Networking with Depression and Anxiety - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Networking with Depression and Anxiety - Introvert Whisperer Networking with Depression and Anxiety Career Attraction August 18, 2014 Dealing with Fear, Networking, Neuroscience No responses Go to top Networking is fun and exciting. It’s so great to meet new people right? Well… that is, unless you are battling other issues. Yes, we’re talking depression. Depression sucks, but you can work through it. When you’re battling depression, your body and mind know that something is wrong, and you may want to do something about it, but the symptoms don’t really take note of how they impact your life. People who suffer from anxiety issues may also experience great stress over getting out there and meeting new people. The simple thought of it can make them sick. When experiencing depression, people are likely to feel down, sad, hopeless or they may experience a loss of interest in things, including the things they once enjoyed. With such things happening, the thought of going out and being sociable seems anything but exciting. Not to mention the lack of energy you’re also likely experiencing. If you’re suffering from anxiety, you may even find yourself too physically ill to get out. Yet while all this is going on inside of you, life continues to go on around you. So what do you do? How do you meet the need to network to advance your budding (or burgeoning) business? You just need to put together the resources to help meet your needs: Know Your Battery Life Sometimes you may be able to get yourself out and about, but after a while of putting on that smile, your battery starts to drain, and you begin to shut down again. Your battery life is that amount of time you can be out and about. It’s how long you can “be on,” where your symptoms may still exist, but you can hold them back enough to get through. While you’re doing what you need to do to remove your symptoms, it helps to have a few tools to help you manage them until you fully get rid of them. Take care of yourself. Eat right, eating whether you have an appetite or not. Get enough rest, even if you’re having difficulty sleeping. Take time out to rest your body. It may be that all you can do is meditation or a breathing exercise, but do something to replenish your energy sources. All of these things can help increase your battery life. Set Your Networking Goal What is it that you want to or hope to accomplish through your networking? This stuff sounds hard, so why are you putting yourself through it? When you know the benefits you’re seeking, they can be used as a source of motivation and empowerment to help you get there. Before you go into an event, set a goal for that event. It can be meeting three doctors or getting your business card in the hands of four accountants. This way, when you walk in, you can focus on getting that done. You can allocate your time to ensure that this gets done before your battery drains. If you have time remaining, you can then decide to meet more people or give yourself a break and cut out earlier. Either way, you will have accomplished what you came out for. Set Targets Decide who you are looking to meet who can help you achieve these goals. This helps you eliminate the pressure of having to talk to everyone. Once you know who you’re looking for, then you can conserve your energy a bit instead of exerting too much in random conversation. Be Strategic About Which Events You Attend Happy hour at the new hottest spot in town may be nice if you’re feeling energetic and want to just hang out with whoever, but when you’re looking to meet with specific people, you need to get to a place that’s likely to have more of them. If you’re looking to grow your pharmaceutical sales business, then you want to meet with doctors who are prescribing the medications you sell. That’s not to say that meeting a nice VP of sales at a local bank couldn’t be helpful; it’s just that you have a higher likelihood of success in increasing sales by meeting doctors. So instead of going to the general networking meeting hosted by the local Chamber of Commerce, you want to attend the event hosted by the medical association. Generally, I wouldn’t refer to time spent getting to know any person as “a waste of your time.” However, when working within the limitations of your symptoms, I would call it mismanagement of your limited resources. Take Advantage of Smaller Events When there are fewer people to interact with, you’re able to be less all over the place and can focus on getting to know one or two people and making that connection. This doesn’t require you to go too far out of your comfort zone. You can even initiate these types of encounters by reaching out to the people you want to meet. You can call, but in this case, the more probable option may be to reach out in writing through email orâ€"even betterâ€"a mailed letter or note. You can send these to your desired contact and advise that you will be calling within a specified time frame. This commits you to making that call, but having sent that initial communication makes getting on the phone easier because you’re not making the ever-so-terrifying “cold call.” Get Involved When you become engaged in events and make commitments, you get yourself to the point where you have to get to the event. It’s more difficult to back out when others are depending on you. Take on small but important tasks that will cause you to have to go once you’ve decided to attend an event. It could be something as simple as bringing the name badges or being a friend’s ride. As your battery life gets longer, you can take on more consuming tasks, but don’t overexert yourself at first, because you don’t want to make the experience so overwhelming that it gives you more reason to back out in the future. Attract People When you don’t have much energy or desire or you’re just feeling down, you’re not really looking forward to going up and striking conversations with new people. The best thing you can do is make them come to you. Have something unique that makes people want to know more so that they come to talk to you. A friend of mine uses a cartoon sticker, which causes people to come up and ask what it’s all about. I write my organization name, “Living The Dream,” prominently on name tags, which makes people come up to ask me about it. Your attraction piece can be something unique to you or that pulls at the interest of the people you want to meet. Just make sure it’s placed to be seen. This one works great for people who experience anxiety over meeting people or are just shy. Make Information Available Your business cards are a great way to do this. In addition to your name, title and contact information, they can say things about you that prompt people to ask questions. You can add things like specialties or accomplishments on the backâ€"just three to five one-line bullet points that give people information about you and are great conversation boosters. Follow Up First You should always do follow-up to maintain that connection with the people you want to keep in your circle. When you follow up first, however, you can set the timing and pace of when the communications happen. You can set the tone and set things up for the best times for you. When you decide to meet with people, schedule meetings at times that promote the speed you need. When you schedule to meet with someone after hours, they may be rushing home or they may be free as a bird and ready to hang out longer than you can. Based on your battery life, you can make recommendations. A meeting at the office can last a few minutes or an hour depending on what the parties make of it. Meeting for coffee is shorter than meeting for lunch. Meeting for lunch is more time-limited than meeting for drinks afterwards. Look Great When you’re preparing to go to a networking event or a meeting with a new contact, it’s also important to get primped up. Looking good promotes feeling good. So put care into your appearanceâ€"not so much for others, but for your own sake. Stick with ensembles that you feel good in. Depression and anxiety can take a considerable amount of time to work through. Even when you’ve sought the help of a professional and are working your way out of it, you still have this life that you need to be a part of. So make use of the tools that are available to help you manage. What advice do you have for networking with depression and anxiety? Share your tips in the comments! This post originally appeared on Career Attraction. Image: Flickr Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.  Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Everything you Need to Know about Learning Spanish for Kids

Everything you Need to Know about Learning Spanish for Kids How to Go about Teaching Spanish to Kids ChaptersHow to Speak Spanish for Kids: With the Help of a TabletLearn Spanish for Children with CartoonsLearn Spanish at Home with Books for ChildrenTeach Children Spanish with a Private TutorHaving a Spanish-speaking FamilySpanish for Kids: Websites Designed for ChildrenSpanish is a language is spoken far beyond the borders of Spain. In fact it is an official language in 20 different countries, and it has a combined total of 440 million native speakers worldwide.It will therefore be of no surprise to hear that there are a whole host of reasons to learn Spanish. The Spanish you learn could be conversational so that you know a few words and phrases to be able to communicate with the locals in Argentina, Chile, or Peru.You might choose to study Spanish in a more grammatical way in order to take the test at the end of a Spanish program, or for use in your job, either at home or abroad.Whatever it is, improving your language skills in Spanish will be an undeniable asset in your professio nal and social life. If you are reading this and wondering if there is an age limit for learning Spanish, then rest assured that there isn't.However, the earlier you start, the easier it will be for you in the long run. In fact, if you are reading this and thinking that your children might benefit from learning Spanish, we are here to ask: why wait?!Teaching Spanish to kids is a great idea that will put them ahead of the curve both in their Spanish course at school, and at university if they choose to study languages.However, you will need to know how to go about doing this as the learning methods used by adults (Spanish immersion, doing a language course, going to a Spanish language school etc) differ slightly from how you should try to engage your kids in their Spanish language learning.So here are a number of different methods you can use to ensure that your little ones can speak the language of Cervantes as soon as possible! ¡Vámonos! (Let’s go!) TadeoSpanish Teacher 5.00 ( 2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterSpanish Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MartaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SharonSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TanyaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Jose manuelSpanish Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHow to Speak Spanish for Kids: With the Help of a TabletChildren nowadays are very quick to familiarise themselves with touchscreens, smartphones, and tablets. Rather than have them play fruit ninja or angry birds, you could let them learn more about Spanish while having fun.As a new learner,  there are plenty of free Spanish resources to help your child to learn to speak their new language quickly.In the modern age, i f you want your child to learn to speak Spanish, you really have no excuse. While it's unlikely that they'll gain fluency using these particular resources, there are websites where you learn Spanish online and you can choose different language courses depending on your level.For example, the Fun Spanish app is aimed at children between 3 and 10 years old and includes a number of different games for teaching children how to read, spell, and write in Spanish. It is a good app for them to be introduced to the alphabet, as well as some basic verbs.Learning Spanish for kids can be done on a tablet! (Source: pixabay.com)Of course, there are plenty of free websites with games for teaching children how to speak Spanish.If your child likes teddy bears, you could opt for the Little Pim method which comes with a really cute panda toy, a school bag, and different ways to learn Spanish. This solution is based on repetition and includes DVDs for learning Spanish words. These kinds of Spanish clas ses near me can make speaking Spanish fun.Learn Spanish for Children with CartoonsCartoons shouldn’t be avoided at all costs! In fact, foreign language cartoons can be great ways to give parents some respite while also teaching the children some basic Spanish phrases, including the correct pronunciation of those phrases.Watching cartoons in their second language is a great way to show them new vocabulary alongside images while they train their ear to listening to Spanish.Here are some cartoons your child could watch in Spanish:Mundo ZambaDora the Explorer: This show is even more effective if you watch the Spanish version where Dora will speak mostly in Spanish while teaching them English vocabulary, too.Bob el TrenPocoyóCaillou, the four-year-old boy with a big imagination.While cartoons won’t be enough to teach a child Spanish on their own, they’re still a useful tool that will help them pick up some Spanish! It’s up to you to give them the daily language practice they’l l need on a daily basis in order to become fluent in Spanish.They won't even know they are studying Spanish, and the cartoons could act as a form of having free lessons.Whilst they won't be enough to have dreams in Spanish, they can definitely set your child on their way to eventual fluency! TadeoSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnnickSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterSpanish Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (8) £90/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MartaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (6) £22/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SharonSpanish Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TanyaSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Jose manuelSpanish Teacher £14/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsLearn Spanish at Home with Books for ChildrenIt’s well known that children love stories, especially before they go to bed. Learning Spanish can be made easier by using fun books with colourful pictures.  If your child loves reading, why not get them books in Spanish so that they can practise reading themselves once they’re old enough?A bedtime story could be great for children learning Spanish. (Source: Victor)You can get books that are fully in Spanish or bilingual books (which we recommend when they first start reading around ages 5 or 6).Here are a few books in Spanish that children can read before they go to bed:Buenas noches GorilaSweet Dreams/Dulces SueñosWhere’s the Baby/ ¿Donde está el bebé? ¡Guau, guau! (A textile book with pages of animals and different materials).Conejo y sombrero (a fun story about a rabbit which you should definitely read aloud!)You can also buy the Spanish versions of their favourite stories and movies like Finding Nemo, for example.  Reading is also a great way for them to learn words by heart as well as developing their brains in time for s chool!Any beginner starting out will need a plan for learning Spanish. When it comes to kids, books, songs, and their favourite films will all feature prominently in this plan.Teach Children Spanish with a Private TutorFor curious and motivated children who really want to learn Spanish, getting them a private Spanish teacher to work with them on their Spanish is a great idea.There are also specialist centres and schools for very young children where they can learn Spanish in a group while they play or take one on one private tutorials.There are a number of benefits to going to a group class: they can make new friends, have fun, and they won’t be intimidated by having their very own tutor.Any guide for beginners learning Spanish will often feature Spanish tutors as a good way of learning, and this is the same for kids. Their individual approach means that kids don't get left behind as can sometimes be the case in a classroom environment.Having a Spanish-speaking FamilyHaving a Span ish-speaking parent is really useful.  Families with a Spanish-speaking heritage often have either a mother or a father that were born in a Spanish-speaking country. If both parents speak Spanish, however, they should make sure that one parents focuses on speaking to the child in English to make sure they pick up the language before school.If you have Spanish-speaking family members, make sure they speak frequently to the children in Spanish. (Source: pixabay.com)Studies on language acquisition have shown that you don’t need to wait until you’ve learned your mother tongue before you can learn a second native language. Learning Spanish can therefore be done alongside learning English!If throughout the day, the child listens to both English and Spanish, they’ll learn to interact naturally in both languages.  This will also make them more comfortable in both languages which brings many benefits later on in their studies (especially if they end up working in tourism, international business, translation, or teaching, for example).There's no exact answer to how long it takes to learn Spanish, but if a child is exposed to the language from a young age, they will learn a lot faster than if they waited until they had Spanish lessons at school.Learning Spanish from a Young Age with the Help of their GrandparentsWhen a family has Hispanic roots, there are often opportunities to visit Spanish-speaking countries.  This is especially true if the grandparents still live such a country.You’ll have an even better reason to visit your parents and they’ll definitely want to see their grandchildren as often as they can. They could even spend summers making Spanish-speaking friends on the beach or by the pool, for example.You can also complement their language learning with a few extra private tutorials while they’re on vacation, too.  This is a great way to get the most out of immersing them in a Spanish-speaking culture while reinforcing their knowledge of Spanish gr ammar which can fall by the wayside if they’re only practising speaking every day.There are also language schools and summer camps that children can attend in Spanish-speaking countries where they’ll practice their Spanish while playing and doing other enriching activities.Spanish for Kids: Websites Designed for ChildrenFor tech-savvy parents who want to teach their child Spanish, there are plenty of options available on the world wide web.  The website Petralingua, for example, offers 21 different lessons on the basics of Spanish as well as dozens of songs, 80 videos, 140 exercises, a dictionary of words they should know, and much more.The site also has Spanish learning kits for children that include booklets and CDs for children to learn Spanish at their own pace.Dinolingo has books, DVDs, and online Spanish lessons for children as well as their famous dinosaur mascot.  This Spanish resource is for younger children aged from 2 to 7 and includes 5 DVDs, 150 flashcards, as well as posters you can decorate their rooms with.  It allows children to learn basic everyday Spanish vocabulary as well as understand simple Spanish words and expressions.There are so many ways to teach children Spanish nowadays. Teaching a child Spanish at home can give them a huge advantage over other children.Under the right guidance, children will be happy to work on their Spanish. (Source: pixabay.com)For those who don’t have any Spanish speakers at home, the most important thing to do is ensure that your child remains motivated. You can encourage them and reward them with games and make sure that their language-learning experience is engaging and enjoyable.No matter what age you are, all beginners need to know how to go about learning Spanish. When it comes to children, the amount of resources available online are a great way to start them off.These resources, when coupled with the other learning methods that we have mentioned in this article, will provide an effective way to g et children on the right track to becoming fluent in Spanish.

Essay Writing in 9 Easy Steps

Essay Writing in 9 Easy Steps Follow these steps to write a successful essay. Step 1:Choose a purpose Which question will you answer with your essay? The question you attempt to answer will determine your purpose. What isn’t what it appears to be? Purpose = to informWhat situation needs to change? Purpose = to persuadeHow have I been wronged? Purpose = to confide Step 2: Select a role Decide how you will approach your topic.Will you inform the reader as a pundit or a philosopher? Will you persuade the reader as an enthusiast, a scold, or a Devil’s advocate? Will you confide in the reader as a confidant? Will you entertain the reader with a story as a raconteur? Or will you amuse the reader by informing, persuading or confiding in the reader in an ironic or absurd way as a jester does? Pundit: The pundit teaches us something by drawing on his or her knowledge of or expertise on a topic. Philosopher: A philosopher searches for knowledge or meaning by asking questions about and proposing solutions to the moral problems of life.Enthusiast: The enthusiast stirs up enthusiasm on a topic in the face of apathy or weak support.Scold: A scold is a faultfinder. He or she will criticize, reproach, quarrel and complain about someone or something. A scold does so with the hope that criticism will eventually result in reform.Devil’s advocate: A Devil’s advocate takes the contrary point of view to anything and everything. By trying to prove the opposite of a widely accepted belief, he or she helps us to re-examine that belief so we might articulate it more clearly, or look on it in a fresh light. Confidant: A confidant reveals his or her feelings on a topic. By articulating hidden emotions, we discover that all of our secrets are essentially the same.Raconteur: A raconteur te lls a story to entertain or inform. He or she personalizes problems making them more accessible to others. Jester: A jester makes light of things the world takes seriously. He or she points out the ridiculous to relieve pent up anxiety through laughter. Step 3: Generate interest in your topic Select a strategy for generating interest in your topic. ask a questionintroduce a surprising fact or statisticquote an authorityshare an anecdoteoutline an opposing view Here are some kick-ass ways to start an essay. Step 4: Define and limit your topic Make sure that you define your terms and indicate what is not covered by your topic. This will help to keep your topic focused. For example, “An abortion is the deliberate termination of a pregnancy. It is different from a miscarriage, which is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy before term.” Step 5:State your thesis Develop a clear and concise main idea in the form of a thesis statement. A thesis statement is a sentence that identifies the purpose of the essay. It usually appears at the end of the introductory paragraph and serves as the organizing principle of the essay. Thesis statements can be either strong or weak. A strong thesis statement makes a claim and summarizes support for it: X is Y because A, B, and C; or X should be Y because A, B, and C. A weak thesis statement is self-conscious in that it makes reference to either the essay in which it appears or to the essayist writing it. Weak theses often follow this formula: In this essay, I will show that X is Y because A, B, and C. Avoid weak thesis statements. Step 6: Organize your essay Arrange your body paragraphs so that they develop the topics in the same order as they are outlined in your thesis statement. This will give your essay structural cohesion. Arrange your arguments from strongest to weakest or weakest to strongest. Write an outline of your essay to help you arrange and organize your ideas. Organize your essay into a 5 paragraph hamburger essay Step 7: Develop your paragraphs Each paragraph should be developed using a single development method. When you change methods, change paragraphs. Example: The example method is the simplest method of development. Each sentence provides examples to support the controlling idea in the topic sentence of the paragraph.Cause and effect: Like the example method, the topic sentence identifies a cause, and each sentence thereafter provides examples of effects. Alternatively, the topic sentence identifies the result, and each subsequent sentence lists the causes for it.Comparison by criterion: A paragraph developed using comparison by criterion involves comparing items one criterion at a time. For example, you might describe the size of item 1 and the size of item 2, shape of item 1 and the shape of item 2, the price of item 1 and the price of item 2, etc.Comparison by item: A paragraph developed using comparison by item involves describing item 1 using a variety or criteria, like size, shape, and price, etc., before describing item 2 in terms the same criteria of size, shape, and price, etc.Narration: A paragraph developed by narratio n involves a description of a series of events that happened in the past in the sequence in which they occurred.Process analysis: A paragraph developed by process analysis describes a repeatable series of steps using words like first, next, etc.Description: When you are writing about an object or scene and want to consider its physical or spatial characteristics, you will want to compose a paragraph of descriptive details. Introduce details in a sequence, moving from top to bottom, left to right, center to periphery, large to small, east to west, and so on. Be systematic.Classification: A paragraph developed by classification analyzes the components of an item or an idea.Definition: When you develop a paragraph by definition, you will identify a class and then list differentiating characteristics. Step 8: Build cohesion with transition words Use the connective words below to show the relationship of ideas from one sentence or paragraph to the next. Exemplification: to illustrate, for instance, for exampleEmphasis: in fact, most significantly, specifically, in particularAddition: furthermore, moreover, in additionContrast: although, however, even so, nevertheless, conversely, yetQualification: for the most part, generally, often, of courseSequence: first, second, third, next, subsequentlyConclusion: in conclusion, to conclude, finally, to sum up Step 9: Develop a conclusion Restate your thesis by rewording or rearranging the words in your thesis. This will remind the reader what you have been trying to achieve. Include a concrete suggestion. What should the reader do now? Finally, make a prediction about the benefits of adopting your proposal. What will happen if enough people accept your point of view? How will things change? Use the Virtual Writing Tutors 100% free essay checker.Become a member to gain access to the essay outliner and other cool free tools. Please follow and like us:

10 Study Skills That Will Help You Achieve Academic Success

10 Study Skills That Will Help You Achieve Academic Success Long term academic success depends on solid study skills. What you do today will have an impact on your immediate understanding and is also important for your ongoing knowledge. The skills and understanding you acquire today will build the foundation of success for tomorrow. There are many surefire study skills that are certain to boost your long term academic success, including: Finding The Perfect Space Preparing the area where you'll study is crucial to long term academic success. Find a place that is quiet, free of distractions, and offers a comfortable place to work. Gathering Materials Before You Start Take a few minutes to assess what you plan on studying and then gather all the necessary materials. If you have to break from your studying to find a book, calculator, or set of notes you will likely loose your focus and waste precious studying time. Planning Your Work Having a weekly study schedule is a great way to ensure you spend plenty of time on each subject area. Find regular blocks of time, each week, that can be dedicated to studying. Use these blocks of time wisely by prioritizing which subject areas require the most time each week. Being Patient It can take time to learn new skills and master new concepts. Be patient with your learning and information retention. Repeated practice and review can help cement new concepts and propel you toward mastery. Using Your Notes Make sure you are taking notes during your classes that you can refer to once you start studying. It is hard to remember everything that is covered in class and taking notes will help you reconnect with the days in-class learning. Note taking is a skill. If you could use some help learning the best way to take notes the tutors at Huntington Learning Centers can help. You will benefit from personalized sessions that teach efficient note taking strategies. Starting Early Cramming rarely works. Waiting until the last minute to start studying may result in temporary understanding but will do very little to impact overall knowledge. Plan ahead to ensure you have plenty of time to study before exam day. EliminatingDistractions Turn your cell phone off, log off of social media sites, and fully connect with your studying. Its ok to go offline during these sessions because you want to ensure you can focus completely on the subject you are studying. TakingA Break If you plan to study for an extended period of time make sure you find time to take a few breaks. Leaving the books behind for a short walk, snack, or brief conversation will help recharge your batteries to finish the study session strong. DiscoveringWhat Works For You Each student is different. What works for others may not be what is best for you. The most important part of studying isknowing what works for you and sticking to your plan. The professionals at Huntington Learning Centers can work with you to help discover which strategies work best for your learning style. These personalized sessions will transform your studying and can help ensure long term academic success. PreparingYour Body And Mind In order to get the most out of our your study sessions you should pay attention to both your body and your mind. Being hungry or tired can affect your study habits and may prevent you from learning. Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep at night and are eating a balanceddiet. Stay away from sugary snacks and caffeine to ensure mentalacuity. The tutoring professionals at Huntington Learning Centers are specially trained to help you improve your study skills. What are your studying strengths? What could use improvement?

7 Ways to Take a Bite Out of the Intermediate Language Level

7 Ways to Take a Bite Out of the Intermediate Language Level 7 Ways to Take a Bite Out of the Intermediate Language Level The sweet center of language progress isnt always all its cracked up to be.Thats not to say theres anything wrong with the middle.Some might even say its the best part of a smore or a sandwich cookie.But if youre stuck at the center level of language proficiency, chances are youre eager to get out of that messy middle once and for all.Regardless of what language youre studying, as an intermediate learner, there are certain challenges youll face.Whether youre an intermediate Spanish learner  or an intermediate German learner, the road ahead probably looks quite similarand sometimes quite daunting.But this means that once youve wised up to what intermediate language proficiency is like, what setbacks youll face and what youll need to do to get out of it, you can wiggle your way out of the middle and on towards advanced study.But before we look at ways to do that, lets see how you can identify whether youre an intermediate learner in the first place. What Is Intermediate Level Languag e Proficiency?If youre unsure of what proficiency level youre at, the  ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines  can help you determine it.You can also get a good general idea of whether youre at an intermediate level by considering some basic questions.Can you speak and write on familiar topics? For instance, if you were asked to write a paragraph on your favorite hobby in your target language, could you do it? If not, you might not be at an intermediate level yet. On the other hand, if you can speak on the spot about much more complex topics, you may already be advanced.Can you put together previous learning to create new meaning?  If you rely on specific words and phrases youve memorized, youre probably still a beginning learner. However, if you can put together words to create new meaning, youve probably reached the intermediate level.Can you put together sentences? If so (and if applicable to the language youre learning), what verb tense do you use? Intermediate learners can put together b asic sentences but usually use present tense verbs.What Challenges Do Intermediate Language Learners Encounter?If youre at an intermediate level, youve probably already faced some of the challenges below. Dont feel discouraged, however, as identifying these problems now will help you start to work on fixing them!Insufficient vocabulary.  While intermediate language learners have a good amount of basic, generic vocabulary, they still lack more specialized terms, and this can make clear communication difficult.Inability to use language in native-level contexts. Intermediate language learners often struggle to apply book learning to real-life situations, so they struggle when they try to watch authentic media or interact with native speakers.Lingering grammar issues.  Whether a grammar rule was learned incorrectly or simply not learned thoroughly enough, grammar questions or misinterpretations often crop up and hinder intermediate learners overall fluency.Difficulty expressing complex ideas.  While intermediate learners can cover basic ideas, they struggle to express complex ideas. This is due in part to limited vocabulary and lingering grammar issues.Lack of confidence. Unlike beginners,  many intermediate learners are advanced enough to be acutely aware of their own limitations, and this hampers their confidence. Intermediate learners have acquired some valuable skills, but they also know that theres a lot they dont know. Sadly, this can slow down the learning process by making learners more hesitant to use the skills they do have!Now were going to look at how you can take the awesome intermediate skills youve already acquired and apply them to moving up to the advanced level.7 Ways to Take a Bite Out of the Intermediate Language Level1. Take lessons that target your specific weaknessesPursuing  intermediate language lessons  will address many of the main setbacks intermediate learners face.There are a wide variety of courses available online or in personâ€"the important thing is to make sure you find one that caters specifically to the intermediate level and specifically to your needs. Some may require you to complete an assessment first to ensure theyre an appropriate level for you. If a course doesnt require this, you might want to ask to see the lesson plan or syllabus to ensure the topics that will be covered are right for you.Otherwise, you might consider taking private lessons. Private lessons may be especially helpful at an intermediate level, as they allow you the flexibility to target material and topics youre struggling with. There may be tutors available in your area, or you can find one though online services.coLanguage is a great resource for finding a qualified, pre-screened private tutor to teach you online at the intermediate level. They use material and testing based on the CEFR levels, and youll get regular feedback pertaining to your progress. They currently offer lessons for 28 different languages.If youre interested in finding a tutor near you, Wyzant can help you locate the perfect qualified teacher close to home. You can browse all sorts of info on teacher profiles like hourly rates, how far theyre willing to drive to meet with you and even feedback left by students.Personalized, targeted lessons can help build your vocabulary and fix lingering grammar issues. In turn, they can help improve your confidence. After all, knowing more vocabulary and perfecting your grammar are huge confidence boosters.2. Use authentic mediaUsing authentic media is an ideal way to address an inability to understand language in native-level contexts. After all, you can work on understanding native speech without the intimidation factor of speaking to a native speaker.The problem with using authentic media at the intermediate level is that additional support is often needed. If youre already working with a language teacher, you may want to ask them to integrate more authentic material into your lessons.If you prefer an interactive online course to a live teacher, or if you just want a streamlined resource for real-life language practice,  FluentU is a great way to kill two birds with one stone. It provides a flexible course for intermediate learners and is based around authentic content.FluentU uses authentic, real-world videos like movie trailers, music videos, news and more. However, you wont be in over your head, since supportive learning materials are included. Each video is captioned and the captions are annotated, giving you easy access to a words definition, example sentences and an associated image. You can even click any word to see how its used in other videos.FluentU offers two different levels of learning for intermediates, but its also highly flexible and customizable. You select your videos and your pace, and FluentU keeps track of all the words you know for a 100% personalized learning experience.Use  FluentU online  or  download the FluentU app for iOS or Android devices.3. Spe ak oftenOne of the main reasons that intermediate students often lack confidence is that they simply dont have enough practice. The more you speak, the more confident youll get. Not only that, youll also find holes in your vocabulary (which youll then be able to fill) and become increasingly comfortable communicating complex ideas.To get your speaking time in, try speaking with friends who are also studying your target language. Better yet, interact with a native speaker you know, or find one through language exchange sites like Languing or HelloTalk.Interacting with a native speaker will also improve your ability to understand authentic language, so its a win on all counts.4. Teach others what you knowTeaching can help reinforce what youve learned, which will likely improve lingering grammar issues and help build your confidence. If you struggle with a particular conjugation or grammar rule, go over it, then try to explain it to someone else.To do this, it might help to find someon e whos a little behind you in learning the language. This way, you wont be in the position of having to explain something thats too advanced for you. You could even offer your services as a tutor for beginning students.LingQ is a language learning system and app that gives access to community forums where users can ask questions, giving you the opportunity to chime in with advice or insight on topics youre already familiar with. Since LingQ also focuses on learning with authentic content found on the web, its also another great resource for expanding your understanding of a language as its used by natives.5. Read a novelOnce youre an intermediate student, you know enough words and grammar that you can likely understand a novel, even if you struggle at times. Persevering through any struggles to complete your novel of choice will help you build your vocabulary and your confidence.You can find current books in almost any language on  Amazon. The Harry Potter series is a particularly g ood choice since its available in many languages and wont be too advanced for most intermediate students. Better still, you may already know the plot, so you dont have to worry too much about getting lost.Another good option is  Project Gutenberg, which offers free online books that are in the public domain in a variety of different languages. Childrens books are a good choice for intermediate students because they arent too complicated. You might also try reading classic works in your target language to increase your understanding of both language and culture.6. Jot down common and critical wordsWhether youre reading or listening to authentic media, youll probably encounter several words you dont already know. Thats okayâ€"it happens to most people even in their native language!Most words you can guess the meaning of or deduce based on context. Others, however, require a little more focus. There are some words that youll want to jot down, look up and study.Do you frequently encount er the same word that youve not yet learned? If so, thats a good cue to jot down the word and look it up. Does the meaning of one particular word seem critical to the overall meaning of a sentence? Thats another good word to jot down. If you focus on the most frequently used and/or critical words, youll be learning some particularly valuable vocabulary, and that will tend to be the vocabulary that helps you move forward the fastest.7. Think in your target languageWhenever you have a couple minutes to spare, try thinking about whatever you were already thinking about in your target language. When you realize you dont have the words you need to think about what you want, learn those words. Doing this will improve your confidence, your vocabulary and your ability to communicate complex ideas. Plus, it takes virtually no time out of your schedule.Its time to get out of the middle.With these tips and tricks, you can begin the climb towards advanced proficiency!

Private Irvine English Tutor 4 Apps to Improve Spelling

Private Irvine English Tutor 4 Apps to Improve Spelling Tips From a Private Irvine English Tutor: 4 Apps to Improve Spelling Tips From a Private Irvine English Tutor: 4 Apps to Improve Spelling Many students are tempted to forgo their spelling skills with the advent of programs such as ‘spell check’. However, it’s incredibly important to be able to spell at any age and this valuable skill starts in the preschool years. Because most preschoolers would rather be outdoors playing after school, its essential that any supplemental material to help them learn to spell is fun, interactive, and can hold their young attention spans. Additionally, its great for parents to have access to spelling apps that are completely free of charge. These apps offer just that to their users. They are engaging and interactive for the young student but wont break the bank for mom and dad. Although most of these apps have in-app purchases available, students can learn a ton from the free versions improve your childs spelling abilities with the help of a private Irvine tutor. 1. SpellingCity One of the best ways to get a kid to learn about spelling is to make it fun. SpellingCity offers several games within the app; some offered only to premium members, that can make this topic more exciting. Students can work with word lists including words that sound alike and compound words. Spelling TestMe reads the word aloud and uses it in a sentence; students are allowed to work at their pace to avoid frustration.  HangMouse is similar to the game of Hangman and allows users to practice spelling using one of our favorite traditional games. Missing Letter allows students, especially those of a young age, to attempt to figure out which letter is missing in a word.  Spelling in Standard American English can be tough because a lot of the rules dont make sense to a young learner. Because memorization is so important to spell words correctly, its essential to keep a student’s attention and make this long term activity fun and engaging (READ: 5 Reasons Why Students Should Blog). 2. Spelling Notebook This app allows students to create their own customized list of words they need to practice. This is a great option for students who are given a specific spelling list from their classroom teacher. Spelling Notebook allows users to hear the word without seeing it if it fits their particular learning style. This app also provides its own dictionary of words to be learned so that students dont accidentally type in a word incorrectly.  Although this app is relatively simple, sometimes simplicity is one of the best ways to work on a subject where practice makes perfect.  Although the initial app is free, there are in app purchases available. 3. ABC Spelling Magic (free) This spelling app helps users learn the sounds of certain letters as well as the spelling of words. There are two levels available so that students can continue to use the app as they progress. In the first level, users will have a limited alphabet in which they can build a simple word spelled correctly. The second level offers students the opportunity to use the entire alphabet to build words. This app focuses on phonetic sounds and short vowel words.  This is a good app for students who want a more interactive experience and who are engaged enough to create their own words from scratch (READ: 5 Tips for Success in English Class). 4. Phonics Tic-Tac-Toe Interactive Game (free) Kids of many generations enjoy playing tic-tac-toe so why not turn this game into a way of learning how to spell. This app does just that. Students can learn about vowel sounds and syllables while playing this interactive game that will allow them to stay more interested in spelling. This app offers a fast-paced environment to help students keep up with the ever fast-paced classroom and help them eventually recall how to spell words quicker. Writing and reading are two of the most important skills for every student. Make sure your child is performing at the highest level with the help of a private Irvine English tutor. Call us today for more information! All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

5 Ways to Make New Friends as a Transfer Student

5 Ways to Make New Friends as a Transfer Student 5 Ways to Make New Friends as a Transfer Student 5 Ways to Make New Friends as a Transfer Student Many students transfer from one school to another throughout the year. This will often happen in the college environment when a student decides they would like to major in something the original university doesnt offer or if they simply arent enjoying the environment. Although college students will have a choice in the matter, high school students may switch schools simply because their parents have moved from one town to another. As a transfer student, it’s much easier if they can make new friends as quickly as possible. Although there will also be academic adjustments, students who have fast friends will often feel more confident, thus making them better students overall. 1 Join a study group Students who join a study group, whether in high school or college, will have the opportunity to make several new friends. You will all have at least one thing in common: you want to pass that next exam. Study groups are an easy way to join the school’s social environment because most of the groups are happy to have new people as long as that person is studious and contributes to the group. Additionally, in all honesty most study groups end up hanging around and drinking coffee after the assignments have been completed. New students will have a chance to improve both social and academic skills in such a situation. 2 Join an organization or club Both high schools and colleges have organizations and clubs that meet after classes are finished. This is a great way to start meeting acquaintances and friends who share similar interests. Although these clubs serve an academic or volunteer purpose, they are highly social by nature and require a good amount of collaboration and social interaction. Students who simply want to make friends may consider joining the club that is the most social and requires the largest amount of group work or conversation (READ: Going Back to College: A Mature Students Checklist). 3 Make one or two good friends Many students will have had a dozen friends at their old school and are overwhelmed with the thought of making a dozen new friends straight away. Its good to start out by making one or two good friends. In this situation, you can then make friends with their friends and so on. Its better not to get overly frustrated in the beginning, just focus on finding one or two nice people to make the day easier and more fun (READ: The Lowdown on Standardized Testing). 4 Join an after school activity Students in high school can consider joining an after school activity in addition to a club or organization. This could include anything from sports to volunteer activities. Some of these after school activities may be related to the school and others will not. Either way, they are a great way to be able to get to know some new people outside of the classroom environment. Many students adjusting to the rigorous academic issues presented by starting at a new school may find it hard to socialize on campus or at school, thus after school activities can be a great alternative (READ: The Dynamic, Not Dreaded, Group Project). 5 Take an elective class that has a social element In addition to clubs and after-school activities, students can also take an elective with a social element. Some electives, such as art classes, allow students to collaborate and have conversations about the projects at hand. These types of interactive classes can be a ton of fun and allow students to make new friends while enjoying an educational environment where they do more than simply listen and take notes. Music classes, computer arts classes, and organized sports are all highly social and require a lot of interaction. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.