5 Brilliant A Cappella Covers to Brighten Your Day

5 Brilliant A Cappella Covers to Brighten Your Day Suzy S. In the past decade, with the popularity of shows like The Sing-Off and hit movies like Pitch Perfect, a cappella groups have found their heyday.  Once relegated to college campuses, many a cappella groups have also gained momentum with the help of the YouTube era. Musicians are going viral for creative covers, and fans are devouring these videos! If a cappella interests you or if you simply want to check out some creative tunes here are five covers to brighten your day (and maybe inspire you to sing your own). Nick  Pitera   This is Halloween A cappella groups don’t need to be groups at all anymore, with this Nightmare Before Christmas cover by Nick  Pitera  being a perfect example of the “solo group” concept. Heather  Traska   One Woman A Cappella Disney Medley Aside from obvious talent and thoughtful arrangements of beloved songs, one way a cappella groups (or solo artists) stand out online is through visual creativity. Heather  Traska  takes this to the next level in her Mariah Carey-inspired Disney medley, which she filmed over the course of 86 days.  Arranging 13 main songs and another 13 “quoted” songs entirely by ear, she recorded herself performing in several different hair and makeup looks, and spent an entire month on editing alone. The result is a visual and aural trip down memory lane for any Disney fan and a worldwide showcase for her talent and creativity. Best of all, if you like this medley,  Part Two  is only a click away! Peter  Hollens  feat. Jackie  Evancho   Hallelujah   Of course, if you want to sing a cappella, you don’t have to do it all yourself. You can actually form your a cappella groups with people  you’ve never even met! That’s exactly what Peter  Hollens  did for his cover of Hallelujah, adding the face and voice of Jackie  Evancho. While it would be easy to be intimidated by a song written by  Leonard Cohen  and famously covered by  Jeff Buckley, Peter and Jackie find new meaning in the legendary tune. Pentatonix   Evolution of Music This medley charts a course from  11th  century Gregorian chants to “Call Me Maybe” with notable stops in each decade of pop music along the way proving that a cappella groups can be just as comfortable covering Beethoven as they are Freddie Mercury, all within the same four-minute song. The members of  Pentatonix  won the third season of The Sing-Off, but were dropped by their label shortly afterwards. Undeterred, they started a YouTube channel that is currently the  42nd  most-subscribed in all of YouTube. UMass Amherst Doo  Wop  Shop Disney Medley Not all a cappella groups need to have carefully edited and recorded video presentations! This group gets by on nothing but coordinated outfits, charm, and endearing vocal talent as each member takes a solo in front of a hand-drawn logo on a blackboard. Uniquely personal with no instruments other than the singers own voices, a cappella groups are so much fun to be part of. If you can sing (or want to learn), there are no expensive instruments to buy or rehearsal space to rent. So why not give it a shot? Pick a song and get to singing! Want more ideas? Check out our roundup of  400+ songs to sing 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

Learn How to Play Bass Guitar A Complete Beginners Guide

Learn How to Play Bass Guitar A Complete Beginners Guide Megan L. If you’ve chosen to learn how to play bass guitar for beginners, congrats! Learning to play any instrument can be a lifelong adventure bringing with it a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, as well as a ton of fun along the way! The bass guitar provides the low end, punch, drive, rhythm and groove in most musical genres. Along with the drummer, the bass player is the other member of the “rhythm section” in most bands. He or she plays an important role in every genre by giving live music a solid foundation. Learning how to play bass guitar for beginners requires dedication and practice, but its not a difficult instrument to learn how to play.   You can get a basic understanding and become functional relatively quickly with a little work. Mastering the instrument requires a lifetime of dedicated practice and study, so lets get started! How to Play Bass Guitar for Beginners How to Choose a Bass Guitar If you’re just getting started and aren’t sure if bass guitar is right for you, you’re going to want to buy a “starter” or student bass. Bass guitars can vary widely in price with student models priced under $200 dollars and professional models that can cost thousands. As with anything, to a certain extent you get what you pay for. Of course a $5000 vintage Fender is an amazing instrument, but the good news is that most student models today are perfect beginner instruments that will get you through the early phases of learning. When you begin your search, start by setting a budget and gaining an understanding of the basic parts of a bass guitar. Having an understanding of the parts of the bass and how it’s built will help you ask the right questions and make an informed decision. Here’s a quick overview of the basics: Neck: The neck of the bass guitar includes the headstock, fretboard and an  internal truss rod, which is how the neck is connected to  the instrument body. Headstock: The headstock is the wider part at the end of the neck where the tuning pegs are located. The tuning pegs adjust the string tension and are how you change the pitch to tune the instrument. Fretboard: The fretboard is a thin piece of  rosewood, ebony, or maple. Fretboards can vary widely in quality. The best fretboards are smooth and easy to move your fingers over. They are usually slightly arched from side to side and this arch is known as the radius. Frets: Embedded in the fretboard are thin metal strips called frets. The frets divide the neck into half step increments and determine where each note is played on the neck. While some basses are fretless, they require greater skill from the player and are best left to intermediate or advanced players. If youre learning how to play bass guitar for beginners, you will definitely want a fretted bass. Truss Rod: The truss rod connects the neck to the body and is used to keep the neck from twisting. Because bass strings are much thicker than guitar strings, they exert a lot of pressure on the neck. Adjusting the truss rod allows the neck to be straightened if it becomes bowed or twisted. It is also used to adjust the string height. Types of Bass Guitars for Beginners Bass guitars come in a number of variations including solid body and hollow body basses. Pickups can be either single coil or humbucker, and electronics can be either passive or active. Basses come with four, five, and even six strings. All of these variations (other than the number of strings) effect the tone of the bass and are not crucial to its playability. Smaller scale length basses are available that are perfect for younger players as they are a little smaller than a full sized instrument. The best option for choosing the right bass is to set your budget and then visit your local music store. Play the available options in your price range. The most important factor is making sure the instrument feels comfortable when it’s in your hands. As a beginner you’ll want to spend as much time as possible playing and practicing. As you progress in your studies, you may decide you want a better instrument. At that point it’s good to have more of an understanding of pickups and electronics as these will help shape your personal sound on the instrument. For now, just focus on finding an instrument in your price range that feels good under your fingers and comfortable in your lap. Most beginner basses have adequate electronics and four strings. Play a bunch of different instruments and choose the one that feels right for you! How to Tune a Bass Guitar for Beginners Tuning your bass can be tricky if you’re a beginner. The good news? The more you do it, the easier it will get. Tuning your instrument is crucial especially if you’re going to be playing with other musicians. It will not only make you sound better, it will help you with the learning process. The bass  is pitched exactly one octave lower than the guitar. The strings are tuned to the same four notes as the 4 lowest guitar strings: E, A, D, and G. Here  are a couple of methods  to help you get in tune and ready to play. If youre playing with a guitarist and they are in tune, you can have them play the four bottom strings. Use your ears and turn  the tuning pegs on your instrument  to match their pitch. If you have a piano handy you can ask them to play the tuning notes and match the pitch by turning your tuning pegs. Today, there are also a number of apps for your smartphone that will help you tune your instrument. Electronic tuners are available and make tuning a snap. Simply plug your instrument into the tuner and pluck a string, then turn your tuning pegs  until the arrow lines up with the correct note on the face of the tuner and your done. Go through all four strings. One great method to learn that requires no technology and is called the “5th Fret Method.” With this method you need to get one string in tune (preferably the low E) and then use  that string as a reference pitch. Even if you don’t have access to a keyboard or other tuning device, the 5th fret method will let you tune the instrument “to itself. Once you’ve tuned the low E string, press your finger on the 5th fret of the E string. This is the note “A”. Pluck the open A string and compare the two. Use the tuning pegs to match the pitch. Now that the A string is in tune, repeat the process to tune the D string. Fret the 5th fret on that A string, pluck the open D string and adjust the tuning pegs to match the pitch. Using the same process, tune the G string and youre ready to go! How to Read Bass Tabs Bass tablature, or bass tab, is a simple system of music notation to help you learn how to play bass guitar for beginners to advanced players. Tab is available through books, bass magazines and at various websites online. Learning how to play bass guitar using tabs is just a small part of learning the instrument but it’s a great way to start playing songs quickly. Bass tab is a system that shows the strings of the bass drawn horizontally, like this: This is standard bass tab for a four string bass.   The lowest (fattest) string is always at the bottom. In tab, notes are indicated as a fret number on a string. Most basses have between 20 and 24 frets so you may see fret numbers between 0 and 24. For example, you may see something that looks like this: In this example start by playing the 3rd fret on the E-string followed by the 2nd fret on the A-string, the 5th fret on the A-string and finally the 5th fret on the D-string. Measures are marked as in standard notation with a vertical bar line. Often rhythm is not indicated in bass tablature. All you get is the order and position of the notes. Rhythm may occasionally be marked with the count written under the fret numbers. It’s often best to listen to the song you’re  practicing  to get the rhythm of the piece. There’s really not too much to know about reading bass tab. Basically it’s just fret numbers on string lines. While it’s a great way for a beginner to start  playing quickly, the best method is to use tab as you begin to study standard musical notation and memorize the note names on the instrument. How to Practice Bass for Beginners Practice is the key to learning how to play bass guitar for beginners. How long should you practice? Practice as often as you can fit into your schedule. However, it’s best to establish a basic regimen in order to progress. Here are some tips to get you started: • Practice regularly. Preferably practice daily and from 30 minutes to as long as you can. • Find a time of day when you can practice without distractions and when you can concentrate. Some players get up early and practice for an hour before work, some practice after dinner. • Start with technique exercises. Run scales, play arpeggios and chords to get your fingers moving and your mind focused. • As a bass player, developing a strong sense of time is important. Always practice with a rhythm device whether it’s a metronome, a drum machine, or a play-along recording. • Start slowly. Focus on each note and as you gain fluidity and precision, slowly speed up the tempo. • Keep track of your progress with a practice log. Keep track of your routines, goals, exercises and difficult passages you need to work on. Learning to play any instrument is a challenge that can pay dividends for your entire lifetime. While you can teach yourself how  to play bass guitar for beginners, it’s a good idea to  study with a qualified teacher. They can help you avoid bad habits and will offer direction, inspiration and encouragement to get you through challenges that may arise during your studies. Congratulations, you made a great choice when you decided to learn how to play bass guitar! Best of luck on your musical journey! Photo by Sebastiaan ter Burg 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

How to Meditate

How to Meditate What Are the Best Daily Meditation Practices? ChaptersDaily Meditation: Take 5 Minutes for Yourself When You Wake Up or Go to BedDaily Meditation: Listen to Your BodyDaily Meditation: Listen to What’s Happening Around YouDaily Meditation: Mindful EatingDaily Meditation: Focus Your AttentionDaily Meditation: Use Your SensesDaily Meditation: Let Your Mind WanderDaily Meditation: SleepingDaily Meditation: WritingDaily Meditation Focus On What You’re Doing“Cultivation to the mind is as necessary as food to the body.” - Marcus Tullius CiceroThere are more and more things in our daily lives that stress us out and negatively influence our thoughts. With work, family, and money, we find it harder and harder to take a step back from our lives and start feeling increasingly stressed and anxious. This is where meditation can help.Regularly practising meditation allows us to improve our deep breathing, manage stress, recentre ourselves, and let go. 74% of adults in the UK have felt 'overwhelmed or unable to cope' at some point in th e past year. There’s never been a better time to practise meditation and relax.But first, you'll need to learn more about the meditation practice itself, the benefits of meditation, and how to meditate.So what is meditation?When you think of meditation, you might think of people sitting in a cross-legged position in complete silence. While you can meditate this way, meditation actually involves using a technique and focusing on certain things in order to make yourself calm, control your emotions, and free your mind of distraction.You'd be surprised at the benefits of meditation. In fact, once you learn to meditate, you'll get into the habit of sleeping better, gaining a deeper understanding and awareness of the world around you, control negative emotions and feelings such as anger and tension, and enjoy better harmony between your mind, body, and spirit.In this article, we're going to look at a variety of different ways to meditate. CarleyYoga Teacher 5.00 (5) £100/h1st lesson f ree!Discover all our tutors LynnYoga Teacher 4.89 (9) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GenYoga Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JulieYoga Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AliceYoga Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LauraYoga Teacher 5.00 (6) £70/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UndramYoga Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LottieYoga Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDaily Meditation: Take 5 Minutes for Yourself When You Wake Up or Go to BedIf you’ve decided to do daily meditation, this means that you’re aware of the potential benefits, would like to work on it, and manage depression or improve your mindfulness. All this can be done by concentrating for 5 minutes when you wake up or before you go to bed.Meditation isn't as complicate as you think. (Source: obpia30)Why not take some time for yourself by waking up peacefully or going to bed feeling relaxed?Li e or sit down and focus on a single thought without letting other thoughts distract you. If you can’t manage this, don’t worry. You just have to go back to that initial thought and focus on it again.This can help you over the course of five minutes to become aware of small everyday moments. Simple and effective relaxation techniques can make you feel happier, help you to breathe, and give you a better understanding of your own body.Daily Meditation: Listen to Your BodyGuided meditation occurs when you listen to your body, mind, your thoughts, feelings, desires, etc. Happiness comes from harmony between your mind, body, and spirit.For example, if you do sport early in the morning, think about whether you feel happier having done the exercise or deciding to stay in bed for another two hours instead. Meditation is about being the moment and enjoying every single moment of inner peace.The simple act of focusing on your body is hugely beneficial to your physical, mental, and spiritua l wellbeing.Daily Meditation: Listen to What’s Happening Around YouWhile you may think yoga is a solitary and self-centred pursuit, you also need to be aware of the world around you. Imagine that you’re alone in your room and there isn’t a single noise in the whole house. Proper meditation requires you to be aware of what’s happening in the street as well.In just a few days, you'll realise that you can practise yoga anywhere. (Source: leninscape)Doing this every day allows you to be mindful of what’s happening in the present moment by listening to the sounds of the birds, cars, and the lives going on around you. By working on your concentration, you’ll start seeing results.Don't forget to also work on your alignment!Daily Meditation: Mindful EatingWhether you think about it or not, we tend to eat several times a day. This is why eating is actually an important part of mindfulness for both beginners and experts.Being aware of what you're eating while you're eating it is a n important part of meditating. (Source: RitaE)What’s better than eating and meditating?You need to be aware of what you eat and what you’re putting into your body.  The taste of green beans, the sourness of a lemon, the water in a melon, there are plenty of sensations to be aware of when you eat mindfully. You can hone your concentration and discover more about mindfulness meditation.Check out these essential yoga asanas! CarleyYoga Teacher 5.00 (5) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LynnYoga Teacher 4.89 (9) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GenYoga Teacher £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JulieYoga Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AliceYoga Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LauraYoga Teacher 5.00 (6) £70/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors UndramYoga Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LottieYoga Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDaily Meditation: Focus Your AttentionThere are easier exercises than this to do when you’re meditating. However, this is something you can do at any point throughout the day. You need to work on your concentration and be mindful of the present. Imagine an imaginary finger pressing into a certain part of your body.Imagine the finger moving from your nose to your shoulder blades, around your feet, all while applying a small amount of pressure. The goal is to feel this finger despite it not existing. This can be tricky to do but meditation can allow you to achieve this.Put simply, you're becoming more aware of every part of your body, even parts that you probably don't even think about.Daily Meditation: Use Your SensesJust thinking about what we’re feeling at any given moment is a meditative act in itself. A smell, a touch, the inside of your pocket, a taste, even if you’re not eating anything.What am I feeling at this exact moment?This is what meditation is all about: knowing what you’re thinking an d feeling at any given moment and who we are at that time. We need to be aware of what’s going on in the present.Daily Meditation: Let Your Mind WanderIf there’s one thing that meditation allows, it’s thinking. Working on your concentration also allows your mind to wander and follow a stream of consciousness and think about many things.Being aware of your environment is meditation in itself, an action that allows us to relax. Just like Buddhist monks!Daily Meditation: SleepingAlong with eating, sleeping is one of the most everyday things you can do. Sleeping can also be a meditative act because our mind needs rest to process and digest all the information we’ve taken on board throughout the day.Sleep is an important part of meditation if you do it right. (Source: Free-Photos)This task allows us to focus on a single idea, even if we do so subconsciously. This is almost like Zen meditation but we won’t benefit from it directly because we’re asleep!Both when you go to bed a nd when you wake up, you can also use some of the other meditation techniques we mentioned earlier, too.Daily Meditation: WritingOf all the things we do almost every day, writing is another thing we can do as part of our meditation.Who doesn’t write something almost every day?We’re not talking about writing a novel or a memoir but rather writing something down to work on our concentration.A shopping list could be an easy way to focus your attention. Focus on what you have to buy, what you want to buy, and forget about everything else. That’s what meditation is all about: the here and now, making the most of each moment, and enjoying the benefits.Daily Meditation Focus On What You’re DoingFinally, the last tip for meditating is arguably the simplest thing you can do, focus on what you’re doing. We’ve been talking a lot of about concentration and focus. You can focus at any given moment of the day and concentrate on what you’re currently doing.At work, think about the se nsations you’re feeling as you’re typing away at your keyboard. When you make yourself a cup of coffee, think about the warm feeling emanating from the cup into your fingers. You can do this with any humdrum daily activity that you do. Meditation isn’t that complicated, after all.Thanks to these ten tips, you can meditate every day, regardless of your experience meditating, and start living in the here and now. Get ready for mindfulness meditation!If you need help with mindfulness exercises or mindfulness-based stress reduction, you should consider getting mindfulness training from a tutor or instructor on Superprof. You can search for both online tutors and face-to-face tutors.Online tutors provide instruction over webcam using programmes like Skype. With fewer expenses, they tend to be cheaper than other tutors. However, a one-on-one tutor tends to provide more effective instruction for physical disciplines like meditation and yoga near me, for example.If you're on a budget, you can always get a few friends together to split the cost of private tutorials!

Getting Started with Composing for Films

Getting Started with Composing for Films Suzy S. Learning how to read and write music can open up tons of possible pathways for music careers, including composing for films. Read on for some helpful advice from Linden, NJ piano teacher Richard D Have you ever found yourself listening to your iPod or stereo, and felt like the music was perfect for whatever you were doing in that moment?  Sometimes, when I’m walking to the store or heading to work while listening to music, the song plays with my imagination and emotions, almost as if Im in a music video or a movie. Maybe I just have an overactive imagination, but this is the power that music has over us. We can feel the emotions that the piece is expressing. If you’ve ever wanted to be a film composer, I have a few tips that I’d love to share with you. Pay attention to what other successful composers are doing, because there’s a reason they’re successful. This will begin to change the way you watch movies, as I tend to study movies now, instead of watch them. I like to sit and enjoy the movie, then listen to the soundtrack by itself at a later time. Although sometimes, it’s tough for me not to take notes. Never stop writing music. The only way you can consistently grow as a composer is to keep working and learning. You need to keep evolving as a musician. The music in a movie is very important; so important that it was the only thing heard in silent movies.   The better you are at your craft, the better your music will be. Make friends with directors, writers and anyone else in the business. It doesn’t matter how many pieces you write if no one hears them. Building your network is very important in the music industry. Keeping your music on your computer or in your notebook makes it impossible for anyone to hear it. Share what you’ve created, and be proud of it. Creating your own website is a great way to build a network. When you have people to give you projects, whether they are films, commercials or videos, then your work will be seen by their friends as well. In the meantime, practice on movies you already own… just press mute. If you have a program that can rip DVDs and allow you to work on the actual file with Pro-Tools or Logic, practice on those. Don’t delete anything, and don’t share anything you aren’t finished with yet. This is two points in one for me. There will come a time when you’re working on a piece, and you just don’t like it. Don’t delete it. Just because it isn’t working out now, doesn’t mean it still won’t work later. Richard D. teaches piano, music recording, music theory and songwriting lessons to students of all ages in Linden, NJ. His specialties include Logic studio and other digital software, hip hop songwriting and production, RB songwriting, orchestral composition, music theory, and composing for film. He joined the TakeLessons team in December 2012. Learn more about Richard, or search for a teacher near you!   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 liza31337

Changing Your Beliefs About Learning - Private Tutoring

Changing Your Beliefs About Learning BobbiM Apr 3, 2014 Youve learned about the components that make your learning beliefs, now see what you can do to change them. -Be aware of you beliefs. If you have beliefs that are getting in the way of your learning, consider changing them. However, before you can change a belief, you must first be unsatisfied with your current beliefs about learning. When you find yourself giving up on a task too quickly or trying to merely memorize when you need to understand and apply difficult concepts, you can reflect on your beliefs, rethink your approach, and take time to really learn the information. -Look for the big picture. Instead of memorizing a lot of separate facts, make a conscious effort to relate ideas to what you already know and to other ideas discussed in class. -Learn to live with uncertainty. It is sometimes difficult to accept that there are no right answers to some questions. -Dont compare your ability with others. Worrying that you are not as good as your roommate in math will not get you anywhere. Focus instead on how to improve your ability to learn in the subjects that you find difficult. You can find a tutor or work with or form a study group to help you learn. It may take you longer to get there, but remember that college learning is more like an endurance sport than a spring. -Realize that learning takes time. If you begin your assignments with the expectation that they will take time to fully understand and complete, you are likely to experience less frustration and more understanding. Dont expect to learn complex concepts the first time that you encounter them. Instead, plan to spread out your study time so you can review difficult material several times. Excerpt from  College Success Strategies  by Sherrie L. Nist and Jodi Patrick Holschuh.

How to Use the Future Perfect in English (video and exercise)

How to Use the Future Perfect in English (video and exercise) This is the first of two videos/exercises on advanced future forms in English. The future perfect appears complicated when someone gives you the definition of it: The future perfect is used to express an idea that something will be completed or finished before a specific time in the future.In the video below, Teauna draws a timeline, and uses it to illustrate future perfect in a few sentences.Watch the video, and then try the exercises.Create sentences in the future perfect using the prompts below. Write your answers in comments and we will correct them.Example: By tomorrow morning.  -  I will have slept for a few hours by tomorrow morning.1. By tomorrow morning.2. In 5 years.3. In 10 years.4. In 100 years5. In 1000 years.6. In 25 minutes.Thanks! susana gonzalez I will have finished all my work by tomorrow morning Maybe I will have got married in 5 yearShe will have finished her neurology residency in 1o years The world will have ended in 1000 years After this big meal, I will hav e gone to the bathroom in 25 minutes

This Young Reading Program Completer Developed a Love for Literature in Kumon

This Young Reading Program Completer Developed a Love for Literature in Kumon This Young Reading Program Completer Developed a Love for Literature in Kumon Uma, 12-years-old, Math Level I, Reading Program Completer “By far, the most helpful thing I’ve learned in Kumon is how to read, and to appreciate it. Kumon has fueled my love of reading. I’ve learned many valuable techniques on analyzing literature.”- Uma At a young age, Uma developed a sense of wanderlust. Wise beyond her years, her appreciation of travel and discovering new places is quite impressive. While many kids her age default to social media or other forms of screen time, Uma loves seeing the world and everything it has to offer. “I love traveling. It is so invigorating to escape to somewhere new, where nobody knows your name. Travel is especially rewarding because of the pictures I capture, and then get to share with others,” said Uma. When Uma is not traveling, she can be found lost in a new book or writing. In 2019, she hopes to learn how to speak Korean and continue learning the art of calligraphy. Photography has been one of Uma’s favorite hobbies, especially when traveling. She enjoys capturing images that tell a story and perfecting them through editing. Uma has even joined the wave of cleaning and organization thanks to Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. Kondo’s critically acclaimed book has helped people around the world to declutter their spaces and become organized. The KonMari Methodâ„¢ encourages organization by category, such as clothes, then papers. Once you’ve gone through each category, you will only hold onto items that still serve value, and “spark joy”. Uma has thoroughly enjoyed tidying her room with this method, which has resulted in her neighbors asking her to organize their spaces as well. While she’s still undecided on a career path, she does see a future in psychology. “I could be a psychologist as I like to listen to other’s problems, and offer my best advice,” said Uma. Uma’s hard work and discipline didn’t go unnoticed, as she was one of 55 students selected to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference in Calgary, Canada. We had the opportunity to speak to Uma about her Kumon journey. How has Kumon helped you inside of the classroom? Kumon has helped me in so many ways academically. I already understand what is being taught in school, which has resulted in receiving higher grades. I’ve even passed every state exam above my grade level. I no longer have anxiety about taking tests, because testing in Kumon has taught me that I wouldn’t be taking a particular test unless I was prepared. Now, I can even help other students in my class on concepts they might’ve missed in class. How has Kumon helped you outside of the classroom? Uma shakes hands with Kumon North America President Mino Tanabe Outside of the classroom, Kumon has helped me with my problem-solving skills. I no longer worry when I may not understand something right away. I simply try to understand it and ask for help when necessary. This has boosted my confidence, and I am now willing to try new things even if they seem difficult. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Gratifying. I have already gained so many benefits from Kumon. When I look back, I don’t see the challenging times. Instead, I see all the ways it has benefitted me. What did it mean to you attending the Student Conference? Attending the Student Conference was an amazing, eye-opening experience. I met so many people that I share a lot in common with. It was amazing to be recognized, and humbling to know that others have accomplished so much in Kumon. What advice do you have for other Kumon Students? Kumon is not easy, and it should not be gone through quickly. There will be many challenging moments that you will face. You will ask yourself, “What will I ever get out of this?” Don’t worry, I had those moments too. Consider how amazing it will be when you complete the program, and how proud everyone will be. Consider the endless benefits of Kumon, and how you will thank yourself later. Get a snack and keep going â€" it’s worth it! Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: This Math Program Completer is Driven by Perseverance This Young Kumon Reading Program Completer is an Aspiring Computer Engineer Meet Elina, a Dual Program Completer Who Has Developed Independence in Kumon Kumon Reading Program Completer Motivated by Other Students This Young Reading Program Completer Developed a Love for Literature in Kumon This Young Reading Program Completer Developed a Love for Literature in Kumon Uma, 12-years-old, Math Level I, Reading Program Completer “By far, the most helpful thing I’ve learned in Kumon is how to read, and to appreciate it. Kumon has fueled my love of reading. I’ve learned many valuable techniques on analyzing literature.”- Uma At a young age, Uma developed a sense of wanderlust. Wise beyond her years, her appreciation of travel and discovering new places is quite impressive. While many kids her age default to social media or other forms of screen time, Uma loves seeing the world and everything it has to offer. “I love traveling. It is so invigorating to escape to somewhere new, where nobody knows your name. Travel is especially rewarding because of the pictures I capture, and then get to share with others,” said Uma. When Uma is not traveling, she can be found lost in a new book or writing. In 2019, she hopes to learn how to speak Korean and continue learning the art of calligraphy. Photography has been one of Uma’s favorite hobbies, especially when traveling. She enjoys capturing images that tell a story and perfecting them through editing. Uma has even joined the wave of cleaning and organization thanks to Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. Kondo’s critically acclaimed book has helped people around the world to declutter their spaces and become organized. The KonMari Methodâ„¢ encourages organization by category, such as clothes, then papers. Once you’ve gone through each category, you will only hold onto items that still serve value, and “spark joy”. Uma has thoroughly enjoyed tidying her room with this method, which has resulted in her neighbors asking her to organize their spaces as well. While she’s still undecided on a career path, she does see a future in psychology. “I could be a psychologist as I like to listen to other’s problems, and offer my best advice,” said Uma. Uma’s hard work and discipline didn’t go unnoticed, as she was one of 55 students selected to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference in Calgary, Canada. We had the opportunity to speak to Uma about her Kumon journey. How has Kumon helped you inside of the classroom? Kumon has helped me in so many ways academically. I already understand what is being taught in school, which has resulted in receiving higher grades. I’ve even passed every state exam above my grade level. I no longer have anxiety about taking tests, because testing in Kumon has taught me that I wouldn’t be taking a particular test unless I was prepared. Now, I can even help other students in my class on concepts they might’ve missed in class. How has Kumon helped you outside of the classroom? Uma shakes hands with Kumon North America President Mino Tanabe Outside of the classroom, Kumon has helped me with my problem-solving skills. I no longer worry when I may not understand something right away. I simply try to understand it and ask for help when necessary. This has boosted my confidence, and I am now willing to try new things even if they seem difficult. If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? Gratifying. I have already gained so many benefits from Kumon. When I look back, I don’t see the challenging times. Instead, I see all the ways it has benefitted me. What did it mean to you attending the Student Conference? Attending the Student Conference was an amazing, eye-opening experience. I met so many people that I share a lot in common with. It was amazing to be recognized, and humbling to know that others have accomplished so much in Kumon. What advice do you have for other Kumon Students? Kumon is not easy, and it should not be gone through quickly. There will be many challenging moments that you will face. You will ask yourself, “What will I ever get out of this?” Don’t worry, I had those moments too. Consider how amazing it will be when you complete the program, and how proud everyone will be. Consider the endless benefits of Kumon, and how you will thank yourself later. Get a snack and keep going â€" it’s worth it! Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: This Math Program Completer is Driven by Perseverance This Young Kumon Reading Program Completer is an Aspiring Computer Engineer Meet Elina, a Dual Program Completer Who Has Developed Independence in Kumon Kumon Reading Program Completer Motivated by Other Students

10 Errors in Language Learning and How to Avoid Them

10 Errors in Language Learning and How to Avoid Them 10 Errors in Language Learning and How to Avoid Them Learning a new language can feel like youre walking in a minefield and trying to avoid errors at all costs.Theyre everywhere, and if you stumble on one, youre sure that everything you know about a language could blow up.Well, language errors might not be life-threatening, but its important to stay on the right path.There will be forks in the road and the wrong decision could lead you towards errors that will make you stumble in the learning process.Knowing what they are might help you dodge them.Thats where we come in!Keep your eye out for these 10 common errors, and you can safely enjoy the language learning journey ahead! Whats the Difference Between an Error and a Mistake?Its important to distinguish between mistakes and errors. Mistakes occur when you know a rule but violate it accidentally.  Hopefully, youll notice when this happens and correct yourself.Committing  an error means  unintentionally deviating from whats true.  These are a bigger issue.This post will be discussing the following two types of errors:Linguistic errors â€" A linguistic error happens when we lack knowledge of the rules of the language were trying to learn.  We havent learned enough about that language so we incorrectly implement rules.Much academic research exists on how and why these errors occur. If youre interested in the topic, you might read this article about the  types, causes and treatment of language errors.Perspective errors â€"  There can also be errors in the way we think about learning a language. Without knowing or understanding the process of learning a language, we assert false beliefs.Both of these are detrimental to language learning and should be avoided at all costs.10 Errors in Language Learning and How to Avoid ThemLinguistic Errors1. First language interferenceFirst language interference occurs when rules from your native language sneak in and affect your second language.Positive interference can actually improve your language skills. This occurs when you a ccurately apply rules from your first language that line up correctly with the rules of your second language.Negative interference is what you need to worry about. This occurs when you apply rules from your first language that dont match rules of your second language. This interference can create errors in your second language.Typically, these will show up in your speaking and writing when you try to implement structures from your first language like word order, grammatical gender or certain verb tenses.And although its impossible to know everything there is to know about your target language when you first start studying, you do want to find answers relatively quickly.That means that the best way to avoid these errors is through focused study. Ask yourself whats giving you the most trouble and make sure to set some time aside to get answers to your questions.As you get further into your language education, youll have an easier time distinguishing between the rules of your first and second language.2. PronunciationSome sounds in one language dont correspond to sounds in another, so these unfamiliar sounds can be hard to pick up.For instance, you may have noticed that many native Spanish speakers from Latin America struggle to make the th sound. Although you might hear this sound in Spain, the th sound doesnt naturally occur in Spanish in other regions.Whatever your target language might be, most native speakers will probably understand what you mean even if you dont pronounce every letter correctly. However, (especially in languages that use tones),  mispronouncing some words can cause confusion and will certainly be a clear signal that youre not a native speaker.The best way to combat these errors is through listening practice. The more you hear the sounds, the clearer theyll be. For particularly tricky sounds, you might even look for targeted lessons that focus on problem sounds. Many YouTube lessons cover tricky sounds, even going so far as to explain where to put your tongue.3. GrammarGrammar errors are the bane of any language learners existence. Theyre often a result of incomplete or inaccurate studying.For instance, Latin, Russian, German and Greek use the case system, which basically means that word endings change depending on each words role in the sentence. Since modern English has no equivalent, case systems are often difficult for native English-speakers to grasp.All the words can be the same between sentences, but if one word is in the wrong case, it can completely change the meaning of the sentence.To avoid grammar errors, its important to study not only grammar rules but also exceptions to these rules. Many languages have irregular verbs or other tricky rules that seem to violate the basic rules of grammar. While we can adjust to this fairly easily in our native language, it can be harder in a second language.The only way to learn and remember these rules is through careful study.4. VocabularyVocabulary errors occur when y ou lack a clear understanding of specific words. Even if youre an expert in grammar rules, not having enough words in your arsenal, or a clear understanding of a term, will impede understanding (false cognates, anyone?).While circumlocution (describing the word when you dont know the exact term) is one tactic when youre unsure of a word, more vocabulary study is a helpful way to prevent vocabulary errors. To ensure you use vocabulary properly, its particularly helpful to use resources that show you vocabulary in authentic contexts.FluentU is an ideal way to learn new vocabulary in context. FluentU uses authentic videos like movie trailers, music videos, news and more to improve your language skills. Each video is captioned, and the captions are annotated to provide you with a definition, associated image and example sentences. This is a perfect way to see how vocabulary is used in context. You can download the FluentU app for iOS  and Android or use FluentU online.5. Imbalance of sk illsBalance isnt just for yogis. Language learners need it, too.Lets pretend that you dont know how important each component of language is, so you skip over one entirely when you study. You prepare for your trip to Russia by speaking with a native speaker on a language exchange platform almost every day, but you neglect your reading skills. After a frustrating day around Moscow, you almost have a meltdown in the middle of Red Square. You cant read any of the signs!Be sure to make reading, writing, speaking and listening a priority in your target language studies in order to communicate fully. This is especially important if youre teaching yourself. You can do this by combining several resources or by finding a resource that focuses on a well-rounded education.Perspective ErrorsYou might have had a poor experience trying to learn a language before and need a slight attitude adjustment or some clarification. Some of the errors below might sound familiar to you and, hopefully, we can clear the air!6. Wrong languageWhen you choose what language to learn, youre choosing a life partner, so dont make the decision lightly.Choosing the wrong language can be demotivating and lead to you never meeting your goals. Thats why its important to consider your goals carefully before you start your learning adventure.For instance, if youre looking to learn a language for business, you might select a different language than you would choose if you were learning a language for travel. Motivation is key to language learning success and choosing the right language will keep the experience engaging.To ensure you select the right one, it helps to take some time to assess your objectives. If you need a little help, you might try this  advice from the Washington Post.7. Unrealistic expectationsIf youve tried to learn a language before and were unsuccessful, you might have unrealistic expectations. A lot of people expect immediate result, but this just isnt going to happen.So you werent able to have a full conversation with that German exchange student in college after one semester of German, and that upset you. But learning a language is a marathon, not a sprint.As long as you keep this in mind at the beginning, you can celebrate your successes rather than dwelling on how long it can take. If you go into it expecting immediate fluency, youre likely to be disappointed.How long it takes to learn a language will vary based on the difficulty of the language and your skill, focus and commitment. However, the Foreign Service Institute  estimates that languages take between 575 and 2200 hours of study to learn.8. Huge financial or time commitmentA lot of learners are turned off by perceived obstacles. Language-learning can seem too expensive or too time-consuming.However, this error in thinking can be quickly resolved. There are a plethora of options for language learners. If you truly want to learn a language, you can find the right resource for your needs.There are op tions for learners on a budget  and there are options that take only minutes a day. You dont need to let time or money stop you from fluency!9. Inability to understand native speakersThe first time you listen to a native speaker speaking your target language, you might just have an anxiety attack. Youre sure youll never understand them. This is particularly true if you listen without any supportive texts or translations.Language barriers exist, but you can overcome them. Its important to remember that everyone starts somewhere. Michael Phelps swam for many years before receiving any Olympic medals.Similarly, natural rates of speech seem significantly slower the more you study a language. What once seemed impossibly fast will one day feel like a normal pace.10. Dull resourcesSome learners have no idea that there are a variety of resources to choose from for learning languages and make the mistake of choosing the wrong one. You think about that old high school or college language text book and you shudder.Fortunately, youre not restricted to that anymore. Technology advances every day, which gives us an endless supply of resources to choose from. Or, if you prefer resources like that old  textbook, you have more than one option to choose from.Whatever you choose, its important to select your resources carefully. Youll want resources that exercise your reading, listening, speaking and writing, but youll also want to make sure these resources hold your attention and appeal to you. If you like a personal touch, you might try a private tutor.Watch out for these errors as you begin your studies in your target language.If you carefully weave your way through the treacherous path to learning, fluency will seem like a walk in the park! And One More ThingIf you really want to kick the dullness and problematic artificiality out of your language learning routine, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news a nd inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that real people 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 ScreenFluentU 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 over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz 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.