French Grammar Rules How to Conjugate Regular Verbs

French Grammar Rules How to Conjugate Regular Verbs Sign up successful I run, becomes he runs. But often times, English verbs are a little more constant than their French equivalents. For example: I do je fais we do nous faisons they do vous faites French grammar is not totally unpredictable, however. Most French verbs actually follow regular patterns according to three groupings: verbs ending in -er, in -ir, and in -re. Of these three groups, -er verbs are by far the most common. Sometimes people will even create their own verbs by adding -er to another common word! A few examples of regular -er verbs include: aimer to like chercher to search or look for compter to count conseiller to advise continuer to continue donner to give écouter to listen (to) parler to talk sauter to jump tutoyer to address someone using “tu” vousvoyer to address someone using “vous” essayer to try encourager to encourage nager to swim manger to eat In the present tense, these verbs are conjugated by removing the -er ending and adding different endings (see the bold below) for each subject pronoun as follows: je (I) parle tu (you singular) parles il / elle / on (he / she / one) parle nous (we) parlons vous (you plural) parlez ils / elles (they) parlent There are two exceptions of which to be aware (and dedicated students of French know that French loves exceptions). The first involves those -er verbs ending in -ger. As in English, French pronunciation includes the concept of the hard and soft “g.” Like us, the French often denote their soft “g”s by adding an -e after the -g. For the “nous” forms of such verbs, the ending therefore changes from -ons to -eons. For example, the correct “nous” form of “encourager” is not “encouragons,” but “encourageons.” The second involves those verbs ending in -yer. For English nouns ending in -y, the plural form changes -y to -i and adds -es. Likewise here, -yer verbs will change -y to -i in addition to replacing -er with the appropriate ending â€" except (because French loves exceptions!) for the nous and vous forms. For example, the verb “essayer” would be conjugated as follows: J essaie Tu essaies Il / elle / on essaie Nous essayons Vous essayez Ils / elles essaient The second largest category in French, -ir verbs, include: choisir to choose finir to finish grossir to gain weight maigrir to lose weight réussir to succeed rougir to blush vieillir to grow old(er) In the present tense, they are conjugated by removing the -ir and adding the endings in bold in the example below: Je finis Tu finis Il / elle / on finit Nous finissons Vous finissez Ils / elles finissent Some common -ir verbs are irregular, such as sortir (to go out) and venir (to come). Most are conjugated as above. The third and smallest group of regular verbs ends in -re, and include: rendre to return entendre to hear attendre to wait (for) perdre to lose défendre to forbid In the present tense, they are conjugated by removing the -re and adding the endings in the example below: Je rends Tu rends Il / elle / on rend Nous rendons Vous rendez Ils / elles rendent As with the other groupings, there are some irregular -re verbs, such as prendre (to take), connaitre (to be familiar with), lire (to read), mettre (to put down), and boire (to drink). To practice our French grammar, lets try a few examples. In each of the following sentences, try to conjugate the correct form of the verb in parenthesis: 1) Nous _____________ (compter) de 1 à 100. We count from 1 to 100. 2) Vous _____________ (finir) vos devoirs. You are finishing your homework. 3) Je _____________ (conseiller) les étudiants de francais de visiter la France au moins une fois. I advise all French students to visit France at least once. 4) Ils _____________ (parler) avec leurs amis. They talk with their friends. 5) Tu _____________ (maigrir)! You are losing weight! 6) Elle _____________ (nager) tous les jours. She swims every day. 7) Je _____________ (rendre) le livre à la bibliothèque. I am returning the book to the library. 8) Nous _____________ (encourager) les uns les autres. We encourage each other. 9) Tu _____________ (chercher) ton livre de francais. You are looking for your French book. Want to check your answers? Here they are: 1) comptons 2) finissez 3) conseille 4) parlent 5) maigris 6) nage 7) rends 8) encourageons 9) cherches Practice makes perfect, so keep on practicing with your tutor and checking yourself. Check out this list of common regular French verbs for even more vocabulary to practice. Soon enough, youll be the expert! Study more French verbs check out our Ultimate French Verb Guide! Post Author:  Carol Beth L. Carol Beth teaches  French lessons in San Francisco, CA. She has her Masters in French language education from the Sorbonne University in Paris and has been teaching since 2009.  Learn more about Carol Beth here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Thomas D.

Best SAT Question And Answer Tips for high scores

Best SAT Question And Answer Tips for high scores 0SHARESShare SAT is a determiner of your skills in calculation, reading comprehension and writing abilities. Score a fine target in sat, your entry into a premier college is assured with a great educational breakthrough. How to read SAT Question and Answer them with maximum effect? Here are some tips for you: Easy questions in sat and how to answer them? The first order of questions always falls for easy questions and you could easily manage them within the time frame without teasing your brain. Most of your answers would be right too. Still, don’t be overwhelmed by the easy factor, but read the questions quickly yet carefully to hit a good score. Medium questions in sat and how to answer them? Medium level of difficulty in questions occupies the next 1/3 of the sections. You may not find them as easy as the previous one. Still attend them all to score once again as much as you can. Don’t leave them blank as the next 1/3 is going to be really excruciating for you. You might not find time to come back. Do something with them to do your level best. Write down or do calculations to understand the question better. Difficult questions in sat and how to answer them? The last 1/3 of the questions forms the difficult level. By the time, you feel exhausted and a bit confident that your previous answers are almost right and you could achieve your targeted score. Answer what you know in this level of difficulty. Don’t dwell upon any single question for a long time. Use process of elimination in answering the questions In sat questions, the wrong answers should be eliminated one by one to arrive at the right one. If you are not able to eliminate at least 2 or 3 wrong answers, leave the question blank. Wrong answers, you know carry ¼ point of negative marking. Only in Math multiple choice questions, you can attempt all the questions in SAT Mathematics. There, you would not face the negative scoring factor. Those who are not confident of their math skills can opt for SAT Biology test. Look for the probable answers in reading passages Look for the main idea in the reading passage and concentrate on the probable answers instead of searching for accurate answers. This will save time for you and get a boosted score. Sat prep is a matter of clever strategies and a determination for netting high scores. [starbox id=admin]

Guide to Travelling to Spain

Guide to Travelling to Spain Everything You Need to Know Before Staying in Spain ChaptersSpain FactsThe Most Beautiful Monuments in SpainWhich Are the Most Beautiful Cities in Spain?How Much Does it Cost to Visit Spain?Famous Spanish Food and DrinkWhere Should You Stay in Spain?Spanish Culture And Traditions“The impulse to travel is one of the hopeful symptoms of life. ” - Agnes RepplierIn 2017, Spain was the second most visited country in the world after France. From the Sierra Nevada to the beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean, from UNESCO World Heritage Sites to flamenco shows, Spain is one of the countries whose culture just keeps drawing in the tourists.L'Hemisfèric â€" Imax Cinema, Planetarium and Laserium;L'Umbracle â€" Walkway / Garden;El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe â€" Science museum;Oceanografic â€" Open-air aquarium or oceanographic park; andÁgora â€" A versatile space for a variety of events.Of course, there are more than just these four attractions in Spain. Other monuments of note include:Cathedral of Santiago de CompostelaBurgos CathedralThe Guggenheim Museum in BilbaoCasa Milà in BarcelonaThe Royal Palace of MadridMontserrat AbbeyAlcázar of SegoviaThe Cathedral of Palma de MallorcaCathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the PillarThe Roman Theatre, MéridaThe Giralda of SevilleWhich Are the Most Beautiful Cities in Spain?A lot of Spain’s most beautiful monuments are found in Spain’s most beautiful cities. In addition to these monuments, take the time to spend a few days in these Spanish towns and enjoy the best that Spanish life has to offer.Spanish cities are full of history. (Source: caciaca)MadridThe most famous Spanish city is the capital, Madrid, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city. There are many different nationalities in Madrid and this large city deserves several days to fully discover it. As the capital, Madrid is home to large boulevards, traffic and noise, as well as a large choice of relaxing parks and museums.The Prado Museum and the Museo Reina Sofia are the two unmissable museums in the capita l and you can discover works by artists like Picasso and Dali.However, there’s much more than just museums and history lessons to be discovered here. If you take yourself to Independence Square just before nightfall, you’ll see the sun setting upon the arches of the Puerto de Alcalá gate which is a beautiful sight. Furthermore, you should take a trip down Gran Via, the long commercial road which offers a range of shops, cafes, bars and casinos.Football fans will be in awe of Cibiles Square where Real Madrid supporters flock to celebrate thei team’s wins.Madrid has a strong food and drinks game, with influences coming from all over the country and materialising in their multi-cultural kitchens. You’ll find many wine caves, taverns and other traditional drinking grounds. Among the wide range of restaurants is a gorgeous, well-hidden gem of a restaurant named La Capilla de la Bolsa, situated in the town centre. Here, you’ll be wowed by the chapel interior, sensational food a nd delightful atmosphere (featuring a live pianist playing among the purple glow of uplights). Don’t miss it if your in the capital, you won’t regret it!BarcelonaHowever, there’s also another city in Spain that has stolen a lot of Madrid’s thunder. Barcelona has been one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations for those looking for sun, beaches, and parties.On the Mediterranean coast, Barcelona welcomes tourists from all over the world, though you could argue too many of them. It’s probably a good idea to avoid the city in July and August or you may as well have just stayed at home.We already know about the very famous Sagrada Familia which can be found in this buzzing city, but what else is there to do and see? Firstly, visitors should know that Barcelona boasts twenty Michelin starred restaurants, a range of clean, world-class beaches, excellent shopping centres and a superb nightlife.La Rambla is a pedestrianised boulevard that offers a range of pubs and clubs an d is the heart of Barcelona’s art scene, with artists and flamenco dancers found here throughout the day. The gothic zone features many hidden places to visit at night, including some Irish pubs. Finally, El Born is the more sophisticated area of Barcelona and less tourist-y. It has some lovely bars and restaurants.SevilleFor those visiting Andalusia, Seville is a dream destination. The capital of this autonomous region is famous for Islamic architecture which can be found all over the south of Spain.  With the Royal Alcázar of Seville, the Plaza de España, and the Italica archaeological site, there’s plenty for tourists in this beautiful city.Along with cultural attractions, Seville is also a hotspot for  lovers of open spaces. There’s a few gorgeous parks, open and green, that are very enjoyable to visit. One of these includes Le Parc de Maria Luisa. The Plaza de España is also a wonder of Seville, bordering a pretty canal. Finally, Italica, an archaeological site, propos es the remnants of an amphitheatre. When visiting, you can walk through the tunnels and witness first hand the space where 25,000 people once congregated to be entertained. It’ll blow you away!Other Beautiful Spanish CitiesThere are a lot of other Spanish cities that are worthy of also being included in this list. They include Toledo, Salamanca, Cordoba, Malaga, Girona, Grenada, Las Palmas, and Palma de Majorca.Some popular summer holiday destinations are Cala D’Or, Costa Teguise, Los Cristianos, Lloret de Mar, Puerto Rico, Santa Ponsa, Cala de Finestrat, Fuengirola, Palma Nova, Benalmadena Costa, Alcudia, Magaluf, Puerto Banus, Benidorm, Roquetas de Mar, Ciutadella, Cala n’ Bosch, Salou, Playa del Ingles, Nerja, Marbella, Alicante and many, many more!Salamanca is nicknamed The Golden City due to the colour of its sandstone buildings. As the sun sets, this city glows. Perhaps you’ll find the time to visit one of Spain’s most beautiful cities.Commisceo Global additionally r eports that: “Traditionally women in Spain were the homemakers and men provided for the family. However, in the last two decades, women’s role in Spanish society has changed dramatically and many more are entering university education and moving into professions which were formerly dominated by men. Young, unmarried women have become more independent and are migrating to cities for education or work. […]  As far as family is concerned in modern Spain, men and women tend to share the parenting and household responsibilities particularly in urban areas where more women are likely to work outside the home in the cities. In the rural farming areas, the tradition of women as the homemakers tends to be more obvious although women and men often share the labour on the land in support of one another.”

What Are Standardized Tests and What Do Those Test Scores Mean

What Are Standardized Tests and What Do Those Test Scores Mean Raising children today means that youre very familiar with standardized testing. Standardized tests have been around for a long time but became especially noteworthy in the early 2000s with the passing of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, which mandated annual testing of students in grades 3-8 in every state and had punitive provisions for schools that did not make adequate yearly progress toward grade-level standards. In 2015, No Child Left Behind was replaced by the Every Student Succeeds Act, which offers greater flexibility on standardized testing. Still, the fact remains: while your child is in school, she is going to be tested and measured via some form of standardized test. What do standardized tests test? To put it simply, they measure how students are progressing toward grade-level standards in core subjects including math, English language arts, science and social studies. Each state gives testsoften called statewide assessmentsto students in grades 3 through 8 toward the end of the school year. Those exams are intended to provide an overall measurement of: How your student is performing in key content areas. What your student knows and what he needs to succeed in the future. Whether he is on track toward building higher-level thinking skills such as writing and problem solving. Across the nation, there has been a movement toward refocusing teaching on helping students learn and not preparing for standardized tests. So, the assessment of today is different than the assessment of several years ago. Students are spending less time taking tests, but states still place value on measuring what students know and what gaps exist (so they can determine how to close those gaps). Types of assessment tests When the Common Core State Standards were introduced in 2010, many states started using either the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) or Smarter Balanced tests that were aligned to Common Core. Things have changed since then, with only one-third of states using either test (as of spring 2019, according to Edweek.org). The other 32 states use tests that they designed themselves or purchased from another source, while three states give hybrid tests that mix their own questions with questions from PARCC/New Meridian or Smarter Balanced. Heres a summary of the standardized 3-8 tests used in each state as of 2019: State Name 3-8 Test Alabama Scantron Alaska Performance Evaluation for Alaska's Schools (PEAKS) Arizona AZMerit Arkansas ACT Aspire California Smarter Balanced Colorado Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) Connecticut Smarter Balanced Delaware Smarter Balanced D.C. PARCC Florida Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) Georgia Georgia Milestones Hawaii Smarter Balanced Idaho Smarter Balanced Illinois PARCC Indiana ILEARN Iowa Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) Kansas Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) Kentucky Kentucky Performance Rating for Educational Progress (K-PREP) Louisiana Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) Maine Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) Maryland PARCC Massachusetts Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) Michigan Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP), PSAT Minnesota Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) Mississippi Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) Missouri Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) Montana Smarter Balanced Nebraska Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) Nevada Smarter Balanced New Hampshire New Hampshire Statewide Assessment System (NHSAS), *Performance Assessment of Competency Education (PACE) (some districts) New Jersey PARCC New Mexico PARCC New York New York State Assessments North Carolina North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests North Dakota North Dakota State Assessment (NDSA) Ohio Ohio's State Tests Oklahoma Oklahoma School Testing Program Oregon Smarter Balanced Pennsylvania Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) Rhode Island Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS) South Carolina SCReady South Dakota Smarter Balanced Tennessee TNReady Texas State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) Utah Readiness Improvement Success Empowerment (RISE) Vermont Smarter Balanced Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) Washington Smarter Balanced West Virginia West Virginia General Summative Assessment Wisconsin Wisconsin Forward Wyoming Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress (WY-TOPP) The most up-to-date information about testing in your state, including specific skills and subject areas that will be tested as well as any recommended or required high school tests (such as exit exams), is available on your states Department of Education website. For questions about how to help your child best prepare for success on any exam, standardized or other, contact Huntington at 1-800 CAN LEARN.

Ideas to Revitalize Your Teaching Practices

Ideas to Revitalize Your Teaching Practices If you have been teaching for some time, it is easy to get into a routine, but its just as easy to fall into a rut. Whether youre seeking better ways to reach your students or need to infuse a little energy into your processes, here are a few tips to revitalize your teaching practices: Choose professional development that really lights you up. Yes, PD is required, but when possible, pick classes that are relevant for your position and current challenges. Good PD classes can also get you thinking about new ideas, introduce you to innovative practices, and help you figure out how to apply evidence-based research into your practices. Take the initiative to learn from your peers. The other teachers in your building are some of your best resources. Pick their brains. Talk with others about what theyre doing, and share what youve been working on as well. Talk with your principal about instituting some sort of peer coaching program, formal or informal. Build bridges across your school district or with other schools. In addition to collaborating with teachers within your building, find ways to establish connections with teachers in other schools. Seek out ways to visit other schools to observe their practices. Infuse technology into your teaching. The opportunities to bring technology into the classroom today are seemingly endless. Spice up your units and lessons by taking a virtual field trip somewhere or by incorporating blogging, an app, or other tech tools. Get ideas from your schools technology teacher or see if he or she might like to co-teach a lesson. Read teacher blogs for new ideas, tips, and resources. There are many excellent ones out there that will get your creative juices flowing and get you excited about teaching and making an impact on students. Whether you seek instructional inspiration or technology tips, there are many blogs that can help you. Need a boost? Try one or several of the above. Youll get this school year off to a positive start, and your students will notice the difference!

How Do We Learn Language 5 Key Tips That Unlock Your Brains Potential

How Do We Learn Language 5 Key Tips That Unlock Your Brains Potential How Do We Learn Language? Heres What Modern Linguists and Learners Have to Say It seems like magic.Crazy multilingual hyperpolyglots are learning six or seven or twenty languages.Others only learn one or two, but they  learn them  to exceptionally high levels of fluency,  with the  accent and local slang to pass for natives.Babies, otherwise unable to do literally a single useful thing for themselves, make the leap from babbling poop machines to creators  of fluent sentences seemingly overnight.Even retirees, old enough to be the great grandparents of the freshest generation of two-year-olds approaching fluency in their native languages, are learning new languages later in life  and doing it well.Which raises the question: how do we genius humans, with our big brains and advanced societies, learn language?The answer to that question is complicated, but we can tell you one thing outright: you dont need to be wildly intelligent, especially talented or good at languages to learn a language.The specifics of how you personally set out to learn a foreign language are particular to you, but for the most part, we all learn language through the same series of biological, cognitive and social processes that work exactly the same across cultures and individuals.Now, learning our first language as a child is a different feat entirely than  setting out to learn a foreign tongue as an adult. But to really get a grip on whats going on when were learning foreign languages as adults, it helps to understand not just how we naturally acquire our mother tongue, but also why language is both unique to humans and ubiquitous in our societies. Learning Language: The Thing That Makes Us Human?You could argue that when youre learning a language, youre at your most human.Language is something we all share as humans, and alongside our fancy opposable thumbs its one of the core characteristics that make us just a bit cooler than all the other animals.Today there are around seven thousand languages spoken around  the world, including sounds and grammatical features that can seem distinctly alien to the languages many of us are familiar with, yet all languages are  in nearly every way more similar than contrasting.Starting with the most fundamental fact, any healthy human child exposed to any language anywhere in the world will always, always learn language. Theres never once been a kid who just never quite picked it up, and there never will be.It doesnt stop there: did you know that children learn many linguistic structures in the exact same order  throughout the world, regardless of their language?The facts that language is universal in human societies and that we all learn it in the same way are two of the biggest pieces of evidence for the theory of Universal Grammar, one of the concepts that launched MIT linguist Noam Chomsky to fame. Universal Grammar argues that humans are born with an innate ability to learn languages and that the mechanisms that identify and interpret grammar are hardwired into the brain.While there are tons of argumen ts (some more compelling and exciting than others) for different interpretations of human language, Chomskys theory is and has been the near-consensus among linguists since the 1970s.Regardless of diverging thoughts on where it comes from, most of modern linguistics is in agreement that human language is essentially a system of symbols used to communicate. We use words like apple, pomme  and ????? as symbols to point our minds to the delicious red fruit that actually has no inherent relationship to the word were saying. Its just an apple or a pomme or whatever else because we say it is.You could say that its this capacity for symbolic thought that makes us human, allowing us to  use sounds, pictures, letters and other abstract representations of things or ideas that arent right in front of us.As we climb towards fluency in our first language or any other, were learning how to use and understand these symbols to communicate with others and interact with the world around us. And thats important for how we think about how we learn a language.How Do We Learn Language? Heres What Modern Linguists and Learners Have to SayChild Language Acquisition: How We All Learned Our Native Language Without Cracking a BookNobody ever had to learn how to learn their first language. It happens whether we like it or not.One of the reasons babies are so good at language learning is neurological: babies brains enjoy some special tech upgrades. While all of us were born with them, we lost them somewhere between diapers and high school Spanish.Babies, like all humans, are experts at statistical learning: observing the overwhelming amounts of linguistic information theyre presented with every day and making exceptionally accurate generalizations about the patterns they deduce. Every time you say bottle with bottle in hand, the infant brain jots down some notes on the possible relationship between the sounds its hearing and their possible relationship to that object in Moms hand.But they re also busy investigating when you use in versus  on, why you sometimes call yourself I and sometimes me, and what happens when a familiar verb gets an -ing at the end of it.Listening, analyzing and collecting statistical samples is only half of the story of child language learning.We can think of the other half as the use it or lose it principle.In combination with the masses of statistical data they gather, children employ social language learning strategies to truly master their mother tongues. This is the reason behind another universal linguistic truth: no child will ever learn a language without human interaction.Its through combining the statistical with the social that babies finally start taking off at breakneck speed and using their language to interact with other humans around one year of age. Want milk makes Daddy bring the bottle, again makes Mommy come back for another round of peek-a-boo and whats that becomes the key to unlocking all the worlds secrets.Adult Languag e Acquisition: How We Learn Language, How We Cant and How We ShouldThe two key components of child language acquisitionâ€"statistical and social learningâ€"are the same ones at play when adults learn languages. But both the adult brain and, more importantly, the adult social life feature some key differences from those of children.Adult language learning is basically the same game, just  with different rules.Being a grown-up is hard: why we cant learn language exactly like babies doSetting out to learn a language like a baby is a great strategy, as long as you remember that youre doing it  like a baby, with the differences between child and adult language learning in mind.Since both the statistical nuts and bolts and the social use of language are the main cruxes of language learning, you may not be surprised that they figure in differently to the lives of three-year-olds and thirty-year-olds.Its understanding these differences that can help you learn a language like your younger se lf.Here are some of the key differences adult language learners should be aware  of as they embark on learning a new language:Adults already speak at least one language fluently. Yes, you already have some language skills. But this can actually be a problem. One way of explaining why babies always beat us in language learning is that we as adults are actually so incredibly good at our mother tongues that it confuses the way we think about language in general. Your first language hardwires your brain for language learning and has a huge impact on any language learning that follows.Adults respond to social sanctioning, where children mostly dont. Babies arent afraid to make mistakes. If it takes them two tries or twenty to get a grammar rule or a pronunciation down, theyll keep coming back until theyve got it. Adults, on the other hand, are particularly susceptible to shame and embarrassment. Were afraid of looking stupid in front of others, so we protect ourselves by using a new lang uage too conservatively (being afraid to try out new words and forms we think we might understand) or not speaking at all.Adults communicate in mostly equal relationships. A babys main conversation partners are her parents and other adults, who naturally adapt their speech to accommodate childrens less advanced linguistic abilities. Adults, on the other hand, are used to communicating as equals. The vast majority of your speech exchanges in a foreign language force you to engage with the same level and speed of speech as native speakers.Other things demand our attention. Babies as a group tend to have sky-high unemployment rates, which means theyre free to dedicate absolutely all of their time to learning their mother tongue. For adults, between jobs and errands and relationships and the thousand other things we need to do every day just to keep ourselves afloat, finding the time to learn a language can be a challenge.Adults have to try. This is the biggest difference: a baby just n eeds to hang around for a couple years not doing much of anything, and their linguistically awesome brains take care of the learning for them. As adults, our brains are less plastic and more resistant to change, which means we have to push them, and sometimes all that trying just makes things worse.In essence, how adults and children learn language is really the same. We observe native speakers,  identify patterns in the language (statistical learning) and then we test those patterns by interacting with other people, using their feedback to correct and better nuance the patterns weve deduced (social learning).What really changes between childhood and adulthood is both our brains and our lives.But the first doesnt change as much as you might think, and we have enough control over the second to keep it from  squashing our multilingual ambitions.Brain plasticity and the critical period: the neuro-acrabatics of  how we learn languageIf theres one specific thing that separates how childr en learn language from how we as adults learn language, its the critical period.The critical period of language learning refers to the period of a childs life, from birth until somewhere between age 5 and puberty according to various experts, in which theyre uniquely neurologically prepared to acquire a language. Studies show that there is in fact a critical period for all language learning, even sign language.The trademark feature of the critical period is what gives babies their ultimate language learning advantage: increased brain plasticity.This means that babies brains are uniquely adapted to growing and changing quickly, whereas our adult brains generally become less plastic over time. And physically growing your brain isnt just one of the benefits of learning a language, but also a requirement for it.So, how do we as adults account for our decreased brain plasticity and the practical factors that make it harder for us to learn languages?5 Key Language Learning Tips That Unloc k Your Brains PotentialUsing what we know about how both adults and children learn language, we can  make our brains learn language faster and better as adults.The  following  lessons and tips  are all aimed at navigating the constraints of learning a language as an adult,  increasing your brain plasticity  and doing your best to incorporate the strategies of a child language learner into the life and reality of an adult language learner:Even though our brains mechanisms for language learning are severely weakened around puberty, we can re-strengthen them as adults.  Just by starting to learn a new language youre reawakening these parts of your brain. Borrowing learning strategies from child learners helps the process.Retraining your brain to learn second languages more easily, like you did as a child, might be one of the best language learning advantages you can give yourself.Adults and children both rely heavily on statistical learning, but they do so in very different ways. Babie s brains are like sponges, whereas adults are more like cups: dump liters and liters of language on and around the first and itll get soaked up, but the second is useless unless the language is poured directly and purposefully into it.Adult language learners need to actively pursue and dedicate time to their language learning, as well as  acquire language input purposefully.Social interaction is indispensable, but it works differently for adults and children. Babies lives are filled with a few unequal relationships with caretakers and loved ones who become personally attuned to the childs speech and learning. Its like having a flock of attentive, patient and understanding personal tutors round the clock.Adults, however, lack the guiding light of motherese,  and instead have to use their language to navigate complicated adult interactions. Adult learners need extra patience and dedication for getting through these interactions, especially in the earlier stages of learning.While most adults can only recognize speech sounds present in their own language, your ears can be reset to learn new speech sounds naturally. Part of learning a language as a baby is strategically narrowing the range of speech sounds listened to and focusing in on the ones that matter in your language, but you can retrain your ears and regain your ability to recognize and interpret new sounds that you havent previously given meaning to.Adult learners must be prepared to work extra hard to both understand and be able to pronounce new sounds in the languages they learn.Adults can achieve native-like fluency in a language learned later in life, but only under certain circumstances. Certain immersive language situations can lead adult language learners to develop native-like pronunciation, usage and even psycho-linguistic processing of a second language. Some learners who also follow other best practices attain and retain the brain activity patterns of native speakers, which may also imply a nati ve-like understanding of the language. Adult learners generally benefit most from immersion or immersion-like learning settings.Its true that there are a lot of important differences between how children and adult learn languages, and its clear that babies have some distinct advantages over older learners, but adults also enjoy certain language learning advantages over their tiny crawling counterparts.While its been a popular urban myth for decades that only children can  really  learn languages and learn them, well, nowadays we can definitively say we know better.Language is inherently human, and humans are always changing, which might be why were able to miraculously revive our childlike abilities for language acquisition and literally grow and reshape our brains when we want to or need to.So, now that you know a bit more about what learning a language looks like inside your head, you can start learning a foreign language today! And One More ThingSo you really want to learn a la nguage? Then its time to check out FluentU!FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.With FluentU, you hear languages in real-world contextsâ€"the way that native speakers actually use them.Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of FluentU videos on offer:FluentU really takes the grunt work out of learning languages, leaving you with nothing but engaging, effective and efficient learning. It’s already hand-picked the best videos for you and organized them by level and topic. All you have to do is choose any video that strikes your fancy to get started!Each word in the interactive captions comes with a definition, audio, image, example sentences and more.Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab, and easily review words and phrases from the video under Vocab.You can use FluentU’s unique adaptive quizzes to learn the vocabulary and phrases from the video through fun questions and exercises. Just swipe left or right to see more examples of the word youre studying.The program even keeps track of what you’re learning and tells you exactly when it’s time for review, giving you a 100% personalized experience.Start using FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes store  or  Google Play store.

4 Best YouTube Channels to Learn a Language

4 Best YouTube Channels to Learn a Language The 4 Best YouTube Channels to Learn a Language YouTube. Its everyones favorite video sharing site.But YouTube is for so much more than uploading videos of ill-advised stunts.Its also a language students dream come true.An endless supply of free learning material? Yes, please!With YouTube, you can learn virtually any language you can think of. You can  learn English. There are channels to  learn Spanish. You can become  fluent in German,  practice your French  or take on Italian.At the risk of getting repetitive, suffice it to say, you can learn an awful lot of languages. You can even get inspired to learn multiple languages with  polyglot channels. Types of Channels You Can Use to Learn a Language on YouTubeWhenever you use YouTube, you have some options for what sorts of channels you want to watch. Here are some of the top types of channels for language learners.One popular type of language channel is one  specifically for language learners. These channels focus on teaching you specific grammar rules and vocabulary. They offer material for beginning through advanced students.If youre looking to learn a language from scratch, language learning channels will guide you through the journey. More advanced students can benefit from targeted grammar lessons, thematic vocabulary lists and listening activities.Other channels that are great for language learners are  channels that offer subtitled films and TV shows in your target language. These channels offer authentic, real-world videos with the additional support of having the meaning right in front of you. These are great for intermediate language learners who are looking to practice their skills without getting in over their heads.The final type of YouTube channel thats great for language learners is native channels. Channels by native speakers of your target language and intended for other native speakers (and arent necessarily focused on language topics) are a useful tool for advanced students wanting to perfect their skills with authentic content.5 Tips to Learn a Language on YouTubeSelect a quality channelNot all channels are created equal. If youre going to invest time in learning a language on YouTube, its worth finding the best resources.To determine whether a channel is high quality, look at comments and ratings. YouTubers can be pretty vocal, so if something is wrong with a video, chances are that users will post about it in the comments section.Youll also notice that videos from the best channels get thousands of hits. They also have a lot of subscribers, since others usually notice the high quality.Consider including multiple channels in your learning planRemember: no one said you can watch only one YouTube channel. In fact, the more, the merrier!Watching multiple channels will expose you to more speakers. This in turn will make it easier for you to understand a wide array of speakers in real-life settings.Additionally, each channel offers a different approach and covers different topics, so channels often complement each oth er rather than compete.Ensure you watch videos covering grammar, vocabulary and pronunciationIn language learning, balance is key.Its easy to fall into the habit of watching just one type of video, but doing so will make your learning less complete.Many channels alternate between different types of lessons to provide a well-rounded experience, allowing you to just watch videos in order without having to make sure your lessons are balanced. If youre picking and choosing videos, though, youll need to pay attention to what sort of videos youre watching to ensure your skills stay balanced.Speak along with videosSpeaking to a video may feel awkward, but speaking up is the key to success.One pitfall of YouTube videos is that they dont always help you practice your speaking skills. Luckily, you have the power to transform these videos into speaking practice by speaking along with the videos.For vocabulary and grammar videos, be sure to repeat what the speaker says. If youre enjoying listen ing activities that focus on general discussion, you might try pausing and responding to the speaker.If youre uncomfortable speaking along with the video, you could also speak your thoughts on the video once its over. As long as youre talking, youre progressing.Engage in the comments sectionWriting is another skill that YouTube doesnt always help you with, but that doesnt mean you cant transform YouTube to get what you want from it (which is obviously writing practice)! Simply use the comments section.Engaging in the comments section can not only help you practice writing in your target language, it can also help you connect with other learners. These other learners might be able to provide you with additional language practice and/or answer your questions along your learning journey, so participating in the comments section is a win-win.Use FluentUFluentU is a place where you can find the best of authentic YouTube content in your target language, learn with it and keep track of how much youve learned.  FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks  in addition to learning from content intended for language students.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that real people speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that yo u’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.The 4 Best YouTube Channels to Learn a LanguageInnovative LanguageInnovative Language offers multiple channels covering multiple languages, and its updated frequently. You cant get much better than that.Beginning lessons teach you the basics, like the alphabet and how to introduce yourself. Other videos cover thematically-grouped vocabulary words. Innovative Languages grammar videos and listening practice will round out your language experience.Plus, Innovative Language has you covered whether youre looking to learn a common language or even a less common one. With 34 language channels, you have options. These options include English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, among other popular languages. However, you also have less common language options like Thai, Indonesian, Afrikaans and Swahili.Learn LanguagesLearn Languages offers vocabulary videos that focu s on thematically-grouped words.Topics tend to be very specific and include things like weatherproof clothing, types of wood and museum services. Since many YouTube channels focus primarily on broad, general terms, Learn Languages is a terrific resource for more advanced students looking to expand their vocabularies to more specialized, unique areas. Where else would you find a video for Italian warship vocabulary?However, Learn Languages also offers videos for beginning learners looking to learn common words like numbers.Learn Languages offers videos to help viewers learn English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Russian, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean and Hindi.Easy LanguagesEasy Languages provides useful videos to help beginners learn a language and to help intermediate and advanced students perfect their skills.Easy Languages has several different types of videos. Some focus on introducing the alphabet, pronunciation and basic words and phrases. Other videos are on-location, whether that be on the street or in an apartment. These videos discuss topics like special events and everyday activities.Videos are captioned in the target language and in English. Additionally, hosts speak slowly and clearly. This makes Easy Languages approachable for any level of language learner.Easy Languages has loads of European, Latin American, Asian and African language options, so its likely theyll have your language of choice!Travel LinguistTravel Linguist aims to equip travelers with the vocabulary theyll need to enjoy a trip.Because of this focus, Travel Linguist videos are intended to teach beginning students basic vocabulary. If you want to learn a few common words in a language to see if you like it, Travel Linguist is a good jumping off point.Most videos are very brief, focusing on just one word per video. This will give you more time to memorize the word instead of focusing on multiple words in a single video. Plus, each one offers the English word, the word in the target language and audio pronunciation.The vocabulary options focus mostly on fairly common words, but they also include some words that would probably never occur to you that you might need. For instance, if youre going to France and you like to shop, the French word for shoe size will surely come in handy.Travel Linguist offers learning materials for 15 languages, including Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Czech, Polish, Russian, Greek, Turkish, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian and Tagalog.So the next time youre on YouTube, check out some of these language learning videos. Your language skills could go viral!