3 Reasons to Learn Mandarin

Mandarin is one of the major dialects in China with over seventy percent of the population speaking the tongue. Across the globe, Mandarin is the most spoken language, with over one billion people communicating using this language. Apart from China, some of the countries where a considerable part of the population knows how to speak the language include Taiwan, Singapore, Mongolia, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and South Africa. Indeed Mandarin is becoming one of the most influential and important international languages.

If this is not enough of a reason to convince you to learn Mandarin, then the following might change your mind.

· Commerce and business

The Chinese economy is growing steadily at a relatively rapid pace. There are plenty of businesses and job opportunities in China. Likewise, many nations throughout the world have established good trading and working relations with China. For instance the U.S. has, for some time now, been importing Chinese goods which are much more affordable. It has also been outsourcing services from China and establishing businesses in China. In other words, the Chinese economy is becoming a woken giant.

If you want to succeed in dealing with Chinese business counterparts or work for an international company with offices in Asia, knowing Mandarin is one of the best steps you can take. Mandarin is the business language, hence, knowing how to communicate in Mandarin will not only let you convey your ideas properly, but also help you get the confidence of your Mandarin-speaking colleagues. Learning how to speak Mandarin gives you the edge to take on numerous commercial and financial opportunities.

· Sharpens the mind

It has been proven in many scientific studies that knowing more than one language is beneficial to the intelligence as it stimulates the brain and improves comprehension and learning skills. It has been demonstrated time and again that people who are bilingual do better in standardized tests than individuals who only speak a single language. Furthermore, the development of dementia, like Alzheimer's disease, is slow or not present at all in persons who study different languages; more so when learning Mandarin. Some say that Mandarin is a difficult and complex language with its thousands of characters, tones that give different meanings to the same words and different rules in grammar. However, this complexity may just be the reason why the brain is honed to its optimum capability.

· Beneficial to future generations

If you do not want to do it for yourself, then do it for your children or grandchildren. With the population of Mandarin-speaking people continuously ballooning and the Chinese economy and power constantly growing in strength, knowing Mandarin is more important now more than ever. You would want to prepare your children for the future. When you know Mandarin, you can teach them the language, hence, giving them the advantage of knowing a language that might just be the next most language of the world.

There are many more benefits from learning Mandarin. These should be enough reasons to overcome any reluctance in tackling the language. You may find it hard at first, but that is only in the initial stages. Besides, Mandarin is not really difficult, it is just different.

Daniel C Howard is a language teacher living in Asia. He has over a decade of experience teaching all ages a variety of subjects. For free info and lessons on Mandarin Chinese, please visit his blog here.

You can also sign up for a newsletter full of free language tips from Daniel's many hours in a class. And as a bonus, stay updated on all the new information on http://www.learnmagnificentmandarin.com/.

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Spanish Courses Reviewed - Rocket Spanish

Have you recently decided you want to learn Spanish? You're now you're looking for a beginner's Spanish course to take you through every step of the way? Well look no further because Rocket Spanish is, in my opinion, the best course on the internet to learn Spanish as a beginner. If you are looking for a Spanish course which improves all areas of your Spanish simultaneously - that is Spanish speaking, listening, reading and writing - then Rocket Spanish is the course for you. In this review I will try to be as objective as possible and analyse how exactly you can use Rocket Spanish to improve, and why the course has had such acclaim from Spanish learners around the world.

The course structure

So first of all you probably want a Spanish course which guides you through in a clear and structured fashion. The premium Rocket Spanish course does this extremely well. There are 32 cultural based lessons where you can listen to Spanish conversation and build your Spanish listening ability. You also get transcripts of these lessons which are helpful in the very beginning but the lessons are always very clear, practical, and also interactive to encourage your Spanish speaking to improve. They also last only 25 minutes so you remain concentrated throughout the course.

There are also 31 grammar lessons - these again are very clear if slightly less interesting (but grammar is very important so just ignore any course which tells you otherwise). I still check back over some of these because they explain Spanish grammar in an illustrated and easy to understand manner.

Along with these there are great range of interactive games and quizzes so you can monitor your progress and really immerse yourself in the Spanish language.;

The 'extra' software

The extra software with a Rocket Spanish premium course is probably worth the price of the course alone. The MegaVerbs software allows you to get on top of verb tenses using a programme of games and exercises to help recognition and memorisation in an enjoyable way.

The MegaAudio software does the same for listening - this allows you to complete listening exercises designed specifically to allow you to understand Spanish in context. You will still have to do a lot of practice to reach Spanish fluency but the course helps you to hear and translate over 1000 Spanish words - this means you'll be listening to spoken Spanish and actually understanding what's being said in no time.

The MegaVocab software has been the most useful tool for me. The course has loads of loaded vocab themes loaded into their specially designed exercises to aid memorisation. However the real value of this Spanish vocab software is that it remains useful as you improve. You can add your own words for input into the programme so you can keep using MegaVocab to memorise vocab even when you reach advanced level.

Additional Support

The additional support I received with Rocket Spanish also surprised me - for that price I would have been happy if it had taken a lot longer for my queries to be answered. However the highly knowledgeable teachers respond very quickly and failing that there are loads of friendly forum members always ready to help.

Value for money

The real advantage of Rocket Spanish is the incredible value for money you receive - the only course I've found that equates in terms of quality is Rosetta Stone however, with the discounted Rocket Spanish price, this is over five times as expensive for the full course. The Rosetta Stone product is more professional in appearance and marketing but there is no upgrade in terms of quality so I'd save yourself some money.

What level do I finish at?

Once you complete the Rocket Spanish course there is no stopping you - you are already at an advanced Spanish level equivalent to AS or A2 level in the UK depending on the work you put in. However you also have all the tools to allow you to keep progressing and reach fluency in no time.

Go to http://topspanishtips.weebly.com/the-3-best-spanish-courses-online.html to get your 67% discount on a Rocket Spanish course. You can also try Rocket Spanish for 6 days for free to try before you buy.

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Around the World in 100 Words - Five Language Apps for the Business Traveler

If you're a business traveler and a frequent flyer to international destinations, you understand that English can take you many places, but it can't always get the job done. Learning a few phrases in the languages of your foreign business associates can make your experience in their country more pleasant and score you extra credit points.

Too busy to read a foreign-language phrase book or attend a language class before your next trip? Language-learning apps are your solution. Compact and mobile par excellence, these highly engaging applications can accompany you in your travels and help you bolster your language skills at your leisure.

Let's take a look at five free mobile apps that you can combine to acquire foreign language skills on the road and on the fly:

1. Byki

Quick, essential phrases in Danish, Dutch, French, German, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Taglog are at your fingertips with this app. Rather than delving into extensive vocabulary, Byki is strong in teaching everyday greetings across several languages, with the multiple-destination traveler in mind. In three easy steps, you can master everyday cordialities that will take you across Europe and Asia.

The first step involves reviewing the flash cards, which come with images and native speaker audio. In the second step, you see the target language and come up with the English translation. When you've got the gist of the vocabulary, the third step is to translate from English into the foreign language.

Byki has also compiled a database of vocabulary around key themes such as beverages. Want to know how to order a beer in every country you visit? This is the app for you.

2. Busuu

Where Byki offers breadth, Busuu provides depth. Available in Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Italian, French and German, Busuu has a similar interface to Rosetta Stone in terms of exercises and format. Native speaker sound, illustrations, colorful flashcards, dialogues and audiovisual quizzes make for an engaging and active learning experience. Students are rewarded with Busuu berries at the end of each level.

Another great feature is that Busuu allows you to review your mistakes. You can acquire vocabulary pertaining to a variety of themes, including work, sports, days of the week, body parts, telling time, dates and seasons, family members, numbers, colors, meals, directions, pets, geography, clothes, fruits, vegetables and more.

3. Vocabology

This vocabulary-boosting app is designed for the daily language apprentice. It allows you to get a word-of-the-day in Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, French and English from a variety of sources. Because repetition is often the secret to retention, Vocabology uses the word of the day in multiple contexts, including an addictive quiz.

4. Flashcards Deluxe

One of the best ways to commit all of this vocabulary to memory is to review it throughout the day. This app allows you to create your own deck of flashcards with words you come across in your studies and to import decks from the shared library. You can personalize the backgrounds of the cards, add photos and sounds from your smartphone or from the app's website, modify font size and colors, set up a slideshow and flag cards for more intensive review.

As you go through your cards, you signal your responses as either correct, incorrect or "strong correct" (meaning no need for further review). The program then schedules the cards in spaced repetition as a function of these responses so that you don't under-study certain words and over-study the ones you have mastered. Using the Leitner card order option, you can also focus solely on the cards you've gotten wrong recently. Spend ten minutes with this app every morning when you wake up and/or at night when you go to bed for optimum retention.

5. Radio/Newspaper apps

As your familiarity with the language increases, you can begin to immerse yourself in the culture of your travel destination by listening to the national radio stations and reading local press articles. If you are traveling to Spain, for example, download the RNE app, Radio Nacional de Espana to listen to any of the six national radio stations, andEl Paisto enrich your vocabulary while reading up on trending topics, current affairs and popular culture. Unlike mobile sites, these radio-streaming and content apps are perfectly adapted to your particular smartphone platform and therefore supply an optimized interface. You don't have to sort through several web pages to get where you want - in one click, you can stream the radio station of your choice, as effortlessly as if you were flipping channels on the highway in Spain. And in one click, you can read news articles in a format carefully tailored to your smartphone screen.

The rapidity of speech may be intimidating at first but if you undertake this exercise regularly, you'll soon be amazed to find yourself deciphering fragments of conversations and recognizing the vocabulary words you have acquired.

There are hundreds of other interesting language apps out there but with these five alone, you can build a comprehensive and personalized program for foreign language acquisition. So how much time do you need to devote to this in order to see any tangible results?

Remember that we are not talking about fluency here (though multilingualism is a fantastic goal), but rather elementary communication in the context of international business. One school of thought makes the argument that you can get by in a foreign country with a lexicon of 100 words. With 100 words at your disposal, you are able to comprehend some of what is said around you, express your essential needs and ask basic questions. A pocketbook vocabulary of 100 words will allow you to order wine for your table at a company lunch, ask when your clothes will be dry-cleaned, inquire as to the best cup of coffee near your hotel and get directions to a local pharmacy.

And if you're armed with 100 words, you're less likely to be taken advantage of by that taxi driver who mistakes you for a novice and opts for the extra-long route to the hotel. Your ability to communicate in the local language, albeit on a rudimentary level, will place you in a different category of tourists or business travelers, one that is treated with more respect. You will also derive more satisfaction from mundane tasks like checking out of your hotel, since everyday interactions such as these become opportunities to practice your newfound vocabulary in context.

So next time you're on the road-lugging around your suitcase, smoothing the wrinkles out of your suit, and struggling to get some shuteye - explore these apps for hours of distraction (even relaxation!) and acquire new language skills in the process. We're sure that doing so will broaden your horizons and deepen your appreciation of the cultures with which you do business.

Acclaro is a global translation and localization firm that helps the world's leading brands succeed across cultures. Acclaro offers a full range of services for creating and maintaining multilingual marketing campaigns, websites, documents, software and much more. From Asia to Europe and the Americas, Acclaro gives clients a local voice in global markets.

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Breaking the Language Barrier

Breaking the language barrier, ergo, finding a way to get to know to know each other and have common ground is a fast track to World Peace. Communications technology has shrunk the globe, but there remains one large boundary to all this togetherness: language. So far, businesses can only spread as far and as fast as they can find people speaking a common tongue.

Developing and designing a universal language for all, the complex "Esperanto" was designed with great hope. There are estimated to be between 3,000 and 8,000 different languages spoken around the world; they can be considered as a great source of division among human kind. On top of the tremendous differences in morals, values, religions, politics and customs, people coming from different countries must also communicate and work around those divisions in separate languages.

"A universal language would help ease some of that tension and push the world closer towards peace and unity. LL Zamanoff agreed with this so strongly that he created Esperanto, a language designed to be learned as a second language by everyone in the world."

Esperanto was derived from many different languages with the purpose of making it as easy to learn and use as possible. The vocabulary was taken predominantly from the Romance languages. For example, the word Esperanto means, "one who hopes," coming from the French and Spanish words for hope, esperer and esperar, respectively.

Esperanto was a good idea that did not work. First, because of its complexities, mostly designed to fit everyone with their own personal national traditions.

Also suggested was sign language; every nation has its own sign in which they alone understand. In much the same way that geographical or cultural forces isolate populations and lead to the generation of different and distinct spoken languages, the same forces operate on signed languages and so they tend to maintain their identities through time in roughly the same areas of influence as the local spoken languages. This occurs even though sign languages generally are not related to the spoken languages of the lands in which they arise. In fact, the correlation between signed and spoken languages is much more complex than commonly thought, and due to the geographic influences just mentioned, varies depending on the country more than the spoken language. That alone does not work, as only the people of that nation would understand. It was also suggested that universal sign would never work because of linguistic relation to the spoken languages of other lands.

In the intellectual field of science surely through the computer, teaching different nations one sign language that works for everyone is not only possible it is probable. Consider Bill Gates and the computer that he visualized many years ago. Mr. Gates has a heart of gold desiring to assist people with just about everything. Imagine genius' like him, putting their highly intellectual head together to come up with One Language-One People. "They" a few experts say it cannot be done. IBM et al., says, "Yes we can!" The multinational currently has 100 staff working on an internal project named "n.Fluent " that offers instantaneous translation across a variety of platforms.

Because today's sign languages are used according to the languages and dialects of differing nations, it is a good beginning. However, it does not cure the language barrier. One Universal Sign Language developed internationally, one that everyone and anyone in the world can understand has all the indications of functioning beautifully and fluently when learned. Think of it, visiting another country and using the Universal sign, nothing misunderstood, a closer bond with all people in the Spiritual Matrix, the Network of Souls.

Everyone on this planet is incredibly important to the goals of Mother Earth, especially in unearthing avenues to communicate and to love one another. One Planet - One Language - One People.

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History Of The Ukrainian Language And The Development Of Ukrainian Translators

From the beginning of its identification as an important and individuated area of the world the Ukraine has been a real melting pot of different cultures. The country is uniquely positioned in such a manner that it stands close to a few different powerful and influential cultures. Most notably the Ukraine is in direct contact with the Slavic nations of the north and directly accessible to the modern Middle East more to the south. These two different cultures formed the earliest influences on the region, which congealed influences from Turkey, Iran and the Slavic nations of the north. This conflicted space was eventually claimed and held by the Slavic nations and the language during this period connects clearest to older Russian. This Slavic language was really set into place by the fact that the written work of the region adopted it.

Ukraine then deviated from the Russian-flavored influence for a time when the region fell under Lithuanian and Polish rule. Both of these nations imparted a large degree of influence on the Ukrainian language and in time on Ukrainian translators, especially the Polish who made it all but necessary for higher ranking Ukrainians to learn and primarily adopt the Polish language. This was further strengthened by the widespread adoption of the Polish Catholic religion during these years, which helped spread the Polish language throughout both the religious and educational orders within the Ukraine.

As the Polish empire and its influence on the Ukraine began to fail the Russians reasserted their influence upon the region. There was even a linguistic split where a significant number within the country spoke Polish while the rest spoke Russian, imagine the effect this would have on Ukrainian translation services in the future. Traditional nationalism didn't play a large part in the Ukrainian character during this time. Such nationalism began to rise later in the nineteenth century, but was subjugated by the Russians fiercely, as they eventually incorporated all of the Ukraine into their empire.

Russian subjugation of the Ukrainian state and its language continued throughout the Russian Empire, and the language primarily existed within the rural regions of the nation until the Soviet Union rose and allowed the Ukrainian language to spread once more. While there was a regular back and forth throughout the years of the Soviet Union, in general the Ukrainian language was allowed to be used by a significant amount of people, and after the fall of the union the Ukrainian state instituted the Ukrainian language as the official tongue of the now-sovereign nation from where several Ukrainian translators are sourced today.

As you can see from this the Ukrainian language was developed over a long time under a wide variety of competing influences. Due to the fact that Russian was the strongest of these influences throughout the life of the region it's unsurprising that to this day Russian and Ukrainian are often considered to be near interchangeable languages, where understanding one usually results in the ability to understand the other.

Charlene Lacandazo is a marketing executive for Rosetta Translation, an international full-service translation company in London, UK.

Rosetta Translation specialises in Ukrainian translation, as well as interpreting services all over the world.

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Spanish Language Learning - Where to Start?

Learning a foreign language like Spanish has become easier than ever than before. The Spanish language has become increasingly popular and as a result there are a brilliant range of Spanish language resources available on the internet. It is now possible to immerse yourself in the Spanish language using only a computer with internet connection. In this article I provide a few places for you to get started learning Spanish online.

Learn how to communicate with some basic Spanish.

Basic conversation is a good starting point to learning Spanish. There are loads of videos available online to help you learn phrases to meet and greet such as hola, adios, buenos dias, buenas noches for example. These first lessons also include basic conversational phrases like 'how are you?' - '?como estas?'. Obviously these first lessons are there to inspire you to learn more about the Spanish language and a basic building block on which to build. This is made a lot easier by the huge amount of Spanish language lessons of this kind online although I would say speaking at this level is a lot better done in the classroom.

Learn some basic Spanish vocab

This is the next step for most Spanish language courses. There are loads of relevant lists online to learn the very basics of Spanish vocabulary - I would recommend playing Spanish language learning games to immerse yourself in the vocab from the beginning, as well as writing your first basic Spanish phrases and self-testing. I would recommend Real Spanish and Spanish Dict as two sites to help with this stage. The normal Spanish vocab areas covered at the start are the numbers, colours and parts of the body.

Learn some basic Spanish grammar

It also helps to learn at least the basics of Spanish grammar at the beginning of your Spanish language learning. Study Spanish is a good site to help learn about the basic construction of sentences in Spanish (ie. adjectives following nouns in the majority of instances), the agreements of masculine and feminine, and the punctuation and structure of questions and answers to basic Spanish questions.

Invest in a beginners Spanish course

The easiest way through all this is to purchase a Spanish course online like Rocket Spanish. This course takes you through step by step from the very beginning and develops all areas of your Spanish simultaneously. The lessons are clear and there is always good support on offer if you do get stuck (something you don't get with a non-virtual Spanish course)

Take it one step at a time

Finally remember to take it one step at a time - you won't be fluent after a few weeks and it will take a lot of hard work. If you enjoy the language learning experience and immerse yourself in as much Spanish material as possible you will get there eventually though.

Go to http://www.topspanishtips.weebly.com/ for a collection of the best Spanish language resources online. The website is a brilliant guide to find those resources you'll need is whether you're just starting out learning Spanish or at a strong level already.

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Foreign Languages Could Slow Down the Effects of Old Age

The benefits of learning a foreign language are not new; economic, social, educational or cultural arguments abound. For instance, being able to communicate and negotiate in another language may make new international markets accessible to a company. Socially, it can improve relationships, foster inclusion and enhance understanding within mixed-origin communities. Culturally and educationally, your experience of the world becomes richer and more stimulating.

What about medically, and from a health point of view? Scientific bodies carry out regular research on this topic and an article published in The Times in February 2011 caught my eye. According to recent scientific research, bilingualism can slow down the symptoms of ageing by boosting brain performance, and can particularly delay the onset of dementia or Alzheimer's by five years on average. These are the results of a research study recently published by Ellen Bialystock, a psychologist at York University (Toronto, Canada). Bilingual people are found to be able to cope with the disease for longer. Bialystock compares the brain to the petrol tank in a car, and more precisely the safety, or reserve, tank. The more the brain is stimulated, the better the 'cognitive tank' gets, and manages to keep you going for longer. Regular switching between two languages seems to do exactly that - strengthen your brain potential. The research now focuses on whether brain size changes as a result of bilingualism.

Bilingual children should also be better at multi-tasking than their monolingual peers. Another study (by Judith Kroll, a psychologist at Penn State University, United States) shows that bilingualism boosts multi-tasking and prioritising skills. According to this study, multilingualism does not confuse the brain and does not hinder cognitive development.

We often hear how our ageing population is putting a strain on NHS resources. If these scientific findings are indeed true, wouldn't this constitute an extra argument for the promotion of language learning? The government is very good at telling us how much fruit, vegetables, salt, sugar, fat and alcohol we should or shouldn't consume, and how much physical exercise we should include in our daily routine, so how about guidelines on cognitive aspects of our lives to regularly top up our brain reserve, e.g. how many crosswords and sudokus we do, how many books we read, and how much of our compulsory education we spend on learning foreign languages, and subsequently as a life-long component of our daily existence? Food for thought anyway...

Visit the authors website Business Language Services Ltd or leave a comment on the blog.

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Rocket French Is A Reliable Program In Learning French

Learning of languages is very important because it is thought that those people who learn more languages enhance their intelligence to many folds. Besides, internet technology has made the world a global village and the one may encounter with the people of other languages and cultures quite often. France is the country that has the largest population in world so it is needless to mention that the one may encounter French speaking people more often. Moreover, France is the largest market for the world commodities so all those firms that want to excel in France should have an understanding of French language.

No firm can attract local consumers in foreign language so French language should be given due importance by firms. Learning of French language is also helpful in understanding French culture that is very important for market economy and it can for sure be said that language is an important aspect of culture. Learning of French language is also important for all those who want to make a research upon France.

France is progressing very fast and is a competing bigger economy now but the one cannot get benefits from French success without knowing French language. French language learning has thought to be a very tough task a short while ago but internet has made it easy for people to learn this language online. There are a number of courses available online for learning French but there are only few of them that can be helpful in getting versatile knowledge. The one may face different situations and he has to be aware from different aspects of language and vocabulary. The one may embarrass in a hotel if he knows basic vocabulary for doing business or he may find a difficulty while doing shopping in market. So, the one should decide for a French language course that could help him to know versatile words.

Rocket French is a course that is available online and it is preferred by a great many people due to its versatility of words. It is a course that is interactive and it aims at improving all the aspects of language. Rocket French course helps in speaking and improving of French language. Rocket French helps people to speak French language in natural accent and it enhances the confidence of learners to many folds. Rocket French is the best course for enhancing French vocabulary. Learning a language is incomplete unless the one is incapable of understanding the native accent and Rocket French has included audio courses in its syllabus. There are all but one thousand words of vocabulary included in Rocket French course. Mega French software games are included in Rocket French course and it not only helps students to enhance vocabulary but they can also add different new words in the games too.

Rocket French is an amazing online course. This course consists of audio lessons that will surely help you to master this language.

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Chinese Language Learning Software: 3 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Chinese Language Course

Want to learn Chinese online? Great! There are lots of wonderful programs to choose from. Unfortunately, lots of not so wonderful programs have also been thrown into the mix. There are also programs that may be good for some but not so good for others, including you. So, how do you weave your way through the mess and find the program that's right for you? Ask the 3 questions below and you will find the Chinese language learning program that's best for you.

Question 1: Does it Offer a Free Trial?

This is pretty straightforward, but it's important. Never purchase a program that doesn't offer a free trial. All reputable programs have them. Plus, to get the information I am going to outline below, you need to get inside the actual program.

Question 2: Does it Cover the 4 Core Language Learning Components?

A good Chinese language learning program will cover each of the four core language learning components, which are reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Even if your main goal is to speak the language, you can't neglect the other three components. Why? Because together they greatly improve the quality of your learning. For example, it would be very difficult to learn how to pronounce Chinese tones if you didn't first learn to read pinyin.

Learning to write? That's a great way to master Chinese grammar, which is something you'll need to understand if you want to speak in a fluent and natural way. Perhaps most importantly, your brain learns in different ways, and if you stick to just one learning style, you will become fatigued and bored. If you mix things up, on the other hand, you will stay fresh, and you will retain information much better, when compared to focusing on just one core learning component.

Why have I made this point? Because I have seen, lately, a flood of new web-based programs that focus, almost exclusively, on audio programs. It's Podcast this and Podcast that all over the place! Don't get me wrong. The audio component of any online Chinese language learning system is the bread and butter of the program, so it's fine that companies focus on it. Before putting your hard-earned money on the table, though, make sure you're getting a complete program, one that offers reading, writing, listening, and speaking instruction, not just a bunch of MP3 audio files.

Question 3: What's the Price Structure

There is something that drives me absolutely crazy, and it will drive you crazy too--tiered pricing. I found a program like this just the other day. It was a subscription-based program that was just a few dollars per month. Pretty reasonable, it seemed. But then I logged into the classroom and found that I could access only the audio programs. I was blocked when I tried to download the dialogues. I was denied when I tried to access the learning games. The door was slammed in my face when I tried to enter the forum.

Those things were only for "Premium Members." Well, some of those things, anyway. Other things were open only to "Gold Members." To access the full course, I learned, you had to pay $25 per month, or $400 a year (if you didn't pay annually the price was higher). That's absurd! The best Chinese language learning software programs on the market can be purchased outright for about a hundred bucks.

Am I saying to avoid all subscription-based services that have tiered pricing? No, but here is what I am saying. When looking at these programs, look only at the most expensive option. That is the only one you can use. All other options are just teasers.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right Chinese language learning program is important. Choose a good one and you'll have a successful learning experience. Choose a bad one and you'll wind up confused and frustrated. To ensure that you choose a good one, take advantage of free trials, use programs that cover the four core language components, and be suspicious of tiered pricing schemes.

Looking for Chinese software? Read my Rocket Chinese Review. I take you with me step-by-step as I learn with the software (lots of screen shots).

Have a great day!

Ryan Wiley
Founder
The Live in Asia Blog

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Economic Benefits of Learning Spanish

There is a probability that you come across someone who speaks Spanish in your daily life, maybe it's a colleague, or a neighbor. The number of Hispanics in the US is increasing so quickly that it has become the 4th largest Spanish speaking country. There are over 40 million Hispanics living here and there number is expected to increase in the future.

Learning Spanish in this scenario is extremely important. If you happen to live in California or Texas, then it is a must. Half of the Spanish people live in these two states so the need for studying Spanish is higher here. However, the hassle which is a part of learning a new language detracts people from doing so.

Considering the benefits which you can avail if you study Spanish, it sounds like a good deal. Here are some economic benefits of learning Spanish.

Employment

Believe it or not, but knowing Spanish in the US can help you obtain a better job. Employers consider it well of you to be able to speak up a whole language. Hence, you can spice up your resume by studying Spanish. Learning multiple languages is an 'in' thing when it comes to gaining good employment. There are many Spanish based companies operating here who require their employees to be fluent in English as well as Spanish. Therefore, you can open your doors to better employment by learning Spanish.

Raise

You can even obtain a raise in your existing job by learning Spanish. Companies are willing to provide incentives to employees who can speak Spanish. There is a scope for learning Spanish to improve your current employment regardless of where you are working.

Expand

In case you want to expand the consumer base of your business, learn Spanish and open up to the Hispanic population. They will feel much valued if you are going to communicate with them in Spanish instead of English. Expatriates long for acceptance and what better way to use it for your benefit than by learning their language.

Save Money

Yes, you can actually save money by learning Spanish. Spanish shop owners tend to treat all the people who don't speak Spanish as tourists and charge higher prices than they normally do. If you know Spanish, you can communicate and get through to them. They will bring down the price to where it usually is. Guides, especially those who speak English, charge good money. You don't need them when you know how to communicate with everyone you meet in the native language. You also eliminate the need for translators, who are equally expensive, by learning Spanish yourself. Imagine, you can order for yourself in a traditional Mexican restaurant!

These were some reasons why learning Spanish can be economically beneficial for a US citizen. If you want to study Spanish quickly and without hassle, Spanish Learning Factory is the best option for you. They offer private lessons as well as books and CDs so you have the option to choose a resource according to your budget.

SpanishLearningFactory provides online Spanish courses and online Spanish classes. for more details visit Website. SpanishLearningFactory.com

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3 Reasons to Learn Italian

The Italian language is widely believed to be the most beautiful language in the world. It is known to be a language of fluidity, respect and simplicity. Though there are not many instances that require you to speak Italian, unless you live in Italy or you plan to live there or marry into an Italian family, learning the language is still worth the time.

However, the decision to learn the language is more because of passion and the admiration felt towards the Italian language. But even so, there are really compelling reasons to take up the language and learn its intricacies.

· Career and Business

Italy is one of the largest economies in the world. Many companies are looking for people who can speak both English and Italian languages. More than 1000 American firms have branches or offices in Italy such as Citibank, IBM, Motorola, Hewlett Packard and General Electric. Furthermore, more than 7000 U.S. businesses have dealings with Italy. There are also countless Italian companies that hold business in the U.S. So if you are an entrepreneur, you can further your business in Italy if you know how to speak their tongue. Besides, many Italian businessmen have little or no skill in speaking English. Even though they may have someone working for them who speaks English, it would be to your advantage if you know Italian since you can deal with the owner directly.
Career wise, Italy has lots of opportunities to offer. Italy is very well known for their fashion, culinary arts, furniture design, interior design, graphic design, machine tool production, electromechanical machinery, space engineering, shipbuilding and robotics among others. If you know how to speak Italian, you have an edge over others who don't. You have better chances of building a career in one of these Italian industries.
· Italian Culture, Arts and Literature

Italian heritage is rich and significant in world history. The Roman Empire and Renaissance are two of the most important and influential times in the history of the world. Italy has produced many of the most popular art treasures and revered artists- Michelangelo, Botticelli, Da Vinci, Giotto and the list goes on. About 60% of the world's art treasures are in Italy. To fully fathom the context of Italy's art, you need to know Italian.
Italian literature is also vast and impressive. Petrarch, Dante, Machiavelli and Boccaccio are just a few of the famed Italian thinkers and writers. Italian literature encompasses opera, film, humanism, science, political ideas, design, fashion and cuisine. To fully understand and appreciate these treasures, knowing the language in which they were created is necessary.
· Travel

Traveling to Italy is an experience like no other. The rich history, culture and landscapes are awe-inspiring. Knowing the tongue the locals speak lets you experience Italy in a more fulfilling way. Besides, many Italians do not speak English fluently, so your stay will be easier and more enjoyable if you can converse with them in Italian.
There are many more reasons why you should learn Italian. So why not start on your lessons today so you can experience how beautiful this language really is.

Daniel C Howard is a language teacher living in Asia. He has over a decade of experience teaching all ages a variety of subjects. For free info and lessons on Italian, please visit his blog here.

You can also sign up for a newsletter full of free language tips from Daniel's many hours in a class. And as a bonus, stay updated on all the new information on http://learnincredibleitalian.com/.

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Helpful Tips On How to Learn Spanish Fast

Do you want the possibility to talk in the Spanish language with anybody about anything? Do you want to be a part of a community of 200 million people that speak the same language as you? Or maybe you only need to speak one of the most used languages in commercial relationships, internet, tourism and music, and to be proud in front of your friends. If you want to learn Spanish without any effort, having an envied pronouncement, you will need to follow the nest steps:

Why would you need to learn Spanish?

Maybe you are looking for a workplace in Spain, and your chances to succeed are strictly connected with your Spanish language knowledge. All the Spanish employers appreciate this aspect, and you will obtain the paperwork much faster. However, this is not the only reason for you to learn this language. If you are a passionate reader, you will discover the charm of the language of Sancho Panda, as reading in this language is surely a nice experience. Even if you are only preparing for a tour in Spain, you should understand and speak a few words. Now that we established why it is good for you to learn Spanish, let's see a few effective methods to do this.

What are the efficient methods to learn the Spanish language?

If you are looking for a method to learn the Spanish language quick and easy, you will need to find a course. The course must assure you a complete and permanent method to learn, and it must be based on the four principles of learning foreign language: Listen, Talk, Write, and Read.

The starting lessons must be easy containing elements like: personal presentation, looking for directions, talking about tourism, fashion, hobbies. Along the course, you will have to advance further, so you could express your opinions in front of others.

The course must be structured to help you learn Spanish and to put into practice all the knowledge gained. The course must be made for you, so you could have incredible results without so much effort. The best Spanish courses of this type are made by specialists, and must also be based on the Lozanov method. Lozanov is the creator of the auto-suggestion principle, a principle that was declared as one of the best to learn Spanish.

The average Spanish course has 18-20 lessons, both in audio and .pdf format. It is attractive, making you wish to learn more. The guide must also be available for you in any moment, so you could study in your spare time at work or home. The best courses have a bonus including dictionaries, and a few grammatical lessons, and some ebooks. An interactive course is the best method, making the Spanish language accessible for you. You must be able to learn pleasantly, not extensively. Learning a new language is a new experience that would bring you satisfaction if you were able to master it completely, as it is an important moment of your life and a great achievement.

Right here we provide the helpful and professional language studying soft: Rosetta Stone, so if you're troublesome now because of a new and unfamiliar language, welcome to take a look at the Rosetta Stone Spanish.

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No Time or Money to Travel? 12 Fun Ways to Learn Spanish Online Free

If you're like millions of other Americans, you're somewhat interested in learning Spanish, maybe have even taken a class or two in your day, but can't really do much with it, let alone hold a conversation with native speakers. You've spent some money on language software or books but haven't gotten through much of it.

The reason for this is because most of the common ways of learning a language just aren't fun. Above all, learning a language should be a lot of fun, and if you aren't enjoying it, you won't get very far.

The number one way to have fun and learn is to live abroad for a while, or at least take an immersion language learning trip. But if you don't have the money or time to do that yet, you are in luck that you can at least get started for when you do travel (What, you aren't packing yet?). The Internet is absolutely chock full of free, entertaining ways to jump start your language learning. It doesn't matter if you are a complete beginner with just a few words, like hola, under your belt.

Here are ideas that can get you "virtually" immersed in the moments when you can't physically immerse myself in another country. Remember, pick a few ideas from the list below that you like and don't get discouraged. It doesn't matter if you are just a beginner or whether you are intermediate or advanced in Spanish. These ideas are useful for learners at all levels.

Free Online Radios. Very cool. There are several big companies offering free radio now, and most of them offer artist bios and stories, plus links to similar music that can keep you going in loops for hours. Type in any artist or genre and find the lyrics online to follow along. Bookmark the artists you like and find similar songs and artists by browsing. Try some traditionally Latino genres like vallenatos or bachatas or you can try Latino Rock. You can also find local radio stations from all over the world that stream for free online by searching for: radio escuchar en vivo.
Blogs. Learn from people who actually learned to speak Spanish or whatever language you are interested in, not just the sites selling you their software. Blogs dealing with immersion language learning usually offer a wealth of free information about how they succeeded in learning or becoming fluent. Because these people have had so much fun learning a language, they have a ton of interesting stories and give you really specific tips for free about how you can do it. It's like your own personal consultant or book without having to pay for it. These sites usually have community discussion groups and free newsletters, video or audio tutorials, games and learning programs, e-books, and links to other great online resources. Try searching for "immersion language learning Spanish," "why study abroad," or Spanish plus the word "blog" and start exploring. You can also browse blog directories and find sites of interest that way.
Online video sites. You can find just about anything on YouTube, Yahoo videos, and other similar sites. There are tons of videos that are in Spanish but have English subtitles. You can often find your favorite show, movie, or cartoon. Cartoons are great because a lot of times you can follow the plot very easily and pick up isolated words here and there more easily than in movies. Try to find a clip of some of your favorite scenes but with Spanish audio or subtitles. Get a little creative with your searches. Also, you can look for interviews and commercials with Latino or Spanish actors and actresses in their native language or dubbed or subtitled versions of programs you like. If they are international superstars, their Spanish interviews can often be found with English subtitles. If you are a beginner, audio in Spanish with English subtitles should be the goal. If you are an intermediate or advanced learner, you should be looking for Spanish audio with Spanish subtitles, so try searching for shows you like and adding "en espanol." Remember, the goal isn't to understand everything, or even 2% if you aren't there yet. Try to catch a single word that is repeated frequently and start building your vocabulary. Eventually you will want that foundation when you do have time or money to travel (Looking at maps yet?).
Online Pen Pals. Or should we start calling them text pals? You are probably already on some of the social media sites, and maybe you even have a bunch of friends. The beauty of social networking is that you can connect to people all over the world. Search for friends from countries you are interested in and send them a message. It's free, and a lot of people might be interested in being pen pals. There are even sites dedicated completely to international pen pals and offer their services for free. Once you get a little better at writing, you can begin instant messaging (also free).
Web Chat. And if you are at the stage where you can speak a bit, ask your pen pal to do free video chat through your social media site, instant messaging service, or free computer-to-computer calling service. There are tons out there so just search for them and pick the one you like.
Futbol Online, or maybe as you know it, soccer. I know, I know, you think soccer is boring. Okay, but that's mostly probably because you don't know many players so it doesn't mean much. Read a few bios about Ronaldinho, Messi, and other players at ESPN's Soccernet or other sports sites, wait for the big games, and even watch some free games and replays online. Watch Barcelona face off with Real Madrid next season for the rivalry rematches and see some of the best players in the world stacked together on one field. And of course watch in Spanish any time you can. Watch a replay of the third-place match between Uruguay and Germany from the 2010 World Cup with a Spanish commentator. You can't say you don't like soccer until you watch the final of the World Cup or Spain's professional soccer league and the voice on the big screen screams Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooolaaaazo golazo golazo golazo goooooollllaaaaaazzzzooooo! By the way, golazo translates to "absolutely brilliant fantastic amazing goal." You gotta love how much you can say with online little word. Compare that to a U.S. commentator calling some of the most important goals in U.S. soccer history (Goal!). It just doesn't match up!
Spanish Cable Online. Head over to a cable station from Latin America or Spain, such as Telemundo or Univision, and click on the Videos menu. Not only can you watch small clips of video online for free, and if you are a beginner or intermediate small is better for now. You will also see short, 5- to 30-second ad spots. Normally you might zone out when ads come on, but you can use those ads to your advantage because they are often new and entertaining in a new language. When you see a particular brand that you are familiar with, you will hear the slogan or tagline that the company uses in Spanish. After hearing it a few times, try to write it down. Try looking up the phrase and you will most likely learn not only a few words, but also a new grammatical structure. And stumbling across grammar in context is much more likely to stick in your head than hours or reading in textbooks.
Company Web Sites. Go to your favorite electronics, clothing, food, or beverage company and click on the link to turn the page into Spanish. Companies that appeal to young or college-age audiences often build in videos, games and other fun things to do. When you get to the site, look for the spot on the page where it lets you go to the Spanish version of the site (most of the big companies have this now). Sometimes you can change the region to Latin America or even pick a particular country and get specific types of Spanish versions of the site. If it's a supermarket, look at all of the pictures they have and the names of the products and you've just got yourself a free bunch of flashcards. If it's a different site and you are a beginner, it will be difficult to read most of the content, so concentrate on the ads and the pictures and captions. The picture gives you context for what is happening, and you can put the caption into a free online translator.
Free Online Translators. Just don't expect their translations to be totally accurate. Use them as a basis to get started, not as your ultimate source, and then look up the words in the free online dictionaries...
...such as Wordreference.com, a free online dictionary that is more than just a dictionary. The secret? The forums. Even after 6 years of learning Spanish, I find myself constantly going to the bottom of a given word entry and perusing the different contexts where the words and phrases are used. And the best part is that native speakers chime in every day with nuggets of cultural and linguistic knowledge that otherwise might only be available to you if you traveled to their home countries (Searching for plane tickets yet?).
Spanish Magazines Online. Most online magazines give free samples, and you can search for People en Espanol or other magazines you like. Although you might not understand much as a beginner, you can pick up a lot of fun sayings from the figure captions and cover pages, and you don't have to pay for the subscriptions at first because you will have more than enough material to keep you busy.
Search engines. It doesn't matter what your favorite search engine is, it matters what you search for. First, in your head, complete this phrase "I really love ____!" Whatever that word or phrase is, search for it and then add the word "spanish" and start browsing. Every day there are new things to learn about.

Anything that you can do or find online to have some fun will help you. Once you have a foundation of vocabulary, you are ready to start traveling and studying in other countries, which is even more fun and is really where your Spanish learning will take off!

Rocky Citro is a self-taught language learner, freelance writer, and editor. With no formal background in Spanish, he went from knowing just 50 words of Spanish in 2003 to becoming nearly fluent a few years later.

On his blog, ImmersionLanguageLearning.com, he shares his stories, resources for learning to speak Spanish, and if you are ready to immerse yourself in Spanish, free advice on planning your study abroad trip.

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The Key To Developing Fluency In French

Nobody has ever said the learning to speak French is easy. But is there one thing--maybe a kind of silver bullet--that one could call the key strategy for effectively improving your spoken French? This is a hard question because there are so many things that one should be doing. Listen to songs, visit the country, live with a host family, take private classes, find a language buddy, watch TV and movies in the language, read comic books, novels and newspapers, etc. The list of things to do to improve your French is long.

But there is one key thing that will probably give you the most bang for the buck. I call it creative imitation. It's nothing new; it's really how children learn languages. They simply imitate the people around them.

For adults, it's a lot more work. But first of all, what are we trying to accomplish? Fluency in French means two things. Firstly, you want to be able speak spontaneously, smoothly and effortlessly. French should just roll off your tongue. Well, that's the idea. Getting there is the hard part. What you don't want to do is fumble, stutter and have people waiting while you search for that lost word. That's when most people give up and switch to English, to the relief of everybody.

Secondly, you do want to speak accurately. We all make mistakes, and people know that French is not your native tongue, but you don't want to make horrendous grammatical mistakes that will grate the ears of your listeners. French is a bit of an unforgiving language. Most people feel you either speak it well or not at all.

The fundamental idea of creative imitation is to simply observe and reproduce entire dialogs and phrases word for word until you feel comfortable. This obviously works particularly well in immersion where you are surrounded by the language. In your notebook--you do have a little notebook for this very reason, right?--you write down as best as you can something that you wish to imitate. You can try it right away if you have the courage. Or you may prefer to run it by your teacher and repeat it aloud a few times.

Another approach is to find or create some dialogs or phrases in books or in whatever materials you are using. Just make sure that the material is authentic and up-to-date. Flashcards are wonderful for this sort of thing. When you leave the house, always take your notebook or flashcards with you.

In any case, you want to rehearse your material ten to twenty times or whatever it takes to etch it into your memory.

This approach works wonders at various levels. Your understanding of spoken French will improve quickly because you are using authentic materials. At the same time, you will quickly develop a repertoire of useful things to say correctly in various contexts. This is great for self-esteem because of the positive feedback you will get from native speakers. And in no time your French will have improved considerably.

Stanley Aleong specializes in learning strategies for foreign languages at the advanced level. He believes that a highly effective strategy for achieving advanced proficiency in French or Spanish is to work with many carefully selected authentic examples. To learn more about some very effective learning tools based on this principle, visit Advanced French / Spanish

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Learning Language in Spanish Does Not Have to Be Hard - Learn To Speak Fluent Spanish Now

Learning a second language is always a good idea. In the United States today, Spanish is almost as prevalent as English. Consider this, how often do you hear English repeated in Spanish? That is a good reason for learning Spanish. But a lot of people have difficulty with learning new languages. What follows are some helpful tips and a few tricks you can use to make things easier to learn language in Spanish. Learn to speak fluent Spanish now!

Get a course on CD. If you're feeling shy about learning a new language, CDs are great to use. You will be able to listen to someone pronounce the words and use them in sentences. CDs contain the same learning material as used in a classroom, but there will be no stress about talking in front of a class. And it's great because you can listen to your CD just about anywhere. You can just use a CD player, or you can download lessons on an MP3 player and you're all set! So there's no single location where you must learn.

Use labels in your environment. Do this in as many spaces as you can, whether at home, work or even in your vehicle. This way you will get used to associating the correct words with the correct items. When it comes to speaking a new language, you don't want to make silly mistakes. If you take the time to learn what words really mean, you won't do what some tourists and other novices of a language do, and make mistakes that can be humiliating. By using this technique of labeling objects, you'll be absorbing all the right names for things, and you'll find yourself picking up the new language quite naturally.

Practice makes perfect! Don't worry about how you look or sound, it's important to always practice speaking Spanish. Even if you aren't great at putting together whole sentences, using the words you know in place of your native language regularly will help commit those words to memory. So if your new language is Spanish, then just try to use "cena" instead of "dinner" and in place of "one" use "uno." The words will feel like second nature to you, in time. This way you'll be able to understand the words when you hear others speak them. This technique will really help you understand your new language when you talk to others who are fluent in it.

There are lots of reasons to learn another language but figuring out the best way to learn that language can be tough.

You might be thinking about driving to the closest bookstore and getting a book about it. Taking a class is also a good idea, as is getting to know people who are already fluent in the language. There really are many options to learn Spanish or other languages. Be sure to have lots of fun!

So, if you are looking to learn language in Spanish, here is a highly recommended tool for you to take advantage of. Thousands of people, just like you, all over the world have used this fun and effective multimedia Spanish course to hasten their learning, while having a lot of fun in the process. Don't let your inability to speak fluent Spanish now hold you back any longer. Click here to open up a whole new world of Language in Spanish.

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Why Should You Learn Foreign Language

If you want to be able to travel in different countries, to meet people of different cultures, or you only need to make your life more interesting, knowing foreign language is the solution. Knowing the language of other cultures is a satisfaction, but in the latest years, it is also a necessity.

If you learn new languages, you will have the capacity to express yourself in any situation, feeling wonderful and having an immense satisfaction with every conversation you have.

Using new conquests in science and technology, and also the researches on the learning techniques for foreign language, you will be able to be a speaker of Spanish or French language in a short period. Using the method of Lozanov, you will reduce the necessary time to learn another language with more than 75 %.

You can try the foreign language courses of 90 days. You have nothing to lose if you try, and if by one reason or another, you don't like it, or you were expecting something else, you will only need to return the package, paying only the transport expenses. Some of those courses are so effective that you will be able to learn another language only in 20 days.

The main reasons for learning foreign language are traveling, interviews for new jobs, improving your current knowledge, or only because you like to be a polyglot.

Learning foreign words is not necessarily an annoying process. You can learn it using a CD with 20-25 lessons, with duration of 5-8 hours. If you wish, you can have the lessons in an .mp3 format, so you could listen to them wherever you want: in the car, at work, at the gym, while you cook, or before sleeping. However, you will also need the lessons in a .pdf format, as this aspect is essential for accelerated learning.

According to the studies of Lozanov, the person that changed the learning and teaching methods completely, anybody could learn foreign language in a short period, if the person reads, hears, sees, and spokes the words and the new expressions.

What types of lessons must be contained in an effective course?

- Vocabulary and pronouncement - contains the communication themes and exercises for fixing the problems
- Grammatical exercises - grammatical problems with the corresponding exercises
- Recapitulation - repeating the learned words and implementing the teaching methods.

The best courses of this kind will also include free electronic books written in the respective language. You will also need a small dictionary, in a.pdf format, so you could translate using the search feature of Acrobat Reader. However, you must also have a handbook dictionary to use during your travels.

The perfect guide must be more like a package containing all the useful resources needed. The easiest method to learn a new language is to surround yourself with those resources: take the dictionary with you, listen to the lessons, and read the books. You should also try to speak in front of the mirror every night to recapitulate.

Here we offer the helpful and professional language studying soft: Rosetta Stone, so if you're troublesome now as a result of a new and unfamiliar language, welcome to have a look at the Rosetta Stone Spanish.

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How to Hire the Right American Sign Language Tutor

After 16 years of tutoring American Sign Language students, I have realized that there is not enough assistance available to signing students.

American Sign Language (ASL) is the native language of approximately 2 million Deaf and hard of hearing people in America. ASL is a natural language with its own grammatical rules and is the second most frequently used non-English language in the United States.

Now that more schools are providing ASL classes, it has become clear to me that many ASL students struggle to master fluent ASL. As with most foreign languages, what you don't use, you lose. So the question is, aside from an often overcrowded ASL classroom, where can an ASL student practice with native or fluent signers (Level 4 or higher according to the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview)?

Is it wise to pick just any deaf person? The answer is no. Most deaf people are not well trained or like to teach ASL. Just like any other foreign language, ASL teachers need certain skills to teach the language effectively.

Also, we must be aware of several factors when signing with different deaf or hard of hearing people. There are all different kinds of signers. For example, many elderly Deaf people have their own signing styles from their generation. There are different regional signs. And younger generations invent their own "slang" as well. If I were to walk into a Deaf school in another region, I would have to ask students or staff to explain what some of their signs mean.

In addition, there are deaf, hard of hearing, children of deaf adults, and hearing signers who don't know how to fluently use ASL. They instead, use Signed Exact English (SEE) or Contact Language, which are very different ways of expressing oneself. In fact, SEE and Contact Language are considered modes rather than languages. They are a combination of some ASL signs and English grammar. The result is long-winded and not easy on the mind or eyes. ASL is quicker, conserves energy, and accurately conveys abstract and concrete concepts in a visually stimulating manner.

Many ASL beginners unwittingly learn SEE or Contact Language first, not knowing that they're not learning ASL. Then later they wonder why they cannot understand a single thing from fluent ASL native signers. SEE was invented by hearing teachers in the 1970's who thought that they could teach English for deaf students who struggled to learn English grammar, spelling, writing skills, and reading skills. Now it's been proven that deaf students learning ASL first, and then learning English through ASL, master English skills fluently.

So, sign language enthusiasts and students wonder where to find an expert Deaf ASL Tutor. Go to the yellow pages? Good luck with that! I have yet, to this day, to find any certified ASL tutors in the yellow pages.

This is the most challenging step. Since ASL is in its pioneering stage, the American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA) just recently started requiring all ASL teachers to earn a certificate proving they are qualified and ethical instructors. This is great for ASL teachers all across the nation.

But what about ASL Tutors? The expectation is that they have taught classes at a school with a curriculum. For now though, there are no screenings for ASL tutors, so anyone can just claim they are qualified to tutor. But a genuine concern arises inside me as I see far too many frustrated and tired ASL students who have wasted their time, money and energy with ineffective ASL teachers or tutors who misled them.

The way I became a skilled ASL tutor was I took these following steps:

1) Mentored with various ASL teachers (both hearing and deaf) for seven years, and studied what worked and what did not work for the students.

2) Took courses to learn about better teaching strategies for learning-challenged students.

3) Studied to become a Master Tutor at a community college, and learned to ethically tutor students as well as teach others how to properly tutor students.

4) Attended many ASLTA workshops and conferences to keep up with research on ASL linguistics.

5) Studied with two fluency native language hunters - Where Are Your Keys - and

Studied the guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), which dramatically improved my observation and assessment skills for fluency levels.

6) Learned fun game-like tutoring techniques that are much more fun and effective than standard lecture-type models.

7) Always believed that there was room for improving my tutoring skills.

So where are the skilled ASL tutors? They are out there! Start interviewing as many ASL teachers locally or over the internet as you can to see who they refer you to. Also check out the sign language interpreting programs for referrals.

Here are some traits to look for in an ethical ASL tutor. Check to see that the tutor is personable, patient, flexible, and cooperative. You also want someone who packs in a lot of useful tips in a session to save you time, energy and money. I also highly recommend finding a tutor who does NOT voice, as ASL is a visual gestural language. It would be like asking a Spanish tutor to speak English and Spanish at the same time. It creates unhealthy confusing habits which make it harder to unlearn in the long run.

Investing in a compatible and effective tutor will reward you many times over throughout your educational journey.

To hire a culturally Deaf American Sign Language tutor, visit: http://www.aslmastertutor.com/

Culturally Deaf American Sign Language certified Master Tutor of 16 years. To hire an ASL tutor online via web-cam, visit: http://www.aslmastertutor.com/

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English Course Selection Strategies: Group Vs One-On-One

The most time-efficient way of learning English is with a private tutor alone. The teacher can choose the teaching materials and methods to fit to your personal needs and level.

You learn faster when you get full attention and when the teacher corrects your mistakes - not others' mistakes.

When a teacher teaches English language for a group of students he or she selects a level for the teaching. There is only one student in any groups whose English level is the closest to the selected teaching level.

If your English is better than the teacher's target level, you feel bored and waste your time. If you are below that level, you do not understand everything and feel frustrated. That's why many students drop out from groups.

And that is only the starting level of the English course. There is also a pace the teacher and the group moves and the teaching method and material cannot fit to everybody's taste either.

Briefly, if you are not the only student in an English course, you waste your time, feel bored or frustrated and cannot get enough tailor-made attention. That's why 6-12 years of English learning in primary and secondary schools produce no result in most cases. And even worse, many students develop a negative attitude to language learning.

It is not the student or the teacher's fault. The language education system is dysfunctional. Not just here in Hong Kong where I live and tutor English but all over the world. You cannot combine "free", mass education with efficiency.

2-person English group learning

When a student is motivated, 1-to-1 learning is very effective. When I have 3 students in a group the group often breaks up after a few lessons if the difference between the best and slowest students is too big. So a 3-student group is usually the border case, the gray zone that may or may not work.

Two-student groups work well most of the time especially if the students are at the same level, like the same learning methods and learn at the same pace. Even if one of them is significantly better than the other but they are very good friends and the better student is generous and patient, the lesson is productive.

So taking an English conversation course with your friend is a good idea, especially if both of you want to learn. I usually design the lesson to the level of the weaker student.

Group price seems cheaper but it is not

Some people choose group English course for making friends and having fun. But the most common motivator is usually the cheaper price.

But the cheaper price is just an illusion. Yes, you pay less tuition fee in a group than in an individual lesson. But you pay for the improvement of your English and not for the time you spend in the classroom.

If you calculate the tuition fee for the individual attention, the tailor-made teaching and your English improvement for a large group versus an individual, private class, the one-on-one lesson is always cheaper.

If you learn with one friend together, the price per person is much lower than if you take the lesson alone and the benefit of the learning is the same or just a little bit less. That is, a two-person group can be the best solution for your English course selection.

Zoltan Gregor lives in Hong Kong and tutors English for adults and secondary school students. He teaches English conversation for one, two or three people at a time. Visit: http://www.englishconversationcoursetutorhk.com/
If you want to improve your job interview skills, you can practise it with him. See the details at: http://www.jobinterviewcoursehk.com/

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How Learning Chinese Can Make It Easier to Do Business in China

These days, everyone wants to do business in China and this should not be surprising given how the Asian giant's economy is booming due to its burgeoning manufacturing sector. It was recently reported that China had overtaken Japan to become the world's second largest economy, with a total worth of $5.8 trillion at the end of 2010. In fact, many analysts are already predicting that China will overtake the US to become the world's biggest economy within the next ten years given its current rates of growth. No wonder businessmen are scrambling to take advantage of the many business opportunities the country is offering.

To get the most benefit from doing business in China, however, businessmen need to have some proficiency in Mandarin, the most spoken Chinese dialect with over a billion speakers. Although Westerners can rely on translators to communicate, Chinese business relationships are determined by guanxi, or connections. This means that the Chinese see interpersonal relationships as essential in the formation of professional and business relations. This does not mean that you have to be friends, but it does mean that you have to be able to speak some Chinese to be able to make the small talk and pleasantries that are so important to harmonious dealings.

Inevitably, many will question the value of taking the trouble to learn Mandarin given that an increasing number of Chinese are learning how to speak English. Why not rely on them to help you deal with Chinese businessmen and bureaucrats? The reason is simple: Chinese value relationships. They will appreciate the effort you've taken to at least be able to learn some of their language and will reward you accordingly by being a bit more sympathetic to your cause, compared with a businessman who may offer better terms, but displays more cultural insensitivity. In addition, speaking Mandarin helps Chinese businessmen develop a certain level of comfort with you that may make it easier for them to do business with you than with your rivals.

And being able to speak Mandarin will also is invaluable when you're doing business in many other countries that have substantial ethnic Chinese populations, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Overseas Chinese have become an increasingly prominent economic presence in these countries and represent a great opportunity to do business. Even though many of these Chinese have become assimilated into their respective societies, they still hold on to their ethnic Chinese roots and would appreciate a Westerner reaching out to them by speaking their language.

Online Chinese lessons are one of the most convenient ways to learn Mandarin, since you have a wide range of modalities available to you. You also have the luxury of being able to study the lessons in your spare time, unlike when taking off-line classes, where you would have to find time for them in a crowded personal schedule. And you have the advantage of being able to avail of personalized instruction through Skype, so that you'll still have that valuable interaction between teacher and student.

In conclusion..
To be proficient in the Chinese Language or Mandarin, you must be prepared to learn the language seriously. Online learning is readily available and easily accessible even at home. To find out how easy it is to learn Chinese Online, read Learn Chinese Online today! Or go to http://www.chineseonline.sg/

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Teaching ESL - The 5 Most Difficult Things About the English Language

For native English speakers, none of these are a problem but they can create havoc and apprehension with English language learners, particularly those who do not benefit from being in an English-speaking country.

Number 5 - Idioms and Expressions

Every language has its idioms and expressions and English is no exception. In fact, it sometimes seems that 50% of what we say is idiomatic with the grammatical portion of the language just acting as connectors. I term it 'the colour of the language'. Idioms are phrases that when spoken usually do not have much if anything to do with the words being used. No wonder ESL students have comprehension problems. Let's look at some animal idioms to give you some examples:

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"

"Holy Cow!"

"When I tell my mother, she's going to have a cow!"

"It looks like a dog's breakfast."

"She's barking up the wrong tree."

Try explaining those to students who have never encountered these idioms and have nothing to relate them to.

Number 4 - Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are verbs containing more than one word.

'Up' is one we use all the time: bone up on, break up, bring up, burn up, butter up, call up, draw up, dress up, ease up, give up, hurry up, listen up, look up, move up, smarten up, tie up, wise up...

Off is another one: back off, beg off, face off, hold off, show off, tell off...plus several I won't mention!

Or how about 'back' as in: back down, back in, back off, back away, back up...

Speaking of 'down, we have break down, bring down, die down, dress down, lowdown, show down...

And far from the end but all I can cover here, 'in', as in, call in, figure in, give in, listen in, run in, shoe-in...

Number 3 - Homonyms

Homonyms are words that are pronounced the same but mean different things and are often spelled differently as well. For example:

1. The referee blew his blue whistle.

2. Cheryl rode her bike as we rowed our little boat in the river.

3. She had never seen such a beautiful scene.

4. The new site for our building is quite a sight.

5. It seems the seams in my pants have split again.

6. Years of rain didn't interrupt the king's reign.

7. Due to the dry weather, we do not see any dew on the grass.

8. Our zoo has a new gnu.

9. Some people know that you add to find the sum.

10. They're on their way over there.

11. I ate the eight cakes that were on my plate.

12. How many ways can I tell him that he weighs too much?

13. They banned the crude band from playing at the concert.

14. We only won one prize.

15. They had to raze the old building before the sun's rays could raise the temperature.

16.I'll walk down the aisle on the Isle of Capri.

17. The boy threw the ball through the window.

Is it any wonder, new learners get confused?

Number 2 - Tenses

Past Simple - Present Simple- Future Simple, right?

Well, it's not quite that simple, is it? We add present continuous and present perfect, past continuous, past perfect, future continuous, future perfect and then we have present to talk about the near future, present continuous for the future...

Explaining each of these different tenses to students and expecting them to understand is challenging and it doesn't happen overnight. Then, expecting students to learn when and how to use them is another facet of the task.

I don't have space to go into a full explanation of tense use here but if you want a good explanation, you might like to go to My English Pages.

Number 1 - Word and Sentence Stress

Some languages are described as musical. Well, English has quite a lilt to it when you listen to it. In words of two syllables or more, only one is stressed or spoken a little louder than the rest.

In these examples, I have shown the stressed syllable in caps: CA-na-da, a-MER-i-ca, CHIN-a, ja-PAN, pho-TOG-re-pher, con-sti-TUT-ion.

ESL learners have a tough time figuring this all out. It takes a practiced ear.

Similarly, certain words or parts of words in sentences are spoken a little louder to signify their importance in the meaning of the sentence. Sentences are usually spoken in 'thought groups' and thee is usually only one stressed point per thought group.

Here is an example of a sentence with four thought groups with the stressed point shown in caps:

I'm GOING | to the MARket | by mySELF | on SATurday.

As native speakers, we say it quickly and don't even think about it but for non native speakers, it takes a lot of practice listening to and imitating English speakers.

One of my favourite exercises is to have students pronounce this sentence in nine different ways. Each way has a different meaning.

"JOHN and Sally walked to the small restaurant yesterday evening" (Not Bill)

"John AND Sally walked to the small restaurant yesterday evening" (John was not alone)

"John and SALLY walked to the small restaurant yesterday evening" (Not Susie)

"John and Sally WALKed to the small restaurant yesterday evening" (didn't drive)

"John and Sally walked TO the small restaurant yesterday evening" (not from)

"John and Sally walked to the SMALL restaurant yesterday evening" (Not the big one)

"John and Sally walked to the small REStaurant yesterday evening" (Not the pharmacy)

"John and Sally walked to the small restaurant YESterday evening" (not today)

"John and Sally walked to the small restaurant yesterday EVening" (not the afternoon)

So there you have what I consider to be the five most difficult aspects of learning to communicate in English. If you are learning English, the best way is to be in a country where English is the main language and you have the opportunity to practice it 24/7 (an expression). If you cannot do that, join an English Club, read books, newspapers and magazines, watch English videos. Replay them a few times and listen to the stress, the idioms and the way the language is used.

Robert Taylor

Dr. Robert Taylor is a Canadian educator who lives in Thailand and specializes in teaching English. He has a teacher training school for people interested in teaching English overseas Sunbridge Institute of English and an online club for business people who need to improve their written English communications My Business English Club.

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