in a position where your degree includes an industrial placement or work experience opportunities. If this is the case, be sure to make the most of your time on placement, as it can really help boost your chances of landing a job you’d like.If your course doesn’t offer an internship or industrial placement programme, don’t fret. There are plenty of organisations that offer summer internships that you can apply for. Generally speaking, such internships accept applicants that are in the penultimate year of their degree.If you need extra help finding the right internship opportunities for you, consider speaking to the careers adviser at your school or university for further guidance on what preparation you can undertake to get your C.V. ready to send to prospective employers.Your dream job c ould be one step closer with a physics degree. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, geralt, Pixabay)Getting Your Physics Degree Is Just The First StepHaving a degree in physics can be a real benefit when it comes to applying for jobs, as many employers will value the mathematical and analytical skills that you can bring to a role.However, in order to get your dream job, you also need to ensure that your academic performance is on par with the job’s requirements. Some positions will be offered to undergraduates on the proviso that they achieve at least a 2.1 in their degree, although some employers are also open to accepting candidates who have obtained a 2.2 or less.Given that it's in your best interest to get the best possible degree when leaving university, if you find yourself lagging behind in academic performance, or simply want to ensure you have the best chances of graduating with the highest degree possible, then you may want to consider engaging a physics and maths tutor to help get y ou up to speed with any areas of your physics curriculum that you’re unsure of.For example, you may want help with some numerical elements of the course or would like to revise some of the key areas and principles that were taught during the academic year.Equally, if you’re still at school studying for your A-Level exams, but know that you would like to study physics at university, then having a tutor help you as you prepare for your final exams could prove invaluable in helping you get the best result possible and maximising the chances of being accepted into your first choice university.Superprof has a range of physics tutors to choose from, who are able to offer remote and in-person tuition to suit a range of budgets. We also have blogs covering where to look for a physics and maths tutor and how much a physics tutor should cost.If you found this useful, why not check out our blog on 10 reasons to study physics!

How to Give Violin Lessons without Violin Qualifications

How to Give Violin Lessons without Violin Qualifications Can You Become a Violin Teacher without Qualifications? ChaptersViolin Teaching Positions for Self-Taught ViolinistsHow to Teach Violin Lessons without Qualifications: Be a Good Teacher First and Foremost!How to Teach Violin Tutorials OnlineTeaching Private Tutorials without any Violin QualificationsHow to Teach Violin in Small Music Centres and AssociationsThe violin is often seen as a hobby before an academic discipline.  While some people choose to study it academically (at a conservatoire, for example), it’s not your usual degree like maths or science.Lots of artists choose to learn instruments for themselves since they won't have to stress about their next recital, audition, concert, or whether or not they've been working on their repertoire. When it comes to the piano, guitar, or accordion, and even the violin, anything is possible. Those who taught themselves can enjoy performing concerts or as part of an ensemble just for the fun of it, unlike someone who attended a reputable school of music whose grades might have hinged on it. Whether learning a song or music theory, you can learn where to put your fingers and make the right notes without the help of a teacher or a degree in music.How can you make a career out of it?  How can you become a violin teacher without having studied at a Conservatoire?with a private tutor.However, it’s down to the musician at the end of the day.Being self-taught comes with a number advantages that help add to the tutor’s experience.By studying violin on their own, the budding violinist has to be resourceful and find the answers themselves, on the internet, or in music books. It also means that since they’re actively learning what music is, their brain is more receptive to the knowledge and will learn more efficiently.They’ll learn better than just being told something by the music teacher. A self-taught musician is a motivated musician, an essential quality for success.  It’s also important to learn not to ever give up even when facing difficulties. A lesson they’ll pass on to their students.A self-taught tutor is also aware of the difficulties that any student may encounter during their learning. They’ll also know how to overcome these difficulties, a quality a lot of students will be looking for.A self-taught musician can also be just as good a musician as a professionally trained musician. If a student at a conservatoire isn’t motivated, they’ll never be able to reach a high level in terms of their playing. Just because they did a summer music programme, have attended tonnes of expensive workshops, and got scholarships to all the best schools, that doesn't they're the best performer in the world! Just have a look at a list of some of the best self-taught musicians in the world!  Motivation can work wonders.Did you hear about the guy who built his own violin and then taught himself to play it?How to Teach Violin Lessons without Qualifications: Be a Good Teacher First and Foremost!Qualifications don’t necessarily give you the necessary qualities to be a good teacher, either.  Good teaching skills are instrumental when it comes to transferring knowledge. The best musicians might be incapable of transferring their knowledge to students.Even the alumni from some of the best schools can struggle to teach effectively so don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself just because your neighbour is a better violinist than you.  It doesn’t mean that your career as a teacher is over before it’s even begun. Being a teacher is more complex than that and requires a number of skills that have nothing to do with music:Knowing how to help students advance. You don’t need to show them that you’re violin virtuoso. The student’s more interested in how they can improve.Explaining things in different ways. If a student doesn’t understand what you’re trying to tell them, you’ll end up wasting tonnes of time. Try to find a new way to explain something so that the student can understand better.Making your tutorials intere sting. A lot of music school classes (especially those as part of the national curriculum) can become quite boring and dry after a few hours. You need to make sure your student's paying attention. The same is as true for adults as it is children. They need to be engaged from the start of the class to the end of it. How do you do it? By teaching them music they like and giving them regular challenges to overcome, for one.You have to make sure children are engaged when they learn. (Source: pixabay.com)These are skills that will come with experience and not necessarily qualifications or degrees.Discover also how to set your rates for tutoring the violin... CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutor s YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow to Teach Violin Tutorials OnlineWhat can you do when you don’t have the necessary qualifications to teach in a state school?There are plenty of options for you.Why not do as the self-taught do and offer online tutoring lessons for the violin?You could start your own site or blog giving advice on the violin.  As a self-taught violinist yourself, you can speak from experience to other budding violinists.One question remains, though... How can you earn a living with a blog or a website?  Why not charge for tutorials?Many bloggers have earned a living like this by offering paid-for content for students on their site.  That doesn’t mean that all your content has to be behind a paywall. You could give free previews or perhaps even offer complementary videos for a small fee.You could work on giving private tutorials over the internet by making a blog. (Source: startupstockphotos.com)Make sure your prices are reasonable by check ing how much violin tutorials cost.  Some bloggers only offer free content. In this case, they need to have enough visits in order to earn their keep from ads. However, this requires a lot of views.Teaching on the internet is a good way to put together lessons the way you like to learn. If you can play the violin in an interesting way, there might be some people interested in your techniques and tuition.Teaching Private Tutorials without any Violin QualificationsIf new technologies aren’t your forté, there are other options you could look into. A lot of musicians are becoming private tutors, too.Whether you're a music student, doing it alongside your day-job, or full-time, anyone can become a private tutor. You don’t need any qualifications. There are websites that help tutors to find music students and vice-versa.Superprof is one of these sites. By signing up, you’ll gain access to a huge network of tutors and students. There is no admission process, you just have to complet e your user profile.Once your potential students get in touch, make sure you get back to them quickly. Your responsiveness shows your future students how serious and organised you are when it comes to teaching. The first hour is normally spent at the student’s home where you’ll get to know the student and work out the approach you’re going to take to make them a better violinist.Bit by bit, your profile will fill up with glowing reviews. Then other students will feel more comfortable hiring your as their private tutor.  Of course, you can still advertise your services on other websites, too. Today there are a lot of people offering these types of services online and the number of private tutors is only increasing.A lot of tutors also grow their networks with other musicians.Make sure that the music theory you're teaching is appropriate to your student's level. (Source: pixabay.com)How to Teach Violin in Small Music Centres and AssociationsWhile conservatoires aren’t always a ccessible to musicians without qualifications, there are other associations and smaller music centres where you could teach.As long as you’re skilled, motivated, and a good teacher, they’ll be happy to take you on. They're not just for the alumni of famous conservatoires.A lot of students get music lessons from smaller organisations. They are often more flexible than the conservatoires and offer several types of courses regardless of the musical instrument (violoncello, recorders, bass, clarinet, saxophone, etc.). Students participate in music classes and courses that only last a semester or take place in the evenings, for example. Additionally, they cover other aspects of music instruction, too, like:Music theoryIntroductions to musicEthnomusicologyCompositionMusic technology and working in a music studioImprovisationMusical trainingPlaying in a symphony orchestraPerforming in a choir and choral lessonsChamber musicContemporary music coursesConductingIndividual courses in music performanceTeachers are often asked to teach students about music theory, how to improvise, etc. If you’re not up to speed with these kinds of things, keep in mind that you’ll probably need to be au fait with notions such as:Reading musicTempoThe treble and bass clefRhythmMetronomesScalesNotes and their namesKeysWhen it comes to learning to play the violin, you’ll also need to know:How to hold the bowHow to tune a violinHow to read music for violinsFinger placementUsing your left handUsing the chinrestFingeringVibratoIf you know all of this, then there won't be too many surprises during the interview and you should probably apply to the job today.If you feel you still need some aural education, why not take some music theory tutorials alongside your violin training and study music a bit more? While a diploma isn't necessary, a good educator or instructor should have a broad range of knowledge.This could help you gain some foundations in music theory that will help you improve your playing.Now you should have an idea of the places you can teach people to play the violin.If music is not your thing, try to teach English online.

How to Uncover Learning Problems and Help Correct Them

How to Uncover Learning Problems and Help Correct Them I hate school. If youve ever heard those three words come out of your childs mouth, youve probably felt sad and helplesswondering what you can do to make things easier for your child. However, what you may not fully understand is the meaning behind and complexity of your childs declaration. For many children, academic struggles tend to snowball into a variety of other problems, such as self-esteem and behavioral issues and more. Whats actually going on In his book, Why Dont Students Like School? cognitive scientist Dan Willingham discusses how the mind works and what it means for the classroomand notes that if schoolwork is always just a bit too difficult for a student, it should be no surprise that she doesnt like school much. For students to enjoy school more, Willingham says, they must consistently experience the satisfaction that comes with successfully solving a problem. Without the proper foundational skills, however, students are ill-equipped to do so. Children are naturally curious, but its also a natural inclination to give in to frustration, tune out and give up if schoolwork is too difficult for them. Certainly, each childs circumstances are different, but most school problems can be attributed to a child becoming disengaged with and/or overwhelmed by the work that is expected of them. And as problems persist, children feel hopeless that they will ever be capable of doing better. Discovering the problem While it is important to communicate with your student and his or her teacher, it may take deeper digging to get a good understanding of what exactly is causing your child to struggle. Youll need to identify specifics about your childs academic performance, then analyze further. For example, if reading is hard for your child, its important to pinpoint what skill gaps are causing him or her to fall behind grade level. Is your student struggling to differentiate and hear individual letters and letter blends? Or is the problem spelling and vocabulary? At Huntington Learning Center, teachers perform an academic evaluation of every student, which provides detailed information about a students academic strengths and weaknesses and is a starting point for instruction. Correcting the problem Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to tutoring. Therefore, targeted instruction is the best method. You will have the best chance of success in helping your child succeed in school if you pinpoint and correct the specific underlying challenges. Keep in mind that it may take time for such a program to yield results. Your child will need to put in the effort and you will need to keep in touch with your childs teacher, tutor and your child. It may surprise you, but your child may even welcome the assistance, as he or she will finally be able to get the help he or she needs. If you continue to hear your child complaining about school, dont wait to seek help. The sooner you step in and develop a plan of action, the sooner your child will be able to catch up in class, raise those grades and boost his or her confidence.

LOI English Teachers Jonathan Johnson

LOI English Teachers Jonathan Johnson In my opinion, the most interesting thing about learning English with native teachers is the possibility to speak English with people from different anglophone countries. The different accents and the multicultural aspect fascinate me as an eternal English student, that is why I loved the talk I had with  Jonathan Johnson, one of the LOI English teachers.Natural from Cape Town, South Africa, Jonathan lived in Rome and Milan, Italy, and now is residing in Paris, France. He is passionate about different cultures and is learning French. He is also fluent in Italian and Afrikaans, besides English, of course.Jonathan works with students from all over the world, but the majority is from Brazil, Japan, Spain and Russia. According to him, everyone has different strengths and should use the language in their most comfortable way to be able to communicate. But one thing is valid for every student:  training grammar, writing, speaking and having as much contact with the language as possible wil l build up their confidence and constantly develop their English skills.Jonathan said that the use of gestures and pictures, referring articles and his communication skills help the interaction with students. He has been teaching English for more then 10 years and has a lot of experience with job interview preparation, university level courses and preparation for presentations.About the concept of teaching English online, Jonathan told me that he has a cultural experience every time he teaches a class and that, in reality, the only difference between teaching online and teaching in a classroom is that there is no physical contact. Nonetheless, the teacher has the responsibility  to guide the students through the hour,  slowly working the students and building their confidence to make them feel that they are able to have a conversation in English.During our conversation, Jonathan confirmed something other teachers already told me, the majority of English learners translate instead of thinking in English and that shows in sentence construction. That is why the most important tip that Jonathan gives is to keep it short and simple, that will give you control over what you are saying and control over the conversation you are having as well.

Top 5 ESL Classroom Aids To Get You Out of Teaching Jams

Top 5 ESL Classroom Aids To Get You Out of Teaching Jams By Adrian PalinicInternational ESL teachers have to be adaptable.   It simply comes with the territory of traveling to far off lands.   No matter where you teach, you’ll have to adapt whatever resources are available to suit your teaching style.   But what if resources are lacking?   What if the school where you’re teaching  hasn’t  given you clear direction on what to teach?   Here’s a list of classroom aids, adaptable to all levels, that any ESL teacher can pack and use in their next teaching jam:1 â€" Flashcards  - These can be adapted to suit any level and target language.  I found it useful to carry around a set of verb flashcards for words like  run, write, open, close, jump, etc., with funny images on each to represent the action.  These came in useful when teaching younger learners.  With a few rounds of repetition and a couple of  Simon Says  games, I quickly had classes of kids understanding basic classroom commands like  â€œOpen your book.”   The cards can als o be adapted to work with older students.  Make a game of it and have students make sentences with the verbs, or ask for a list of synonyms from more advanced students.2 â€" Music  â€" It may be easiest to make a playlist of music from YouTube or a similar online resource.  Pull up the playlist in class, play a song and imagine all the possible teaching activities!  Use simpler, slower songs to get your younger students to listen for a keyword or two.  See who can hear the word first!  Have more advanced students pick out words from songs sung in different English accents.  See if students can guess the next lyric.  Students love to listen to new music, especially if it’s upbeat and easy to understand.3 â€" Movies -  I’m not saying you should sit the class down and watch  The Shawshank Redemption,  but showing short movie clips focusing on key grammar points can be valuable classroom aids for any ESL class.  Again, if you don’t have movies immediately available to you, YouTube may be your best friend.  Do a little research and make playlists you can pull up in class.  Different playlists can focus on different grammar points, accents, idioms, or songs, or they might simply add a visual to a children’s counting activity.4 â€" Books and Newspapers -  Younger students will be intrigued by English storybooks for children â€" especially if they have big, bright illustrations.  In many cases, illustration styles might differ from what students would usually see in their own storybooks.  For older students, even a newspaper from your hometown can be put to great use.  Lower level students can work with the newspaper’s pictures and captions, while more advanced students can search for different uses of a verb or idiom, develop a story of their own, or simply discuss a newsworthy issue.5 â€" Pictures -  As you’ll likely be relatively unfamiliar with the culture within the country where you’ll be teaching, it’s just as likely students will b e unfamiliar with your background.  Bring some pictures that remind you of home.  Sharing these in class will show students a little bit more about you and where you’re from.  Pictures can be used at any time, and can be applied to almost any language level and grammar point.  Younger students can count items in the pictures, while older students can develop a story based on the photos.Bonus â€" A Video Camera -  Okay, here’s one more essential ESL classroom aid that will save you when in a teaching jam.  Turn any grammar point into a dramatic event.  Video cameras inspire an immediate sense of excitement (and sometimes fear). Nowadays, with high quality cell-phone video cameras, any teacher can transform a simple dialogue activity into a dramatic scene.  Set some ground rules and ensure students only use English for their scene.  Near the end of class, gather the students to review everyone’s videos.Before going abroad to teach, prepare the items in this list to ensur e you can handle any stressful teaching situation.  Because who needs additional stress while teaching in a new country?  Now you’ll have more time to relax and enjoy your new surroundings.

The Crafty Linguists DIY Guide to Intermediate Language Lessons

The Crafty Linguists DIY Guide to Intermediate Language Lessons The Crafty Linguists DIY Guide to Intermediate Language Lessons Your Pinterest board doesnt need to be on point.A glue gun may seem like an instrument of torture to you.You can even have a pathological aversion to glitter. Its only natural.But whether or not youre crafty by nature, you can still be a crafty language learner by putting together  your own study plan.For intermediate learners, putting together your own DIY lessons might be the easiest way to fix your flaws and catapult you towards an advanced level.Thats because DIY language lessons can cover all the major areas that are critical to fluency. You can learn vocabulary,  practice reading  or improve  listening skills just by selecting the right activities. You wont even need to scrapbook your experience (unless you want to).Heres everything you need to know for putting together your own DIY intermediate language lessons! Why Put Together Your Own DIY Intermediate Language Lessons?First of all, you know what you need to work on better than anyone. Youve studied the language long enoug h to know what youre still not comfortable with, whether its a particular grammar rule or certain skill, like speaking. Crafting your own language lessons allows you to focus squarely on the areas youre least comfortable with, thereby making your skills more well-rounded.Plus, making your own lessons is more flexible than taking conventional lessons. Whether you want to spend a few minutes or a few hours each day, you can craft your lessons to fit into your schedule. And since you select the activities, you can find ways to make them work any time and any place.Finally, creating your own lesson plans can make language learning more fun. You can select what activities interest you most, so there wont be any boring lectures or fatiguing textbook study to bring you down.How to Use the Tips in This PostSet specific goals.One potential pitfall of crafting your own language lessons is losing motivation. Thats why its important to set specific goals. Setting these goals will make you more accountable to yourself and give you clear objectives. This allows you to proceed forward in a focused, organized fashion.Try to set goals that are ambitious but achievable. Setting your goals so high that theyre impossible (Ill be fluent in Chinese, Japanese and Dothraki in a week!) can be demotivating and make you quit trying. However, setting your goals too low (Ill say hi everyday in my target language) can lead to slow or no progress.In addition, make your goals as specific as possible. You might plan to study a certain number of words, watch a foreign language TV show for 10 minutes or read a poem each day. Regardless of how you do it, being specific will give you defined objectives that are easy to achieve.Keep a language notebook.Keeping a foreign language notebook  is one of the best ways for independent learners to keep track of everything. Here, you can jot down vocabulary lists, keep track of your goals, plan your schedule, etc. A well-maintained language notebook can he lp you get your learning on track by keeping your most valuable learning information in one place.Interact with other language learners.Going at it alone can be isolating. At times, you may have questions or concerns that youd love to share with someone. Luckily, just because youre studying independently doesnt mean you need to do it alone. Interacting with other language learners can be good for motivation and support. You can reach out to friends who are learning languages or even join an online community like  Reddits Language Learning group.Incorporate activities from each category.To craft your DIY intermediate language lessons, its important to ensure balance. After all, knowing a few thousands words in a language is useless if you cant also use them read, write, speak or listen. Thats why its important to focus on developing balanced skills.To do this, try to combine activities from each of the main categories: vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, speaking and listening. Wh ich activities you select can vary day-by-day based on your schedule and interests. For instance, one day you might do a vocabulary activity and a grammar activity. The next day, you might work on reading and writing. The day after that, you can study speaking and listening.Your DIY language lessons should work for your needs and your schedule, but its also important not to lose sight of developing well-rounded skills.Use FluentU in any lesson plan.FluentU is a fun, flexible option that makes a perfect addition to any DIY language lesson. Thats because FluentU can help you build your vocabulary, improve your grammar, strengthen your listening skills and even fine-tune your reading skills.FluentU offers authentic, real-world videos like movie trailers, music videos, news and more. However, you wont be thrown in without supportâ€"each video includes annotated captions, making these videos accessible and useful for intermediate language students. Youll have easy access to any words def inition, an associated image and example sentences. Plus, you can click on a word to see how its used in other videos.And look no further than FluentUs learn mode if youre looking for an in-context learning experience that incorporates videos, pictures and example sentences into exercises and flashcards.Best of all, lessons are personalized using an algorithm that presents you with questions based on your learning history, ensuring the material you see is appropriate for your unique learning level.You can use  FluentU online  or  download the FluentU app for iOS or Android devices.The Crafty Linguists DIY Guide to Intermediate Language LessonsVocabularyLabel things in your home.If you still dont know a word for a particular object, smack a label on it.Try doing this one room at a time. Look around you and try to name everything. Dont know the word for something? Look it up, make a label and put it on the object.Then, when you want to work on vocabulary as part of your DIY language l esson, just look around you for words to study. When you see an object, say the word out loud to practice it. Once you know the word well, you can remove the label.Make vocabulary lists.Think of themes for potential discussions. For instance, if you want to learn a language for business, think of business terms you use or see often.A fun way to make this part of your lesson plan is to set a time limit and a choose a theme. Challenge yourself to list as many words as you can in your native language related to that theme. For instance, if I gave myself one minute to come up with words related to the beach, I might list beach, towel, swimsuit, lifeguard, sunglasses, water, wave, etc. Then, all you need to do is look up these words in your target language to put together a helpful thematic vocabulary list. Study the vocabulary list for a couple of minutes during your lessons until youve learned all the words.Another way to come up with words for your vocabulary list is to think in your target language for a few minutes. You may find yourself stumbling because you cant find the words you need to continue your thought. Jot them down in your native language and translate them once youve completed the thinking activity.If you get bored studying vocabulary lists, you can also learn words by entering them into flashcards with resources like Quizlet  or Anki. This will allow you to include vocabulary study in your daily lessons using less time and effort.Practice reading and listening.Reading and listening are easy ways to grow your vocabulary naturally. Since youll see the words used in context, youll develop a clear understanding of what they mean. For a little extra help, keep a list of words you encounter that you dont know. Then, study them using some of the techniques discussed above.GrammarNail down your verb conjugations.At the intermediate level, youve already studied most of the basic conjugations. Nows the time to really get them down so you dont need to consc iously think about them.One way to do this is to make conjugation tables. Choose a verb and one or more verb tenses. Then, list the conjugations of that verb. This can take up just a couple of minutes from your lesson time, but the more practice you have conjugating verbs, the easier itll be to do it quickly in conversation.If you need a little help with conjugations, you can also use online tools for your specific target language. For instance, if youre studying Spanish, conjugation tools  like conjugation.org  can help you brush up on your skills or check if youre conjugating correctly.Study some more complex conjugations.You probably know present tense. You may know past tense. But now that youre at the intermediate level, its time to work on more advanced verb conjugations.Verb tenses vary by language, so the exact tenses you study depend on your target language. For instance, now would be a good time to learn future tense, progressive tenses and perfect tenses. You also might w ant to study up on any irregular verbs, which can be tricky to remember.To do this, its helpful to spend some time reading about conjugations and putting together conjugation tables. You can refer back to these for a few minutes whenever you want to work them into your lesson plan.Study tricky grammar rules.Every language has a few tricky rules. You probably touched on them in beginning lessons. As you craft your DIY intermediate lessons, dedicate a little time to tricky grammar rules.Spend a few minutes reading about the rule in your favorite textbook or on your favorite website. Otherwise, look for a YouTube video or podcast that explains the rule. Once youve figured it out, write about it in your language notebook. Every now and then, refer back to it as part of your lesson plan.Additionally, try to use your newfound command of the grammar rule in your writing and speaking practice, and keep an eye out for it during reading and listening practice. This is an easy way to reinforce what youve learned without adding any additional time to your lessons.ReadingRead dual-language books.Dual-language books  are an easy way to transition to reading in your target language. Thats because they offer text in English alongside text in your target language, making it easy to refer back to the English version whenever you dont understand something.To fit this into your lesson plan, simply set a goalâ€"you might choose to read a certain number of pages or spend a certain amount of time reading.Use a tool like Readlang to make any online text accessible.Want to practice reading in your target language but prefer fun websites like magazines or authentic blogs? Unfortunately for intermediate learners, authentic material like this can seem impossibly challenging. However, that doesnt mean you cant use it in your DIY language lessons.Tools like Readlang can make authentic written materials accessible to any level of language learner. Readlang is a downloadable web reader that allows you to translate words or phrases instantly from any website. Plus, you can add the words to flashcards, which you can use for a vocabulary lesson.To add this authentic reading practice to your lesson plan, just set a simple goal. You might choose to browse websites in your target language for 10 minutes each day. Otherwise, choose a website you like that updates daily and make it your goal to peruse the new material regularly.WritingKeep a journal.Keeping a journal in your target language can be an easy addition to any lesson plan.To do this, commit yourself to make a journal entry every day or two. It doesnt need to be long. You might write about your day, your plans or even your favorite boy band. The choice is up to you. Keeping a journal will help you build your confidence in writing as well as reinforce grammar and vocabulary.Find a pen pal.Finding a foreign language pen pal  can build your writing skills and help you make a new friend.Websites like InterPals can help y ou find friends who speak your target language. You can discuss whatever you want with your pen pal. You might even choose to write about topics related to vocabulary youve studied to reinforce your learning.Since you wont know when your pen pal will write back, you cant schedule this into your lesson plan too much in advance. However, since the experience will be valuable, its worth changing up your lesson plans to accommodate reading what your pen pal writes, and writing back.Plus, theres a major bonus: You can ask your pen pal any pressing grammar or vocabulary usage questions you have. You can even ask him/her to correct your writing to give you a clearer idea of what you need to work on.Use social media or a message board.Do you love the thrill of getting a new follower? Do you enjoy chatting about the latest trends online? If so, using social media or a message board can get you the writing practice you need in a fun format.Reddit offers message boards in a variety of language s, including  Chinese, French, German, Portuguese  and Spanish. You can use these to interact with other users and discuss a huge array of topics.Otherwise, you can also start a social media account in your target language. Write about whatever you feel like writing about, and soon you might even get followers you can practice with.Message boards and social media are easy to fit into your lesson plan. You can easily commit to writing one quick tweet, message or reply each day. This could take less than a minute. For more immersive practice, you could also plan on writing a longer, more in-depth post on a message board.SpeakingNarrate your daily activities.Narrating your daily activities is one quick and easy way to work speaking practice into your lesson plan.  You can do this by setting aside a block of time or just narrating during a specific activity.If you choose to use a certain time for this, simply set a stopwatch or timer for your targetâ€"it might be five or 10 minutes. The n, narrate everything you do out loud (for instance: I am cooking, I am chopping the onions, etc.). It might feel weird at first but youll quickly notice that speaking gets much easier.It can also be helpful to rotate which activity you narrate. For instance, one day you might narrate your shower. The next day, you might narrate cleaning your house. The next day, you might narrate shopping (though you probably wont want to do this too loudly). Not only does this give you speaking practice, it also ensures youre able to talk about a wide array of topics.Find a language exchange partner.Finding a language exchange partner  is one of the top ways to incorporate speaking practice into your lesson plan. This is valuable because not only do you get speaking practice, you also have someone to correct you when you make mistakes.To make this part of your lesson plan, you might consider deciding ahead of time what topics you want to discuss or what conjugations you hope to work into the conve rsation.Record yourself to assess your own speaking.When youre just talking to yourself, it can be hard to assess how you sound. However, if you record yourself, its much easier to hear errors and fine-tune your pronunciation.One way to work this into your lesson plan is to plan on speaking about a certain topic for a couple minutes. You may want to think about it ahead of time to ensure youre mentally prepared. Then, record yourself speaking off the cuff. This will test your ability to speak without prompts or practice. When you listen to the recording, pay careful attention to your pronunciation. Jot down any words or sounds you struggled with to practice more. Also, watch for any long pauses. These could help point towards vocabulary or conjugations youre struggling with.ListeningListen to podcasts.Listening to authentic foreign language podcasts  can help you upgrade your listening skills.Simply choose a podcast that appeals to you and set aside some time in your lesson plan to listen. You may not get everything the first time. You might even need to listen to the same segment repeatedly to understand whats been said. However, over time, youll notice your listening skills improving.Whenever a podcast has a transcript available, you may also want to read along as you listen. This will help you connect the spoken and written words.Listen to simple audiobooks.If you want an approachable, flexible way to improve your listening skills, try listening to audiobooks in your target language.Audiobooks can fit into any lesson plan. You can listen for just a few minutes at a time or for hours on end.There are many options available. LibriVox  offers free audiobooks, and you can also purchase a wide selection from Audible.Childrens books and poetry are good choices for intermediate learners since these are often shorter and frequently use less complex language.To make your lessons even more effective, you may also want to find corresponding texts online. Reading the t ext will make it easier for you to understand the audiobook.Listen to music.Listening to music as part of your language lessons is, well, music to your ears.Learning a song is a helpful tool because you may very well remember it forever. In the future, when you forget a word or need a model for a grammar rule, you can run through the song in your head for a little assistance.To get the most out of listening to music, select one key song at a time. Look up the lyrics and their meanings online. Then, when you listen to the song as part of your lesson, read along with the lyrics until you have them all memorized. Once you get the lyrics down, go ahead and sing along for a little speaking practice.Once you have one song down, simply move on to the next for an endless source of lesson material.Watch TV and movies.Binging TV and watching movies to learn a language is any entertainment junkies dream come true.To incorporate TV and movies into your lesson plan, select something you think yo ull enjoy. If you have a limited time each day, you might choose to break it down into short segments. You might try first watching in your target language to see how much you understand. Then, if subtitlings available, you can watch with subtitling to get a clearer idea of whats happening on-screen. Another option is to simply watch the same segment again and again until you grasp most of it.Additionally, if you hear any lines you like or dont understand, try jotting them down to study in order to learn more vocabulary.Warning: Watching TV and movies is known to be addictive. As such, you might find your lessons getting longer and longer each day.If you want your next DIY project to be a success, give DIY intermediate language lessons a try. You might even feel compelled to give yourself a celebratory glitter shower afterwards.