The 7-String Guitar How to Navigate That Extra String

The 7-String Guitar How to Navigate That Extra String Suzy S. If youve already mastered guitar chords and guitar chord transitions on your normal, 6-string guitar, why not take it up a notch?   Experimenting with a 7-string guitar can be a great way to enhance your skills and try something new, once youve been taking guitar lessons for a while. However, even though its just one more string, the transition can be tricky for some. To help you get started with the 7-string guitar, heres a great article by Tom Hess, featuring some great tips for navigating that extra string: Are you struggling with musical creativity on 7 string guitar? If so, dont worry. ?This is actually a very common issue for most 7 string guitarists. This is especially the case if the majority of your time has been spent playing on a 6 string guitar. Even though there are many similarities between 7 and 6 string guitar, 7 string guitar brings many new things to the table in terms of its physical feel and potential for creative musical expression. To become an excellent 7 string guitar player, you will need to fully understand how to overcome any challenges that arise with your new instrument. It is also necessary for you to become aware of all the new guitar playing possibilities that will help you express yourself better in your music. As you continue reading the rest of this article, I will show you many new ideas to help you express yourself creatively in your 7 string guitar playing. Integrate The Low B String Into Your Lead Guitar Playing Since a 7 string guitar essentially adds a bass string onto the guitar, many guitarists consider the instrument to be primarily used for rhythm. However, this is only a single piece of the puzzle. In fact, 7 string guitar is unique because it gives you a great opportunity to extend your lead guitar playing into the lower range as well. To get the most from this instrument, extend the scale and arpeggio patterns you know from 6 string guitar onto the low B string. This will help you to expand the pitch range of your lead guitar phrases to make it more similar to piano. If you dont know how to do this yourself, find a guitar teacher who knows how to effectively teach these 7 string guitar playing concepts. Discover And Build Unique Chord Patterns The 7 string guitar can be used to create many interesting chords that are not possible on a 6 string guitar. In most cases, musicians will use the 7 string guitar to play in a metal style; however, you are not limited to this style alone. The 7 string guitar can be played in a wide variety of different musical genres. With the addition of the extra seventh string, you can give basic guitar chords a much more interesting sound. The coolest part of this is that you can use the low B string to essentially play standard guitar and bass guitar simultaneously! To demonstrate this, I am going to show you an exercise. First, turn off any distortion settings you have and play through a clean channel on your amp. For this exercise, you will be experimenting with various guitar chords that you may have already learned on 6 string guitar. First, create some chords using only the fifth, fourth, and third strings. Then, combine these chords with the low B string. Next, try this same idea, but use the third, second, and first strings. While you are experimenting with this exercise, pay attention to how different it feels when you are playing the strings closer (in pitch) vs. the strings that are farther apart in pitch. Which one of these do you think sounds more pleasing overall? Once you have decided this, you can begin using this idea in your own 7 string guitar music. Learn To Use The Entire Range Of The Instrument In most cases, guitarists are introduced to 7 string guitar through heavy metal riffs played by their favorite bands. This influences them to purchase a 7 string guitar for themselves. As soon as they pick up this instrument, they focus all their energy into creating heavy riffs or rhythms on the low B string. This is certainly one of the most unique features that a 7 string guitar has to offer, however if you spend too much time on the same string, your music will quickly become stale and uninteresting. For instance, lets say that you are going to create a song. In this song, you have a wide variety of instruments to choose from such as guitar, piano, bass, keyboard, drums, etc. However, while writing this composition, you decide to create the music by ONLY using the lowest pitch ranges that can be played on each instrument for the entire duration of the song! Im willing to bet that your listeners will become bored after the first 30 seconds. After this amount of time, your audience would likely be listening to the music while saying to themselves: Are you going to ever play some higher notes?? This is exactly what happens when many people play 7 string guitar. By spending all your time on the low B string, your guitar playing will lack variety. In order to fix this, focus on incorporating the other strings into your rhythm guitar playing. This will balance things out, and keep your music more interesting. If you would like to be more creative on 7 string guitar, it is essential that you understand and apply this concept. When I show my own guitar students how to compose songs, I train them how to master this idea of balance in their music. To find out more about balancing pitch range on 7 string guitar, check out this lesson for improving 7 string guitar playing. Combine Rhythm Guitar Chords With Lead Guitar Melodies One of the signs that you are becoming a truly great 7 string guitar player is when you are able to cleanly and accurately shift between rhythm and lead guitar parts while still playing in time. When playing 7 string guitar, this skill becomes more challenging due to the wider guitar neck that makes it harder to jump from lower range notes to higher range notes. To get better at combining rhythm and lead guitar together, you will need to not only be able to play both parts flawlessly on their own, but you also must practice the specific moment of transition from one part to the next. To make quick improvement in this area of your guitar playing, focus on playing each part without mistakes (and with good timing), then slowly integrate the two. For additional help, record yourself playing these parts together. By recording yourself, you will be able to hear any mistakes you make with much more clarity. Minimize All Unwanted String Noises For most guitar players, it is very tough in the beginning to eliminate excess guitar noise coming from any strings that are not being played. This is due in part to the significant change in the physical feel of a 7 string guitar compared to 6 string guitar. This change comes not only from the additional string, but also from a wider guitar neck. This will take some time for you to get used to. If you want to make your guitar playing cleaner, you need to make it a priority to fix any string noise problems in your technique. Listen closely as you play guitar so that you can hear any extra noise that occurs. Then, use guitar string muting techniques to minimize the noise until only the notes you want to hear remain. To get more help with cleaning up your guitar playing, read this article on how to eliminate guitar string noise. If you have a lot of trouble playing guitar cleanly, seek out a great guitar teacher who can help you effectively solve this problem. Final Thoughts Most likely you have not found the ideas in this article to be too difficult to understand. Unfortunately, most 7 string guitar players do not take ACTION to use these ideas for improving their guitar playing. As a result, their progress is very slow. By simply focusing on mastering the ideas described above, you will be able to get much more from playing a 7 string guitar as well as greatly enhance your musical creativity in a shorter period of time. Learn how to play 7 string guitar more creatively in this lesson about improving 7 string guitar playing. Learn how to clean up your guitar playing in this article about how to eliminate guitar string noise. About The Author: Tom Hess is a successful professional guitar player, composer and the guitarist of the band Rhapsody Of Fire. He also trains musicians to reach their guitar playing goals in his rock guitar lessons online. Visit his website, tomhess.net to read more articles about guitar playing, get free guitar tips and guitar playing resources. Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of prescreened teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for safe, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by germanium.

Exercises for Burning Belly Fat

Exercises for Burning Belly Fat The Best Activities for Getting a Flat Stomach ChaptersJoggingSwimmingCyclingPilates and YogaExercising at the GymSquashPole DancingPower WalkingBoxingCrossFit and Circuit TrainingStomach fat is a concern for a lot of people, especially in situations when it’s on display. Fat is usually stored around the stomach near the abdominal wall, leading to a gut and love handles.If you want a flat stomach, it probably won’t surprise you to find out that you’ll need to regularly exercise to build muscle and burn fat. You also need to change how you eat and consume more fibre-rich foods.In this article, Superprof has some of the best activities and exercises for getting rid of your tummy. There are plenty of enjoyable activities you can do to burn fat, increase your metabolism, and get rid of love handles. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Dis cover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tuto rs MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsJoggingIt’s no surprise that running is one of the best activities for fat burning. This is a cheap hobby that can burn a lot of calories and get rid of belly fat. Generally, you can burn between 700 and 1,000 calories in an hour of running. Put simply, running regularly can lead to weight loss. Jogging will help you burn fat and get a flatter stomach. (Source: Pexels)Running is also good for your abdominal muscles, thighs, and buttocks. It’s also a good way for those who are overweight or obese to progressively get back into doing sport and make a habit of it.If you need some motivation, keep this in mind:“You can't run from all your problems, but it will help you lose weight.”Running is a great way to get rid of your tummy and rolls and is also a fun way to explore nice parts of the world.Check Superprof for a good personal trainer.SwimmingSwimming is an activity that’s famous for being the best for your body overall. Whether it’s your abs, hips, or legs, your entire body is working to burn fat when you swim. Furthermore, it’s a cardio activity that can improve your heart and breathing.Your abs will be working when you swim. Additionally, physical exercises in the water can tone muscles and are useful for getting a flat stomach. Here are the different types of stroke you can do to get a flat stomach:BreaststrokeBackstrokeButterflyCrawlIt’s very difficult to gain weight if you swim regularly and eat well.CyclingTo work on your legs and stomach, you can also cycle. Cycling is a cardio activity that’s an effective way to burn fat and live a healthy life. Thanks to cycling, you’ll burn fat and gain muscle.  You can also use an elliptical trainer if you have one or use one in a gym if you want to change things up and get rid of tummy fat.Pilates and YogaTo tone your abs, you can also do pilates or yoga. These two activities are also good for working on your breathing and work on your body deep down. Generally, these involve slow movements and poses that you have to hold. Finding inner peace and losing weight!? (Source: lograstudio)Through stretching and tensing, pilates and yoga can help your body and mind to unwind and you’ll steadily lose that belly. These activities are recommended for those who prefer gentle activities over intense sporting activities. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesso n free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JonathanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsExercising at the GymThe best ways to get a flat stomach is to visit the gym. There’s plenty of equipment designed to tone your belly and burn calories.In particular, you can use the rowing machine, skipping ropes, treadmill, and a load of different machines. If you go to the gym, make sure you focus on working your abs with exercises like planking and crunches and you'll soon start to flatten that stomach.SquashSquash, if you’re not familiar, is a bit like indoor tennis. Two people play together by hitting the ball against a wall. There are plenty of advantages to playing squash. It’s a lot of fun, it’s good for your losing belly fat, a great way to unwind, tone muscles, and burn calories.Squash can burn plenty of calories and get you that flat stomach you’re after. Make sure you warm up first and wear goggles to avoid hurting yourself.A lot of gyms and health clubs have squash courts that you can use.Pole DancingGenerally, pole dancing is an activity for women that is partway between acrobatics and dancing. You’ll hold poses while keeping your balance around a pole. As a result, this activity is also great for getting rid of a gut. Pole dancing is an intense physical activity that works your abs. (Source: ivanovgood)The different poses work your arms and your abs. What better way to get rid of fat than to replace it with muscle. It’s also very fun!Power WalkingWe tend to think that walking doesn't count as exercise but it's more effective when it comes to burning fat than you might think. Walking and power walking, in particular, are good at burning fat if you do them regularly.Start by walking for around half an hour and then increase the amount of time you walk for once you get the hang of it. When coupled with a good diet, you’ll start losing weight as you burn more calories than you take in. With a few ab exercises, you’ll soon have the perfect tummy.Discover how long it takes to get a flat stomach.Boxing“To be a champ you have to believe in yourself when nobody else will.” - Sugar Ray RobinsonWith this type of thinking, you can motivate yourself to box, an intense sport that’ll tone the muscles in your stomach, arms, and legs. However, you need to be fairly brave to start boxing as it’s quite a violent sport.  If you’re looking for one of the best activities for getting a flat stomach, you’ve found it! Boxing is great for burning calories and toning up!CrossFit and Circuit TrainingIf you’ve only recently started exercising, terms like CrossFit and Circuit Training probably won’t mean much to you. These are both training methods that are great for increasing the intensity of your workouts. CrossFit combines cardio and weights to help you burn fat and tone muscles. (Source: blackmachinex)CrossFit focuses on repeated sessions whereas Circuit Training pits you against the clock in a series of exercises. Thus, you end up with short, intense, and fun training sessions. These two methods are great for burning fat if you do them regularly and focus on your abs. Exercises like squats, jumping jacks, and burpees are great for your stomach.Fat burning exercises are one thing, but if you want to lose weight fast and healthily, you need to stop overeating (eat less if you do), avoid snacking, consume fat burning foods, and generally eat better. This isn't about dieting but rather forming habits that will reduce belly fat and help you to lose weight.By combining your diet with exercises to lose belly fat, you'll increase your metabolism and start to see the changes in your midsection and waistline. Additionally, abdominal exercises will make your stomach flatter and more toned and aerobic exercise will improve your cardio performance.Now that you some of the most effective training methods and fat burning exercises for getting rid of belly fat, you can say goodbye to a flabby tummy. If you do the right exercises and eat right, getting a flat stomach is easier than you might think. If you want to take your exercise even further, consider getting help from a private fitness tutor on Superprof!On Superprof, there are three main types of fitness tutorial available: face-to-face, online, and group tutorials. Each has its pros and cons and you have to choose which one works for you.Face-to-face tutorials involve just you and your fitness tutor. In this case, you're paying for a bespoke and tailored fitness plan and sessions that take your strengths and weaknesses into account. While these cost the most per session, you'll also probably see the quickest results from these types of tutorials.Online tutorials are similar with the main difference being that your person al trainer near me isn't there with you but rather conducting the tutorial via webcam. While these types of tutorials are better for academic subjects, there are fitness tutors offering tutorials via webcam. These also tend to be cheaper than face-to-face tutorials since the tutor has fewer overheads to worry about.Finally, group tutorials are more like traditional fitness classes with one instructor and several attendees. These are usually the cheapest type of private fitness tutorial since the cost of the tutor's time will be shared amongst all the members of the class. However, this also means that the lessons aren't tailored to a single student and while the tutor will do their best to help you, they won't be able to dedicate every minute of the class to you.

7 Tips For Leading People When Youre Introverted - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 7 Tips For Leading People When Youre Introverted - Introvert Whisperer 7 Tips For Leading People When Youre Introverted In many ways, life is better for introverts than it’s ever been before. If you’d rather stay at home and be alone than socialize, you can still stay entertained and engaged through the internet. There’s also a lot more understanding of how different people thrive in different environments, even extending to the workplace: remote working is vastly more comfortable for many. All that said, there’s still an immense need for leadership in the business world, and there’s every chance that the responsibility might fall upon someone introverted â€" like you. And if you’re the best person for the job, and you’re committed to the business, then you’ll want to find a way to see it through without letting yourself or others down. This is easier said than done, of course, and it’s understandable if you need a little help. Here are 7 tips to help you be an effective leader as an introvert: Be honest about your preferences The first thing you should do is make it clear to everyone you’re leading that you’re an introvert. Don’t succumb to the temptation to pretend that you’re always happy to be around others, however much you think it’s what everyone wants from a leader. It can be great to have a leader who’ll gladly join you for drinks, but it can also be great to have a leader who gives you space. Besides, you’re allowed to be bad at some things: if you’ve assembled a great team, then their strengths will be able to cover for your weaknesses (and you can do the same for them). Delegate tasks sensibly Trying to do everything yourself is a terrible idea for a leader regardless, but it’s particularly bad when you’re an introvert, because you’ll rapidly run out of energy and motivation. When you start to delegate tasks to the people working under you, prioritize offloading anything that will make you feel uncomfortable. For instance, though leaders typically handle sales meetings, you might not be the best person for the job â€" so if someone on your team is a great fit, let them try. Use varied communication tools Different introverts are exhausted by different things. Some people can’t handle spoken conversation for very long but are fine with answering emails, while others have the opposite problem. What gives you the most anxiety? Communication is essential, and if you mix up your methods (using various tools) you should find that you don’t get exhausted as quickly or easily. Focus on one-on-one meetings You’re likely going to struggle in big team meetings, but you don’t always need to hold meetings like that. Instead, you can stagger one-on-one meetings â€" that way, you’ll be able to feel more relaxed (with fewer distractions and less pressure), and you’ll have the opportunity to speak more candidly. You won’t be able to get rid of team meetings altogether, but if you can keep them to a minimum, it will be a huge help. Plan your talking points As noted, from time to time you’ll need to hold team meetings. Cohesion is important, and you set the tone for how everyone works together, so being able to step up and give an inspiring speech is an important element of leadership. However, since introversion is more about social interaction, you can simply deliver a planned set of talking points. That way, you won’t get distracted, and you’ll be able to concentrate on the content (and not the people listening). Listen very carefully Discomfort stemming from introversion makes it hard to talk comfortably, but it doesn’t stop you from listening â€" and that’s exactly what you should do. When you’re relatively quiet, you open up opportunities for the people on your team to talk, and make them feel less inhibited. This is a great thing: it’s common in business for workers to worry about what their bosses will say, so getting people to speak freely is invaluable. Listen closely, and use what you learn to improve. Schedule some alone time Finally, no matter how important your job as a leader may be, your mental health must come first. You may need to postpone meetings, cancel trips, or (in the worst-case scenario) let a prospective client walk away, but ensure that you get enough time to relax and recharge. After all, if you hit the point of burnout, it won’t benefit anyone. Being an introverted leader will always be challenging, and you’ll likely never feel totally comfortable â€" but that’s alright. Your team will understand, and if you let them help you, you’ll be able to achieve great things together.

Rounding Word Problems

Rounding Word Problems Rounding numbers coverts large numbers and decimal numbers to simpler forms which are then useful to solve or express in a given question. This concept is commonly used in many word problem and different calculations. Rounding to the tenths place is rounding of a decimal number to the nearest one decimal space. Rounding to the hundredths place is rounding a decimal number to the nearest two decimal spaces. Rounding to the thousandths place is rounding a decimal number to the nearest three decimal spaces and so on. Example 1: The price of each book is $ 15.78. If the shopkeeper sold 13 copies. Find the total money earned by the shopkeeper. Solution: Price of each book = $ 15.78. Number of copies sold by the shopkeeper = 13. The money earned by the shopkeeper = 13 * 15.78 = $ 205.14. Rounding the decimal number to the nearest whole number. Hence the money earned by the shopkeeper = $ 205. Example 2: There are 15 children in the class. 7 of them buy cupcakes and the remaining buy cookies. Each cookie costs $ 1.89 and cupcake costs $2.24. How much did the class spend (round to a whole number)? Solution: Price of each cookie = $ 1.89. Price of each cupcake = $ 2.24. Number of students brought cupcakes = 7 Number of students brought cookies = 8. Amount spent on cupcakes = 7 * 1.89 = $ 13.23 Amount spent on cookies = 8 * 2.24= $ 17.92 The total amount spent = $ 31.15 (Rounding the decimal) Hence, total amount spent = $ 31.

Confidence and Math Performance Equals Success in the Classroom and Beyond - Heart Math Tutoring

Confidence and Math Performance Equals Success in the Classroom and Beyond - Heart Math Tutoring Confidence and Math Performance Equals Success in the Classroom and Beyond Confidence and Math Performance Equals Success in the Classroom and Beyond March 29, 2016 By Emily Elliott, Executive Director of Heart Math Tutoring Our tutors move the dial on students’ success in math. Half of their role is to deliver the math curriculum, and half is to be a positive influence. In our program, we measure students’ growth in math skills and academic confidence and/or enthusiasm. This article from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) suggests the two are connected. According to PISA, students’ belief that they can solve math problems (mathematics “self-efficacy”) is associated with a difference in math skills and the difference is equivalent to a full year of schooling. Factors impacting self-efficacy (and math performance) are: How often students encountered similar tasks Parents holding ambitious expectations (For example, the belief that the student is going to college impacts student math self-efficacy and thus math performance.) Furthermore, economically disadvantaged students are typically less confident in their ability to solve mathematics problems, even when comparing students who have similar math abilities. According to PISA, “Schools and families can help students to develop a mastery of mathematics by exposing them to a variety of mathematics problems while providing encouragement and support as they work to solve them.” Our tutors expose students to math tasks that push students’ understanding, while acting as cheerleaders, patiently waiting for the student to discover a solution. Each Heart student begins to believe that math makes sense, and that he/she is able to figure it out. Through our program, 91% of teachers saw an increase in students’ confidence towards math. In addition, 96% of our tutors believe they had a positive influence on students’ confidence about and understanding of math. Math games and activities from Heart’s curriculum can be reinforced at home. By inviting parents to be volunteers, attending school-wide curriculum nights, and hosting parent education events, we create opportunities to for parents to be involved and to provide encouragement for their children. It takes a strong team to work towards success for the children Heart serves. From our staff, volunteer tutors, school administrators and teachers to parents and funding partners, together we are helping kids develop a strong foundation for math and enthusiasm for academics to ensure long-term success.

The Underestimated Power of Practice

The Underestimated Power of Practice Improving Academic Performance We have all come across genius, people who are exceptional, admirable, and undeniably perfect. Some have graced our history books and televisions many times over (Einstein, Mozart, Jordan), while others are our neighbors or friends who are just awesome at something - imagine that girl or boy wonder in your AP Physics or English class that seems to immediately understand absolutely everything the teacher says and ace every test. But we may be looking at them and ourselves the entirely wrong way. What if what it took to become an expert or a genius was a different kind of work (hard work done smartly) for many hours behind the scenes that we just don’t see? What if the only thing stopping us from being great is a misunderstanding of the nature of intelligence, talent, and performance? What if even in highly academic disciplines, it wasn’t IQ or natural ability that explained “genius?” There is an idea, a new but highly researched and supported idea, discussed in a variety of books on talent and intelligence, that it is not natural talent and ability, but a specific time of practice, that explains how people become experts and geniuses. There are two bestselling books on this topic that have greatly influenced this article: Talent Is Overrated by Geoff Colvin and The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle Both sources strive to change the public’s view of world-class talents versus themselves. We’re not all that fundamentally different. Some of us just work really hard, in a really specific way, at improving our skills. We won’t go into the details in this article, but the research supporting these points shows that the right type of practice literally builds a substance in our brains that is positively correlated with being good at something, and which has been shown to increase over time with practice. This is revolutionary stuff. Let’s look at a few examples before we delve into the idea that genetics isn’t the only thing that plays into genius â€" especially when evaluating it in the context of standardized test taking and generally performing well in school. Skinny and much shorter than he is now, Michael Jordan didn’t make the varsity team his sophomore year of high school. Right before his junior year, he grew to NBA height and was quickly on his way to stardom. But what else happened in that year? Did he embark on a career filled with hours of dedicated practice, drills, and exercises? Definitely. But that’s not the only story. Perhaps inspired by not making that varsity team, he practiced in an incredibly focused way - striving to perfect his shooting form, improve his moves, and become more explosive. He didn’t just practice a lot, he practiced the right way. Michael Jordan once said, and I’m paraphrasing, if you take 1,000 shots with imperfect form, you’ll become very good at shooting the wrong way. He intuitively understood that the right type of practice involves focusing on getting the fundamentals exactly right, going slow, getting input from experts, identifying errors, understanding them, and fixing them immediately, and more. You’ve heard of Mozart, the creative genius that defined classical and romantic period music composition? We all have. What you may not have heard of is his early beginnings as a musician. He was born into a family well versed in music and was writing pieces with help from his parents at the tender age of 5. By the time he was in his teenage years, he was creating masterpieces. But, along the way, he composed some pretty average, or below average, pieces of music. To be creating works of “genius” in your teenage years is still extraordinary, of course. But when you take into account the fact that he had had daily instruction and practice in the art of composition from the day he could walk, it is a much different story than the miraculous pre-teen that writes world class music. Lady Gaga was denied countless times by record companies and agents before she landed her first radio debut. Award-winning actors struggle for years without any recognition. Steve Jobs’s first computer making venture was a disaster. Even consider your own high school valedictorian or AP Physics prodigy. These people may have genes which, if you could identify whatever genes lead to our best notion of intelligence, are set up well. But, that doesn’t really do anyone any good without lots of the right type of practice. But what made them great was practice, and practice done the most effective way. It’s a term called ‘deep practice’, hard work done in a focused and inspired manner that makes all the difference. That’s what Michael Jordan, Mozart, and Lady Gaga are doing when they practice. Take high school or college level math as an example. A student won’t gain much from doing every problem again and again and then reviewing the answers. The student must learn to do the problems correctly. If you actively embrace your mistakes, think about them, and learn from them you will get the most information and growth out of them in order to make positive progress. What does this mean, exactly? It means do a few problems. Stop. Check the answer. If you got something wrong, identify why. Try the problem again. Then move on. This is also true when preparing for standardized tests. ‘Deep practice’ will inevitably improve performance. Although it may seem easier said than done, it is possible with constant attention to observing mistakes and evaluating how they happened and how to fix them. The very worst thing you can do is ignore mistakes and call them “silly” â€" as we so often like to do - and forge onto the next math problem. The next time you’re sitting in AP Physics, Organic Chemistry, 18th Century Literature, or trying to improve your GMAT score, and you’re eyeing the gifted student in class with envy, realize that it probably took countless hours of focused practice and revision to get to where they are. It looks easy for him or her, but it probably isn’t. You don’t often see the blood, sweat, and tears that go into making a “genius.” But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist or that it didn’t happen. Chances are, with hours of ‘deep practice’, studying done the right way and with the right attitude, you can become just as brilliant as the valedictorian.

Learning a Language It Takes a Village

Learning a Language It Takes a Village We live in an age of being connected.  The number of smartphone users connected to the internet is expected to reach 6.1 Billion in the next 5 years. By this point in time, around 70% of the worlds population will have access to the internet (and the vast majority of human knowledge) in their pocket. This constant connection is incredibly useful. From buying groceries, looking up a quick fact, getting directions, or speaking to someone on the other side of the world, this connectedness is convenient. The convenience of online solutions to lifes problems necessarily touch language learning as well. Learning a language  on your own can be a rewarding hobby, and there are plenty of tools to help you along. From learning vocabulary on Memrise to watching video lessons on Youtube, to using Anki flashcards and reading blogs about language education, the internet is a great place to find resources. Even italki has advice for how to move your language learning forward  by yourself. Unfortunately, there is often a temptation to limit ones education to just these solitary activities. It is understandable why: we like activities in which we can easily see our progress. Memorizing a hundred words using flashcards is a rewarding activity. It creates the experience of progress. The experience of memorization gives us immediate feedback, and because of this  it is easy to get caught-up in the exercises, and forget that language is inherently a social activity.  In fact, there are theories of language development that explain the evolution of language as a way to expand our social groups. (This theory also thinks of language as a form of grooming, as seen ape societies.) Though it is possible, and often makes sense to practice individual language skills  alone (for example, building up vocabulary), it is through integration of these individual skills that we get the practice which will help us approach fluency. Moreover, the rewards of learning are not the numbers of memorized words or the efficiency with which you construct sentences. The fundamental reward of speaking a foreign language is gaining perspective, understanding someone from a different culture and world, and being understood by them. Experiencing the social rewards of the work you are doing by learning a foreign language will encourage you to keep going. That magical moment of understanding and being understood makes the process of studying and practicing worthwhile. As we enter the holiday season, a time many countries and societies celebrate togetherness, family, and connection to their communities, we hope you take the opportunity to practice your language skills, and share your excitement about learning languages with those close to you, perhaps even by speaking to them in their own languages! Dont get lost in solo practice, but reward yourself and connect with others by sharing the wonder and excitement of language learning. Learning a Language It Takes a Village We live in an age of being connected.  The number of smartphone users connected to the internet is expected to reach 6.1 Billion in the next 5 years. By this point in time, around 70% of the worlds population will have access to the internet (and the vast majority of human knowledge) in their pocket. This constant connection is incredibly useful. From buying groceries, looking up a quick fact, getting directions, or speaking to someone on the other side of the world, this connectedness is convenient. The convenience of online solutions to lifes problems necessarily touch language learning as well. Learning a language  on your own can be a rewarding hobby, and there are plenty of tools to help you along. From learning vocabulary on Memrise to watching video lessons on Youtube, to using Anki flashcards and reading blogs about language education, the internet is a great place to find resources. Even italki has advice for how to move your language learning forward  by yourself. Unfortunately, there is often a temptation to limit ones education to just these solitary activities. It is understandable why: we like activities in which we can easily see our progress. Memorizing a hundred words using flashcards is a rewarding activity. It creates the experience of progress. The experience of memorization gives us immediate feedback, and because of this  it is easy to get caught-up in the exercises, and forget that language is inherently a social activity.  In fact, there are theories of language development that explain the evolution of language as a way to expand our social groups. (This theory also thinks of language as a form of grooming, as seen ape societies.) Though it is possible, and often makes sense to practice individual language skills  alone (for example, building up vocabulary), it is through integration of these individual skills that we get the practice which will help us approach fluency. Moreover, the rewards of learning are not the numbers of memorized words or the efficiency with which you construct sentences. The fundamental reward of speaking a foreign language is gaining perspective, understanding someone from a different culture and world, and being understood by them. Experiencing the social rewards of the work you are doing by learning a foreign language will encourage you to keep going. That magical moment of understanding and being understood makes the process of studying and practicing worthwhile. As we enter the holiday season, a time many countries and societies celebrate togetherness, family, and connection to their communities, we hope you take the opportunity to practice your language skills, and share your excitement about learning languages with those close to you, perhaps even by speaking to them in their own languages! Dont get lost in solo practice, but reward yourself and connect with others by sharing the wonder and excitement of language learning.

Passport to Fluency! The 11 Best Language Apps for Travel

Passport to Fluency! The 11 Best Language Apps for Travel Passport to Fluency! The 11 Best Language Apps for Travel Are you about to embark on the  trip of a lifetime?Maybe youre going abroad to study a language youre learning in college.Or maybe you just have a bad case of wanderlust and dont even know much about the language spoken in your soon-to-be-host country.Either way, you might be feeling a little nervous.But fear not.There is, as the old folk saying goes, an app for that.In this post, well detail how to choose a travel app to serve your language needs. Well also look into 11 of the most awesome language apps travelers ought to check out and download pronto! A Thousand Travel Apps: How to Pick the Right One(s) for YouWhen it comes to traveling, there are many categories of apps: flight apps, hotel apps, weather apps, even currency apps. They all serve a particular purpose and can help make the traveling life a breeze.In the same way, the language apps that are designed to help you get around your host country where people are speaking a totally different language can serve you in differ ent ways, and you have plenty of choices out there.So here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing the right app or apps for your travels.Make sure an app is compatible with your preferred mode of communication.Different language travel apps have different virtues. A voice translator app, for example, can mediate your conversation with a native speaker. There are apps you can literally ask something in your native language that will then produce an audible translation of your question in the target language. Then a native speaker can answer you in their native tongue by speaking into the phones mic, and a few milliseconds later, youll know where the nearest train station is!So thats all well and good, but you might not be comfortable holding up your phone to a strangers face so they can listen to it. Maybe you imagine a more direct communication, without the mediation of a smartphone. Perhaps you should choose an audio phrasebook app that can teach you the most useful phrases in the target language so you can ask the questions yourself.Or maybe interacting face-to-face with native speakers could prove to be too overwhelming. Maybe you just want an app that will translate written or printed text. There are apps that do this. Simply point your phones camera to some printed material or signage and youll immediately have the translation.So consider these different situations, and look for apps appropriate for your preferred mode of communication.Read user reviews.Of course developers will tell you their product is the killer app. But take a few minutes to scroll down through the different reviews and youll get a peek at how the app actually fares in the field.Those reviews that give it high ratings tell you why the app rocks. What features were deemed most useful by many of the users? How did it bridge the language gap? Did users rave about an apps accurate translations? Look for repeating themes and common observations.If five reviews call it super fast, t hen there must be something there.Those reviews that give it a low score can warn you of features that users find wanting. Did the translated audio sound robotic? Was the interface confusing?Also pay attention to what languages previous users have used an app for, as its best to choose an app that has a proven reputation for your target language. Not all apps are equally effective for all languages. Because of the inherent qualities of spoken and written languages, an app might work great for European languages but might leave you clueless when it comes to Chinese characters and other writing systems.Avoid apps that might interfere with your travel experience.An app should not require you to be so involved that it makes you forget that youre standing in one of the most beautiful gardens in Europe. A great app facilitates rather than distracts.Pick an app with a friendly user interfaceâ€"one thats easy to navigate. A travel app should get you what you want quickly and let you move al ong.Sometimes, an app that has too many options or supports too many languages becomes too much for a traveler. It need not support 200 languages when you know youll only be going to Barcelona. It may be fine if it does, but a perk is only a perk if you use it. When it takes too long to hunt for a specific functionality, find something thats more streamlined but still delivers.And an additional tip, just so you can fully appreciate your travel experience and maximize an app at the same time: Practice using it starting weeks before you leave.That thing should be like the back of your hand by the time you board the plane. You should already know what its capable of, what its limits are and some shortcuts. You shouldnt be firing it up for the first time in your destination.Well now look at eleven awesome language apps for travel that deserve some space in your smartphone.Passport to Fluency! The 11 Best Language Apps for TravelGoogle TranslateAndroid | iOSEver had the experience of wal king the streets of a foreign city, happening by an interesting store sign and wishing you knew what it meant? Well, say no more, Googles app will help instantly translate that inscrutable sign. Simply press the camera icon and take a video of what youre seeing. And just like magic, those words will transform into words that you can understand, right before your very eyes. (Dont even take your eyes from your phones screen because it all happens so fast!)You can do this with street signs, restaurant menus, food packaging instructions and newspaper headlines. With this app on hand, the world suddenly becomes a more meaningful place. Im telling you, Harry Potter and Percy Jackson never had it this good.This functionality comes on top of the apps text lookup and voice recognition function, with the latter allowing you to carry a conversation with a native speaker.And oh, the app is free and supports translations for  more than 100 languages. (not all features are available for every lan guage, but you can check on whats available for a specific language here).TripLingoAndroid | iOSThis app packs so much punch, frequent international travelers will find it hard to let go.For starters, TripLingo has a phrasebook for 13 supported languages, which conveniently organizes the most useful language expressions. Categories like Just the Basics and Eating and Drinking ensure you dont get into mental gaps during interactions with native speakers, or run out of things to say. Speaking of native speakers, TripLingo creates four levels of formality when talking to them: Formal, Casual, Slang and Crazy.(How many apps will teach you how to talk crazy in a foreign language?)TripLingo has a learning section where you get access to audio lessons and a dictionary as well as flashcard sets in your target language.But if you dont have time for them on your trip, the app also has voice and text translator functions, which get your basic translation needs sorted.For more complicated or di fficult translations, the app actually gives you access to live person help. For a fee, you can call standby translators and get in-depth translation services.In addition to all this language help, the developers have proved that they have users well-being in mind because theyve integrated traveler tools like safety information, cultural guides, etiquette advice, dining options, currency conversions and even a tip calculator.Like I said, it will be hard to let go once you get used to TripLingo.FluentUAndroid | iOSFluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like movie trailers, music videos, news and vlogsâ€"and turns them into personalized language lessons. Sounds great, but what exactly does that have to do with travel, you may ask?Well, as it turns out, aside from warming up your language skills for your trip, FluentU can help you prepare and plan for the trip itself as well as give you vocab for situations you actually encounterâ€"like ordering in a restaurant in Japan  or seeing the sight s in Quebec.The Culture video category includes travel videos, educational clips about cultural and historical sites, and ideas for things to see and do in various countries and cities specific to your target language.Every video comes with interactive captions and translations, so youll be able to use authentic content to enhance your travel experience without ever feeling lost or intimidated.You can also use the search bar to find places, activities, food and more. For example, maybe you search for castles once you get to Germany and wind up considering a day trip to  the Neuschwanstein. Or maybe you type in Granada because thats where youre going to be next week and this  Granada-specific video series packed with useful travel terminology pops right up.The best thing about FluentU is that you can work all of your language learning seamlessly into your travels and travel planning, whether you happen to be on or off the road (or in the air).FluentU is currently available for nine m ajor languages, with more in the works.Lonely Planet GuidesAndroid | iOSCount yourself lucky if your host city is one of the 100+ cities already curated by Lonely Planet experts.With this app, youll be pointed to must-see sights and must-do activities. Itll help you explore the landscape of Amsterdam, Barcelona, Cape Town, Dubai, etc. Youll be guided on the groundâ€"where to go, what transportation to take, what neighborhoods might be interesting. There are maps and travel tips that you can use so you can roam the city with confidence.As a language learner, youll be especially interested in their audio phrasebooksâ€"which include the perfect things to say as you get around and interact with the locals. So on the plane, before you hit the ground running, listen to these travel phrases as pronounced by native speakers.The phrasebooks, available in 19 languages, used to be stand-alone apps. They were fine in that state. But integrated into their guides, language learning travelers are able to bridge the gap between knowing where they want to go and actually getting there.As long as youre traveling, youll also benefit from checking out Lonely Planets numerous other guides, books, maps and resources that are available for a staggering number of countries and locales on their website.(How to) Pronounce(iOS only)Pronunciation is as important as vocabulary and grammar. You dont want to be like the language learner who memorizes all his lines before a big trip, only to discover that native speakers dont understand a single word he says. He may be saying the right words, but his intonation, emphasis and diphthongs are all over the placeâ€"he might as well have spoken a totally different language.(How to) Pronounce app to the rescue! Its role is simple enough. You type a word, and you hear it spoken by a native speaker. You get an audio example of how the syllables and the stresses roll off the tongue of someone whos heard them from birth. You can even vary the speed and listen to the words pronounced in slow mo.This app is currently available in 18 different languages, with regional differences for English. Its perfect not just for actors who need to deliver some lines, but if youre a business traveler who doesnt want awkward attempts at being understood, or if you want haggle with a seasoned street vendor. You need to show natives that you know what its all about. And that starts with pronunciation.MemriseAndroid | iOSSay youre at the airport waiting for your flight. The Memrise app could kill time and make that wait super productive.Its an app that integrates the latest in memory research and gets you learning foreign words and phrases. The Memrise method of getting this done is really easy. It repeats the words youre learning over and over. Simple, right?But Memrise does this in a non-repetitive and interesting manner.So lets say you find yourself working with the Spanish word muy  (very). The app will first introduce the word and let you pick the English translation from a set of choices. Then maybe later it will give you the English translation and make you pick the other way. Or it may give you an audio clip and ask you to type the word. It can also ask you to say the word into the phones mic. All this time, the app is also introducing you to other words.By using a number of mini-tasks and their permutations, youre able to slowly integrate the target words into your memory. So by the time you get on the plane and find yourself seated next to a native speaker, you have something to contribute to the conversation other than that gorgeous smile of yours.Memrise supports over 20 languages.iTranslateAndroid | iOSThe iTranslate app lets you speak in over 100 languages, so that wherever you are in the world, you can soar over language barriers.This app has voice recognition technology. Speak into your phone, and it will convert your words into text. That text will then be translated into your desired language. So within secon ds you get a translation for what you just said. You can then have a native speaker have a look-see or listen to it. (For some of the worlds major languages, you dont even need an internet connection to enjoy this feature.)iTranslate can have entire websites translated automatically, which takes away the guesswork in your research. Also, the app contains dictionaries so you can look up words. Heck, they even have verb conjugations for different tenses. Its like having a complete language cheat sheet for your travels.TandemAndroid | iOSTandem is best known as a language exchange app. Language exchange is when you trade teaching your first language to somebody for them teaching you his/her first language. So for example, youre an English speaker who wants to learn Korean. The Tandem app helps you find a Korean native speaker who also wants to learn English. By helping each other out, you both get closer to your language learning goals. (The app can help you find native speakers of  15 0+ different languages.)You might be wondering why Tandem is included in this list for travelers. Its because you can also use Tandem to find some friends who reside in the country youll be visiting. You can get to know them months in advance, so when you fly in for a visit, some friendly smiles are waiting for you, helping you to get around. Theres nothing like a local to help you immerse in the target language.Of course, be sure to follow standard safety precautions. Never meet anyone by yourself, and always keep meetings to public places.Foodictionary (International Food and Beverage Translator)(iOS only)One thing youre sure to do in your travels is eat. And it would be a shame to be in a foreign country and still be scarfing down your usual Big Mac.Food is big in every culture. And as language learners, food is one of the very first things we learn in any languageâ€"along with colors, animals and yeah, the cuss words. But what if youre sitting in some authentic restaurant, havin g managed to make decent banter with the patient waiter who hands you the menu, and youre suddenly staring at words youve never met before?Whip out your Foodictionary app. Just choose from the list of 7 languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian and Greek), type in the dish from the restaurant menu and voilà, you get that beurre  is butter in French and that escargots au beurre  is tantilizingly right.Another way of finding your food is by using the categories provided on the app. So, for example, in the Appetizers section, youll find the most common appetizers in the culture.Foodictionary is a handy tool to solve the mystery that is your meal. Now you can get back to enjoying your food and the rest of your trip!LikeALocal(iOS only)Would you like to discover those hidden places and tucked away corners only native speakers know about? This one here is for travelers who want to venture off the beaten path and dive hard into the local scene. The LikeALocal app is a city guide that has been described by the Huffington Post as the Yelp for tourists.If you want to know what native speakers think is the best restaurant in town, if you want insider info on the most happening places in the city or if you just want to find out where the locals love to hang out, this is the perfect app for you. (Theyve curated over 60 cities and counting!)With no language lessons, no voice recognition technology and no hope of translations, why is this on our list of language apps?Because its an app that puts you right in front of native speakers.Language learning is about interaction and communication: a shared experience in a local bar, standing in a long queue with native speakers, nonsensically singing along with a local singer and butchering the language along the way. Thats what speaking a language is all about. Its getting in there with the natives, engaging in the same experiences, immersing yourself in their world and in their language.This app is for advance d and intrepid language learners and travelers who really want to go deeper into the culture and the language.Use LikeALocal in conjunction with the other apps mentioned in this list and get ready to take travel and language learning to a whole new level.WaygoAndroid | iOSGoing to China, Japan or Korea? Then the Waygo app is a must have. Other more general translation apps sometimes have trouble when it comes to Asian scripts like those used for Chinese, Japanese and Korean, but this app is actually meant specifically for them.So when you find yourself looking at text in these languages that you dont understand, simply point your video camera at them and an instant translation will be given. Youll hear how the words are pronounced and even be provided with a pronunciation guide. This award-winning app works best on signage, menus and other printed materials.Best of all, Waygo works offline.Its time to pack your things, have a true friend drive you to the airport and fly to the host country of your choice.Any combo of these language apps will have your back, and youll not be at a loss for words.So have the travel experience of your dreams, and the language learning experience of a lifetime.Good luck!