Saturday, April 4, 2020
Free Online High School Spanish Tutoring Programs
Free Online High School Spanish Tutoring ProgramsNowadays, online, high school Spanish tutoring programs are available in a huge variety of different formats and content areas. It can be a free or pay online high school Spanish tutoring program, an elective program offered by your university, a full time online Spanish course, or the convenient access of your computer to an entire large body of material, not just the conventional English language.As a result, you could end up with so much choice that it becomes almost impossible to know where to start or even where to start in the first place. This is particularly true if you are just beginning to learn Spanish.The important thing to remember is that if you really want to master the language, you need to have an investment of time in order to learn the language and practice speaking it regularly and well. It's not enough to just sit down and try to learn Spanish; you need to get off your couch and actually do it. This is why many peo ple enroll in a program offered by a university, or a private tutor, or even sign up for an online Spanish course offered by the Spanish government.The most common and widely available programs on the Internet nowadays are offered by private tutors who specialize in the American schools or even public schools that are located in some of the cities and towns in the United States. These are typically very costly but also offer you the convenience of having the program at your home, in front of your very eyes. This is a very different experience than being in the classroom with other students, and therefore gives you the opportunity to work at your own pace and with your own pace of study.Another type of online programs is called the 'courses'. These are more or less completely online based and contain a combination of written lessons and quizzes that you can complete online in your own time and with your own concentration. Some of these are designed to be taken at a specific time and date, while others are open ended, and allow you to take them whenever you like.Learning Spanish through these means is very similar to any other kind of learning, especially if you have already had a lot of experience in the field. There is no doubt that you will have a great deal of fun with it, but you will also find that you will find yourself thoroughly enjoying the process of acquiring Spanish.Whether you sign up for an online high school Spanish program offered by a school or by your university, or whether you are taking a private Spanish course, there is no doubt that you will benefit from the experience. You will also be able to learn the language quickly and without too much effort. The only problem that you may encounter is getting your Spanish to sound as good as it sounds when you speak it by yourself.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
What is it Like to Attend Western Washington University
What is it Like to Attend Western Washington University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Brianna received her bachelors degree in Spanish from Western Washington University. She is currently a tutor in Portland specializing in Spanish. See what she had to say about her experience at Western Washington University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or rural is the campus? Did you feel safe on campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Brianna: Campus is very close to everything you need, including the downtown, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. There is a great bus system that runs through campus, downtown, and surrounding areas. I never needed a car while living at college; and in fact, biking is often more convenient and fun than a bus or car! VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Brianna:The majority of my professors and advisers werevery helpful and committed to their students education, providing extra office hours when needed and good communication. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Brianna:Personally, I was not a fan of the dorms; however, many students I talk to have loved living in them! It is a great way to meet people because there are a variety of activities weekly that cater to the interests of a diverse group of students. The dining options are alright, but not fantastic. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Brianna:The Sciences, Education, and Business programs are some of the best-represented programs. I studied Spanish, and I did feel very supported by the teachers and staff. It is a small major, so you get to know everyone in your classes fairly quickly, which makes making connections with professors and other students easy. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Brianna:I made friends primarily by participating in collegiate track. Getting involved in clubs and intramural sports is a great way for freshmen to make friends. Because of students votes, we do not have a Greek life at our school. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Brianna:The Career Center is helpful for many students; however, I did not take advantage of it, and therefore I am unfamiliar with the companies who recruit. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Brianna:There are a variety of study areas at Western Washington University. There is an ideal study spot for anyone, whether it be spacious or small and cozy. The library only gets very crowded during mid-terms and finals week. There are also many other cafes and markets on campus that are great for studying (if you dont mind a little noisier environment). VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Brianna:One of my favorite things about Western Washington University is the amazing wilderness that surrounds the campus. It is an ideal place for campers, hikers, mountain bikers, sailors, kayakers, and everyone and anyone in between! I can walk outside my apartment and onto a trail that runs through the forest and leads to a lake. If you are not a big fan of the outdoors, the downtown is also a great place to be. It is only a mile from campus and so it is very easy to grab a bite to eat during a busy day at one of the many restaurants. Students are everywhere at Western Washington University. Lots of students enjoy going to the boardwalk on the bay which connects to downtown by a beautiful, lush trail. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Brianna:The student body was a perfect size for me. There are 15,000 students that attend Western Washington University; however, it feels like much fewer. The campus itself is fairly small, so you see people you know everywhere! The class sizes were ideal for me. In my upper-division classes there were on average 20-30 students. Of course the lower-division lecture classes usually had more like 60-150 students. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Brianna:One memorable experience was in my Developmental Psychology class. My professor showed a video of an elderly choir group who sings for underrepresented populations all over the world. They sang for a group of inmates at a jail immediately after one of the choir members had passed away. It was very inspiring and emotional to see the way the choir inspired the inmates, many of whom were crying and hugging the elderly folks after the performance. I found myself as well as other students tearing up. it was a very moving experience to see two extremely different populations who would normally not interact connect in such a positive and meaningful way. Check out Briannas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.
Friday, March 6, 2020
Should I Go to Old Dominion University
Should I Go to Old Dominion University Tracey earned her bachelors degree in communications and is currently pursuing her masters degree in communications from Old Dominion University. She specializes in public speaking tutoring, study skills tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at Old Dominion University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Tracey: Old Dominion University is a great school in Norfolk, Virginia. Its an urban campus connected to local towns by bus transportation, and students commute to class by walking or riding bikes. Bike fix-it stations are all over campus, and bikes can be rented from the school as well. I lived off campus and I didnt have an issue finding parking to attend class on time. In my experience, I felt safe walking to the parking garage at night after classes ended. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Tracey:At ODU, meeting with my professors and academic advisors truly fit the definition of an open door policy. They made themselves available to meet in person or through email and they provided constructive feedback in a timely manner. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Tracey:We have recently built a stunning dining hall named Broderick Dining Commons. I love that the school offers unique food options on campus in addition to the classics like Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, and Einstein Bros. Bagels at ODUs 24-hour library. Our Webb Center is a great place to switch up your work environment or to meet with friends and relax in the campus game lounge. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Tracey:At ODU, our motto and core principle is idea fusion. We learn and work in the classroom, but fusing this knowledge with the real world is a priority across all disciplines. Working outside the classroom provided me tangible experiences as a student and professional. These hands-on takeaways from my courses have been especially helpful when explaining to prospective employers the relevant experience I have. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Tracey:I met some of my best friends in my classes at ODU and, for me, its a priceless takeaway I will treasure forever. Although I didnt join a sorority, many ODU students are proud members of the Greek life on campus. How helpful are the Career Centerand other student support services? Tracey:Our career center is an awesome place with many resources and a great staff ready to help current students and alumni. ODU collaborates with the local community throughout the year. The most recent ODU sponsored job fair I attended featured about 100 local and international employers. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Tracey:At the reading center in the library, students can book an appointment with an onsite editor to help edit their papers. This is one of my favorite services on campus. The library has multiple floors with different study areas available for both individual students and groups. The first floor has couches, ottomans, a computer lab, and private study rooms that can be reserved online. Most of the time when I needed a quiet place to study at the library, I could find a place to sit without an issue. The librarians are really helpful, too. Describe the surrounding town. Tracey:There are all sorts of places in Norfolk to enjoy and explore. The Waterside District has gorgeous views of the city on the water and has been rebuilt with delicious restaurants. It offers concerts and festivals, too. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Tracey:Although its a university with over 24,000 students, I didnt feel like I was just a number in a lecture hall. The class size typically hovered around 18 students per class. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Tracey:Participating in poetry night as a student in Dr. Baeslers listening course was one of my most memorable experiences as an undergraduate student. Not only did my listening skills significantly improve, I love how an informal off-campus event was brought into the classroom with fantastic results. I loved the experience so much that I incorporate the same teaching technique when I teach public speaking students, too! Check out Traceys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.
What Kinds of Services Can I Access Through Online Tutoring
What Kinds of Services Can I Access Through Online Tutoring 0SHARESShare They connect students and adults of various age groups who are prepared for higher education. The registered qualified and experiences tutors offer personalized one-to-one tutoring that make students understand the concepts easily and quickly. Following are the primary services offers by most of reputed online tutoring companies: School Programs: Tutoring companies partner with schools of urban and rural areas to provide specialized tutoring programs for the students in different grade levels in various subjects like Math, English, Science and Social Studies. The online tutor helps students who are low performers and require academic preparatory assessments. College/Graduate Programs: College programs are the extension of tutoring services beyond high school education. The companies partner with various colleges and Universities to offer more advanced academic support in subjects like Accounting, Economics, Finance, Organic Chemistry, Math and Calculus. Library Programs: The tutoring online companies partner public libraries to help entire community who wish to take guidance on the resources pooled from these libraries and enable them to succeed in their academic career. Test/assessment Programs: Tutoring portals offer comprehensive test preparation programs for SAT, ACT, PSAT, AP and Pre-AP. Even the toppers will require taking and passing these exams to get admission in reputed college/University of their choice. Access to Online Discussion and Forums: Online discussion and forum participation give students a mature experience. The students can get answers to their questions, will get new ideas, learn through the exposure to various perspectives and build a solid foundation for learning. You can ask demo session to check the quality on tutoring lessons, homework help, assignment work or any other area that you are weak academically. [starbox id=admin]
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Facebook It's What You Make of It Facebook was intended to be a social networking site between friends of a similar age. The Berlin wall was never intended to fall; the Ozone layer was intended to withstand anything, and any written word ever published was intended to be read. However, intentions are not permanent or withstanding, and Facebook is no longer for people your age. Your high school teachers may not have been on Facebook, but your college professors will be. If you participate in class, and they remember your name; then they might even friend request you on Facebook. This does not have to be an ominous email of a professor looking to see what youre like outside of the third row, last seat on the left, in economics. It could just mean your professor wants to add you to his/her line of communication. Facebook can be networking. Its not Linkedin or other professional networking sites, but you can use Facebook to your advantage, as long as your status is not about how your professors eyebrow(s) strongly resembles a plump furry caterpillar. If you keep your Facebook site clean; then you can friend your professor, and he/she is now an extended form of contact. You can even write on your professors wall, inquiring about future internships or jobs. You could even ask him/her what that economics equation was. Your professor would be humored by that. Also, if you deny your professors friend request, he/she will wonder why. Your professor could be a person you get to know outside of the classroom better. College professors love to interact with students on personal levels. Facebook could be a great way for your professors to get to know you better. This professor could be your direct line into the Human Resources department of a company in your field. Your professor might even be Facebook friends with HR people. You, as a college student, could even friend a HR person, granting you a great contact into his/her company. You could even send them messages and tell them you know professor so-and-so. This could give you a huge advantage for landing a job or internship. These opportunities are prevalent if your Facebook is kept clean. Clean is broad term, and depending on what field youre in and what companies you are looking at clean is a very broad term. Not all of your pictures have to be of you doing community service or rescuing lost, wounded puppies. They can be of you playing sports in high school or hanging out with your friends. Your pictures could even be of you wearing your 10-sizes-too-small Batman Halloween Costume that you recycled from Halloween 1998. Dont be afraid to show a little personality with your Facebook page and your pictures. Not every picture has to depict you in a highly professional manner. You can even show what you do with your social life. However, Facebook is not just for your friends anymore. Some of your professors will see your Facebook page, and some of your future employers will be looking at is as well, and it could affect their decisions. Facebook is no longer just for college and high school students. It is growing to everyone and anyone. Fortune 500 companies have Facebook pages, and their top executives have pages too. Your parents and professors probably are probably already on it as well. Essentially, we are not trying to scare you into eliminating your Facebook page or removing most of its content. However, some content could be detrimental to your success as it might show your professors and future employers who you really are. Your Facebook page is what you make of it. If you keep it clean, then it can help you network through professors and other professional friends. But, if you dont monitor your page it could be detrimental, and it could even keep you from attaining a great job or internship. The internet is a public medium, and Facebooks firewall settings that allow only your Facebook friends to see your profile are no obstacle for people who really want to know more about you. Ultimately, if you dont want your professors or other people to see certain aspects of your life, then dont put those aspects on Facebook.
Why I Volunteer - Lotties Story
Why I Volunteer - Lottie's Story Lottie volunteers through the Tutorfair âTuition for allâ programme, where tutors help students who are struggling at school and cannot afford private tuition. Lottie has been teaching maths, or more specifically, Trigonometry and Quadratics to a small group of year 11 students. Lottie explains why she chose to become a volunteer, and how it has helped her progress professionally within teaching. I decided to join Tutorfair after I heard about the great opportunity through TeachFirst. I am a History graduate that has recently been accepted onto the 2015 TeachFirst graduate scheme. However, I was offered the place on the condition that I taught Mathematics from my Maths A-level. This was a very daunting prospect because I had not picked up a Maths book in five years! Therefore, I needed to gain some experience before stepping into the classroom. This was my most dominant reason for signing up to Tutorfair; it would provide an excellent opportunity to reconnect with Maths in a less pressurized environment. Moreover, Tutorfair shares a similar ethos and vision to TeachFirst and therefore it would give me a chance to work with students in a poor socio-economic background. I have found the experience most enlightening and useful. Firstly, the training day provided by Tutorfair gave an excellent overview of creating personal relationships with students and planning successful lessons. This not only helped me when planning my tutor sessions but has made me think more widely about planning lessons for larger classes. Secondly, the experience has given me a unique insight into the teaching world in general. It has tested my strength as a tutor and also as a teacher in training. I have been able to witness my strengths and weaknesses when dealing with students. This has been vital when preparing for the TeachFirst Summer Institute. I have been very grateful for this opportunity and would recommend it to anyone that wants to gain vital experience in the teaching or tutoring profession. Written by Lottie C - Tutorfair Volunteer
GCSE poem analysis When We Two Parted by Lord Byron
GCSE poem analysis When We Two Parted by Lord Byron What is it about? The poem recalls the end of a previous relationship that the narrator (or Byron himself) still feels sad and regretful about. The relationship was secret and ever since the break-up, he has been unable to outwardly express his sadness. Byron also feels that his lover was untrue to him and is still hurt, long after the events. When We Two Parted by Lord Byron In silence and tears Half broken-hearted To sever for years, Pale grew thy cheek and cold, Colder thy kiss; Truly that hour foretold Sorrow to this. The dew of the morning Sank chill on my brow - It felt like the warning Of what I feel now. Thy vows are all broken, And light is thy fame; I hear thy name spoken, And share in its shame. They name thee before me. A knell in mine ear; A shudder come o'er me - Why wert thou so dear? They knew not I knew thee. Who knew thee too well - Long, long shall I rue thee, Too deeply to tell. In secret we met - In silence I grieve, That thy heart could forget, Thy spirit deceive. If I should meet thee After long years, How should I greet thee? With silence and tears. Form The poem has four stanzas of eight lines each, but these lines are rather unusual in their form. They are largely written in falling rhythm, and the lines tend to have two 'feet', meaning that you can scan the poem as dactylic dimeter but the lines are irregular in length, pattern and weight. You can feel this by counting syllables (5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 4, 6, 4) or, more obviously, by counting stressed syllables: 'When we two parted | In silence and tears | Half broken-hearted | To sever for years'. This broken pattern gives the poem a stilted, stop-start, uncomfortable rhythm that begins to move, then hesitates, then moves on again, just as the poet is struggling to move on from his memories. Short lines are particularly powerful at slowing a reader down: the large amount of white space on a page prompts the reader to be thoughtful. The rhyme in the lines (a relatively straightforward ABABCDCD scheme) means that the lines end with a particular heaviness or finality, adding to the stiltedness of the thoughts. Language Byron uses alliteration and consonance to reinforce key words and images in the reader's mind: he is convinced that he 'shares' in the 'shame' of his lover, who has now lost the respect of his acquaintance. 'shame' is also reinforced by the internal rhyme with 'name', which is then repeated in the next stanza and helps to highlight the 'knell' - the ringing of a bell. This word has a very formal, even funereal connotation, particularly when coupled with the archaic language of 'mine ear' and 'Why wert thou so dear?' Ironic that her 'name' is now associated with the heavy weight of a metal bell, when it he also says 'light is thy fame'. However, what Byron really means is that his lover's reputation ('fame') is now insignificant or unvalued ('light'). Old-fashioned language like this means that although he uses relatively short and simple vocabulary, his verse has a complexity that intrigues and puzzles his reader: his lover's name is 'light' to him in one way and 'heavy' in another. Emotions A poem like this is more for the writer than for the reader: expressing his 'grief' at the end of the relationship is an important way of coming to terms with what he feels. This makes this a very cathartic poem. Byron asks himself why he cared for his lover so much ('Why wert thou so dear?'), implying that he has a very different attitude to her now even though he is struggling to change his feelings. He is also deeply bitter about the breakup, believing that he will continue to 'rue' or regret the relationship for a 'long, long' time. He believes that it was his lover's fault that the relationship ended - that 'thy heart could forget, | Thy spirit deceive' - but we are unable to tell what objectively happened. This doesn't make the poem any less honest, but it is essentially about the poet's feelings about the breakup, not really about the breakup itself. The poem is also very secretive: Byron addresses his past lover as 'thee', not using a name or giving any details, and explains that none of his friends knew of the relationship ('They knew not I knew thee' and 'In secret we met'). This secrecy has made it hard for him to share his feelings as he is also ashamed of the breakup and his unhappiness. He feels guilty (he says he knew her 'too well') and hasn't forgiven himself or his lover. Time and Memory In the second stanza Byron sets the poem in the 'morning' of some day long ago and explains that the 'dew' dampened his head. When he writes 'It felt like the warning | Of what I feel now' he changes the tense of the verb 'felt' to make it 'feel' so that we have a sense of how the emotion has continued in time. By the end of the poem, When We Two Parted, Byron looks towards the future, but is unsure of what will happen, not writing what 'will' or 'shall' be but what 'should' be 'if' another meeting ever takes place. He asks a rhetorical question which the poet answers with the same words he used to describe the parting 'years' ago: 'With silence and tears'. Clearly, he feels that on their next meeting, he will still be feeling the grief of the end of their relationship. catharsis The release of pent-up emotion dactyl A rhythmic pattern of three syllables, the first stressed and the next two unstressed (like Gregory or Colder thyâ¦) dimeter A line with two stressed syllables (although sometimes more stressed syllable are added!) For extra support with poetry analysis, why not book a lesson with one of our experienced GCSE English tutor? With Tutorfair you can browse through a selection of great tutors to find the right one for you. For More GCSE poem analyses similar to Love's Philosophy: The Farmer's Bride, Love's Philosophy, Neutral Tones, Kamikaze, Medusa, and Bayonet Charge.
?? The Back-To-School Checklist Heres Everything your Child Needs
?? The Back-To-School Checklist Hereâs Everything your Child Needs The Back-To-School Checklist: Hereâs Everything your Child Needs The next school year is almost upon us, and for you that means one thing: The dreaded back-to-school shopping list.We decided that weâd try and take the stress out of shopping and provide you with a list of everything your child needs for their return to school.There probably isnât as much as you think, and it doesnât have to cost you the world either.This list means you can quickly buy everything you need and then relax with a cuppa. Sound good? Then letâs take a look⦠ShirtsTrousersSkirtsDressesJumpersTightsShoesSocks T-shirtsShortsSkirtsSocksTrainersSwimming trunks / costumeGoggles Pencil caseHandwriting pensPencilsColoured pencilsCalculatorEraserRulerGlue stickHighlightersMaths set (protractor, setsquare, compass) School bag We polled some of our readers and asked what their favourite lunchboxes were, to bring you our recommended options!Tula - Deep Ocean Kids Backpack This deep ocean scene is one of many different designs offered by Tula. Designed to be comfy, easy to use and offer lots of storage space, the Tula backpack offers the perfect option for back to school: Get yours today athttps://tulababy.co.uk/collections/kids-backpack/products/deep-ocean-tula-kids-backpackLittle Picture Company -Personalised Clever Fox Mini Backpack We featured this backpack in 2017 and we're pleased to say the clever fox mini backpack is still one of our absolute favourites!This fabulous personalised mini rucksack is an ideal size for little hands to manage. Get yours today from:https://www.thelittlepicturecompany.co.uk/products/boys-personalised-clever-fox-mini-rucksackLittle Life - Kids Unicorn Backpack The design of the little life unicorn backpack speaks for itself, perfect for any aspiring princess!With a spacious 6 litre capacity, this backpack is ideal for children aged 3 and up,The chest strap ensures it stays secure and you can reach out quickly to your child with the large sturdy grab handle. Get yours today at:https://www.littlelife.com/products/kids-daysacks/big-unicornLunchboxes We polled some of our readers and asked what their favourite lunchboxes were, to bring you our recommended options!Miko the Panda Lunch bag For only £3.95, Miko the Panda is sure to put a smile on your child's face every lunchtime. Miko is kind to the planet as he is completely made from recycled plastic bottles. Miko will keep your food fresh with his insulated foil lining and can fold flat for easy storage. Get yours today from Rex London: https://www.rexlondon.com/miko-panda-lunch-bagThe Elephant Box The Orginal Elephant Box is big and beautiful! it's deep enough to pack a full hearty and healthy meal, fridge and freezer friendly for keeping lunch fresh. Completely made from stainless steel the elephant box won't stain or carry odours from yesterdays lunch, easy to clean, dishwasher friendly, it's simple and strong design will stand up to any punishment! Get yours today from: https://elephantbox.co.uk/products/elephant-boxOn The Farm Kids Lunch Bag by Sophie Allport The on the farm lunch bag would suit any aspiring young farmer! Made from polyester; it's easy to wipe clean and fully insulated to keep food fresh and cool! The easy-carry handle and zip closure make transport to and from school a doddle. If tractors aren't your child's thing, Sophie Allport has dozens of different designs to suit everyone! Get yours here today:https://www.sophieallport.com/collections/kids-lunch-bags/products/on-the-farm-lunch-bagPanda Packaging - Bamboo Lunch Box A truly eco-friendly option, the panda packaging bamboo lunch box is made from sustainable materials with the goal of reducing plastic pollution. Its sleek and simple design means it's easy to clean, lightweight and durable.Get yours today at:https://www.wearthlondon.com/bamboo-lunch-boxTyrrell Katz - Lunchboxes Available in a range of colourful prints, with sweet (and informative) illustrations to appeal to every small-child obsession from dinosaurs to unicorns. Its dishwasher, freezer and microwave friendly making this a super practical and fun optionGet yours today at Tyrrel Katz:https://tyrrellkatz.co.uk/kids-lunch/lunch-boxesWater bottleSnacksPacked lunchesCheck It OverBe sure to check through this list once you think youâve got everything. The last thing you need is a mad rush to the shop the day before your child starts school.Hopefully, this list has taken at least some of the stress out of back-to-school buying.Happy shopping!
Dual Subtitles How Language Learning Can Be Twice as Nice
Dual Subtitles How Language Learning Can Be Twice as Nice Dual Subtitles: How Language Learning Can Be Twice as Nice Give me a foreign language video and subtitles to match and I will learn that language. Archimedes, probablySubtitles are the unsung heroes of language learning.But youre not here to hear about plain old ordinary subtitles.Because as helpful as those can be, it gets much better.Youre here to make use of what seems like it should be such a simple, effective language learning hack but is surprisingly rarely used: dual language subtitles for authentic video content.Maybe you thought of this concept yourself.Maybe it just popped into your mind while you were watching a vlog in the language youre learning and for the umpteenth time found yourself in the position of switching back and forth between two sets of subtitles that werent even necessarily accurate.Or maybe you snuck a glance at a video on someone elses phone that was running dual subtitles and thought to yourself, What is this wizardry?Well, good news: Having the option of not just one, but two sets of subtitles working for you â"one in a language you know and another in the language youre learningâ"as you watch the kind of content thats intended for native speakers of your target language is not an impossible dream.In this post, well show you how its possible.And we wont just show you how to have instant translations for all the content in movies or videos you watch, but also how to use this tool to fully grasp the structure, grammar and writing of your target language.Without further ado, lets dive in. Dual Subtitles: How Language Learning Can Be Twice as NiceHow to Set Up Your Own Dual Subtitles Home TheaterNow that you know dual subtitles are possible, you may be champing at the bit to get started. However, using dual subtitles is a little tricky, and requires a little bit of technical literacy and patience to get right. Theres no such thing as a free lunch!Or is there?A Really Easy Option: Just Sign Up for FluentUActually, if youre not tech-savvy and would rather not mess around with video and su btitle files on your computer, theres a super simple solution for obtaining dual subtitles on a huge number of select authentic videos: FluentU.The minds behind FluentU have chosen authentic and interesting native content and turned it into personalized language lessons that include painstakingly-created dual-language subtitles just for you. Youll find all kinds of content on FluentUâ"like movie trailers, music videos, news, commercials, vlogs, cartoons and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you hear languages in real-world contextsâ"the way that native speakers actually use them.Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of FluentU videos on offer:FluentU really takes the grunt work out of learning languages, leaving you with nothing but engaging, effective and efficient learning. Itâs 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 interacti ve 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 FluentUâs 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 youâre learning and tells you exactly when itâs time for review, giving you a 100% personalized experience.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes store or Google Play store.A Still-not-too-hard Option: Setting Up Dual Subtitles for Video Files on Your ComputerBut maybe you already have FluentU, and in addition you want to be able to watch full movies and TV shows in a dual-subtitle format. Or youre learning a language thats not yet a vailable. Or you just want to geek out over as many options as possible.Not a problem!Heres a short tutorial on getting and using dual subtitles with the video files on your computer:First, youll want to download subtitle files from OpenSubtitles.org. There are a few different sites where you can download subs, but OpenSubtitles is the oldest and most respected. The collection is enormous, spanning around 50 languages and thousands of films and TV shows.They even have their own forum and blog for advice. But all you really need to do to get started is search for the name of the movie or show you want.Then, select the language of the subtitles and download the SRT files you need. One SRT file is one set of subtitlesâ"simple!Put the SRT files in the same folder as your video file, and make sure they have a similar name. For example, if youre watching Toy Story, maybe your video file is toy-story.mp4, your English subs are toy-story.en.srt, and your Spanish subs are toy-story.es.srt .Next, make sure you have or download a good media player, like KMPlayer, VLC or Kodi, that will automatically allow you to choose between your sets of subtitles when you play the file. In the Toy Story example, youll see options for subtitles in English and Spanish.But how to play them at the same time? Some players already include options to play more than one file at once, but you can also take the additional step of combining two sets of SRT files into one using a free service like DualSub.Depending on your media player, you may get smoother results by combining your two SRT files into one ASS file.Enjoy your dual subtitles!Now, lets look at what you can do with them.How to Use Dual Subtitles to Learn LanguagesUse Dual Subtitles to Improve Your Listening ComprehensionFirst off, let me be clear that all dual subtitles all the time arent for everyone. This is why both of the options we recommended above can easily be adjusted to accommodate single-subtitle or no-subtitle wat ching. If youre advanced enough in your studies, you may not need subtitles anymore at all. Just watch and understand and enjoy your hard-earned fluency.But for the rest of us, when a native speaker opens their mouth in a target-language video, it can be overwhelming.Simply listening along with a transcript is one of the best ways to get used to natural speech. But if you listen just one time, it might be tough-going.Listening multiple times and following along with the subtitles or a transcript will bake those language patterns and vocabulary words into your brain in no time.Use Dual Subtitles to Learn Foreign Alphabets and Tough Spelling SystemsDid you know that same-language subtitling can boost literacy?The applications for second-language learning are enormous. If youre struggling to get your head around unfamiliar writing systems or complicated spelling, take a break from laboriously copying out the alphabet.Switch on some videos with dual-language subtitles and just concentra te on the sounds and the writing. You can use the translations for understanding, but its the target language youll want to mainly be focusing on. Then go back to your instructional materials and watch as you make astonishing progress in reading your target language.Use Dual Subtitles to Check Your UnderstandingWhen you watch a video in your target language, you may think you understand everything.And when you read the target-language subtitles, you may also believe youre following along perfectly.But what dual subtitles bring to you is a way to instantly check if youre actually understanding your target language or just getting the gist.Cover up or turn off the answer (your native language) and play a short section of the video. Rewind and check to see if you got it right. Its that simple! (With a FluentU Plus plan, Quiz Mode takes care of this part for youâ"and keeps track of the vocab youre learning so it knows when you need to review something.)Then repeat over and over. With hundreds of lines of dialogue in any film or TV show (and so many YouTube videos in existence!), this might be the most efficient and convenient listening practice exercise out there.But what else can you achieve with dual subtitles?Use Dual Subtitles to Compare Two Foreign Languages at OnceLots of language learners like to double things up and study more than one foreign language at the same time.Thats great, and Im all for it. Learners like this have a special way to benefit from dual subtitlesâ"listening to content in their native language and comparing two different translations.Let me explain: Youll hear your native language, which is effortless to understand. Then youâll see translations of what was just said in both of the languages youâre studying.This way you can get reading practice in both target languages and see where they might differ in terms of vocabulary.Norwegian and Danish, for instance, are very similar in their written form.By comparing the subtitles line b y line, you can get a sense for where they do differ and strengthen both at the same time. Talk about efficiency!Use Dual Subtitles to Understand Nuances in Target Language ContentHeres another tip that can work for multi-language learners.Imagine youre watching a film in one of your target languages and you understand it at a high intermediate level.You know what the characters are saying, what theyre thinking and how they relate to each other.If you put on subtitles in your native language, youll understand the meanings of the lines.But if you add subtitles in a different language that you also understand, youll see how another translator from a different background rendered those lines, too.This can actually add a lot of depth to your understanding of the film and the language.Oftentimes films from other cultures have nuances that are hard to appreciate from the outside.Lets say youre watching a film in Italian, and you understand French well, too. By comparing French and English subtitles for the filmâ"youll see how the Italian lines were understood by two different translators and interpreted for two different audiences.With a second opinion on the language used in the film, your understanding will be a lot more complete.However, even if you dont have a third language or set of subtitles for this extra context, youll still gain understanding of a lot of nuance from comparing a target-language transcript that you already understand to a full translation your native language. This is one way that advanced learners can still benefit from translations, and it also shows the value of another simple exercise: Working out a translation yourself and then comparing it to someone elses translation.Of course, there are a million and one ways to learn a language.Whatever gets you thinking in and thinking about the languageâ"thats the best way to study.Dual subtitles are just one of many tools available to you, but theyre one of the best.Try them out today and see h ow they work for you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)