The Truth About the Vocal Fry Epidemic

The Truth About the Vocal Fry Epidemic Suzy S. How bad is vocal fry, anyway? As a singer, should you be concerned about this new vocal trend, heard in artists such as Britney Spears? In this guest post by Ann Arbor, MI voice teacher  Elaina R., listen to a vocal fry example and learn the truth behind the fuss I was recently listening to This American Life (a popular radio show and podcast), and the hosts started talking about vocal fry. As a voice professional, I immediately started paying rapt attention. Within a few minutes, I could tell that there is a serious societal problem surrounding this tiny vocal fault. As it turns out, the media has been complaining about the glottal fry epidemic for years, claiming that young women use too much of it in their speech (check out this ridiculous article). Is vocal fry really a speech trend? Is it really limited to young women? What is vocal fry, anyway? Get the truth â€" and throw out the lies â€" here. What Is Vocal Fry? Vocal fry happens when someone doesn’t use enough breath to speak. The lack of breath causes a creaky sound as the vocal cords come into close contact. It usually happens at the ends of phrases, as the pitch of the sentence goes down and tapers off. Listen to some of the reporters for a vocal fry example on the aforementioned This American Life  segment. Vocal Fry Misconceptions There is an astonishing amount of misinformation in the media about vocal fry. Here are the misconceptions I find most alarming: Myth: Vocal fry happens because “that’s the way your voice is.” Truth: Vocal fry happens because youre using a very small amount of air to speak. That’s why lots of people talk with vocal fry in the morning, as their bodies are still getting warmed up. Myth: Only young women speak with vocal fry. Truth: Anyone can speak with vocal fry, and almost everyone speaks with vocal fry occasionally. In the segment, Ira Glass correctly points out that he, in fact, speaks with vocal fry. In this video examining vocal fry, the vocal coach exhibits a vocal fry example at the end of his very first sentence, probably by accident: Myth: Vocal fry is a new trend. Truth: Vocal fry is not new. It has been happening for as long as humans have been phonating. Myth: You can’t get rid of vocal fry. Truth: Vocal fry is very easy to get rid of. Is Vocal Fry Bad? Vocal fry is not an efficient way to speak. Not using adequate air to speak puts unnecessary stress on your vocal cords. It is also impossible to project when using vocal fry, so unless you are speaking to someone right next to you, it won’t serve you well. From a societal perspective, there is evidence that the older generations (people 40 and up) have negative attitudes toward vocal fry in young women. As the earlier podcast and article attest, middle-aged to older folks perceive young women who speak with vocal fry as unintelligent and insecure. This is just plain sexist, since the same views don’t seem to apply to men. However, if you are a young woman who speaks with vocal fry, it’s important to know what others may think when you speak. (Heres an interesting take on the issue from NPR.) How to Speak Without Vocal Fry To speak without vocal fry, simply speak with breath support. Try this: Take the time to breathe before you speak. As you speak, think about projecting your sound to someone across the room. Do not allow the end of your sentence to nosedive into vocal fry. If you have a voice teacher, she or he will be happy to help you master this. The more you work supported speaking into your daily life, the easier it will get. No Epidemic Here It isn’t fair that some people have such strong preconceived notions about vocal fry. However, the truth remains that those notions exist (and that vocal fry is not healthy in the first place). I also find that learning to speak well positively affects your singing. Speak well, sing well, and spread the word: vocal fry is no epidemic. It’s just part of life. Elaina R. teaches opera voice and singing in Ann Arbor, MI, as well as through online lessons. She is currently  working on a Master of Music at the University of Michigan, and she has a B.M. from the University of Southern California. Learn more about Elaina here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by hnkkk

Editing Photos for Beginners

Editing Photos for Beginners How Can You Simply Retouch a Photo? ChaptersHow Can You Transfer Your Photos onto a Computer?How Do You Edit the Size and Dimensions of Photos?How Do You Blur a Photo?How Do You Change the Format of a Photo?“In photography thiere is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.” - Alfred StieglitzEditing photos is often quite scary for novices. Adobe Photoshop CC, layers, luminosity, Picasa, etc., can strike fear into the heart of the uninitiated. However, it’s not really that complicated!Nowadays, the techniques have changed and almost anyone can edit photos in an intuitive way. Whether it’s adjusting the contrast, making collages, HDR correction, you can do almost anything.In May 2017, France made it illegal for edited photos to be displayed without mentioning that they’ve been retouched. It just goes to show how good they can look. There are certain functions that you should learn how to use to make your snaps better.So are you ready to start editing your photos? Which are the best programmes ? How can you correct details in just a few clicks?Don’t panic! We’ve got the answers for you right here. AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow Can You Transfer Your Photos onto a Computer?Importing your photos onto your computer is the first step when editing photos. How you do this will depend on the device where your photos are stored: Mac, PC, iPhone, Android, etc. There are a few differences between each one.Before you can edit your photos, you'll need them on your computer. (Source: TheAngryTeddy)On an iPhone, you have a few choices for transferring files and photos.If you have a Mac, iCloud is the most practical way to transfer your snaps in a few clicks. Thanks to regularly being synchronised over the cloud, your photos and files will be stored automatically. You just have to log into your iCloud account to find your favourite photos wherever you are. This is the magic of the cloud!If you have a Windows PC, you can import your photos by connecting your iPhone to your computer via a USB cable. Windows 10 has a lighter programme than iCloud called “Photos”.There’s also Aidrop which, if you have two Apple devices, works over Bluetooth. Connect your phone to your computer using the app and your photos will be transferred.From an Android phone, things are just as simple.  In fact, you can also use a USB cable as we mentioned before. You just need to connect your pho ne to your computer and drag the photos from your phone to your computer. That’s it!If you don’t have a cable on you, you can use apps like WeTransfer, Google Drive, or AirMore, which uses QR Codes. The joys of technology!You can also store your photos on a USB key or external hard disk and transfer your photos over USB. You can store plenty of digital photos on a memory card. In this case, you’ll need to take the memory card out of the device and insert it into your computer.Some Macs don’t come with a memory card so in this case, you’ll need a USB adapter for it. Once you’ve got the photos on your computer, you’re ready to start editing them!How Do You Edit the Size and Dimensions of Photos?Changing the file size or dimensions of a photo is one of the most common modifications. If you’re sending your photos in an email, they can massively increase the file size.In the same way you can fit more photos into an album if you make them smaller, you can store more photos on your computer if you do the same. (Source: jarmoluk)So what’s the solution?You can modify the size of photos according to your needs. When you edit photos online, there are plenty of different techniques you can use.Don’t worry, we’ll get to them.  While every photo editor is different, each has a lot of common.Changing the Dimensions of an ImageTo resize a photo, photo editing software is usually your best choice. Adobe Photoshop is the most popular programme and is often considered the best for editing photos at home.  By changing the number of pixels and retaining the proportions, you can resize your photo.The same is true for Lightroom which, thanks to advanced settings and high resolutions, can provide satisfying results. Of course, since we’re not in a perfect world, these programmes aren’t available for free.That said, there are some free photo editing programmes that you can use to resize photos and images. Of course, there are different sites available where y ou can upload a photo and resize it. The advantage of these services is that they won’t cost you a penny.If you can't afford the Adobe Creative Cloud, you can download a free photo editor like GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program).Changing the File SizeThe size of the photo isn’t the only thing you can change, you can also change the file size. This is done with compression. “But what’s that?” we hear you ask! It’s very simple.Compression is the act of making a file take up less space in a folder and you can do this my zipping it.On Mac, you just need to right-click, choose “Compress” and a new compressed folder will be created right next to it.On Windows, you can go to the Picture tools menu and compress them from there.There are also programmes and websites you can use to compress files in just a few clicks. Changing the file size isn’t that complicated.Keep in mind that not all image formats are the same. While you can use an online photo editor to convert image s, there's free image editing software that you can download that will give you more options and photo effects than these online tools.Find the best photography courses on here.How Do You Blur a Photo?Blurring photos is one of the most popular features of photo editing software. Along with modifying the contrasts, changing the white balance, or adjust the sharpness, a blur filter is an essential tool in any image editor.If you want the subject to pop, you might want to blur the background. (Source: GerDukes)Whether it’s stains or blemishes on a t-shirt, a registration plate on a car, or whatever, you can easily edit your photos in one click by adding a blur effect.So how can you do this with photo editing software?If you have an apple device, you can use the Skitch app. You just need to download it to the device and choose the photo. The app’s icon will appear in your settings. You can choose the area you want to blur, and with a bit of magic, you’re done.On Windows, you can u se “Evernote”, a similar app. When you choose the image you want to blur, the “@” symbol will appear in the top left of the photo. From there you can pixelate the photo.You can also use the blurring tools in programmes like Photoshop Lightroom or GIMP.Gaussian blur or Gaussian smoothing can be used to smooth out photos. You can also achieve similar results with a good camera. If you want a nice blur, you can do so by using the right tools. Here’s what you’ll need to do:Get as close to your subject as you can.Ensure the background is at least 2 metres away.Use a 200-500mm telephoto lensTo reduce the field of depth, use an aperture of F/1.8 or F/2.If you still would like to learn more, then you should consider getting the help of a professional photographer private photography tutor on Superprof. They'll be able to show you how to touch up your photos, get professional photo quality from your snaps, and all the secrets of digital photo enhancement.Find the best photography courses in the UK on Superprof.How Do You Change the Format of a Photo?What is the format of a photo?The format is the type of file your photo is saved as. Gif, jpeg, pdf, xnview, png, raw, etc. are all different types of file format. There are plenty of different types.Different file types have different properties. (Source: MTZD)Some file types are bigger than others and some are more compatible with certain programmes, will load quicker, are better for attaching to emails, etc.  The type you choose should be dependent on what you’re doing with it and what you need it for. There are a few ways to change the file type.On Windows, you can click Edit on the photo you want to change. Then you just need to “Save as...” and choose the file type when saving.Easy, isn’t it?On Mac, it’s just as simple. Select the image and choose “Export Selected Images”. It’ll ask you the file type you want to export them as and you’re done.In addition to these solutions, there are also online solutions. A quick search for “image converter” on Google will provide you with plenty of different solutions.You can also learn using online photography courses.Nevertheless, GIMP, the famous photo editing software package inspired by Photoshop, is free and useful. You can remove red-eye, change the contrast, adjust the black and white balance, crop, modify photos in just a few clicks.By opening the image in question and exporting it, you’ll be presented with the option to change its file type.Whether you’re using filters, creating montages, cropping an image, removing imperfections, etc., you need to start with the basics.So are you ready to edit your photos?

College College Scholarship Sweepstakes Winner

College College Scholarship Sweepstakes Winner Barrington, IL, 12/22/14 The Barrington Huntington Learning Center announced the winner of its College Scholarship Sweepstakes. Bella McCloskey of Tower Lakes, IL, received a $500 scholarship toward future college tuition and fees. McCloskey is currently a junior at Barrington High School and loves physics and ceramics. Bella has been visiting colleges and universities west of Chicago as she prefers to attend a college in a state with warmer weather. She was excited to find out that she had won the scholarship. She forgot that her entry was submitted when she signed up for the ACT prep program. Winning was a big surprise, said McCloskeys parents. Huntington is a proud supporter of high school students who strive to attend college, and we are excited to assist this student with her college tuition, said Beth Meier of the Barrington Huntington Learning Center. In addition to the Barrington center, Huntington Learning Centers across the country participated in Huntingtons College Scholarship Sweepstakes. High school students aged 14 and older were eligible to enter, as were parents, grandparents and friends of high school students attending college after graduation. Entries were submitted via text message. About Huntington Learning Center Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com.

Educator Resources for Professional Development

Educator Resources for Professional Development It is always a good idea to improve yourself as an educator. Whether you are seeking an online community of teachers where you can exchange ideas, or a site with articles, tech tips, lesson inspiration and more, here are several resources worth exploring: Edutopia offers teacher development resources and other tools and articles that help teachers implement project-based learning, social and emotional learning, comprehensive assessment, integrated studies, and technology integration. TeachThought grows teaching through thought leadership, professional development, resource curation, curriculum development, podcast publishing, and collaboration with organizations around the world. Annenberg Learner distributes multimedia courses and workshops to help teachers keep current on the content they teach. Professional development resources provide teachers with research on the most effective teaching strategies and their connection to national education content standards, as well as tips on practical, classroom application. KQED Teach offers a collection of free professional learning opportunities focused on digital media. Educators can build skills in digital storytelling, data visualization, and critical media use to support all curriculum areas. Teaching Channel highlights inspiring and effective teaching practices in America's schools, offering a library of videos to teachers free of charge. Photo bySharon McCutcheononUnsplash

How are Students using Instant Tutoring

How are Students using Instant Tutoring With Instant Tutoring you can get speaking practice with a teacherinstantly! Simply log on to italki, find a tutor, and start learning a foreign language right away! No more waiting! Instant Tutoring Feedback The past month weve been carefully gathering feedback from Student and Teachers about Instant Tutoring and wanted to ask the question, How are students actually using Instant Tutoring? To answer this question, we turned to italki members to see how they are using it and here is what they said: Instant Tutoring is great for getting a Teacher within Minutes: “That was an excellent session, especially that it was an instant tutoring session and Polina didnt have any time to prepare for the class. She met my needs as she adjusted to my level and learning style perfectly well. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!” Ewelina “This is my first time to have a instant session. Very good experience, book the lesson and then begin the lesson in a few minutes. Thank you Marie for the interesting lesson!” eltonsong “With this feature I can find 30 minutes at different points in my day and just use my smartphone.” Luke “Lauren is fantastic help if you need important text proofread! Available at the last minute (for instant tutoring) when I needed something last minute. A great chance to make your documents more professional and suitable for business/school as well as to learn a few things, as you see your recommended changes!” Benny the  irishpolyglot Finding/Trying New Teachers Are you trying to decide between two teachers or are looking for a new teacher? Instant tutoring is perfect for trying out new teachers! “It was very interesting to speak with David, we talked about us and our hobbies. I think instant tutoring can be an instrument to meet new teachers.” Federico “The reason I have been doing so many instant tutoring sessions is I just like talking to different people in Chinese at a time that suits me.” Luke “Kristin is a nice girl and speaks Chinese very well.I am looking forward to another lesson with her. Thank you so much.” Kirstin Thank you for your time, you are very patient and I look forward to our future classes! Perfecto!” Adam Vance Starting from the Beginning With instant tutoring you no longer have an excuse to not start learning a language. Teachers are available 24/7 and accessible to start teaching you within minutes. “Abel was great! I am a total beginner and I had a great introduction into learning Spanish. I enjoyed the time we spent talking about introductions, and a lot of tourist phrases. It was fun.” Vic How are Students using Instant Tutoring With Instant Tutoring you can get speaking practice with a teacherinstantly! Simply log on to italki, find a tutor, and start learning a foreign language right away! No more waiting! Instant Tutoring Feedback The past month weve been carefully gathering feedback from Student and Teachers about Instant Tutoring and wanted to ask the question, How are students actually using Instant Tutoring? To answer this question, we turned to italki members to see how they are using it and here is what they said: Instant Tutoring is great for getting a Teacher within Minutes: “That was an excellent session, especially that it was an instant tutoring session and Polina didnt have any time to prepare for the class. She met my needs as she adjusted to my level and learning style perfectly well. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!” Ewelina “This is my first time to have a instant session. Very good experience, book the lesson and then begin the lesson in a few minutes. Thank you Marie for the interesting lesson!” eltonsong “With this feature I can find 30 minutes at different points in my day and just use my smartphone.” Luke “Lauren is fantastic help if you need important text proofread! Available at the last minute (for instant tutoring) when I needed something last minute. A great chance to make your documents more professional and suitable for business/school as well as to learn a few things, as you see your recommended changes!” Benny the  irishpolyglot Finding/Trying New Teachers Are you trying to decide between two teachers or are looking for a new teacher? Instant tutoring is perfect for trying out new teachers! “It was very interesting to speak with David, we talked about us and our hobbies. I think instant tutoring can be an instrument to meet new teachers.” Federico “The reason I have been doing so many instant tutoring sessions is I just like talking to different people in Chinese at a time that suits me.” Luke “Kristin is a nice girl and speaks Chinese very well.I am looking forward to another lesson with her. Thank you so much.” Kirstin Thank you for your time, you are very patient and I look forward to our future classes! Perfecto!” Adam Vance Starting from the Beginning With instant tutoring you no longer have an excuse to not start learning a language. Teachers are available 24/7 and accessible to start teaching you within minutes. “Abel was great! I am a total beginner and I had a great introduction into learning Spanish. I enjoyed the time we spent talking about introductions, and a lot of tourist phrases. It was fun.” Vic

12 Wicked Fun Ways to Learn Any Language

12 Wicked Fun Ways to Learn Any Language 12 Wicked Fun Ways to Learn Any Language Looking for minimum stress and maximum fun?Too many fun ways to learn  are just typical study tactics in disguise.Cmon, flashcards are never going to hold a candle to video games.It may sound strange, but you cant learn everything by  studying.As it turns out,  you may have to totally  stop studying to really become fluent.Im dead serious.So, blow off your work.Procrastinate that assignment.Put your textbooks back on the shelf.I promise it isnt too good to be true! Why Learn a Language the Fun Way?Say goodbye to  making  excusesIm the guiltiest of this. No time, no energy, no money, no resources. You dont need any of that anymore. Dont join the pity party, wondering however will I learn my target language? You wont ever have to force yourself to stay motivated again, cause I know youre always going to be down for a little fun time.Manipulate your brains rewards centerWith fun methods, your brains pleasure system is triggered constantly. Its why we can scroll through dozens of funny cat pictures without getting bored, even though were doing nothing beneficial for our brain or body (except for absorbing cuteness).Now, your brain will start to connect that positive feedback and pleasure with language learning.Remove roadblocksSometimes you study so much that you actually start getting  worse.  Has this happened to you? This is a major complaint from near-fluent learners living abroad and encountering their target language in the real world for the first time.They get paralyzed and dont know what the heck they should even study.How do you study things like understanding fast-talkers, low-talkers, mumblers, obscure colloquial expressions, little-known dialects and slang that became popular last month? You cant learn that stuff by studying in the traditional sense.Train your brain to live  using your target languageRight now, your brain knows that it should be using your target language in specific situations, like when reading a textbook, watching a subtitled movi e or chatting with a conversation partner.  Now its time to train your brain to use that target language constantly in everyday life. Thats the next big step from student to fluent speaker.Keep language fresh and current in your mindLanguage is always evolving, along with popular culture, current events and more. Cultural references are constantly embedded in peoples language.Its not a guilty pleasure anymoreâ€"to be fluent you  need  to know about modern entertainment, leisure activities and humor found in your target languages country. Any language learner knows: It royally sucks to miss out on jokes and references.Transform everyday activities into language learning opportunitiesDont just wait for designated study time to roll around. Some fun learning methods are based on things you already do regularly, like cooking and browsing the internet. Other methods help you redirect spare time to fun language practice time.  By using these fun activities, youll be able to inject a littl e language learning into normal, everyday activities.How to Integrate Fun Activities into Language LearningPepper your daily schedule with funLittle bits of fun language learning can fit nicely even into the busiest of schedules. Whenever you have a few minutes, like when youre in the bathroom and browsing the internet on your phone (like I know you do), you can be practicing your target language. Let no spare moment go to waste!Dont burn your books just yetYoull still need formal learning and periods of focused study time. The idea is to incorporate more  fun learning methods into your daily routine. You can certainly cut down on your more intense study sessions, but overall youll still need these to succeed.Take breaksPlenty of research on human motivation has shown that were more productive when we take lots of frequent, little breaks. Try the following patterns to structure your study time and keep your brain refreshed:Study for 20 minutes, take a 5-minute break.Study for 30 min utes, take a 10-minute break.Study for 50 minutes, take a 20-minute break.During the study period, use your more formal study methods. During the break period, use one of our suggested  fun  language practice methods.12 Wicked Fun Ways to Learn Any LanguageThe first five items on this list will get you connected online, showing you how to use the internet for some fun new ways to learn.  1. Browse  RedditReddits my go-to place for language learning.Make an account, explore and subscribe to subreddits (pages that are thematically-oriented to one specific region, interest, etc.) where people speak or study your target language. For example, if youre learning French you might want  to subscribe to the subreddits  reddit.com/r/learnfrench, reddit.com/r/french or reddit.com/r/franceâ€"that last one being bilingual.There, youll find great articles in your target language, along with comments from users. Youll also come across  memes, gifs and fun images. Not only will you learn how  other countries and cultures use these mediaâ€"which is kinda fascinating all on its ownâ€"but youll also learn about a societys favorite types of humor, plus ongoing jokes related to  popular culture, current events and social issues.You can also filter Reddit search results to only pull up posts in your target language.Youll just feel like youre browsing away on Reddit, but youre actively connecting with  communities of language learners and native speakers.2. Use region-specific social mediaYeah, Facebook is popular pretty much everywhere. But you may have also noticed that certain areas of the world have their own social media sites with intense regional followings. See what native speakers of your target language are using, then sign up and start chatting!For example, WhatsApp  is popular in Europe and Latin America, while Kakao Talk is what Koreans use to chat. Hi5, despite being based in the U.S., could not be more latino,  while many in  Spain still use  Tuentiâ€"the Spanish Face book.3. Play online video gamesComputer-based games like Minecraft, World of Warcraft and Team Fortress 2 let you join group conversations and work cooperatively with others.To get an idea of what gameplay will be like in your target language, check out the videos on Twitch. Id recommend either  searching the site by language (for example, type German into the sites search bar) or by video game titleâ€"or both. Listen to how French trolls berate other players and work the word n00b into their sentences.As for other popular games like Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto and so on, Google party up threads for speakers of your native language. Search for this using your target language! They often look to recruit more game companions on online forums, since gaming is always more fun when youve got buddies to chat with.4. Find friends onlineDont just stop at language exchange sites. You may find it fun to use chat messengers and video conferencing to converse with native speakers, but that o ften involves stiff, formal conversation, awkward pauses and corrections. That adds a different level of pressure to the situationâ€"youll still be in learning mode, trying to watch your words carefully and improve your speaking.Want some more chill interactions? Try making friends in real life!To get started, try Meetup. This is ideal if youre living abroad and looking for more opportunities for casual interaction with native speakers or fellow learners. Its also great while living in a country that doesnt speak your target languageâ€"simply search for conversation nights and cultural activities related to the language, and youll be sure to find some like-minded peeps  to hang out with.5. Date in your target languageSingle and ready to mingle? Okay, Im notâ€"I got into something committed before the inglorious rise of Tinder and Grindrâ€"but I know there are a lot of language learners out there looking to hook up. There are a few ways to go about finding matches who speak your targ et language.Set your region to a place where your target language is spoken.Change your application interface to your target language.Include your spoken languages in your profile, and attract native speakers like flies.For sites and apps offering  this option, filter potential matches by  languages spoken.Want to arrange a hookup in your destination before your plane even touches down?  Tinder Plus, the next level of Tinder, is working overtime to market to us international, jet-setting, traveling types. If youre hoping for something a little less casual,  Match  has separate pages specifically for seeking partners internationally.Were leaving web pages for now and heading to our phones! These next two tips will show you how to use your phone for good, not evil. Your phone usually distracts you from anything and everything, but now  it can help you learn while you waste your life away!6. Set your phone interface to your target languageEasy as cake. Navigating your phone in your tar get language forces you to use your target language every time you pick up that mesmerizing little device. Eventually, youll learn all the key words you need to get to text messages, contact lists, emails and Facebook, and youll find that youre swiping and tapping your device as quickly and easily as you did in your native language!7. Use only the most entertaining appsSkip the flashcard apps for now. Try out fun  apps that aim to deliver instant gratification.Duolingo  gets you learning  through cheerful, addictive games. You choose game content based onthemes (food, animals, etc.) or linguistic points (present tense, gender, etc.) and play a round of three-strikes-youre-out. Get the answers correct to advance and earn points. You can use these points for rewards, like bonus lives and health elixirs to store for extra-challenging rounds.FluentU has  collected tons of real-world video clipsâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news, Disney movies and childrens showsâ€"and turned the m into personalized language learning lessons.  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.Free City Maps and Walks  is great for iPhone users who enjoy playing with the first-person street view on Google maps. Take walking tours of nearly 500 cities worldwide! Look at street signs, billboards and more as you go to learn about language, culture, architecture and more.World Lens Translator  is about to blow your freaking mind. The future has officially arrived. Simply point your smartphone camera lens at a text (or look at it with your Google Glass if youre so lucky) and have it translated before your eyes, in real time.*Bonus: Download your favorite smartphone and tablet games in your target language! For example, did you know that all those silly little game that you just cant stop playingâ€"take, for example, Plants vs.  Zombiesâ€"are frequently available in Spanish, French, Japanese and many, many more languages? For some, youll need to do the initial download with the different language indicated. For others, you can simply change the interface language in game settings.Finally, well be eating our way to fluency in these  last five ways to learn a language while having a seriously fun time.8. Seek out recipes in their native languageCan Paula Deen really make authentic fried plantains  as good as any  Ecuadorian  mamita? Does Martha Stewart secretly have a Korean mother who taught her how to make that ultimate kimchi? Um, probably not.If you want recipes that are authentic down to every last step of preparation, youre better off searching for them in your target language. For example, few English plantain recipes will suggest you grab a rock from outside to smash em down after frying. Thats one beautiful little cultural detail you miss out on if youre not finding recipes directly from their country of origin!9. Watch step-by-step culinary instruction videosStep right into an authentic kitchen, and let a native speaker of your target language take  you to culinary heaven. Quality, step-by-step cooking videos are absolutely everywhere on the internet. Just search for your desired recipe in your target language on YouTube!Youll find everything from beautifully-lit and organized walkthroughs by  professional chefs to normal people filming their home  food preparation. Each type of video has its own advantages. The best part about any cooking video is that it was created for you to follow carefully. That means theyre usually very detailed. The cook will speak clearly, slowly and explicitly, which is perfect for language learners.Cook along with them, or simply binge watch these videos when youre hungry and daydreaming about delicious food.10. Shop in ethnic grocery stores with imported goodsAs a lifelong dawdler, I love leisurely strolling through grocery store aisles and mulling over the different items. This is even more fun when w andering around an ethnic grocery shop.Any major city is bound to have Japanese convenience stores akin to those found on the streets of Tokyo. Latin grocery stores are arguably the most cost-efficient places to stock up on bulk bags of rice and beans. Most or all of the items in these kinds of stores will have labels written in your target language. Its a language learners goldmine.Make a shopping list based on the recipe youve found online in your target languageâ€"and write it out in that language too, of course.Head  to Google maps and see whats in your area!Even if you live in a rural area, like myself, the nearest large town or small city should still offer plenty of options. Visiting one of these stores is really  worth the occasional drive if you can swing it.11. Order imported food onlineIf you enjoy shopping online and get a rush of excitement when an Amazon box appears on your doorstep, trying browsing online for foreign products related to your target language. What do n ative speakers order while theyre abroad and feeling homesick? Is there a particular product their country is famous for?Look for products with stellar reviews that offer little tastes of local cuisine.12. Eat out in an authentic restaurantIf youre learning abroad, eat where the locals eat. Avoid tourist-packed restaurants like the plagueâ€"theyre usually overpriced and serve food  watered down to foreign palettes anyway.If youre in your home country, track down where native speakers of your target language own restaurants. This will introduce you to authentic food, and often the menu will be partially or fully written in their home language. You can chit-chat with the hosts, waiters and busboys to your hearts content, allowing you to try out your language skills and maybe even make friends.See? I told you these were seriously  awesome ways to learn a language without studying. Now go have some fun and get started today! And One More ThingIf youre digging these fun ways to learn a l anguage, 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 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.

Why teaching abroad is so popular

Why teaching abroad is so popular Teach Away recently made the headlines  with rising application figures showing that more and more teachers are looking to swap their classroom for one abroad.  So why are increasing numbers of teachers heading overseas to work? Well, where shall we start?  1. Teaching overseas provides new perspectives on educationAttitudes towards education and teaching methods vary everywhere. Every culture takes a different approach to learning which may make you view your current beliefs and practices in a new light. In pursuit of self-improvement, teachers are seeking to enrich their careers in education while and making a positive impact on others. Students in countries overseas tend to take their schooling extremely seriously, often more driven to achieve their goals and motivated by a successful future. Teachers working abroad almost always report that they’ve learned as much as their pupils during the experience.  2. There are growing teaching opportunities abroadDemand for qualified, nat ive English-speaking teachers in international schools across the world is rising rapidly. We find ourselves adding new vacancies to our job board every day. The education systems in the States, Canada, UK and Australia have all suffered from funding cuts, political struggles and job losses in recent years. Subsequently there is greater competition for teaching positions for both experienced educators as well as the newly qualified. One way teachers are overcoming these difficulties is by considering a multitude of opportunities away from home.  3. Initiatives abroad offer unrivalled employment benefitsOverseas employers understand the concerns and challenges that come with moving to a new country for work and in light of this, they tend to offer generous employment packages. These packages can include free family accommodation, travel allowances, free education and healthcare for up to three dependents and annual vacation flights home, amongst other benefits. In addition to this, t eachers working in Middle East can also take advantage of a tax-free salary. Most teachers find that their only expenses are food, household goods, leisure and entertainment.  3. Experience a different cultureSure, you can go on vacation for a week and see the highlights of a country, but to really immerse yourself in another culture, you need to live there. Teaching allows you direct contact with a variety of people of different age groups and backgrounds, providing a unique insight. Adapting to day-to-day life encourages personal development and opens your mind to the variety of humanity.  4. Add diversity to your teaching experienceExperience teaching overseas in a prestigious school is an attractive addition to your resume, whether applying for a job back home or for another position abroad. Future employers will consider your insight into international education as a significant asset. A successful time spent teaching abroad demonstrates versatility and an ability to work as pa rt of a diverse team. Being able to share your knowledge of progressive teaching methods and implement all the lessons you’ve learned in order to enrich another classroom will make you a very desirable candidate.  5. Lead a more enjoyable lifestyleMany of the regions where English-speaking teachers are in high demand just so happen to be some of the world’s most diverse, beautiful and sunny. Although a teacher’s working day has its challenges, the general way of life in the Middle East is significantly more laid back than the pace of life you might be used to. People take life slower and there is an emphasis on community, socializing and spending time with family is actively encouraged.  6. Broaden your travel horizonsSetting up home in an entirely new region presents the perfect opportunity to travel to places that may not normally be easily accessible to you. Locations we regularly recruit for in the Middle East, Asia and Europe serve as an ideal base for exploring these con tinents further, and affordably too. Whether it’s Paris for a long weekend, or spending spring break island hopping in Thailand, the possibilities are endless.