10 Free Guitar Videos to Help You Get Started

10 Free Guitar Videos to Help You Get Started Suzy S. Whether youre looking for an extra challenge between guitar lessons, or you need a refresher on some basic guitar concepts, YouTube is a treasure trove of instructional videos. But how do you find the best ones when there are so many free guitar videos out there? Follow these recommendations from guitar teacher Milton J. Congratulations on your decision to take guitar lessons! This incredible instrument has given me joy beyond belief ever since I picked it up when I was 13 years old. As you begin your journey to musical mastery, here are ten wonderful free guitar videos you can watch to help you get started shredding, strumming, and soloing towards guitar amazingness! 10 Free Guitar Videos This wonderful online teacher of Master Guitar Academy named Robert Renman provides a slew of lesson videos for beginning guitarists to the most seasoned ones. His introductory, two-part video on the Major Scale is a definitive must first-watch for a beginner. Scales are one of the first things you should learn on the guitar, and this video will help you master an important one. Part 1 Part 2 8 Chords Strumming In the next series of videos, Matt McCoy from the YouTube channel Acoustic Selection and our old friend Nate Savage from Guitar Lessons let you in on the few things they wish they had been taught when learning to play the guitar, as well as common mistakes even the most gifted of guitarists can make. 3 Things I Wish I was Taught 7 Common Mistakes In these next two free guitar videos, YouTube lesson provider Andy Crowley will teach you how to play a few songs! Nothing’s better than getting introduced to the guitar, chords, and then some songs, right? In these videos, Andy Crowley shows you a few chord progressions that can be used across multiple songs you may know, and some you may not but will grow to love as well! These videos will help you understand the parallels many of your favorite rock or pop songs make in their progressions, further encouraging you to continue with this wonderful instrument! 10 Songs with 2 Chords 10 Songs with 3 Chords Lastly, but certainly not least, learning major scale positions is very important to your development as a guitar player. These two videos should get you started in learning two tenets of major scales â€" pentatonic and diatonic major scales. What’s more is these scales will put you on your way to understanding melodies in your guitar playing and lead you to soloing as well! I’d advise you to take your time through both Marty’s pentatonic scale lessons and Mark Cote’s 5 Forms of the Diatonic Scale, as there’s a wealth of information in both that is best digested in smaller doses than just watching the video start to finish. The 5 Positions of the Major Scale The 5 Forms of the Diatonic Scale Bonus! Of course, we couldnt forget to include our guitar lessons playlist on YouTube, which is full of helpful tutorials on scales, arpeggios, and more! I hope all of these free guitar videos help you in your quest to become the very best guitarist you can be. Happy playing! Milton J. teaches guitar,  music performance, music recording,  piano, singing  and songwriting  in Corona, CA. He received a double Bachelor of Arts degree in  Ethnomusicology and African-American Studies  from University of California Davis, and is currently taking classes at  University of Redlands for his  Vocal Music Performance degree. Milton has been teaching students since 2011.  Learn more about Milton J. here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by  Jono Colliver

15 French Idioms Funny Phrases (+ What They Really Mean)

15 French Idioms Funny Phrases (+ What They Really Mean) Megan L. Just like in English, there are a lot of French idioms and phrases that dont quite translate. Some are fairly easy to figure out (for example, someone who drinks like a hole, is drinking a great deal). Others are less obvious, especially when you are just starting to learn French. Here are some of the strangest French idioms and phrases youre likely to come across in an otherwise normal conversation. 15 French Idioms Funny Phrases 1. Coup de  foudre Only in French is it a good thing to be hit by a strike of lightning it means love at first sight, which is known to have some of the same symptoms, though you can usually tell them apart! 2. Avoir  le  cafard While having a cockroach is certainly not most peoples idea of a good time, this phrase goes a little further than that. It means to be downright depressed. 3. Avoir  une  peur  bleue Some French idioms simply dont make sense. Being ordinarily frightened is just avoir peur, but when you need to express serious pop-quiz-level terror, you have a blue fear in French. 4. Avoir  un  poil  dans  la main To have a hair in ones hand means to be very lazy, as if you do so little with your hands that hair could start growing from the palm. 5. Donner la  langue  au chat If you give your tongue to the cat when presented with a riddle or other tricky question, youve given up and admitted defeat. What the cat does with it then is anybodys guess. 6. Être  sorti  de  lauberge Where English-speakers say out of the woods to mean having handled your problems, French-speakers say out of the inn. Are the inns in France really so bad that the woods are preferable? 7. Faire la  tête Literally to make the head, this phrase means to pout. It can be a slightly cute or affectionate way of asking if someones upset with you. 8. La fin des  haricots When something is the end of the beans, its the equivalent of saying the last straw. Either way, the frustrated person might say the next phrase on this list of French idioms RELATED VIDEO: Must-Know French Slang Words Phrases 9. La  moutarde  me  monte  au  nez Mustard rising to your nose means that youre getting angry, as a result making a face like someone whos just eaten strong mustard. Steam coming out of your ears is optional. 10. Les  carrottes  sont  cuites In English, your goose is cooked when youre done for; in French, its carrots. In either case, you cant take it back now. 11. Les  doigts  dans  le  nez This is one of the funniest phrases on this list of French idioms. If somethings so easy you could do it with your fingers in your nose, you could probably also do it with one hand behind your back, possibly even both at once! 12. Mettre  son grain de  sel Someone who insists on putting in their grain of salt cant let a topic go without offering their opinion, whether its asked for or not. 13. Poser un lapin If youve been left a rabbit, that means youve been stood up for a date or meeting. If it helps, the connection between rabbits and poor date etiquette isnt clear in French either. 14. Sauter  du cog  Ã   lâne Literally to jump from rooster to donkey, this phrase means jumping from topic to an unrelated topic. Cruelty to barn animals is not necessary. 15. More French Idioms and Sayings! Cant get enough? Check out the video below for even more funny French idioms and expressions. Want to learn more French idioms and work on your language learning skills? Taking private lessons with a French tutor is the best way to improve your skills and reach your goals. Study with a tutor in-person or take online lessons. Find your French tutor today! 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

3 Ways to Effectively Communicate With Your Childs Teacher

3 Ways to Effectively Communicate With Your Child’s Teacher The new school year brings with it many challenges: a new classroom environment, new, often more challenging, subjects, and most importantlya new teacher. When approaching your students new teacher, it is very important to foster a healthy line of communication. Effective ways to communicate with your childs teacher include making the teacher aware that you are interested and invested in your childs education, finding out and utilizing the best ways to contact your students teacher, and giving the teacher information on your student that will help him or her better get to know your child. The start of a new school year is an excellent time to begin effective communication with your students new teacher. Here are three ways to effectively communicate with your childs teacher this school year: Communication strategy #1: Let the teacher know that you are keen to be involved When the school year begins, let your students teacher know that you are invested in your childs education and success this year. Show your interest in a positive and curious waymost teachers will appreciate your genuine involvement. Inquire about how grades are tracked, and how you can best keep on top of your student's schoolwork this year. For example, grades are often tracked online. You can ask how often these are updated, and use this as a way to monitor your childs success. There may also be a class syllabus online where you can stay up-to-date on any upcoming tests or projects. Inquiring early about coursework can streamline the communications process for the rest of the year. Another suggestion is to show appreciation for your childs teacher. He or she does a great deal of work in fostering your students educational future, and recognizing this can go a long way in promoting healthy communication between you and the teacher. [RELATED: How Parents Can Help with Elementary Homework Challenges] Communication strategy #2: Find the best way to contact the teacher, and use this to your advantage Often, the teacher has specific methods for contact with parents. This may be through email, phone calls, or a communications system put in place by the school (such as a mass messaging system). Whatever it may be, inquire with your students teacher to find the best way to contact him or her with any concerns or questions. The teacher will appreciate you taking the initiative to find out what way works best for you to reach out. It also helps you know how to get the most efficient response from your teacher. You may have questions in the evenings or on weekends, and it can be helpful to know how the teacher wishes to be reached during off hours. Emergency concerns do come up with students, and often occur at inopportune times. Therefore, knowing how to reach your teacher when issues like these arise can be key. [RELATED: Elementary School Parent-Teacher Conferences: What to Ask] Communication strategy #3: Provide information that will help the teacher better know your child Communicating information about your student to his or her new teacher can be instrumental to your childs success in the classroom. Discuss any: strengths weaknesses areas where you can see your child benefiting from improvement. Being open with your students teacher about these areas can not only help your child get the most out of his or her education this school year, but can also showcase to the teacher your willingness to be involved in the educational journey and to have an open line of communication. [RELATED: Middle School Parent-Teacher Conferences: What to Ask] Its important to remember that if issues begin to arise with your student in class, dont assume the teacher is aware of the problem. Be open with any concerns you might be having regarding any aspect of your student's educational experience. Promoting effective communication with your childs teacher on all fronts can help make this school year a great one. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

A level Maths Help What to Expect How to Tackle Problems

A level Maths Help What to Expect How to Tackle Problems Taking the Leap to Maths A-Level Can Be Daunting! ChaptersA-Level Math Course  SyllabusHelp with Maths A-Level RevisionWhere to Find A Level Maths Past PapersHire an A  level Maths TutorMaths at A-level can be an extremely challenging subject, which takes quite a leap from what you will have been doing in your maths GCSE. A-levels are divided into two years: in year twelve you will take your AS levels, and in year thirteen you will do A2. MyriamMaths Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £200/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr parikhMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KamalMaths Teacher 5.00 (9) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PetarMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GowsikaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RubenMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ConorMaths Teacher 4.75 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tuto rsA-Level Math Course  SyllabusMaths A-level, starting with AS level in year twelve, builds upon what you have been learning at GCSE. You will start cultivating the maths skills that you started learning throughout your GCSE, but you will develop this further and fine-tune subject knowledge on your way to handling much more complicated mathematics.So if you have no idea what to expect, you can check your syllabus according to the exam board your college will be using. But maths A-level, regardless of where you take it and the exam board you take it with, will consist of a fairly standard curriculum in the UK.Maths lessons during A-level can be quite a step up from GCSE. Photo credit: Vancouver Island University via Visual Hunt  AS and A2 maths consists of topics you will already be familiar with, as well as a few new concepts too. These are mainly outlined as:Algebra and functionsGeometrySequences and seriesTrigonometryExponentials and logarithmsDifferentiationIntegrationNumerical m ethodsVectorsStatistical samplingData presentation and interpretationProbabilityStatistical distribution and hypothesis testingQuantities and units in mechanicsKinematicsForces and Newton’s lawsMomentsSome of these will be built on in more detail and at a more difficult level if you opt for further maths.Further maths is an option offered by most A-level colleges, and it is also available if you take an international baccalaureate as your post-16 education path. If this is something that might interest you, make sure you check with your college to see if they can offer it.Further maths is a great opportunity to study sophisticated and challenging maths, whether you want to carry it through to university or you simply just can’t get enough of mathematics!You will probably be familiar with the majority of these standard A-level maths topics, and others might be completely new. You'll find that most of them will link back to topics you have seen at GCSE, and your teachers will show you how the maths you already know can be developed further.Help with Maths A-Level RevisionYou might find that some of these topics are quite challenging, and you could face a few hurdles during the transition from GCSE maths revision to AS level maths, and even further along in your A-level course as well.Perhaps you are finding A-level maths especially difficult? Have you fallen behind in class and feel like you can’t catch up? Or maybe it’s just a specific concept that you can’t get your head around?It’s completely normal to feel like you’re drowning in maths sometimes! There’s a lot to learn on an A-level course, and you are expected to acquire knowledge in great detail. This can sometimes be the biggest difference between GCSE and A-levels.The gap between GCSE and A-level can sometimes feel quite big, and you might feel as though you aren't finding your feet as quickly or as easily as you expected.The main difference between GCSE and A-level is that before you wer e given a clear structure of what you needed to know, whereas with A-level you are required to take a bit more initiative and do more study in your own time.And this is why it’s easy to fall a bit behind. It’s up to you to keep up at A-level, and if you have a lot going on and lots to learn across your subjects, you could face the problem of feeling like you don’t have enough time to learn everything you need to.With A-level maths - and all subjects for that matter - you will find that the biggest difference compared to GCSE is that you can't just get away with learning the content, you have to really understand  it too. This means putting in the extra hours of work outside of the classroom and trying not to fall behind.Keep Calm and PlanThe first step to take if you’re facing problems with your maths A-level is to keep calm and remember not to panic! Get hold of your course syllabus and sit down to make a detailed study plan. You can even find websites that will help you pu t together a revision timetable so that you prioritise the right stuff.Time management is crucial for any study period, and especially in your exams.Plan out how much time you need to spend on each topic, leaving the most time for whatever you find the most challenging.With maths, practise really does make perfect. So the best way to overcome hurdles and problem areas is by sitting down and practising the maths until it becomes second nature and you can solve problem with ease and confidence.Going over your notes and doing past papers is a great way to revise! Photo credit: me_chris via Visual hunt  Online Maths Resources for A LevelOther great ways of tackling maths A-level problems is by finding websites that offer lessons, tutorials and guidance on the course content and the upcoming exams. There is slightly less available than there was at GCSE, but there is still a plethora of sites and resources that you can utilise to help you study and to clarify any issues you have.At A-lev el, the maths you will be studying is naturally a lot more complicated and demanding, but there are still lots of great websites to help you out when you're struggling. RevisionWorld  is brilliant for course content support, exam technique and past papers, so you can tackle any problems at home!Maths Genie is another wonderful site completely dedicated to maths. You can find EdExcel past papers and notes on individual topics to help you out at any point in your course.Where to Find A Level Maths Past PapersThe best way to prepare for your exams and test your knowledge so far is by doing some past exam papers. You can get hold of these from you school or online, depending on which exam board you are with. Make sure you get a copy of the mark scheme too so that you can mark you own work and see how you did.Doing past papers will help to familiarise you with the format of the exam, the style of the questions, the length of the paper and the command words that are frequently used. So si t somewhere quiet with no distractions â€" try to recreate exam conditions if you can.Once you’ve read through and completed the past paper, you’ll get a clear idea of where you need to put more work in and how much time you will need for each sort of question. It will become clear where your strengths and weaknesses are, if you weren’t sure before.Hire an A  level Maths TutorYou might want to consider hiring a private maths tutor for A-Level revision to help you through the challenges you are facing. A tutor with experience and expertise can sit with you and work through the problems at your own pace, to suit your particular way of learning.As we've already said, it's less of a jump from GCSE, and more of a leap. You need to be able to understand the maths content you are learning, not just be able to regurgitate stuff in an exam. A home tutor can be the best way to make sure you're putting in the extra study time, and that you can keep up and feel confident with your maths l earning.With online platforms such as Superprof you can also find online maths tutors who can give you lessons via video call, meaning that you can get maths help from the comfort of your own home! This can be a really great option if you have a busy lifestyle or can't get around too easily.Don't be afraid to ask for help and support with maths if you need it! Photo credit: University of the Fraser Valley via VisualHunt  One of the best things about sixth form or college studies is that classes are generally much smaller than they were at GCSE. This means your teachers will have a better chance of spending time with you on a more individual basis, and you will have more chances to speak up and receive attention on problem areas.You might find, though, that you need a bit more of this individual attention and teaching, which is where a private tutor would come in very handy indeed when faced with maths A-level problems.So whether you're struggling with a specific topic or type of exa m question, or you just need a bit of guidance with maths in general, there is always a solution to the problem! And keep in mind that past exam papers can be your best friend when you're facing problems with getting the hang of exam technique or applying your maths to certain questions.Remember too that the best thing you can do is to stay calm and confident, manage your time well, and make a detailed study plan for exam season. And don't be afraid to ask for help or look into private tuition, try whatever works best for you!Discover how useful maths can be in life and why you should consider studying it.

What is it Like to Attend Belmont University

What is it Like to Attend Belmont University Laura received her bachelors degree in musical theatre from Belmont University. Some of the tutoring subjects she specializes in are elementary math tutoringand SSAT tutoring. She participated in our College Experience QA series by sharing her experience at Belmont University below. Want to know her thoughts? Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Laura: Belmonts campus is quite small, compared to many universities. You can pretty much get anywhere you need to go within ten minutes on footand faster if you have a scooter or a skateboard. That being said, most people do have a car because, while Belmonts campus is easy to get around, Nashville isnt the sort of city where you can walk everywhere. I always felt safe at Belmont. The small size of the school means that by senior year, I knew a fairly large percentage of the people in my year by face if not by name. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Laura: I never felt like I couldnt talk to a professor after class. Classes are small, maybe 20-30 students, and everyone would be on first-name basis by the end of the third week. They do a really good job of making themselves available and approachable. I still keep in contact with several of my professors from my time there. How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Laura: When I was a freshman, we slept three to a dorm that was 12 x 12. It was cramped, but livable. Three years later, they have since added some brand-new dorm buildings that are extremely nice, as well as a new, larger cafeteria that offers even more dining options than its previous counterpart. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Laura: Belmont is best known for being a music schoolthis being greatly aided by its location in downtown Nashville. I went there to study Musical Theatre, which was one of the most-beloved departments in the university. We had a growing reputation even then, and with each passing year I am told the school of music gets more famous. Belmont not only has its own PBS special (Christmas at Belmont) but in recent years several students have gone on to make big waves in the music industry, including some Country Music Award winners and a handful of American Idol finalists. 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? Laura: I didnt have trouble meeting people personally, because my focus of study was very specific and we had a very small department. In fact it was rather limiting as to who I could meet outside of that group. Several people I know did Greek lifehowever, there are only four or five sororities on campus to choose from. Most people consider the school of music to be its own society. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Laura: I never found them to be very useful, but that might be because I didnt require their services. I think they did do a Career Fair in the springtime, though. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Laura: The library was small, but there was generally enough space. Theres a nice caf on the first floor, too. Additionally, the music collection is extensive and thorough. When I was there, we actually didnt have a student union. It definitely was sometimes challenging to find places to hang out. In the springtime lots of people like to hang out in the gazebos in the quad. Describe the surrounding town. Laura: Nashville is an incredible city. Being there was hands down one of the best part of going to Belmont. The live music scene, in addition to the super hip culture of the Hillsboro area, is unbeatable. Most people see a lot of live showsplus there are a ton of professional-quality performances given by the school of music each semester. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Laura: The student body is fairly small, with class sizes varying from 15-30 students. I liked the smaller sizes, it made things more personal and I appreciated that. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Laura: My best experience at Belmont was with my voice teacher and academic advisor, Marjorie Halbert. She was not only a one-on-one professor but also an incredible leader and role model. Mrs. Halbert was the head of the musical theatre department, and took a personal interest in the development of each of her fifty-odd students. We were her pride and joy, and she treated us as her own children: hosting home-cooked dinners for us, rejoicing at individual progress made in class, and giving us no-nonsense life lessons when we needed them. She was, without doubt, the best teacher I ever had. Check out Laura'stutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Six Skills Your Teen Needs for College Readiness

Six Skills Your Teen Needs for College Readiness If your teen is headed to college soon, its important to make sure he or she is prepared. College classes are a big step up from high school classes in terms of rigor and expectations, and your teen must have a range of aptitudes and habits to do well. What exactly does it take? Here are six essential skills your teen must have to be successful in college: Independence By high school, teens should be keeping track of homework and upcoming projects and tests all on their own. They should be in tune with their needs in the classroom so they can advocate for themselves. Your support in school remains important in high school but make sure your teen understands that school is his or her responsibility and that he or she is taking initiative to complete homework, study and manage all of his or her responsibilities. Time management The college workload can take many freshmen by surprise, and those who lack a good time management system tend to struggle. Teens must be adept at prioritizing their studying and planning ahead when they have big projects. If your teen doesnt use the planner faithfully, now is the time to start. Adaptability In college, there are times students get a lot of direction from professors and times they do not. A class projects scope or timeline might change. Its important to be able to adjust and pivot when a situation changes, new information is acquired or when faced with uncertainty. Encourage your teen to problem solve and stay calm in high-pressure situations. These skills go hand in hand with adaptability. Resourcefulness College students do a whole lot of research. They are frequently expected to develop written arguments on texts they read and other topics and must be able to supply evidence and support for those interpretations. And outside the classroom, students should be comfortable asking for help and identifying and taking advantage of the different resources available to them. Suggest that your teen do the same as a high school student. Study skills Good academic habits are essential in college, including studying smart, notetaking and planning out the study and homework schedule. Students are expected to be responsible and on top of all of their classes and responsibilities. Make sure your teen nurtures the study habits so that by the time he or she is in college, they are second nature. Critical thinking skills College professors want students to participate in class and articulate their ideas clearly. They expect that they are able to analyze new information, make connections about that which they learn and draw conclusions. As often as possible, encourage your teen to express opinions and the reasons for them and think through arguments. College success requires a combination of academic and other skills, and these final years of high school are your teens opportunity to strengthen them. Help your teen acquire the skills and knowledge he or she will need so that by the time graduation comes, your teen is ready to make the college years the best ones yet.

Calm Your Mind Understanding Managing Stress

Calm Your Mind Understanding Managing Stress Improving Academic Performance “A bit of stress in short doses is useful in improving our memory and enhancing performance. However, too much, too regularly, is extremely damaging to our mental and physical well-being.” From https://www.headspace.com/science/stress, a web-site founded by globally recognized mindfulness and meditation expert Andy Puddicomb Just because you have no major or minor diagnosed mental health disorder, doesn’t mean you have a completely healthy mind. If school, work, sports, orsocial situations tend to make you nervous and stressed, your performance suffers. You’ve probably heard that the right amount of stress is a good thing, but too little or too much stress is a bad thing. The idea is that if you are too care free, you may let important tasks fall through the cracks, and end up dropping the ball on that big school project. At the same time, if you are extremely nervous about performing poorly and get really worked up before a big test, you might find yourself having a lot of trouble concentrating or thinking clearly. Too little stress or too much stress is bad, but the right amount of “stress” can lead to clear thinking, appropriate focus, and a generally extremely helpful sense of calm and confidence that allows you to execute on test day or deliver a great presentation in school or at work. Here’s an incredibly short primer on the science behind the above paragraph. We humans can control part of our nervous system: thoughts, muscle movement, etc. But, after that, lots of our nervous system is beyond our conscious control. We know how our body works, but can’t directly control it. The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is the part of our nervous system which we can’t directly control. It regulates thinks like kidney function, liver function, healing, etc. The ANS itself can be broken down into two sub-systems, the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) and the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS). The SNS is what gets activated when we are extremely excited, afraid, or stressed out. It’s the evolutionary “fight or flight” response you may have heard of. If a man jumps out of a dark alley and punches you, the SNS will increase adrenaline, and decrease blood to any part of the body that isn’t good at helping you fight or run away. So, the immune system, libido, and brain get less blood are partially “deactivated” while the muscle tighten up and your arms and legs receive more blood. In other words, your immune system, libido, and brain kind of turns off, while your arms and legs and heart turn on. You are ready to fight or fun, but not to think. Obviously, this is bad for academic performance. The PNS system, on the other hand, is the bodies “relaxation response.” When the PNS is activated, essentially everything we just read about with SNS is reversed. You aren’t ready to run or fight, but you are much calmer, breathing slower, and receiving more blood to the brain. Ready to calmly think and problem solve. Whereas the SNS dominated state is good for fighting and fleeing, the PNS dominated state is good for focus, concentration, recall, and analyzing information. When it comes to academic performance, taking tests, or performing well at work, you need your SNS to keep you awake, but not for much more. In general, you’ll perform better when the PNS system, which again helps you focus, analyze, and problem solve, is in control. In other words, roughly, when we think of “stress” in layman’s terms, the SNS system is what creates stress, while the PNS system is what reduces it. “….chronic stress also exerts a strong and adverse effect on the brain even altering brain cells, brain structure, and brain function. Research has shown that unmanaged stress: Diminishes short, and long-term memory Inhibits the formation of new memories Diminishes the ability to learn new things Diminishes problem-solving abilities Diminishes the ability to concentrate” Joshua David O’Brien, founder of the Mindfulness Community of Central Pennsylvania In one study, individuals were placed into two categories: 1) high stress and 2) low stress, and then given a series of problem solving and memory tests. The low stress group performed 2x better. So, what can you do to activate your PNS and manage your stress? The answer to stress management is a little odd to some. Healthy eating, appropriate nutrition, a positive attitude, and constantly maintain perspective on events in your life are hugely important factors. However, recognition of the power of the breath, which naturally extends into what is called “practicing mindfulness” and sometimes “meditating” are important underused solutions to over-stressed lives, particularly in western countries. The following is borrowed from Joshua David O’Brien, founder of the Mindfulness Community of Central Pennsylvania “Mindfulness Meditation is a practice of being fully and attentively present in the moment. In the same way one might practice a musical instrument or martial arts form, we practice being mindful and aware through skillful meditation. In formal practice we use the breath as an object of awareness. We follow the physical sensations of the breath as it flows in and out of the body. We allow the breath to flow naturally without controlling it as you would in a breathing exercise….one of the first things we learn when we try to do this practice is how easily distracted the mind can be. All sorts of thoughts, ideas, feelings, and sensations call for our attention and we find we’ve forgotten all about the breath.” Simply practicing mindfulness for 10-15 minutes a day can lead to significant benefits in a relatively short period of time. Again according to https://www.headspace.com/science, after as few as 11 hours of accumulated mindfulness practice, the brain changes structurally to improve focus and self-control, people are able to stay on tasks longer, anxiety and stress was reduced, and the list goes on. Clearly, all of these benefits are directly applicable to improving academic performance. I think that if we taught ourselves and our children how to practice mindfulness, we’d see better grades, higher test scores, and better overall performance in and outside of school. To read more about being mindful, consider reading - Get Some Headspace: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life In Ten Minutes a Day â€" by Andy Puddicombe Mindfulness: An Eight Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World â€" by Mark Williams and Danny Penman Here is a popular “TED” talk about the benefits of taking 10 minutes out of your day to be mindful. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, 'f08a3c58-464f-4164-a82e-313b7951bbb2', {});

5 Luscious Languages Spoken in Africa That You Oughta Know

5 Luscious Languages Spoken in Africa That You Oughta Know 5 Luscious Languages Spoken in Africa That You Oughta Know Guys, Africa is a huge continent.I mean, really hugeâ€"more so than you might expect. We’re talking a continent as big as the U.S., India, China and most of Europe combined.For us language enthusiasts, that means more languages than you can count. Africa is a veritable buffet for the language learner. In fact, its estimated that there may be over 3,000 languages spoken in Africa!Unfortunately, I’ve found that, in online language learning communities, African languages are widely overlooked when someone is choosing a second or third language.We’re all familiar with the major European languagesâ€"Spanish, French, German, etc.â€"and East Asian languages like Korean,  Chinese and Japanese. Those are typically the most popular to pick.But African languages are awesome, too. Theyre invaluable for travelers,  professionals in the business world  and anyone with curiosity about the world, its languages and its cultures. We should really all be picking up more of these great languages!S o, let’s take a little trip through Africa and talk about why five of the most-spoken languages there are beyond cool.Of course, English is widely spoken in Africa, too, but we won’t cover that, since you’ve apparently picked up enough English to read this article. 5 Luscious Languages Spoken in Africa That You Oughta Know1. ArabicArabic is a huge language, fit for a huge continent.If you decide to learn Arabic, well, you’ll probably get more bang for your buck than you even thought possible.Arabic is a Semitic language, and it’s spoken by 280 million native speakers worldwide. As far as Africa is concerned, Arabic is an official language in Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Libya, Eritrea the list goes on! Its also widely spoken in countries where it hasnt yet been recognized as an official language.Arabic comes in a number of flavorsâ€"to start out, youll choose between Modern Standard Arabic and colloquial dialects. If you learn Modern Standard Arabic, you’ll be able to communicate with most  Arabic speakers around the world. Modern Standard Arabic is the written form of the languageâ€"this is the Arabic used in news articles, online and in novels. It’s spoken  in newscasts and in some TV shows.However, this is not the form of Arabic that native speakers always learn as children. They learn various dialects of Arabic, unique to their regions. Some of these dialects are more mutually intelligible (speakers of different dialects can understand each other) than others, but learning, say, Moroccan or Egyptian Colloquial Arabic gets you deeply connected with a culture in a way that Modern Standard Arabic can’t.So, if you get really into Arabic, youll want to learn Modern Standard first, and then adopt a colloquial dialect of your choice!How to Learn ArabicSo you wanna get started learning Arabic? Check out Stanford University’s Arabic Department site  for  more information on how to learn all aspects of the language, beginning with the bas ics.If you want to put your efforts into learning a dialect, Egyptian Colloquial Arabic is a great place to start if you don’t have a specific country in mindâ€"it’s the most spoken dialect. Browse  this textbook  for Egyptian Colloquial basics.And what about the script? To readers of the Latin alphabet, Arabic looks incomprehensible. For starters, it’s written only in cursive, there are multiple forms of each letter and there are no vowels! What to do?Well, let me tell you, learning to read Arabic is far easier than it looks. Give it a week, set some time aside to copy each letter down and, believe me, you’ll be sounding out texts before you know it.Youll probably also be pretty psyched to hear that FluentU is developing an Arabic program for the website, Android App and iPhone App. In the meantime, you can follow the FluentU  Arabic Language and Culture Blog  and subscribe to our newsletters for loads of fun, modern language lessons.2. SwahiliSecond on our list is Swahili, known as Kiswahili in the language itself.Swahili  is a Bantu language  widely spoken in the  African Great Lakes region, which comprises of a huge swath of Central, Southern and East African. Theres  also a huge number of Swahili speakers in countries adjacent to the Great Lakes region.With Swahili under your belt, youll be able to visit gorgeous countries like  Tanzania and Kenya, where Swahili is an official language. Swahili will also help you get around parts of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While it’s natively spoken by 15 million people, there are more than 150 million speakers total, and it’s a common second language throughout this region!Swahili is quite appealing  to many language learners due to the fact that it’s widely spoken and for its history. Kiswahili (the name of the language in Swahili) means “coastal language, and it’s a trade language that was created to facilitate communications between a number of So uthern and Eastern Africa’s wide variety of ethnic groups.It’s also not too hard for English speakers to learnâ€"unlike many African languages, Swahili doesn’t use tones and, unlike Arabic and Amharic, it uses the Latin alphabet. If you do know some Arabic then you have a good head start, as there are tons of Arabic loanwords in Swahili.What’s more, I guarantee you already know a handful of Swahili words. Why? The writers of Disney’s The Lion King had a bit of a love affair with Swahili. Hakuna Matata? Thats Swahili for “no worries!” Simba? Swahili for “lion!”How to Learn  SwahiliIf you want to get into the basics of Swahili, try BBC’s guide to pick up some vocabulary and greetings. And here’s a fun song to practice those greetings!3. HausaNext up is this beautiful Chadic language spoken in Nigeria and Niger by a whopping 39 million people.It’s also spoken by plenty of other people in West Africa, and in fact, Hausa serves as a lingua franca for Muslim popula tions in this region. Its widely understood, so itll get you pretty far in West Africa!Hausa is written in both the Arabic script and the Latin alphabet. However, the Latin alphabet, called Boko, tends to be the main script used these days among Hausa speakers.Hausa is a tonal language, but don’t let that put you off. Each of the five vowels (a, e, i, o, u) can either have a high or low pitch. While these tones may be marked in learning materials that use Latin text, everyday writing does not use any diacritics.How to Learn HausaTo get started, begin  loading up on audio and video resources. Plenty of listening can help you manage tones and gain a good sense of how the language sounds.Radio is great for the purpose of learning and reinforcing tonal sounds, and stations like  BBC,  Radio France Internationale,  Voice of America  and  24 Deutsche Welle  broadcast in Hausa.To really take off on your Hausa learning journey, try the basic lessons provided at Teach Yourself Hausa.4. Amh aricAmharic is a rich and ancient Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia.It’s related to Arabic and Hebrew, and with 22 million native speakers it’s the second most widely spoken Semitic language after Arabic.Amharic is gorgeous when spoken, and its even more stunning when written in its unique script. It uses an alphasyllabary called fidelâ€"basically, each “letter” represents a consonant/vowel combination, but the forms of the consonants and vowels change depending on the combinations.Learning to write fidel might take a little longer than learning the Arabic script, but it’s still well within reach of the average learner. Try taking advantage of tools like SRS (Spaced Repetition Systems)  to efficiently memorize each letter and its various combinations.Amharic is also host to a growing body of Ethiopian literature. Poetry and novels are both popular, and learning Amharic will open the door to experiencing literature far different from that of the rest of the world. Once yo u have the basics down, try your hand at reading the most famous Amharic novel, Fiqir Iske Meqabir  (translated into English as Love Unto Crypt) by Haddis Alemayehu.Getting started with Amharic has never been easier. Learn some phrases and basic vocab at Amharic Teacher, and listen to Australia’s SBS Amharic stream here.5. FrenchFrench hardly needs an introduction, since it’s no stranger to the aspiring  language learners eye.However, it’s less well-known that French can get you pretty far in many African countries, especially in North, West and Central Africa, where many countries were French colonies in the past. African French is spoken by 120 million people, and it can be quite different from the French youd be exposed to in Europe and Canada.Even if youre familiar with Parisian or Quebec French, African French has unique features that take some getting used to.  Accent and vocabulary are heavily influenced by surrounding native African languages, and the resulting dialect s are rather distinct.Each African region is home to a variety of French accents and Creoles, and some are difficult to understand from region to region. Central African French differs a lot from West African French, and so on. African countries that make up la Francophonie  each have strong traditions of African-French prose, poetry  and film  that are  as diverse  as the cultures  from which they come.Of course, theres no dearth of basic French resources online or otherwise. You can use FluentU to go from the beginning stages right through native-level fluency, and there are even authentic videos on the site that feature different breeds of the French language.To focus on attuning your ears to new African accents and dialects, try listening to radio from Côte D’Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon  and other nearby countries!Now that you know a little more about some major African languages, theres no excuse to pass them up. Youve seen how much territory they cover, and how many wonderful people you could meet by speaking them.Many of the countries listed here have rapidly growing economies, and are increasingly present in  the world stage in terms of trade  and politics.Furthermore, learning any of these languages is an opportunity to connect with a new culture and  deeply  experience any of the gorgeous countries in which these languages are spoken.With the Internet and a little ingenuity, learning these wonderful languages is not only within reach, but guaranteed to be a rewarding and enriching experience.