Is It Hard To Learn French Dont Buy In To These 3 Myths

Is It Hard To Learn French Dont Buy In To These 3 Myths Megan L. Is it hard to learn  French? Tutor  Roman N.  shares three things you might think make it difficult to learn  French that are actually totally false Some of you may have been fascinated by French culture and French language for a while, but you havent yet taken  your first step toward learning this beautiful language. In  my experience, I have found these three reasons  to be the most popular excuses: Im too old for this its too late to start learning a second language. My French pronunciation will never be good enough. How am I ever going to speak French and all the  insane number and variety of verb conjugations?! I have heard,  I would love to speak French, but from students and strangers, and sadly they usually finish their sentence with one (or all three) of these excuses. And this is understandable since these three stereotypes do appear quite plausible. In fact they appear so plausible that many will  never even try to see if they are correct. But what if we try to take a close look at each of them? 1.  Im too old for this its too late to start learning a second language. This one is traditionally supported by the popular belief  that kids learn a second language faster and better than adults. First of all, this truth  mostly applies to children who, at a very early age, were exposed to a certain language environment perhaps they moved to a French-speaking country or were growing up in a bilingual household. On the other hand, we have children who  dont begin learning a  second language until  primary or  secondary school, but  there really is no proof that these children retain the language any better than a first-time adult. I have had a lot of students, adults and children of different ages, and I must confess that material covered with adults in a few hours would take me way more time and effort with children. The truth is, adults have many advantages as language  learners. Adults have a more profound understanding of various concepts, highly developed cognitive and academic skills,  and overall, better concentration. One of my last students was 70 + and after having taken just ten hours of French classes he truly impressed me by his powerful grasp of the language. A few months later he went to France and got around with no problems. Still think you are too old to  learn French? 2. My French pronunciation will never be good enough This is a very popular reason  among my American students and it also happens to be very  untrue. I teach three languages and French is not even close to being the most difficult one in terms of pronunciation. Besides, for native English speakers, the number of difficult French sounds is quite limited and many vocal and phonetic exercises used in language learning, public speaking and speech improvement techniques can do the job even if you only practice French pronunciation 15 minutes a day. 3. How am I ever going to speak French with  all the  insane number and variety of verb conjugations?! This one is hard to argue if we focus on the real number of all existing irregular french verb conjugation forms. There are many. But if we look at the ones we actually need, we see an absolutely different picture. As you learn conjugations of only one verb from a particular group, you also learn how to conjugate a few others from this group. But yes, it is still quite a task and you need to communicate as soon as possible. Therefore you can and  should use structures which will help you to take a short cut. As an example, instead of memorizing plenty of different forms in  future tenses for the verbs belonging to different irregular verbs group, you can just memorize how to conjugate the verb aller  (to go) in present tense (preferably all six forms to agree with subject pronouns: je vais, tu vas, il/elle va, vous allez, nous allons, ils vont) then add any verb you want in infinitive on the top of it. This way, instead of memorizing many verb  conjugations in future tense, you can use  I am going + any verb in infinitive form. Just knowing six conjugations of the verb aller  and only one infinitive form of any verb you need to use, you  can still get your point across. It is not entirely the same, but this is an acceptable deviation from strict grammar since it dramatically increases your communicative possibilities. Try it and you will see! Most of my beginner students start telling me about their plans and things they are going to do in the future after  their third or fourth  class, and I find it amazing. To wrap up I would like to quote Kato Lomb, an amazing lady who spoke 16 languages although she had studied to be a chemist, when at age 86 she said to her 54 year old friend: You are so lucky because you can still learn so many languages! Thank you for reading! And  remember, when youre ready to begin your language-learning journey, studying with a private French tutor is one of the best ways to ensure you reach your goals. Bon courage! What challenges you in your  study of French? Join the discussion in the comments below and well provide even more tips and tricks to help you out! Post Author:  Roman N. Roman teaches French in San Diego, CA. Teaching for over 5 years, Roman is  a Russian and ESL instructor.  Learn more about Roman  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

The Surprising Advantage Singers Have Over Most People

The Surprising Advantage Singers Have Over Most People Suzy S. What makes a good public speaker? Whether you want to improve your communication skills or overcome a fear of speaking, youre already at an advantage if you have a background in singing (or music in general). Read on as San Diego, CA teacher  Carl M.  explains I could go on and on expounding on all the reasons singing lessons are a valuable tool for millions of individuals â€" whether or not a career in music is intended. However, the one that emerges foremost in my mind has very little to do with singing. So why mention it? Having spent most of my life juggling the business world with the artistic side of music, singing, and theatre, I made a unique discovery relating what makes a good public speaker to that of being a singer/musician. For more than 40 years Ive trained singers, and managed international sales and marketing teams in various industries. While there are many singers in this world, they are dwarfed by those who speak (or should I say, blabber). While I generally enjoy listening to a well-trained singer, it became painfully clear to me many years ago that individuals who are charged with speaking to groups are usually ill-prepared to do so in a manner that keeps my attention. This ranges from professional speakers to teachers to clergy in virtually every denomination. Whats missing? Well, there are actually two common threads evident throughout. Most People Arent Directly Taught Speaking Skills First, the function of reading out loud, which can train the ear as effectively as early music instruction, is generally frowned upon during early education. Think about when you were first learning how to read pronouncing each word out loud, then two-word phrases, then sentences, and then paragraphs.  Then as soon as you really felt good about what you were doing, your teacher told you to read silently, and to absorb the meaning internally. If you moved your lips while reading, your teacher likely stopped you. So that was the end of any oral communication vis-a-vis reading. No more practicing reading and listening skills skills that would last a lifetime. The student taking music or singing lessons has a distinct advantage here, which well discuss next. The Correlations Between Singing and Speaking The second, and certainly the most direct correlation between singing and speaking, is that contained in terms singers learn early on:  tone, rhythm, pausing, dynamics, and phrasing. Tone, as taught to a singer, involves the proper placement of vowel sounds, mouth formation, proper breathing, etc. These same tenets apply to the speaker (but without the need to read music). Rhythm has a very distinct meaning to every musician. However, transferring that technique to speaking is lost on virtually everyone who professes to be a “speaker.” Pauses are quite natural in the music world for dramatic impact. The old adage of “Silence is Golden” actually applies more to a speaker’s performance than it does to that of a singer, as the singer is reading music notation and observing dictated, periodic rests. However, most speakers are either too nervous to notice â€" or they just love the sound of their own voice. Dynamics are simple. Loud vs soft. Again, a singer is trained in this area from very early on, but most speakers have one volume. Wouldn’t it be cool if the speaker observed some variation as well? Phrasing is probably the most difficult concept for both the singer and speaker to understand (and implement). However, it is also the most meaningful. With the proper phrasing, the gut-level meaning of a song comes to life. The same is true when speaking. However, some speakers have a tendency to “punch” words, rather than using proper phrasing. I have been training speakers in the corporate world during the past several years, and the pool from which to draw students is enormous â€" and eventually will have a greater impact upon society and communication in general. However, I find that if a student has a music or singing background, it makes it considerably easier to learn and understand what makes a good public speaker. Over a series of lessons, my students learn what these techniques are, and how to effectively put them to use. Youll be a more interesting and believable public speaker, allowing the audience to fully understand and retain the information youre offering. Isn’t that what we all want? Carl M. teaches public speaking and writing in San Diego, CA. A Music and Theatre graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Carl fuses his education and entrepreneurial endeavors to help students improve their everyday communication within their personal and business communities.  Learn more about Carl 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  Nan Palmero

Getting Ahead in Your Career is More Straightforward than You Think - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Getting Ahead in Your Career is More Straightforward than You Think - Introvert Whisperer Getting Ahead in Your Career is More Straightforward than You Think Dorothy March 4, 2016 Career Development, Promotion One response Through the years, I was often asked about what I did that made me get promoted so consistently and as a manager what my expectations were of my employees.  Many times, these people seemed to be struggling to perform on the job or minimally weren’t moving up the ladder for pay or position.  The struggle they seemed to have was more a mental mindset than actual skill or talent. I have discovered that success on the job involves two simple, yet sometimes elusive concepts.  The first concept is about delivering performance that exceeds expectation.  The second concept is performing beyond the description of the job or adding value.  You may be sitting there thinking “hey, I don’t get paid enough to do all of that”, well if you are thinking something like that, may I point out that you’ve already set yourself up to remain exactly where you are. Let’s look at the first concept: Exceed performance expectations.   When you first start a job, of course, you have interviewed and have an idea of what your job involves.  You are now on the job and some type of training has taken place so you can perform the job.  The amount of stimulation you get when first starting a new job can be overwhelming, but at some point, you arrive at a point where you are fairly independently performing the job.  It is at this point, where you need to take a step back and fully understand the nature of the business you are in and where your job plays a role.  You are part of an organic machine.  Without you, the machine would either stop functioning or it won’t work as intended.   This is where you must understand what your management expects from you, so some research is appropriate.  If there are other people who perform the same job and seem to do it well, interview them and ask them what they think excellence is and how they achieve it.  Talk to people upstream and downstream from you.  By this I mean there are most likely people who do work that comes to you so you, in turn, perform work that goes to others.  When you talk to these people, ask them what they provide or need you to provide along with questions about, when, how often, in what form and with what qualities.  Once you think you have done your homework, time to talk to the boss.  Roll up your findings into something you can jointly review.  Ask them to validate what you have developed and modify or add anything that needs to based on the fact that it’s that person who will be assessing your performance.  Once you are clear, your final questions should be:  How will you know if I am p erforming? What criteria will you use? In other words, you now know what the expectations of the job are and how to perform it, but what will the process be for finding out how well you did? This may seem like overkill but it’s not.  The majority of people in the workplace seem to amble in and out of jobs, never really connecting to the fact that THEY are responsible for their own success.  Like a map and itinerary on a vacation, you have to know where you’re going, so you know what you have to do to get there. There is one other thing you need to do.  If your place of business doesn’t have a formal performance appraisal process you will need to devise a way to obtain feedback on your performance.  Even if your place of business does have a process, you may want to conduct your own process for obtaining input on how you are doing, not just from the boss but those people you work closely with.  I have seen people doing fine between appraisal periods and then suddenly run themselves off the road.  Don’t wait a full year to find out that fact.  Also, make sure you are not just conducting a love-in with your work friends, you need honest, objective input on how well you do your job and what would improve it. The second concept I mentioned: Add value.     When a person is doing their job well, the way to a boss’s heart is to go beyond the job description.  Adding value is where you perform work that is either not being done or not being done well or consistently but will advance the mission of your business.  There is usually a ton of these kinds of opportunities; you simply need to look for them.  As you gain experience, you will notice them all the time.  I had a job in a fabric store and as with all retail stores; there are times of boredom due to customer lulls.  It was during those times, that I tidied up the bolts of cloth, made sure there were no loose ends on the trims, dusted and cleaned.  It might not have been part of the job description, but it made a big difference to the owner.   A pearl of wisdom on when to add value.  Only pursue adding value when you know you are consistently performing your job well.  Don’t drop the ball, take on valued added tasks AND continue to perform your job. There is nothing more irritating than to have some cowboy going off doing a bunch of things that are “nice” but not doing their job.  Also, make sure you aren’t pursuing your own agenda or fun thing.  I’ve had people go off to add value and what they were doing, missed the target.  It had no value. There is another subtle aspect to adding value.  It demonstrates a level of thought and initiative that is hard for bosses to “train in” to a person.  You either have it or you don’t.  If given the task of laying off a person and the choice is between two people that absolutely perform their job, the boss is going to look at the person that brings more to the party than just doing the job.  They will look at the value adding an employee as someone who is committed to the business success, someone they can trust and someone that can grow.  That is job success. Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable.   Get your copy now and start your action plan today: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

How to Avoid Senioritis

How to Avoid Senioritis The following piece was written by Rachel Korn. Rachel has been featured in ourAdmissions Expert seriesand is a former University of Pennsylvaniaadmissions officer, as well as the founder of her own admissions consulting firm.In your last year of high school, especially in your last months of classes and tests, it can be tempting to contract senioritis, to fall into the trap of easing up in your academic efforts since you have already been admitted to college and are thinking about that next step. Beware, though - there are many important reasons to keep up your motivation and effort. 1.Colleges are still watchingyou closely. Your guidance counselor will be sending your finalseniorgrades to your new colleges admissions office for review. If the grades slip significantly, the college willsend you a warning letter, telling you that a) your grades are not at the level expected according to your record, and b) your performance in college is anticipated to be at the same level at which you were admitted. The admissions office can also take further steps. Your lower grades could be sent to the academic dean who will be assigned to advise you freshman year, and this means that your first conversations upon arrival to college will not be of exciting optimism but of warning. Thisis not how you want to start your college career. Moreover, although exceptionally rare, your admission could even be rescinded if grades truly plummet. Thus, think about the impression you are making on your college. And dont jeopardize your future. 2. Class rank and awards are determined at the end of the year. You have just invested years of your time working hard, pushing yourself, and you may be able to reap even more rewards from it now. As the final grades are tallied, you could deserve official recognition for your efforts by earning a high class rank, scholarships, and awards for your accomplishments. If you start losing focus, you could risk these honors that you have been striving to achieve.Be careful not to let a few moments of weakness undo years. 3. Dont let yourself down. More than any other reason, really, think about how you will feel about yourself if you start to slack off, especially if you are not lazy by nature. You will not want to look back and feel like you missed opportunities because you decided to give up right at the finish line. You will probably not remember every award won or lost, but you will remember the feeling of letting yourself quit. Stay strong to the end. Realistically, and in all fairness, of course, you are worn out by second semester senior year. You can also see the light at the end of the tunnel and already feel the exciting changes to come. Just dont shortchange yourself. You are the loser in the end if you let senioritis take over. Finish strong, be proud, and head to college knowing that you are fully ready, have maximized your high school experience, and will be starting your next adventures on a positive note with a clean slate.Visit RachelsAdmissions Consultingsite.The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

A Guide to A Level English Literature

A Guide to A Level English Literature Why Learn English Literature at A Level? ChaptersIs English Literature For Me?What Skills Can I Gain From Studying A Level English Literature?Typical Workload For English Literature A LevelWhich Texts Will I Study On An A Level English Course?A Level English Literature Average Course LengthExam Boards Assessing English LiteratureCareer Opportunities For English Literature GraduatesIf you are considering studying towards an English Literature A Level, you will no doubt be interested in the knowledge and skills that you will acquire along the way. You may also be wondering how long the course runs for, how much work is involved, and where the subject can lead you in terms of further education and career prospects.We will attempt to answer all of your queries below and reaffirm the many positives that you can take away from an English Literature qualification.The study of English Literature at A Level helps you to develop a number of subject-specific as well as transferable skills by encouraging in-depth, critical and contextu al thinking in response to a range of literary works.A level English Literature courses can develop all sorts of skills. (Photo via Visual hunt)Students will be required to familiarise themselves with subject knowledge from plays, novels and poems emerging from distinct genres and spanning across many centuries. With this comprehensive exploration of characters and themes will come the awareness of how traditions and culture have shaped literature over the years.Read this quick introduction to A Level English Literature! CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsIs English Literature For Me?If you are a keen reader and show an enthusiasm for a variety of texts from different eras, then English Literature is a great choice for you. Equally, if you enjoy analysing texts in detail and debating your views then you could be well-suited to a course like this, during which you will be required to think critically and express your opinions eloquently.Aside from reading, English Literature also promotes authorship so keen writers would do well studying the subject to learn more about literary styles, the use of narration and voices in writing as well as the general make-up and development of the English language throughout history.That just goes to show that it's never too late to learn about literature as an adult!What Skills Can I Gain From Studying A Level English Literature?If you have recently completed a GCSE English course, you will already have begun developing your analytical and interpretation skills. However, the A Level English Literature course will require you to take this level of skill and comprehension one step further.Examiners and English tutors will be looking for far more intellectual arguments and responses to the texts on the syllabus and will expect you to articulate these opinions maturely, both verbally and in writing.As well as complementing your analytical skills, your sensitivity to language, your comprehension of literary terminology and your awareness of social and cultural contexts, the course will help you to build up some key generic skills that you can apply to your work and studies beyond the A Level course. These include improved oral and written skills, more advanced research and planning techniques, the capacity for independent thought and more resourceful IT skills.Being able to understand the nuances of words in the English Language can also go a long way in making you a better communicator and listener, which are seen by employers as very valuable personal attributes.Find English tuition near you.Typical Workload For English Literature A LevelThe amount of reading will no doubt increase as you move into this next phase of education, however you should find it easier and easier to absorb relevant information with each module completed.You can start by reading these tips for A Level English literature!Reading lists can be accessed prior to starting the course so be sure to spend your summer trying to get ahead, especially if you are a particularly slow reader or don’t work well under pressure. Even if you only read a synopsis of each text in advance, this will help you to familiarise yourself with themes, characters, context and the authors’ writing styles before you come across these in class.As with most A Level courses, you will be expected to further your studies in your spare time, by reading secondary material to help expand your knowledge.It is important to understand that a good knowledge of the texts alone is not enough to reach a high grade in English Literature.The most successful candidates will be those who have read widely, s pent additional time researching relevant content and learnt complex terminology to add to their repertoire. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Disco ver all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhich Texts Will I Study On An A Level English Course?The AS and A Level syllabi will normally cover a minimum of three genres: Drama, Poetry and Prose. Naturally, this will include at least one of William Shakespeare’s plays, perhaps coupled with novels and poems that are linked by theme or context. You will certainly be able to identify patterns across the syllabi and make relevant connections.See performances of Shakespeare's iconic plays. Photo credit: D-Stanley via VisualHunt.comFor exa mple, as part of the prose section, your course might require you to read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein alongside Kazuo Ishiguros’ Never Let Me Go, both of which explore the fascinating relationship between society and science.Some of the modules that you might encounter on your A Level English course include Gothic Literature, Women in Literature, American Literature and Dystopian Literature.As well as the texts set by the syllabus, you will have the opportunity to read around the subjects and look at literary criticism from a range of sources to expand your knowledge and understanding of the fields.You could take a look at past A Level papers to get a better idea of what to expect on exam day!  A Level English Literature Average Course LengthA typical A Level course will run for two academic years, the first of which is known as the AS Level. An AS can be a standalone qualification, which is why many students take on four subjects in their introductory year and then ‘drop’ o ne for the final year, allowing them to focus their attention and efforts on three primary subjects.Before the A Level reform, both years counted towards a student’s final grade but assessment is now the preferred method of testing for examination boards.Although your AS Level might seem like just a practice run, you should know that it is upon this grade that your English tutor or teacher will base your predicted A Level grade (however other factors may be taken into consideration). Therefore, the amount of work you put into your first year will be reflected in your all-important grade predictions.In addition, those students applying to university will need to submit their AS Level grade in order for the selected course leaders to consider their suitability for the degree and subject matter. University offers can be unconditional or conditional, the latter meaning that you must meet certain grade requirements in order to be accepted on the course.Find a private English tutor on S uperprof.Exam Boards Assessing English LiteratureEnglish Literature courses are offered by a range of exam boards, including AQA, OCR, Edexcel, Eduqas and WJEC. The course you enrol on will be dependent on your school or college, however teachers and English tutor London or elsewhere, will be fully trained and equipped to teach you the content relevant to your syllabus.Though each board has slightly different assessment methods, all of the syllabi will as standard include influential texts and share many similarities. The main thing that they have in common is their desire to develop the student’s understanding and love of English Literature.Some of the key differences between principle exam boards, AQA and OCR, can be found in table format on OCR’s website. The dedicated section sets out in detail where the content covered by the syllabus plus the assessment methods used differ from those adopted by AQA.Therefore, if you have your heart set on writing about a particular piece o f prose or a certain poem, be sure to consult this table to see if you are likely to be able to incorporate this into any of your AS or A Level exam responses.You should also plan your schedule around English A level exam timetables!Career Opportunities For English Literature GraduatesA degree course in English Literature is a common follow-on from the A Level qualification, but this is not your only option as an English Literature student. The subject can lead students on to a variety of degree-level subjects such as Journalism, Publishing, Editing, Teaching, not to mention opening up doors for those seeking a career in alternative, but connected, industries such as Media, Illustration and Politics.Learning English can open up many doors. (Photo via Visual Hunt)In fact, any profession that requires analytical thinking, strong verbal and written communication, imagination or creativity can make use of the key skills acquired whilst studying towards an English Literature A Level.Acad emic website Prospects.ac.uk confirms that you should not restrict further education or job applications to those directly linked to your highest qualification. Most employers will be happy to consider you regardless of your specialist field, however if you are able to show strengths in a certain subject then this could significantly increase your chances of being offered the position.The informative site also states that 1 in 5 students who study English at degree level go on to further study, with a quarter of these choosing to continue down the same subject path. This evidence shows that English is a subject that you are unlikely to get bored of, and is clearly highly rewarding.Finally, it is worth noting that 60.5% of English graduates are in employment (according to Prospects’ findings) which is yet another strong indicator that the subject is a contributing factor in one’s employability.Having taken these facts on board, we hope that you are feeling confident in your decis ion to study towards an A Level in English Literature and that you can take a more positive approach to your studies.

Expressing Likes and Dislikes in English - Learn English with Harry ??

Expressing Likes and Dislikes in English - Learn English with Harry ?? Today our lesson is about about expressing likes and dislikes in English.What are your likes and dislikes? Were constantly talking about things  we do and dont like. In fact, finding out what a person likes or doesnt like helps us to get to know him (or her) better. Or imagine if someone wants to find out what are your hobbies or tastes. How would you respond?So what phrases can we use for expressing likes and dislikes in English? Likes and Dislikes in English - List of Expressions Help other students to improve English skill Likes and Dislikes in English Expressing Likes in English Here are some English phrases and words to say what you like:I adore, I love, I like, I enjoy, I’m into, I have a soft spot for, Im quite keen on, I think . is/are brilliant For example:I ADORE  having a massage after work. It helps me to relax.I LOVE  shopping for clothes in the sales. I’ve got some great bargains.IM INTO  making music.I LIKE  inviting my friends around for dinner. I ENJOY  cooking a special meal for them.I LIKE  ice-creamI HAVE A SOFT SPOT  for SarahIm QUITE KEEN ON  learning new languagesI THINK  Marks idea IS BRILLIANTADORE  here suggests a strong feeling of pleasure. Expressing Dislikes in English Here are some words in English to express things that you don’t like: I detest, I hate, I loathe, I’m not keen on, I cant stand, I cant bear For example:IM NOT KEEN ON  watching soap operas.I DETEST  being stuck in a traffic jam.I HATE  Mondays!I LOATHE  visiting the dentist.I CANT STAND Paulas new boyfriendShopping DRIVES ME CRAZYBoth  I CANT STAND  and I CANT BEAR  mean I HATE.DETEST  and LOATHE  suggest strong feelings. These are things that you really don’t like doing, whereas IM NOT KEEN ON  expresses a preference.We can use pronouns, nouns or verb +ING  when we are expressing likes and dislikes in English:I love it.I hate football.Waiting in queues drives me crazy. Expressing Likes and Dislikes in English - Image to share! How to talk about Likes and Dislikes in English? Sarah, Kate, Steve and Tom are talking about what they like doing:SARAH:  I like inviting  my friends round for dinner.KATE:  I’m not keen on  cooking. I enjoy going out  for a meal.KATE:  I like going  to watch football on Saturday.SARAH:  I hate  football. I’d rather go and play tennis.STEVE:  I like taking  photographs on holiday.TOM:  I’m not into  photography. I’d rather buy postcards instead.TOM:  I’m going to the rugby match on Saturday. Would you like to come with me?STEVE:  I hate  rugby. I’ll be going shopping with Kate instead.SARAH:  I’m flying to Glasgow on Monday.KATE:  I hate flying. I like going  by train, even if it takes a little longer.Now its your turn. What do you like doing in your spare time? What do you hate doing?

Asking for and Giving Directions in English ?? - Useful English Phrases

Asking for and Giving Directions in English ?? - Useful English Phrases Being in a strange city or country without directions is very difficult. Understanding the directions  you are given or even finding a person able to offer you directions can be even more of a challenge.  Here are some common English phrases and words used when GIVING DIRECTIONS  in English and also  words and phrases useful when ASKING for DIRECTIONS.Scroll down to watch English video lesson on How to Ask for and Give directions in English. How to Give Directions in English I get asked by strangers for directions at least twice a week (two times a week). I am not sure why people  think I know where every thing is located but even when I have been visiting an unknown city to me I  still, strangely, get asked. When I know the city and know the location of where the stranger  wishes to go (to get to) I try and make my directions as clear as possible. Here is a sample of the common phrases you can use to give directions in English: CARRY STRAIGHT ON this means to continue walking or driving in the same direction. Usually you indicate with your arm or hand.KEEP TO YOUR LEFT/RIGHT This means that you shouldn’t change direction or cross the street.For  example, as you walk along the street keep to your left/right.WHEN YOU GET/COME TO   This means when you arrive at a particular place identified (roundabout,  traffic lights, crossroads, etc) you have to change direction.For example, carry on straight  [1]  along this  road , keep to your left  [2] when you g et to  [3] the traffic lights turn left/right.HANG A RIGHT/LEFT Slang word or phrase to mean take a right or left turn.For example, when you  get to the traffic lights hang a right (take the turning right).LOOK/WATCH OUT FOR   this usually means to try and identify a certain landmark (important building)  like a church or statue, something that is noticeable.For example: Carry straight on  [ 1] along this  road, keep to your left  [ 2] when you come to  [3] the roundabout, take/hang a left  [4] at the roundabout and look out for  [5]  the large statue of the Soldier.   You should then see your hotel on the   left/right.Giving directions requires the use of many different prepositions. The common or frequently used  prepositions in English are:ALONG   walk/drive along this streetNEXT TO   next to the café you will see your  buildingAFTER   after the traffic lights continue forNEAR TO   the place you require is near to or  besides or next toACROSS   cross over or across means walk ac ross the road, street etcLets look at some examples of how we can use different prepositions to give directions in English:ALONG   Please walk along the street in that direction.NEXT TO   When you walk along the street you will see a church. It is next to (beside) the ABC Bank.AFTER   When you pass the bank you will see a DIY shop. After that (the next shop)   is the post office.  You will find what you need there.NEAR TO   The post office is near to the city centre.ACROSS   When you get to the post office you will see the Government office across the street (on the opposite side). Giving Directions in English - Infographic Enjoyed this infographic? Here’s what you can do next: Asking for Directions in English Asking for directions is certainly the most difficult of these two tasks. Asking a stranger .for help is never easy even  when you speak the same language. But it is significantly more difficult when you are trying to ask in  his native tongue (English language). Today GPS is available on all our mobile  phones but people still like to ask either because they have no signal, no power (battery charge) or  simply they just want to practice their English.There are certain words and expressions in English that you can use to make it easier for you to be  understood.   These are often indirect questions which are more polite and more likely to give a  positive result. Here are some key opening phrases (initial or phrases to begin with) for you to use when asking for directions in English:Excuse meMay I disturb youSorry for disturbing youCould you help me…2nd part of the phrase or question:I was wondering if you couldI am looking forBut could you direct me toFind my way please Lets put them in to a full question or request and practise asking for directions in English:Excuse me, I was wondering if you could give me some help orExcuse me sir/madam, I was  wondering if you could kindly assist me I am looking for some directions to my hotel/the city centre.  Would you be so kind as to help me?Sorry for disturbing (sorry to disturb you), but could you direct me to the nearest bank/hotel/police station?Could you please help me to find my way to the airport/the city centre/ the conference centre.There are indeed many other English phrases and words and word combinations which can also be used. Thesecret ingredient is always to be polite   Excuse me, Sorry to disturb you, Would you mind kindlyAnd of course when the advice has been given and the directions have been understood do not  forget to offer your thanks. British people use Please  and Thank you  a lot. They also expect to hear  it fronm you when they provide help such as in the situation of giving direct ions.Common ways to offer your thanks in English are:Thank youThank you so much for your helpI am really grateful, you have been a great help I also have a short video lesson about Asking for Directions in English. Please watch and listen to the pronunciation of English words and phrases: Asking for Directions in English - Video Lesson

Micro Language

Micro Language Micro Language Micro-language, founded in 2012, aims to build an open public service platform, which can offer professional, international education to Chinese people by breaking the limits of educational resources, time and geography. Workplace Our workspace is another harmonious home for us. We preserve a vivid and motivating working atmosphere, holding the faith of being simple and efficient. Our Team We are a group who is extremely enthusiastic about language education. Elites from education, Internet technology, e-commerce fields constitute this unique and outstanding team. We are pursuing a brighter future through professionalism, efficient working and respect for education. We redefine work and cooperation We strive to create a three-sided mutual benefit community among students, teachers and schools by sharing integrative resources with our Internet platform as our tool. This is an innovative combination of education and the Internet, we are not only warmly welcoming overseas teachers to join us, but we will also do our best to achieve cooperation with well-known overseas colleges and universities. Seeking English Teachers We are hiring online foreign teachers to teach English. This is your chance to emerge yourself into Chinese Culture. For University Institutions We share resources, we share achievements. Cooperate with our English teachers and students as academic consultants.