Thinking in a Foreign Language Made Easy

Thinking in a Foreign Language Made Easy Thinking in a Foreign Language Made Easy We’ve all heard that thinking in a foreign language is a sign of  real fluency.But I bet you havent heard that its the  fifth key language skill  that all learners must developâ€"falling right in line with speaking, listening, reading and writing.But is thinking really a skill?Yes, yes it is.After all, thinking is a constant and intimate process. If you can think in a language, surely you must have assimilated the language to such an extent that it’s now a part of you.You’re no longer translating from your native language to the new one. Thats why someone who thinks in their target language will speak faster  and more smoothly, and they won’t have any lag when they’re trying to understand something.Sure, all of that is true, but what people don’t often realize is that thinking in a foreign language can be its very own path to fluency, not just a result of fluency.What does this mean for you?It means that thinking in your target language is absolutely learnable. Its someth ing that you canâ€"and shouldâ€"start working on  right now. All it takes is some practice! Just like speaking, listening, reading and writing. And the best part? Thinking is naturally the root of all those other skills, so you’ll see them all improve drastically in turn.Here, were going to show you how to make this happen. Thinking in a Foreign Language Made Easy1. Translate Your ThoughtsYou could have thought of this one, right? Sure, it seems like the most obvious step to take, but not everyone does it. Some people are very visual or quantitative, meaning they dont have streams of words constantly going through their brains.If you don’t already narrate your life in your head, then start doing it consciously! This kind of active exercise is where you’ll get the most practice.When you remember conversations, translate. When you think about your daily schedule, translate. When you’re cursing the weather, your neighbors, the long line at the grocery store… translate!Pract ical StepsIs this easier said than done? Here are some mini-steps you can take to start working toward narrating your life in your target language.If you’re a beginner, try simply taking some time out of the day to describe what’s around you. When you see a tree, you could think “tree” in your target language. If the correct word for tree isnt coming to you, think “green,” “wood” or anything else that can describe it. Same goes for buildings, animals, clothing, whatever. If you’re really limited in terms of vocab, you could even count people, animals or objects in your head. Anything helps!Soon enough, though, you’ll graduate to wanting to translate two-word phrases and beyond. When you’re able to start doing this, you’ll want to double check everything you’re translating, either with a native speaker or by googling the phrase with quotation marks to see if lots of native speakers are phrasing it just like you are. (Hint: If you get less than 1000 hits or h its that include only learners’ dictionaries and forums, you probably have something funky going on.)If you can’t figure out how to say what you’re thinking, make up an approximation that you’re still absolutely sure is 100 percent correct. Because you’re thinking much, much more than youre speaking or writing, it can be easy to fall into bad habitsâ€"thats why double checking your language usage is still key. Concrete nouns, verbs and adjectives are quite easy to translate, but idiomatic phrases get trickier, so youll want to  be especially sure that you’re using the correct idioms and expressions all the time.2. Start Using Monolingual DictionariesNow we’re getting to less direct but oh-so-essential steps to making the language yours.A monolingual dictionary is just what it sounds likeâ€"instead of translating your target language into your native language and  vice versa, you’re looking up a target-language word and getting a target-language definition, just like when you pick up a dictionary to check a word in your native language.Using a monolingual dictionary can mark an important step in your language learning journey because it means that you’re using the language itself to learn.A small caveat, however: Monolingual dictionaries are most useful if you try them out at the mid- to high-intermediate stage when you can already understand a mainstream novel or follow formal news radio. Otherwise, youll spend a lot of time looking up words in the definitions of other wordsâ€"though that can be a valuable exercise, too.You’ll be pretty amazed at how monolingual dictionaries help you think in the language. While studying, you’ll no longer be translating back and forth. Consciously using a monolingual dictionary while filling out SRS flashcards,  reading novels or working through a textbook will pay off in all your other skill areas. Youll even start to think in terms of the language itself, rather than  only within the framework of your n ative language.Practical StepsFirst of all, find a good monolingual dictionary! WordReference has a great online Spanish-Spanish dictionary (plus monolingual options in many other languages).  I’ve personally used Larousse for French. Guoxuedashi is a good example for Chinese. Searching “dictionary” in your target language will land you with something, but quality is pretty important, so try asking other learners on sites like Quora or Language Learners’ Forum.Now what? Monolingual dictionaries work great when paired with sentence flashcards on SRS. Thats rightâ€"each flashcard will have a whole sentence on the front, and then you can use  your monolingual dictionary to define words you don’t know on the backs of your cards. You can embed definitions if there are words you don’t know in the original definitions.  Check out the blog  All Japanese All the Time  for a  complete explanation  (and a great post on monolingual dictionaries!).  This unconventional approach to fl ashcards  is a great way to learn vocabulary and grammar in context.If the definition is impossible to understand (think: definition for “oak” or “ladder”… simple concepts with confusing, convoluted definitions), paste in an image so that you get the meaning without any interference from English!3. Write in a JournalBecause journaling is writing down your thoughts, it gets you into the habit  of thinking in your target language, especially if youre finding thinking itself to be difficult at first.Basically, it’s just another way to practice Step #1, but it’s slower and you’re in one spot so you can look things up. Its also a good option if youre busy most of the time and dont have the freedom to glaze over and think purposefully in your target language. It doubles as writing practice, too!I discovered this myself when practicing writing in Spanishâ€"I found myself thinking in Spanish for some time after I completed a quick writing session and put down my pen. Spendin g some time deliberately formulating thoughts in Spanish definitely got me into that “zone” of thinking in my target language.Practical StepsTry writing a daily monologue. This can include whatever’s on your mind! Stuff about your work, about your familyâ€"it doesn’t matter. Opinions work well, too, because you might have a lot to say about them. You can just keep a diary in your target language!Get corrections and feedback from natives and learners on  services like italki. On italki, you can even hire a private tutor to work with you one on one, to get the best feedback possible. No matter how you get them, corrections will help you avoid writing things down wrong and cementing bad habits in your mind.Despite the importance of staying away from bad habits, I recommend keeping a private, hard copy journal on good stationery. It’s a great break away from Internet-heavy language learning, and the privacy gives you free reign to write about whatever you want!4. Read More Fir st Person LiteratureReading is so important when it comes to learning a language. If you read books written in the first person, you’ll see direct benefits when it comes to thinking in the language.Obviously, first person books give you the main character’s thoughtsâ€"you get to read someone else’s thoughts so that you can think your own! How cool is that?For all those hard-to-translate idioms and phrases from Step #1, you’ll get solutions from books. You’ll learn how native speakers express abstract concepts, which vocab they use and how they use it.Practical StepsGet some young adult fiction, stat!  Why young adult? Because fiction aimed at that age group loves first person perspective right now, and the language is casual and very realistic. Even if you’re not into reading in that age group normally, I highly recommend you check it out for this purpose (and you might find some new favorite books while you’re at it).As always, translations of books you’ve already r ead work wonderfully because you already have that crucial context that makes understanding a target language so much easier. But if you’re at a loss for what to find, I recommend translations of the Percy Jackson  books or The Hunger Games.  Both are popular (and thus widely translated) and both have fun stories that will keep you engaged.To find the translated titles of these books, simply translate the Wikipedia page into your target language. Then you can search for the title on Amazon!Commit to reading 20 minutes a day to get into the habit of thinking in your target language. It won’t be long before you start remembering phrases you see over and over, but to speed things up, dust off that SRS once again. Enter the sentences or phrases you think you might want to use in your own thoughts, and over time, you won’t forget them!And that’s that! With these four steps, you’ll get past all that clunky translating you’ve been doing in your head.You’ll be well on your way to thinking in your target language and making it your own.Once you’ve gotten the hang of thinking in your language, the rest is smooth sailing!

4 Steps to Personalize Tutoring for Your Child

4 Steps to Personalize Tutoring for Your Child 4 steps to personalize tutoring for your child are as follows: Step one, decide whether your child needs a tutor. Step two, decide on the tutoring method, that is private, online and centers. Step three, find the right tutor. Step four, choose the best tutor. Read on to find out more on these four steps to personalize tutoring for your child. The tutoring needs of children are varied and often complex. Your child is an individual; different from their 70 million piers in the US. Perhaps you and your child are preparing for challenging placement and qualification exams in order to be accepted into an Ivy League school. If youre fortunate and your child is gifted and talented then you may be looking for a tutor to achieve their full potential. Perhaps your child is having trouble with science or concept in mathematics. Dont fret, disabilities in math can be resolved and are ubiquitous today; 5% to 8% of school-age children are identified as having some kind of disability in mathematics. Another common occurrence these days is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Should you child suffer from ADHD you need the extra attention from a tutor who specializes in learning disabilities (LD)? Also, since 2008 more parents are struggling financially and can hardly afford a private tutor. Dont worry; the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires that low-performing low-income schools must provide free tutoring services to children who qualify. Step 1: Decide on whether your child needs personalized tutoring. Give personalized tutoring a go if one of the following criteria is true for your child. • Child is struggling with homework exercises. • Your child’s teachers expressed concern. • Your child exhibits a drop in assessment results. • There is a general concern from your child regarding their studies. While not urgent, you may want to consider hiring a private tutor for your child in order to: • Increase confidence in his favorite subject • Supplement classroom teaching amidst educational budget cuts. • Ensure the optimal assessment results in preparation for university applications. With the public education system strained to its limits, the college admissions requirements ever rising most parents opt for tutoring. Occasionally, it is the students themselves who ask for tutoring in order to feel ever more confident in class. The short answer to step one is that every child can benefit from personalized tutoring. In fact, as a professional tutor, and CEO of TutorZ I have never seen a child who did not profit from tutoring. Even overachieving students benefit from personalized tutoring as in the process they will achieve full potential in their gifted areas. Moreover, gifted students are encouraged to overcome some weak spots. No matter what your reasons are for hiring a personalized tutor it is important to discuss the decision with your child. Now that you have decided to give personalized tutoring a go we need to consider the method of tutoring. Step 2: Decide on the most appropriate method of tutoring. Knowing your childs innate preferences, your budget limitations or convenience is is now time to selected the most appropriate method of tutoring. Private tutoring is the most common type of tutoring and, perhaps, the most desirable for younger children and those with learning disabilities. Conveniently, private tutors come to your home or should you prefer so meet you and your child at school or another public location. Typically private tutors have years of tutoring experience and know their tutoring subjects very well. Sometimes private tutors are still in college and know the teachers, text books and curricula will which enhanced the quality of tutoring seasons. Online tutoring has become main stream with the proliferation of the Internet. The reasons for deciding to go for online tutoring are compelling: • You are unable to find a tutor near home. • Youre looking of a true expert in the subject. • Need tutoring help with an uncommon subject such as thermodynamics or knitting. • Your schedule makes attending regular sessions difficult. • Need to save gas money by not having to commute to the meeting place. Online tutoring allows your child to work with a teacher in real time over the Internet. Communication between student and online tutor is usually done using headsets. This way the child’s hands are free to type or to write on an electronic pad. There are many applications available that offer video conferencing, so child and tutor interact face to face. I recommend Skype as it is fully featured and free for one-to-one connections. Subjects like reading, math and programming are well suited for online tutoring. Hands-on subjects such as knitting or learning to play the guitar fail typically for obvious reasons. Even for subjects like social studies for an eighth-grader, you’ll probably want to stick with private or school-based tutoring. In general, the younger your student is the harder it is to make online tutoring work. If your kid is distracted or sufficiently undisciplined to sit through an online session opt for private tutoring. The most important consideration of online tutoring is whether you child is disciplined to being tutored over the Internet. On the Internet there are so many tempting distractions. We found the online tutoring works best for kids when their parents accompany the sessions. But not always can parents make the time for it, so they are left with tutoring centers. Tutoring centers are companies that employ tutors with various kinds of experience. Some centers use standardized materials and methods. They may offer diagnostic testing to help them develop a learning strategy for your child. Your child will be placed with a tutor for sessions one or more times a week, usually after school or in the evening. Some tutoring centers offer group tutoring, which can be less expensive than individual tutoring. However, you’ll need to decide whether your child will work better in a group or one-on-one. Step 3: Finding the Tutor Word of mouth is perhaps the best source of finding a tutor. Asking other parents who have used a tutor can be a good way of ensuring that the tutor is credible and good at their job. If word of mouth is not an option it’s worth having a look at local newspapers or magazines, local bulletin boards in libraries, community colleges or even at the groceries store. Tutors tend to advertise their services there. However, these traditional methods tend to give way to online tutor referrals. I feel today the quickest and most effective way of finding a personal tutor is online. Many tutors have their own websites and there are several tutor directories that list home educators by area. When searching for a tutor, think about the keywords that will bring up what you are looking for â€" what subject, level and area do you want to search. For example, googling for math tutor in Houston, TX will show you a dozens of good sites. Be as specific as you can in entering your google query. For example, if you in college and look for a calculus tutor then better enter calculus college tutor in Houston, TX. The search results will surely help to solve your difficult college math homework. The Internet is a wonderful thing. While advertising ads on craigslist or backpage was state of the art during the Web 1.0 generation, today we are blessed with tutoring marketplace companies, such as TutorZ.com. These new type tutoring services maintain an eBay-like marketplace where tens of thousands of tutors are treated as independent contractors. These tutor contractors are rated and reviewed and have passed application tests. Moreover, criminal background checks can be purchased. Thanks to these tutoring marketplaces, finding a tutor nowadays is as easy as ABC. Simply type in your search query (e.g. calculus college tutor in Houston, TX) into TutorZ search box and screen the in-person tutors nearby. Moreover, these tutoring market places sites protect parents from bad tutors and visa versa. Bad apples are everywhere, in the tutoring industry also. Step 4: Choosing the Right Tutor Choosing the right tutor presupposes choice. The choice offered by local classified tutoring ads or even craigslist listings is often insufficient. Thats where these Internet tutoring market places shine: They have dozens to thousands of tutors in your local area. TutorZ has an impressive selection of 40,000 certified and trusted tutors. Whether you prefer a female tutor for your daughter or an Ph.D. level math expert for a statistics research paper, a caring special education tutor for a child suffering from ADHD or simply a tutor who is affordable TutorZ has them all. While having a choice is a good thing, making the right match is the next thing. The research conducted by TutorZ has shown that through blending technology and human intelligence matches are made most easily and efficiently connecting the student with the perfect tutor. The important thing is to look for personalized matching and a tutoring consultation. In summary, the tutoring needs of every student different. Virtually all children benefit from tutoring. Whether private or online tutoring we recommend to shop for tutors on new online tutoring marketplaces, the likes of TutorZ.com. There you are empowered through choice and personalized match making. 4 Steps to Personalize Tutoring for Your Child 4 steps to personalize tutoring for your child are as follows: Step one, decide whether your child needs a tutor. Step two, decide on the tutoring method, that is private, online and centers. Step three, find the right tutor. Step four, choose the best tutor. Read on to find out more on these four steps to personalize tutoring for your child. The tutoring needs of children are varied and often complex. Your child is an individual; different from their 70 million piers in the US. Perhaps you and your child are preparing for challenging placement and qualification exams in order to be accepted into an Ivy League school. If youre fortunate and your child is gifted and talented then you may be looking for a tutor to achieve their full potential. Perhaps your child is having trouble with science or concept in mathematics. Dont fret, disabilities in math can be resolved and are ubiquitous today; 5% to 8% of school-age children are identified as having some kind of disability in mathematics. Another common occurrence these days is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Should you child suffer from ADHD you need the extra attention from a tutor who specializes in learning disabilities (LD)? Also, since 2008 more parents are struggling financially and can hardly afford a private tutor. Dont worry; the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires that low-performing low-income schools must provide free tutoring services to children who qualify. Step 1: Decide on whether your child needs personalized tutoring. Give personalized tutoring a go if one of the following criteria is true for your child. • Child is struggling with homework exercises. • Your child’s teachers expressed concern. • Your child exhibits a drop in assessment results. • There is a general concern from your child regarding their studies. While not urgent, you may want to consider hiring a private tutor for your child in order to: • Increase confidence in his favorite subject • Supplement classroom teaching amidst educational budget cuts. • Ensure the optimal assessment results in preparation for university applications. With the public education system strained to its limits, the college admissions requirements ever rising most parents opt for tutoring. Occasionally, it is the students themselves who ask for tutoring in order to feel ever more confident in class. The short answer to step one is that every child can benefit from personalized tutoring. In fact, as a professional tutor, and CEO of TutorZ I have never seen a child who did not profit from tutoring. Even overachieving students benefit from personalized tutoring as in the process they will achieve full potential in their gifted areas. Moreover, gifted students are encouraged to overcome some weak spots. No matter what your reasons are for hiring a personalized tutor it is important to discuss the decision with your child. Now that you have decided to give personalized tutoring a go we need to consider the method of tutoring. Step 2: Decide on the most appropriate method of tutoring. Knowing your childs innate preferences, your budget limitations or convenience is is now time to selected the most appropriate method of tutoring. Private tutoring is the most common type of tutoring and, perhaps, the most desirable for younger children and those with learning disabilities. Conveniently, private tutors come to your home or should you prefer so meet you and your child at school or another public location. Typically private tutors have years of tutoring experience and know their tutoring subjects very well. Sometimes private tutors are still in college and know the teachers, text books and curricula will which enhanced the quality of tutoring seasons. Online tutoring has become main stream with the proliferation of the Internet. The reasons for deciding to go for online tutoring are compelling: • You are unable to find a tutor near home. • Youre looking of a true expert in the subject. • Need tutoring help with an uncommon subject such as thermodynamics or knitting. • Your schedule makes attending regular sessions difficult. • Need to save gas money by not having to commute to the meeting place. Online tutoring allows your child to work with a teacher in real time over the Internet. Communication between student and online tutor is usually done using headsets. This way the child’s hands are free to type or to write on an electronic pad. There are many applications available that offer video conferencing, so child and tutor interact face to face. I recommend Skype as it is fully featured and free for one-to-one connections. Subjects like reading, math and programming are well suited for online tutoring. Hands-on subjects such as knitting or learning to play the guitar fail typically for obvious reasons. Even for subjects like social studies for an eighth-grader, you’ll probably want to stick with private or school-based tutoring. In general, the younger your student is the harder it is to make online tutoring work. If your kid is distracted or sufficiently undisciplined to sit through an online session opt for private tutoring. The most important consideration of online tutoring is whether you child is disciplined to being tutored over the Internet. On the Internet there are so many tempting distractions. We found the online tutoring works best for kids when their parents accompany the sessions. But not always can parents make the time for it, so they are left with tutoring centers. Tutoring centers are companies that employ tutors with various kinds of experience. Some centers use standardized materials and methods. They may offer diagnostic testing to help them develop a learning strategy for your child. Your child will be placed with a tutor for sessions one or more times a week, usually after school or in the evening. Some tutoring centers offer group tutoring, which can be less expensive than individual tutoring. However, you’ll need to decide whether your child will work better in a group or one-on-one. Step 3: Finding the Tutor Word of mouth is perhaps the best source of finding a tutor. Asking other parents who have used a tutor can be a good way of ensuring that the tutor is credible and good at their job. If word of mouth is not an option it’s worth having a look at local newspapers or magazines, local bulletin boards in libraries, community colleges or even at the groceries store. Tutors tend to advertise their services there. However, these traditional methods tend to give way to online tutor referrals. I feel today the quickest and most effective way of finding a personal tutor is online. Many tutors have their own websites and there are several tutor directories that list home educators by area. When searching for a tutor, think about the keywords that will bring up what you are looking for â€" what subject, level and area do you want to search. For example, googling for math tutor in Houston, TX will show you a dozens of good sites. Be as specific as you can in entering your google query. For example, if you in college and look for a calculus tutor then better enter calculus college tutor in Houston, TX. The search results will surely help to solve your difficult college math homework. The Internet is a wonderful thing. While advertising ads on craigslist or backpage was state of the art during the Web 1.0 generation, today we are blessed with tutoring marketplace companies, such as TutorZ.com. These new type tutoring services maintain an eBay-like marketplace where tens of thousands of tutors are treated as independent contractors. These tutor contractors are rated and reviewed and have passed application tests. Moreover, criminal background checks can be purchased. Thanks to these tutoring marketplaces, finding a tutor nowadays is as easy as ABC. Simply type in your search query (e.g. calculus college tutor in Houston, TX) into TutorZ search box and screen the in-person tutors nearby. Moreover, these tutoring market places sites protect parents from bad tutors and visa versa. Bad apples are everywhere, in the tutoring industry also. Step 4: Choosing the Right Tutor Choosing the right tutor presupposes choice. The choice offered by local classified tutoring ads or even craigslist listings is often insufficient. Thats where these Internet tutoring market places shine: They have dozens to thousands of tutors in your local area. TutorZ has an impressive selection of 40,000 certified and trusted tutors. Whether you prefer a female tutor for your daughter or an Ph.D. level math expert for a statistics research paper, a caring special education tutor for a child suffering from ADHD or simply a tutor who is affordable TutorZ has them all. While having a choice is a good thing, making the right match is the next thing. The research conducted by TutorZ has shown that through blending technology and human intelligence matches are made most easily and efficiently connecting the student with the perfect tutor. The important thing is to look for personalized matching and a tutoring consultation. In summary, the tutoring needs of every student different. Virtually all children benefit from tutoring. Whether private or online tutoring we recommend to shop for tutors on new online tutoring marketplaces, the likes of TutorZ.com. There you are empowered through choice and personalized match making.