English Vocabulary for Halloween ?? - Learn English with Harry ??

English Vocabulary for Halloween ?? - Learn English with Harry ?? Autumn is here (where I am living certainly) and is commonly seen as the stepping stone (route, how to get to another place) from Summer to Winter and of course Christmas and the New  Year.When we think of Autumn our thoughts turn to Halloween and when we think of Halloween we  dream about costumes, dressing up (putting on different clothes) family games such as bobbing the  apple (explained below) and of course the tradition of trick or treating (children dressing in  costumes and calling on the neighbours offering to do a trick, tell a story or a joke in exchange for a  treat candy or sweets).   This festival (annual event of celebration) is probably the second biggest  festival after Christmas. Huge amounts of money are spent on costumes and wigs and spooky (scary) masks. The history of Halloween stretches back many centuries and is a pagan festival. The tradition originally comes from Ireland. Today in Christian world November the 1st is  known as All Saints Day (All Hallows). In pagan times it was believed  to be a time when the souls of dead people returned to earth and the day before or All Hallows Eve (now shortened to Halloween) was a night of celebration before Samhain (pronounced Sow-in) which  is a Celtic /Gaelic word. Even today in Irish Gaelic language November is still called Samhain.Pumpkins or turnips were used as lanterns (lights). The turnip or pumpkin was hollowed out and a  candle placed inside to ward off (scare away) evil spirits. Known today as Jack OLanterns they are  sold in their millions and carved out by families all over the northern hemisphere.The religious aspects are now largely ignored but the celebration continues to grow. Houses, streets  and shops are decorated with anything connected with the dark world of witches, e vil spirits and  skeletons. English Vocabulary for Halloween - Halloween Games Bobbing the apple: A family game where apples are placed in a basin (shallow bucket) with water.  The apples float in the water and you take it in turns (one after another) to try and pick up an apple  in the water with your teeth. You cannot use your hands. It is not easy and lots of water is splashed  around accompanied by much laughter.A ring in a cake: An ancient tradition was for single girls to try and find a husband. There were lots  of old superstitions concerning this practice. Elderly relatives baked a cake (a barmbrack Gaelic  cake) and buried (hid) a ring in the cake. The superstition was that whoever got the slice or piece of  cake containing the ring would get married before the next Halloween. Sometimes other items like  coins would be added which would possibly signify wealth coming to whoever got the coin. English Vocabulary for Halloween - Learn English Words stepping stone  route, how to get to another placeto dress up to put on different clothesspooky scarylantern light, light sourcebasin shallow bucketto take turns to do something one after anotherto bury to hide

A-Level History Revision

A-Level History Revision Revising for history A-level takes time and effort, as you need to know facts and then be able to turn these into persuasive arguments in your essays. Having facts, without the analysis won't get you a high-grade, neither will having the arguments, without crucial evidence to back your discussions up. For this reason, you need to spend time going through your syllabus, working with past papers, writing practice essays and talking through your arguments with a teacher, history tutor or your peers to ensure you are ready for the exam. Thankfully there are many techniques that will help you to revise the subject matter and ensure the information fall into place. Write a timeline of events History is a timeline, so creating one is key for revision. Put together a chronology of important events, and places, with the causes and consequences of the events. This is a great way to revise what you have learnt about a particular topic and refresh your arguments. For instance, create a timeline of the events behind the origins of World War Two focus on events but also how it affected different people, countries and classes. Watch YouTube videos This can be extremely helpful in helping you to recall specific events or understand how policies affected people. Look for credible sources and re-enactments to help you determine what happened and why. For instance, if you are studying World War Two events like the evacuation of Dunkirk, or Churchill becoming Prime Minister. Create short biographies of key figures There's no getting away from the fact that with history you need do need to know the details. That's people, times, dates, policies etc. Writing short summaries, and biographies on cards can help you to remember this crucial information. Pinning these cards on a board and showing how they relate to each other can then also help with your analysis. Use cards to write short summaries of your arguments Examiners are also looking for what you think, and want to know your arguments and interpretation of key events. It's this information that needs to be on revision cards so you can accurately bring all your knowledge together. Read them daily to refresh your mind. Write essay plans This is a technique most students forget about but one that can help you with history revision. Spend time making a series of essay plans on the key areas you have discussed in class or with your tutor. Each plan should have four key points you can make with facts and analysis.This is a great way to revise not only key information but also how you will show the examiner you know and understand your subject. Work with a history tutor Working with a history tutor will help you with all of the above points and with your arguments and revision technique. This can help if you feel the syllabus hasn't yet, fallen into place or if you feel your revision scope is too wide. For more help with revision look at our blog posts on How to deal with exam stress and the Habits of Successful Students. https://www.firsttutors.com/uk/subject/history/a-level/

Adults vs. Kids Can Adults Learn a Second Language

Adults vs. Kids Can Adults Learn a Second Language Children are like sponges.They  can  absorb foreign  languages  so quickly.How many of you have heard this before?Society is flooded with messages telling you who is and who isnt good at learning a language.And if you asked any random person walking down the street who the champion of language learners are, they would probably  say children.This seems like such an obvious truth that its hardly ever challenged.Clearly everyone can speak their native language fluently,  which they learned as a child, but loads of people have trouble getting a grasp on a second language (or third if they grew up bilingual).So it must be that children are the  perfect language learners, and all adults can hope for is to achieve some fraction of their  success, right?Wrongâ€"theres a fatal flaw in this logic. Children live very different lives from adults and their reasons for learning a language  are often just as disparate. In fact, there are many reasons to believe that the popular opinion about how po orly adults learn languages is fundamentally flawed.From the lack of physical evidence for the superiority of language learning in children, a new system of beliefs is beginning to sprout through the cracks of the old, oversimplified model of age and language learning.But where did these beliefs come from in the first place? The Critical Period Hypothesis and Popular BeliefThe Critical Period Hypothesis is the academic name for what most of us have come to believe about adults and language learning. Its basic outline is that theres a fixed period of time in which you can really learn a language and learn it well. After that good luck. Maybe you can aspire to be like Luigi Risotto, the Italian chef from The Simpsons who speaks fractured though understandable English, but dont get any hopes of sounding like a native.This critical period is supposed to run from when youre born to sometime during adolescence, when youre around 15 years  old.  In other words, this is the scientific bas is of  our poor opinion of  adult language learners.But the question everyone wants to know is: Is it true? The answer: Maybe. Theres quite a bit of debate over the topic, and it would be hard to say that anything is settled. But many researchers have come out against the theory, some denying that a critical period exists at all.Take David Singleton for example, a professor of linguistics at Trinity College Dublin. In his papers he regularly criticizes those who side with the Critical Period Hypothesis and  in one of them  he reviews the relevant literature on the biology of the brain only to conclude that theres nothing solid about the science of a critical period. Thats right. No one has landed any fatal evidence that this period exists in our brains at all.So take a breath and let go of all your age-related anxieties.But surely adults and children arent the same, you might say. Well of course not.Whats the Difference Between Kids and Adults Anyways?I think we can all makes some s tabs at the general differences between adults and kids in how they learn. Ive seen very few  toddlers sitting at a desk diligently reading a grammar textbook for hours at a time, though Im sure theres probably one somewhere.But beyond the obvious differences, such as adults being more willing and able to learn in a formal learning environment, there are some hen children learn new things about language, they use the same part of their brain that they use for motor control. Adults, on the other hand, make use of the part of their brain in charge of higher cognitive functionsâ€"the part of the brain that develops later.Ah hah! you say. So there are differences between their brains!  But remember this simple means that  how  we use our brain  changes as we age. It doesnt mean that how  well we can learn things also changes.How else do adults differ? Well, they have  a ton of knowledge already. And that can be both a bad thing and a good thing. Sometimes  the sounds and words weve lear ned when we were little make it much harder to pick apart the words from other languages because were trying to force them into the mold of our first language.But sometimes its the exact opposite. If youre a good reader in your native language, those skills usually translate into good reading skills in a foreign language. Sometimes even the sounds in your native language can  give you a leg up in foreign language pronunciation, as this study on Korean speakers learning English has shown.So Whos Better at Learning a Second  Language: Kids or Adults?Even if the theres no critical period to learn a language, theres still the question of who can learn faster. We can break this down into several categories for ease of digestion.PronunciationAs adults or young adults,  pronunciation is our weak point. Most sources tend to agree that while it is possible in rare cases for adults to gain a completely native accent in a new foreign language, it just doesnt happen that often. Kids are more ad ept at learning and using the sounds of a language.But for most adults, this doesnt really matter. Its more important to be understood than to sound like a perfect native.  After all, isnt that why youre learning a foreign language in the first placeâ€"to communicate with others?And on that score theres a long track record of people who can communicate quite well in a second language learned later in life. Plus,  if you really want to speak like a native, go for it! Its still possible that you could be one of those few adults who really nails the pronunciation in their second language.Grammar and vocabularyIn grammar and vocab, adults and adolescents actually significantly outperform very young children in the short-term. In the long-term, young children will eventually overtake the older age groups, but only if theyre exposed to the foreign language enough.In fact, if a young child is being taught in a formal setting, he or she may never catch up to the  adult at all. You heard tha t right.  Sometimes adults really can outperform children when it comes to foreign language.Reading and complex thoughtI said it before, but Ill say it again: If youre a good reader in your native language, youll probably be a good reader in a foreign language. Thats because adults are good at taking knowledge they already have and applying  it to  very similar new knowledge that theyre trying to acquire. Why reinvent the wheel when you can just make a few adjustments?And in fact, reading and anything dealing with complex thought is  where adults really shine. The critical period in no way applies here, and in fact the oppose could be said: The older the better.  5 Reasons  Adults Can Definitely Learn a Second LanguageIf youve read this far and still find yourself worrying about how well you can learn a language, then lay back, relax and read on to let go of the last of your worries.1. Age is only one factor.We like to worry about age because it seems like theres an obviously better position to be in: being a child. But since this is something beyond our control, we should instead  focus on the myriad of other factors that affect our learning.For example, factors like motivation, personality, the learning environment and learning strategies are all things we can control which have a huge impact on your success as a language learner.2. Children arent as strong as they seem.Everyone loves to heap praise on children. Whether its a mom or dad doting on their own kid or a child that gets random affection from strangers just for being cute, children tend to get a pass for things that adults would never get away with.The same is true for language. Children may sound like great speakers, but usually we have low expectations for them.  Kids  tend to speak in simple sentences using only  very basic vocab. This is perfect for a child that doesnt yet have a need for complex language, but it also means that kids are not really the language superstars we take them to be.3. Even full-grown adults can reach near-native level.This was mentioned earlier, but some adults  do  learn a second  language and sound like a native. If your goal is to move to Mexico, buy a farm in a backwater village and blend in with the natives, dont let anyone dissuade you.With enough practice under your belt and a can-do attitude, in time youll be able to boast about your perfect Mayan grammar.4. Language learning has health benefits.Forget about your ineradicable foreign accent. All that work you spend  learning a new language will keep your brain healthy for years to come. What does a little imperfection in speech matter when your entire clarity of thought is guaranteed to stay sharp well into old age?5. Language learning is about connecting.What is language for? Communicating to other people, of course. Perfection doesnt need to be our endpoint. In fact, we can just as easily choose an entirely different goal, like making friends in a foreign language.Language exchanges or  individual language partners are an excellent way to expand your social circle. Most people will be quite happy if you can speak just well enough to  hold up your end of the conversation.These are just a handful of the most obvious reasons to not pay attention to age. With so many great possibilities available through learning a foreign language, why should you let a social myth about age and language learning hold you back?There are lots of things people miss about being a kid, but being able to learn a new language doesnt have to be one of them. And One More ThingIf youre excited to learn a language as an adult, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive c aptions 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 your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn 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.Start using FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes  or  Google Play  store.

5 POPULAR CHILDRENS BOOKS-TURNED-MOVIES TO EXPLORE THIS SUMMER

5 POPULAR CHILDREN’S BOOKS-TURNED-MOVIES TO EXPLORE THIS SUMMER 5 POPULAR CHILDREN’S BOOKS-TURNED-MOVIES TO EXPLORE THIS SUMMER Summer â€" the time of year your children have been waiting for! As they soak up the sunshine, help them avoid the summer slide by encouraging your kids to keep an enjoyable book in tow. Reading books is also the perfect rainy day activity or indoor alternative to braving the unbearable heat.  Add a fun factor by suggesting books that are also movies. After reading the book, watch the film together and then discuss similarities and differences between the two to practice reading comprehension and literary criticism. Not only is this an enjoyable activity, it will also expose your children to different literary works and films. Here is a list of five Kumon Recommended Reading List titles that are also popular movies. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett Readers between 1st and 2nd grade This silly story tells the tale of a small town, Chewandswallow, and its delicious weather patterns. Three times a day, it rains a variety of yummy food. All is well until the portions get larger and begin to wreak havoc in Chewandswallow. The book has sold more than 1.9 million copies, and the Sony Pictures movie has warmed the hearts of parents and children worldwide. Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg 4th grade readers Jumanji is a thrilling story of a magical board game that comes to life. The dangers of a jungle and its inhabitants become a reality for the game players. In 2017, a modern version of the 1995 film Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was released, earning great reviews and  success in the box office. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl 5th grade  readers This sweet story centers around the main character, Charlie, and his trip to the famous Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory, open to the public for just one day. However, not all the public. Only 5 Golden Ticket winners accompanied by one guest are permitted to enter. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired the films Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in 1971, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory released in 2005. Both movies are full of adventure and wonder â€" perfect for a summer movie! Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll 6th grade readers The timeless tale of Alice in Wonderland has inspired people of all ages since 1865. Carroll tells a story about a girl, Alice, who falls through a rabbit hole to an imaginary world and her adventurous journey throughout. Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, a cartoon movie of the story was released in 1951 and has been an enduring film for children. In 2010, a more modern version of Alice in Wonderland was released featuring actors Johnny Depp and Anne Hathaway, stunning us all. Regardless of which movie you choose to compliment the book, you cannot go wrong. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen High school readers Pride and Prejudice, a beautifully written novel by Jane Austen, speaks to the importance of marrying for love as opposed to wealth. The protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet is faced with the pressure to marry into money, to help support the rest of her family and her five sisters. This romantic novel has been named one of the most “beloved books” and has sold over 20 million copies. The film adaptation featuring Kiera Knightly was released in 2005, and has equally become a sensation. A perfect romantic-drama for a summer night! You might also be interested in: 6 Simple Ways to Make Learning Fun this Summer Booklist to Celebrate Chinese Culture Soar Past the Summer Slide with Kumon’s Summer Learning Roundup 6 Practical Tips for Summer Parenting 5 POPULAR CHILDREN’S BOOKS-TURNED-MOVIES TO EXPLORE THIS SUMMER 5 POPULAR CHILDREN’S BOOKS-TURNED-MOVIES TO EXPLORE THIS SUMMER Summer â€" the time of year your children have been waiting for! As they soak up the sunshine, help them avoid the summer slide by encouraging your kids to keep an enjoyable book in tow. Reading books is also the perfect rainy day activity or indoor alternative to braving the unbearable heat.  Add a fun factor by suggesting books that are also movies. After reading the book, watch the film together and then discuss similarities and differences between the two to practice reading comprehension and literary criticism. Not only is this an enjoyable activity, it will also expose your children to different literary works and films. Here is a list of five Kumon Recommended Reading List titles that are also popular movies. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett Readers between 1st and 2nd grade This silly story tells the tale of a small town, Chewandswallow, and its delicious weather patterns. Three times a day, it rains a variety of yummy food. All is well until the portions get larger and begin to wreak havoc in Chewandswallow. The book has sold more than 1.9 million copies, and the Sony Pictures movie has warmed the hearts of parents and children worldwide. Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg 4th grade readers Jumanji is a thrilling story of a magical board game that comes to life. The dangers of a jungle and its inhabitants become a reality for the game players. In 2017, a modern version of the 1995 film Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was released, earning great reviews and  success in the box office. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl 5th grade  readers This sweet story centers around the main character, Charlie, and his trip to the famous Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory, open to the public for just one day. However, not all the public. Only 5 Golden Ticket winners accompanied by one guest are permitted to enter. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired the films Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in 1971, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory released in 2005. Both movies are full of adventure and wonder â€" perfect for a summer movie! Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll 6th grade readers The timeless tale of Alice in Wonderland has inspired people of all ages since 1865. Carroll tells a story about a girl, Alice, who falls through a rabbit hole to an imaginary world and her adventurous journey throughout. Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, a cartoon movie of the story was released in 1951 and has been an enduring film for children. In 2010, a more modern version of Alice in Wonderland was released featuring actors Johnny Depp and Anne Hathaway, stunning us all. Regardless of which movie you choose to compliment the book, you cannot go wrong. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen High school readers Pride and Prejudice, a beautifully written novel by Jane Austen, speaks to the importance of marrying for love as opposed to wealth. The protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet is faced with the pressure to marry into money, to help support the rest of her family and her five sisters. This romantic novel has been named one of the most “beloved books” and has sold over 20 million copies. The film adaptation featuring Kiera Knightly was released in 2005, and has equally become a sensation. A perfect romantic-drama for a summer night! You might also be interested in: 6 Simple Ways to Make Learning Fun this Summer Booklist to Celebrate Chinese Culture Soar Past the Summer Slide with Kumon’s Summer Learning Roundup 6 Practical Tips for Summer Parenting

4 Fun Educational Sites to Use This Summer - by TutorNerds

4 Fun Educational Sites to Use This Summer - by TutorNerds Have Fun and Learn This Summer With These 4 Websites Have Fun and Learn This Summer With These 4 Websites As mentioned in our previous blog post by one of our Orange County tutors, summer runs the risk of losing the progress students worked so hard to make during the school year. After taking the first weeks to unwind and celebrate, students should start thinking about keeping their educational curiosity active while they make the most of their summer break. In addition to signing up with a private Irvine tutor form TutorNerds (we work around your busy summer schedules), there are plenty of websites that are both fun and educational to help you learn this summer. From improving your vocabulary to learning about arts and culture, an hour every morning on these websites will keep your brain sharp while you spend the rest of the day having fun. If you don’t want to spend more time in front of a screen (we feel, you) give your local library a visit. 1. Open Culture Open Culture is an excellent site for the intellectually curious. From art to music to history, the site acts as a curator of interesting things from across the internet. The site describes itself as “The best free cultural and educational edit on the web.” From free audiobooks to writing tips from famous authors, Open Culture is a great resource for those wishing to learn without spending hours online trying to find the best content (READ: 3 Activities to Keep Your Kids Brain Sharp This Summer). 2. Vocabulary.com Having a vast vocabulary will not only impress your teachers and classmates but help you make the most of your reading. Vocabulary.com is set up like a game, with an ongoing scorecard, leader-board, and bonus prizes for various achievements. As you build your vocabulary, remember that no one likes a sesquipedalian know-it-all. 3. Duolingo Do you want to impress your teacher when you return to school this fall? Learn a new language, or two! Duolingo offers a fun and free opportunity to master a new language. From Danish to Japanese, the site provides enough options to keep you busy all summer long. For the Game of Thrones lovers, you can even learn High Valyrian. 4. Online Lectures Okay, bare with us on this one. We know a lecture sounds like the last thing a student would voluntarily sit through in the summer, but see it this way: it’s a lecture of your choice, from the comfort of your home, and you don’t have to worry about the homework assignment at the end of the talk! Many Universities, including Ivy League, provide links to free lectures you can stream from their website or on their Youtube pages. Previously mentioned Open Culture provides an extensive list of talks categorized by subject. There is no reason why summer can’t be a time to get ahead instead of falling behind. Enjoy these four fun and educational websites! Members of the TutorNerds team and our private tutors write every blog post. If you have any questions about our blog, please email us at pr@tutornerds.com.

Finding a Murrieta Chinese Tutor

Finding a Murrieta Chinese TutorIf you're looking for a Murrieta Chinese tutor, you should know that there are plenty of people who are willing to help out. The Chinese culture is very different from our own and there are many cultures involved. However, there are some things you should know about the Chinese that you can use when you decide to go to China.One thing you need to know is that China is a very large country. It is actually bigger than Texas. This means that there are many different languages in China, like Cantonese, Mandarin, and other dialects. If you're a person that doesn't know a lot of these languages, then it may be a little difficult to find a Chinese tutor.However, if you already know some of these languages, it will be a lot easier to find a Murrieta Chinese tutor. The biggest thing to remember is that the Chinese language is quite different from English.In fact, if you don't know a lot of English, it may be harder to learn Chinese. Therefore, many people that have never studied English don't know a lot about the Chinese language.However, this is not a bad idea, so long as you know what you're doing. Another thing you need to know is that the Chinese language is quite difficult, especially to learn because it is something that only some few people can do.For example, a Murrieta Chinese tutor has to understand that you are going to be studying in Chinese, which can be very difficult. Also, this is going to mean that you are going to need to take some time to learn the Chinese language.So, if you want to learn the Chinese language, it may be a good idea to find a Murrieta Chinese tutor. You should also be aware that you are going to have to do some reading and writing to master the language, so finding a good teacher who can really help you will make your life a lot easier.

Tutoring Atlanta Georgia

Tutoring Atlanta GeorgiaTutoring in Atlanta Georgia has grown significantly in the past ten years or so. Not only are more students having difficulties finishing their schooling but also the financial outlook for the city as a whole is not so great due to the high unemployment rate, a slower economic recovery and an increased cost of living.There is still a lot of demand for tutors and they seem to be out in force, this makes Atlanta County an ideal place to do some tutoring. It is in Atlanta where you can find teachers who have been working for years and may have had their own students for a while.There are plenty of places where you can find tutors in Atlanta but the best option for those looking for a traditional setup would be in PACE and Atlanta PACE Center in Peachtree City. They offer all services for a full package. This includes tutoring the traditional way, but also provides additional support and services such as in-home study centers, senior programs, gifted programs, and even individualized tutoring.There are two full sized full-time centers located in Peachtree City and both offer tutoring in their respective areas. You can find the Peachtree City center online.The Peachtree City center has a tutor desk and staff members who will meet with you to discuss your needs and work through the details of your plan. You can also request a consultation from them for any questions or concerns that you may have.All tutors who teach at the Peachtree City center are qualified and licensed teachers. This means that you can expect a calm, personal interaction from them. They can help you to make changes if you feel that the one you are tutoring is not ready for tutoring at the center. Whether you have just moved to Atlanta or you've been living there for many years, Peachtree City is an ideal place to do tutoring. They have tutors available to work with all ages and educational levels. It is just a matter of finding a teacher who is willing to be flexible about y our plans for your time and their time.