Watch Now How to Tune a Guitar

Watch Now How to Tune a Guitar Suzy S. Over the past few months, weve explored some great tips for aspiring guitar players.   From guitar tips for beginners to improving your electric guitar tone, we hope the advice has helped you along the way.   But without a properly-tuned guitar, all of these tips can go out the window.   In fact, playing an out of tune instrument is one very common mistake that guitar players make when first learning to play. So before you go any further, its time to learn how to tune your guitar.   First step?   Get a tuner!   If you dont have one already, youve got a few choices.   You can either purchase a normal, portable electronic tuner (check out these top-rated tuners), or you can download an app for your Smartphone.   Our staff favorites here at TakeLessons are gStrings for Android (free) and Gibson Learn (free) or TabToolkit ($9.99) or for iPhone/iPad. Now lets get started! Questions, comments, or want to share your own tips?   What type of guitar tuner do you recommend, or what other apps do you love?   Leave a comment on our Facebook page to share with the community! Looking for guitar lessons or music teacher jobs? Visit TakeLessons.com!

How to Learn Drums in a Music School

How to Learn Drums in a Music School Can You Do a Drum Course? ChaptersWhat is a Drum School?The Level Required to Attend a Drum SchoolTraining at a Drum SchoolImportant Information About Drum Schools“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” - PlatoMusic has charms to soothe the savage breast. This is a common expression when talking about music. While it does soothe the proverbial savage beast, you need to practise to get the most out of it.Drums are an instrument with a lot of potential. They often accompany other types of percussion, provide rhythm, or just make noise (according to some).  However, drums are also at the heart of jazz music (and its derivatives).With that in mind, is it worthwhile attending a course on learning how to play the drums?If you dream of becoming the next Thomas Lang, Tony Royster, Steve Gadd, or John Bonham, you should have a look at the different ways to learn how to play them!In this article, we'll be lo oking at drum schools and music schools, the pros and cons of them, and how they can help you learn to play the drums. SerbanDrum Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyDrum Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RussellDrum Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamesDrum Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StephenDrum Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeteDrum Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OllieDrum Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexDrum Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat is a Drum School?As you’ve probably guessed, this is a type of music school that specialises in music education and teaching people how to play the drums! The drums aren’t really like the harmonica, piano, guitar, trombone, or bass. The drums (and percussion) are a special kind of instrument and a drummer is a different kind of musician to a pianist or someone who plays the violin or clarinet, for example.Studying music, especially in a specialised school, can make you a better drummer. (Source: stevepb)Rather than traditional music theory, you’ll need to learn about rhythm, tempo, and time signatures in order to play the drums. The curriculum for drummers is very different from those playing brass instruments and your music teacher will have to be a specialist in percussion instruments.A drum school provides training for aspiring and experienced drummers. You’ll be helped by a gifted teacher, too.  You need to keep in mind the differences between a music school and a conservatoire. A lot of music schools are private businesses and more accessible than the conservatoires, which are essentially universities specialising in music, drama, and art degrees.The students, unlike self-taught musicians, will be accompanied by a teacher who will provide tui tion (for a fee) and prepare them for either a recital or audition. In some cases, when you sign up, you’re signed up for the whole year!Music schools have existed for centuries and were even around in the Middle Ages! They’ve stood the test of time and have taught many students over the years how to play the drums, ukulele, piano, flute, etc., as well as how to sing thanks to quality tuition from talented teachers.The Level Required to Attend a Drum SchoolYour level is quite important when it comes to attending a drum school, but probably not for the reasons you have in mind. In fact, while everyone can get some type of musical training, it’s important that your training is suitable to your level in order to get the most out of it. Drums are an instrument for all levels, after all!It's important that your classes match your abilities. (Source: Pexels)That’s why there isn’t a specific level you have to have. Instead, you need to know what level you are so that you can atte nd the right class and get the right training. The same goes for all classes including music theory, jazz piano or classical piano, and playing the guitar.While most schools offer classes by level, not all do. It’s important to make sure that when attending a drum class at a school or getting a private drum tutor that you do your research!Playing the drums at a school can be a lot of fun if you’re attending the right class and making progress. It doesn’t matter whether you’re learning for fun or for professional reasons.  You can also pick the type of drums and drumming you prefer. Your teacher will also help you find the right drumming equipment.Training at a Drum SchoolMusic schools and drum schools, more importantly, don’t tend to offer free classes and you can often sign up for classes when you want. This means that it’s quite easy to start learning to play the drums whenever you want. However, there tend to be fewer classes during the school holidays.Pick your weapo n! (Source: flockine)Your classes will depend on the teacher who’s providing them. A good teacher will help you get the most out of every minute you spend with them and also make you feel like playing the drums outside of class and maybe even inspire you to become a professional drummer. Music is about having fun, after all!Even if you’re learning the electric guitar, saxophone, or drums, most classes in a music school are in groups. While a lot of the classes will be organised into levels, you still need to keep in mind that the lesson has to work for every student. This means you mightn’t all have the same tastes when it comes to music.This means you’ll have to be patient as you won’t always be studying exactly what you want. The most important thing is to be passionate about learning and wanting to play the drums.Don’t forget that are also private tutorials for learning how to play drums so that you can get lessons tailored to you. You can learn the basics alongside a professional drummer, for example.Important Information About Drum SchoolsDrum schools aren’t conversatoires. There are many different ways to learn about musicology and different teaching approaches to learning how to play an instrument. There are also a few details you should be aware of.If you want to play drums in a band, you'll first have to learn how to play drums! (Source: Free-Photos)In addition to enrolment, teaching approaches, etc., there is also the price to consider as one of the most important aspects to consider.  The average cost tends to sit around £100 per month for proper drum training. Of course, there are schools that cost more and others that cost less.If you want to learn to play the drums either in a school or with a private tutor, you’ll need to invest both time and money. You’ll need to pay teachers, invest in equipment, and also travel to where your lessons are. We can’t forget that there are also online drum lessons if you can’t afford the lat ter.You need to carefully consider where your lessons are as you’ll need to go there once or twice a week depending on the type of course that you’re attending. Depending on where you live, you may have a choice of several nearby schools or have to travel to the  other side of town to attend the only one that’s near you.If your school is a couple of miles away, you mightn’t want to walk there when it’s raining cats and dogs. On the other hand, if you live in the flat above the music school, you shouldn’t ever really miss a class!Your teacher’s passion for teaching the drums is arguably the most important thing to consider when learning to play the drums. You never know whether you’re going to get along with your teacher before you meet them and it’s really important that you do. While this isn’t usually the case, it’s something you need to keep in mind.You need to make sure that your teacher employs effective teaching techniques that work for you. While you can ’t always find this out before you start your class, you should try to find out as much about them as you can.In short, drums are a great instrument to learn in a class at a music school. However, before you attend your first drum lesson and start playing drums, you should carefully consider your options and decide which type of drum instruction is right for you.If you're an absolute beginner, you'll probably need to invest in drum sets including a bass drum, snare drum, cymbals and hi-hat, tom-toms, and sticks. As you progress through your drumming lessons and you learn different musical styles, you may want to add to your drum set. For example, jazz drumming doesn't require a double bass pedal, but metal music certainly does.Beginners shouldn't go out and buy a lot of stuff for their drum kit as they won't be aware of exactly what they need. Learn some drum beats and rudiments before you invest in a kit like you've seen famous drummers playing.

Spotting Signs of Stress in Teens with ADHD

Spotting Signs of Stress in Teens with ADHD Teenagers might not be faced with many of the situations that adults consider to be stressful, like financial concerns, parenting challenges, long commutes, a demanding career, job instability, etc., but the middle and high school years come with a set of challenges that can be highly stressful in their own right. In fact, in a 2013 American Psychological Association survey teenagers reported experiencing unhealthy levels of stress at higher rates than adults. Teens cited school as the number one source of stress, followed by worries about getting into a good college and figuring out what to do after high school. Other sources of stress included social pressures, worrying about family members, and worrying about family finances. When a teen has ADHD, their risk for unhealthy levels of stress goes up even higher. ADHD symptoms make school more challenging, both during the school day and in the evening during homework time. Friendships and dating can be harder with ADHD too, especially for teens that have difficulty picking up on subtle social cues or who tend to impulsively say things that they regret later. If your teenager is like most, then his or her afterschool and weekend schedule is packed with extracurricular activities that leave little room for down time. The time management challenges and impulsivity that comes with ADHD make it much more likely that a teen will get in over his or her head with too much to do and too little time. But like most teens, those with ADHD may not recognize that they have bitten off more than they can chew. They dont necessarily know that their stress level is higher than it should be, or that they can ask for help. Parents can usually identify unhealthy levels of stress before teenagers are able to do so themselves. Parents can also see the bigger picture, focus on long-term goals, and access help in ways that teenagers with ADHD often cannot. However, as a parent spotting signs of stress in a teenager with ADHD can be tricky. Many of the signs of teenage stress overlap with symptoms that typically accompany ADHD or are known side effects from ADHD medications: Poor concentration Sleep problems Anger outbursts Anxiety Poor appetite Headaches or stomach complaints Social withdrawal Taking longer to complete schoolwork and/or missing deadlines So, when your teenager seems highly irritable, his or her grades are lower than you think they should be, he or she is complaining that he or she never has enough time to finish homework, and talks about not being able to focus in class, is that stress or is it ADHD? Every teen is different, but there are some signs that will indicate that unhealthy levels of stress may be part of the picture: Differences in personality during school breaks vs. when school is in session. Many teens will be less irritable, angry, or frustrated when school isnt in session. However, if the change is dramatic, to the point where during breaks or summer vacation you find yourself thinking things like, Im so glad to see my child finally starting to act like her usual self again, then that is a sign that your teen may be experiencing unhealthy stress during the school year. Loss of interest and enthusiasm. If your previously energetic, enthusiastic, and curious teen has started to seem uninterested in things, especially things that he or she usually enjoys, then that may be a sign of stress. Its typical for teens to shift their interests and become less enthusiastic about things that they may have enjoyed when they were younger; but they should still be interested in something, even if its a new activity or subject in school. Hinting at being overwhelmed. Some teens will actually tell you that they are stressed out or overwhelmed, but many dont think about themselves in these terms. Instead you may start hearing them say negative things about their ability to get things done, or their life in general. Things like: I cant do it. Ill never get everything finished! Its too much. I hate school! When you try to help or problem-solve they may simply shutdown and refuse to try, not because they dont care but because they are overwhelmed. If you think your teen may be overly stressed, then start by having a conversation. Pick a low-key moment with your teen and start off by simply acknowledging that youve noticed that he or she has a lot on the plate right now. Ask what it feels like to have so much going on, and if he or she ever has moments where it feels like too much. Many teens will open up and will talk about themselves, but dont feel pressured to get them to talk about everything in a single conversation. Its okay to simply use the first conversation as an icebreaker on the topic. Sometimes shorter conversations with parents are all teens can handle when the subject matter is intense or serious. Therapists in your area or at your childs school can also help you figure out if stress is having a negative effect on your teen. So, dont hesitate to reach out and ask for help if youre worried. Youll be getting the support that you need, and youll be serving as a great role model for your teen by showing that its okay to ask for help when you need it. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Should Your Child Go Gluten Free to Treat ADHD

Should Your Child Go Gluten Free to Treat ADHD What the research tells us about gluten-free diets and ADHD Symptoms Parents of kids with ADHD are constantly faced with an array of treatment options including medication, various behavioral interventions, and dietary recommendations. In recent years there has been a lot of buzz about the use of a gluten-free diet to treat a wide range of physical and cognitive problems, including ADHD. In posts and comments online, some parents describe huge improvements in their child's ADHD symptoms after eliminating gluten from their diet. And some pediatricians and nutritionists recommend a gluten free diet as part of a childs ADHD treatment plan. For a chronic condition like ADHD, the thought that a dietary change could eliminate symptoms altogether is highly appealing. However, removing gluten from a childs diet is a substantial undertaking, and one that can be stressful and exhausting for both parents and kids. Before making any major changes to your childs diet, it's important to know what research findings tell us about the likelihood that a gluten-free die t will be an effective ADHD treatment option. What is Gluten?Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley and is present in bread and pasta, as well as many rice products and processed foods present in the typical American diet. For individuals with celiac disease (about 1% of American's1) eating gluten causes severe health problems including malnutrition, gastro-intestinal symptoms, and abdominal pain. Where did the idea of a Gluten ADHD connection come from? In addition to malnutrition, abdominal pain, and gastro-intestinal symptoms, untreated Celiac disease is also associated with attention problems and behavioral issues. So, children with either undiagnosed or poorly managed Celiac disease may display ADHD-like symptoms. Some may even initially receive an incorrect diagnosis of ADHD. For these children, once the underlying problem is appropriately treated, and gluten is completely removed from a child's diet, attention and behavior problems improve dramatically and may even remit completely. In recent years, some doctors and nutritionists have suggested that a substantial minority of the population experiences non-celiac gluten sensitivity. It is thought that people in this group don't experience the severe gluten reaction found in celiac disease, but experience a milder reaction that contributes to weight gain, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and memory problems (among other symptoms). Most often, when doctors, nutritionists, and parents of kids with ADHD talk about gluten, they are usually focused on underlying gluten sensitivity rather than Celiac disease. What does the research say? A number of research studies have examined the impact of a gluten-free diet on ADHD symptoms in individuals who had confirmed ADHD diagnoses. Across the board, removing gluten from a child's diet had no clinically significant impact on ADHD symptoms. In other studies of children with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, attention and behavior issues did improve when gluten was eliminated from the childs diet. However, these children did not have ADHD, they had attention and behavior problems secondary to their medical condition. The Bottom Line: Many parents are willing to go through the very difficult process of systematically eliminating gluten from their child's diet in the hope that it will lead to big improvements in the child's ADHD symptoms. If a child has celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity (which is typically associated with some physical discomfort such as bloating, stomach pain, headaches, excessive fatigue, etc.), then the ADHD symptoms may be caused by the medical condition and eliminating gluten from the childs diet will have a significant impact. If a child does not have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, then switching to a gluten-free diet will not lead to a significant improvement in ADHD symptoms. If you would like to try a gluten-free diet with your child, talk to your childs pediatrician and/or a nutritionist about strategies for making the dietary changes as simple and stress-free as possible. 1Fasano et. al. (2003). A multi-center study on the sero-prevalence of celiac disease in the United States among both at risk and not at-risk groups. Archives of Internal Medicine, 163, 283-92. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

15 of the Best Foreign Movies for Popcorn-popping Language Learners

15 of the Best Foreign Movies for Popcorn-popping Language Learners 15 of the Best Foreign Movies for Popcorn-popping Language Learners Wanna learn a language?Yes?  Okay, good.So heres what you need: Your pajamas (preferably fresh), that bowl of steaming popcorn and a couple of sodas.Say what?!Yup, were talking movies in this post.No matter who you are, you can learn any language  faster by  spending some time in front of a screen.So I invite you couch potatoes and studious studiers alike to read on. The Polyglot and the Couch Potato: How Movies Help in Learning a LanguageTogether with TV, movies have gotten a bad rap when it comes to learning a new language, and learning in general. Weve often been told to turn off the set, stop wasting our time and get serious with whatever task were supposed to be working on.But maybe movies arent as bad as theyre made out to be. In fact, Id be so bold as to tell you that a couch potato has just as good a chance of being a polyglot  as the most hardworking learner.Im only gonna talk about one thing to support that argument: context.This is probably the most compelling reason for why movies are effective and efficient teachers of language. Its also one of the reasons why a list of vocabulary words randomly picked from thin air will never be as easy to memorize as a group of words that are clearly related.Our brains work best with meaningful context and we find it hard to memorize words that exist in a vacuum. Thats why teachers enrich vocabulary words with example sentences. They seek to give them context. Thats why textbooks list plenty of examples, too. So we can see how words, phrases and grammar rules look in action.Meanwhile, all-important context is automatically present in movies through engaging plots, unexpected twists, lovable characters, funny scenes, killer lines and immersive musical scores. These are all aids for committing stuff to memory, like lines and even entire dialogues. If I asked you who screamed Im the king of the wooooooorld! Wooohoo, Im sure youd remember Leo DiCaprio in Titanic.And even if youre an absolute beginner in Spanish, if you see the movie Y Tu Mamá También  (And Your Mother Too) and the context in which the line in the title is said, I promise you, you will never forget what those words mean.So once again, context. Its this that movies offer best. No medium plays with our emotions better. We remember the scenes, we remember what happened, we get moved by the characters, we become involved in the story. Movies make us cry and laugh. They make us feel anger, discontent, pity, even hatred. They surprise us and satisfy us. They take us on unforgettable rollercoaster rides.Unforgettable context. That’s what movies have to offer. And when you watch foreign films, youre that much nearer to transferring meaningful language information into your long-term memory.Note that when I say watch, I dont mean doing so passively. Well, maybe the first time, but you dont watch a movie once and then check the title off your list of foreign movies to see. No, you actively watch it, many times. Looking at scenes, li stening to lines, anticipating dialogues, writing down vocabulary. This is the kind of active watching that milks every lesson from the filmâ€"every point of grammar, every useful vocabulary word, every turn of phrase, every flail of the tongue.With FluentU, you can make this incredibly beneficial type of active study the mainstay of your language learning. FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.Okay. That said, lets get to our list of 15 awesome foreign movies for all you language learners.15 of the Best Foreign Movies for Popcorn-popping Language LearnersFrench-language Movies1.  Entre les murs  (The Class, 2008)What do you get when you have a well-intentioned but honest teacher and a cocktail of 14-15 year olds who come from racially and culturally diverse backgrounds?You get electric tension. You get an inherently difficult class boldly questioning its teachers met hods. And you get a teacher pushed to his ethical limits. This film, winner of the Cannes Festivals 2008 Palme dOr, is based on the novel of the same name by François Bégaudeau (who, by the way, plays the role of the teacher himself).This film is perfect for the French language learner if only for the fact that it features a class studying French. Theres even a scene in which students question the need to study difficult and eccentric French verbs, reasoning that theyre rarely used in modern speech. You may not be a teenager yourself, but youll certainly see yourself in this story that touches on the ups and downs of learning something new and out of your comfort zone.2.  Intouchables (The Intouchables, 2011)This movie is about an unlikely friendship between Philippe, an aristocratic quadriplegic, and Driss, his carefree live-in caregiverâ€"a transplant from Senegal.Philippe is in his Parisian mansion interviewing for the caregiver position with the help of his assistant Magalie. Driss comes in for the interview, not really intent on getting hired, but wanting his papers signed so he can continue collecting his unemployment benefits. One thing leads to another and Driss finds himself hired. The lavish mansion with Renaissance paintings is a far cry from Drisss familys petite and bleak apartment.The film is a linguistic juxtaposition between Philippe, the refined and formal speaker, and Driss, the more vulgar of the two. Notice the interactions between them and the type of vocabulary and accent each character has. Take note also of the words and phrases Driss uses when talking to his family and realize how context can illuminate linguistic content.  3.  Bienvenue chez les Chtis (Welcome to the Sticks, 2008)Imagine a Frenchman not understanding a fellow Frenchman. Possible?Theres such a scene in the comedy Bienvenue chez les Chtis. The film is about a post office administrator in Salon-de-Provence who gets banished to the French Northâ€"a place pre-judged by S outherners as being cold, unwelcoming and full of good-for-nothing alcoholics.In his desire to have a post office assignment in the French Riviera, Philippe tries to scam an HR officer by pretending to be disabled. When he gets caught in this ruse, he gets an armpit of an assignment to the Siberia of France instead.In this movie, youll see how geography changes language, idiomatic expressions and even curse words. Yep, even when one doesnt cross national boundaries. Also, this funny film  will help shed your linguistic and cultural biases. It teaches language learners all over that underneath accents and differences in pronunciation, were all in the same boat.German-language Movies4.  Der Untergang (Downfall, 2004)Der Untergang chronicles Hitlers final days of life, telling the final moments of his human struggles. Remember when I told you earlier that one of the advantages of movies is that they create memorable context to words and phrases that ultimately aid memory? This film is one of the most memorable there is. And all for the most gruesome reasons.It depicts death, destruction and destinyâ€"as well as betrayal, bombs and bunkers. The movie is emotionally engaging, triggering all sorts of reactions from anger to exuberance, which is one of the reasons why its very good for the German language learner. And because you already know whats about to happen, you tend to focus more on the languageâ€"which, by the way, has a robust sprinkling of German verbs.5.  Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others, 2006)This movie won the Best Foreign Language Film at the 2006 Academy Awards.It tells the story of an East Berlin Stasi (secret police) agent conducting surveillance activities on a playwright and his actress lover. The agent, Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler, obsessed with his subjects lives, chronicles their comings and goings. Hes too involved to notice that he isnt just some passive observer listening to the conversations of others but an active participant in their lives.Beyond the plot twists and touching ending, I want you to see this movie as an example of one of the most important skills in learning a new language: listening.Its the most taken-for-granted linguistic skill, and I want you to not make the mistake so many others have of ignoring it: See how Wiesler actively listens to conversations. See how he closely grasps not just for the words, but for intent and context. This is listening beyond words. Its listening for comprehension. Its not far off from  achieving language immersion.This is the level of listening required of a language learner. Without it, becoming fluent in a new language will be a needlessly uphill battle.6. Good Bye Lenin! (2003)Imagine youre Alex Kerner, an idealistic teen whose arrest by the Berlin police put your mother into a coma. When she eventually wakes up after eight months, the world is a whole lot different. The wall has come down and the world your mother loved is no more.Youve been warned by the doctor that the slightest agitation of her emotions could cause her death. Would you tell her Berlin is not the same as before?Alex chooses to recreate the past world in his mothers room. Maintaining this ruse is what makes this tragicomedy a hit and a fresh approach to German history.How long will the facade last? Watch to find out.Now, imagine yourself being in the role of Alexs mother. Consider how being open-minded and going with the flow will not only save your life but enrich your existence. While the film features the Western world marching towards East Germanyâ€"stuffing grocery aisles with Western brands and filling billboards with Coca-Cola advertisementsâ€"in reality, the flow goes both ways. We influence just as much as we get influenced.Today, our global village has made it necessary for us not just to learn new languages, but to adapt to a whole new way of looking at things.In the  near  future, only those who adapt will truly flourish. So why dont you start learning (a new language) now?Spanish-language Movies7.  Y Tu Mamá También (And Your Mother Too, 2001)This is a coming-of-age road trip movie depicting friendship, sensuality and the follies of youth. Julio and Tenoch are on a long drive with an older lady named Luisa. They are supposedly going to Boca del Cielo (Heavens Mouth), a beach they mention to persuade Luisa to come with them.Along the way, youth happens.The conversations between the three are casual, effusive, oftentimes funny and many times unbelievable. Although a little intoxicated, the dialogues are tight and the writing superb. The interactions in the film are indicative of the banter, the to-and-fro amongst friends, and this makes for excellent study for the Spanish language learner. If you want to converse fluently in Spanish, let movies like this be your guide.8.  El secreto de sus ojos (The Secret in Their Eyes, 2009)This film, a crime thriller, won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.A newly-retired federal agent, Benjamà ­n Espósito (Ricardo Darín), has a lot of time on his hands. He decides to write a novel about the murder of a young woman. Except the case  is real. Its 25 years old and one of the unsolved mysteries of his professional career, something he seeks to obtain closure from.But as it turns out, closure is hard to find, and it may come in a form one could never expect.The whole film is really an insight into what immersion is all about. Ricardo Daríns character is totally immersed in his case. Hes so tuned into it that it occupies a great slice of his waking hours. Solving it is a daily practice with effort put in. He consciously follows leads, goes places, talks to people, imagines scenarios, makes mistakes, pays for those mistakes and tries again.In a way, isnt that also what language immersion should be about? Its about being tuned in, putting ones head underwater and really immersing in the languageâ€"practicing the lines aloud, writing the sentences, talking to others, asking peo ple questions, asking for their help, even talking to yourself.In the end, we language learners, like Daríns character, will all find our souls satisfaction.9.  Como agua para chocolate  (Like Water for Chocolate, 1992)When you forbid true loves expression, you have a classic movie in the making. You also have that love expressing itself in ways special and magical.This film is an onscreen adaptation of the popular work by the Mexican novelist Laura Esquivel. It tells the magical realism love story of Tita and Pedro. Theyre forbidden to marry because Tita, the youngest of the siblings, is relegated to the duty of caring for her mother. Pedro is instead given the hand of Rosaura, the elder daughter. Pedro agrees to this, just so he can stay close to Tita.A setup like this? You can expect the simmering tension to come to a boilâ€"which it does, in a fantastic fashion.Remember what I said about context? Como agua para chocolate is a rich source of Spanish vocabulary, full of word fami lies that pertain to food, tradition, family, history and, of course, love. You can milk this movie for the wealth of Spanish nouns, verbs and adjectives in its lines and dialogues. Also, if you wanna peek at a dated kind of Mexican Spanish that existed at the turn of the century, this will be a good sampling.Japanese-language Movies10.  ?????? (13 Assassins, 2010)12 samurais and one scavenger are tasked with putting an end to the evil reign of Lord Matsudaira Naritsugu, the shoguns half-brother, who tortures and kills his own people. The hired band of warriors set a nice trap for the evil lord and around 70 of his fiercely loyal bodyguards. Unfortunately, the plot is discovered, the 13 assassins find themselves being ambushed and they narrowly escape. And to make matters worse, they find out that the contingent theyre now facing has ballooned to some 200 well-trained guards, making the suicide mission that much more impossible.Besides the traditional dress, symbolism and general ca rnage splattered all over the screen, there are really crisp dialogues in this movie for language learners. The lines are simple and perfect for the beginner-to-intermediate student of the Japanese language.See this movie and learn not only to love samurai honor, but a good dose of Japanese as well.11.  ?????? (Cold Fish, 2010)All that glitters is not gold.I dare not spoil this one for you so thats all Im gonna say about this psychological thriller inspired by true events. That, and perhaps a warning that this is not a film for the faint-hearted.For the language learner, this is another film with really simple Japanese dialogues but with more contemporary speech than the previous film. The language has that natural cadence thats occasionally peppered with the starts and stops of normal Japanese conversation. This movie is a good study on how language, tone and gesture create a character. (In this case, a very bad character.)12.  Linda Linda Linda (2005)Three high school girls only h ave three days before their schools cultural festival and they have no vocalist in sight!What would you do?Well, these ladies ask the first girl they see coming down the stairsâ€"who happens to be a Korean exchange student whos really not fluent in Japanese. They ask her if she wants to sing for their band, and she blankly says yes, responding affirmatively to every question and not really knowing what shes getting herself into.This movie is one of friendship and bonds, showing that under the skin and beyond inscrutable accents, were all the same. We fall in love, get hurt and stand back up. Theres even a cute scene where a high school boy professes his love for Son, the Korean exchange student, by learning lines in Korean (he has a cheat sheet!).The film is perfect for the language learner whos afraid to get into embarrassing or compromising situations. It will nudge you to jump in, risk being embarrassed and feel like a fish out of water by showing you that in the end, everything will be alright.Chinese-language Movies13.  ?????? (Not One Less, 1999)This one is set to tug on your heartstrings.Wei Minzhi is a 13-year-old teacher who comes to Shuiquan to substitute for the villages only teacher, wholl be gone for a whole month. Wei, who has the most rudimentary education, is instructed to ration chalk because the village is so poor it cannot afford to waste it. Shes also warned that students have been dropping out of school as of late in order to find work in the cities. Shes told that if all 28 of her wards remain when the teacher comes back, she will get a 10 yuan (about $1.50) bonus.Guess what happens?One of her students suddenly goes missingâ€"supposedly to work in a nearby city. Wei is motivated to go after the boy and get him back to class. But because she doesnt have enough money for the bus ride, she has to walk most of the way.She reaches the city, but how will she find him in a city of so many people? Will she be able to get him back?Find out by watc hing this film that won the Venice Film Festivals Golden Lion Award.The movie features young native speakers learning their first language. Second language learners could do well to remind themselves that even native speakers attend classes. Even they learn one day at a time. Even they walk up to the board to practice their mother tongue. We need to remind ourselves this so that when we come across fluent native speakers, well remember the amount of time and practice they invested to get to that point and be inspired by our own possibilities.14.  ???? (Dangerous Liaisons, 2012)Youve probably guessed that this is the Chinese adaptation of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos novel of the same name. Its Cruel Intentions but with Zhang Ziyi in the role of the immaculate victim.Set in 1930s Shanghai, as the Japanese were making incursions into Manchuria, Dangerous Liaisons is about the wager between Mo Jieyu  and serial seducer Xie Yifan. Can the great Xie Yifan seduce a young widow from Manchuri a (Zhang Ziyi) without falling in love with her?Ego and desire gets the better of the man (as it always does) and he agrees to seduce for sport, not knowing that the object of his seductions is, unlike any other, immune to his charms. Xie Yifan, on the other hand, is falling for the virtuous widowâ€"something he only admits when its tragically too late.Although set in the mesmerizing 1930s, the language used is surprisingly very contemporary. Youll not be treated at all to heavy doses of dated Chinese expressions in this movie. Dangerous Liaisons features easy language and dialogues that might as well be spoken in todays China. This movie is time well spent for the Chinese language learner.15.  ???????  (Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?, 2013)Our last movie is a dramedy about a man, married for nine years, experiencing a homosexual midlife crisis.Weichung, played by the singer-actor Richie Jen, is an optometrist who lives a quiet and laidback life with wife Feng (Mavis Fan). One day at work, during a glasses fitting, he stares into the soulful eyes of a handsome flight attendant. It stirs long-repressed yearnings he has yet to come to terms with. And all this while his beautiful wife is wanting to have another baby.How will a father deal? Will his self-denial finally come to an end? Find out.This film  is perfect for the Chinese language learner because most of the characters enunciate their lines relatively well. The dialogues are clearly delivered and the conversations are eminently  audible. This is because the pace of speaking is just right. Its just right so  that the subtitle-reading, Chinese-learning viewer will still be able to follow and make out whats being said.That rounds out our 15 best foreign movies for the language learner.Im sure you can add to this list on your own. No matter what language youre learning,  I encourage you to open your eyes, ears  and mind to foreign movies.Theyll take you places and offer you insights, perspectives and langua ge you most definitely wont get by viewing your regular native-language fare.So get those pajamas and snacks ready!Learning begins in 5…4…3…2…1 (cue studio intro).

5 Ways to Fight Serious Winter Blues

5 Ways to Fight Serious Winter Blues Image via flickr.com As the days get shorter and it seems like the weather is always dark and miserable, some of us start getting a little (or, okay, a lot) down. If this describes you, it turns out that you may be sad because you have SAD. Before you think I’m just repeating myself and capitalizing words randomly for kicks, let me give you this one definition:  Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)  is a form of depression that hits during the changing of the seasons. Winter-onset SAD, the specific form of Seasonal Affective Disorder that occurs during the fall and winter, is the most common. Feeling down? It could be SAD. (flickr.com) However, you shouldn’t mix up Seasonal Affective Disorder with “just feeling a little blue.” “Winter Blues” is a slang term for a feeling of mild sadness that clears up quickly on its own. On the other hand, SAD is a serious emotional disturbance and can really interfere with important activities you want to do, such as going to school or work. And while you might love an excuse to turn that term paper in late, having SAD really isn’t worth it. Symptoms: As if it didnt already sound bad enough, SAD is also difficult because the symptoms can vary widely and can even get more severe as the season goes on. Some  symptoms  include: Sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness Irritability or restlessness Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you normally enjoy Tiredness and low energy Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions Trouble sleeping Weight or appetite changes Social withdrawal Thoughts of death or suicide Feeling sad or hopeless is a symptom of SAD. (flickr.com) Symptoms specific to winter-onset SAD also include: Weight changes (especially weight gain) Appetite changes (especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates) Trouble sleeping (especially oversleeping) Heavy, “leaden” feeling in the arms or legs Hypersensitivity to rejection Trouble getting along with others What causes SAD?   Image via flickr.com “Well, how do you cure it then?” you may ask. Now that’s a little trickier. Doctors still don’t know what exactly causes Seasonal Affective Disorder, but they believe a few factors play into it (prepare yourself for a little biology!): Circadian rhythms: These are physical, mental and behavioral changes that occur in your body according to a 24-hour cycle. They are mainly influenced by the light or darkness in your surroundings. Serotonin melatonin levels: Chemicals in your brain that influence your mood and sleep pattern. They are also affected by the light or darkness around you. Now, after all this rather dense, distressing talk, you might understandably be dispirited. “So there’s nothing I can do?” you may ask. Not at all! There are actually several actions you can perform to help alleviate symptoms of SAD. 5 Tips to Go from SAD to Happy! Want to get over SAD? Then follow these tips! (flickr.com) 1. Light therapy (a.k.a. phototherapy): Image via flickr.com This type of therapy doesn’t make you lay down on a couch and spill about your childhood fears. Instead, you sit in front of a  special box  that produces artificial light. This light mimics natural sunlight to supposedly balance out certain chemicals in your brain (the previously mentioned serotonin and melatonin) that affect mood. Take that, cloudy days! Note: Before starting light therapy, speak to your doctor to see if it’s right and safe for you. 2. Avoid loading up on carbs in the morning.   Pancakes are an example of a carb-heavy food! (flickr.com) That picture just made you crave pancakes, didn’t it? Well, as tempting as pancakes, waffles and cereal are, they’re also some of the worst things you can eat in the morning if you want to stay awake and alert all day. This is because eating carbohydrate-heavy foods in the morning causes a sugar spike in your body, followed by a huge release of the chemical insulin in response. Insulin works to decrease the amount of sugar in your blood by moving it into your cells where it’s needed, causing a sharp plunge in your blood sugar level and prompting what we’ve all experienced before: afternoon tiredness. And when you’re already feeling tired and cranky from the overcast weather, extra fatigue is the last thing you need. To avoid the 2:00 slump, eat protein-dense foods like eggs instead of simple carbs. Foods filled with protein give you extended energy and keep you full and satisfied for longer, both of which you desperately need if you’re already dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder. No more hangry people here! Eat protein so you dont get hangry later! (Gif via hellogiggles.com) 3. Skip alcohol and other depressants.   Alcohol is bad for SAD! (flickr.com) It’s often difficult to remember that alcohol is a  depressant, especially when it can make you the life of the party. But it’s true: alcohol inhibits the normal functions of your brain, relaxing you and making you forget your inhibitions. So while drinking alcohol may be fun, the fact that it’s a depressant also means it lowers your mood and makes you more tired. If you have SAD, you don’t need another reason to be depressed or not drag yourself out of bed. This unfortunately means that you should nix the alcohol and other depressants if you want to have as much energy and be as happy as possible. Other  common depressants  include sleep aids and some antihistamines. However, always speak with your doctor before stopping or starting medications! 4. Dont oversleep. Beds are comfy, but dont spend too much time in them! (flickr.com) We’ve all been there: it’s oh so easy to hit the snooze button five more times when it’s cold and rainy outside your snug blanket burrito. But oversleeping may actually make you  more  tired, which is exactly the opposite of what you’re looking for when you’re suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. So limit the times you abuse that snooze button in the mornings and keep naps to 10-30 minutes. Another tip: going to bed and waking up at the same time every day can also help you stop oversleeping. The consistent schedule balances out your circadian rhythms, which can get disrupted as the seasons change and the daytime gets shorter, causing fatigue. 5. Get moving! Exercise is invigorating! (flickr.com) Exercise  is one of the best ways to beat back SAD! This is because physical activity produces endorphins, chemicals in your body that improve your mood and increase your energy. This can even last for hours after you’re done! In fact, exercising outside even when it’s cloudy is more beneficial and effective than many other SAD treatment methods. So get ready to jump for joy, because exercise can be better than an apple a day at keeping the doctor (and SAD) away!

What to Know About Summer Internships

What to Know About Summer Internships Image via Pixabay.com So, what’s the very first thing you need to know about summer internships if you want to have a successful one? Start Early Do not, I repeat, do not wait until a week before May starts to actually begin your hunt for the ultimate summer internship experience. Preparation for a summer internship should start months in advance. When I transferred to Florida State University in the fall of 2016, I began to meet with students who were on their A-game when it came time to prepare for and landing internships. They started preparing almost a year in advance to make sure that they were ready to apply for the summer internship of their dreams. They knew that acceptance weighs heavily on how prepared candidates are for the internship. While starting preparation a year before a summer internship might sound silly or even too ambitious, it’s actually a really smart move. If the internship program you’re thinking of applying to is in a competitive field, it’s best to apply as soon as possible. Applying quickly could make the difference when it comes time to start hiring interns into the company. It also helps to start saving money months (or years) in advance if you know that acceptance as an intern with a certain company means that you’ll have to live in another part of the world for a few months. You’ll need money for rent, time to figure out housing arrangements, and other financial plans. Infographic by Brittany Hawes We now see that starting early is essential. But what does “starting early” entail for summer internship hopefuls? For one, it means that you should… Begin searching for internship opportunities as soon as possible Ready to embark on your search for the perfect summer internship? There are so many online resources out there that will make your search a little easier. One website that you can use to find an internship is called Internships.com. Small businesses and large companies alike post listings specifying what they are looking for in an intern, and will list duties that must be completed by interns, if hired. Internships.com allows you to apply to listings directly from the website. You can also build an appealing profile for hiring managers to look over. If you want an internship that offers payment for your services, check out WayUp.com. When signing up, you’re asked questions like your favorite hobbies and jobs that interest you, all of which will help employers decide if you’re the right fit for the job. After signing up and verifying your email address, you’ll be taken directly to job listings that match your interests. All of the jobs offer pay, too! Searching online may provide a wider variety of internships, but you can also try asking your classmates for internship opportunities. Chances are that the upperclassmen will know of or will have heard of internship opportunities that are seeking out students in your major. They might also be able to provide you with tips that will make the hiring process a bit simpler. Asking your professor or school advisor can also lead to finding summer internships. Some professors might even have internships opportunities available during the summer that you can participate in. This is ideal, especially for those students who are unable to travel far from home during summer break.  But what are some But Also, beginning your preparation to apply earlier means that you’re giving yourself plenty of time Start building your internship portfolio Starting early also means that you should begin working on your portfolio as soon as you can. The sooner, the better because a portfolio is something every student should be working on throughout college. Internship portfolios should contain any kind of documentation that will show potential employers your education, extracurricular activities, training, skills, abilities, and strengths. For example, if you are certified in CPR? That should go in there. Have an outstanding resume? Put it in there. You happen to be the treasurer of the SGA and vice-president of the Black Student Union? Put both positions into your internship portfolio, along with a list of your duties and the accomplishments you were able to achieve while in your position. Anything that makes you look good should be in your internship portfolio. Portfolios can be physical or digital. You can compile physical documentation and arrange it nicely in a professional-looking binder. You can also create an ePortfolio. ePortfolios are electronic portfolios that can be viewed on an electronic device. ePortfolios can be created using free website building software like Weebly.com or Wix.com. Both are very simple to use but still allow for creativity, so you can make sure you stand out to employers! Don’t have a lot of experience just yet or don’t have the documents to prove it? Don’t worry! This is why starting as early as you can is the way to go. Use the time leading into the application window to work on gaining new skills and training. If you’re in class, put as much effort as possible into projects and list them in your portfolio. Video projects and images are especially good for internships, as they easily show your creativity, passion, and skill. Keep in mind what kind of internship it is that you want to land. If you know that the employer you wish to work with places a high value on candidates who have experience working with children, you can try working as a volunteer at the public schools in your area or becoming an afterschool tutor for students in grade school. If one of your duties as an intern will be to edit film, try completing a few film projects of your own that will showcase your talent in Adobe Premiere or other video editing software. Remember, passion alone isn’t always going to be enough for employers. For example, a video game company wants its interns to have a deep love for video games, but just being a video game enthusiast won’t be enough to land you the internship, especially if it’s with a major company that might have hundreds of interested people applying for the same position. You’ll need to possess the skills that the company is looking for, be it game development experience or overall knowledge of the gaming industry. Standing out is how you are going to get yourself hired! Once you land a summer internship, make sure you take the time to celebrateas hard as you worked to get the internship, you’re going to need to work even harder while you’re at the internship. After all, this is your dream! You shouldn’t half-do it now that you managed to get it! Some things to know about the actual internship experience… Working hard will pay off This is your chance to shine at a company you’re crazy about or you want to work with someday. Now’s not the time to get lazy and search for ways to check your Instagram feed while on the job! No matter how tempting it may be to spend all your internship hours surfing the Internet for hilarious memes, you need to make the most of your experience here. And to do that, you’re going to have to work. Even if you’re tasked with a job as simple as grabbing Starbucks for your boss, do your absolute best at it! This is the time to make yourself known at the company, and you do want to be known as someone with a great work ethic, right? Not the person who plays Internet Checkers when they think there’s nobody looking! Image via Pixabay.com Connections must be made You might be there to work, but you’re also there to network! Take the time to get to know all that you can about the people who work for the company. Make friends with as many people as possible and learn from them. Having these kinds of friends and connections in the business will help you out later down the road when it’s time to start on your career path. One of the best things you can do at your job is simply to smile. If you’re frowned up and look unapproachable, you won’t attract any good attention. A worker with a friendly, genuine smile and positive attitude will attract other people. After all, people like to be around someone who makes them feel good and seems like they’re enjoying life. Be that someone! A positive attitude helps There are going to be days when you think that you made a mistake or that you’re not being utilized as much as you could be. If this is just a once-in-a-while feeling, take a deep breath and remind yourself that you made it: you’re an intern at [Insert Your Dream Company Here]. The work may not always be as exciting as you hoped it would be, but you’re there and you’re actually learning things that are going to come in handy later in the future. However, if you feel as though the internship truly is a waste of time, speak with your supervisor and ask them if there’s something more challenging you could be working on. Offer to help with a certain project or to help plan a certain event. Show them how much you can do! Chances can be (and should be!) taken Interns might feel like they get pushed to the side when it comes to doing real work, but you don’t have to sit there and take that treatment. Go and take risks! If you have an idea that you have thoroughly researched and think will benefit the company or a certain project, take a chance and put that idea out there. The worst your higher-ups can do is shoot it down. But there’s always the chance that they’ll love it and they’ll use it and that you’ll have helped out in a very big way. The final thing you should know about internships is that it’s not always going to be easy. An internship is essentially a job and you’re going to be held to those high standards. When an employer hires you on, they expect you to give them your best. Never go into an internship with the idea that you won’t be expected to do much. Be prepared to give it your all, no matter what the task is. After all, your summer internship experience is only as good as you make it! Thanks for reading! Have a good story about a summer internship experience? Share with others by leaving it in the comment section below! Have a great summer!