Friday, March 27, 2020

Troubleshooting the Tutor Funeral Home in Pontotoc, MS

Troubleshooting the Tutor Funeral Home in Pontotoc, MSThe death of a loved one has been difficult enough without having to put up with the funeral arrangements or to deal with the reaction of the next family member. If you are getting ready to hire a tutor funeral home in Pontotoc, MS, there are a few things that you should know. Often times, funeral homes can be less than honest with families and when you are the grieving parent, you need someone who will be straight to the point with you and provide you with honest answers about what is going on. You don't have to have an answer all the time but it's nice to have someone you can turn to at any time for assistance.In the funeral home that I spoke with, they were very honest with me and told me the truth about the service. They mentioned that the service would be two hours and was filled with references from friends of their family and even a video that their son did while he was alive. They wanted my opinion and advised me that afte r the viewing they would set up a home visitation so that I could meet my son before the funeral.I had planned to have the entire time with my son and gave them the time I needed. I went out with my son, my husband and another friend and the entire time we were out together he was talking about his son, telling stories and at the end he gave me a kiss and said he loved me. It was very touching and after the service he came over to me and gave me a hug and asked if I would see him tomorrow. He said he felt better after the service and it would give me a good feeling to see my son.The first time I saw him was at the funeral home after the viewing and I couldn't wait to go home and tell my friends about it. My son is very upset that we didn't get a chance to see him and is upset that we didn't get to say goodbye to him on this special day. time He still can't believe that it wasn't a service and instead there was just time to sit down and chat. The gentleman with whom I met and the fun eral home employee were both very kind and they told me to come back if I wanted to, but I didn't want to and I still have not returned. I called several times since then and have not gotten an answer. I feel cheated and I do not feel comfortable talking to anybody else, but this is a sad situation.When you are dealing with a tutor funeral home, keep in mind that if you have been previously deceived by the funeral home staff, you will most likely receive the same treatment. You might have to deal with more one-on-one interaction with the staff, but don't let this discourage you.Keep in mind that the tutor funeral home is just that, a place to get you through this difficult time. You don't have to discuss your feelings and you don't have to make decisions for the family. The staff is there to provide you with all the assistance that you need, and to help the family find closure. The funeral home does not have a conscience, so you might as well take the information to heart and avoid other similar situations in the future.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Tutoring the Large Data Set Amirs Story

Tutoring the Large Data Set Amir's Story The Large Data Set is a new A-Level specification which requires students to  analyse a large data and demonstrate that they are comfortable with it.   Those who study the Large Data Set can benefit from  a material  advantage through understanding how it works and how to interpret it. Amir S  is a Tutorfair Maths tutor who teaches the Large Data Set - here, he speaks to us about his contribution at ARK Evelyn Grace Academy in Brixton. A former programme director at CATS College London and  a private tutor for years, I decided to give something back!   Therefore, supporting the Foundation's Top Set Tutoring at ARK Evelyn Grace Academy seemed like a perfect fit! How was your first day at ARK Evelyn Grace Academy? My first day at ARK Evelyn Grace Academy went really well.   I worked with Lazaros Vastavos, the Director of Maths and had an in-depth discussion about the Large Data Set.   Together, we  agreed on running  a few  sessions to help with exam preparation. Initially, I thought I'd commit to volunteering for a couple of lessons  per week but this was to change quickly.   Seeing how  the students    had enjoyed  the support  made me decide  that I would  help out at the school for  two full days  per week. The Large Data Set (LDS) For my second session at ARK Evelyn Grace Academy, I ran a workshop on the Large Data Set  for  Year 13 students.  The purpose of this workshop was to help  students prepare  for the upcoming exams. Students  explored the Large Data Set and  learnt how to work with  and interpret it.   They also had the opportunity to consolidate their learning by practising some sample exam questions based on the new A-Level specification.   In addition, students were  provided with a workbook for independent learning. I also conducted a short training session for some teachers at ARK Evelyn Grace Academy. What are you currently working on? Besides delivering lessons, I am creating an  online workbook for Y13 students to help structure their A-Level revision.  Furthermore, I'm working  alongside the Director of Maths to generate resources for A-Level Maths. What will you be working on this term? Going forward, I will be providing support   to teachers at Evelyn Grace Academy and assist with the Large Data Set.   I will also support Year 13 students with group based interventions, including one to one support. More information  about The Large Data Set Further information on the Large Data Set for AQA can be found here.   Click here if you would like to find out about Edexcel's Large Data Set. Further information on how to teach statistics using large data sets can be found here. Would you like support from the Tutorfair Foundation? If you would like to benefit from support for the next academic year,   fill in this short form and one of our team members will be in touch with you.

Learn English Words and Phrases connected to the Christmas Party

Learn English Words and Phrases connected to the Christmas Party The end of the year is approaching quickly and December is typically the month for the annual  Christmas bash  (party). Here are some English words and phrases connected with this very British  tradition. This party can be a tame affair (quiet party) where the office is small or the people are of a  certain age  (middle aged) or a real knees up  (lots of singing and dancing) where the office is larger  and the age range among the staff is quite varied.Some people love them and others hate them. Those who have been working for many years tend  to know what to expect and think oh, here we go again !  (not so happy it is that time of the year)  and the younger and newer staff members see it as an opportunity to meet their colleagues in a  more informal setting and let their hair down  (get in the party mood). Christmas Party English Words and Phrases Don't keep this to yourself, share it with the world! There are always two types of people; the party poopers  (those who never attend) and the party  animal  (who never needs an excuse for a party). You need the party animals to get everything  started and these are usually the life and soul of the party, first up to dance first to sing and first  to get drunk. Getting drunk is not obligatory but usually happens quite regularly and if controlled  why not, after all it is Christmas!The party may be in the office so the bosses bring in outside caterers to provide the food and drink.  This is usually finger food  (small bites to eat). The alternative is to go to a local hotel or other venue  for the revelry  (the fun and enjoyment). Here the catering may be a sit down meal  (tables and chairs  and waiter service). The conversation is usually loud the music even louder and the beer flowing if it  is a free bar  (company paying for all the drinks).The problems usually occur the morning after  (the next morning). People trying to remember wh o  they spoke to last, what did they say in the hope they did not put their foot in it  (insult someone or  say something they should not have said). Some need the hair of dog  (a drink of alcohol supposed  to cure the hangover they undoubtedly have). Others are laughing at the funny photo’s now in  circulation on the mobile phones.Well, wherever you go and what ever you do enjoy it and enter into the Christmas Spirit  (enjoy it). Party Pooper Idiom Meaning Don't keep this to yourself, share it with the world!

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Online Language Training 16 Quality Sites You Can Mix and Match

Online Language Training 16 Quality Sites You Can Mix and Match 16 Superb Sites That Provide Professional, Affordable Online Language Training Is completely and fully learning a language online even possible?Is there enough material online so an absolute beginner can soon sound like a native speaker?Not only that, but can online language training actually be the best way to learn a language?By the end of this post, you’ll be able to answer these questions for yourself. The Advantages of Online Language TrainingIt’s cheapFor all the value it gives you, for the unparalleled insights into languages it offers, online training is remarkably cheap.Just how cheap? Well, many sites give the whole shebang for free! And even if some sites charge a little, what they offer far outweighs what they’re asking for. Thank your lucky stars that you were born at a time when all this is possible.To study a language properly, you used to need to enroll in a class, drive or catch the bus to that institution every day, mark your schedule and  pack some food to go. Learning had so many attendant costs that it turned off many. Today, we rea lly can’t blurt the “it’s too expensive” line because the cost of learning a language has sunk so low it’s now within the reach of everybody.It’s accessibleTechnology has ensured that you can learn a language in your pajamas, on the bus or while having your coffee. The material is so ubiquitous that its virtually impossible to escape it.So, no more driving to class, no more getting stuck in traffic on the way there. In fact, a traffic jam can be a boon for the language learner as they  can spend it learning how to say “hello” in a dozen different languages.Today, your classroom is your bed, or that spot where you stand on the train, or your place in line at the ATM, or even the bathroom. Online language training is so accessible you can have it anywhere, anytime. This virtual classroom never closes, never has holidays and never does lunch breaks.It’s customizableThere’s always something for everybody. You learn better with videos? You got it! You love listening t o podcasts and looking so cool with those really big headphones? You got it!You really have full control of your curriculum, how fast you go, what you want to study next, everything! You can assemble your lessons and mix and match elements from different programs, courses and media. You can do virtually anything so you have the most personal language program that meets all your requirements and quirks for learning.No cookie-cutter solutions here. You don’t have to take those methods or approaches that don’t resonate with you. You’re empowered to chart a personal route to fluency.Next, let’s see what’s available online so you can do just that.16 Superb Sites That Provide Professional, Affordable Online Language TrainingedXEdX is a leading online course provider, hosting university-level courses in  a wide range of disciplines (e.g. science, business, psychology, philosophy). The site is associated with revered institutions like Harvard, MIT and Berkeley, and it has self-pac ed courses for English, Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish and Italian language learners.The Italian Beginner Course, for example, touches on the four basic language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing)  by giving you a mix of video, audio and written material. You have situational videos where you follow eight Italian students as they go about their daily activities, giving you a chance to hear authentic Italian conversations. There’s also a discussion board where you get the chance to hone your Italian by interacting with fellow students and discussing  suggested topics.EdX courses come free of charge, although you’ll have to shell out $49 if you want to go for a verified, instructor-signed certificate as proof of the work you’ve done. As with everything else online, the choice is yours. Click here to check out what's currently available on EdX!Foreign Service InstituteThe courses here are brought to you by the United States government, as part of the effort to encourage people  to  learn worldwide languages.The site itself is pretty basic and a little dated, but what it lacks in interface it more than makes up for with the long list of languages it carries. Over and above major languages like Spanish, German and French, the FSI site also features courses in Amharic, Chinyanja, Fula and Hausa. So if you’re feeling hard-pressed to find material for lesser-known languages, then the FSI site is a good place to drop by.The material here mostly comes in the form of audio files, so if you’re the type who delights in listening to lessons while relaxing on your bed, this would work just fine.FluentUFluentU provides rich, engaging, video-based courses in French, German, Chinese, Spanish, English, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Italianâ€"and will soon be offering Arabic and Portuguese.FluentU makes it possible to learn languages from music videos, commercials, news, inspiring talks and more.With FluentU, you hear languages in real-world contextsâ€"t he 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, gi ving 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.DuolingoDuolingo is easily one of the most popular language learning website-slash-apps on the planet with its number of registers users at 120 million strong. It offers free,  bite-sized lessons in some popular languages including Spanish, French, German and Italian (but sadly there are no Chinese or Japanese courses yet).Duolingo teaches and tests skills in listening, reading, writing and translating. You can even get some speaking and pronunciation practice here.All the lessons are “gamified,” so  there’s a variety of game-like challenges given  to train your  different language skills.  As you go, heart-shaped meters tell you how much “life” you have left in the game.  You gain “experience points” (XP) every time you finish a lesson, and you can use these to unlock bonus games and cool new packs of vocabulary to learn.When you answer a question incorrectly, there’s instant feedback during the challenge which will point out why you made a mistake and how you can improve. Still confused? Check out the forum discussion below, where natives and learners alike discuss each question and its answer.YouTubeYouTube. Hey, it’s not just for Vine compilations, viral videos and cute cats chasing laser pointers. It’s also a melting pot of language learning videos.Whatever tongue you’re trying to learn, chances are, there’s a native speaker with a dedicated channel for it. So whether it’s German, French, Spanish or Chinese, somebody has uploaded videos to get you up to speed.And if it’s cultural insights into the language you’re interested in, YouTube is practically unbeatable in this regard. There’s no shortage of native speakers, pointing webcams at their faces, explaining the nuances of their mother tongue like no textbook can. They can take you places and teach you phrases you’ll find in no language program.In YouTube, you’ve got the total amateur, semi-professional, total professional and even big language learning companies converging to give you lessons non-stop.Keep in mind that, if you love the YouTube method, FluentU pulls a great deal of its video content from this site and makes it even more approachable  for learners.iTunesApple wanted the giant media library to contain “everything you need to be entertained.”It might as well have said, “Everything you need to learn a language.”iTunes houses whats probably the largest collection of language learning audiobooks and podcasts in the history of mankind. It continues to grow as more and more language content developers make their voices heard via the media.If your idea of learning is donning your earphones while busying yourself with something else, then iTunes provides you with endless choices. German podcasts?  French audiobooks? Spanish songs? Forget cassette tapes. With iTunes, you can download lessons and learn vocabulary on the go, or pick up useful phrases on the plane before landing in your destination country.ForvoHow do you pronounce the Swedish auto brand Koenigsegg?Forvo has  the answer.Its the largest pronunciation database online, with the goal of having all the words in the world pronounced by their respective native speakers.For the language learner who wants to attain native-level fluency and neutralize their native tongues accent, this is an indispensable tool. You can compare how you pronounce a word with how a native speaker does it. You can even take a listen and compare how different dialects and accents from different regions pronounce the same word in the same language.Like, how do you really pronounce the word “potato?” Find out here!InnovativeLanguage.comSince  its inception in 2005, Innovative Language has become one of the leading language learning content providers today, offering fun and effective lessons i n over 30 different languages. Just to give you a taste of whats available, theres:Spanishpod101Frenchpod101Germanpod101Chineseclass101Russianpod101It focuses on featuring audio and video material made by professional teachers, and its one of the most prolific and consistent language sites in the game. They teach grammar, vocabulary, everyday conversations, real-life situations and culture. So, basically, youve got all your  bases covered.Although they have a paid version of the service, thousands of professionally produced audios and videos are given absolutely free.You can benefit from this flood of language content regardless of your state of fluencyâ€"they’ve got something for absolute beginners as well as advanced learners.AnkiIn the old days, when you needed to memorize vocabulary, you would resort to flashcards. You’d take out a cardboard, a pair of scissors and some colored pens. Today, all of thats digitized and you’ve got apps like Anki.Anki  means “memorization” in Japanese, and what an apt name indeed. Its the leading flashcard application today, and language learners can take full advantage of its unique, multimedia features by  having videos, images and sound on their  digital flashcards. The vocabulary decks you make can be shared, and you can study with decks  made by other learners.Anki uses a little something special called  spaced repetition. Cards don’t appear randomly, but according to your mastery of them. Those that you find difficult (because you often give the wrong answer for them) will show up more often. Those cards that you consistently answer correctly will appear less often. This means youre focusing on the specific parts of the deck that needed more studyâ€"and youre not overstudying terms you already know.MemriseWith Memrise, you can take your pick of  100+ languages.The app can make any time of the day or night the right time for learning, combining all the different types of media (images, videos, sounds, texts, e tc.) to make it very hard for users hard to forget a word.Say youre learning the Spanish word,  el gato  (cat). Youll have all the sensory inputs going for youâ€"an image of a cat will appear, you’ll have a written pronunciation guide and youll listen to  an audio file  so you’ll hear how  el gato  is actually pronounced by natives.Just to hammer the vocabulary into your memory, you’ll be tested many different ways. You’ll be shown a picture of a cat and have to select the correct word from a list. Sometimes you’ll be given a scramble of letters and you’ll have to figure out what the correct word is based on the image.Like Anki, Memrise will adapt to your mastery of specific words, making the things youve learned always pop up for review in a manner thats fresh, timely and essential. The app will come at you with  all sorts of angles and games to make the learning not only fun, but also really effective. It’s a must-have flashcard app for every language learner.Quizlet Quizlet is a “gamified” flashcard app that can be used to memorize a whole lot of different subjects, not just languages. The app has been a study buddy for those bound to take exams like the SAT, ACT and GRE.But its in the learning of languages that Quizlet shines brightest, supporting over 18 different languages. After all, it was initially coded by Andrew Sutherland when his French teacher required that he memorize 111 animal names.You begin by creating your own set of material or picking from the database of cards created by fellow users. There are three  modes you can choose from: Cards Mode, where you study traditional flashcards with translations accompanying the vocabulary, Learn Mode, where you type in the actual answers, and the Game Mode, where you play games and pair up  words and  pictures.italkiThe popular language exchange site italki brings teachers and learners together.Signing up is a breeze, and then youll be able to look for native speakers to converse with ( for free), tutors and  professional teachers. You can make some cool friends (again, free) or book some paid lessons to start face-to-face learning via Skype.Those who want to teach can create a profile and make themselves available to anybody interested in their specific language of instruction. As a language learner, you can help others by offering conversation in  your  mother tongue in exchange for conversation in someone elses  native  language (namely, your target language). For this latter option, no money is exchanged, only languagesâ€"thus the term “language exchange.”The MixxerThis one is hosted by Dickinson College, and everyone’s both a student and a teacher.No need to be shy. To find your language partner, contact several users  and tell them about your availability and your target language.The site is navigable in  nine languages, so  you can explore it easily even if your first language isn’t English. One more excellent feature  of the site is that it displays the people who are presently online, specifying their native language and the languages theyre seeking to learn.Give The Mixxer a try, and you’re sure to find a kindred soul.Easy Language Exchange“It all starts on Easy Language Exchange,” touts the home page.And it could very well start thereâ€"learning a language could, I mean. The site gives you the chance to find your partner right on the very first page. Simply pick from a list of 22 languages to get started. Youll find plenty of people to practice Russian, Vietnamese, Arabic and Chineseâ€"no sweat.Conversationexchange.comHere you can choose from three different ways of corresponding with your language buddy. You can do the penpal route, if you want to improve your reading and writing skills. Select the other two, the  audio and video conversation options, for richer interactions.Authentic Language SitesThe Web is bursting at the seams with authentic content in all world languages.There are sites, blogs, videos, audios, g ames, social media accounts and more run by the native speakers of almost any language. These sites are authentic by virtue of being curated by natives, and because theyre intended to be read by fellow  native speakers of the language.For example, you might opt for a YouTube channel run by an Italian fashion guru speaking to  fellow Italians, a blog by a Spanish lady who  chronicles her daily life for friends and family, a 5-minute cooking lesson by a German woman for all German mothers pressed by time or a Japanese news segment that was originally broadcast to  Japanese audiences.You’ll notice that the language learner isnt the intended audience. Truly authentic content is made for native speakers. There’s no slowing down of pronunciations, no conscious use of simple words to accommodate language beginners, no lessons on usage, grammar or vocabulary. The native speaker simply lets words flow from their mouth with full confidence that theyre  being understood by their  audience. Now, contrast this with a textbook, where each word and its function in the sentence is explained. Or compare this with a Spanish-language podcast for beginners, where the speaker artificially slows down their  speech, clearly articulating each syllable so the listeners can catch up and follow along.The language learner can benefit from studying material that isnt meant for learners. You  can actually hear what Italian sounds like when its being used by native speakers to communicate with each other. There’s no sugarcoating. It’s language in its natural habitat, not in the sterilized air of a language classroom.What do native speakers read in their own language? Those are your sources of authentic material.  For example, if you’re learning Spanish, then go for Spanish magazines, Spanish shows and Spanish news.You have just been immersed in the flood of language materials, lessons and support online.Indeed, you can learn a new language by training online.Many people have done i t, many are doing it.So the only question left is, what are you going to do about it?

Teach Away International School

Teach Away International School Teach Away International School Welcome to Teach Away International School. We havediverse student, faculty, and parent communities. Regardless of what continent, nationality, or cultural background one comes from, our goal is to provide an educational experience that meets the academic, social, physical and emotional needs of every student. This goal provides our focus as we develop our curriculum, plan our instruction, and develop our co-curricular activities. We students with a comprehensive university preparatory education utilising best practices in education. Our school is a partnership of excellent staff, committed parents, and dedicated students. Our students are challenged to reach their maximum potential through academic growth, becoming socially responsible and active global citizens. The International Baccalaureate programme gives our students a programme of study recognized around the world for its excellence. Webelieve it is the close relationships between students, faculty, and parents that makes us unique from other schools. The size of our school and the size of our classes allow students and teachers to form close relationships where it is possible for every student to be known and nurtured. In addition, we are able to have close ties with our parent community so that parents, teachers, and students are all closely involved in the education of each child.

?? Top Tips to Steer Clear from Drum Related Hand Pain

?? Top Tips to Steer Clear from Drum Related Hand Pain Top Tips to Steer Clear from Drum Related Hand Pain Most drummers, who are true to the art of playing, know that drum related hand pain is imminent thelonger you play a set. It is quite frustrating, whether you play a lot or you are getting olderwhen the dreaded drum pains start to course through your hands.Your hands are essential when holding drumsticks andkeeping the rhythm going strong.Fortunately, there are ways to help with this pain, so you can rock out exactly how you like!There's no need to reach for the Ibuprofen.Consider these top tips to help you eliminate pain moving forward...#1â€" Limit Your Phone UseAs phones take over our lives more and more every day, our bodies are starting to break down quicker than everbefore.Texting and swiping left and right is causing tendonitis and carpal tunnel in people that are waytoo young to exhibit these problems.Try spending less time on social media and more time honing your skillson the trap. Your hands will thank you in the long run.#2 â€" Pick Some New SticksSome people stick with t he same sticks over time. However, as you get older, it helps to add new sticks to your repertoire.Thin sticks are big culprits for making human hands hurt. Sure, theymight be comfortable to use, but new, heavier sticks can help lessen the blow. Furthermore, limit youruse of slick lacquer drumsticks and use more matte finishes. Drumsticks with a matte finish allow forbetter grip instead of the traditional slick lacquer which can get slippery when the hands start to sweat.#3 â€" Play With Gloves and TapeIf you’d rather stay with the same classic lacquer sticks, then consider using gloves to help with grip.Many of these gloves are breathable with great grip to help you hold sticks properly. Also, drum tape is areal thing, believe it or not. Drum tape works similarly to a hockey player who uses tape on his or herstick. Same can be said about using tape on drum sticks to help limit shock that reaches the hands.#4 â€" Grip ChangesIf all has failed to this point, you may need to change your grip. Over time, bad habits can be createdand it can wreck your hands when drumming. Make sure to grab the drumsticks lightly and releasetension from any tight grips. Because hand muscles cramp over time, relaxing the hand is key to allowthe hand to work properly when drumming.#5 â€" Consistent StretchingJust like before and after exercise, it is important to stretch, so the hands can be warmed up beforedrumming.Try as many stretches that involve the fingers to prime your drumming hands. Cross yourfingers together like you are praying, and stretch the arms out in front of you to limber up your handsfor drumming. Essential oils, like Cyprus, can help with circulation as you do your stretches. Just rub afew drops on your hands, and you will start to reap the benefits.#6 â€" Hydration is KeyJust like with any sport, it is imperative to stay hydrated. The same can be said with drumming. Now,hydrating properly really only involves water. Stay away from beer and other alcoholic bever ages.Imagine lights on a stage to have the same potency as the sun shining on athletes. Staying hydrated willhelp you stay focused and energized throughout your drumming set.#7 â€" Remember R.I.C.EThis is a common sports treatment, but it can also be used for a drummer with hand related pain.Next, you should ICE the hand that is throbbing in pain. Do not put ice directly on the hand,but wrap an ice pack in a towel and place it on the hand. Also, you can fill a bag with ice and wrap with apaper towel.Then, you should COMPRESS the ice to the hand. Leave the ice on the hand for a minimumof 5 minutes up to 10 minutes. That should be enough time to help your hand while limiting theswelling.Lastly, you should keep your hand that is hurting ELEVATED. This allows for blood flow to get tothe hand quicker, and your hand will feel better in no time.With just a few tips, there should be plenty of ways to try and solve your drum related pain. Rememberthat it is very important that you think abou t your health when drumming because your body needs to beat prime health, so you stay on beat and stay accurate during awesome fills. Good luck and to give yourhands some rest.Author bioMy name is Austin and I'm the founder of Consordini, a comprehensive music advice guide. I have a true passion for music, and have been playing the drums for the last 8 years (I now the dreaded drummers hand pain all too well!)

4 Daily Ways to Totally Immerse Yourself in a Foreign Language

4 Daily Ways to Totally Immerse Yourself in a Foreign Language 4 Daily Ways to Totally Immerse Yourself in a Foreign  Language Think about how you learned how to ride a bike, swim at the pool or play hoops in your backyard.Nobody stuck a book under your nose and told you to read about bicycles, swimming or  basketball first.You learned these things through immersion.In other words, you learned by jumping in and actually doing the activity, and unsurprisingly, this is the best way to learn.This applies to nearly everything we want to learn, from cooking to starting a business, and especially learning a new language!The fundamental concepts of immersion are quite obvious. Learning by immersion is actually something we naturally do without much thought. Most of us learned how to speak our native language because we grew up around people (family, friends, etc.) speaking it around us. We didn’t consciously decide that we were going to immerse ourselves to learn the language, it just happened. Why Immersion Trumps Conventional Book  LearningA study was done by researchers from Georgetown University Medical Cen ter, where subjects were divided into two groups and were observed using a technique called electroencephalography (or EEG), which measures brain processing along the scalp.The two groups were both asked to study an artificial language. One group studied the language in a formal classroom setting while the other was trained through immersion.After five months, the results clearly showed that the immersed group displayed the full brain patterns of a native speaker. This is mind boggling, since 90% of committed language learners are still learning a language using the traditional classroom setting (and paying a premium price for it).The researchers also concluded that for adult foreign language learners to become as fluent as native speakers, they must think like native speakers.However, the fundamentals of immersion taught and provided to these study participants are not automatically set up for the rest of us when we try to learn a new language. This is mostly because the location w e live in prevents us from being fully immersed in the language every day. Perhaps there is a limited number of people (or absolutely nobody) speaking the language around us. Resources to practice might be hard to come by. Still more important, you might find yourself struggling to make room for language immersion in your daily schedule.Well, hang tightâ€"here we are going to explore four great ways to become totally immersed in any foreign language of your choice.4 Daily Ways to Totally Immerse Yourself in a Foreign  Language1. Make it a need instead of a wantThere is a big difference between want and need. While “want” is something that is pretty nice to have, a “need” is something you cannot live without.“Want” can often be confused for external needs, such as impressing those around you, sounding smart or feeling better about yourself. Meanwhile, a “need” comes from within and serves as intrinsic motivation that is long-lasting and sustainable.This is extremely i mportant to immersion. Think about how it feels (or how it might feel, if you have not yet had this experience) to be in a foreign country, completely surrounded by a foreign language you do not know. You need to start learning quickly, or you will not be able to eat, find a bathroom, locate your hotel or direct a taxi driver to your destination. To get immersion at home, you need to simulate this level of urgency and importance.So ask yourself: Why do you “need” to speak your target language?Then come up with at least three powerful reasons. Dig deep. These should be powerful enough to make you want to take immediate action in learning the language.Listening to the stories of language learners, here are some powerful stories I have heard people give to back up their language learning goals:Family needs:“Need to be able to communicate with my family members.”“Need to speak Spanish to have a deeper connection with my spouse.“Need to teach my child so they can be grounded in their cultural roots, before they forget the language.”“Need to learn in order to communicate with my boyfriends/girlfriend’s family.Travel needs:“Need to get around safely and avoid being taken advantage of as a foreigner while traveling.”“Need to learn in order to have a deeper cultural experience, and make the most of my travel experience.”Need to hear peoples stories and learn about their lives.“Need to learn so I can meet friends without worrying about being alone.”Need to study abroad to complete my major and find a worthwhile career that I love.Career needs:“Need to expand my knowledge because the world is becoming globalized with international business opportunities.”“Need to learn a second language to improve your resume for career advancement and additional opportunities.”“Need to work with clients who speak the foreign language, or I’ll be out of a job.”2. Absorb all information in your target languageStart by making a list of all the in formation you absorb throughout the day, from the moment you wake up to hitting the sheets for bed time.Heres what this might look like:You wake up, turn off the alarm on your smartphone  and quickly check up on messages.You turn on your computer and read emails or open up your social media profiles to see whats happening.You read a printed (or digital) newspaper over breakfast, on your commute or at work.You listen to radio in the car or a  podcast  while you walk around town.You get home after work and watch movies or TV shows, or you browse Netflix for a while.While at the gym, cooking or in the shower, you listen to your favorite music.That is a lot of language input! Seems like a waste to have that all in English, does it not?Now think of how you can change everything into the target language you want to learn.You could:Change your smartphones language setting.Change your computers language settings and enable a foreign keyboard layout.Find your favorite news source in your tar get language, or find a new newspaper from a country where the target language is spoken.Stream live radio broadcasts and download podcasts in the target language.Watch movies on Netflix with foreign language audio and English subtitles.Rock out to popular songs in your target language (i.e. Vivir Mi Vida â€" Marc Anthony  for Spanish learners!)Some changes will be small at first, but these changes accumulate into providing an immersive experience for you as time passes.The key to this strategy is that you do not  go out of your way to immerse yourself in activities that you normally do not do. Follow your daily routine to the minute, but just change the language setting on your life.This means that if you do not like reading newspapers, you will not go out of your way to read them. If you enjoy watching movies, continue to watch the movies you enjoy (do not even change the genre) and use tools like Netflix to listen in the foreign audio with subtitles. If you love authentic, real-w orld video content in foreign languages, try using  FluentU  to track down great videos and learn actively from them with interactive subtitles and fun, varied learning exercises.Forcing yourself to do something you do not already  enjoy is one of the fastest ways to stop your learning journey, because your brain will quickly come to associate the foreign language with negative, boring and arduous  experiences, rather than positive ones.MosaLingua, which offers apps for learning Spanish, Italian, French, German and Portuguese, gives you access through its web app to a specially-selected library of native materials for learners, such as e-books and websites, which you can browse through with the aid of a translator tool. You can even save words and phrases you dont recognize as flashcards and review them later.Of course, if you are just starting to learn, this all may seem confusing for you at first. But as you accelerate your learning journey with a professional coach (or another me thod) you will start to make out a few words, then a few sentences, and before you know it, you will begin to understand a good portion of the foreign language information you are absorbing.3. Keep a journal (or blog)This may seem to be mainly beneficial for your writing skills, but improving your writing skills (in any language) will help you become a more effective communicator in both written and oral forms.If you already have a daily or weekly journal you write in, continue to write with  the same frequency, but do it in your target foreign language.If you do not keep a journal, then buy a blank one and start writing on a weekly basis. Then you can gradually increase the frequency as you feel more comfortable with the process. You can write about anything, including how you feel, what you are most excited about, what you plan to do today and what you have learned.If you would like more of a structure, you can borrow the five minute journal format. It is easy!  When you wake up, take five minutes to answer:Three things you are most grateful for today.What will make today great?I am… (something positive, for example: happy, strong, fearless, intelligent, a supportive friend, a great boyfriend/girlfriend, an entrepreneur, etc.)Then at night before you head to bed, answer:Three amazing things that happened today (and why).How could I have made today even better?*Feel free to adjust the questions as you wish. No length limit.The best part about following the five minute journal format is that you will not only improve your language skills, but you will feel happier, more grateful and more excited to explore your feelings about language learning and beyond. This will help keep you in the right frame of mind to keep learning.4. Work with a professional or a partnerLanguage is learned with people and used with people. That is its main purpose. This means that immersion in language learning does not  happen alone.For most of us who are not living in a foreign cou ntry, this leaves us with two options:Find someone who speaks the foreign language (and wants to learn your native language) and try to help each other out by spending half the time speaking one language and the other half speaking the other. This is known as a conversation exchange, and it can be highly beneficial.Work with a qualified teacher online.  Find someone who is professional, trained and 100% dedicated to helping you succeed.In summary, the biggest differences between the two comes down to money and time.Conversation ExchangePros:  You can make friends from around the world, and it is completely free!  Cons:  Your partner is a native speaker but not a professional educator.Conversation exchanges require some time investment on your part. It can take a significant amount of time to find the right partnerâ€"someone who is fluent in your target language and wants to learn your language. You also want someone who has a personality that meshes nicely with your own, who is in a location/time zone that is convenient for both of you and who has good time availability.From there, scheduling and keeping a consistent schedule to practice is also a burden at times, and from personal experience it is rarely sustainable. Language partners tend to come and go, as peoples lives, availability and levels of interest and commitment change. Of course, there is always a chance you will find a great, long-term practice partner, and maybe even someone you can stay with when you visit their home country (and vice versa).You also have to keep in mind that 50% of your time needs to be dedicated to helping the other person. So in a 60-minute session, you are actually practicing your target language for only 30 minutes.Lastly, your conversation exchange is a native speaker, not a professional trained to help give you proper feedback, correct all your mistakes, provide clear and thorough explanations for language lessons and guide you to the fastest ways of learning the languag e. But you never knowâ€"you might get lucky and find a partner whos capable of doing exactly that!Professional teacherPros:  Often leads to faster learning, saved time and better guaranteed accountability and success on your part.Cons:  This costs money, and you will not necessarily be building friendships with people.Working with a professional teacher allows you to receive 100% attention focused on helping you succeed, seamless scheduling experience to guarantee you availability when you are free, immediate feedback and constant accountability.We have seen that working with a professional will not only save you  from wasting time by accelerating your learning speed, but you can focus on what matters in your life, whether it is your work, family or your hobbies, instead of coordinating schedules and spending extra time teaching your  native language to someone else.Following these action steps, immersion can happen at the comforts of your own home.All it takes is a little creativit y, dedication and help from a native speaker or language coach.So now you have no excuse to wait until tomorrowâ€"you can start getting immersed in a foreign language right now!