Dutch Grammar Rule Exceptions Do You Know Them

Dutch Grammar Rule Exceptions Do You Know Them What Are The Main Exceptions Of Dutch Grammar Rules When Learning Dutch For Beginners? ChaptersDutch Grammar Rules: Nouns, Articles And Gender ExceptionsLearning Dutch Spelling And Dutch Alphabet Pronunciation: Vowels And Consonants In WordsLearn Dutch Spelling Rules And Exceptions Of Verbs And Their InflectionsThe Dutch PronunciationDutch Compound NounsHow To Learn Dutch EffectivelyMany learners of Dutch as a second language or foreign language use to get stuck when learning Dutch as it is a very extensive language compared to many other languages. There are many rules you won’t get immediately and will cost you a lot of effort even when you think you know how to apply them.Flag of the Netherlands. (Source: Visualhunt)Dutch grammar is so broad and complex that there are always exceptions to several rules that normal should be taken into account for better mastering the language.It’s a fact that grammar is a language’s most important aspect for understanding how it literally works, it is the fundament of the structure of the whole. So, it will be necessary to ful ly understand the pitfalls in order to master the Dutch language.You won’t always find in books or other learning materials what some main exceptions are when we study this complex language, therefore we will mention some of those rules where most people will slip up.Not to terrify you but even speakers of Dutch as their mother tongue will many times get into confusion or forget how to use some of those rules. Although, whenever you are up to date with this data, you will quickly be immune for falling into such pitfalls in the future.To introduce you to frequent mistakes that Dutch learners use to make, we can see learners make mistakes in the use of all kinds of grammatical aspects. We will mention exceptional rules you won’t be introduced to in most other parts.De ruimte (The Space).Nouns with endings in -isme, -ment, -sel and -um are considered neuter and nouns with these endings are followed by the definite article ‘’het’’. Nouns of two syllables beginning with be-, ge-, ver- and ont-, as well as diminutive nouns are followed by ‘’het’’: Het schaap (The sheep); Het monument (The monument).Check for more examples.These are just some basic examples. To be specific, you will easily get in trouble with this rule and you will not easily understand when to apply ‘’de’’ or ‘’het’’.What many other sources don’t tell you is that there is not any specific method to apply to differentiate the nouns according to what they belong to. The only key for this is to get really familiar with the nouns and little by little you will get more used to it.Learning Dutch Spelling And Dutch Alphabet Pronunciation: Vowels And Consonants In WordsThe principle rule is that alone standing vowels as e, a, i, o and u are pronounced as short vowels; when they are repeated or accompanied by another vowel they become long vowels: ee, aa, ie, oo, uu. In one-syllable words, alone standing vowels are short and when the vowel is repeated, they will become l ong sounded: man (short ‘a’); maan (long ‘a’).In words with two syllables as in for example ‘’haken’’, the ‘’a’’ is pronounced as a long vowel sound because of that the first syllable is closed with a single consonant ‘’k’’. If we repeated that consonant: ‘’hakken’’, the ‘’a’’ becomes a short vowel sound.The same applies in: Boten (long ‘o’) and Botten (short ‘o’); Leken (long ‘e’) and Lekken (short ‘e’).We can find this in all kinds of words, they can be nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. When for example a one-syllable noun or verb has a long sound (e.g. Raam; Leek), when they are changed with an inflection or get converted into words with two or more syllables, one vowel will be removed but the sound will be still a long vowel sound: Raam ? Ramen (here the a is still a long ‘a’); Leek ? Leken (still a long ‘e’).When we see a short vowel in a one-syllable word (Ram; Lek) or a by consonants closed syllable w ithin a word (‘a’ in ‘’Buurman’’), when the word is inflected and converted into a word with more syllables, the last consonant in most cases should be repeated in order to let the short vowel stay short: Ram ? Rammen; Lek ? Lekken; Buurman ? Buurmannen.Because if we spell it as ‘’Buurmanen’’, the ‘’a’’ will be pronounced as a long vowel sound, which is WRONG.With an exception for some words: Blad (short ‘a’) ? Bladeren (plural - long ‘a’); in this example the short vowel in its singular form becomes a long vowel when pluralised.Lijd), that they don’t add a ‘’t’’ to the end while this is OBLIGATORY: Ik houd ? Jij Houdt; Ik lijd ? Jij lijdt.The past participle in Dutch grammar is written with a stem ending in -d and a prefix such as ge- or be-: Hoor ? Gehoord.Exceptions are when the last letter of the stem is a t, k, f, s, ch or p; here the verb in past participle should end in ‘’t’’: Hoop ? Gehoopt.This leads many people to confu sion, they use â€"t at the end of a stem when they should add â€"d and vice versa.Gebeuren (to happen) ? Gebeurt (happens) ? Gebeurd (happened).I studied these and more grammar rules during my Dutch courses LondonDutch language grammar. (Source: Visualhunt)The Dutch PronunciationYou probably know that there exist some tough pronunciations. Pronunciations that cost Dutch learners the most effort are:‘eu’ [ø] as in ‘’Neus’’ (nose)‘uu’ [y] as in ‘’Muur’’ (wall)‘u’ [?] as in ‘’Mus’’ (sparrow)‘ui’ [Å"y] as in ‘’Fruit’’ (fruit)‘eeu’ [e?u] as in ‘’Leeuw’’ (lion)‘ou’ [?u] as in ‘’Goud’’ (gold)‘ij’ [?i] as in ‘’Lijm’’ (glue)As well as the consonants:‘g’ and ‘ch’ [x] as in ‘’Goed’’ and ‘’Acht’’ (these have different intensities in pronouncing depending on the regions where the language is spoken, in Flemish and Dutch from the south usually pronounce it softer)‘r’ [r] as in ‘’Ro od’’ (red), this ‘r’ is very different from the English one‘w’ [?] as in ‘’Weer’’ (weather)Always take into account that the ‘v’ is always pronounced as ‘f’It is no issue if you speak without pronouncing everything flawlessly and full fluency, but these pronunciations will help you a lot.Check for a broader list of Dutch pronunciation  and learn more about the most common Dutch errors.Dutch Compound NounsAs a beginner, you might quickly become confused when seeing large words or notice that several words together form one word. In Dutch we will find multiple nouns with an aggregation of an adjective, verb or preposition.Examples of those nouns are ‘’koffiekopje’’ (the coffeecup), ‘’rugzaktoerisme’’ (backpack tourism), ‘’kosten-batenanalyse’’ (cost-benefit analysis), and even longer ones as ‘’voetbalverslaggevingsjargon’’ (football coverage jargon).Unlike other languages, in Dutch the nouns and adjectives, verbs and preposit ions that describe the noun go together without spaces in between.How To Learn Dutch EffectivelyDutch is a very broad and complex language and the Dutch grammar can at first sight be literally a nightmare. Most grammatical aspects can vary a lot and even while knowing the exceptions you will not learn it overnight with such easiness.In order to achieve our aims and master the language we should:Practise with full dedicationHave a lot of consistencyHave as much attention possible to the smallest detailsAt first build up a reasonable basis of grammar knowledge before further developing your skillsAttain a better reading comprehensionImprove your writing skillsTrain your vocabulary as much as you can (especially nouns with their belonging articles and verbs)Challenge your listening skillsMOST IMPORTANT: interact as much as you can with Dutch speakersHaving conversations in the Dutch language. (Source: Visualhunt)Dutch is a language you will not learn just from books and learning materi als, there will always be things that make us improve the language from social interaction and having an effective conversation. While you endeavour to speak with other Dutch speakers you will come across many expressions, sayings, colloquialisms and linguistic aspects you will not get from most books.At the same time you will become familiar a lot faster and you will be challenged to use the knowledge you already know and possibly correct yourself when you are wrong.The most important thing of social interaction in Dutch is that you will find parts where no specific theoretical rules or methods can be applied. Such as the variety of different uses of Dutch words, nouns, gender, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and so on. They many times can’t be explained with ease and it is a matter of memorising.We also should consider what we are studying Dutch for. If we learn Dutch for a specific purpose, then we should prioritise this purpose and learn vocabulary and all related to this specific kind of purpose.Now you have a jump on basic grammar for when you start your Dutch lessons!

Arabic for Kids How to Get Them Started

Arabic for Kids How to Get Them Started Teaching the Arabic Language to Young Students ChaptersArabic for Children: At What Age Can My Child Start?Arabic Learning for Kids: Watch CartoonsUsing Nursery Rhymes to Learn Arabic for ChildrenArabic Language Games for ChildrenArabic for BeginnersSpoken by more than 4oo million people around the world, Arabic is 5th most spoken language worldwide, and is an official language in 26 countries, including Egypt, Morocco, and Lebanon.It holds great importance in Islam, and it is one of the most important languages to learn in the world today.And yet adults often struggle to learn a foreign language later in life.That's why Arabic learning is important at a young age!Whether or not a child belongs to a family with Arab heritage, parents can make the choice to teach their children Arabic themselves, or entrust the task to a native speaker language specialist who can use an array of educational resources.At home, children can easily learn basic Arabic as well as Arab culture, so they can travel to the Middle East and easily integrate into the Arab world.We're here to help you learn how to teach Arabic to young students!Learn the Arabic language with a smile.To make things go smoothly, parents can use fun resources to teach the language and culture of the Arab countries.There is an added bonus that many of them free, allowing young students to get a good first impression of Arabic and enhance their language learning.According to educational experts, the ideal age to start learning a second language could be before the age of 7. It's of course still possible to learn Arabic after this, but true bilingualism can only be achieved if the child accepts Arabic as a second mother tongue.By learning the basics of the Arabic language, and even Arabic culture, at a younger age, children won't need to resort to thinking in terms of translating back and forth from English to Arabic, since the two languages will be assimilated distinctly. This means that there will be no confusion between Arabic words and Arabic phrases and t heir English counterparts.Children who learn the basics of Arabic at an older age will find that Arabic language learning is more difficult. Although we often think that it's better for children to learn a second language when they are teenagers, in reality they'll never reach the same level of proficiency as a student who starts learning Arabic at a younger age.It's better to start learning a foreign language as soon as possible!Arabic Learning for Kids: Watch CartoonsDue to the visual stimulus and fun tone of cartoons, a young learner can learn to speak Arabic without even realizing it.Arabic-language cartoons are available free on online video platforms, such as Youtube and Dailymotion. Parents can even download free videos from educational websites so their children can watch Arabic cartoons without an internet connection.Everyone knows the classic story of Aladdin. Why not watch it in Arabic?Some cartoons available in Arabic are:Al Akhawater SinBaraemAl Waladou SalihToyor BabyT oyour el DjanaAl namimaAdditionally, because some things transcend cultures, famous international cartoons like Pokemon  can also be found in Arabic, offering even more fun ways for children to get immersed in the language.Parents with cable service can take advantage of the increasing number of foreign language programming on dedicated channels. The Modern Standard Arabic (Msa) offerings often include cartoons, meaning that children can learn to pronounce a version of Arabic which is recognised across the Arab world, unlike a country specific dialect such as Lebanese, Saudi Arabian, or Egyptian Arabic.For Muslim families, they can also learn to pray in Arabic starting at a young age.Let yourself become immersed in the music of the Middle East and learn Arabic at the same time!The most popular Arabic nursery rhymes are:Arsomo BabaEndi Baba WaDoha ya DohaHamama Nodi NodiBarboori Rye Harye AMama Zamanha GayaNini ya MoumouTo get your hands on these Moroccon, Tunisian, or even Algerian nursery rhymes in Arabic, teachers can buy educational CDs available in online retail stores or traditional record shops, usually in the international music section.Mamalisa.com also offers some Arabic language nursery rhymes in digital audio and video formats to help learn the words more easily.Arabic Language Games for ChildrenThanks to the ever-increasing advances of technology, it's now even easier to learn to speak Arabic online, for free!To become bilingual, or speak Arabic fluently, children can spend their playtime on activities that enable them to develop language skills as they have fun.Parents can look for:Free computer, tablet, and smartphone apps: Arabic for children, the Arabic Alphabet for Children, History for children in Arabic, Learn the Salat and Woudou, etc.Online Arabic course for children: Dinolingo, Hello-world, earabiclearning, Madinhaarabic, etc.Board games for children: Sahaba, Deen Box, Hâfizh Al Qur'ân, Amina, Master Deen, etc.There are tons of tools to get started with the Arabic alphabet, for example. The possibilities are endless.These fun resources allow parents to shape learning the Arabic language in a beneficial but entertaining way: certain activities, like board games, can be played with friends or the whole family. The little ones won't feel the pressures of learning and will be more inclined to perfect their Arabic.By learning Arabic while having fun with family members, children will have a great introduction to the foreign language.These fun games allow learners to work on all of the basic rules surrounding Arabic, such as:Arabic vocabularyArabic verb conjugationArabic numbersArabic pronounsArabic grammarArabic writingArabic speakingArabic accentsArabic calligraphyArabic phrasesFun games, more than anything else, make for a great introduction to the Arabic language for children.Although these games can't replace an actual Arabic course given by professional teachers, they offer young students a way to practice beyond their Arabic lessons.Private lessons can teach the art of Arabic calligraphy, even to young children.And what's more, the educational games facilitate studying between lessons without cramming!During school vacations, at night, or on the weekends, why not make a family activity of going over the fundamentals of Arabic?Arabic for BeginnersThese days, education is evolving with everything else and Arabic lessons have changed as well: there's no longer any need to take lessons in an academic environment, because the courses can come to you!To help your children learn Modern Standard Arabic (Literary Arabic), you have several options:Arabic classes at school: depending on where you live, there might be a school offering free Arabic lessons to children. It's more likely that you'll need to send your student to an international school where more options for foreign languages classes exist, but there might be scholarships or other options. Explore your town!Arabic courses at a language sch ool: just like in an academic setting, but dedicated exclusively to foreign languages, and usually held during non-working hours. Not all offer classes to young children, but you can always ask. These classes aren't cheap, and the education is done in a group setting, but they are more intensive than the school classes.Private Arabic lessons for children: in this scenario the teacher comes to your home to teach your child. The prices vary by area, goals, and level. Parents can choose particular focus areas and find teachers who specialize in younger children, those who know just how to keep children engaged.If you want to try an hour with a private Arabic teacher to see if you think it will work for your child, more than 92% of our teachers offer their first hour free!Help your child's Arabic really take off!It's also possible to take private Arabic lessons online, with a webcam. Parents can assist with the lessons and follow their children's progress.This educational tool enables p arents to find a native Arabic speaker, someone truly knowledgeable about Arab culture.At the same time, parents can facilitate supplementary exercises for their children between private lessons, to really make the most of their increasing knowledge of the Arabic language.As you can see, there is so much that you need to know about Arabic. So, why not turn to qualified teacher whom you know can help your child progress with the Arabic language with an Arabic course London, or anywhere else in the UK.

Learning to Become a Ballet Instructor

Learning to Become a Ballet Instructor Share your Passion through Teaching Ballet! ChaptersFormal Training in Dance EducationBallet teaching, a Rewarding and Diverse ProfessionGiving Classical Dance Lessons in the UK“I don't want people who want to dance, I want people who have to dance.” George BalanchineWith its pointe positions, immaculate costumes and seemingly effortless movements, ballet is a joy to watch. Considered the essence of Western dance, ballet embodies dance at its highest form. Ballerinas will testify of the gruelling training and the live, eat, sleep ballet lifestyle, but the sheer satisfaction of acquiring such grace is unequalled.Many classical dancers begin very young and spend a good amount of their childhood and teenage years training to acquire the proper technique. In recent decades, popular culture has helped democratise this once privileged dance style. Today ballet has never had as many fans. Whether at a professional level or for leisure, it has grown into a sought-after hobby that offers endless job opportunities in teaching.A danc e teacher’s income can vary anywhere between £22,000 and £24,000 per year at starting level while a seasoned dance teacher with years of experience can earn up to £50,000. Of course, working hours vary greatly according to the type of ballet training you wish to impart, it can range from a few classes a week at a local creative arts centre to full-time work with students wishing to forge a career path.So what type of dance training does one need to acquire to become a ballet instructor? The rigorous nature of this codified dance style means intensive rehearsing and accurate technique. Have you been looking for the right path to share your passion? Now’s the time to explore the different ways you can become a ballet teacher.See more about pricing for classes here.BA (Hons) Dance at Kingston UniversityDance, Performance and Teaching, BA (Hons) at University of LancashireBA (Hons) Dance Education at Canterbury Christ Church UniversityFor those already in possession of a relevant undergraduate degree, you can explore the option of postgraduate diplomas like the Dance Science Education (MSc PdDip) at the University of Edinburgh.The instruction does not only limit itself to physical training, you can also teach ballet theory, terminology, and dance history for complementary courses for students looking for an in-depth apprenticeship.To sum up here are few useful things to look for when becoming a ballet teacher :Undergraduate or postgraduate studiesIndustry experience dancing for a professional companyIntensive courses in ballet training for those with solid dance trainingIn addition to hard knowledge, classical dance instruction also requires the following soft skills :A natural talent for communicationA good amount of patience with learnersThe physical resistanceAn eagerness help othersEven though a degree in dance education will give you the necessary knowledge to master the art of dance and push its boundaries, you mustn’t forget to maintain your crea tivity. Forge a highly creative environment through regular choreographies and recital preparations, include your students as soon as their level permits, from costume to performance.Ballet teaching, a Rewarding and Diverse ProfessionAs a ballet teacher, you will set an example for many aspiring dancers. This is your chance to inspire and change lives through your teaching. From training young performers towards becoming professional dancers to helping students acquire a better understanding of the art, education is a rich and rewarding life mission.The knowledge that you will impart to your classes on a daily basis includes the following :Safe and effective warm-up routinesFundamentals of ballet moves and positions (feet and arms)Improving technique and fostering progressFeedback sessionsPreparing and taking part in dance examsPerformance and choreographyAdditional instruction extends to :Dance PedagogyHealthy habits for ballet dancers including nutritionCareer managementPhysical c oaching and conditioningStress management and relaxationPerformance planning and choreographyOne size does not fit all, choose your Ballet Teaching MethodSince its inception in the 15th century, this pillar of Western dance has evolved and branched out into several schools of ballet technique.The French school, led by the iconic Rudolf Nureyev developed rapidly in the 17th century giving ballet the many French sounding terms it still uses today.The Bournonville method is an adaptation of the French school with a strong contrast between graceful upper body and rapid and swift footwork, a lowered eye-line and high attention to arm movement. All this showing very little effort, a quality required today in most professional dancers. Light as a feather as they say!On the Russian side, Agrippian Vaganova developed her eponymous teaching approach in the late 19th Century. Telltale features of this method include: expressiveness in the arms, flexibility pushed to its extremes and special at tention to the lower back. This training gets rid of stiffness to profit a strong and pure style.Italian ballet master Enrico Cecchetti consolidated his method around internalising the art of dance instead of replicating a routine. Allowing for more emotivity in the performance means adding finishing touches once the basic movements are mastered. Versatile dancers often hold this ballet style as their basic training.The English school centres around the Royal Academy of Dance’s pedagogy but extends internationally. This English method merges all of the above styles with a strong attention to detail. It offers two programs: the Graded Examination Syllabus and the more demanding Vocational Graded Syllabus.The famed Balanchine technique is the most recent and widely used in the United States. It tends towards a neoclassical style with higher speed, deeper movements, strong attention to body lines making for an athletic ballet style.As a teacher of ballet, you may also branch out in o ther related disciplines :FitballetFloor barre or barre workoutsBallet body sculpting or toningBallet fusion“Being in ballet class, I feel, is like this meditation for me every morning.” Misty CopelandHelp people reveal their inner ballerina through a ballet class. (Source: Unsplash).Think about what equipment you may need for the various types of classes.Giving Classical Dance Lessons in the UKOnce your dance education diploma or a ballet teaching accreditation in hand you will be looking for opportunities for instruction. Rest assured, a myriad of options is available to you across the United Kingdom, from classic schooling, activity centres to specific dance academies.Schools to teach Ballet to Dancers of LeisureDue to a combination of dance and fitness crazes, dance studios have popped up everywhere in major UK’s cities. Here students take drop-in dance classes to stay fit and connect mind and body. Many dancers here make a habit of attending a class or two a week so you w ill probably develop a group of regular students. There is no pressure to perform or examinations to rehearse so the class program is more relaxed. This style of instruction offers a good amount of creativity and friendly contact with students, without the strict rules of a full-fledged ballet school.The following dance studios offer ballet classes for all levels:Pineapple Studios in London and nationwideBallet for You, LondonDancexchange in BirminghamDancebase in EdinburghTrinity Laban in Greenwich, LondonDance City, Newcastle Upon TyneArabesque School of Dance, West MidlandsTeaching Ballet to the UnderprivilegedBring classical dance to those who don’t have the means to attend regular dance classes. How rewarding to give people from all walks of life a chance to discover the graceful movements of a ballet! You may find this teaching very rewarding and make a difference in someone life while sharing your passion.There are several organisations you can contact to explore opportunit ies to get involved :People Dancing is a British foundation for a community dance.Rambert in London’s South Bank offers reduced rates for local residents.Bodysurf Scotland offers workshops for children, teenagers and adults.Danceaid offers dance classes to orphaned, underprivileged and disabled children in the UK and abroad.Ballet Teaching to Aspiring Professional DancersIf you are looking to join a faculty of dance teachers with a set curriculum, then a good number of years of experience and a diploma in dance education will be necessary. A number of professional ballerinas go on to become teachers at renowned institutions once they can no longer perform to dance company standards.These institutions will each subscribe to a ballet style like the Cecchetti or the English methods. More strict they employ highly qualified teachers as well as professional pianists to play during classes. Their aim is to develop capable and competent dancers from a young age so many classes are child or teen-focused. You may be asked to teach everything from fundamentals of ballet to four-year-olds to entrance audition training to aspiring ballerinas.The cream de la cream obviously being London’s Royal Ballet School here are a few additional schools dedicated to classical dance :The English National Ballet School (London)The Elmhurst School for Dance (Birmingham)The Northern Ballet School (Manchester)Highgate Ballet School (North London)The London Russian Ballet School (London)Become a Ballet Tutor with SuperprofDo you love teaching the basics of ballet to people around ? Have you been recognised at the dancer in the family but a professional career in dance was never for you. Then this is your chance to share your passion for pliés, arabesques and entre-chats with your peers.Superprof offers anyone a chance to pick up a new hobby or strengthen their skills through a network of trusted tutors. The platform rests upon knowledge-sharing, curiosity and total confidence in teache r-student relationships. The platform is now present across seventeen countries with classes taught in seven different languages.Enroll now and become a mentor and trainer via this platform and build yourself a trusted group of regular students. In 2017 alone the UK had over a million users looking to learn anything from academic subjects to artistic disciplines, including ballet.With all of these options, you will be sure to find the right kind of instruction for you. One cannot live a dispassionate life. We can’t think of a better way to make a living than by encouraging others to pursue their passion. Wishing you a lot of leaps and pirouettes with your newly found students!You can find students through Superprof, the specialist in jobs for  ex teachers!

Wear Out - Phrasal Verb of the Day

Wear Out - Phrasal Verb of the Day Todays phrasal verb of the day is: Wear OutInfinitive form: Wear OutPresent Tense: Wear Out/ Wears Outing form: Wearing OutPast tense: Wore OutPast Participle: Worn OutWear Out is a separable English phrasal verb. It can be used in two different ways:When something is damaged or weaken from use and age and is therefore rendered close to being useless1. The carpet looks worn out, and it smells bad, so can we please replace it?2. Whoa! Go easy on the brakes, will you? You will wear the brake pads out faster than you can imagine if this continues.When something or someone makes you very tired1. Haydens wifes demands wore him out, thats why he left.2. Please stop nagging unless your goal is to wear me out.iframe width=420 height=315 src=//www.youtube.com/embed/r7hCnyebNZI?rel=0 frameborder=0 allowfullscreen/iframeExercises: Write your answers in comments and we will correct them.Fill in the gaps from the video above:Billy: I might ____ you ____ before then.Dean: Oh don’t you worry abou t ____ me ____. I’m going to ___ you ___.How does being worn out feel like to you? What was happening during that time when you felt pretty worn out?Complete the sentences below with the correct form of Wear Out.1. The detective finally ___ the suspect ___ by his perseverance in asking questions over and over again.2. His clothes might look ____ ____, but dont be deceived, for hes a very wealthy man under a disguise.3. Am I ______ you _____ yet?4. Wow! You look ____ ____. When was the last time you had sleep?5. If I take this route everyday, my shoes will be _____ ____ by the end of the month.Change the example sentences above to negative sentences (or positive, if the sentence is already negative). Then change them to questions.

Todays English Phrasal Verb Get Out!

Todays English Phrasal Verb Get Out! Heres one of the many English phrasal verbs whose meaning is nearly impossible to guess from the two words, or particles, that create it: get out. Get out of there!Normally   get means to obtain something (among many other possible meanings), and out means to be outside, as in not inside of a building, or to be out of something, as in lacking something. However when you combine these to make get out, youve got something completely new.Click here to take an English class on phrasal verbs with a live native speaker.1. Get Out = To Leave This can be both a statement and a command. For instance:We got out of the building when we smelled smoke. = We left the building when we smelled smoke.Get out of there! = An order to leave the location immediately.Below is a video montage of people being told to get out of there from famous movies. Scroll past the video for more meanings.2. Get Out (+of) = Receive/Learn/Gain from something. For example:What do you get out of this? = What are you recei ving, or what advantage do you get from this? This can have a negative connotation. If someone offers to help you, and you suspect they are doing it to benefit themselves, you would ask them this question.I got a lot out of that meeting. = I learned a lot, or benefited a lot, from that meeting. Notice that in this instance the verb is split.3. Get Out (+of) = To avoid something.How did Jim get out of the meeting? = How was Jim able to avoid attending the meeting?4. Get Out! = Expression of surprise. See video for example made famous by the American television show Seinfeld.

Irvine English Tutor How to Write a Research Paper

Irvine English Tutor How to Write a Research Paper Private Irvine English Tutor Tips: How to Write a Research Paper: 5 Easy Steps Private Irvine English Tutor Tips: How to Write a Research Paper: 5 Easy Steps Every high school student will have to write a research paper at some point. Although these writing-intensive assignments can feel like the bane of a students existence, its a skill they’ll have to learn if they want to be successful. Actually, research papers aren’t as complicated as students think if they can break the task up into smaller, easier steps. There are many elements to completing a research paper, but here we focus on the writing and editing portion. Students who are able to follow these steps may reduce their stress to a point where they are no longer daunted by such an assignment have a final research paper due soon? Book your private Irvine English tutor today! 1. Create a detailed outline Most high school students either skip this step or create an outline that’s too vague. It’s definitely worth it to write a substantial draft to maintain order and flow throughout the paper. Outlines also help students avoid getting bogged down with writer’s block. In some cases, the shape can end up being a fair portion of the paper if it is detailed enough. This is a huge help for students who dread looking at a blank page. 2. Write (but dont over think) the first draft Many students want to write one excellent draft and be done with the task of writing a research paper. Although that would be nice, it’s not very realistic. Almost every successful writer will write two or more drafts before settling on a final essay. It’s important for students to sit down and write their first draft without worrying too much about perfection. Editing is unavoidable so students are encouraged to get enough words down on paper so they can move on to the next step (READ: Ask a Nerd! Writers Block). 3. Polish up the second draft It’s important for the second draft to appear polished and easy to read. It can be difficult for students to determine if something is readable, especially if they wrote multiple drafts so it’s generally good to follow a basic formula until they develop more advanced editing skills. Does each paragraph have its own topic or subject? Is there a topic sentence or transition sentence at the beginning of each paragraph? Could a teacher or tutor identify the thesis statement without asking for clarification? Students are encouraged to work one-on-one with their tutor or teacher to perfect flow and formatting. 4. Edit for content and grammar It’s not possible to hand in an excellent paper without first having edited it. Lots of times students will get tired and hope that there aren’t too many errors. Unfortunately, this can lead to disaster. Teachers can tell right away when a paper has not been edited for content or grammar and will grade accordingly. At the very least, students should proofread the final draft and fix any glaring mistakes. Online spell check is a good start but is not sophisticated enough to replace the human eye (READ: Five Tips for Success in English Class). 5. Include citations and check punctuation By the time students get around to plugging in citations, they are usually pretty tired. Although this process can seem tedious, it’s important to make sure that each outside source has been properly credited. Students won’t get an F for putting a comma in the wrong place, but they do need to make sure they have listed the author, title, and page number of every outside source. In addition to proper citations, students usually leave punctuation corrections until the end. Its okay to leave this task for last as it usually saves wasted time but it shouldn’t be forgotten altogether. Correct punctuation can make a paper easy to read and understand. Score high on your end of the year research paper with the help of a Irvine private English tutor. Call us today for more information. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

Tips from an Irvine SAT and ACT Tutor Common Problems

Tips from an Irvine SAT and ACT Tutor Common Problems Tips from an Irvine SAT and ACT Tutor: Common Problems Tips from an Irvine SAT and ACT Tutor: Common Problems These pieces of advice are more specific to taking the actual tests themselves. If you are looking for general advice about how to study and what materials to use,   read my previous article. Instead, here I will cover more specific tips that can give you an edge on the test depending on your specific situation. These are common situations that I have found many of my students in when taking the tests, and implementing these tips has great success in helping them remedy their problems. These tips are not universal; you must take practice tests first to evaluate if these will apply to you. The Essay For the essay: First-grade essays you’ve written during practice tests using the guidelines and sample essays (or have a private tutor grade your essays for you) and determine where you are at and where you would like to be. If you have a low score looking to bring it closer to average, you need to determine where the problem lies. Three common scenarios I see with these scores are: not writing nearly enough, having very sloppy grammar and sentences, and failing to effectively respond to the prompt. Of these, the first and third are easiest to remedy. For students who aren’t writing enough, we practice timed writing. Using simpler prompts and shorter time limits, they focus on getting more sentences and ideas onto the page in the time limit. Unfortunately, speed can be a huge problem for many students taking timed standardized tests. And, as unfair as it may be, it negatively affects your score if you can’t write quick enough. The same strategy can be used if you aren’t answering the prompt effectively. Except, instead of writing many sentences in a short time limit, students should focus on making strong outlines or bullet points on how to answer the prompt. The essay needs to have substance, and that substance needs to be thought of quickly before it can be executed. Grammar and overall writing issues have less cookie-cutter solutions and vary even more on a case to case basis. It is important to write a lot and have someone to review and correct your mistakes. If your essay is already good but you are looking for an even better score, you can consider practicing implementing new elements to help improve your essay and make it stand out. This can include proper use of semi-colons and colons, more complex vocabulary words used correctly and appropriately, and varying sentence length and sentence structure throughout your paragraphs. Stay tuned for part two! Michael C. is currently a private math, science, and standardized test tutor with TutorNerds in Irvine and Anaheim. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

The Journey to Learning Spanish for Beginner Students

The Journey to Learning Spanish for Beginner Students Learning a foreign language is by no means a piece of cake, but it is definitely not impossible. Back in middle school, I remember when I first found out that I would be taking Spanish classes, I was quite nervous. However, I quickly found myself very interested, and I developed my own strategies to effectively learn Spanish and do well in my future Spanish courses. I am not from a Spanish speaking country and I do not have any Spanish speaking friends. Fortunately, both in middle school and high school, I was able to receive a Spanish achievement award during the awards ceremonies. The strategies that I developed will guide students to excel in their beginner as well as more advanced Spanish courses.1. Have a Solid Knowledge of the Basics.As a student, you must be able to know the basics in the Spanish language. By basics I mean the alphabet, colors, days of the week, months, seasons, and etc. You should also know the definition of basic words such as name, age, and origin. The next step to knowing the basics is repetition. You must make flashcards with pronunciations, and also you must write out each new word multiple times in order to memorize the correct spelling.2. Translate the familiar words first.When you read a sentence and don’t understand the meaning of a sentence, translate word by word. For instance, ¿Quantos años tienes? may seem unclear at first, however, if you translate each word, the question will make a lot of sense. Quantos means How many? Años means years, and tienes means you have. By translating each word you can figure out that the question is asking about your age. This is a simple example, however, you can use the same tactics for more complex questions/ sentences. You can even pick out children’s Spanish books and translate each word to practice your translation skills.3.Familiarize yourself with the infinitive form and all of the conjugations.The infinitive form of the verb has AR, ER, or IR ending such as hablar, comer, and v ivir. Make sure you know that the infinitive form is to+ verb such as hablar is to + speak. Many people confuse the conjugated forms of the verb. Therefore, make sure you know that hablo, hablas, habla, hablamos, and hablan all refer to the verb hablar which means to speak. However, they do not mean the same thing, each form refers to its own pronoun. For instance, when you see the word hablan do not say it automatically think that it means to speak, recognize that this verb is conjugated and it refers to THEY speak.4. Repetition, repetition, repetitionI can not stress enough repetition can help you learn quickly.Make notes, flashcards, and repeat the new words as much as possible. Another great way of memorizing is writing out the names of objects in Spanish on a sticky note and sticking it to the corresponding object. For instance, you can put a sticky note with the word SILLA on a chair, MESA on a table, and etc. Each time you will look at these objects you will see the Spanish t ranslation along with the correct spelling.5. Watch Videos.Nowadays, we all go on youtube and watch some sort of a video in varying lengths. Every once in a while, just search for a Spanish movie with Spanish subtitles and also English subtitles. You do not have to watch an entire episode, you can just watch a few minutes every day. When you read the previous sentence, you might think why Spanish subtitles? Well, reading the Spanish subtitles will allow you to get better at spelling, and also sometimes the actors might speak too fast, so if you read the subtitles you might better understand the meaning. Also, the English subtitles will allow you to get the meaning of simple and more complex words. For instance, after you hear the word VAMOS, or ¿Que Paso? multiple times you will quickly learn their meaning since Spanish speaking people use them a lot.