Letters in Organic Chemistry

Letters in Organic ChemistryOrganic chemistry is a difficult subject to a person who has not mastered the fundamentals of science. Many have tried, and very few are able to teach such difficult material, due to the fact that the main source of all information is research, and when you understand everything, you can discuss what you have learned with someone who is similarly experienced. However, there are some basic concepts and abstract principles that are easy to understand, and it would be very helpful if the student could understand them.The most common letters in organic chemistry are atoms, orbitals, solvents, alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, esters, acids, esters, nitriles, hydrocarbons, carbonyls, oxides, carbonates, chlorides, nitrates, peroxides, carbocations, and others. The letters of an acronym are abbreviated and written with the first three characters and then any other letters on that line. So, O in Organic Chemistry is spelled out as two O's, and the letters of organic mo lecules are the letters a c, d, etc.The radicals are a group of electrons that play the most important role in organic chemistry. Most radicals have one of three types: electron acceptors, electron donors, or multiple electron acceptors. Electron acceptors are the molecules which have one proton and one electron, while electron donors are molecules that have two or more protons and two or more electrons.The oxygen molecule is the most important molecule in nature, and the one that are involved in the most important processes in life. The oxygen atom is one of the two stable atoms in the periodic table, along with hydrogen. Oxygen gas is produced by the burning of biomass, and it can be formed in several ways. Carbon dioxide forms when the burning of carbon produces the small amount of oxygen needed by plants and animals.These are the only two colorless gases and are used by our atmosphere in our civilization. They are broken down in the atmosphere, and we breathe the air in. Other n aturally occurring compounds include water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, methane, and oxygen. Some compounds are combinations of other compounds and are referred to as complex mixtures.Chemists use the term a complex mixture to describe a mixture of two substances where the two components are less than the expected mass, but the average molecular weight of both of the ingredients is greater than one hundred. The mass can either be a natural element or an artificial compound. It is this range of mixtures, which will give rise to variations in chemical compositions.Letters in organic chemistry, are often grouped together. For example, the noble gases are the most common chemical group in nature, with the exception of hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorous. Oxygen is a noble gas, but it is not, as stated above, the only noble gas, so it is important to remember that there are five elements that are the same as oxygen, but have a different molecular weight.

Plan ACT Test Online ACT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

Plan ACT Test Online ACT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace ACT exam is a standardized test recognized by all the colleges and universities throughout the United States. ACT test contains four multiple choice sections: English, Mathematics, Reading and Science reasoning. These four sections test the academic knowledge of the student in the basic concepts of the given subjects. There is also a Writing section for students who would like to get their ACT score plus writing. In the Writing section, students have to write an essay about a given particular issue or a topic in 30 minutes. In order to do well in the 4 main sections, students should particularly focus on each subject and must improve their subject skills accordingly. For the English and Reading section, students have to concentrate on improving their grammar and rhetoric skills. Questions are usually asked in usage/mechanics where students must answer questions on punctuations, sentence clauses, proper usage of verbs and pronouns etc. Reading comprehension has some questions on each passage and students have to answer those questions appropriately. In the Mathematics section, students are given multiple choice questions on basic concepts from topics like Algebra, Plane geometry, and Coordinate geometry, Elementary Trigonometry etc. Questions in this section test the logical and conceptual knowledge of the student. Similarly the science section tests the students knowledge in science related concepts. Time given for every section in ACT exam is very limited. Hence students must answer questions keeping track of time and should be able to work on them quickly.

Coisas que o Inglês faz com a gente Dia dos Namorados

Coisas que o Inglês faz com a gente Dia dos Namorados Image courtesy of Toa55 / FreeDigitalPhotos.netHoje é Dia dos Namorados, quem não se deu conta ainda só pode estar vivendo debaixo de alguma pedra em um reino distante. Por causa da data, lembrei de uma situação inusitada que aconteceu comigo há uns anos.Foi em uma altura na qual eu falava Inglês pessimamente, não haja dúvida. Estava tentando explicar o porquê de no Brasil o Dia dos Namorados ser comemorado no dia 12 de Junho e não no dia 14 de Fevereiro (Valentines Day), como acontece nos Estados Unidos e grande parte da Europa. No entanto, a única forma que eu me lembrava para dizer Dia dos Namorados era  Valentines Day. Por isso, acabei por ter uma discussão descomunal com uma garota francesa que tinha acabado de conhecer.No fundo, eu estava tentando dizer que o Dia dos Namorados no Brasil tinha uma data diferente. Porém, tudo o que ela entendia era que no Brasil o dia de São Valentim era comemorado em outro data, na véspera de Santo Antônio, e ela achava isso uma loucura. Se a gente pensar bem, é um pouco louco que o Dia dos Namorados seja comemorado nessa data. Afinal, aqui, esse dia nasceu sendo uma jogada comercial.Para quem não sabe, o Dia dos Namorados, como data comemorativa, foi divulgado no país pelo empresário João Dória, que viu nessa festividade uma boa oportunidade de negócio. A escolha de ser comemorado no dia 12 de Junho, véspera do dia do santo casamenteiro, acredito que tenha sido uma idéia de gênio, até porque dá algum significado espiritual à data.Enfim, voltando ao que aconteceu. Pelo fato de não ter muita desenvoltura com o Inglês naquela época, não conseguia explicar bem o que queria dizer. Repetia continuamente: No, you dont understand. In Brazil, Valentines day is celebrated on June, 12. E a francesa respondia: You Brazilians are crazy. Valentines day is on February, 14!Por fim, consegui que ela entendesse quando disse: In Brazil the saint that helps lovers get married is Santo Antônio, not Saint Val entine. So, we celebrate the day of lovers, the day of girlfriends and boyfriends, the Valentines Day, on June, 12. And we do that because June, 13 is the day of Santo Antônio.Ela riu da minha cara, porque eu não tinha conseguido dizer isso antes. Eu fiquei me sentindo um pouco burra, mas quem não se sente assim quando não consegue explicar algo simples em outro idioma? Pelo menos ela entendeu.Ah, antes que eu esqueça: Feliz Dia dos Namorados! Inez You ´d better say sweetheart ´s day, instead of lover ´s day. Ana C. Pires Hello Inez, while I know now that I probably should have said sweethearts day. Back then, I was not comfortable speaking English. So I said what I had to in order for the girl to understand what I meant. Also, according to my research lovers day is the most common translation, but due to the negative connotation that the word lover has, the use of sweetheart is a safer choice, for sure.

The Tutor Referral Contest - June 1-30 - Heart Math Tutoring

The Tutor Referral Contest - June 1-30 - Heart Math Tutoring The Tutor Referral Contest June 1-30 The Tutor Referral Contest June 1-30 May 31, 2019 EVERYBODY can be a Heart Tutor! To kick off recruitment season we are challenging YOU to recruit more tutors through a friendly contest so that we can serve more schools and more students. No matter the winner, in the end, it all ADDS up to more Heart! The Rules For each new tutor you recruit, you receive 1 point for your 2018-19 school. Whichever 2018-19 school team recruits the most new tutors will receive a special prize for their 2019-20 students. New tutors must sign up through the Heart Tutoring website note their referral tutor or school. How to Participate Join our Contest Facebook Group HERE to stay up to date on standings receive recruitment resources. Get out there! Talk about your tutoring experience far wide to encourage sign-ups. Make sure you are following us on social media for updates, shareable content more! Tutor Recruiting Ideas Utilize your social media channels to share your Heart Tutoring experience. Dont forget the sign-up link! Talk to your book club, Bible study, workout class, neighborhood association, etc. Host a learning session with a Heart Tutoring representative for your company or group. More recruiting tips resources will be provided via the Facebook Group email newsletter. Dont forget to sign yourself up for the 2019-20 school year too!

How to Become an Interpreter A Comfortable 5-step Guide

How to Become an Interpreter A Comfortable 5-step Guide How to Become an Interpreter: A Comfortable 5-step Guide Night after night, you keep having the same dream.You hear voices whispering… then getting louder and louder. Frantic voices.Its dark. The voices around you sound confused. Agitated. Maybe even afraid.At first, you cant understand what theyre saying. Over time, the words become clearer and clearer. Finally, you open your mouth to speak, to explain.Faces around you look hopeful and relaxed. As if by magic, everyone instantly grasps your meaning.Confusion is chased away. Understanding dawns like a bright, new day.You wake up a few hours later, the impressions from your strange dream still floating through your mind. You bridged the chasm of understanding for othersâ€"and you feel exhilarated.What is this reverie that fills your thoughts with a sense of purpose and satisfaction? Do you need dream interpretation?Or are you dreaming of being an interpreter?If its the latter, youre in luck. Because today were serving up a fundamental, 5-step guide to becoming an interpreter.But before we crack open the guidebook, lets set the record straight on the job title. Translator vs. Interpreter: Whats the Difference?Translator and interpreter are often used interchangeably, especially in movies and TV shows.If you want to sit at a desk with dictionaries and other language books and carefully create a document that duplicates the meaning of the originalâ€"only in a different languageâ€"then being a translator might suit you.If youd rather be in the thick of the conversation, helping speakers of different languages understand each other in real time, you may wish to become an interpreter.Future interpreters, read on!How to Become an Interpreter: A Comfortable 5-step GuideStep 1: Begin with the BasicsThe first stop on your journey is self-assessment. Itll help you decide if you have the right stuff to be a professional interpreter. Lets break down the essentials here.Language aptitudeIts likely that, given enough time and creative learning methods, almost anyone can learn a second language, even if its harder for some people than others.That said, theres a difference between learning Italian well enough to order pizza in Rome and having the professional competency to interpret for il Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri (the Italian Prime Minister).Some people seem to have more of a natural aptitude for learning languages, making a career in interpretation a more realistic choice.Like musicians, interpreters also need good ears. Grasping grammar rules or savant-like vocabulary memorization wont help you succeed as a professional interpreter if you cant understand native speakers when they talk at conversational speed… or if you struggle to master a native accent.If you sincerely love the idea of becoming an interpreter but doubt your skills, dont get discouraged! While some people may have a natural knack for learning and understanding spoken languages, others may just need to work a bit harder and get in more relevant practice.With FluentU, you can polish up your understanding of a language through modern, useful, realistic scenarios in videos that allow you to study written language, spoken language, cultural specifics and more all at the same time. FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like movie trailers, music videos, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language lessons. Its great not just for those actively learning a language, but also for those in language-based careers like interpretation who want to keep their skills fresh and current (see below).Devotion to language learningUnless you grew up bilingual, achieving professional-level fluency as an interpreter is not a task for the faint of heart.Although there are many creative ways to help yourself learn a language, like playing video games or writing and translating childrens stories, its still a long-term commitment.To interpret professionally, you must learn your languages to a higher standard than a hobbyist. You have to keep yourself motivate d to strive, because it could take months to master just the fundamentals.And, even when youre officially fluent, you still wont be done.Dedication to ongoing studyYou probably dont think about keeping up to date in your native language. Sure, you might hear an unknown expression and think, Wow, thats a new one! And, if youre a word nerd like me, you might look it up on  Urban Dictionary to make sure you caught all of its nuances.Learning any language isnt one and done or set it and forget it. But if youre not living and working in a country where your second language is used most of the time, youll need to make an even greater effort to keep up with it.Your career as an interpreter depends on how current you keep your vocabulary and cultural references.Cultural interpretationsLanguage is more than vocab and grammar; you need to understand the people who speak it.In order to do so, you have to learn the language in its ever-evolving cultural context.Magazines, newspapers and books a re a great way to dive in, but print media isnt as effective for honing your listening skills. Of course, audiobooks are an exception.Movies, TV shows and videosâ€"like the real-world content found on FluentUâ€"are a dramatically convenient way to understand not just the language, but the people who speak it. With cutting-edge media from around the world, you can travel virtually to anywhere and learn to speak like the locals.Professional selflessnessSuccessful interpreters cant editorialize.No matter how strong your opinions or feelings about a certain subject, you must resign yourself to only expressing what the speaker is saying.The focus in interpretation must be on the speakers, not the interpreters.You can learn a lot as an interpreter by being a fly on the wall through whom all the conversation flows. However, you need to keep your own thoughts silent, acting only as a voice for others.Even if you strongly disagree with whats being said, your job is to render it accurately, w ithout commentary.And its not just the words you sayâ€"youll need to put on your best poker face, so you dont color the speakers meaning in any way.It goes without saying that the conversations you interpretâ€"no matter how juicy or fascinatingâ€"are confidential.Step 2: Decide What Kind of Interpreter You Want to BeInterpreters can work in a wide variety of fields, specializing in certain kinds of interpretation. You might be amazed at all the different career opportunities available for interpreters.Health care interpreterWhat could be scarier than needing medical attention and having to receive it from a doctor who speaks a language you dont understand? This is the situation faced by many patients today, who are either traveling or are immigrants in a new country.As an interpreter working in a hospital or medical practice, you could help speakers of other languages understand their diagnoses, prognoses and treatment options.Health care interpreters are sometimes called medical in terpreters. Those who work primarily in a hospital setting are known as hospital interpreters.Working as a health care interpreter requires the background to understand specialized medical terminology. In addition, youll need to be up to date on all the latest privacy laws when interpreting for patients and medical professionals.Training courses like this one specifically address these needs. Unless you already have a health care background, similar local or virtual resources would be a fundamental part of your professional education.Court/legal interpreterLike a medical interpreter, a court or legal interpreter must work with the utmost accuracy and discretion. The outcomes of courtroom events can have serious consequences in the lives of your clients.A background in lawâ€"for example, paralegal trainingâ€"can be an enormous asset to those who would like to interpret in a courtroom or for a law firm.Business interpreterA business interpreter might help business owners negotiate wit h each other, or help management to communicate with employees who speak a different language.Some business interpreters provide language line services, facilitating phone-based customer support for speakers of other languages.You might work for a language services agency like Language Scientific or ALTA Language Services. Companies such as these cater to the business needs of many industries.Immigration services interpreterImmigration services interpreters work with clients and government agencies, helping new immigrants to understand their rights and legal obligations throughout the immigration process.You might work directly for a government agency, or represent a client for an immigration advocacy group.Diplomatic interpreterIf youve ever seen the headphone-wearing linguists at the UN, sorting through the Tower of Babel to foster conversation among many nations, youve seen a diplomatic interpreter at work.International meetings, such as those between heads of state, are another venue in which diplomatic interpreters are needed.Diplomatic interpreters can also be conference interpreters, although not all multinational meetings are diplomatic in nature… some of them might be business-related or professional conferences.Travel interpreterLanguage apps and phrasebooks are great for travel, but sometimes globetrotters run into circumstances that exceed their limited linguistic repertoires.Travel interpreters help visitors navigate linguistic and cultural barriers in a foreign land, allowing them to have more successful journeys abroad.Simultaneous or consecutive?Depending on your field, you might need to either interpret the speakers words almost immediately after hearing them (simultaneous interpretation) or you might be able to listen to the speaker for a few seconds or moments before starting to interpret (consecutive interpretation). The circumstances or setting often dictate which form of interpretation is chosen.There are actually a few different types of consecutive interpretation; the short form is usually more memory-based for the interpreter, since interpretation is expected to start after the speaker completes a few sentences or paragraphs and then pauses for the interpretation.In the long form of consecutive interpretation, the speaker may complete part or all of an entire speech before the interpretation must begin. Consecutive interpreters often take notes in this situation and may even work from provided source materials to help make their interpretation more accurate.You can get training in either simultaneous or consecutive interpretation. Some institutions offer programs that prepare you to do both.Step 3: Research Needed CertificationsCertifications arent always mandatory, but some can be quite beneficial to your career as an interpreter.Types of certificationsMost certifications match the field of interpretation, testing both your general language ability and your specialized knowledge of the field.For example, the N ational Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)  administers certification for those prospective interpreters planning to work in a hospital or other medical setting. Both written and oral exams are available in the following languages:Chinese (Cantonese Mandarin)KoreanRussianSpanishVietnameseThe Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) furnishes a similar certification, using third-party testing to verify language proficiency.Court interpreters working in the United States can qualify as certified federal interpreters, or work at the state level with certification from the National Center for State Courts.Benefits of being certifiedMany types of interpretation dont require certification. However, having official certifications can improve your job prospects and help you increase your earnings.Of course, obtaining and maintaining your certificationâ€"which usually needs to be renewed every few yearsâ€"takes time and money. The costs of staying cer tified must be balanced against the advantages of certification.Step 4: Tailor Your EducationMost people know that if you want to become a doctor, you need a medical degree.Wannabe lawyers need to get through law school.However, the training requirements for interpreters arent always clear-cut.How much education do you need?Will a certificate program be enough? Or will you also need a bachelors degree or graduate school education?The answer to this will depend partly on the type of interpreter you wish to become.For instance, at minimum, most health care interpreters need a high school diploma. Sometimes, certificationâ€"and even higher educationâ€"is required. The standards may vary from one medical institution to another.In many cases, a bachelors degree is a necessary first step to becoming an interpreter.Customize your curriculumIf youre earning your bachelors degree with plans to be a professional interpreter, there are several ways to proceed.A concentration or even a double m ajor could ground you in both the language and the specific field of interpretation. If you want to be an interpreter for Austrian businesses, for example, you might double major in business and German.If your parents emigrated from Vienna and you grew up speaking both German and English, you might forgo the German major and focus on business courses.In either case, if your college or university offers a course in interpretation as a profession, it could give you valuable insights and training for your future career.Consider a specialized schoolSome institutions are dedicated to training interpreters and translators.Through Middlebury Colleges highly-esteemed Monterey Language and Culture program, you could earn your Master of Arts degree in Translation and Interpretation or Conference Interpretation.If youre serving in the American military, or you work for the Department of Defense or a related federal agency, you might consider training at a facility like the Defense Language Ins titute Foreign Language Center.The American Translators Associationâ€"which, despite its name, also represents interpretersâ€"offers an extensive list of language schools around the world.Step 5: Practice with Real-world Language ResourcesAbove and beyond formal schooling and certification, aspiring interpreters will want to use supplementary language learning resources.Lend your ears: Listening skillsWeve all had those amusing and embarrassing moments of mishearing someone, even in our native language.You might have native-level fluency in your second language and still mishear something every once in a while.Of course, youll want to minimize the chances of this happeningâ€"especially in a professional contextâ€"by systematically improving your language listening skills, learning to avoid common listening mistakes that could undermine your confidence.Cutting-edge content: Keeping currentSince languages are continuously growing and changing, youll need some way to stay just as curre nt as native speakers who live and work with the language every day.As we mentioned earlier, through the magic of the internet, you can directly access contemporary content in your target language, even if you live half a world away from where its most widely spoken.A little more conversation: Speaking confidentlyA language exchange partner whos a native speaker can be an enormous help to an interpreter or an interpreter-in-training.No matter what the topic, these conversations will help you:Stay current with the language.Boost your confidence as a speaker.Give your listening skills a workout.Dont fret if you cant find a native speaker nearby. Go face-to-face virtually with a language exchange partner, using a video chat app like Skype.Volunteer your timeAlthough your goal is to be paid for your interpretation services, dont overlook the advantages of volunteer opportunities.Sites like VolunteerMatch offer local (and even remote) opportunities for polishing your interpretation skill s pro bono. Job sites such as Indeed have listings for budding interpreters who want to refine their craft through volunteering. Many of these opportunities are in the medical field, although there are some for future court or business interpreters.Internships, both paid and unpaid, can also help you rack up experience as an interpreter.The National Language Service Corps (NLSC) is an American organization devoted to serving civic language needs through U.S. government agencies. Membership in the NLSC is open to any U.S. citizen 18 or older whos fluent in English and at least one other language. There are no fees to join; service through the organization is compensated with an hourly stipend.NLSC members can network together through social media sites, where you could find a job opportunity or a mentor.Mingle with the pros: Professional organizationsSpeaking of mentorship, consider joining an association of professional interpreters. These groups are a fantastic way to keep up with the latest professional news, meet colleagues and learn from their experience.You could find a kindred spirit with many years in the field who would be happy to mentor you and offer career advice.In addition, these organizations often provide formal training for their members. Some will list members in a professional directory that can open up more employment opportunities.You might join a group with a broader baseâ€"such as the aforementioned American Translators Association (ATA), which offers a discounted membership for students enrolled in a translation or interpretation program.There are specialty organizations for certain types of translators, as well. For example, the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters Translators (NAJIT) might be a good choice for a court interpreter. Up-and-coming conference interpreters might join the International Association of Conference Interpreters, which is commonly known as l’Association internationale des interprètes de conférence (AIIC).Future medical interpreters might take advantage of a very affordable student membership in the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC). An NCIHC membership includes training webinars that members can access from anywhere.Whichever path you take, use these resources to guide you on your quest. With careful planning and tenacity, you can make your dreams of interpretation come true.Michelle Baumgartner is a language nerd who has formally studied seven languages and informally dabbled in at least three others. In addition to geeking out over slender vowels, interrogative particles and phonemes, Michelle is a  freelance content marketer and education blogger. Keep up with her latest adventures in language and learning on  Twitter.

5 Curious and Counterintuitive Tips on Learning a New Language

5 Curious and Counterintuitive Tips on Learning a New Language What if I told  you that everything you know about learning a language is wrong?What if those things you think you need to do are the exact opposite of what you should actually be doing?Hi!The name’s Stevie D., and in this post were going to talk about the counterintuitive, the hidden and the  secret.But before that  why even start to learn a new language? Your life is already awesome as it is, and you’re doing just fine. So, what’s in it for you? Learning a New Language Has Its RewardsWhy learn another language?Well, why not, when learning one has never been so easy, so accessible and so cheap?Learning a second  or a third  language is just awesomeâ€"there’s no simpler way to phrase it. And I’m not even going to  talk about how it will boost your social life and self-esteem, not to mention open the romantic floodgates. I won’t talk about how it’s good for your brain, how it makes you a nimbler  thinker  and decision maker. You’re likely young and healthy, so you’ re probably not interested in how it delays the onset of age-related diseases.And I’m not going to  waste your time persuading you that learning a new language would probably be good for your career. Employers will love you. Promotions and higher pay, anyone?Well, you already know that.You also already know how a new language necessarily opens up a new world. A whole new culture, a whole new way of looking at things. It’s like having a second soul. It’s not just for ordering food when you’re abroad, or asking for the nearest comfort room 20 minutes later.Truth of the matter is, learning a new language is cool. Especially when you can brag to your best friend, “Ha, I know German and you don’t!”Yeah, you already know all these things. So why don’t we move on to the five  counterintuitive things you need to do in order to learn any language on earth.5 Curious and Counterintuitive Tips on Learning a New Language1. Don’t SpeakReally?! Learn to speak a language by not sp eaking?  Isn’t that a glaring contradiction?Nope.Remember when you were a kid and still learning your first language? Probably not.But if you have a nephew, a niece or if you’re somebody with even a little observational capacity, you’ll notice that early on in first language acquisition, babies don’t speak at all. They simply observe and listen. They look at you with those cute little eyes as they drool on their bibs.This is what’s called the “silent phase” or the “preproduction phase” of first language acquisition. The linguist Stephen Krashen asks, “If this is how we got to learn our first language, why not mimic it for learning another one?”Too often there are tremendous pressures on adults to instantly or immediately get into word production, speaking practice and proper pronunciations. Job, business and romance often dictates that we skip the listening phase and move into the actively talking and practicing part.And we wonder why it’s so much harder for us to pick up a second language.In order to learn a new language effectively, you have to let go of that pressure to talk from day one. Talking happens much later in the process. In the early phases of second language learning, you have to do a lot of listening.This isnt passive listening where you play hours of audio and go to sleep. This is active listening. You are doing this thing for comprehension. The goal here is to understand words and phrases even though you cant enunciate them yetâ€"just like babies. Again, if you observe babies, you’ll realize that comprehension comes before production. They know that you said you want them to pick up the ball, they know that you want them to give it to you.The listening and comprehension phase is very important in language learning. Without it, you’ll just be parroting a bunch of words that you don’t understand.Don’t worry, the talking part will come in time. But the absolute first step isnt talking. It’s understanding. Not the other way around.2. Don’t Try HardDoesn’t this go against our human ethic? We’re supposed to work hard, right?Of course. But we also have to work smart.So let me ask you a question: Do babies stay up all night beefing up on their vocabulary  because mommy will give them an oral exam in the morning?I hope not!Babies, they just take it all in. Like I said, they listen. They listen to mommy and daddy talking, they listen to what Barney says in the song. And through  repetition, theyre eventually able to pick up the meaning of words.Adults, we take it upon ourselves to learn the language. Maybe we just got assigned to an international account at work and we need to learn the language, pronto! We have unrealistic expectations that ramp up the pressure, which only results in us being further from our original goal. We kill motivation early in the process and shoot ourselves in the foot.Well, there are people who thrive on pressure. Good for them. But if you’re one who gets frustr ated because you’re not learning fast enough, or you keep forgetting what you’ve learned and you feel like you’re running in place, then maybe you’re trying too hard.When you’re anxious, tired and hungry, nothing ever works.You need to settle down and take it easy. For example, when everything seems like a game, when it’s no big deal, then your brain is open enough to receive and store input. That’s why a lot of language programs come in the form of games. They’re telling adults, “It’s okay take it easy, man have some fun everything is just fine.”TPR, a language learning approach developed by James Asher, places students in a stress-free and judgment-free environment where they can simply have fun and learn the language intuitively.Relax, man! Watch a movie in your target language. Follow a telenovela or something. Put down the thick “Advanced Learners Edition” and read Cinderella in French.Trying even harder will only make the task harder. You need to chil l in order to kill (the language). That’s one of the paradoxes of learning that applies to a great number of people.If language learning isnt fun, then you’re not doing it right.3. Keep Taking BreaksIf you think doing all-nighters is an effective language study technique, then you might not have taken into account “effective study” time. Thats  the number of hours or minutes when the brain is happy to integrate new information. You could plan a 5-hour study marathon, but how many hours of that is actually “effective study” time?Now be honest with yourself. How long can you keep your focus, really?Ever had the experience when, after an hour’s worth of language study, your brain just doesn’t want to work anymore? You feel like it’s gone to jello and, no matter how hard you try, nothing seems to get past short-term memory. You might as well hug your German grammar textbook to sleep.On the other hand, have you ever had that experience where youre just  starting a study session or coming off a break and your brain is fresh as pancakes and everything seems to flow a little easier?Instead of doing marathons, try studying in manageable chunks of time. Go for short bursts of studying followed by necessary breaks. When you notice that studying the language isnt effective anymore, you take a breakâ€"a well-deserved one at that. This way, you’re not only saving time, you’re also making the most out of it.Studies  have found that the magic number seems to be around  45 minutes. For every language study hour, youll spend 45 minutes of it on vocabulary  drills, games and language learning, and the remaining 15 minutes youll spend on breaks,  like taking a short walk, looking at beautiful scenery or playing with your pet.Or, if 45 minutes seems like too long a time, you can use the Pomodoro Technique. Here, sessions are only 25 minutes long, followed by 5-minute breaks. So for every 30 minutes, youll spend 25 of them on learning the language, and 5 of th em on breaks. After 4 “pomodoros,” you take a longer break of 30 minutes.Try them out and see if your language learning productivity rises.4. Make MistakesMistakes are bad, right? They’re a no no.But consider this: When toddlers are learning their native languages, we adults find it so cute when they make mistakes. They say “pesghetti” instead of “spaghetti, they use plural forms incorrectly or go “meow” when they see a dog.It’s all so cute and harmless.We patiently correct them until they get it right.Being adults, for us mistakes have become death sentences. Nobody wants to make them. Everybody wants to avoid the embarrassment of making mistakes. The result? Nobody even tries. For fear of falling, nobody takes the first step. It’s a case of perfectionism being your  worst  enemy during the  learning process.But the thing is, falling and getting mud on your face is a necessary part of the journey. Mistakes arent something to be feared, theyre well-springs of lea rning.Benny Lewis, the man behind the Fluent in 3 Months blogâ€"one of  the biggest language learning blogs on the Webâ€"talks about the fear of making mistakes as one of the biggest mental blocks that plague adults today. Lewis, who speaks seven  different languages, recommends making as many mistakes as possible.Mistakes = Lessons. If we make plenty of mistakes, it would mean we learn plenty of lessons. By that logic, we should make plenty of mistakes, and fast!We need to have a healthier attitude towards mistakes. Just as we’ve learned to laugh at kids, language learners shouldn’t be too hard on themselves. Come to think of it, learning a new language is really like being a kid in that language. You’ll mess up the verb conjugations, you’ll forget the translations  and you’ll butcher the pronunciations. But guess what? It’s all part of the journey.The faster we make  our peace with this, the faster we’ll learn the language.5. Grammar Comes LaterGrammar is king!Or is it?Isn’t it interesting that the most beloved polyglots of the world don’t even recommend grammar books in the pursuit of languages?Guys like Donovan Nagel of The Mezzofanti Guild  fame considers grammar rules as what fluent speakers use to describe what they already know. As children, before we even sat for our first grammar lesson, we were already fluent with the language. We were already talking to mommy and daddy, asking for all sorts of toys, lying to mommy about how delicious her pie was.Benny Lewis recommends skipping the grammar books to play language games instead.Ron Gulleksons site  Language Surfer  recommends more listening and less grammar drilling in language programs. Luca Lampariello of The Polyglot Dream has this interesting method of learning a language by performing translation exercises.It’s quite telling that none of them recommend mastering grammar as the key to learning the language. In fact, many of the world’s polyglots didn’t learn language formal ly. They used all sorts of tricks, hacks and techniques that worked for them. (Meet some of the world’s polyglots in this post.)Grammar comes much later in the language journey. Listening and comprehension must come first. This sequence is crucial. Many students drop out, check out or give up in a linguistic endeavor because theyve been overwhelmed by too much grammar too early on.So believe it or not, for beginners, put down those grammar books. Try immersing yourself in videos, music, games and apps. You’ll learn much better.For videos, don’t forget to check out FluentU’s  amazing collection. FluentU takes authentic videos like music videos, movie trailers, interviews or inspirational talks and turns them into a language lesson. The FluentU  team performed magic on those videos and came up with interactive transcriptions for every clip.What does this mean for the language learner?  It means that not only do you get subtitles for the clips, every wordâ€"and I mean every wor dâ€"in the transcription has its own pop-up entry containing practically everything you need to know about that word. Cool, huh?So those are the five things you need to do. Fight every temptation to do their opposite and you’ll be on your way to learning that second, even third  language.Good luck!

4 Characteristics of the Hardest Languages to Learn

4 Characteristics of the Hardest Languages to Learn 4 Characteristics of the Hardest Languages to Learn Do you laugh in the face of a 1,000-piece puzzle?Do you crush your New Years resolutions by February?Do you think instruction manuals are for sissies?If youre the type of person who laughs when they hear something is difficult then learning a challenging language is right up your alley.Some languages are simply more difficult to learn than others. If youre studying (or plan to study) a challenging language, then youll want to know what kinds of obstacles you might come across. Put more plainly:What makes learning these languages so hard?Weve examined some of the hardest languages to learn in the world, and have come up with a list of four  characteristics shared by most of these languages.Study these shared characteristics before you study a hard language and youll find it easier to overcome the obstacles before you! Why Learn a Difficult LanguageWhy would anyone venture to learn a language thats considered hard? Do the pros outweigh the cons? Here are some reasons these languages are worth the effort:Global communication. We live in a time when we can communicate with almost anyone in any part of the world, and while there are some languages that are spoken more than others, they wont always be enough. Sometimes business or social issues press us into other areas of the globe. English, for instance, is spoken and taught globally but we cant and shouldnt always rely on just one language to communicate.Job opportunities. Whether it’s for international business or the Peace Corps, you could potentially find yourself in a situation where knowing a more exotic language is advantageous. Even if you never get to use the language, some employers hold high esteem for people who have a wider view of the world and experience with different types of people.Travel. The world is much bigger than your backyard. Travelings easy if you have a map and a guide and even easier if you can communicate with the locals.Diversity! Language is a living thing. Just like the plants a nd animals we share the planet with, languages can go extinct. No one really speaks Latin anymore, for example, and yet its been a basis for many European languages. To keep our diverse range of languages alive, its important to learn and use these languages.Some of the Hardest Languages to LearnEvery continent (except maybe Antarctica) has certain languages that are tougher to learn than others. These languages are as diverse and varied as the people who speak them. Heres a list of some of the hardest languages to learn:Asia: Tagalog (Philippines), Indonesian (Indonesian archipelago), Urdu (India and Pakistan), Korean (North and South Korea), Chinese (China)Africa: Afrikaans (South Africa), Arabic (across the Middle East and Africa)Europe: Welsh (Wales), Hungarian (Hungary), Gaelic (Scotland), Icelandic (Iceland), Norwegian (Norway)Native/Indigenous: Navajo (Southwestern US), Sami (Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia)So why are these languages more difficult to learn? Here are some of their characteristics and challenges.4 Characteristics of the Hardest Languages to LearnAll language learning takes time and dedication. But some languages require more effort to learn than others. What makes these particular languages so difficult to learn? Here are four factors that contribute to the increased difficulty.1. DialectsMany of the hardest languages to learn have dialects that make studying them a challenge. These dialects vary from having alternate pronunciations to using  completely different words.For example, Mandarin Chinese is spoken in multiple counties within China. However, within each individual county the language differs, sometimes marginally and sometimes by a lot.Another example is Norwegian. While the entire country speaks one language, the way Norwegians speak and write in the northern part of the country varies distinctly from the way they speak in the rest of the country. The northern dialect is called nynorsk, and something as simple as the word “milk” has two completely different spellings and pronunciations depending on where you are in the country.2. Limited Availability of ResourcesSome languages aren’t even written down, only spoken. It seems wild to consider that in some places written language doesnt exist, but it’s true. The idea of writing down language is not as ancient as it seems  and only came about during the rise of civilizations around the world.As a result, if a language is not widely used (and especially if its strictly oral) there may be a lack of interest or great difficulty in creating resources for it. This means you might have trouble finding dictionaries, courses, textbooks, teachers and other critical tools for learning a new language. Unless youre dedicated enough  to travel to the place where the language is spoken, things could get tricky.For example, Native American languages historically were only spoken languages, not written ones. As such, its been difficult to teach native languages to the next generation and other people because of the lack of written language resources.This is also true for the Sami languages in Scandinavia. And sadly, these indigenous languages are in danger of disappearing if no further effort goes into preserving them.3. Smaller Population of Living Native SpeakersA dead language is a language thats no longer spoken today. Latin is the best example of a dead language: Even though Latin was a base language for many of the Romantic languages, it no longer has any living native speakers. Yes, you can learn Latin at school or through an online program, but few people speak it conversationally or use it in their everyday life.Many indigenous languages are considered dead languages today, or are on their way to becoming dead languages because so few living people speak them.For example, at one point there were 12 or more Sami languages spoken across Nordic Europe. Now only nine remain.Even if a language isnt in danger of becoming a dead language , having a smaller population of speakers can make it difficult to learn. For example, Faroese and Icelandic are spoken pretty much exclusively by their island inhabitants. Thats because these places are fairly isolated, despite modern technology. Similarly, languages spoken by isolated groups of people in Africa are harder to learn.4. Location on the Language Family TreeLanguages belong in language families based on how they relate to each other. These families can include a wide range of languages that stem from one source, spoken back before humans migrated all over the globe. Together, these families form whats called the language tree. However, there isnt one definitive language that all humans once spoke. All over the world, various groups of humans developed languages that sounded and were structured differently. This is why Norwegian is so different from, say, Thai.For instance, native English speakers typically have a more difficult time learning Asian languages and vice ve rsa. Because Asian languages are not related to Germanic languages (which is where English originated), theyre more difficult for the corresponding speakers to master. Distance on the family tree leads to widely differing  sounds, grammar structure and syntax, word endings, verb conjugation and so on.It should be noted that some languages are simply innately more difficult for certain people to learn, requiring more effort in making the mouth and vocal cords produce the necessary sounds (i.e. pronunciation).Whatever challenges you might face, don’t let the difficulty of a language deter you from pursuing it. Anything can be learned if you put enough effort into it. There are many strategies to learning a language  thatll make it easier for you, no matter which language you choose!