Measuring A High School With Graduates Successes

Measuring A High School With Graduates Successes Some high school students will now be able to view how well their schools graduates are doing in college, according to The Washington Post. The National Student Clearing House has created a database with information from over 93 million college students and over 3,300 colleges across the nation. This information allows The National Student Clearing House to present some high schools statistics on their graduates college success. The Washington Post published the statistics of one of the schools involved in the study. The school's 2004 graduating class was used to analyze results. 23.8% of students graduated from college; 15% were still attending college; 28.5% dropped out of college; 3% returned to college after dropping out, and 29.4% of students were not in the database. High School administrators can use this data to view the records of individual students. These high school administrators can see the classes that their most successful graduates took while in high school. Over 76% of high school students who scored a 3 or higher (a passing grade) an AP exam graduated from college. Also, 59.4% of students who took an AP exam and received a 2 or lower (a failing grade), which is still a much higher statistic than the 24.7% college graduation rate for students who did not take an AP exam. These numbers are not representative of all high schools. They only pertain to the unnamed high school that article cited. However, these numbers are likely to be very similar to most high schools statistics through The National Student Clearing House. This is very valuable data to high school administrators because they can build their curriculum around what helps students succeed in college. Also, these numbers can allow high school administrators to encourage students to take AP classes. Administrators could cut classes that are not helping students and spend more for the beneficial classes. Also, high school students can locate the specific classes that have been the most beneficial for previous students.

ACT Website Online ACT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

ACT Website Online ACT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace ACT, also known as American College Testing is the assessment test for high school students who want to gain admission in the colleges and universities in the United States. During the admission process for a student into a college, ACT scores help the colleges in recognizing the academic knowledge of the student. In order to be pay the fee for ACT there are different methods. However, the fastest method is the online method where students can create an account for free on the ACT website and can check out all the further information regarding paying the fees, instructions for the test etc. ACT website is the official student website where lots of information is given regarding the test pattern, time availability, test dates etc. The official ACT student website is www.actstudent.org. In this website, students can look at some of the practice questions for ACT exam, and can find out lots of information regarding the test format, test prices etc. In order to pay the fee for the ACT test, students can first register online for free on ACT official website and can create their account and complete the registration process by simply following the instructions shown on the website. ACT exam is given including and without including the Writing section. So students who prefer to get their scores including the Writing section can pay few additional dollars including the usual test fee. Therefore, students can look at different options available to them by registering on the website.

Online Verb Phrase Definition Tutors Tutorpace

Online Verb Phrase Definition Tutors Tutorpace Verbs are the words which define the action in the sentence such as walking, singing, dancing, talking, eating and may more. Verb phrase in the part or phrase in the sentence which contains directly or indirectly words of the verb. Mention here are some examples of verb phrases in different sentences. She was walking slowly to her class. He should think before speaking his speech. Anna might eat her pie right now. She must go to her music class today at 5 PM. My mother is making all of us delicious lunch. You have told about the birthday part to all your classmates in the school. Ben is writing his homework from the past two days. The pet was not happy to learn the new skills yesterday. Walking on snow, we had so much fun last winter. It takes two children to play the board games. Everyone like to sing songs once a while. The party at Steves house was very good, everybody could not stop dancing. Open the window to let the fresh air inside. Finally they can afford to buy a brand new car. I like talking long walk under the bright summer skies. She like to run on open fields. The monkey watched the two cats fight over a rat. Texting on the phone is very common in todays world. Words were spoken well by everyone. Ted like to eat a lot, he doesnt miss a meal ever. Those boys are not trying very hard to win the match on Saturday.

Is Life Coaching Regulated

Is Life Coaching Regulated Life Coaching Regulations ChaptersLife Coaching RequirementsLife Coach Certification Life Coaching CredentialsFinding a CoachWhat Happens During a Life Coaching Session?Feeling Comfortable With a CoachA life coach is someone who aims to help and empower others to make, meet and exceed personal and professional goals. This can include achieving promotion in the workplace, becoming happy and fulfilled in your relationships, or exploring your potential and achieving other ambitions.Using techniques based on psychological principles and their own intuition, life coaches provide their clients with the tools to face difficult situations and push past any emotional barriers that might be stopping them from achieving their goals.Life coaching is about objectivity and empowerment; they can’t do something for you but they can help you do it for yourself.Life coaching is a natural career choice for many, and a second career choice for some. It’s a career that requires compassion, good listening skills and the abilit y to creatively problem solve. There are no legal standards required to become a life coach, but certification is available through the International Coach Federation (ICF).A coach can provide you with tools that can improve your life Photo Source: UnsplashLife Coach CertificationThis provides a set of universal standards and experience that coaches should achieve. Although not legally mandated, it’s the closest thing the industry has to legal requirements.Certification is offered through the International Coach Federation (ICF), a membership organisation of trained coaches. ICF sets standards for coaches provides independent certification and accredits programs that deliver coach-specific training.Getting certified gives life coaches an advantage over those who don’t, as many clients prefer to work with someone who is certified. To get certified by ICF, a life coach must complete the following at an ICF-accredited coach training program:Coach skills trainingMentor coachingEthic s trainingSession observationFinal examThere are many organisations that purport to offer life coaching certification, but ICF is one of the only legitimate credentialing bodies. AntonellaLife coaching Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors IsamLife coaching Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyLife coaching Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr. UzomaLife coaching Teacher 5.00 (4) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MicheleLife coaching Teacher 4.73 (7) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PimmiLife coaching Teacher 5.00 (10) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliverLife coaching Teacher 4.33 (4) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JennaLife coaching Teacher 4.80 (5) £85/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsLife Coaching CredentialsICF offers three levels of coach credentials:Associate Certified Coach: Achieving this level requires at least 60 hours of train ing and 100 hours of coaching experience.Professional Certified Coach: This credential requires at least 125 hours of training and 500 hours of coaching experience.Master Certified Coach: The highest credential requires at least 200 hours of training and 2,500 hours of coaching experience.ICF certification is not exclusive to life coaches and is available to anyone pursuing a career in any type of personal coaching.Finding a CoachThere's a huge variance in the effectiveness of professional coaches and while life coaching remains unregulated you can still follow some general rules to find a great coach.  Get recommendations from people you know well and trust. Has a friend had a great experience with a coach? Then begin there. But ask your friend if the coach paid them for the referral. That can be common practice. A reputable coach will always tell you, up front, if they paid for your referral.  Look for coaches certified by ICF. Yes, there are good coaches who aren't certified by these organisations, but increasingly, better coaches are getting these certifications, because they are a stamp of approval from a trusted source.  Only work with coaches who use written coaching agreements. Your agreement should give you an idea of what to expect and will likely reflect the code of ethics followed by that coach.Look for coaches who have joined a professional organisation, such as the ICF, that requires members to sign a code of ethics. Of course, unethical coaches can sign codes, but if the coach is upfront about the ethical code they are bound by, then you at least have something with which to measure their behaviour. The good news is that these organisations have online coach directories of their members.  Work with coaches who have a substantial amount of coach-specific training.  Most genuine coaches have had coach training, including the ones who've been practising for decades. The ICF only allows coaches with at least 60 hours of coach-specific training to j oin their organisation, so that's a good number to keep in mind, but their entry-level certification requires 100 hours. You should have an informal meeting with your coach before you start working with them. (Source: burst.shopify.com)What Happens During a Life Coaching Session?If you do decide to get a life coach it’s good to know what to expect. Life coaching sessions typically last between 45 minutes and 60 minutes (depending on the coach you choose). Sessions are conducted over the phone, face to face, over email, via Skype or even through instant messaging.During the session, your life coach will ask you several questions, such as what you want to get out of life, what areas you want to change and where you see yourself ending up. Although a life coach will work with you, it is ultimately up to you to reflect upon certain ideas or to challenge your own perspective to help you move forward to achieve your goals. You will never be forced to make any decisions you don't feel co mfortable with and all sessions will be confidential, allowing you to explore your thoughts and feelings privately.Life coaching is a partnership between you and your life coach, who will encourage you to explore how to make positive changes in your life. A life coach will also offer support and feedback to help you to stay focused on your goals and keep you moving forward.How can coaching sessions help you?Feeling Comfortable With a CoachWhilst it is recommended to go with a coach that has the right qualifications and memberships, they don’t mean much if you don't get on with your life coach.Rapport is one of the most important factors of life coaching, and when you need help in life it is arguably more important than any qualifications. If you don’t feel comfortable with your coach, you’re not going to gain much from coaching session.It’s a good idea to get in touch with a coach before you book a session. You can get a feel of what the coach is like before you commit your time and money.If you don't feel it’s right trust your instinct â€" this is not a sales pitch, you are choosing someone to help you reach your personal goals so make sure you find someone you’re comfortable with.Life coaching can be a valuable tool in life, whatever your situation, so don’t be put off by the industry’s lack of regulation.

Improving Mental Maths with Tas from the Tutorfair Foundation

Improving Mental Maths with Tas from the Tutorfair Foundation One of the Foundation’s most prolific volunteers, Tas F, has set up Arithmetic Intelligence - an elite Maths club aimed specifically at elevating the arithmetic capabilities and mental Maths skills in young learners.  We asked Tas to tell us more about  Arithmetic Intelligence... What is Arithmetic Intelligence? ‘In my experience as a Maths tutor,’ says Tas, ‘it is vital for learners to master arithmetic operations as it helps them to build a strong foundation in Maths, especially from a very young age.’ With numeracy, we know that confidence is key. Helping learners to feel at ease with Maths helps them come to enjoy the subject and never feel threatened by it. Arithmetic Intelligence teaches learners to approach problems through visualisation rather than memorisation, helping to boost confidence by enabling them to work arithmetic operations mentally at speed. ‘So often, students will memorise a formula without knowing how and when to apply it to a problem.  By learning to visualise problems, learners are able to decipher the relevant mathematical concepts at play and find their way to a solution much more quickly.’ The club’s Maths practice is underpinned by two very successful methods of Maths that aren’t usually taught to students in the UK. These are Japanese Soroban (Abacus) Maths and Singaporean Maths.  Using these methods, ‘students acquire and apply mathematical concepts and methods that they actually enjoy using, often developing a keen interest in Maths as a result.’ So what do we know about these methods? Soroban (Abacus) Maths The Soroban (Abacus) is a calculating board that has been widely used in Japan, China and Korea since time immemorial.  With the help of the Soroban board, students develop a profound understanding of place value, building strong conceptual foundation to underpin their learning.  Thereafter, students are able to visualise numbers and perform advanced arithmetic operations mentally and with great ease. Myriad research has established that students who use the abacus not only develop stronger mental Maths skills, but also improve their ability to concentrate, memorise information and solve problems. Singapore Maths Developed in the 1980s, the Singapore method aims to help children solve Maths problem with visual aids â€" either concrete materials or pictorial aids. Also known as the CPA, the Concrete Pictorial Abstract approach to learning suggests that learners develop mathematical thinking by understanding how something works â€" not by memorising formulae. Starting by solving simple word problems, learners are taught to use visualisation and pictorial concepts to find solutions, gradually applying and developing their mathematical thinking to process more and more complex stimuli. Tas is proud to say that, using the advanced arithmetic skills and problem-solving abilities learned during Arithmetic Intelligence classes, many of her students have won certificates of excellence in Maths at their respective schools If you’d like to find out more about Arithmetic Intelligence, you can visit the website here

Creating Classroom Behavior Charts that Actually Work!

Creating Classroom Behavior Charts that Actually Work! Classroom behavior charts, or daily report cards, are a common evidence-based intervention for kids with ADHD. When used correctly, they are an excellent tool that can help students with ADHD stay more focused, organized, and in control of their behavior. Too often classroom behavior charts arent designed or used correctly for students with ADHD, and as a result, the intervention leads to no improvement or very temporary improvement in the childs attention or behavior. In my previous post I discussed guidelines for creating effective behavior charts at home for kids with ADHD. Many of these guidelines apply to classroom behavior charts as well, but there are important additional details to attend to when charts are used at school. The good news is that just like home behavior charts, when you follow these guidelines youre setting a child up for success and are likely to see improvements in his or her ADHD symptoms and behaviors. Classroom Behavior Chart Guidelines Write clear and positive behavior goals. Your chart should communicate to your student exactly what it is that he or she needs to do to succeed. Always write the goals in a way that tells your student what to do rather than what not to do. For example, Raise a quiet hand and wait to be called on before you speak, is a much more effective goal than, Dont shout out answers before youve been called on. The first example communicates to your student exactly what it is you expect of him or her. Not only do you want him or her to stop shouting out answers before he or she has been called on, but you want him or her to sit quietly and raise his or her hand. It leaves very little room for misinterpretation! Focus on behaviors that occur frequently across activities and situations. The most successful behavior charts are those that focus on a few key problematic ADHD-related behaviors that occur throughout the day across many different classroom activities and situations. For example, Keep your hands and feet to yourself, is an effective goal that can be used all day in almost any situation. In contrast, Dont grab pencils from your neighbor during Writers Workshop, only targets a behavior during one activity. Choose goals that are within reach. Create behavior goals that your student can achieve at least 80% of the time. Goals should aim to stretch your student beyond the point he or she is at right now, while still being within reach. This might mean that you focus on intermediate behavior goals that are a step in the right direction, rather than ultimate end goals. Using reminders can be an easy way to create intermediate goals. For example, if you add a goal called, Get started right away, when your student has never (or only rarely) ever done this in the past, then he or she will probably not be successful. Instead, you can set an intermediate goal of, Get started right away with only 1 reminder. You can drop the reminder once they have mastered this goal. Include no more than 4 behavior goals on the chart. Most kids with ADHD can handle only 3 or 4 behavior goals on a classroom behavior chart. If more goals are included, students and teachers quickly lose track of them. The easiest way to keep the number of goals small, is to follow guideline #2 above: Focus on behaviors that occur frequently throughout the day. In addition, start with the highest priority behaviors. Then, over time, once those behavior goals have been mastered, you can replace them with new targets. Provide feedback and ratings consistently at multiple time points throughout the day. The least effective classroom behavior charts are those that are rated by teachers only at the end of the school day. Students with ADHD need constant feedback about their behavior, in the form of verbal praise and physical ratings on their behavior charts. Behavior chart check-in times should occur at least twice a day, and ideally three times a day. To be consistent, link check-in times to regularly occurring daily activities, like before lunch or after morning recess. Always share the ratings with your student at each check-in period. Between check-ins, praise your student when you see him or her behaving in a way that is consistent with his or her goals. Some older students with milder ADHD symptoms can switch to a single check-in at the end of the day after they have had their behavior chart in place for at least a few weeks. In these cases, continue to provide praise throughout the day and swi tch back to a 3-times per day schedule if your student starts to slip on his or her behavior goals. Use a positive points-based rating system. All classroom behavior charts should include a point goal that the student should aim for each day. These types of systems reward the child with points when he or she does something well and move him or her closer to his or her goal. In contrast, negative points-based systems punish a child when he or she doesnt do something well and move him or her further away from his or her daily goal. For example, if a child starts off the day with 10 points, and then loses a point every time they violate a classroom rule, then they are being punished rather than rewarded. Negative systems are less motivating and less effective for all kids, and especially kids with ADHD. systems should also be avoided because the sad faces act like a punishment and can be highly demotivating. Set daily point goal targets that dont require perfection. When kids are learning new behaviors or improving behaviors that are difficult for them, they will make mistakes. If daily point goal targets require kids to achieve each of their behavior goals 100% of the time, then they will rarely reach their daily target and will quickly lose interest in their behavior chart. Instead, set daily point targets that are between 70% - 80% of the total number of possible points that the student could earn in a day. Provide consistent daily rewards at school or at home. Kids with ADHD need frequent rewards to stay motivated. Rewards should be provided every day that the daily point goal is achieved. School-based rewards can work well, but in cases where strong parent-teacher communication is feasible, rewards provided at home by parents who have reviewed the classroom chart are even more effective. For kids who prefer larger rewards, weekly rewards can be used in addition to daily rewards. Whats most important is that the rewards are highly motivating for the student. If you notice that the student has stopped putting effort into his or her behavior goals, then revisit the reward options and find out if the student is still motivated to earn them. Classroom behavior charts that are designed specifically for students with ADHD can be highly effective when they are used consistently. Focus on setting clear, achievable goals and point targets, providing regular check-ins and feedback throughout the day, and providing rewards that your student is excited to earn. Your effort will pay off when you see big improvements in your students behavior! ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Irvine Test Prep Tutor 5 Ways to Prep for the ACT

Irvine Test Prep Tutor 5 Ways to Prep for the ACT Tips from a Private Irvine Test Prep Tutor: 5 Ways to Prep for the ACT Tips from a Private Irvine Test Prep Tutor: 5 Ways to Prep for the ACT Some students will be coming back from break with acing the ACT in mind. There are plenty of great ways to study for the ACT, but consistency is the key to success. Students who sit down and work on test prep on a regular basis will have a much better chance of finding success on test day. Whether students are studying through an online program, with a private tutor, or in a study group it’s a good idea to get organized, set goals, and keep those study sessions consistent. 1. Work with a group Sometimes working solo isn’t enough motivation to get started with intensive ACT practice. A great way to push through and be motivated is to work as part of a group. Students can get together with a few friends from school who have a similar level of motivation and are ready to start setting goals and meeting deadlines. Students who work as a group can also help each other with areas of the exam that seem more difficult than others. An ideal study group would consist of students who have strengths in different areas and can help each other out. 2. Get help from a private Irvine ACT tutor One of the benefits of working with a private tutor is that the student will get undivided attention from an expert in the field. ACT tutors can help a student identify which area of the test needs the most improvement and help them reset their study habits to align with what is needed to reach their specific score goals. Tutors also help reinforce consistency and hold students accountable when it comes to completing homework and self-study. Some students will simply need a tutor to get them started while others will require long-term guidance leading up to the exam date (READ: Cracking the ACT Science Section). 3. Use online tools Online tools can be very helpful when it comes to consistent study. Test prep students can now get guidance directly from the makers of the ACT and work on a strategic plan based on the student’s upcoming test date. ACT Online Prep offers students new learning content that goes over all sections of the test and has a full-length practice test to help students learn what it’s like to focus their concentration for an extended period o time. Additionally, students can take an abbreviated version of the test to get an idea of what their final score might be so they can direct their study in a certain direction. Students can check out these tools at: http://www.actstudent.org/onlineprep/ 4. Practice, practice, and more practice The most important thing for students to do is simply practice and then practice some more. The sooner they get started with ACT prep the more time they will have to really get a feel for what they will need to improve. Although the more time students spend on preparation the better, even students who are studying somewhat last minute can still pick up some great tips to help improve their overall score. Students are encouraged to take a practice exam (or a shortened version thereof) once a month or so to track their progress. This way they can work with their group or their tutor to improve on any persistent weaknesses or difficult concepts (READ: ACT tips from a private Irvine tutor). 5. Identify strengths and weaknesses Another really important thing for students to do is to identify any particular personal strengths or weakness they have. Each student is an individual learner and is encouraged to streamline their study sessions to meet these needs. Although students should review all concepts leading up to the exam date, they should spend the majority of their efforts on areas they need the most improvement in. Sometimes a student can identify these areas when taking an online practice exam and other times they will need the help of a tutor to access specific questions with which they struggle. Its never too early to book your private Irvine ACT tutor. Call us today for more details. 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.

How 10 Amazing Polyglots Learn Languages (and You Can Too)

How 10 Amazing Polyglots Learn Languages (and You Can Too) Ever wondered how polyglots do it?Does your mouth water every time you read about  Luca Lampariello, who speaks more languages than he has fingers, or  Donovan Nagel who can order good food in practically any restaurant on this planet while engaging in playful banter with the waiter?You ask yourself, “How do these guys do it? How do they learn all these languages and stay sane at the same time?”More importantly, in the inner recesses of your head, you’re also asking that one hopeful  question: Can a mere mortal like me be like them?Well you’re in luck, because in this post, well take a look at 9 of the most famous polyglots online. We’ll get  a candid  peek inside their processes and techniques so that you, a mere mortal, can apply them in your own journey and become like the gods of language learning.But before we do that, let’s briefly answer the initial  question: is it even really possible to become a polyglot? Or is it within the reach of only the freaky few?Read on. Is It Possible to Be a Polyglot?Learning Language as a Child: The Formative YearsChildren didn’t learn their first language by logging into Paypal and paying for an online course. Nor did they borrow books from the language learning section of the library.Nope, the very first language acquisition technique was not reading. Not even imitation.It was listening.We are often impressed by the linguistic sophistication displayed by children. We marvel at how they are like sponges, observing and absorbing everything they hear.A one-year old is really no newbie when it comes to listening. He’s a veteran because he’s been doing that for over a year! In fact, even inside the womb, before birth, the listening started.And when they are born, they prefer the familiar voice of their mother over any soothing female voice in the room. They also prefer the language that  their parents speak. And as early as 4 months, its been shown that they are able to distinguish between French and English. In one study, 16 pregnant mothers were asked to read The Cat in the Hat to their unborn child twice a day for the final 7 weeks of pregnancy. (It was estimated that the infants were exposed to the story for approximately 5 hours.) After birth, the infants were found to display clear preference for The Cat in the Hat over another children’s classic: The King, the Mice, and the Cheeseâ€"a story-poem with a different meter and beat.Now what does that tell you about the simple effectiveness of consistent exposure when learning a language? Because really, each language is just a collection of different  tones, sounds, timbres, and rhythms.Incidentally, in today’s vaunted language programs, how many absolutely stress the importance of listening?What Brain Studies Say About You and MeBut if youre thinking language is just about lips and tongue vibrating to make distinctive sounds, you are quite off the mark. Go higher than the mouth a few inches, and you hit the motherload.Language is a brain thing.We are born with a language instinct. Our brains are naturally wired for language. They have the innate ability to process complex information in the form of sounds, gestures and context.This capacity for language extends throughout life. Which means, you can learn any language, at any age. This is possible because the brain is plastic. And no, I don’t mean plastic like those toys from China.Plasticity is the brain’s ability to make new neural connections. Continued research has found that this happens all  throughout a person’s lifetime. Your brain today is not the same one as it was last month.Neural connections are created regardless of age. You’ve heard about Grandma Moses, right? She started painting in her seventies. Why? Because she felt  there was nothing else to do! And from there, her own paintings showed her how much she still had to offer, even into old age.So yes, it is possible to be a polyglot. We have enough processing power in our brains for it .And if I were you, I’d really make a point of learning a new language ASAP. Not just because it can lead to  employment and earning opportunities, but because of its implications on aging. Studies have found that just by learning a second language, you can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s. Bilinguals are diagnosed 4 years later than monolinguals.If learning just one extra language can do  such good, can you imagine the host of other benefits a multilingual can have? (That is, in addition to doubling or tripling one’s romantic possibilities.)The Explosion of Language Resources OnlineAs we speak, the web is exploding with language learning tools such as  apps, translators, flashcards and ebooks. Many of them free. You owe it to yourself  to take full advantage.  You are living in an age where education and information are literally at  your fingertips.It used to be that youd need to travel to Europe or Asia, or Latin America and spend some months talking to locals in order to  ge t a feel for a  language.Not anymore. Today’s technology can get you in contact with (willing!) native speakers, who find it a joy to teach you their mother tongue. And best of all, you can learn your target  language  without spending a single cent, taking a single step or waiting a single minute.You can take that road to being a polyglot right this instant. It will be one of the best decisions you will ever make.In the next section, I will introduce you to 9 people who made that decision and never looked back.How Polyglots Do It: A Survey of Tips and TechniquesHere I’m going to  present to you 10 modern polyglots and we’re going to  look briefly at their core language learning techniques, processes and mindsets. How were they able to do it?Let’s begin:Olly Richards (I Will Teach You A Language)This champ  has 8 languages under his beltâ€"and counting!If this survey of polyglots is making you think that you need to travel widely and wildly to become one, then Olly should be a good example of how you can acquire languages without setting foot in  its country of origin.Although he learned in France, Brazil, Argentina and Japanâ€"he also learned Spanish, Portuguese and Cantonese without visiting those countries. (In fact, he was learning Cantonese in Quatar! Go figure.)A big part of Olly’s method is founded in psychology. He talks about mindsets so much because it can determine the success or failure of any language expedition. The moment things get tough, people with different mindsets react differently. He understands that language learning  is very difficult to start but very easy to drop. So he makes sure that his students are in tune with  the psychological and motivational aspects of learning a language.One  of the “ language hacks” Olly himself uses is the “No English For 1 Hour Rule.” It is pretty self-explanatory. In that span of 60 minutes (which could be shortened to even  5 minutes for absolute beginners), you abandon your first lan guage. It is definitely disconcerting at first, but it works because it forces you not only to use the language but also to think in the language.Another technique he uses to smoothly learn a paragraph in  the target language is  writing mini-speeches and rehearsing them over and over. So for example, you could be memorizing a whole paragraph about your hobbies in French.The advantage of studying a coherent paragraph is that you can put everything in context. You are able to remember more of the vocabulary and notice the grammar rules better. On top of that, you are learning to converse in longer forms, rather than in single sentences.To benefit from more of Ollys wisdom directly, you can jump on board with his Language Learning Foundations video course, in which he helps you get set up with specific methods for learning a language.He also shares his insights about how to learn foreign language grammar faster in his Grammar Hero series and how to become conversational in a snap via his Conversations courses.John Fotheringham (Language Mastery)John Fotheringham, who describes himself as a “languaholic”, hails from Seattle but has zipped through Japan, Bangladesh, China, and Taiwan learning, speaking and teaching languages.John is a distinguished contributor to FluentU, whose engaging videos resonate with Language Mastery’s tenet of “learning the languages in a fun way.”One of the things he believes in is that nothing in language should be learned out of context. Rote memorization won’t work. Beyond reading and speaking the words many, many times, vocabulary should be memorized in meaningful context. If your brain is going to have any chance of making neural connections and maintaining  them, you  should involve the 5 senses to imprint the language into your long-term memory. (Use mnemonics if you have to. The crazier, the better.)Speaking of memory, John believes in the Spaced Repetition System. It is an automatic memory-enhancing software that ensu res past vocabulary lessons are always fresh in your mind. By intermittently reminding you of them, words that you found difficult will be brought to your attention many times over, while words that you found easy will be displayed less.Finally, John also believes in the importance of using audio materials. And for you to get the most out of them, you have to listen to lessons that are just a little bit above your level. Overreaching can result in you getting discouraged, while materials that are too easy can quickly  become boring. By working on materials that are just slightly above your current level, you are giving yourself an enjoyable challenge that’s highly doable and highly motivating.Benny Lewis (Fluent in 3 Months)Benny runs the largest language learning blog on the web. He is fluent in 7 languages and even gestures the American Sign Language. For a fellow  who claims not to have the language learning “gene”, that is such a rockin’ accomplishment.Hes a globetrottin g Irishman who tells everyone he meets his language learning secret: It’s okay to make mistakes. Go out and  make them! As many and as fast as possible.So he challenges his students to actually try and practice speaking their target language from  day one. He finds it interesting that people say they want to  speak a new languageâ€"then they set out to do activities that have nothing at all to do with talking!They keep themselves busy with language drills, grammar books and vocabulary-building when the only thing that matters is to actually speak the language. So he shuns orthodox methods and instead promote techniques like role playing where the learners actually get to talk.His “language hacking” method starts by demolishing all the mental blocks and psychological limitations that scare people away from fluency. Benny believes that once you get these handled, nothing can stop you from being the confident speaker that you ought to be.Fluent in 3 Months recommends skipping the mind-numbing grammar drills and instead focusing on the most useful and the most used words in the target language. With memory-enhancing activities like language games and word association, anyone can be fluent in a very short time.Donovan Nagel (The Mezzofanti Guild)Donovan is a polyglot from Australia  who firmly believes that you don’t need to study grammar in order to learn a language. Well, that may be good news for many, but its sure to get the goat of grammar Nazis who insist on the importance of grammar rules.He says: Grammar rules are what fluent speakers use to describe what they already know.He argues that, as children, we were already quite fluent in our first language even before we sat for our first grammar lesson. We learned by listening and copying adults.However, instead of individual words, we copied them in  â€œprefabricated chunks”â€"or, we copied their  phrases. For example, we learned the phrase “Come here” as a chunk, not as two individual words. And hearing those chunks  from our parents, we began to slowly understand what they actually meant.Nagel believes that repeated exposure repeated usage are key in learning the languages. Because of this belief, you can find him zipping across the globe and spending  months immersing in the target language and culture (recently, he’s been to Korea and Russia).And do you know what language products he recommends the most?Phrasebooks! He considers them the best investments in language learning, as theyre a great provider of your prefabricated chunks.Conor Clyne (Language Tsar)Conor Clyne is another Irish polyglot who came out of the school system knowing very little about effective language learning methods. School was so awful he even had trouble with his first language.But ten years on, we find him  fluent in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Romanian and Catalan.How exactly did he do it?Through personal trial-and-error, Conor found that what worked for hi m was “integrative learning.”  It was about aligning all his routine and daily activities into learning the target language.  You might recognize this as a kind of immersion. He integrated the language in many ways. He would watch the shows in  the language he was studying. He would also read (level-appropriate) books. And he would do everything to keep contact with native speakers via Skype or via written correspondence.You see? He makes the language a whole lifestyle. He even travels to the countries that speak the language in order get a feel and ear for it.Now, you don’t have to go  globetrotting in order to imitate what Conor has done. FluentU can take you to other countries without even leaving your seat. With FluentU’s videos, you can get a feel and an ear for what it’s like in that country by listening to actual native material. FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.  You’ll get to hear how native speakers actually speak, and solidify your learning with interactive flashcards that use spaced repetition practice. Try it! Learning turns into a whole different ballgame with FluentU.And one final tip from the Language Tsar Conor Clyne: Identify patterns in the language.He says it as one of his maxims of learning. A language is basically a group of people’s patterned way of communicating. If you are able to unlock many of those patterns, you’ll become an insiderâ€"fluent in their way of communicating.Luca Lampariello (The Polyglot Dream)Luca is one of the most famous and admired polyglots around. He’s Italian and is eminently likable because of his down-to-earth attitude and his passion for sharing his techniques with others.Ask Luca and he’ll tell you that quality trumps quantityâ€"or rather, quality should come before quantity. Most learners go for broke and buckle down to memorize a hundred-word vocabulary list in a day or two. (Expect them to also forget all those words in a day or two.)Luca believes in “snippets not buckets”. That’s why he encourages his students to work on learning the language every dayâ€"from a measly 15 minutes to an hour, tops. What is important is that you work on it on a daily basis (or 5x a week).Cramming won’t do the job. The man behind “The Polyglot Dream” says: The faster one learns a language, the faster one forgets. So don’t learn in haste.What you should be doing however is finding an audio course  that includes  accompanying written materials. Digest the lessons in this particular sequence:1) Listen to the audio material.2) Practice pronouncing the words and speaking the dialogue.3) Read the materials with audio, and then without audio4) Repeat numbers 1-3 several times over several days.5) Translate the dialogues into English (or your first language).6) Translate your English translations back to the original target languageBy translating your trans lation back to the target language, you learn to pick up the nuances between the two languages better. You notice how the two languages interact, what makes them different. This results in a kind of learning that has  more substance and impact than a mere memorization of grammar rules and vocabulary words.Simon Ager (Omniglot Blog)Behind the successful Omniglot Blog is the unassuming British fellow, Simon Ager. He was exposed to languages at a very young age as his mother was also into learning the languages.Unlike other polyglots, Simon learned French, German, Chinese and Japanese formally. He went to school or to University for them.But this is not to say that Simon doesn’t believe in the virtues of unorthodox learning. In fact, he is a proponent of Spaced Repetition, learning via Skype, watching foreign shows, listening to foreign podcasts, singing foreign songs.In an interview, he was asked: If you  could  give just one piece of advice to language learners, what would that be? His answer was “consistency”. He stresses that  learners should study regularlyâ€"everyday if possible. And not just in isolation, but by  practicing speaking in the presence of others, any chance you can get. By doing this, they will be able to correct their mistakes and have a better command of the language.He also advises them to put the language into writing, as often as possible. Simon is huge on writing. He is one of the few polyglots who gives the written word as much importance as the spoken word.Although he understands that writing and speaking differ in many ways, he believes that certain types of writing closely resembles speech: “Some forms of written language, such as instant messages and email, are closer to spoken language.”Writing will help root out common mistakes because “written material can be read repeatedly and closely analysed, and notes can be made on the writing surface”â€"thus making  your learning more efficient.Well, one  can expect nothing le ss from the guy behind one of the most successful language learning portals on the internet.Aaron Myers (The Everyday Language Learner)Aaron Myers, the Kansas native who now finds himself raising a family in Istanbul, Turkey is the man behind The Everyday Language Learner.“Comprehensible Input” is what EDLL is all about. The concept is borrowed from Stephen Krashen, a linguistics professor who forwarded The Theory of Second Language Acquisition in the 1980’s.Aaron Myers now champions “comprehensible input”â€"which is really more for language teachers than learnersâ€"but knowing about it helps learners choose the kinds of materials they will use in language acquisition.Of all the methods that linguists have played around withâ€"grammar drills, vocabulary lists â€"only comprehensible input effectively facilitates second language acquisition.  So what is it, anyway?It is the idea that learners only really learn when they are given material  that they can actually understand (or, comprehend). This might seem obvious enough, but you’ll never believe the number of teachers who don’t get this.So it’s not about rote memorizationâ€"memorizing without understanding. It’s not about observing a bunch of meaningless grammar rules. It’s not about having a podcast playing in the background in the hopes of absorbing the language unconsciously. It’s about comprehension.But take it from the man himself: The Everyday Language Learner gives plenty of ways to find or create “comprehensible input”. Have a peek.Ron (Language Surfer)Language Surfer was founded by a guy who just  calls himself “Ron”. He is an English degree-holding, mixed martial arts-watching, video game-playing dude who once worked as a professional translator and is presently a technical writer. He lives in the U.S.  and considers Florida home.For you to understand what Ron is all about, you have to understand how he sees language. For him, one can never really master a languageâ€"for how can one master something that’s so expansive, dynamic and fluid.“When I pause and think about a language, it’s like I’m looking out at the ocean. I can’t own the ocean. I can’t make the water do what I want.”So what does he do with language?Like a surfer, he rides it!A central tenet of Language Surfer is that language is not something to be conquered but something to be enjoyed. A surfer enjoys the waves and rides it. Sometimes he wipes out, other times he stands gloriously as the waves carry him. In both instances, he is having a jolly good time.Ask Ron what the missing ingredient is in many language programs and he’ll tell you that it’s  listening.There’s too much  grammar drilling, too much memorizing, even too much speaking in language programs, and too little listening. They don’t really address it adequately. This is detrimental for the language learner because the human brain is hardwired to understand and process spoken language. Hearing the sounds , utterances, rhythms and tones is the engine of language acquisition.  After all, what good is being able to say something if you cant understand the response?So according to  Ron, language learners should drop their flashcards  and learn to listen actively. Its the key that unlocks the door to fluency.So that’s it! 10 of the best-of-the-best sharing with  you their core beliefs and secrets. Take their techniques and beliefs and make them your own. It is my hope that years from now, next time a post like this is made, YOUR name will be among them.Wouldn’t that be something?Happy learning! And One More ThingIf youre digging these strategies, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Scr een.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes store.