Learning German A Guide to Language Learning Techniques

Learning German A Guide to Language Learning Techniques How To Learn German ChaptersTips For Learning GermanOnline Learning: Learn German Using Websites And AppsWatching German: Learn German Through Television And FilmListening To German: Learn German Through Podcasts And AudiobooksReading German: Learn German With Newspapers Designed For BeginnersPlaying In German: Learn German With Interactive GamesTesting Your German Skills: Recognition And CertificationInteresting Facts About The German LanguageGerman is among the most spoken languages across the world, and is the native tongue of multiple countries in Europe.However, with so many people based in Germany having such a good knowledge of English, why is it so important to learn to speak German.  Moreover, what are the best techniques to adopt when trying to get up to speed with this powerful language?Well, if you don’t go through the process of learning this rather intriguing language then there are many (what can only be described as) weird and wonderful things that you will miss out on! Just take a loo k at these fascinating facts, for example, to get an idea of why learning German is so worthwhile.1. While Germany is said to be one of the top ten spoken languages across Europe, it is at the same time the number one mother tongue language on the continent. How is this possible, you ask? German is often the first language of habitants in various countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and even parts of Belgium and Slovakia.2. The German language has not two, but three different genders! There are feminine and masculine nouns, just like in languages such as French, however the Germans additionally have neutral words for things like objects with no defined gender.3. Although Germany is one hour ahead of GMT, you might be fooled into thinking that it is in the same time zone as the UK if you happen to ask a local what the time is. This is because the Germans say it is half two when it is actually 1.30pm. Though it might seem a bit odd, this is again qui te a logical approach as some would argue that it is in fact only half way through the second hour of the afternoon.Don't get confused - learn how the Germans tell the time differently to us! Photo via Visual hunt4. The German alphabet has more than 26 consonants. This is due to additional official letters like 'ß', which creates a sound similar to 'ss' in English. Other distinctive features are the letter-diacritic combinations it uses, i.e. the two dots above vowels to indicate  a shift in pronunciation.5. The German language is known for its incredibly long words, which emerge as a result of compound words adjoining eachother like a domino effect.6. Germany shares more than 60% of its vocabulary with English, as opposed to French which shares less than 30%. Is it therefore  safe to say that these figures mean  you are already a proficient German speaker before you even start learning? Maybe not, but at least it means you’re well on your way!Whether you decide to attend a begin ners' class, take the subject at school, learn German online or to try to teach yourself, there are of course some basics you must master first. Be top of your class from the offset by following sone of these helpful tips!Logo, a children’s website that consequently uses very simplistic terminology and features lots of images, charts and videos as visual aids; and The Huffington Post (in German, of course!), which is slightly more complex but usually covers some interesting ground and therefore might grab your attention.Not aimed at German newbies per se, the Huffington Post is supposedly adapted for B2-level learners. You can find out more about the different levels of comprehension by looking in the CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.Playing In German: Learn German With Interactive GamesPlaying games is a popular teaching method in school, and it’s no surprise as it certainly makes learning much more fun. Why not, therefore, play games that require the use of German words to make your language learning journey more exciting?The website German-Games.Net has been created for just that purpose. A quality online app for German language learners, it offers a range of games designed to help you revise the content you just learned via their tutorials and tests, some of which are mix and match games whilst others are multiple choice spelling games.Playing games, especially if you have a competitive streak, gives you an incentive to learn and absorb key language features so that you can feel that sense of elation when you get a question or puzzle right.By engaging with German in this fun way, it will increase your likelihood of retaining the information you have learned, especially if the games are well-designed and thought out with vibrant colours and appealing pictures that relate to the content displayed.Testing Your German Skills: Recognition And CertificationWhile the most recognised qualification across the UK and Ireland are the GCSE and A Level certificates, there are other methods of language learning which can lead to you gaining certification in the subject. For instance, the International Baccalaureate and various university degrees offer you the chance to study German, as well as many other languages, as an option before being awarded a grade at the end of the course.There are also various websites and independent schools that offer you the opportunity to test your comprehension in German, however, the best place to go for this is to the Goethe-Institut, an official body for the testing of German. This institution can provide world-recognised evidence of your German language skills.You can find a private tutor for German classes on Superprof, browse our range of qualified tutors:German lessons LondonGerman lessons Glasgow German lessons Manchester

6 Hacks to Make Finals Week a Little Less Stressful

6 Hacks to Make Finals Week a Little Less Stressful As we reach the end of the school year, theres one thing on everybodys mindfinals. Whether youre an old pro or new to the finals game, theres undoubtedly some stress that accompanies those important end-of-year tests. While theres little to nothing you can do to erase finals stress altogether, you can make your life a little more pleasant by trying these simple tricks. Stock up on helpful items Sure, youll probably need to spend a ton of time studying, but there are other ways you can prepare as well. First, make sure you have enough snacks loaded with the brainpower youll need to get through a rough patch. Focus on foods that give you natural energy and make you feel healthythink fruit smoothies, spinach, etc. Youll also want to stock up on study supplies to get you through finals week. Things like notecards, extra pencils and pens, and headphones can make your study sessions more fun and more productive. Pick up a pen and paper There are a number of studies touting the benefits of creative writing as a form of stress relief, which is extra important during finals week. Notably, a study from University of Chicago found that students who spent just 10 minutes writing about how they felt performed significantly better on tests. Writing things down can also help you feel more organized, so dont hesitate to grab a journal or planner to keep a running to-do list. Similarly, writing things down may help you commit material to memory, so spend some time writing out outlines or other course material. Reward yourself A great way to make finals less stressful is to be prepared for them, and a great way to prepare for them is to develop a system of rewards for yourself. For every trial essay you complete, maybe you treat yourself to a favorite candy. For every practice test you ace, how about giving yourself 20 minutes on social media? You can even think biggerwork out a deal with your friends or parents to go on a fun vacation if you ace all your exams or buy yourself a new laptop if you beat your target score on your toughest test. Human beings are fairly simple creatures and rewards work! [RELATED: 5 Tips for a Successful Finals Week] Find a study buddy While this may not be the best solution for every learner, learning with a friend can often help make finals week less stressful. In advance, get a study group together and come up with a plan. Practice material in whatever way best suits the subject, always making sure your group stays on track. Study partners can also make great audiences, so take turns teaching each other material to better cement it in your minds. Ask questions, review notes, and compare interpretations of the text. Dont forget about break time During finals week, it can feel like there is absolutely no time to take a break. But remember, small breaks in study are extremely helpful in committing material to memory and increasing the longevity of your attention span. Plan your study time so that you have the luxury of break time and youll feel less overwhelmed throughout the week. Take a one-at-a-time approach to studying if the stress is really getting to you. Review one item, one class, one day at a time, checking things off your list as you go (which will also serve as a reminder of how much youve accomplished, motivating you to press on). Use technology to your advantage Youre going to school in a time where there are a variety of resources at your fingertipsdont be afraid to take full advantage of them. Whether you download an app that blocks social media from your phone or you take practice tests online, use the Internet to help your finals study preparation! Most of all, remember that finals week is only temporarywhile it may feel overwhelming and terrible now, it will be over soon. By doing your part to be a good student during the school year, youre already making life easier on your future self. Dont be too hard on yourself, and remember that youre well equipped to ace your final exams and projects. Good luck!

Ask an Admissions Expert Joan DeSalvatore

Ask an Admissions Expert Joan DeSalvatore Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Joan DeSalvatore is the founder of college admissions consultancy College-Bound Advising Today. Joan previously served 17 years as an Assistant Dean at Columbia Universityand five years as the Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Programs at Lehigh Universitys College of Business and Economics. As an insider and a parent of three recent college graduates, Joan has unique awareness and understanding about the college application process. She earned her bachelors degree in Psychology from Barnard Collegeand her masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Columbia Universitys Teachers College. How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Joan: This year the Common Application has already released the list of essay topics. That means you have the summer to begin thinking about and writing on one or more of those topics. Most colleges have their application ready by mid-August. The more progress you can make before the start of your senior year, the better. What are the best ways to go about selecting a terrific essay topic? Joan:Ideally, you want to find an essay topicthat resonates with you this will allow you to use this as an opportunity to reveal a part of your personality through the essay. I suggest that you write a brief draft essay on more than one topic. This can be helpful in two ways: Not every college will allow you to select your own topic. Since they may specify a topic that you have not prepared, drafting more than one will give you an edge. Beginning work on more than one topic will allow you to step back and compare your responses. Which one is more genuine and less forced? Which tells the better story? Which will give the reader greater insight into who you are? Are there any essay topics you get tired of seeing or would warn students to stay away from? Joan:I would rather not read about your mother being your personal hero or a family vacation. With that said, even those topics can serve as the basis of a good essayif it really means something to you and you have found a way to express that with depth and feeling. Beware of clichs in topic or wording, overuse of adjectives, and using too many words to describe simple things. What is the biggest mistake a student can make on a college application? Joan:Each college wants to know that you really want to enroll in their school. When there is an opportunity to mention particulars about that school, you should. Butbe aware that you have done that. So, when you go to use the same sort of comment in the application for another school, dont simply cut and paste. The biggest mistake you can make is forgetting to change those particulars. You could be a wonderful candidate for admission but if you mention how much you love the dorms at college A in an application for college B your chances of being admitted can be greatly reduced. What is the typical process an admissions officer goes through to evaluate applications? Joan:That is going depend on the type of college. For some of the larger state colleges that rely almost entirely on high school grades and standardized test scores (SAT/ACT), their process is fairly simple. The majority of colleges take into account all components of the application. However, by in large, they are still going to review the numbers GPA and test scores pretty early in the game. No matter how wonderful the essay and rsum of activities, most colleges want to know that you have the ability to do the work. Most schools assign their admissions officers to specific territories. That usually means that your regional representative will be the first to review your application. Their greater potential familiarity with your high school, the courses, the activities, the athletics, and the advisors helps them evaluate your application. The essay is the piece that gives them insight into you. They are looking to know if you are a fit for their college and if there is something about you that they have missed in the rest of the application. What do you think is the single most important thing a student should make sure they present in the best possible way on their application? Joan:The short answer is you! That is why we put so much emphasis on the essay. Another important piece of the application that is often neglected is the rsum portion. This is more than simply a list of employment; it is another opportunity for you to show more about your personality. How should students go about determining the culture of a university, and whether they would be a good fit? Joan:The best way to really learn about the culture of a school is to visit. While you visit, make sure that you visit the places where the students spend their free time, the lounge areas and eating places. Take the student-lead tour and ask the student questions about his or her activities: Where do you go to study? Where do you go/What do you do to have fun? What do you like best about this school? You can also visit your high schools guidance office to find out if any other students have attended the college. See if you can get in touch with one of them to get a sense of the place, too. Early-action, early-decision, binding/non-binding, regular decisions...With so many choices when applying, what do you recommend to students? Joan:Is there a college that you absolutely want to attend no matter what? If so, then apply early-decision even if it is binding. If your college list does not have one absolute #1, then I recommend regular decision for all. I do suggest that you aim to have all of your applications done and submitted as early in the school year as you can. Get them in and off of your mind before Halloween. That way you can get on with your life and have a great senior year. How important are grades and standardized test scores when admissions decisions are being made? Joan:Again, that depends on the school. Grades are always going to matter particularly when paired with the level of the class in which it was earned. Colleges want to know that you can handle their coursework and high school grades are really one of the few ways they have to gauge that. Standardized test scores are harder to generalize about. Some colleges are test-optional, which means that they have much less influence on the decision. For colleges that require tests, it depends on the policy at that particular school. What tips do you have for students asking their teachers for letters of recommendation? Joan:Find a teacher who really knows you preferably someone who not only likes you but has also seen the value in your work and participation. So, ask a teacher of your favorite subject or a teacher who has had you in his or her class and who has also been the advisor of a club of which you are a member. When you ask a teacher to write a recommendation you might also offer to provide them with information about yourself. See what they would like to know and write it out for them. Also, give them time to write it. Provide the teacher with all of the information he or she needs well before the deadline. Visit College-Bound Advising Today for more information. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

GCSE Poem analysis Praise Song for My Mother by Grace Nichols

GCSE Poem analysis Praise Song for My Mother by Grace Nichols Grace Nichols was born in Georgetown, the Caribbean country of Guyana and moved to the UK in the 1970s. Her poetry is inspired by her Caribbean heritage, folk tales, tradition and her move between cultures. We have written a GCSE poem analysis of Praise Song for My Mother by Grace Nichols. What is the poem about? A praise song is a traditional African form in several traditions, increasingly made relevant to Western world in recent decades, used to list and explore the attributes of a person.   There is an easily grasped relationship behind this one, which really invites a reader to consider their own relationship with their mother. Praise Song for My Mother by Grace Nichols You were water to me deep and bold and fathoming You were moon's eye to me pull and grained and mantling You were sunrise to me rise and warm and streaming You were the fishes red gill to me the flame tree's spread to me the crab's leg/the fried plantain smell replenishing replenishing Go to your wide futures, you said Overview The poem is written in the past tense, prompting a question.   When written, was the poet’s mother dead or simply so distant that the memory of what she once was had priority over what she still was?   But this means that either way, the poem is an exploration of memory and descriptive power. Form and structure The poem has five brief stanzas of uneven length, the first three regular, the fourth extended and the fifth very brief.   The lines themselves are not metrically regular, making this really a piece of free verse.   The poem is strongly repetitive but also has a strong shape on the page and when spoken aloud.     There is a real sense of growth as the lines increase in length, then contract again, something like waves on the sea. Language The poem is a collection of metaphors, each depicting the subject from a different point of view.   ‘Water’ is the easiest place to start â€" life-giving, flowing, liquid and expressive â€" and it prompts the poet to describe her mother with three words ‘deep and bold and fathoming’.   To call a person ‘deep’ may now have the sense of complexity or seriousness, but here it summons up deep sea water, ‘bold’ the braveness of waves.   ‘Fathoming’ is slightly nonsensical.   To fathom something is to sound it â€" to test its depth â€" but is the poet’s mother trying her own depth?   No â€" rather she is being fathoms deep.   She is active, not passive. The way the poet stretches the sense of this word is itself repeated.   ‘Mantling’ must be an action related to a ‘mantle’ or cloak, but how?   Did the mother wrap herself around her daughter in protection?   Did she clothe her daughter with her own resources, her own wealth, her own skills?   Nichols is very ambiguous with her language here. To be ‘rise’ is another of these tests.   The poet’s mother was, we are told, the rise that brought as much to her daughter as the sun rising in the morning, yet the exact manner of what that gift was and how it was brought is hidden from us, both by the inability of language to really express it and by the shield of privacy that the poet holds.   Yet she seems to let these go as the poem continues. The next images will all have very personal connotations, and perhaps that is the point.   The poem describes a generic feeling of awe, love and gratitude to a parent while keeping a little specific mystery.  The ‘fishes red gill’ seems to me to be another image of vitality, since the oxygen-rich gills quickly fade in colour once a fish has been taken out of the water.   The ‘flame-tree’s spread’ implies a degree of shelter, although an exotic one, and the ‘crab’s-leg’ a favourite, well-loved family treat.   I would interpret the / marking as an indication of quick movement â€" of one idea breaking in on another, and the image â€" or flavour â€" of fried plantain over-taking the poet’s imagination and demanding priority!   Even tastier than crab â€" even more precious â€" fried plantain!   And all of this is the mother’s habit of ‘replenishing’ â€" filling up her daughter â€" filling her up so full that even the word is repeated. Yet finally the mother’s greatest gift is the freedom she gives her daughter to leave and live her own life.   The ‘wide futures’ might well be outside traditional African or Caribbean heritage, yet however far the poet has travelled, and however far she has ended up from her mother, she has remained able to talk to her directly, privately, colourfully, humorously, and with love. Free verse - Poetry without a regular fixed pattern of metre or rhyme Metre - The pattern of stress, beat, rhythm or emphasis that is created by words in a sentence or line. Need an extra hand with some  English? Why not book a  GCSE English tutor  to come to your home from the  Tutorfair  website? For More GCSE poem analyses: Nettles, The Yellow Palm, My Last Duchess, and Medusa Try out our other Tutorfair blogs  to find more great GCSE resources New Maths 9-1 GCSE Five Strategies to improve Academic Performance Find this useful? Leave a comment.

Mike Rowes Big Break English Listening Exercise

Mike Rowes Big Break English Listening Exercise I actually heard this little excerpt on my favorite radio station, National Public Radio or NPR. This is a great resource to listen to interesting stories and regular news. NPR is like the United States version of the BBC. This is a really funny interview with Mike Rowe, former host of the popular show Dirty Jobs, talking about his first job on television.For Rowe, working at QVC, a television shopping network was his big break. Do you know what a big break means? See if you can answer this after you listen to the radio show.1. Where did he audition for the QVC? 2. What did have to do for the interview? 3. How much does the cat sack toy cost? 4. I _____ say that its a good idea but, its an idea. 5. How many times was he fired? 6. It was the perfect __________ ground for what would come many years later, with Dirty Jobs. 7. What is his whole career based on?What is your strangest experience with a job interview? Have you ever had a big break? What is the strangest job youve ever had?

Mind Over Matter How to Stop Translating in Your Head

Mind Over Matter How to Stop Translating in Your Head 3 Ways to Stop Translating in Your Head Its like grasping at straws at the beginning of learning a language.Youre trying to make sense of anything.Anything.The strings of sound coming at you are difficult to decipher.Been there, done that.Albeit exciting, theres a lot of confusion as you start out in a new language. You have to use every strategy available to you to break the code.Direct, or literal, translation is typically one of those strategies we employ. We take every word and filter it through our native language.Make no mistake, translating in your head is a habit that will prove to be incredibly helpful in the beginning. However, if you rely on it too much, itll burden you later on.Were going to take a good look at the whole process of mental translation and show you why it could be detrimental to your language learning experience if youre unable to get past it and start thinking  in your new language.Well take you through the different methods you can use to start quitting the habit and progress even further with your new language. Why You Should Stop Translating in Your HeadReal translation is accurately articulating a feeling or a concept in another language. Thats useful, of course.  It allows things like classical literature to be accessible to speakers of all languages.But thats not exactly what youre doing at this point in your language learning experience, if youre not currently a professional translator.What many language learners do in the beginning is closer to finding the words in their native language and then settling for the direct translation without considering the implications. For example, using ????? (??????) to mean see in Japanese.In this Japanese example, you have to consider that this is the honorific form of the verb. On a very basic level it does indeed mean to see, but thats not what native speakers are going to understand when you use it in regular conversation. When you start learning about a language on a deeper level, those direct translations you relied on wi ll quickly cease to be as helpful as they were in the beginning.You might be at that stage where youre still reasonably satisfied with your process and not too bothered by translating. Eventually, you might notice that all that translating is holding you back.To see why, think about the process thats taking place when you translate in your head as you read, speak or listen to foreign languages. The crux of the issue here is that there are far too many variables to consider.Because of all the differences that exist between languages (word order, verb tenses, cases, etc.), trying to go back and forth becomes cumbersome and unnecessary.Its tiring just thinking of the whole mental process where you hear or read a sentence, then try to internally match every word to the equivalent in your native tongue. The whole process ruins any reading or social experience youre having and its just exhausting.Its even more exhausting when you think of the elements that might prove to be more important to communication and understanding. In Mandarin, for example, theres pronunciation to consider, like ensuring you know the difference between ? (ma) â€"  mommy  and  ? (ma)  â€"  horse. (Wouldnt want to get those mixed up, would we?)You also have to consider the fact that not every word you come across is going to be completely translatable.Russian, for example, has a vocabulary famous for the number of words within it that simply cannot be accurately translated to English. ????? roughly translates to mean yearning or melancholy, but ask any native Russian speaker and theyll tell you that the English translation doesnt come close to conveying t???? in all its complexity and depth. Youre not going to learn how best to use it if youre always thinking about how it translates to your native tongue.3 Ways to Stop Translating in Your HeadFortunately, there are a multitude of ways for you to break out of that habit and were going to show you a few of the best methods. Hopefully some, if n ot all of these will work for you.Whatever solution you choose, remember that practicing with your foreign language a lot is necessary.Using a platform like FluentU will help accelerate the process of thinking in that language.  FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into language learning experiences. Once youve gotten enough exposure to natives speaking their language fluently, youll forget all about translating!1. AssociationThe first method you could try is image association. In the beginning of your language learning experience, youll probably find that you tend to associate new foreign words with the equivalent in your native tongue. Instead of allowing yourself to do that, try associating a word with a clear image or feeling instead. This technique has been proven to work better than simple translations.Instead of associating the Portuguese saudade  with the English word longing, try to really understand the feeling of missing someone or something that exists far away in time or space, if it exists at all. Instead of associating the words such as the Spanish word perro with the English dog, try actually picturing a dog instead.This simple change in your learning technique will aid you greatly when you start using what youve learned out in the real world. When a Spanish speaker says, un gran artículo (a great article), youll know what that means almost instantly because youll associate both gran and artículo with a feeling of greatness and an image of articles (particularly this lifesaver of an article!).When you start doing this, youll stop having to filter and immediately associate the word with a meaning.2. Use sticky notes to your advantageTo help with this, a second method and a classic, is to stick sticky notes on everything around you! Okaymaybe not everything per se. Just plant a sticky note on objects you want to learn the foreign name of.You can make your own or you can u se the wonderful Vocabulary Stickers , which has the labels already made for you!If youre learning Italian, youll want a sticky note with frigo or il  frigorifero on youryou guessed itâ€"fridge! Whenever you see that word out in the world, youll think of that object and know what it means.and that youll have to go grocery shopping soon.You can take it even further after youre confident with basic nouns and start adding things like adjectives, qualifiers, prepositional phrases or entire sentences, like a soft couch, a very long table or I put the milk in the fridge.This is a great method to use in conjunction with the others, especially if youre more of a visual learner and need a way to bridge the gap between what you read in textbooks and on apps with what you see in the real world.When you repeat the words you see while looking at the objects theyre attached to, youll start to slowly wean yourself off of having to use your native language, because those foreign words youre trying to learn will be attached to something you can easily visualize.3. Constant internal narrationThis method is especially great for those who can easily understand what everyone is saying but seem to hit a mental block when it comes to expressing themselves. When you hear those foreign words, you seem to understand them but when the time comes for you to talk, youre at a loss and you resort back to translating to make sure you find what you believe to be the right words.If thats you, you definitely need to practice actually speaking without too many pauses. You can do it. After all, you already know the right words, clearly. One of the best ways to practice is by narrating your every action. You can start by being literal then progress by describing what you do, what you see, hear and feel in more detail.After a while, when the time comes for you to actually have a conversation, youll find that youre able to find the right words without ever having to really consider what they mean in your native tongue.Maybe you come across something you genuinely dont know how to describe without resorting back to your native language. Theres a solution that doesnt require you to cheat like that. Monolingual dictionaries  are a fantastic way of learning without translating. For example, theres Vocabulary.com for English, Duden.de for German, Zdic.net for Mandarin and many more.There are a lot to choose from, and best of all, they come as apps now! Theyre also a great way of gauging your progress. The more clear a definition is to you, the more fluent youve become.The best way to stop translating is to surround yourself completely with the language if you can. Youll stop translating over time as you grow accustomed to foreign words. These methods will help you do just that if youre unable to travel or engage with a community of native speakers. Theres always a way.It takes timeAs we said before, translating in your head isnt bad. In fact, when youre just starting to learn a for eign language, your habit of mental translation is actually beneficial.It helps you flesh out your vocabulary and it helps you identify weak areas.If youre seemingly fluent in casual conversation but find that you have to translate internally when youre talking about something like science, youll know what you have to work on.Weve given you a few methods here from image association and sticky notes to narration and immersion but the one thing you have to remember is that no matter what you do, language learning as a process takes time.One final solution to this problem is to just let it run its course.Sooner or later, as long as you keep studying and trying, youll stop translating. Its inevitable. And One More ThingWant to get a closer look at FluentU?FluentU has a wide variety of videos, including movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive Transcripts You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.

Everything You Need To Know About Amazon Student

Everything You Need To Know About Amazon Student Image via (BGR) Perks *Relevant discounts *Textbook deals *Electronics deals *Instant video and music streaming *Bedroom/bathroom deals for your dorm/apartment *Kindle services *Free two-day shipping *Prime Photos *Eligibility for a scholarship FREE 6-Month Trial Of course, Amazon Student may not be for everyone. Try their 6-month free trial and enjoy the benefits that subscribers have signed up for. Enjoy two-day shipping, photo storage, and exclusive deals. The benefits you won’t be receiving with the free trial are streaming of video and music or Kindle book borrowing, so beware. If you don’t love Student’s deals and discounts, simply change your settings and you won’t be charged a penny. I’m pretty confident that six months of these great benefits will have you wanting more. Membership All you need to do is share school information such as your college’s name and student email address to sign up. Browse through recent searches and recommendations (thank you, cookies). Receive email alerts on new discounts and day-to-day deals. Free release date delivery on video games, DVDs, and books is also offered, so don’t wait for your local retail store to have them in stock or even restock. It’s Amazon Prime, but better … and who doesnt like that there are perks catered to themselves specifically? FREE Two-Day Shipping Image via (Freshly Techy) As a college student, you need reliable and fast shipping because your last-minute Halloween costume needs to get here, like, now. Need a new phone case? Amazon will deliver your new cover within just 48 hours. Get your package in two days with no minimum order size. If there was anything better than free shipping, it’s that your package will get to you for free in two DAYS. Tip:  You can opt out of two-day shipping if you arent in a hurry. Convert the perk to a $1 video credit. Receive your package in 5-7 business days, and watch a movie or episode while you wait. Instant Streaming If Netflix doesnt have the movie you’re looking for, take a look at the Amazon Video library. You can find titles such as Interstellar, In the Name of the Father, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Good Will Hunting. Enjoy Amazon Originals like Chi-Raq    a film that remakes the ancient Greek play, “Lysistrata,” in modern day Chicago’s Southside and Transparent, a series about a family whose unconditional love transcends appearances and preferences. While I do agree their movies and shows selection should be upgraded constantly, most films and TV hits are available to you anytime, anywhere. Make sure to get the Amazon app on your phone and tablet to have access to the streaming library. Kindle Books For the avid reader, Kindle Books offers cheaper prices on books that a college student would be enticed to read. Choose from Best Sellers, New Releases, and Editor’s Picks, among other categories. Borrow and lend books from your own library as well with Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. All Student, and Prime, members can access their friends’ libraries and borrow a book for free. This is especially helpful if you’re taking a class whose reading material is a book found in the Kindle library. If a friend of yours already took the class, they may lend you the book and help you save. Other Benefits If saving on Cloud or Google Drive isnt for you, send and save your photos to Prime Photos with unlimited storage. Clear space on your phone by uploading your memories to Amazon’s Cloud Drive. Once connected, you will be able to access all your photos and videos from any device. Photos and videos will be automatically backed up with the Auto-Save feature so if your phone is damaged or lost, your photos won’t be. Image via (Flickr) You may also be eligible for a scholarship worth up to $5,500. Fifty Amazon Student members are selected to win a total of $275,000 in college tuition and textbook costs. Applications are accepted until November of the year and awarded in gift card form in the middle of the following year. Ive had Amazon Student for a year and a half, and I do not regret it one bit. This membership has honestly upgraded my college experience by faster delivery, money savings, and even relieving some stressful situations. To sign up or change from Amazon Prime to Amazon Student, click here and receive a $5 shopping credit!

Should you take your pet abroad with you

Should you take your pet abroad with you By Thiago SilvaPreparing to move in your own town can be daunting enough - now imagine having to pack everything and move to another country! When choosing to teach overseas most people get excited about the opportunity to have the adventure of a lifetime, and might overlook some of  the practical aspects of relocating.Aside from cancelling your cable and forwarding your mail, there are some important decisions to make when planning to move overseas. If you have a pet, for example, you should evaluate if the best option is to take Fido along or leave him with a relative or friend.Taking a pet overseas can be a costly and paper-work heavy endeavour as many countries will require vaccination certificates, and the airline may charge extra to transport the animal depending on their size. It is also stressful for most pets to travel long distances in a cage.The local culture at your destination should also be taken into account. In the Middle East, for example, it is not common for peopl e to own pets, so it is harder to do simple things such as finding pet food, or veterinary services.Other countries might have less strict requirements. Mona Lisa Wessel, who lived in Japan, mentioned in the Teach Away community page that she was able to transport her pet between Canada and Japan with relative ease.“Japan is very good about letting you bring in your pets if you can prove they have had their rabies shots within 60 days of arrival,” she said.You should also check if your chosen accommodation allows you to have pets, as many places will not allow pets, especially in situations where you are sharing accommodations with other teachers.Ultimately, it is a very personal decision whether bringing a pet overseas is the best option, but if you can’t live without your four-legged friend, you will have to do some research about the laws in your destination country and evaluate if the extra expense and time to care for the pet will not hinder your plans to save money and t ravel. You can read about other teachers’ experiences in taking pets abroad on Teach Away’s Facebook page and community forums.Thiago Silva is the  Teach Away  blogger.