English Tutor Wanted London

English Tutor Wanted LondonThe demand for an English tutor in London is steadily growing. It's a good idea to consider what you are looking for before you visit a foreign country, or at least plan your itinerary so that you will be well informed about the things that are going on there.In the USA and Canada the traveling trend is mainly dependent on vacations and not work related. This means that you have to look at travel, jobs and also activities as they relate to your career. For example, if you are getting ready to start a new job and you have just a few months left on your current one, you will definitely want to consider a short-term job abroad or even in your home country.A good starting point is to think about the type of English classes you are willing to take and see if it fits with your current program. You don't have to be a native English speaker to take an online university degree or other educational course. Some people take part-time jobs while others stay at home and study at their own pace. If you have a car and are flexible with your schedule, this could work out for you.In London there are plenty of opportunities to earn money through teaching English. Some people work in a regular classroom and other people study in a residential environment.You can also enroll yourself in language programs and study languages such as Chinese, German, French and even Spanish. There are many different study programs in London, ranging from one week intensive programs to longer term programs with language courses for both beginners and advanced students. Some programs are run by universities and some are run by private companies.It's important to note that for those who do work in London you should consider that most hotels and tourist locations do not speak English. So instead of going to a hotel or restaurant and relying on the staff to help you with your work, be more resourceful. For example, if you use a map and ask around you will discover many local re ferences to a certain location.These are just a few ideas about the type of things you can do when you decide to teach English in London. Once you get to know more about the various aspects of teaching English, you will have a better understanding of what you are really looking for in the city.

Is the Level of Spelling in the UK Falling

Is the Level of Spelling in the UK Falling Do the British Need to Brush up on their English Spelling? ChaptersWhy Is Learning to Spell Important?The Rise of ‘Text Language’Should There Be More Emphasis On Spelling In Schools?With GCSE and A Level results on the rise, why does it seem like our nation’s English language level, in particular spelling, has fallen? There are many factors to consider when answering this question: increase in web content, the popularity of social media and blogs, the development of ‘text message’ language and the use of emoticons are just some examples of these external influences on our population.Although it may feel like the standard of English has fallen across the country, we have to wonder if it is actually the advancement of technology that is in fact making poor language more apparent.Nowadays, people will consult the Internet for a variety of purposes: to check up on a symptom they are experiencing, to look for a product’s instructions, to do some online shopping, etc… and they are able to find answers to their queries each and every time. This is because people are now finding new ways to voice their opinions and provide information to others via comments, forums, blogs, social media sites and independent websites.Students can find reputable English tutor GCSE here.We are all guilty of using the Internet to look up symptoms because information is now so freely available. Photo credit: Rachel Olmanson via Visual HuntIt is this ease of sourcing information that makes us all the more reliant on the web and, as a result, more and more content will keep on filling our screens. The amount of writing available for us to access will continue to multiply until the Internet ceases to exist, there is no space left in the ‘cloud’, or at least until a replacement for the World Web Web is invented.Take for example a newspaper’s website, like BBC or The Telegraph, you can search an archive of published articles spanning several years, yet the paper continues to release more and more texts for its readers. Now if you thi nk about the bigger picture, you can only imagine just how much written English is accessible at the click of a button and how this volume is only going to keep on increasing.Gone are the days when public writing was produced by people who had a flair for language, since anybody can now write a blog, post a tweet or even publish a book with no vetting process involved.Among this vast amount of words reaching our screens, there are no doubt numerous typos, grammatical errors and Internet-based abbreviations which, paired with our need to find answers to everything, make our population appear increasingly inarticulate.Can you fathom how much the English language has changed over the centuries? CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/ h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Is Learning to Spell Important?As a consequence of the ease of expressing one’s views online, it feels like the value of the English language has somewhat deteriorated. This may be because, statistically, errors are far more common in line with the volume of texts, but also because posting on the Internet is now the norm for many (especially our younger generations) and they therefore simply see writing as a means of communicating quickly rather than a skill to be used with care.However good it is that more people are embracing the art of writing in their every day lives, it should nonetheless remain an art and a skill to be celebrated. After all, written manuscripts are some of the most sacred artefacts in relation to our country’s history and have taught us so much about life in other centuries. To think that our future generations will be reading about the culture of the 21st cen tury and coming across heaps of errors and false information is very sad indeed!Furthermore, English is considered as the number one business language in the world which makes it all the more special, and means it is important that it is used properly to maintain consistency across the nations.Teaching our younger generations to speak, and more importantly write, well in English is a necessity not only for the future of our language as a communication tool but also for our adults of the future. By giving help for English to all youngsters and improve their communication skills and the way they approach writing, we could be welcoming more creative minds, an important quality for the development of our society.Would you like to teach young students how to write effectively?We must teach our younger generations to write English correctly. Photo via VisualHunt.comThe Rise of ‘Text Language’Another influencing factor on the perception of our country’s spelling level is the huge ris e in ‘text language’, also known as ‘SMS language’. This digital or Internet-based language is made up of a variety of abbreviations, not only for single words but for entire sentences.For example, popular terms are ‘BRB’ (be right back), ‘LOL’ (laughing out loud), and ‘TMI’ (too much information). It is not unheard of to abbreviate much longer phrases too like ‘IYKWIM’ (if you know what I mean)!With these terms floating around on the Internet and in messages going back and forth to smartphones, it raises the question of whether our language is evolving with modern technology and society and if we need to seriously consider studying this development in English.It is currently seen as a crime for parents or ‘older’ people to attempt to use these up-and-coming slang terms but who is to say that this will not become the language of our future?Add to the rise in shortened language the introduction of emojis or emoticons, and we have an entirely new language t rend emerging.Described by some as revolutionary, emojis are a new way of communicating an emotion or even a collection of thoughts. While these images have changed the way we text, it is unclear if everybody reads them in the same way and if, therefore, we are fluent enough in this type of language to communicate effectively.This could be why students have trouble composing a good essay!Studies into the use of emoticons in written communications are ongoing, with some even investigating if entire texts can be sent using the icons to convey a particular message that can be understood by all.If this takes off, we could be looking at a new form of international communication, yet many are quick to point out that cultural and religious differences come into play here.Make sure to be the best speller thanks to the help of a private English tutor.Text or SMS language, including emojis, are taking over our language. Photo credit: Free For Commercial Use (FFC) via VisualHuntWe could be a l ong way away from a standard, worldwide language but the advancements in technology sure are raising questions about whether spelling is going to be as important as it is now in the years to come.Should There Be More Emphasis On Spelling In Schools?Back to here and now, we must consider the role of schools and colleges in asserting the importance of good spelling to our generations now in education, as well as those entering the education system.Apart from the proportion of adults who continue to or go back to studying after the age of eighteen, the legal school leaving age, people across the country will be relying on their primary and secondary education to provide them with the basic literary and numeracy skills they need in life. It is therefore vital that educators do all that they can to bring students’ spelling level up to a reasonable standard and inspire them to take pride in their writing abilities.Would you like to improve your spelling abilities?Although many English c ourses operate a system whereby they have different sets designed to group students of similar abilities into different classes, if a student falls short of the lower set’s standard for any reason, there is little teachers can do to raise their level of English. This is because class time is designated to certain tasks in order to prepare students for assessment at the end of their course.In France, as an example, if a student was not working at the level expected of them, their teacher had the power to hold them back, called 'redoublement' (or, in English, redoubling), until they were able to display the required understanding of not only the subjects studied but also communication skills in general. This included their ability to read and write at the same level of their peers.Although a drastic measure, this commitment to ensuring each and every student passes a particular milestone with at least the minimum level required meant that all students were given the same opportuniti es and that no students were ignored simply because the resources required to help them were unsupported by the education system at that time.Some might agree that a whole new education system needs to be introduced in the UK which takes into account issues beyond students’ control, such as more support for pupils with special needs and a better awareness of mental health issues among many more factors which might hinder a student’s ability to acquire basic skills like reading and writing.Did you know that daily writing can improve your overall health?Promoting ChangeAlthough the UK is currently churning out record numbers of A* pupils, the education system is still letting many children and young adults down.Ofsted raised the issue of weaknesses in the way English language was taught across all ages back in 2012, and highlighted a distinct lack in focus on the basics of spelling and handwriting. It pointed out that, if students were beginning to struggle with reading and writin g at the age of seven, then they would undoubtedly fail to ever catch up with the rest of their peers as they progressed through school.Sir Michael Wilshaw, the chief inspector, took action following this report and called on tougher English targets and more specialist English teachers to be recruited in primary schools.However, it is important that the Department of Education  continues to drive these improvements forward, especially at a time when Internet-based language is influencing students to such a high degree.Why not get started on improving your English writing with these guidelines?

How to Learn the Cyrillic Letters by Heart

How to Learn the Cyrillic Letters by Heart The best way to learn the Russian alphabet ChaptersThe rules of the Russian alphabetTechniques for remembering the Russian alphabetWhat are the ideal conditions for learning the Russian alphabet?Tips and tricks for learning the Russian alphabet“When you fall out of the water, you no longer fear the rain.” ~ Russian proverbAs a general rule, the most dreaded languages that cause students to break out in hives, are languages like Chinese or Russian with their seemingly incomprehensible alphabets. After all, the alphabet is the basis for most language learning, and without understanding it will be difficult to perfect your Slavic writing.Faced with this challenge, many language students opt to study Spanish or French instead, both of which are much easier to understand than a Slavic language.However, despite the end of the cold war (or perhaps because of it), the Russian language still seems to hold a large fascination for Americans. According to a 2015 survey, the top reason for learning Russian is often to meet Russians or travel or to live in Russia!In order to effectively communicate with Russians, especially if you’re doing so via correspondence, it’s essential for any English speaker to begin by learning the Cyrillic alphabet. In contrast to the Chinese alphabet, the Russian alphabet isn’t too far off from our Latin alphabet, and can easily be learned in a few weeks or months.Here are our top tips for learning the Cyrillic alphabet! LavaRussian Teacher 5.00 (8) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LarisaRussian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors InaRussian Teacher 4.88 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors IrynaRussian Teacher 5.00 (8) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvgeniaRussian Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnastassiaRussian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NikolaRussian Teacher 5.00 (4) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MargaritaRussian Teacher 5.00 (3 ) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe rules of the Russian alphabetThe Latin lettersFirst introduced in Russia in 988 AD, the Cyrillic alphabet is made up of 33 letters, 7 more than our Latin alphabet. Although this foreign alphabet can seem completely confusing to an English speaker, the two alphabets do share some commonalities - for example, the Russian language is also made up of vowels and consonants.Fiodor Dostoïevski, Léon Tolstoï, Alexandre Pouchkine, Nicolas Gogol … Russia has been home to many famous authors! By learning the language, you can also read their works in the original form!In the Cyrillic alphabet, there are 7 letters which come from the Latin Alphabet:A - pronounced ‘A’,E - pronounced ‘Yé’,3 - pronounced ‘Zé’,K - pronounced ‘K’,M - pronounced ‘M’,O - pronounced ‘O’,T - pronounced ’T’.However, there are also several letters which look a bit like letters from the Latin alphabet, but which aren’t (there’s one th at resembles an H) - be careful!These letters are Russian letters and aren’t pronounced at all the same as their Latin cousins. When you’re studying, you need to be cautious of false cognates and forget about your native language.It’s a good idea, when learning the Cyrillic alphabet, to start with these 7 letters, which as well as being common, will be easy for you to learn than the other Russian letters!By learning to read in Russian, you’ll be able to discover a host of Russian authors in their native language.The Greek lettersEvery year, many classics students choose to learn ancient Greek in college. Although the language is considered ‘dead’, its letters live on in certain alphabets that are still in use today, including the Cyrillic alphabet.If you’ve ever studied ancient Greek, it might be a bit easier for you to learn the Russian alphabet and vice versa!The Russian alphabet includes 9 Greek letters:? - pronounced ‘B’,? - pronounced ‘Gué’,? - pronounced ‘D’,? - pronounced ‘Ou’,? - pronounced ‘F’,? - pronounced ‘P’,? - pronounced ’S',? - pronounced ‘R’,? - pronounced ‘L’.Once again, make sure you don’t get confused between the English and Russian pronunciations of some letters (like with the ‘P’ for example). Russian students must resist the temptation to make comparisons between their native language and this Slavic language, which although they share some similarities, have drastically different pronunciations.One small anecdote - the USSR, the former name of the Russian Federation, was written ‘CCCP’ - not quite the same as what we used in English. What’s more, CCCP was pronounced ‘SSSR’ - a great example of why we shouldn’t let ourselves get led astray by things that seem the same…but aren’t!The Russian lettersWhen you’re learning the Russian alphabet, the hardest thing to do will be to learn the new Cyrillic letters, which for most English speakers will be completely unknown. H owever, this new-ness can actually be helpful and easier for students as these new letters and their pronunciations don’t include any of the temptations of false cognates.A native Russian speaker makes a great tutor - with expertise in teaching, they can guide you through their culture and all the challenges you’ll face in learning their native language. A great way to learn faster!This section of the Cyrillic alphabet is made up of just 15 letters - the letters and their sounds can easily be learned after just a few hours of daily study! It’s also a good idea to practice writing out the Russian letters to help learn them faster.Here are the Russian letters in the Cyrillic alphabet:? - pronounced ‘l’,? - pronounced ‘Yeu’,? - pronounced ‘Tseu’,? - pronounced ‘Tsheu’,? - pronounced ’N',? - pronounced ‘Sheu’,? - pronounced ‘Shsheu’,? - pronounced ‘Kha’,? - pronounced ‘?’,? - pronounced ‘J’,? - pronounced ‘V’,? - pronounced ‘Hè’,? - p ronounced ‘You’,? - pronounced ‘Ya’,? - pronounced ‘Yo’.With a good pronunciation of the Russian alphabet, the student can learn how to speak Russian fluently and prepare themselves for some time studying abroad in the largest country in the world!The Russian alphabet: soft and hard signsOnce you’ve learned all the letters and their pronunciations listed above, you just need to learn the last two letters in the Cyrillic alphabet: the soft and hard signs.Some students of Russian struggle to learn these signs because they are letters which aren’t vocalized, and so their study is sometimes reserved for students who are experts in Russian!However, it is difficult to understand and learn how to pronounce the Russian language without taking these two symbols into consideration.The two symbols are:The hard ?, which indicates that the previous consonant isn’t palletized.The soft ? which tells you that the previous consonant is palletized.Therefore, it isn’t really a ques tion of reading and understanding, but of pronunciation. In order to get a good grade on the ????- TORFL, for example, students must be able to show that they understand all the intricacies of Tolstoy’s language.In order to truly become bilingual English - Russian, you’ll need to have a firm grasp of all the symbols that modify pronunciation!Techniques for remembering the Russian alphabetCreating a Russian crib sheetIn order to work on your tonic accent, start learning a Slavic language and become bilingual in Russian, we’d recommend coming up with a few crib sheets to study between Russian classes with your professor!With a good general level of Russian, American students can choose to enroll at a well known Russian university, like the University of Moscow.In fact, learning the Russian alphabet ahead of your classes will ensure that you’re well prepared for your tutoring sessions and can help you space out your lessons, which will both help you learn and save you some mone y. The best thing to do is to break the letters down into several categories (like we’ve done below, or by consonants and vowels), in order to really master each letter.Before moving onto another study sheet, the student should make sure they’ve truly learned each letter and its pronunciation, as well as constantly reviewing the previous lessons.In order to master the Russian alphabet and its pronunciation, students can also use:Russian study booksRussian - English dictionaries (with a phonetic transcription)Online study guidesRussian podcastsRussian videos on YouTube, etc…In order to make studying as fun as possible, students can use different memorization techniques. For many students, mind-mapping techniques can be highly efficient in order to combine mental and physical elements for a holistic association for each letter and its pronunciation - by visualizing the Russian pronunciation, the student will find it easy to retain Russian vocabulary.In order to further deepen th eir Russian knowledge, students might also choose to sign up for private Russian lessons!Here, a bilingual or native Russian speaker will be totally at the disposition of the student to provide a structured framework in which they can learn the language. You can find Russian courses London wide, (and elsewhere in the UK), where the student will cover:the Cyrillic alphabetRussian cultureRussian grammarRussian vocabularyand even Russian literature!Taking Russian classes is a great way to work on your accent and prepare to travel to Russia!Study the Russian alphabet onlineLearning Russian online is completely possible thanks to online Russian for beginners courses!With a good linguistic foundation, it is totally possible to find a job and start working in a large Russian city, like St Petersburg. A great experience to add to your resume!Whether on your computer, tablet or directly on your smartphone, students can spend just a few minutes daily studying the Russian alphabet. Online Russ ian classes are a great way to work on your oral expressions and easily learn the Russian language.Electronic classes are often adaptable to any level - beginner, intermediate, or advanced. There are even apps for young children who can learn the Russian alphabet without even seeming to learn, thanks to games and fun interactive lessons.Through their online Russian classes, students can also add a Cyrillic keyboard to their computer, or voice recognition software that will check their Russian accent!To learn Russian online is a good way to learn how to write in Russian, work on the Cyrillic alphabet, and review syntax, personal pronouns, and prepositions before signing up for private lessons.Here are a few resources that can help you learn the Russian alphabet:Free educational apps for learning RussianWebsites for learning RussianMOOC courses onlineFilms and TV series with subtitles in RussianFree Russian exercises and worksheetsOnline videos for learning RussianOnline Russian class es are a good way to begin exploring the language and develop a basic crib sheet for the language. We’d recommend you learn how to write the alphabet on paper in order to work on your motor memory and practice your Cyrillic handwriting and cursive.So why not learn the Cyrillic alphabet without leaving your home?What are the ideal conditions for learning the Russian alphabet?Learning the Russian alphabet isn’t as difficult as you may think. In just a few weeks, it is totally possible to learn all of these letters and symbols which seem a bit terrifying.The Russian alphabet is defined in this way:A bicameral alphabet made up of 30 letters, created towards the end of the 9th century in Bulgaria by Cyrillic monks, based on Greek writing and the Glagolitic alphabet.The Cyrillic alphabet is also used to read and write in other languages besides Russian, including:BulgariaBelorussiaUkraineSerbiaMacedoniaIn order to learn the language and its alphabet as easily as possible, some prerequ isites can be a great help.Have a perfect mastery of EnglishIf you aren’t very skilled at correcting your syntax, spelling, conjugation, and grammar in English, you need to improve your skills in English!In fact, learning English and all the intricacies of your own language will make it easier for you to learn Russian.Not only will a firm grasp of English grammar help you work through your Russian lessons, but it will also help you learn the Russian alphabet faster.Knowing English will make it easier to learn the Russian alphabet.Like we’ve explained before, the Russian alphabet shares many similarities with the Latin alphabet used in Romance and Germanic languages.So you need to have a firm understanding of the rules around vowels and their use.Russian pronunciation is also quite similar to French pronunciation, which can be quite helpful for any students who previously studied French in high school.Each letter in the Russian alphabet has its own unique sound, in contrast to Ea st Asian languages like Chinese or Japanese.What’s more, Russian pronunciation is sometimes much easier than in English, because, in Russian, all of the letters are pronounced.In English, because the language was heavily influenced by waves of Norse, Germanic, and French invasions, the same letter can often be pronounced and used in a multitude of ways, depending on the origins of the word.In Russian, in contrast, there are no silent letters, just like in Spanish or Italian. They also don’t have multiple pronunciations, so it’s impossible to make a mistake as you sound out a word.All facts which should be reassuring to students of Russian!Knowing other languagesKnowing how to speak other languages before learning Russian and its alphabet can also be almost as helpful as having a firm grasp of English.If you already know the basics of another Slavic language like Polish, Czech, or Slovak, learning Russian and assembling Cyrillic letters into words will seem much easier for you. The letters used in Slavic languages are very similar.What’s more, if you’ve mastered one of the Slavic languages, that means that your brain has already proved itself capable of learning a language with letters that look very different from the ones we use in English and can still recognize those letters as a word.Learning the alphabet for a Slavic language is still easier for an English speaker than learning an Asian language.Learning a Slavic language can, therefore, help you progress much faster when you’re learning Russian.Tips and tricks for learning the Russian alphabetRussian is studied by many language learners around the world. Just like Chinese or German, Russian language skills are in high demand in the employment market today.There are 14 million people learning Russian worldwide.Therefore, there are several different tricks that have been developed to help students of Russian learn the Cyrillic alphabet as easily as possible.The akamoto techniqueKesako ?The Akamo to technique consists of learning 30% of the most useful letters of the alphabet in 10 seconds.Earlier, you will have understood that the letters of the Cyrillic alphabet can be broken down into categories so that they’re easier to learn.Now, we’ll go over how to learn the most useful letters in just a few seconds, in order to improve and begin speaking in Russian as quickly as possible.These five letters (A,K,M,O,T) make up 30% of all Russian texts. That means that by learning and recognizing these five letters, you can begin to read and understand texts in Russian. Isn’t that good news?And in order to remember these letters, you can put them together in a few different combinations: Akamoto, kamoto, aktom, tomak,…Once you’ve learned them, there are already a few different words that you can use:???: cat,???: so,????: atom,???: there,??: ok.Practice your writing regularlyLearning the Russian alphabet also means learning to write the letters and combine them to create word s. Just learning to recognize the letters on a computer screen isn’t going to help you anywhere near as much as writing and re-writing them.Basically, your brain has a strong muscle memory function. It’s also known as procedural memory.Here’s how it’s defined by Wikipedia:Procedural memory is a type of implicit memory (unconscious memory) and long-term memory which aids the performance of particular types of tasks without conscious awareness of these previous experiences.This is the type of memory where our brain stores information about riding a bike, making pasta, or starting a car. It’s also in this part of your brain where you learn how to write letters with your hand without thinking about how to do so.Put your procedural memory to work!However, it does take a good amount of time and plenty of repetition before Russian letters will be fixed in your brain.It’s for this reason that it’s important to practice regularly so that your brain can begin to internalize your movements. Write each letter several times each day.It’s also important to work on both uppercase and lowercase letters. Russian is a bicameral language (meaning the writing has two variations - capitals and lowercase).Take advantage of applicationsIn order to learn the Russian alphabet, is there a better solution than to have fun while you learn?Some applications offer Russian classes with lessons that include:learning the alphabetpronouncing the lettersgrammarRussian expressionstransliterationetcWhether you’re at an intermediate, advanced or beginner level, these apps will let you study wherever and whenever you want, so you don’t need to lose a minute!The apps will also help you learn Russian easily thanks to interactive lessons and efficient English/Russian dictionaries.It’s a great way for you to practice and brush up on your language skills before you speak to native Moscovites.Take your time and study regularlyThe best advice for learning anything is to take your tim e. This doesn’t necessarily mean to advance at a snail’s pace, but more to just study regularly.It’s pointless to study hard for three days and then to do nothing in the days following. Your brain will quickly forget the alphabet and everything else you’ve learned if you don’t continue your Russian classes.What’s more, you’ll lose motivation when faced with the amount of work catching up in your studies will take.Vowels, accents, lowercase, uppercase…learning the Russian alphabet means mastering several different ideas.Learn everything in what seems like just a few hours.In contrast, by working for just a few minutes every day, you won’t really feel like you’re making too much effort.Learning Russian only takes a few minutes every day.Russian vocabulary, the Latin alphabet, Soviet culture, the Cyrillic alphabet, pronunciation, writing…mastering all of these require working on the language just as if you were with your Russian professor.Be the teacher and the st udentThe Cyrillic alphabet, spelling, Russian grammar, Russian culture, transcription, Russian literature - Russian classes often cover many important topics.So in order to improve, why not find a friend and study together?Studying with a friend in order to learn Russian will let you be the student and the teacher at the same time. When your friend doesn’t understand something, you can help explain it to them.And by explaining these concepts aloud, it’ll help you understand whether you have truly mastered a concept or not. If you can’t manage to explain something clearly, that’s a good indication that you haven’t totally understood or mastered that lesson either.Working together also makes it easier to stay motivated!Have fun!Whether you’re learning Russian online, or in person in classes in New York, San Francisco, or Seattle, it is important that you’re doing so by choice and that you have fun learning the language!Tackling your Russian dictionary, Russian translatio ns, prepositions, and wading through lessons can often be less difficult than they seem at first.Motivation and desire are two things which are key to get you through.It’s important to take pleasure in mastering the basics - like the Russian alphabet - in order to retain information better.It’s also a great idea to take an interest in Russian culture by watching some of their national cinema or taking an interest in Russian cuisine.Head to RussiaSt Petersburg, Moscow, Vladivostok, Sotchi,… what’s a better way to learn the Russian alphabet and master the language than to take a trip to Russia?Going to Russia can help you learn the language and alphabet quickly.Of course, it isn’t an option for everyone, but taking a trip to Russia is a great way to get motivated about learning the language.It’s an opportunity to meet native Russian speakers and to speak to people who’ve learned Russian as their first language,It’s also a great opportunity to motivate yourself and expl ore different aspects of Russian culture like songs, films, cooking, history, etc.A trip to Russia is also an opportunity to learn to decode all the letters on the street signs into Russian words. Up to you to set yourself a new challenge!

How to keep tutoring fun for your students!

How to keep tutoring fun for your students! We've had an amazing 2015 here at Tutorfair thanks to our fantastic community of tutors and students!  We asked a few of our favourites to share their adventures with us.  Here,  Isabelle tells us what it's like to work with a rather unusual client. Isabelle T Football really isn’t my thing. Or wasn’t at least.  If I don’t hate it I have certainly spent my life mostly ignoring it. No longer! My first booking with TutorFair turned out to be with a football analytics company (and owner of Brentford Football Club), providing French tuition to two employees â€" one a beginner, the other very proficient - with an emphasis on improving spoken fluency. Particularly for the more advanced client, I found myself in a dilemma familiar to many language tutors: how to stimulate and sustain 90 minutes of conversation on a weekly basis without either one of us   collapsing from exhaustion, or worse, boredom. The answer? Football, of course - at least in part. From corruption at Fifa to the decline of Manchester United and the ins and outs of the transfer market, I have covered it all through newspaper articles, reports and perhaps most importantly, by drawing on the expert analysis of my football-mad client. I’ve certainly learned a lot. I may even have learned to like football! I can only hope my client feels the same way about his French. Tutoring is not all about long discussions, of course. Every client has a different level and every client has different motivations. Part of the pleasure of tutoring is precisely this diversity. Where one might need French for their work, another might have an exam coming up or feel themselves slipping behind at school. The challenges are always different and always changing yet, as every tutor knows, there is one constant: the key to learning anything is to enjoy it. Tutoring is much more than simply imparting information. It is also about eliciting ideas and thoughts and encouraging clients to express themselves freely. I have only been with TutorFair for a few short months but I have been lucky enough to work with some fascinating, diverse and very motivated people. What more could I ask for? Apart from a Brentford win next week, of course. Want to  book Isabelle  and learn French?  Or perhaps you want to  sign up as a tutor? There's something for everyone at Tutorfair!

The New 13th Zodiac Constellation Did your Horoscope just Change

The New 13th Zodiac Constellation Did your Horoscope just Change Tell me about the new 13th zodiac constellation, shouted my 8 year old student Miles when I was teaching astronomy to him. For the record, Ive studied astrophysics (for only 6 month though) and hosted planetarium shows in Santa Barbara. Since that time I have been tutoring astronomy to docents of students all over California. Now you can imagine how stunned I was when Miles asked me about the new 13th zodiac constellation and I couldnt answer the question. To avoid you the troubles of a similar  mute response I am addressing all my fellow astronomy tutors in California in this article about the 13th constellation. The new 13th constellation is called Ophiuchus. It is situated between Sagittarius the archer and Scorpius the scorpion. Time wise, the Ophiuchus starts at the end of November (November 29th to be precise) and ends on December 17. The astrological  notion of the zodiac constellations (Cancer, Leo, Virgo, etc) dates back to the ancient Babylonians. They introduced the system of 12 zodiac constellations in accordance with their 12-month calendar. But the ancient Babylonian astronomers ignored the fact that the sun moves through 13 constellations, and not just 12. In our time, the astronomers at NASA decided to correct the Babylonians mistake and to include the missing 13th constellation the Ophiuchus. Whether the astrologers will adopt the new zodiac system remains to be seen. But to we scientist and teachers should know about Ophiuchus. For those who enjoy reading their horoscopes they might have to look it up under a different symbol now. Here are is the list of the corrected 13 zodiacs signs and their dates. Capricorn the sea goat January 20 February 16 Aquarius the water-bearer February 16 March 11 Pisces the fish March 11 April 18 Aries the ram April 18 May 13 Taurus the bull May 13 June 21 Gemini the twins June 21 July 20 Cancer the crab July 20 August 10 Leo the lion August 10 September 16 Virgo the virgin September 16 October 14 Libra the scales October 14 November 23 Scorpio the scorpion November 23 November 29 Ophiuchus the serpent-bearer November 29 December 17 Sagittarius the archer December 17 January 20 If you have more questions feel free to ask one of our excellent astronomy tutors.

6 Tips for Painless Progress in Foreign Language Learning

6 Tips for Painless Progress in Foreign Language Learning 6 Tips for Painless Progress in Foreign Language Learning Ever stood at the chasm between language learning and fluency?Even for experienced language learners, it can seem like there are miles and miles to leap over before reaching actual, real-deal conversation with native speakers.We are here to make that chasm seem like a crack in the road.All it takes is tweaking your study regimen to get you prepared and motivated to make consistent progress.With these six language learning tips, plus a little patience and dedication, you will be cruising down a clear path to fluency. 6 Tips for Painless Progress in Foreign Language Learning1. Find Your Driving PassionPassion is the flame that burns in your heart and gives your life meaning. Passion is the source of motivation. It is hard to learn anything if you lack this. Before you do anything else, it is important to ask yourself why you want to learn the language in the first place. This why is your purpose.There are no right or wrong answers. Maybe you want to learn a language to progress in yo ur current field of work, maybe you love the culture, maybe it just sounds pretty to you, maybe it is the language of your ancestry or maybe you have another reason.Even if you are learning a language for an external reason, like a college course requirement, you can and should home in on an internally-driven passion to keep your motivation up. Think about exciting trips you could take to practice the language, native speakers you know who you could converse with or the professional opportunities that might open up to you as a bilingual or multilingual person.Once you realize what your purpose is for learning a language, write it down. This will serve as a reminder when motivation is low or when you get stuck. Language learning is not a steady uphill path, but a path full of ups and downs. Having something to remind yourself of why you started language learning in the first place is a great tool to help you get over the lows you will encounter.Remember your reason for learning a lan guage does not have to be set in stone. It can change over time. As you progress in your language go back and reevaluate your purpose. This will keep the motivation fresh and new.2. Make Language Learning a Daily HabitThe most important attribute in any pursuit is consistency. Have you ever been so excited to learn something that for the first few days or even weeks you binge studied, only to burn out and take a break from it?  After that begins a cycle of sporadic binge learning followed by rest, only to return later at basically the same starting point.In order to keep this from happening, it is best to set aside a certain amount of study time every day that you can realistically hold yourself accountable to. Blocking out 20 minutes a day is the ideal starting point for most people. It is not long enough to get bored or frustrated and it is just enough time to review and learn something new.This may not seem like so much time, but by the end of the month, you will have spent about 10 hours learning a foreign language. That is more time than if you paid for one-hour private tutoring sessions twice a week!For best results, it is advisable that you practice language learning at the same time every day. For example, you may choose to study in the morning after breakfast or before going to sleep at night. That way, after a while, you will form a habit and language learning will be a part of your daily routine.When learning your target language use your strengths to your advantage. If you learn better through language apps, make that the bulk of your learning experience. If you learn better through traditional grammar books then focus on that. Playing to your strengths will help you progress faster, making language learning more fun and enjoyable!3. Plan Your Studying Around Your InterestsFinding your passion is not the only thing that helps drive your language learning progressâ€"it has to be enjoyable! If you are doing something you find boring you will start dr eading it and may eventually give up.If you enjoy film, it is beneficial to watch movies in your target language. Likewise, if you frequently listen to music, find bands in a genre you prefer that sing in your target language. Since you already like the genre, the songs will stick in your ear. Eventually, you can find the lyrics online and translate them into your native language.Once you are no longer a beginner, activities such as listening to a podcast in your target language while traveling to work or while having some downtime help to keep the language in your ear while putting you in contact with various subjects and new vocabulary words.Playing video games in your target language is another way to practice in an environment that is adrenaline filled and exciting. Here you will have to get comfortable thinking fast in your target language.To target your interests while ensuring that you are actively learning, FluentU is a unique tool to check out. It provides authentic videos, like movie trailers, news clips, commercials and more, and transforms them into interactive learning experiences. For example, each video comes with captions you can click whenever you spot an unfamiliar word. You will get in-context definitions and visual learning aids.Then, FluentUs Learn Mode takes the video content and creates engaging exercises and flashcards so you can test how much you learned. It is an awesome way to get solid language practice that will hold your interest! Plus, the more you explore real-world videos in your target language, from silly YouTubers to absorbing dramas, the more inherently interesting your language studies will become.4. Set Attainable GoalsBeing fluent in your target language is the ultimate goal of anyone pursuing foreign language learning. However, in the beginning, this can seem like a daunting task.It is best to set a series of small goals that will eventually culminate in your main goal of gaining fluency. These goals should be reasonabl e to attain in a relatively short period of time. They can be anything. For example, you can set a goal of learning 20 verbs in one week or learning 100 new vocabulary words in a month.Remember, language learning is similar to the fable of the Tortoise and the Hare. Slow and steady wins the race! Small, steady, incremental progress over time leads to the most success. Setting weekly, monthly or even daily goals will bring you to the finish line of fluency the fastest while preventing burnout.You will also want to make sure that your goals are relevant.  You can learn 3,000 vocabulary words by heart, which is roughly the number of words needed to be able to converse in a language, but if you never learn how to put them together to form sentences you are nowhere near having the ability to hold a conversation.Sometimes less can be more. Think about what goals are most important to you. If you want to be able to converse with native speakers, you should master essential grammar and voca bulary and maybe some slang. If you want to learn a language for academic purposes, you would need to master grammar and formal usage. If you have a very specific purpose, like practicing medicine abroad, you would need to study niche vocabulary. Take this into consideration when setting learning goals for yourself and you will quickly make the kind of progress that matters to you.5. Notice (and Embrace) Your MistakesWhen learning a language, you will inevitably make mistakes. It is part of the process. If you do not make any mistakes that means you have nothing else to learn. Embrace your mistakes. Use your mistakes as tools to improve.It is helpful to research common mistakes foreigners make in your target language. Joining online language learning forums (WordReference has a popular one) is a good way to discover these types of mistakes, and how your fellow learners have overcome them.Embracing mistakes does not alway have to be about the negativeâ€"it can be positive in that you can see how you are improving. Recording yourself speaking a couple times a month is a great way to see your progress. You can also use  Dialang, a great resource that offers progress tests to track where you are in reference to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.Taking this test every few months is a great way to clearly see how far you have come and how far you need to go.6. Find Opportunities to Speak in Your Target LanguageLanguage learning is not just an intellectual exercise. It is a skill that has to be applied. In order to speak a language you have to actually speak! Conversation is key.The most beneficial way to do this is through a language exchange. This means finding a native speaker of your target language who is willing to practice speaking with you. Not everyone has the luxury of having a native speaker living in their area but the internet offers many great resources to find language exchange partners.If you are too shy or too embarrassed to ju mp right into a language exchange with a peer, a good way to ease into it is to hire a language tutor. And with digital platforms like Verbling, you can get a qualified, native-speaker tutor with a click or a tap. You can browse thousands of teacher profiles to find one who meets your learning goals and budget. Plus, Verbling uses a unique communication platform where you can video chat, review documents or images, take notes and more. It is like a personal classroom all on your screen.You cannot speak with a language exchange partner or a tutor 24/7. It is helpful to think and talk to yourself in your target language, too. Here are some ideas to do that:Do you have to go grocery shopping? Make the list in your target language.Do you have a busy day? Plan out the day in your target language.Are you taking a walk? Name all the things you pass in your target language.Any time you can think or talk to yourself in your target language will only help you practice!Remember learning a fore ign language is an attainable goal for anyone who sets their mind to it. Using these tips will surely help you on your journey to learning a foreign language easily and painlessly!

?? Learning Spanish The Best Resources To Become Fluent

?? Learning Spanish The Best Resources To Become Fluent Learning Spanish: The Best Resources To Become Fluent Mandarin might dominate the pure numbers game, and English may be the lingua franca of computing and commerce, but when measured by sheer linguistic internationality, Spanish cannot be beat.Dominating the western hemisphere with the world’s second largest body of native speakers, with a sphere of linguistic influence that reaches from Santiago to San Antonio, from Bogota to Barcelona, and from Navojoa on the Mexican California Gulf coast, all the way to Nouméa, the capital of the south Pacific island of New Caledonia.It’s no wonder then that in our increasingly globalised world, even the stubbornly mono-linguistic British have become increasingly interested in teaching their children a language that might originate more distantly, but will definitely be more internationally viable than French. To help people move beyond the “My name is…” and “Today in my pencil case I have…” stages, here’s 50 online resources that will be of immense value to anyone studying, teachi ng, or just wanting to better appreciate the Spanish language. Ranging from the big and popular, to lesser known, off the beaten path places, everything here will be of use to anyone who wants to establish an excellent encapsulation of Espanol.All Rounder Resources Study Spanish Language An excellent all-round service, with lessons and articles on everything one could need to know about the Spanish language to make a start in learning it. With tests and tips, as well as articles and advice on studying abroad, or how to better grasp idioms, this is an ideal ground base level resource for learning Spanish.Who Is It For?Parents, teachers, tutors, and students of late primary age and over. Generally, anyone who wants to get to grips with Spanish from the ground up.The Spanish Blog This is perhaps the premier destination for learning Spanish independently on the internet, hence the definitive article in its name. With over 200 lessons in video and podcast form, there will be something here to support any struggling student. With a high level of subject granularity, breaking down to things like “Distances”, “Restaurant food vocabulary” and “Shopping for clothes” there will be something here for everyone.Who Is It For?Students and teachers who want to find free digital resources that can be listened to easily.Study Spanish A rigorous course that moves up from the basics to the elaborate, Study Spanish is perfect for self starters who want to look at things from the ground up and get to somewhere truly stratospheric.Who Is It For?Parents and students who want to engage with a self-directed study, independent of what is being taught at school. Ideal for a family where the children’s school doesn’t offer Spanish.Spanish Obsessed A language is at least as much spoken and heard as it is written and read. Arguably more so, which is why podcasts have been such a natural fit for teaching languages ever since their emergence into the iTunes store and beyond. Spanish Obsessed offers multiple free courses of podcasts ranging from complete novice needing to begin from scratch, to advanced polyglot wishing to excel upward to higher linguistic plains.Who Is It For?The enthusiastic self-starter who wants to make a go of something new, or the advanced student who needs a greater challenge.Spanish Blog 365 This blog takes the “every little helps” approach, using the notion that the development of a gentle and undemanding habit over time can ultimately reap bigger rewards for some people. With bite sized 10 minute lessons, Spanish blog 365 offers utility in a timescale to fit almost anyone.Who Is It For?This is an ideal resource for busy teachers who want to stay sharp, as well as struggling students who might not seem to be keeping up in class, but can still progress if they keep working consistently, if not intensively.Apps, Courses and Digital Resources Duolingo A widely used and well liked language learning app. Duolingo specialises in using a powerful education technique that’s been on the fringes for sometime, but has exploded thanks to the ubiquity of smartphones. So-called ‘gamification’ turns learning away from being a boring chore, into an entertaining pastime that everyone can enjoy. Who Is It For?A very wide audience. Theoretically anyone with a smartphone and a few minutes to spare each day, be they on the commute, a work break, or even on the toilet. The games are intriguing and immersive, and suitable for any stage of learner. From complete novice, to tested intermediate, and even a studied speaker who wants to stay sharp. There is something here for all.Spanish Pod 101 This Youtube channel features a wide variety of content. There are many anecdotal style videos on very granular topics, such as Christmas, the way to say Goodbye, or words linked with mathematics, then there are the structured lessons that are parts of specific courses, and then there are challenge videos designed for someone to learn a great deal of new words very quickly.Who Is It For?Someone who takes a very pick and mix attitude to their linguistic learning. The anecdotal videos might make fun lesson additions, but the full course materials would be better studied at home. Most of the material is aimed at late primary ages upwards.123 Teach Me A variety of tests, games, and general online resources that can work well for teaching and engaging with the Spanish language. Easy for something small like phrase of the day, or something more elaborate like the free online games.Who Is It For?Teachers whose classrooms have access to computers, parents who want to offer their children something educational with their internet time, or students who are a little more self-motivated than most. All age ranges catered for, from pre-school upwards.Spanish Dict Google translate is only the beginning. This website is like a decoder ring for Spanish as a whole. Not only translating, but conjugating, guiding, inspiring, and generally directing you towards a better understanding of a complex and sometimes difficult language.Who Is It For?Anyone studying Spanish above middle primary school age. Teachers may want the students in their classes to bookmark it as a useful tool for additional help.Language for Fun The study of languages is naturally one where broadening the mind and self betterment are at the centre of the intended experiences. But there is nothing that says we can’t have some fun along the way. With a more whimsical and light-hearted style, this service offers a community of language learners, meaning that not only can an individual’s skills be better improved, but teachers can pick up ways that previously may not have been considered to encourage students to try things at home in a less formal style. Who Is It For?Self starter language students, or teachers looking for an alternative approach to homework and remote learning.Rockalingua In this resources opinion, music is not only the food of love, but also good linguistic learning. With songs, cartoons, games, and worksheets to enhance and advance any Spanish classroom, Rockalingua is sure to be a hit with the more creatively vocal Spanish classroom.Who Is It For?The material appears to principally be aimed at middle primary school to mid-secondary aged children. Most of it is designed for a classroom environment, so teachers are the main beneficiaries, but some tutors may find the workbooks useful.Spanish Games Making gamification run deeper still, Spanish games offers a wide variety of tutorials, tests, games, and other interactive ways of learning to make studying much more something you can do actively, rather than just passively read or listen.Who Is It For?Teachers who want to plan more interactive lessons, or students who want to be more self-directed. Age ranges vary, but the material is mostly suitable for middle primary age students and upwards.Primary Children Spanish Town A suite of online tests and lessons covering a wide range of subjects and styles of learning. Moving from the simplistic rote, to the complexities of grammar, these materials will be exceptionally useful in any digitally equipped classroom. Who Is It For? Primary aged children, some material could be apt for lower secondary also. Tutors could also make use of the activities and worksheets.One Third Stories Subscription box services are very in fashion across the internet, whether they’re distributing tea, toys, or teaching children lessons in linguistics. One Third Stories is a service dealing in audio downloads, flashcards, and children’s books, to provide a unique and highly valuable service. As the book progresses, more and more non-English words are added in at apt moments to make it clearer and clearer what they mean thanks to wider context. Who Is It For?Families with children aged up to 10. The service doesn’t offer a specific age though, so the technique could well be useful much later on.Fun For Spanish Teachers Making lessons in linguistics fun and engaging is always important, especially at the younger end of the spectrum, where attention is sometimes harder to properly control. Thanks to Carolina, an Austin based Spanish teacher, teachers around the world can have access to resources and lesson materials to help keep young minds engaged and active on the task of better understanding another language.Who Is It For? Primary and pre-school teachers would be the principle beneficiaries, but there’s also a great deal of value for tutors, and for parents of younger children who want the learning to keep on flowing in the home.Read more on Fun For Spanish TeachersAlhambra Spanish While the mainline focus of Alhambra Spanish is the offering of extracurricular courses and classes in Spanish for primary school aged children across the UK, that’s not the only value to be extracted from the website. A cornucopia of teaching blogs, educational videos, and all kinds of other materials make this website an ideal service, regardless of whether your child will be attending one of these classes.Who Is It For?Parents and teachers of primary school aged children. The classes and resources are valuable for helping the children to learn, and many of the blog posts offer valuable reflections on the ways we teach.Spanish Playground The Spanish Playground is a great source of resources of all kinds, ideal for teaching younger children the Castilian tongue. As well as songs, videos, jokes, pictures and printable materials, the site also contains numerous recommendations and reviews for books and magazines that could well be immensely useful in fostering Hispanic linguistic development.Who Is It For? Mostly younger children in the preschool and primary school bracket. Parents will find the book reviews useful, while tutors and teachers will be greatly appreciative of the wide resource variety.Secondary Students Peppy Burro When children move from early teenage years into later adolescence, the shimmering light of adulthood being within their grasp means we need to up our resource game. Fortunately, Peppy Burro is here to help. This material works perfectly well for adults who want to get a fresh grip on a new skill as it does for students who want to enhance what they’re learning at school. Secondary school aged children will feel reassured and reinforced with the free adult level course materials on offer here.Who Is It For? Much of the material is great for self directed learning for students, such as the podcast and videos, while other parts will also enhance a dedicated teacher’s study sessions.Daily Spanish Tumblr is the little microblogging platform that could, and so the resources you’ll often find on here tend to be scrapper and more hastily put together, but what some might see as a loss of professionalism, others would argue is a more ‘real world’ attitude towards learning another language. Daily Spanish offers a down to earth and community focused Spanish learning experience. Not structured, but always helpful, as well as acting as one of a number of open ways into the Tumblr Hispanic linguistic community.Who Is It For?Students with a curious interest in the language, or parents who want to pick up tid-bits to share with their children. The material isn’t really structured or developed enough to form a lesson plan with, so teachers will mostly not find this of value. Most of the material would probably be too advanced for all but the oldest of primary aged children.Spanish Skulduggery While it does take more than a little effort to get one’s eyes accustomed to the…unorthodox web design choices on display here, this blog does offer a lovely gentle sprinkling of Spanish knowledge into a teenager’s Tumblr Feed.Who Is It For?Secondary school/older primary students mostly, although tutors and teachers may get some use from the gathered meme videos or other translated online material that pops up every so often.Lyrics Training Available for a wide variety of languages, including Spanish, this service offers your children the opportunity to learn the language of their studies in a field that feels much more homely and familiar to most of them â€" popular music. Who Is It For?Brave teachers may attempt to use this unorthodox technique in the classroom, but ideally it will be the students themselves who pick this one up.Butterfly Spanish With over five years of language film-making experience, Butterfly Spanish goes into great and engaging depths about subjects ranging from months and colours, to food and alcohol. For that last reason, and a few of the other subjects, this is a channel much better suited to secondary students, but this a very good thing, as it teaches them a subject that may seem alien to them with materials that affect their lives every day. Teach children a language they may find difficult to learn with material they actually want to talk about.Who Is It For? Secondary students, teachers, tutors, and maybe parents who want to give their children a fresh angle on the language they believe will be so useful to them.Spanish Boone Like the previous two pieces, the Spanish Boone calls the microblogging service Tumblr its home. Unlike them however, there is a great deal more depth offered in these pieces, to the extent to which that calling it a “microblog” no longer seems fair.Who Is It For?Later secondary school children looking for revision material or general help with their Spanish, or adults looking to get a better handle on the intricacies of Iberia’s dominant tongue.Talk Like a Spaniard Learning a language makes you understood in a foreign country, but learning idioms can make you truly part of the community. This little slice of Tumblr helps people get a better handle on the odd turns of phrase that when read literally make no sense, but with a bit of cultural context, can take you a long way. Who Is It For? Curious secondary students are the first port of call here, as this will give them a richer understanding of the language, and much of what is here is too advanced for primary age kids. However there is much hear for teachers and tutors too, who want to spice up their lessons with the odd anecdote, or parents who want little tid-bits to talk about with their children, to help encourage their study.Lindsay Does Languages While not specifically about Spanish, this blog does feature Spanish often, but perhaps its greatest value is a source of zeal and passion for the entire field of linguistics. This shows students that languages aren’t just a tool, but can be something to be genuinely excited about, a source of passionate energy to a subject that too often students can just regard as a technical skill, learned by rote.Who Is It For? Anyone with a passion for languages will appreciate a kindred spirit, but the materials such as the podcast and videos would be great for any parent to share with an older secondary school student that wants to get why they should care about this. Of particular value for Spanish speakers is the “Ash does Spanish” series of videos, where Lindsay’s monolingual husband tries to get to grips with the Castilian language.Real Fast Spanish Like several other items on this list, this is the blog from a company whose job it is to teach Spanish at high speeds for a considerable price. Unlike some of the other blogs though, the result of their work is something that genuinely serves the curiosity of a wider student population. With posts that answer complex and elemental questions arising from the study of the Spanish language, this blog is an ideal resource for students of all stripes.Who Is It For?Curious minds looking to build a broader picture of the language they seek to understand.Don Quijote Culture and language are as intertwined as politics and power, electricity and magnetism, or football and fitness. This blog takes the understanding of that and applies it with vigour, providing valuable cultural insights into the days and lives of those who speak the languages being studied. As an added extra bonus, the articles are all also bilingual, with fully translated Spanish versions available without the use of Google Translate.Who Is It For?Particularly ideal for any students looking to study abroad in a Spanish speaking country and want to better appreciate the culture they shall be temporarily housed by.Why not Spanish? The challenge of getting teenagers engaged with any subject can often be an uphill battle. The creators behind this Youtube channel decided to take as unconventional an approach as they could think of, and looked at trying to make learning Spanish funny. With skits and challenge vlogs, this channel successfully apes the style of many successful youtubers, creating a fully formed version of that golden prize of internet learning “Edutainment”.Who Is It For? Teachers who want some more off the wall material in their classes, and students who want a more entertaining approach to their selected language classes.Teachers Spanish Linguist For students who want to go one step beyond, this is where to go. The Spanish Linguist is a blog that delves deeper than classes in school would normally feel necessary to go, and it does so with whimsy and aplomb.Who Is It For?Curious and engaged students, and teachers who feel they may have students ready to take a deeper dive into linguistics in general, and Spanish in particular.World Language Café Like many other internet teacher’s resources, World Language Café offers plenty of lesson ideas, activity plans, media options, and several other ideas to string together a session of Spanish. Unlike several others though, World Language Café makes a particular effort to connect what is being learned in the classroom with the current events in the seasonal calendar of the culture being studied.Who Is It For?Teachers and tutors who want to put their student’s work into a broader cultural context. Material is mostly aimed at primary school aged children.Spanish Plans Teaching techniques, training, and talent are all discussed a plenty in this wide-ranging blog on the subject. But also to lighten the mood and thrown in hither and thither are memes and jokes and general whimsical observations about what it’s actually like to be a teacher on the front line. Who Is It For?Teachers who want to better learn and reflect on their craft, and to joke about it once in a while.Spanish With Paul A series of lessons and exercises structured into YouTube videos. Longer and more in depth than many other channels, these lessons enable entire teaching sessions to be based around their content, and so are mostly better suited to classroom time than home learning. Who Is It For?Teachers looking for innovative and engaging video content.Throw Away Your Textbook A bold suggestion, to be sure, but one that could perhaps have some value. While there are many new methods and alternative resources out there available for teachers, it’s always best to see the results that have been found from an active and rigorous field test. This blog features many different teaching methods put to the test, as well as advice on how to optimise things further than the original creators of the material may have considered.Who Is It For?Teachers and tutors who want to try alternative approaches to Spanish instruction.Flipping my Spanish Classroom Speaking of alternative methods and new practices, this blog takes the popular and also controversial practice of “flipping” the classroom, and applies it to Spanish to see the results. Flipping is where the bulk of the learning is done at home with assigned readings and other tasks, while in the classroom the students go over what they have learned at home and attempt to apply it, as they would normally do with homework. This teacher’s conclusion it that it has definitely improved things, and to help smooth things along for future generations of flippers, she has included a selection of resource documents and activity ideas. Who Is It For?Teachers exclusively, as tutors can’t really use the “flipping” technique. The resources, activity ideas, and strategy plans also only make sense in the context of a full classroom.Speaking Latino The online resources in this collection offer not only lesson materials and activity ideas, but also instruction on more colloquial and common-place forms of Spanish that many traditional textbooks leave behind.Who Is It For? Teachers looking for a slightly offbeat angle to the regular lesson structures and material.Spanish Resources Like IMBD, but for Spanish classroom worksheets. This resource is a huge collection of worksheets and classroom resources, built into an enormous database with a highly efficient search function. Perfect for when you have a specific subject in mind, but lack the time to craft a sheet specifically yourself.Who Is It For?Busy teachers working with all age groups. Tutors also, if they want to craft their lessons very specifically.The Multilingual Monkey For thoughtful and insightful consideration of teaching’s best practices, you can’t go much better than the Multi-lingual monkey. Whether it's reviewing the use of music in the classroom or reviewing recently released memory games, there is always something in this blog to better improve the teaching tools linguists can make use of.Who Is It For?Teachers looking to read tales of those who shared their experiences and responded with grace, fortitude, and innovation.Calico Spanish Although the broader service this company offers won’t be available to most students, the company’s blog on the subject of Spanish instruction has many valuable insights to offer. Treating the space of a private teaching establishment as a more experimental setting, the Calico school is able to test and try new ideas in ways others simply cannot. The results, as they blog about, are most intriguing.Who Is It For?Teachers and tutors who want to look into new models and try out new things.Teaching Spanish W/ Comprehensible Input With ideas about sharing the Spanish language in a classroom in many new and exciting ways, this blog offers fresh means of engagement to stave off the possibility of stale and unproductive sessions of textbook based rote learning. Of interest is the way the author focuses on new ways of employing technology in linguistics learning, avoiding gimmicky fads and looking deep into the core of what new equipment can offer. Who Is It For?Mostly teachers, as almost all the material will focus on classroom environments that tutors will be less familiar with. But parents will also find it valuable to get some inside baseball on the front line of modern linguistics learning techniques.Creative Language Classes Sometimes there are blogs with names like Zooplod and Jexsay, and then there are blogs with names like this. Exactly what it says on the tin, Creative Language class is about ideas, lesson plans, resources, and materials that can give your language lessons a creative and new direction to help keep students engaged and minds inspired.Who Is It For?Teachers and tutors will be the principle beneficiaries here, tutors also since many of the materials don’t need a whole class of students to work.Spanish 4 Teachers Speaking of names that clearly spell out what they are going to offer, this resource couldn’t be much clearer. Offering downloadable content in the form of Powerpoint lessons and PDF workplans, as well as content specific to the IB curriculum, the parrot in the logo is watching over a cornucopia of valuable lesson materials.Who Is It For?The age ranges here reach all the way down to primary and all the way up to late secondary. And because it is receiving constant updates, not just from one single group of teachers, but any number of teachers round the world who come to contribute, there is always something new to find.PBL in the TL A confusing title perhaps quickly indicates that this blog is very much for people already somewhat immersed in the world of linguistics teaching. Standing for “Project Based Learning in the Target Language” this blog reflects on frontline teaching experiences and techniques tried and tested in the field.Who Is It For?Most articles are for teachers pretty exclusively, but some will be of interest to tutors as there will be some crossover material for one on one learning. Parents will find most of what’s discussed here potentially interesting, but not as enlightening unless they are prepared to engage deeply with the material.Secondary Spanish Space Tales from the front line of teaching Spanish in United States secondary schools. These articles cover issues ranging from time management, new games to try in class, and also the mundane everyday necessities, like a good and filling breakfast to face down a busy school day.Who Is It For?Teachers and tutors who want to get a better handle on the secondary environment specifically.Learn More Than Spanish At first glance, this website may not appear terribly useful to anyone, save for the most dedicated Spanish students. After all, very few children have the time to take on an entire other Spanish course in addition to school. However, look below the surface, and specifically at the blog pages, and things become clearer. The material here is not only potentially highly valuable in lessons in terms of learning the language, but it also helps provide context of culture. Teachers can look here for just how Spanish is applied in the real world, a very grounded and down-to-earth understanding of the changing way that people speak day to day, and what those words mean to them. Who Is It For?Teachers and Tutors who want to give some cultural context to the material they are teaching.FluentU Spanish Educator Blog A great source of resources and teaching advice. FluentU is a fount of ideas and inspiration for all kinds of classroom activities. Whether you’re wanting to use animated antics as a way to break up textbook time, or if you want your lessons to have a more musical overtone, FluentU will have something for almost every scenario.Who Is It For?Educators working with primary and secondary age students. The material mostly works in a classroom environment, but parents and tutors could also use some of the lesson plans for home activities. ¡Vámonos! Before we go further, there is a good reason why it is Lithuanian rather than Spanish that’s the language we see first referenced here, but we’ll come back to why later. ¡Vámonos! is an enchanting and enlightening collection of blog posts sharing teachers experiences and expertise, telling tales of techniques tried and regaling us with how they worked and failed, as well as ways to think about things differently, so as best to become better teachers. Which brings us to the Lithuanian, it’s part of a blog post looking into how it's always helpful for language teachers to rediscover the experience of facing a language they have no knowledge of, and trying to piece things together regardless. A truly fascinating exercise.Who Is It For?Thoughtful teachers, considered tutors, and interested parents.Maris Hawkins With all the new techniques, teaching styles, and resources on display over the many different websites we’ve looked at so far, it is important to step back and take stock on occasion, so as to make sense of what’s been going on. That’s exactly what Mark Hawkins attempts to do, taking his experience in the classroom and turning it into a reflection on best practice, what works, what doesn’t, and most crucially, why?Who Is It For? Teachers mostly, as the reflections focus on classroom experience, but tutors may find some useful insights, and parents may get a better understanding of how classrooms actually work. Parents Multilingual Living Magazine A wonderful resource for parents who are determined to make sure that languages are a part of their children’s lives. This magazine offers help and support whether you’re home-schooling, or if you speak a language that you want to pass on, or if you simply want to make your child’s language learning stick hard at home as well as in school.Who Is It For?Families with multilingualism as a major part of their identity, or parents who consider language learning a skill they want to work hard to encourage in both themselves and their children.Flip Flop Spanish It’s one thing to be an engaged and attentive parent when your child is in a school for six hours a day. It’s quite something else when you’re both parent and teacher. This home-schooling parent shares their struggles and successes in trying to teach Spanish in a home environment as organically and naturally as possible, in much the same way infants do when around native speakers. A challenge to be sure, but a worthy one.Who Is It For?Parents who home school or parents who don’t. Both can take inspiration from what is being tried here.Visit Flip Flop Spanish to find out more.Spanish Mama Bilingualism isn’t something that’s confined to the classroom. It’s a skill that has to be fostered in every part of a child’s life, something that the Spanish Mama understands very well. This blog does indeed have a focus on teaching and learning Spanish, but it also comes along with cultural context, as well as personal reflections on what it means to be a mother teaching their child to be bilingual.Who Is It For?Parents who want their children to grow up bilingual is the definitive target audience, but there’s plenty of tangential material on Spanish speaking culture and history, and there’s also much that’s valuable for parents who just want their children to do better in languages in general.So there you have it, the top 50 Spanish learning resources. Have you used any of these yourself? Which ones are your favourites? Let us know in the comments below!Don't forget, you can also browse our Spanish Tutors if you're looking for face-to-face or online lessons.