Categories
mandarin

15+ Favourite Chinese Cartoons and Productions For Kids To Learn Chinese At Home

Many parents, including myself, face the struggle in appreciating Chinese as both a language and school subject. The key to mastering Chinese according to many experts, is to practise it, hear it and use it. Some homes may lack the essential cultural context. Instead of leaving it to the exasperated Chinese teachers or enrichment centres, why not introduce little ones to videos and let them watch these “learn Chinese cartoons” and videos to pick up more mandarin while enjoying listening to the “prim and proper” pronunciation.

Screentime….in Chinese! – Learn Chinese Through Cartoons

Our tip: start screen time in Chinese so the kids get used to watching a Chinese medium rather than protest at the unfamiliarity.

Penelope Bear (蓝色小考拉贝贝生活记)

Penelope Bear is a familiar character to some and the English version of the cartoon is shown on BBC channel. One of my go-tos when my kids were really young was Penelope Bear. We loved the whimsical illustrations and conversations between Penelope, her friends, family and teachers. Each episode is only five minutes long and covers much of Penelope’s life on learning to ride a bicycle, performing in a school parade, painting which are activities the little ones can relate to. I loved how Penelope’s parents were always so encouraging and patient with her, which is a great takeaway for parents as well. Check out the episodes here and have fun learning Chinese through these cartoons.

Qiao Hu (巧虎)

We like Taiwanese children’s shows for their fun-loving mascots and interactivity with their audiences. Singing, dancing, answering questions children ask is what the show is about. This is also another go-to for preschoolers and it makes learning Chinese fun and easy. This show is so popular it even has an entire range of merchandise for sale. Check out the videos either on Youtube or here. Just a tip, I personally prefer the older episodes for a “live tv” feel rather than the cartoon versions.

Yoyo TV

Another made-in-Taiwan production, Yoyo TV has different content for different ages. It has Chinese songs accompanied by the cast and graphics, reality TV, toy unboxing, Chinese learning and more. It’s a pretty comprehensive channel and parents (and kids) have plenty to select from. Check out Yoyo TV here.

Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf (喜羊羊与灰太狼)

This is a Chinese animated series about sheep versus a clumsy wolf. You could possibly anticipate what will happen whenever the wolf thinks of attacking the sheep. Children will probably be really tickled with the animals’ antics. See link to official Youtube channel.

Octonauts ( 海底小纵队)

Octonauts would be familiar to many of the kids. We love the focus on learning about marine creatures and was delighted to find the series dubbed in Mandarin. It could be a little challenging to grasp as the names of the animals are all in mandarin, hence parents can sit next to their child to watch it together. Screentime can also be bonding time, right? Official Youtube channel is here.

Berenstein Bears（贝贝熊）

Another popular series found in both print and TV, Berenstein Bears is about a family of bears and their adventures. From bullying, money management, sibling rivalry and decision-making, the topics are relevant and relatable to families. We also like how they teach values to the kids. Examples of episodes can be foundhere.

GG Bond (猪猪侠)

GG Bond - learn Chinese cartoons
Image: GG Bond

A cheeky, intelligent Superhero pig who loves lollipops – clearly is a great formula for a kid’s cartoon. It definitely works as both my boys love this show. The pig aptly named “GG Bond” has superhero powers and a team of superhero friends who battle fierce robots and other baddies. The show celebrates friendship, courage, integrity and also discusses environmental issues. All episodes can be found here.

Little Fox Chinese

Little Fox Chinese - Chinese Shows You Can Watch At Home To Improve Language Skills
Little Fox Chinese

Little Fox Chinese is a Youtube channel screening songs, stories, Chinese lessons for different grades of students – from beginner to advanced levels. We liked the stories on Sun Wu Kong (Monkey King) and folktale series which are all well-produced. You can also show your children videos on learning hanyu pinyin via songs and Chinese through repetitive words in songs. Link to channel here.

Chinese Shows on Netflix

Netflix subscribers can easily change the kids’ shows to be dubbed in mandarin pretty easily by selecting the audio language under the “Audio and subtitles” tab. Our recommended shows include Hilda, Storybots, Super Wings and Magic School Bus.

Local Chinese TV Shows and Productions for Kids

Tao Shu

For parents who prefer a more localised context, you could show your kids Tao Shu which is a locally produced cartoon series. Discover Chinese cultures, customs and traditions in the educational show which also features kids exploring certain Chinese traditions such as Kungfu and learning to use chopsticks. Watch Tao Shu here.

Chinese Edutainment on Mewatch

Chinese Edutainment on Mewatch
Image: Rewatch

With Toggle’s recent rebrand to Mewatch, viewers can still see the local productions via “series”. Shows such as Junction Tree, Mark Your Calendar, I Can Cook Too!, Fresh Farmers are great ways for children to learn the language through stories, significant dates, cooking and even farming. Choose from the selection here.

For older children, you might want to engage them in current affairs, social commentaries, history and cultural documentaries. Browse this link for the selection.

Don’t just Watch but Use the Language too!

While using screentime can be an effective way for quick language acquisition, we strongly advise parental guidance and support when enjoying the videos. Of course, more ideal ways of learning Chinese include writing, reading and using it in daily conversations! Perhaps discussing the show after watching it, answering some questions in mandarin or even penning down some thoughts in Chinese can help parent-child bond using the language. You might even brush up on your own Chinese just like me!

The post 15+ Favourite Chinese Cartoons and Productions For Kids To Learn Chinese At Home appeared first on Little Day Out.

This content was originally published here.

Categories
mandarin

Chinese Learning Pen Value Pack launched, a perfect starter kit for learning how to read and write Chinese

MSL Master announces the launch of Chinese Learning Pen Value Pack, a perfect starter kit for non-Chinese speaking students to start learning how to read and write Chinese. Students will have access to textbooks, Chinese lessons, and audio recordings, all at once, learning not only individual Chinese characters, but also how to use these characters to read and write nice conversations and interesting stories. It is the latest addition to MSL Master’s products and services offered to learners of Chinese worldwide.

“This is exciting.” Says April Zhang, the owner of the company and also a long time Chinese teacher, “Learning how to read and write Chinese is definitely going beyond learning individual characters.” There are so many books and online lessons teaching only individual Chinese characters which students do not know how to use. Chinese Learning Pen Value Pack is going to change that completely. Indeed, there is so much students can do with as few as 70 characters. “Chinese Learning Pen Value Pack will surely be a confidence booster.” April says.

Chinese Learning Pen Value Pack includes one Chinese Learning Pen, one copy of Chinese Reading and Writing 1 (Enhanced Edition 2020), and one copy of Chinese Reading and Writing 2 (Enhanced Edition 2020).

Chinese Reading and Writing 1 & 2 are content rich and exercise rich textbooks. Starting from strokes and stroke orders, these two books teach 120 Chinese characters, 316 words and expressions, and 10 grammar points. The exercise sections include a total of 312 sentences, 25 conversations and 10 narratives. Moreover, 37 animated video lessons are available for these two books. Students can watch these lessons either on MSL Master’s website or scan the QR codes imbedded on the book pages.

Chinese Learning Pen is the perfect tool for studying Chinese Reading and Writing series. It is a digital tool to play any part of the texts at ease. It adds an interactive dimension, and will greatly enhance students’ learning outcomes. Moreover, teacher’s explanations on particular issues are also available on the touch of a Pen.

“Amid the current COVID pandemic, both teachers and students need more support and more innovative solutions.” April says, “Chinese Learning Pen Value Pack can be of great help to them.”

Pre-order is available on Sep 30, 2020. Don’t miss its introductory offer.

This content was originally published here.

Categories
english

ABA English Application Review – Learn English through short movies

ABA English .. Learn English through short movies
ABA English application is a valuable treasure for English learners on a smartphone! It is based on principles of the natural method that relies on learning through full immersion in the language, which makes it a complete educational system that simulates the same learning process that you will experience if you travel abroad to study English. The application contains 6 educational levels, from beginner to the language used for business, divided into 144 amazing free lessons in video clips that will help you to know everything you need about English!

The lessons are based on teaching English by watching short films that took place London and New York. First you will listen to what is said, understand it well, study the dialogues between the characters, and learn from them. After that, you start talking in order to play the role of one of the characters in the movie from the written script available in the application.


All this will be done in a natural and spontaneous way that makes you feel like you are going through a realistic scenario. In the end of every lesson, a basic grammar will be studied in order to consolidate your knowledge with English grammar, with some practical exercise so you can understand grammars and gain new vocabulary and expressions gradually without feeling.

you can download the application from:

aba

The app provides many unique features, such as:
– Progress feature; this enables you to easily measure your progress through the evaluation presented in the end of each level.
– Tutor feature – only for paid packages – that allows students to communicate with the tutors, so they help you reaching a better level in English by providing instructions and advice according to your progress pace.
– Certificates feature – only for paid packages -, which enables you to obtain an official certificate from the application once you complete your educational level.


The application has more than 35 million learners all over the world, as it suits both Android and Apple devices, the number of its users only on Android devices is more than 5 million users! The app got a total rating of 4.4 on the “Google Play” by nearly 94,000 users, while ranked 97th among the best educational applications on “App Store” with a rating of 4.6 by 4 thousand users.

you can download the application from:

Go to the application’s website from:
https://www.abaenglish.com/en/

This content was originally published here.

Categories
french

Learning to Speak French with a Mask

I moved to France three years ago, speaking rusty high-school French and ready to live large.

But, as it turns out, what I learned 30 years ago in Mrs. Witte’s French class isn’t quite what they’re speaking on the streets of Paris today. It was rough. I embarrassed myself daily. But, with the frequent corrections from merchants and friends, and the classes I took at Alliance Française, my French improved. 

Two women sit on a bench by Paris's Canal St. Martin and speak to each other while wearing face masks.
Jamie Rolston

By the beginning of 2020, I was getting the hang of it. I stopped making mistakes like telling people “I’m horny” (“Je suis chaude”) instead of “I’m hot” (“J’ai chaud”). I could order food in restaurants (including specifics about done-ness and wine pairings). I could chit chat with friends about politics, movies, books, music. I even started to understand quick little sentences like “Hand me that thing” or “You ready to go?” from people who weren’t facing me. I still made a lot of mistakes, but my inhibitions were falling away. My confidence was growing.

One thing I couldn’t do, though, was talk on the phone.

Without eye contact, gestures, grimaces, and smiles, my French comprehension was terrible. That made me nervous, so my ability to express myself tanked during phone calls. I didn’t answer unknown numbers unless I was expecting a delivery or a repairman, letting calls go to voicemail and getting friends to interpret. If I had to make a call, I wrote out all the pertinent vocabulary first and rehearsed the conversation with whoever was around, pacing and deep breathing. It wasn’t a great system, but I got by.

Left: The sun sets in Paris, casting shadows from Parisian apartment balconies, Right: An empty street in Paris during the quiet summer month of August.
Jamie Rolston

Then Covid-19 happened. Now, we live in masks. And it’s like talking on the phone all the time.

Not only are there no smiles or grimaces or lip-reading, the French are also incredibly reserved in their body language. They’re not natural pointers. They don’t do charades. Shrugging is their most expressive gesture. 

And, they can’t hear me either. The mask muffles the sound, and I don’t have a very big voice anyway. Pardons and drawn-together eyebrows are frequent on both sides now.

People sit socially distanced from each other at outdoor tables at a café near Rue de Montorgueil in the center of Paris.
Jamie Rolston

This means every trip to the butcher is like a phone call, except I can point to the pork chops and hold up two fingers while I yell “deux côtes, s’il vous plaît.” When I need matching cheeses for my apéro tray, I only understand part of their explanation,“bluh bluh moins douce mais bluh bluh plus ageé bluh bluh bluh,“ so after a while I just point to whatever looks good. I can still order in restaurants because customers can take off their masks while seated. But, if the server has any tricky questions about choices of sides, or needs to tell me they’re out of something, it gets dicey.

Left: A woman wearing a face masks browses through books at a store in Paris, Right: A shot of Parisian balconies as seen from the street.
Coba Photography

So what’s a foreigner to do? There’s no chapter in my trusty Grammaire française book about masked conversations. Mrs. Witte never covered this in 10th grade. Even if speaking your native language is more challenging with a mask, the French don’t seem to be doing anything besides repeating themselves at the same volume and speed.

I guess I’ll just keep going. I’ll keep bugging my friends to explain all those idioms they use. I’ll keep reading French novels, scribbling new vocabulary in the margins. I’ll keep struggling through all that mail from the Préfecture, then running it through Google translate to see if I got it right.

A man wearing a face mask sits at a table in a café in central Paris.
Jamie Rolston

Because I wasn’t counting on a pandemic when I moved to France. It’s just not one of the challenges I thought I’d face. But here we are, floundering through this together. I’m still alive and healthy, as are my loved ones. So, maybe we’ll be patient with each other. Maybe we’ll repeat ourselves more often. Maybe I’ll learn to speak louder and enunciate.

And maybe I’ll get better at talking on the phone.

Written by Yvonne Hazelton Shao for HiP Paris. Looking to travel? Check out Haven In for a  fabulous vacation rental in Paris, France or Italy. Looking to rent long-term or buy in France or Italy? Ask us! We can connect you to our trusted providers for amazing service and rates.

The post Learning to Speak French with a Mask appeared first on HiP Paris Blog.

This content was originally published here.

Categories
english

New Jersey Store Slammed Over Racist Sign Saying It Will Charge More If You Don’t Speak English

A local blade sharpening business in Clifton, New Jersey called Cutter’s Edge is facing intense backlash after the owner David Feinberg posted a sign by the front door that read:

“Speak English or Pay $10 Extra.”

As one passerby captured a picture of the racist sign and posted the now viral photo onto Twitter, other users were quick to express their outrage at the signage.

@NJGov @GovMurphy @LtGovOliver @NewJerseyOAG @CoryBooker
How do we feel about Cutter’s Edge (345 Lakeview Ave, Clifton NJ) posting this sign that says “Speak English or pay $10 extra?” pic.twitter.com/KYcQICwCzD

— Eric J (@ericjlazaro) September 5, 2020

Not to miss any details, netizens noticed more red flags in the other signs surrounding the entryway including a help wanted sign that read:

“Must speak English”

“On the books”

“Will train if nessary”

“13 or older”

“Girls ok”

People were taken aback, though unsurprised, that the owner added sexism on top of racism and a Trump support sticker in the window.

Are we not gonna talk about “girls ok” ???

— jewelya (@Jewelya1313) September 8, 2020

That help wanted sign is a joke. It’s illegible

— Divatudenj (@divatudenj) September 9, 2020

i knew it pic.twitter.com/0XZ0Sso1VN

— loopsssx (@loopsssx) September 8, 2020

crazy how they put “must speak english” but always “will train if NESSARY” like who’s the one that needs help theyre english??

— n Ⓥ (@normalnohely) September 8, 2020

“13 or over. Girls ok”. Sounds like a Trump slogan.

— ESAnderson (@ESAnderson19) September 13, 2020

13 or over. Red flags are everywhere on this place

— NoBigGovDuh (@NoBigGovDuh) September 14, 2020

America was already home to hundred of Indigenous tribes with their own unique languages prior to any European discovery, none of which were English. There is no official language of the United States although some states, not including New Jersey, independently designated theirs as English and differing Native Languages of the respective areas.

Some Twitter users missed their history lessons.

i think it’s fine this is america our native language is english and people living here should learn to speak our language it also takes more time with a non english speaking customers and that takes away from other customers costing a small business owner money

— TOMMAS ETHRIDGE (@TOMMASETHRIDGE) September 11, 2020

ILLEGAL MEANS NOT LEGAL AND YOU DO NOT BELONG HERE! OTHERS HAVE COME TO THIS COUNTRY PROPERLY AND LEGALLY ! THE DACA SWAMP IS ABOUT TO BE DRAINED Y’ALL !

— Carol Slack (@cas3135) September 8, 2020

Other Twitter users found humor in a sign posted charging people for not speaking English where it was obvious the owner struggled with spelling and grammar themselves, even in an apology sign.

“… except out Hart Felt Sadness it may have caused.”

— Gina Vergel (@ginavergel7) September 10, 2020

Well, well… looks like the really got a good command of the English language themselves.

— Monisola Longe (@monisola_longe) September 14, 2020

I called and the owner spoke on the voicemail like he had marbles in his mouth. It is always projection with these people. They tell what their insecurities are if you like ‘em. #whitemalefragility

— Lauren_AJ (@LaurenAJ18) September 9, 2020

The public backlash was so intense that after a large influx of bad reviews Yelp has stopped the ability to review the business as they monitor the page.

Yelp users joined Twitter in disgust of the hateful sign.

@ David D./Yelp
@John A./Yelp

This is disgusting! They deserve a huge fine for this!

— LOL (@Nessaaaaaa_) September 8, 2020

shut them down

— lex (@lexreitz) September 9, 2020

Although the owner Feinburg expressed remorse when talking to USA Today, he only attempted to provide excuses for his intolerant behavior saying:

“I did it out of frustration. I had something to get off my chest.”

Racism in any form is unacceptable and although we enjoy the right to free speech in the United States, hate speech does not qualify under this protection.

This content was originally published here.

Categories
spanish

Best Android and iOS Apps to Help You Learn Spanish | Digital Trends

It may be exciting, but learning a new language can be hard. Spanish is no exception to this, and even if you already know a little Spanish or are familiar with another romance language (such as Italian or French), it often pays to have a little extra help. This is where language-learning apps come in. These can make learning Spanish not only easier, but more fun. This is why we’ve put together a list of the best apps to learn Spanish, regardless of whether you’re a complete newbie or someone who can speak a few phrases.

You can also check out our article on the best language-learning apps for 2020 if you want to learn other languages.

Duolingo is one of the biggest language apps around, and with good reason. It gamifies the whole language-learning experience, allowing you to play through a series of levels as you progress from beginner to intermediate and beyond. It lets you learn more than 30 languages, of which Spanish is one of the most popular. You begin by learning the basics, such as common phrases and words, before moving on to more complex areas, such as possessives, locatives, datives, conjunctions, adverbs, infinitives, and so on (don’t worry — you don’t need to be a grammar expert to use it). The app makes learning a language more manageable by breaking down everything into short lessons that ask you a handful of questions. It will ask you to translate a sentence (from Spanish into English), speak a sentence (in Spanish), transcribe a sentence (in Spanish), or pick the right option. It also tracks your progress, giving you tests at the end of groups of lessons.

Memrise is arguably the most fun app on this list. It takes a more playful approach to learning Spanish, providing a mix of games, quizzes, and video clips to help you get to grips with the language. It focuses on teaching you words and phrases (rather than getting bogged down in grammar), while showing you video and audio clips that aim to immerse you in how Spanish is actually spoken by native speakers. It lets you play a variety of games to improve your skills and memory of Spanish, while its pronunciation sessions give you feedback on how you speak words. Overall, it’s a great app for learning Spanish, and also works offline if you subscribe to the premium version of the app (which costs $9).

Busuu offers an excellent online course in Spanish. The app takes a very comprehensive approach to teaching the language, providing users with flashcards of essential terms, along with exercises that teach grammar, writing, listening, and speaking. As with Duolingo and other apps on this list, fun quizzes and vocabulary games providing with you an enjoyable hook that keeps you coming back for more. It’s tailored to complete beginners and more intermediate speakers, while it also offers travel courses that can you prepare for a trip to Spain, Mexico, or any other Spanish-speaking country. The app boasts a strong community of learners and native speakers, meaning that you can learn Spanish by actually speaking it with another human being. As good as it is, users should note that you’ll need a subscription (at $10 per month) to unlock all of its features.

Rosetta Stone is up there among the best apps to learn Spanish, including Latin American Spanish and Spanish from Spain. It’s another app that takes a very comprehensive approach to teaching the language, while at the same time ensuring that lessons and the overall course remain fun and engaging for users. In contrast to many other apps on this list, it teaches Spanish by immersing you completely in it. This means that you get zero translations into English (or any other language) and that you end up learning Spanish the way a child would. Aside from that, it offers a variety of 10-minute lessons, stories, and phrasebooks, as well as the ability to take lessons with a live tutor. It also has a highly capable speech-recognition feature that provides you with helpful feedback on your pronunciation. It’s free to download, but most of its features can be accessed only through a subscription, which costs just over $9 a month.

Learn Spanish with Wlingua

While Learn Spanish with Wlingua isn’t as well known as the other apps on this list, it has strong reviews in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. It’s focused solely on Spanish and gives you the option to learn either Mexican Spanish or Spanish from Spain. It provides two different courses. The first is the main Spanish course, which offers 20 lessons with hundreds of vocabulary and grammar lessons, as well as exercises for practicing reading and listening. The second is the Spanish Verb Conjugation course, which, as the name suggests, provides around 200 lessons that help you hone your verb-conjugation skills in a variety of tenses. Lessons are grouped according to theme and topic, while written tasks are complemented by audio clips that improve your ability to understand spoken Spanish. The app is free to download, and while you can complete either course without subscribing (for just over $5 per month), the subscription does unlock certain features.

Capping off this list, Gritty Spanish is a language-learning app with a difference. Rather than promising a comprehensive course that covers every conceivable base, its focus is on providing “gritty” film stories that expose you to how Spanish is really spoken. It offers a wide library of short films and narratives, which come with subtitles in English and Spanish. Each film covers a variety of vocabulary and phrases, and is suited more to the intermediate learner than beginner. The app also lets you slow down recorded dialogs, so that you catch every new word and phrase it introduces. It’s a great way of improving your Spanish listening skills, although you will have to pay for a subscription to unlock everything. It’s also worth noting that the app has a 17+ rating, since some of the narratives have themes that aren’t entirely child-friendly.

This content was originally published here.

Categories
english

How To Speak English Confidently

speak english with confidence

5 Tips for Speaking English with Confidence

At Lingoloop, we see students from all walks of life. Some are advanced students taking online English classes for their careers. Some are beginner students or casual learners wanting to improve their English online so they can speak better with loved ones. Regardless of their level, all students want to speak English with confidence. You may wonder “How can I speak English confidently?” or “How can I speak English fluently?”

Here are some simple steps that you can take to boost your confidence speaking English and increase your fluency.

speak english with confidence

1) Treat your brain like a muscle

There is an old saying in English: practice makes perfect. It’s a simple concept. If you want to get better at anything, you have to practice, and it is no different when you want to improve your confidence speaking English. 

When we say “treat your brain like a muscle” we mean create a consistent learning schedule as if you were going to exercise or workout. Plan to practice your English speaking once a day, or three times a week. Come up with a schedule that works for you. However, the key is consistency. Practicing a few times every week is better than doing it every day for a week and then stopping for 3 weeks.  Staying organized will help you develop good learning habits and allow you to improve.

2) Set goals for yourself

When we meet a Lingoloop student for the first time, we always ask them what their learning goals are. You may have a high-level goal like, “I want to improve my English so that I can find a new job,” or “I want to improve my English so I can speak better with my daughter’s teacher.” Having something to aim at, will give you direction and improve your motivation.

Also, setting achievable short-term goals are important too. Commit to small things that will help you achieve your main goal. For example, if your main goal is to prepare for a big presentation, you may set short-term goals such as: watching someone give a presentation in English, asking a question in English during a co-worker’s presentation or practicing your presentation in front of a friend.

GIF arnold schwarzenegger terminator movie - animated GIF on GIFER ...

3) Quit negative self talk

If you believe that you can’t improve your English speaking, you won’t improve. Resist the urge to keep telling yourself that you are no good. It is easier said than done, but it is critical that you don’t give up on your dream. 

Examine your negative thoughts and try to put them in perspective. As they say, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” It will take some time to make a dramatic improvement in your confidence speaking English, so don’t set your expectations too high at the beginning. One benefit of setting achievable short-term goals is that you will feel good as you achieve them. Aim for progress, not perfection and you will be more successful in the long run.

Plane Fail GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

4) It is ok to fail

The advancement of humanity has been based on a very simple method called “trial and error.” In a sense, learning is controlled failure. We must know what we are doing wrong so that we can improve upon our mistakes. So don’t be afraid to fail – it is an important part of the learning process. The key is to fail early and often while you are practicing. Make your mistakes in an online English class, so that when you are out in the real world you won’t fail as much. Over time, confidence will come as you anticipate your mistakes before they happen and learn to forgive yourself for making some small mistakes from time to time. 

speak english with confidence

5) Team up

There is something very powerful about learning with others. It is extremely motivating to be with other people who share your goals. It is the reason why people still workout in a gym. Yes, it is possible to workout alone, but there is something deep within us that makes us work just a little harder when we know others are watching. So learn with a friend, join a club or find a tutor to help you stay motivated. Learning with others will help you stay on track and make learning more fun. 

We hope you found those 5 tips helpful. Do you want to feel more confident speaking English? “Feel good speaking English” is our slogan! If you need help finding someone to learn with, come try a Lingoloop online English class. An expert tutor will assess your speaking level, and show you our unique teaching method. Before you know it you’ll be correcting yourself and speaking English with confidence! Sign up for a FREE TRIAL CLASS today.

This content was originally published here.

Categories
english

Learn English meaning of ‘moving out’ – Moving Out

Brian:  Sara, this weekend I have to help my little brother move out of my parents’ house.

Sara_R:  That is so exciting. It is so fun to be independent for the first time.

Brian:  Yeah, I’m a little worried he might not be responsible enough to handle life on his own, though.

Sara_R:  Maybe not ready to leave the nest?

Brian:  Yeah, it seems like the next stage in his life. It’s for college. Hopefully he’ll be able to make his own rules and be an independent and responsible adult.

Sara_R:  That would be great. Having your very own space is just amazing.

Brian:  Yeah, it is kind of nice. You get to eat when you want to eat, clean up when you want to clean. I love not living with my parents.

Sara_R:  That’s great. I think he’ll be responsible. It’s a testing time. So, you never know.

Brian:  Yeah, I guess if there are any dire emergencies, we’re all around to help him out.

Sara_R:  He’ll make mistakes and he’ll make good decisions, too.

Brian:  Yeah, he’s a smart cookie, because he’s already talked me into helping him move.

Sara_R:  He’s a salesman.

This content was originally published here.

Categories
english

Learn English with the News – Facebook Threatens to Stop Australians From Sharing News

Facebook has had its share of bad publicity in recent years, and once again they’re making headlines with recent comments directed at Australia and New Zealand. 

The news is a consistent source of entertainment, knowledge and discovery that never ceases to exist and always comes out with more and more material each day. Because it plays such a vital part in our lives and is so important to keep up with, it is without a doubt a piece of your everyday routine that can’t go ignored. 

Whether it is to understand the ramifications of recent legislation passed, to hear about recent events and grasp the potential consequences to your country, or simply hear about what is happening in other countries in order to compare them to what’s happening in yours, the news is certainly a staple in our lives and the most consistent way to get information.

This is why Scrambled Eggs has decided to unite two of your biggest worlds: learning English and keeping up with what is happening in the world. We hope our challenging daily exercises, composed of listening, vocabulary and comprehension exercises in English, will satisfy both of those above worlds in a satisfactory and also entertaining way.

So enough about introductions, let’s get to today’s Learn English with the News topic:

Adapted from this article.

Now that you’ve had a listen, let’s put your knowledge to the test with some of our vocabulary and comprehension exercises:

Facebook threatens Australians | Definitions Quiz

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Facebook threatens Australians | Fill In The Blank

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di 1 domande completate

Domande:

Fill the empty spaces with the proper words.

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Categorie

  1. Risposta

  2. Controlla

  1. . Domanda

    ENGAGE – BLOCK – BACKED – VIBRANCY – OFFSET – OUTCOME – LOOMING – DEFIES LOGIC – BARGAINING – THREATS

    • Facebook will block Australians from sharing news if a landmark plan to make digital platforms pay for news content becomes law, the digital giant has warned. Sharing personal content between family and friends will not be affected and neither will the sharing of news by Facebook users outside of Australia, the social network said. The mandatory news code has been (backed) by all the major news companies including News Corp Australia, Nine Entertainment and Guardian Australia, as a way to (offset) the damage caused by the loss of advertising revenue to Facebook and Google. “Assuming this draft code becomes law, we will reluctantly stop allowing publishers and people in Australia from sharing local and international news on Facebook and Instagram,” the managing director of Facebook Australia & New Zealand Will Easton said in a blog post on Tuesday. “This is not our first choice – it is our last. But it is the only way to protect against an (outcome) that (defies logic) and will hurt, not help, the long-term (vibrancy) of Australia’s news and media sector.” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the government would continue with the legislation and did not respond to “coercion or heavy-handed (threats)”. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Rod Sims said Facebook’s threat was ill-timed and misconceived. “The draft media (bargaining) code aims to ensure Australian news businesses, including independent, community and regional media, can get a seat at the table for fair negotiations with Facebook and Google,” Sims said. “Facebook already pays for some media content. The code aims to bring fairness and transparency to Facebook and Google’s relationships with Australian news media businesses”. “We note that according to the University of Canberra’s 2020 Digital News Report, 39% of Australians use Facebook for general news, and 49% use Facebook for news about COVID-19. “As the ACCC and the Government work to finalise the draft legislation, we hope all parties will (engage) in constructive discussions.” Tuesday’s statement marked the company’s first comment since Google also took an aggressive approach to the (looming) legislation, although the search giant has stopped short of saying it would (block) search functions in Australia.



Facebooks threatens Australians | True or False

Sommario

di 5 domande completate

Domande:

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Decide if the statement is true or false

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  • Well done. Thanks for stopping by today!

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  1. Risposta

  2. Controlla

  1. . Domanda

    Facebook users outside of Australia could be affected by the new law



  2. . Domanda

    All major news companies in Australia support the code



  3. . Domanda

    Josh Frydenberg is scared and worried about the threat from Facebook



  4. . Domanda

    The Australian government hopes Facebook will discuss this more with them



  5. . Domanda

    Google are also unhappy about the legislation



And that’s it for today’s English lesson, where you can improve your English with the news and current events. Do you have any comments or special requests for us for the next edition of Learn English with the News? Be sure to leave any feedback you have in the comments section below, as we would love to help you on your quest to learn the English language!

For other Learn English with the News segments, be sure to check out the rest of our posts:

news/

Full Text:

“Facebook will block Australians from sharing news if a landmark plan to make digital platforms pay for news content becomes law, the digital giant has warned. Sharing personal content between family and friends will not be affected and neither will the sharing of news by Facebook users outside of Australia, the social network said. The mandatory news code has been backed by all the major news companies including News Corp Australia, Nine Entertainment and Guardian Australia, as a way to offset the damage caused by the loss of advertising revenue to Facebook and Google. “Assuming this draft code becomes law, we will reluctantly stop allowing publishers and people in Australia from sharing local and international news on Facebook and Instagram,” the managing director of Facebook Australia & New Zealand Will Easton said in a blog post on Tuesday. “This is not our first choice – it is our last. But it is the only way to protect against an outcome that defies logic and will hurt, not help, the long-term vibrancy of Australia’s news and media sector.” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the government would continue with the legislation and did not respond to “coercion or heavy-handed threats”. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Rod Sims said Facebook’s threat was ill-timed and misconceived. “The draft media bargaining code aims to ensure Australian news businesses, including independent, community and regional media, can get a seat at the table for fair negotiations with Facebook and Google,” Sims said. “Facebook already pays for some media content. The code aims to bring fairness and transparency to Facebook and Google’s relationships with Australian news media businesses”. “We note that according to the University of Canberra’s 2020 Digital News Report, 39% of Australians use Facebook for general news, and 49% use Facebook for news about COVID-19. “As the ACCC and the Government work to finalise the draft legislation, we hope all parties will engage in constructive discussions.”  Tuesday’s statement marked the company’s first comment since Google also took an aggressive approach to the looming legislation, although the search giant has stopped short of saying it would block search functions in Australia.”

L’articolo Learn English with the News – Facebook Threatens to Stop Australians From Sharing News proviene da Corsi di inglese a Milano | Scrambled Eggs Scuola di Inglese.

This content was originally published here.

Categories
french

What’s the best way to learn French online?

With the arrival of online language apps and platforms like Duolingo or Babbel, learning French (and other languages) slowly migrated from offline and in the classroom to online. And now you can find dozens of ways to learn French online, although some are better than others.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has changed our day-to-day lives, studying French in the traditional sense, in the classroom, has become somewhat difficult and for some people, impractical.

…so what’s the most effective way to learn French online?

As some students cannot travel easily because of travel restrictions many language schools, including French in Normandy made their programs accessible so you could learn French online from the comfort of your home.

French in Normandy has various online French courses available to you. Whether you want to study General French online for adults, take a Teacher Preparation Program, have a DELF exam that you need to prepare for online or you simply want to improve your Business French for better career prospects, French in Normandy has your needs covered. Our online courses are specially designed for the online environment so that you can learn efficiently and enjoyably. We have a whole school behind the scenes to support your learning.

How to choose the right type of online French course?

…+ 4 things to look for when choosing an online programme

Generally with French online learning, you can choose between a couple of main learning methods. The first one is self-taught using books, apps, videos or other resources and the second is teacher-taught, a structured program where your learning is guided by a professional teacher.

Below we will delve into the pros and cons of these options and give you 4 important things to consider so you can easily decide which way is the best way for you to learn French online.

Self-study system (books, apps and websites) 

The self-study online French courses are a good option for those that don’t want to have a predefined study schedule and where you can pick when you want to study, be that in the middle of the night. The self-study French online courses are ideal of highly independent students that like a good challenge and would prefer to master French on their own. These courses include Duolingo or Babbel (and many more) where aside from the main site, you can also study using their smartphone application while you’re “on the go”. Self-study only French courses have certain benefits:

  1. You can choose your level and take an assessment test to determine your level of French
  2. You can keep track of your progress through your profile
  3. Flexible weekly goals where you can study from 5 to 20 minutes per day
  4. Various checkpoint to keep track of the progress you made and modules you mastered
  5. The courses are visually heavy, meaning they work with a lot of images and visual content

Of course just like with everything else, it’s not all perfect. Self-study systems also have a few drawbacks:

  • Clarity – It’s not always straightforward how the courses work
  • Obstacles – If you want to study about a specific topic, some platforms won’t allow it until you complete the previous coursework
  • Context – Not all examples are appropriate, clear and common in real-life situations

Teacher-led online French courses 

On the other hand, precisely structured online French courses and programmes offer a schedule and study plan, follow up and correction by a real life teacher. The entire learning experience is different because you have a specific set of French lessons online that you will cover alongside a qualified French language teacher.

When you learn French online, for example through our General French Online Course you will not only cover the speaking portion of the French language, but also the other aspects i.e. writing, pronunciation and reading. This way, you will also learn French and learn about certain grammar rules that apply in every situation. It’s a well-rounded learning experience. Furthermore, your teachers are native French speakers and you get a chance to ask questions and have conversation in real time. Since our programmes offer guided learning, online French courses are mostly suited for those that want to progress in a quick and structured way using real life interactions in French with a native speaker.

So to summarize the benefits of taking a teacher-led online French course:

  1. Best suited for beginners that have no previous knowledge
  2. Ideal for students that need guidance and detailed instructions
  3. Covers all aspects of the French language
  4. Working at your own pace and repeat the study material
  5. Online French courses led by native French speakers
  6. Ability to ask questions and get your questions answered on the spot

Of course, French language lessons online aren’t perfect either:

  1. During group sessions the background noise of some students can be distracting
  2. Groups French lessons online tend to be adjusted to fit the schedules of the majority
  3. Large groups can actually hinder your chances to perfect your language skills
  4. After a certain level, you don’t notice fast progress as before

4 things to look for in an online French course

Ever since travel options have been reduced and your plan to travel somewhere French-speaking in order to learn the language have failed, people around the world have turned to online learning in order to broaden their horizons and learn new skills.

With this drastic shift to online French learning, everyone with a solid foundation of French thinks that they are qualified to teach others, but unfortunately that’s not the case. So in order to make sure that you’re getting the best for your budget, you need to have some criteria when you want to learn French online. Here are 4 things to look for when choosing an online French course.

1. Qualified teachers for French lessons online

Good results from students isn’t the only thing that makes a French language school successful, far from it. The teacher’s commitment to teaching and high quality education makes the difference.

Well-founded and organized online French courses and experienced teachers are important, because it’s not enough to know how to use Zoom or Skype in order to teach French online.

In order for someone to be good at teaching French (or any other subject really) their interpretation of the subject and lessons should be warm and personal, to look and feel like in-class teaching as much as possible, there are many important characteristics of a good language teacher that you should look out for when choosing an online French learning programme.

Furthermore, the teacher not only has to be skilled on how to teach French online, but they also need to be really, really good at French. This is because aside from the theory and rules of French that they must pass on to the students, they should also teach them how to use French in real-life situation that also can include some colloquial language, understanding what certain phrases or proverbs mean. Not something that you will find in every textbook.

2. Personal Attention

You should look for courses that offer personalized instruction and language lessons that will target your specific goals. After all, not every student wants to achieve the same thing, some students will want to learn the basics for personal interest and others will have professional or academic reasons for learning French. French in Normandy teachers will work to understand your goals and help you achieve them at a pace that is suitable to your timeline.  At French in Normandy, your success is our success.

3. Technology & Security

Schools should be a safe place and should provide cutting edge teaching methods and technology. And even though you’re not technically attending French lessons in Normandy, that doesn’t mean that the tools and software that you’re using during your online French course, shouldn’t be modern, safe and secure.

Once the Covid-19 pandemic started to surge many schools and businesses switched to video conferencing like Zoom. This later on, created some problems regarding security but it was resolved quickly thereafter.

When you’re looking for a school with whom you want to learn French online, make sure that they use up-to-date and secure software that is easy to use, accessible and will help and not hinder your learning experience.

4. Word of mouth

Just like when you’re picking the accommodation for your next vacation or when you’re choosing your next smartphone, reviews are a priceless source of information. The same goes for online French courses. People who had great experiences are likely to share their happiness online as a form of gratitude but also to persuade others to make the same choice they have. The same goes if they had a bad experience, when they want to prevent other people from making the same mistake they did.

You can learn a lot from reviews like how efficient and engaging the lessons are, how pleasant and helpful are the teachers and how much will you have to spend for the course.

So even though the current health crisis might look unprecedented and unpredictable, that should not discourage you from working on yourself and broadening your horizons. Learning new skills is a great way to keep your mind sharp and to catch a breath from the not-so-pleasant news you hear every now and then.

If you’re thinking about improving your French language skills, then French in Normandy is definitely the right place to start. All our in-person French language courses are also available online, so you can choose between General French online, DELF online exam preparation and even Teacher Training online.

For more details, make sure to contact us and let us know your questions.

The post What’s the best way to learn French online? appeared first on French in Normandy.

This content was originally published here.