Organic Chemistry Grad School - What is Organic Chemistry Anyway?

Organic Chemistry Grad School - What is Organic Chemistry Anyway?What is it that makes organic chemistry special compared to conventional? One reason is the discipline of chemistry and its importance to all that we know and do. The two words 'chemistry'education' are easily associated with each other, but this is simply because of the fact that chemistry is the study of what nature has already made.When one studies chemistry, he or she studies the product and by extension, what life would make without the product. 'Organic chemistry' means that you study nature in a manner that 'naturally' occurs.For example, when you study the chemical reactions in nature, you learn about its constituent elements. Chemical reactions in nature create the molecules of matter, for it is these molecules that carry out chemical reactions. If you see, as you can in the 'cell' of a fruit, all the different components of a fruit are the same, then you may conclude that there must be a food source in nature that contains them all.In other words, when you study chemistry, you get to know about the chemical substances that we find everywhere around us. There is no place that they cannot be found, if they are valuable in one way or another.In organic chemistry, the students will be able to identify the different molecules, as well as understanding the way that certain molecules combine to form other molecules. These molecules are like life itself, because life is formed of molecules, each of which has properties in common.'Organic chemistry' is the study of how these molecules interact with one another and their interaction allows them to make chemical substances that have properties of life. When we are studying these compounds, we understand what these compounds are used for, what they can do and most importantly, how they function in the natural world. We can see, for example, that the carbon atom that gives the molecule carbon dioxide is used to help sustain the plants that provide th e nutrients that animals need.'Organic chemistry' can lead to many different careers for those who choose to pursue it. You may decide to continue your education by earning a PhD, or you may choose to try a masters in this subject. Whatever you choose, you will always understand 'organic chemistry' and what it can do for you.

Homework help sites for college students is available at Tutor Pace

Homework help sites for college students is available at Tutor Pace When a child is born, parents keep high hopes with the future of the child. They make it a point to provide the child with all the amenities that can be afforded by them. The prime concern of a parent is to provide them with good education that will help them to build a bright future for themselves easily. A reputed and a proper school is the basic requirement of a child. It helps a child to think bigger and better and also helps in building up a mental framework that is much more important than any academic institution. When a child will have a good schooling background then naturally the child will demand to have same kind of college also for themselves for further studies and this can be possible only when they crack the SAT examination. It is a very tough examination and thus it helps in making the admission of a student into any of the reputed college in a very easy way or it may be said that this is the only way through which you can get admission into a good college. How is college life all about? Now leaving all these behind let us talk about how a college life should be. For me a college life should be fun filled, friends, parties, pranks and so on. There would be no classes or no discipline. No class attendance should be there and thus students can play their own games anytime and anywhere. Such type of thinking is nurtured among many students. It would be nice if college would be only such a place where no education would be there. But unfortunately things do not turn up what we all want them to be. College life also has education as its base point. Without education it is not possible for any student to live ahead and further. But what happens when you are stuck somewhere during your college days. Then you have to get help from some tutor who will help you to get out from the trouble that has been formed. A good teacher is like a bright sun in those chilled winter days. It is very important to have a qualified teacher for you. The qualified teacher will help a child to know any subject better and that also in a much faster as well as easier way. Some unknown facts about online tutoring There are different types of ways through which you can learn more. Private tutors are there who are always willing to help a child with the different kind of approach that they want. But some parents are there who are not wiling to send their child in any private tutoring classes as they have a pre occupied mind that coaching classes can hamper the future of a child as different kind of students attend that and mixing up can bring their child’s grade down. With such a cause only there is one way that can help you to get most help without any cause of worry. Online tutoring is a new way through which children are taught. Online teachers are far more qualified than any other private tutor. There is no interview process of any private tutor and thus the private tutors are themselves their interviewer. But in the world of online tutors you will get help for various types of facilities and services that are very essential for a student in the present era. Every college is unable to provide its students with the maximum amount of educational guidance that is needed for a student and thus things change with the marks of a student. To increase the mark and to get good response from the teachers as well, you can hire or enroll your child at any online tutoring institute as well. Let us now introduce you with some great facilities of these online tutoring institutes that will help you to have an concrete opinion about any such institute. Know about some characteristics of online tutoring  Online tutoring has some smart teachers who will help you to get deeper into the subject and reveal each nook and corner of the subject. It will also help you to get a firm view that helps any student to know the subject well. All the teachers are efficient and they have full proficiency with the subject and this helps in making the subject easier for any student. For weak student they frame up a structure that will help the weak students to get deep into the subject and know the subject well.  The one-on-one service is one of the best services that any student can get. When you have a single teacher by your side for the different kind of help for you, it is certain that the confidence level of a child increases to a larger extent. Online teachers gave this unique facility through which a child can be carefree to know that they have someone to help them.  The availability of the tuition classes are available all round the clock and it is a great help for any student who are unable to manage their time. These types of help can help them to attend the classes anytime they want. When they can attend the classes anytime they want then they can be sure to succeed with the marks easily.  The other best feature an online tutoring facility can provide you is that you can save lot of time, energy and transportation expenses as you do not have to waste your time and energy to travel to any tuition classes and the transportation expenses that are required to reach there can also be saved. This way you can sit at your comfort zone and avail the facilities of a good class. Tutor Pace and its list of services This is one of the reputed institutes that have good teachers along with some affordable price services that can be easily availed by middle class people. Homework help sites for college students is one of the best service from TutorPace.  

Learning French 4 Contemporary French Singers You Need to Check Out

Learning French 4 Contemporary French Singers You Need to Check Out Suzy S. Can listening to music help you learn a new language? Try these tips from French tutor Sean C. to see how some new tunes can help you master French! Have you ever noticed how people who can speak French somehow become slightly more intriguing? and you secretly want to be one of those people? Do you feel like it will help you in life someday? If you already have the passion for it, you can learn French, and something as fun as listening to music can help! Just pick a French artist or even a playlist, get the lyrics and just keep listening to it. Listen to it when youre on hold with the insurance company; listen to it when youre stuck in traffic again, listen to it while you cook. Since its music, it can make a bad day good, and make a good day awesome! Now, you must be asking yourself, how can I possibly learn French by listening to music I dont even understand? Simple: the same way every human learns French- repetition. A French tutor can guide you to more effectively channel the lyrics that can potentially get stuck in your head. Personally, I recommend starting with Mylene Farmer- the music itself can range anywhere from EDM to euro-pop to easy listening. She is huge worldwide, her voice is unique and easy to understand, and lyrics are poetic, but reasonable. The best part: a simple Internet search will have lyrics to almost all of her immensely popular songs, and a good number of them will have English translations right there, so you can start to relate what she says, with how that reads, to what it means to you. If EDM isnt your cup of tea, I recommend Alizee. She has more of a pop feel, and is also popular enough that you should have no problem finding lyrics and translations. And then theres Judith. If Starbucks were predominantly a French phenomenon, Judith would be playing when you walk in- uplifting, yet subdued beats, and powerful, yet mellow vocals. Finally, check out Lara Fabian. Shes from Brussels, and speaks plenty of languages, among them English and French. She even has a few songs that she covers in both languages- though each song means something different in its respective language. The greatest thing about using music as a study aid is that even if you dont know the words, you can get to know the sounds. And if your tutor happens to know that same song, you can go through it together and help to connect on a more meaningful level- what better way to learn a language? If absolutely nothing else, should a coworker or friend happen to overhear you listening to French music, or mumbling the lyrics yourself, you just became that intriguing person! Where did you learn French?! they may ask. Oh, here and there. I sort of picked it up. Honestly, that little hypothetical interaction there would probably give you all the boost you need to go to your favorite online music vault (such as iTunes or YouTube) and expand your own horizons all over again. Try new artists, try new genres, check out other countries top 40 lists, get a handle on different accents, different cultural points of view, etc. Learning any language, especially as an adult, is a challenging endeavor. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, and sometimes -and this is the most frustrating- you can try to think of a word but it will only come to you in the language youre trying to learn. There is a mountain of theory on the subject, but the most relevant to the situation is Krashens Affective Filter Theory, which basically says that your emotional state of mind will have the biggest effect on how you learn. If a French nun used to beat you with a metre-stick, you may want to pick a different language. If you developed a love affair with the idea of that dream vacation in Paris and want to be your own interpreter, you will probably attain proficiency faster than you would expect. If you want to learn French, the best thing for you is practice, plain and simple. Never afraid to be wrong, never be afraid to sound foolish, just keep trying. This is what your tutor is here for. Even if you have to code-switch from French to English then back again, do that. Be comfortable sounding like a parrot for a while. You CAN do this, as long as you stay out of your own way! Bonne chance! Looking for a French tutor? TakeLessons tutors are available to give private French lessons in person or online via Skype. Search for your tutor now! Sean C. teaches English, French, grammar, and linguistics in Chandler, AZ. He received his BA in linguistics at Arizona University and he has been teaching students for four years. Learn more about Sean. 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

Definite, Unique, Psychology Commonly Misspelled Words In English

Definite, Unique, Psychology Commonly Misspelled Words In English Having trouble spelling in English? This isn’t just a problem for students of English, it an issue that also affects native speakers.Look and the following images and see if you can spot the mistakes.25 Commonly Misspelled WordsAcceptable (don’t be tempted to end it with ible),Argument,Balloon (remember both lls and both os),Bureaucracy,Deceive,Definitely,Entrepreneur,February, (remember both r’s),Guarantee (don’t out the a before the u),Later (don’t turn it into latter),Loose (is very different from lose),Professor (don’t forget the second s),Prominent,Psychology,Pursue,Receipt, (don’t put i before the e),Receive (again…don’t put i before e),Recommend,Rhythm,Satellite,Sense, (don’t try and out a c in there),Scenery (don’t forget the c),Scissors,Unique,Weird.Let’s watch the following video on one teacher’s response to bad spelling and answer the questions that follow it.What is the teacher’s unusual approach to bad spelling from students?What does Rachel, aged 8, think of this approach?What does Max, aged 9, say?Did you find this blog interesting? Feel free to share it on Facebook and Twitter

New italki Brand Ambassador Kailin

New italki Brand Ambassador Kailin Congratulations to Kailin for becoming an italki Brand Ambassador! Below Kailin describes her experience. I first met italki this January, when I was searching for some English grammar  questions online. One of the italki users offered a very sufficient answer, which deeply  impressed me. Further exploring on italki, I felt that I discovered a new world of  language learning! italki not only solves my doubts through the learning process, but  also connects each of the language enthusiasts in the community.  In the past, I hesitated to contact with native speakers of English because I worried  that it might be somehow offensive. However, in italki, I dont need to hesitate. I  know that those who I meet are real language lovers who may want to have language  exchange, or truly kind helpers who don’t expect anything but are just willing to help.  My English writing and speaking skills improved dramatically with the help of my  italki friends and teachers. Many of them offered really professional corrections and  advice. Gradually, I saw fewer errors in writing and gained more fluency in s peaking.  As I progressed, my italki friends cheered for me as much as I did for myself. They  are teachers, friends and even mentors. Moreover, I am so glad that my corrections for  Mandarin writings are also helpful and effective! italki is not only a community of  give-and-take, but a place that generates goodwill and kindness. One day, I received an email advertising for becoming an italki brand ambassador and  now here I am. I am delighted to promote italki among the language enthusiasts on  campus. I am cheerful to hear my friends saying italki is amazing. I am also happy  to see that italki is growing increasingly popular and helping more and more language  enthusiasts. On Nov. 2nd, I promoted italki during the regular training held by the language club  in our university, which I have been actively involved in. Only one out of the sixty  members ever used italki before, but they are all language lovers! During the event, I  did a presentation about how I used and benefited from italki, especially writing  notebooks, asking questions and having online lessons. Their wow expressions told  me that they were very intrigued! When I was distributing the italki promotion cards  in the end, many of them asked whether they could have an extra one for their friends.  italki is an ideal place if you want to get immersed in a language and improve it with  the lowest cost. I am lucky that I found it this year and I really hope that italki can  reach more language lovers in the future! If youre interested in becoming an italki Student Brand Ambassador please contact Ilar at ilar@italki.com for more information! New italki Brand Ambassador Kailin Congratulations to Kailin for becoming an italki Brand Ambassador! Below Kailin describes her experience. I first met italki this January, when I was searching for some English grammar  questions online. One of the italki users offered a very sufficient answer, which deeply  impressed me. Further exploring on italki, I felt that I discovered a new world of  language learning! italki not only solves my doubts through the learning process, but  also connects each of the language enthusiasts in the community.  In the past, I hesitated to contact with native speakers of English because I worried  that it might be somehow offensive. However, in italki, I dont need to hesitate. I  know that those who I meet are real language lovers who may want to have language  exchange, or truly kind helpers who don’t expect anything but are just willing to help.  My English writing and speaking skills improved dramatically with the help of my  italki friends and teachers. Many of them offered really professional corrections and  advice. Gradually, I saw fewer errors in writing and gained more fluency in s peaking.  As I progressed, my italki friends cheered for me as much as I did for myself. They  are teachers, friends and even mentors. Moreover, I am so glad that my corrections for  Mandarin writings are also helpful and effective! italki is not only a community of  give-and-take, but a place that generates goodwill and kindness. One day, I received an email advertising for becoming an italki brand ambassador and  now here I am. I am delighted to promote italki among the language enthusiasts on  campus. I am cheerful to hear my friends saying italki is amazing. I am also happy  to see that italki is growing increasingly popular and helping more and more language  enthusiasts. On Nov. 2nd, I promoted italki during the regular training held by the language club  in our university, which I have been actively involved in. Only one out of the sixty  members ever used italki before, but they are all language lovers! During the event, I  did a presentation about how I used and benefited from italki, especially writing  notebooks, asking questions and having online lessons. Their wow expressions told  me that they were very intrigued! When I was distributing the italki promotion cards  in the end, many of them asked whether they could have an extra one for their friends.  italki is an ideal place if you want to get immersed in a language and improve it with  the lowest cost. I am lucky that I found it this year and I really hope that italki can  reach more language lovers in the future! If youre interested in becoming an italki Student Brand Ambassador please contact Ilar at ilar@italki.com for more information!

16 Multifaceted Language Learning Apps for Any Modern Student

16 Multifaceted Language Learning Apps for Any Modern Student 16 Multifaceted Language Learning Apps for Any Modern Student With the ubiquity of smartphones and tablets, weve all started to embrace apps to make life more convenient.Some might say were developing a problem with app addiction.Weve got calendar apps for work, apps for finding music, apps for checking up on the news.By the way, do they have an app that can help with app addiction?Actually, its okay if they dont. As a language learner, you can put this addiction to good use.The world is full of apps to help you learn languages. If youve ever thought about learning a language, you can get yourself from raw beginner to seasoned old pro by using these strategically designed language apps. If you’re already invested in a language, all youre missing is a quick virtual trip to the app store.Why Apps and Languages Are a Perfect MatchApps are particularly wonderful because they never leave our sides. Even if you dont currently consider yourself an app addict, Im willing to wager you keep your smartphone nearby at all times, just in case theres a tex t message from mom, an emergency family call or important notifications from work.And, since youre trying to make language learning a daily habit, what better learning tool is there than one that can fit in your pocket? Textbooks and  websites are great and all, but let’s face it, they can’t go everywhere we do. You can always  bring that smartphone along, and you can always squeeze in a couple of minutes on your phone to practice your new language while enjoying coffee breaks, commuting or waiting in lines.Another big thing to consider is that apps these days are beautiful and extremely well designed. Theyre interactive, highly responsive and easy to navigate. They trigger the reward systems in your brain and give you real pleasure, much like a thrilling video game.Want to  take a break from flipping through your textbook or repeating that same deck of flashcards?  Apps give you loads of variety, color and fun, and their creators know how to keep you coming back for moreâ€"whic h is  super important when motivation is so key to learning a language to fluency.Apps can keep you and your study materials organized. Youll often be given a history tool to keep track of your favorite reading and listening material, and in apps for language learners you may find a feature to measure and record your progress through course materials.So, let’s talk apps! Here are some amazing ones we love to get you started.16 Multifaceted Language Learning Apps for Any Modern StudentApps with Language LessonsWhy lesson apps?Apps that deliver language  lessons are ideal tools for studying on the go.If youre studying with a classroom or private instructor, then you can use these as supplements to your course material. Since theyre all focused on attacking language topics from different angles and with different activities, they can provide fresh perspectives on the lessons youve been learning.  Or at least a little extra practice.If youre learning on your own (perhaps through media -based immersion), apps can provide you with the “glue” that helps your random knowledge stick together. They can get you started, help you develop a study routine, assess your progress, keep you motivated and keep studying stress-free.Best of all? Many of these apps are gamifiedâ€"meaning that theyve transformed language topics into games. Theyre tons of fun in and of themselves. You’ll get so caught up in the thrill of competition that youll forget you’re learning!FluentUiPhone |  AndroidFluentU currently offers language lessons in six languages (with more in development): English, Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish and German.Media-based immersion is promoted as one of the best ways to learn a language deeply and to the very highest level. That means getting tons of exposure to TV shows, movies, music, news, speeches and other things that native speakers typically watch. Theres only one problem: Learners who are new to this might find listening to and watching native medi a very intimidating.Learners can be turned off learning  before they even get started.That’s where FluentU comes in, as a unique website and app that lets you gently wade into native media.  FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.It not only gives  you access to diverse media, but it also gives you the tools to enjoy and understand this media, with the structure of a traditional course.  The interactive subtitles, vocabulary lists and tailor-made flashcard decks will help you learn actively while watching your favorite videos, giving you an extra boost in reading and listening practice.  Before you know it, you’ll be listening to foreign language radio and TV without any help at all.DuolingoiPhone |  AndroidDuolingo is super popular for good reason. It’s gamified learning at its best, complete with levels, points and a smooth, attractive interface that makes it i ncredibly easy to use.Its easy to get started and keep moving forward here. Just choose your language and work your way through the lesson “tree.” Using modified spaced repetition, Duolingo feeds you new vocab and grammar a little at a time. If you’ve been away for a while, Duolingo’s learning bars for each skill show you what you’ve probably forgotten.Duolingo has plenty of language optionsâ€"they offer 20 language programs as of the writing of this post, and theyve got seven more in development. Quality and depth depends on language choice, and it seems like they’re tweaking and updating things as they go. So, try out Duolingoâ€"particularly if you’re a beginner and you need some structure and easy levels to get you going!MindSnacksiPhoneMindSnacks is yet another gamified learning platform, but its been made to be  extra  cute. Let this be your linguistic happy place.The app is designed like a  video game rather than a traditional, points-based system of learning les sons. For example, one game in the Chinese version has you drawing characters with the correct stroke order as fast as you canâ€"in space!All of the games are similar between the seven language versions, but theyre tailored to the needs of each specific language. For example, the Chinese and Japanese versions focus on writing and recognizing characters as well as vocabulary. The cute graphics and addictive nature of these games totally make you feel like you’re playing a normal mobile video game instead of working with a learning tool.Keep in mind that MindSnacks seems to focus on vocabulary over grammar, and the vocab is probably of most interest to beginners who need to amass basic words and quickly. Still worth checking out for intermediate learnersâ€"plug up those holes in your vocabulary!BabbeliPhone | AndroidBabbel specializes in conventional lessons, most of which can be completed in 10 to 15 minutes. Sure, it’s not the 5-minute break Duolingo offers you, but the lessons here are a little more in-depth and are structured similarly to textbook exercises. For example, new words are grouped by topic.The app first introduces you to new vocabulary by having you match each word with  an image, and then it has you move on to matching words with their  translations.Babbel is perhaps less gamified than some of the other apps above (no points or competition), so it’s good if you’re used to conventional lessons and you thrive on that kind of structure, or if you’re indifferent to those video game features.If you choose to go with Babbel, you’re getting a basic course that’s structured more traditionally. It’s well-made and a great tool to add to the rest of your app arsenal should you find it to your liking! It also offers a good selection of popular foreign languages, including but not limited to: Spanish, French, German, Russian and English.MemriseiPhone |  AndroidMemrise grounds itself on the strategic use of spaced repetition, using a gamified system of seeds that you water gradually to  grow flowers over time. This ensures that you learned the content the course has presented you and dont neglect your linguistic flowers. If that isnt enough, you can win points and  compete with others.That being said, Memrise is actually a lot less game-like than Duolingo or MindSnacks. Many of the user-made courses are actually based on textbooks, and they include a lot of traditional info (verb forms, noun cases) presented in traditional ways.The user-made part  has tons of diverse, specific content and makes it so that, especially with popular languages, youre definitely going to find an ideal course to flesh out your knowledgeâ€"whether you want to learn advanced Russian verbs or Spanish proverbs!CourseraiPhone | AndroidCoursera is a website and app that provides access to university-style courses. Most of these are true Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), meaning theyre made especially for online learners, as opposed to recorded un iversity lectures. For an example, check out Chinese for Beginners, offered by Peking University.That being said, these courses, content-wise, are very similar to an IRL in-class experience. If you like that type of structure, sign up for a Coursera course! They’re offered by all kinds of accredited universities from around the world. Download the lectures and watch/listen to them on your commute or piecemeal whenever you have a few minutes.  Additional features, like teacher feedback, graded exams and certificates to prove you took the course, are available for a fee.Many courses are offered year-round, but others you’ll have to wait forâ€"and the catalog changes frequently. Click here and we'll whisk you away to see what they're offering right now!iTunes UiPhoneiTunes U offers whats probably the most traditional language learning experience that you can access online. These are online courses similar to Coursera. However, while many have been created for an online audience, ma ny are actual recorded lectures from real universities. A good example is this Japanese course offered by UC Berkeley.For you learners who truly want to replicate that university-level experience, youll want to supplement these courses with the recommended textbooks. Everyone else can just download the lectures and the texts and have at it!Apps for Foreign Language Reading MaterialWhy practice reading with apps?The short answer to the above question is that apps are more convenient than lugging around a bag of books and newspapers. You can keep a huge variety of reading material on hand for whenever you want to get in some reading practice.If you have a hard time getting yourself to sit down and read in your target language, even for a brief time, consider using your phone or device to your advantage. Surely you can set aside three minutes to check the news in your language, right? When you’re more confident and ambitious, you can sit down to choose from all the foreign language e -books available for free download.It’s just a great, easy way to get in as much reading time as possible. Apps are easier even than web browsing on your phone, because they’re often better designed and the info you want is right there when you open it.Regardless of whether you use apps or traditional, paper-and-ink tomes, you should be reading in your target language.  Dr. Stephen Krashen from the University of Southern California argues that reading native material helps you absorb grammar and  new vocabulary. So, get to it!  Start by trying  these apps to level up your reading skills.Kindle ReaderiPhone | AndroidA no-brainer, really.Download Kindle Reader  to your device, and you basically own a Kindle without having to buy one. E-books, especially for the Kindle, are the easiest way for those living outside of their L2 country to find books in the language, and this goes double if you live in the US.I’ve personally bought a number of Kindle books (mostly translations of po pular, English-language titles) from Amazon in Spanish, French and Portuguese. But the skys the limitâ€"theres a huge selection of titles in tons of world languages.Oh, and one more incredible tip for anyone who loves magic: You can shop on Pottermore  to find Harry Potter e-books in a variety of common languages at very reasonable prices, then have them sent directly to your Kindle-enabled device.BBC NewsiPhone | AndroidFor those not so into fiction or full-sized books, read the news! The BBC News app comes in a variety of languages, including Arabic and Hindi. Skim the articles for words you know or to sharpen your skills. Even better, set up notifications on your device. That means you get little snippets of reading practice all day long.You also can always search for language-specific news apps. Try El País (Spanish), Radio-Canada (French) or Deutsche Welle (German).FlipboardiPhone | AndroidFlipboard is a cool app that lets you skim popular articles and photos from around the i nternet according to preferences you set up yourself. So if you want to read about cooking, gaming or anything else that tickles you, this is how you find reading material on that topic in your target language.It’s also great for reading those catchy headlines! Simply set your device in your preferred language, and Flipboard will change for you.TwitteriPhone | AndroidTo use Twitter to learn languages, change the default language of your profile to your target language, then switch the default country for Trending on the left side of your feed.Now you can read trending tweets in your target language, and when you search something Twitter will default to your set language and location. This means you’ve now turned social media into a convenient place for reading practice. Youll get to read tweets, find magazine and newspaper articles and discover interesting blog posts, all of which are interesting to people speaking your target language.Follow people who are tweeting about things you love in your target language, and soon you won’t be able to scroll down your feed without learning a language lesson.Apps with AudioWhy  practice listening with apps?Listening is at the very root of speaking. Being able to understand people gives you more fodder for your own speech, and it improves your accent and overall fluency. You can’t talk like the native speakers unless you can understand them, right?The apps, like all the others, are strong in terms of  variety and convenience. No more will you have to listen to the same track over and over again ad nauseam. You’ll have podcasts, talk shows, new music and more to listen to after you try these audio tools out.iTunesWeve recommended a bunch of iTunes offerings, but its worth noting that iTunes itself is useful for finding movies and music.However, you can’t buy anything while the app is set to a country other than yours. So, one strategy for finding great recommendations is to first change your default country to a place that speaks your target language. This way, iTunes can recommend the music and movies that are popular there. Then go try to find them somewhere you can buy them!Thats just one way to go about thisâ€"but keep in mind that theres often lots of stuff available in your target languageâ€"even if your country is set as USA.Apple PodcastsiPhoneSo, this is essentially an extension of iTunes. To take the most advantage of your Podcasts app, use iTunes on your computer to find podcasts in your L2. Change your default country on the desktop app and the homepage will recommend podcasts that are popular in that country. Easy! Send em over to your device, and you’re set.You can also use communities like Language Learners’ Forum or How to Learn Any Language to get podcast suggestions for this platform.TuneIn RadioiPhone | AndroidTuneIn Radio gives you access to live-streaming radio stations from around the world. It’s pretty straightforward and an excellent resource. You can search for stations by location or by language. You might have to do a little trial and error to find a live link, but after that youll always have the soothing sounds of your target language in the background. You can find music stations, news and talk radio here.And one more hint: If youre interested in a language in a vastly different time zone, you might need a special trick. Try searching for the language in the search bar, or using the Talk Radio World Talk option (these menus are easier to find on the website) to find more stations. Some of these are based in the US!YouTubeiPhone | AndroidIt’s more than just a time-wasterâ€"YouTube can be an integral part of your language regimen. Set your location to a target language country, then scroll over to the trending tab to see what’s popular in that region.If youre into gaming, its easy to find Lets Play videos (videos of people talking through games they’re playing while they’re playing them) simply by searching “Let’s Playâ € followed by your target language in the language itself (Français, Español, ???). I’ve also searched for random words in my target language to find vloggersâ€"try “books,” “video games,” “comedy”â€"see what you dig up!SpotifyiPhone | AndroidSpotify  has been the best way for me to find new music in a target language. It’s super easyâ€"simply search for your target language (in English or not, it doesn’t matter) and you can find playlists others have put together. Sweet and simple. I’ve used this to find playlists in Japanese, Hebrew and even Latvian, so it’s not just the popular languages!You can practice tons of language skills with apps, whether they’re learning-specific apps or apps you’re leveraging to get at the target language.You carry worlds in your pocketâ€"never feel guilty about being addicted to your phone!

YouTube Rules 4 Ways to Learn a Language Online with Fun Videos

YouTube Rules 4 Ways to Learn a Language Online with Fun Videos Media-based  language learning rules.Its an exciting new option that was nearly impossible before the age of the Internet.Before, unless you were willing to shell out cash for a foreign cable or satellite channel (assuming one was even available in the language you wanted), you couldnt watch everyday TV and movies in your target language.Sure, if you were lucky, your local library may have had a foreign movie section, but it was probably crowded with esoteric classics with complicated plots and dialogue.Now, the Internetâ€"and namely YouTubeâ€"has changed all of this. Its easy to watch sitcoms or reality TV in your target language. You can find movie recommendations and hunt down target language media that fits your tastes.Maybe youve already used YouTube for these things. You can take advantage of  TV episodes, movie trailers and music,  all in your target language.YouTube even has a number of good channels that produce language lessons, and you might already be using some.But wait. We havent even gotten to the good part yet.Thats right.YouTube can do even more to help your language learning! Using Original YouTube Content to Learn a Language  YouTube content creators are the unique ingredient that makes YouTube different from other sources of media. They represent a gold mine of different ways to bring your target language into your life, with enough variety to keep you entertained for ages.Original YouTube content covers all previously-known genres of entertainment and then some, from makeup and video game tutorials, to comedy, to people just sitting down and talking to their camera.These videos are created in a different style than mainstream media. The creators speak differently, script differently and, conveniently, the videos are usually around just 5-to-10 minutes long, making them easy to fit into your day.And, luckily, there are numerous content creators creating in languages other than English!Because these videos are created by native speakers and for native speakers, the content is most accessible to those who have intermediate to advanced skill levels. But dont stop reading if youre a beginner in a language, or havent even started learning yet. Anyone can benefit from listening to native speakers speaking at normal speed as early as they want. The sooner you listen to native speakers, the sooner you get used to the new sounds, and the sooner you understand!Furthermore, learners of any and all levels can easily access this type of content with FluentU, as well as other content you might find on YouTube. FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.Below, well look at some different types of content you can easily incorporate into your language learning.First, just one thing to keep in mind: Sometimes countries tend to prefer other video websites over YouTube (for example, Youku and Tudou are two Chinese video website s, and NicoNico is popular in Japan). Additionally, original vlog content is not equally popular in every country in the world.Without further ado, here are 4 ways to incorporate original YouTube content into your language learning diet!YouTube Rules: 4 Ways to Learn a Language Online with Fun Videos1. Watch Daily VloggersDaily vloggers, by their very name, vlog about everyday topics. They often bring their cameras along with them and film themselves simply talking through their daily lives. Daily vloggers range from young-ish single people to parents vlogging about their families and children.These types of videos do wonders for getting used to your target language.Because the vloggers talk about daily life, youll acquire everyday vocabulary that you can use when youre going about your own errands, obligations, etc. The vlogs are rarely scripted, so if you dont have conversation partners or native speaker friends, you still get a chance to hear the language as its really spoken, by real people (this is different from quick-witted TV scripts!). Oftentimes, vloggers will be filming while theyre with a friend or two, so you get to eavesdrop on real conversations instead of monologues or scripted dialogue.How do I find daily vlogs?Ive had a lot of luck simply searching Daily vlog [target language] in English (with the name of the target language in the language itself). Daily vlogs are not often included in YouTube channel directories or compilation blog postsâ€"while they tend to have a lot of views, they dont seem to reach that level of mainstream popularity. Once you find one vlog in your target language, the YouTube suggestions sidebar is a great help in finding more!Here are some daily vlogs to start off with:MeloMore (Spanish) â€" This is the daily vlog of a Spanish musician. She talks to her camera as she goes about her day rehearsing, meeting up for jam sessions and just generally hanging out. She has a more polished comedy channel at YellowMellowMG.Jenes uispasbavarde (French) â€" This is the daily life of a French lifestyle and beauty vlogger. She talks about her pets, life in general and sometimes things having to do with her main channel. Like most vloggers, she  has a main channel (at Jenesuispasjolie), where she posts videos about lifestyle and beauty.Magixthing (German) â€" Here, a German woman vlogs with her two daughters, ages 11 and 6. Again, its just daily life, but this one is fun because of the family dynamic.Mingjai14 (Cantonese) â€" I dont know Cantonese, so Ill just quote the vlogger on this: Just an ordinary guy who talks about everyday life. Daily vlogs are pretty similar in terms of theme!How do I use daily vlogs to improve my language skills?Find a channel you like, and make it a habit to watch one video every day as part of your study routine. The videos are often short enough to make this very easy to do! If you hear new words, look them up and add them to an  SRS deck.You can listen to the lengthier vlogs while you work or study to get used to the way real people talk. These videos, I think, are best for mass consumptionâ€"they give your listening skills a huge boost once you get used to everyday mumbling!You can even leave comments on the videos themselves and start conversations with native speakers. Respond to a comment thats already there to have a better  chance that someone will actually answer you. You can also take the comments people leave and enter them into your SRS so that you can remember the vocabulary and grammar later!2. Watch Lets Play VideosIf youre a gamer, youre probably familiar with the Lets Play genre of YouTube videos. Basically, YouTubers play video games, film them over numerous episodes, and narrate them as they go!And of course, there are people making Lets Play videos in a number of languages.But Lets Play videos arent only useful to gamersâ€"theyre fun and easy to get into no matter your experience with video games. These videos, besides adding valuable liste ning practice, help your language skills in a number of ways.Like daily vlogs, Lets Play videos are not scripted, so youre hearing one person monologue in everyday language. Lets Play videos tend to have more jokes in them than daily vlogs, so youll get an idea of unscripted senses of humor in your target language. Because the YouTuber is narrating whats going on in the game at the time, theres plenty of context for you to piece together new words with the action occurring on the screen, without having to look things up in a dictionary.Additionally, it can sometimes be difficult to find a foreign translation of a beloved game when you dont live in the country, especially if its an older gameâ€"Lets Play videos give you access to these translations! And finally, most video games are pretty lengthy, so if you find one gamer/narrator that you like, youll probably have several hours of free content to exhaust!How do I find Lets Play videos?Ive had the best luck searching Lets Play [game title] [target language]. This will get you a lot of content, especially in the more popular languages.Here are some examples:RanguGamer (Spanish) â€" This is a gamer from Spain who plays fun, more family-oriented games. In other words, these arent intense shooters, if youre not into that sort of thing.StiM  (French) â€" This French gamer plays a  wide  variety of games, including everything from the most mainstream to independent games he digs up.????????????????!! (Japanese) â€" This gamer doesnt have the lengthy playlists of the other two, but also plays a pretty wide variety of games.How do I use Lets Play videos  to improve my language skills?Again, with new vocabulary, SRS is your friend. If you hear something over and over, try looking it up, and enter it so you don’t forget it. Take special note of slang, because Lets Play videos are generally chock full of it. Because Lets Play narrators have a habit of dramatic yelling, you can even try parroting certain exaggerated phr ases.If youre super ambitious, you can take a leaf from the book of Dr. Alexander Argüelles and try shadowing, a specific language technique that involves the learner simultaneously pronouncing target language audio.3. Watch Comedy SketchesI personally think that the comedy on YouTube is some of the best out there. Its creative, its high-quality and the videos are often only 5 minutes long!Here, were getting into scripted videos, so these have slightly different benefits for your language skills. The scripted jokes will give you insight into the shared sense of humor of the culture, and the slang will make your language skills seem modern and less stilted. And for less-skilled listeners, the scripted nature of these videos tends to make them easier to understand. Less mumbling and fewer context-less phrases! Win!How do I find comedic YouTubers?Comedy YouTube channels are pretty easy to find. There are plenty of blog posts compiling the best YouTubers from any particular country or language, and these will mostly be comedic sketch YouTubers (possibly with some make-up tutorial and Lets Play channels thrown in).  To find these, Google best/funniest YouTubers [language or country] in either English or your target language.Heres an example of such a blog post in French, and  heres one in Spanish. And once you find a channel you like, the YouTube suggestions sidebar will be your best friend! The YouTubers channel page will also show you which channels  theyre subscribed to, so you can check those out for more ideas.Here are some great comedy channels:Cyprien (French) â€" One of my favorites! Just a lot of great observational comedy and cynical jokes.HolaSoyGerman (Spanish) â€" Germán is a Spanish name equivalent to the French Germain, in case you were confused. Very wacky comedy and very fast Chilean  speech.Hajime (Japanese) â€" Seems to do a lot of taste tests. He also made himself a slime bathtub here.How  do I use comedy sketches  to improve my language skill s?Comedy channels are especially addictive, so this is a really easy one to incorporate into your daily lifeâ€"like with any of the other video genres, make it a point to watch one short video every day. Like Lets Play videos, comedy sketches incorporate plenty of slang and relaxed grammarâ€"take note of these and try to incorporate some of the words when you practice with a conversation partner.For extra practice, write reviews of your favorite sketches  on Lang-8, an online journaling site where native speakers correct your entries.4. Watch BookTubersBookTubers are a growing YouTube genre centered on reading, collecting and reviewing books. These videos are often scripted and can get lengthy (up to around 20 minutes!), but the content and reviews themselves arent where the main value lies. The videos are great for book recommendations and to supplement your readingâ€"you can watch a review before or after you read a novel  to make sure youve understood it!BookTubers tend to be on the young side, usually in their late teens or so. Thus, they mostly talk about young adult fiction, both in translation and in their native languages. Dont let that turn you offâ€"this is great for language learners! Young adult books are more relevant to adults than childrens books, while still maintaining simpler language and fast-moving plots. So youre more likely to get engaged and actually finish one of these books, even if its in a second language.How  do I find BookTubers?Simply search favorite books in your target language. Most BookTubers routinely review favorite books, so its easy to find channels this way!Here are some of my favorites:Clau Reads Books (Spanish) â€" A Mexican BookTuber covers your usual BookTube material here, like book hauls, book reviews, best-of-the-month lists and best-of-year lists. Mostly young adult fiction.Le Souffle des Mots (French) â€" A French YouTuber who covers the same kind of vlog tags as above. However, she tends to include more mainstre am and literary material.Winkybooks (German) â€" Similar content to that above! A lot of young adult recommendations and a lot of high quality book reviews.Reacizu (Japanese) â€" This YouTubers videos mostly cover tours through her extensive manga collection.How  do I use BookTubers  to improve my language skills?Again, the  strength  of BookTuber videos lies in  their book recommendations. Ive bought so many books because of watching Spanish-speaking Booktubers, and its helped with my Spanish language skills immensely. You can find target language books through Amazon third party sellers, the Kindle store (if youre learning a popular language) or other online foreign language bookstores like Multilingual Books.Additionally, you can get value out of these videos by reading a recommended book and then going back to the review to make sure youve understood the book. Of course, this can go either wayâ€"reading the book will help you understand the videos, as well. All of this serves to give you more context for your vocabulary and grammar, which makes speaking and understanding the language easier!Sometimes, the hardest part of learning a new language is finding new content to keep you entertained while you’re learning.Anyone can get bored of the same old TV show, a small library of movies or textbooks. With YouTube, though, theres plenty of free content right at your fingertips, so you can switch it up whenever you want.Happy watching!