Derivative Solver

Derivative Solver We know derivative solver can finds the derivative of any math expression with respect to a variable. We know the derivatives of some functions, those are derivative of x^n is n (x^ (n-1)). We know the derivative of a constant that is zero. Derivative of sin x is cosx, derivative of cos x is sinx and derivative of tan x is sec^2 x. Problem 1: Find the derivative of the function f(x) = 3x^2 + 4x + 21. Solution: = Step1: The given function is f(x) = 3 x^2 + 4x + 21 = Step2: The derivative of f (x) = derivative of (3 x^2 + 4x + 21) = Step3: We can write this as = derivative of 3 x^2 + derivative of 4x + derivative of 21 = 6 x + 4 + 0 = 6x + 4. Problem 2: Find the derivative of the function f(x) = 7 e^ x + 9 x^2 + 32x. Solution: = Step1: The given function is f(x) = 7 e^ x + 9 x^2 + 32x = Step2: The derivative of f (x) = derivative of (7 e^ x + 9 x^2 + 32x) = Step3: We can write this as = derivative of 7 e^ x + derivative of 9 x^2 + derivative of 32 x = 7 derivative of e^ x + 9 derivative of x^2 + 32 derivative of x = 7 e^x + 18 x + 32.

Living With Roommates What Introverts Should Know - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Living With Roommates What Introverts Should Know - Introvert Whisperer Living With Roommates: What Introverts Should Know Kayla Matthews April 16, 2019 Communication No responses Go to top Like most introverts, I was intimated by the thought of going off to college and living with roommates for the first time. It was a gamble to see who I’d end up with and if we would get along. There were good days and bad days, but nonetheless, I discovered a lot along the way. Avoid some of my mishaps by learning how you can find the perfect roommate and what to do if you end up with a bad one. How to Find the Perfect Roommate Some colleges and apartment complexes allow you to choose your own roommate. If you have the option, take it. There’s plenty you can do to find someone compatible. 1. Look for an Introvert About 80 percent of people believe opposites attract, but science has proven it’s a myth. If you’re an introvert, look for someone that shares similar routines, such as craving alone time or preferring to listen over talking. 2. Share Common Ground Having common ground, no matter what it is â€" your college major, a hobby, a favorite movie â€" is an excellent foundation for a relationship. Finding a roommate who shares your goals, such as maintaining a 4.0 GPA, can even provide a support network for achieving them â€" something proven to benefit both your physical and mental health. 3. Ask About Tidiness One common point of contention between roommates is tidiness. Some may not mind a little mess around the apartment or dorm while others require spotlessness. Personally, I don’t mind letting a dirty dish or two sit for a day. No matter your preferences, look for a roommate who shares a similar mindset. How to Deal With a Bad Roommate Unfortunately, you don’t always have the option to choose your roommate. While you can avoid the dorms and rent your own apartment, sometimes you have to deal with a bad roomie. Luckily, there are steps you can take to make your experience a little easier: 1. Implement House Rules You and your roommate don’t have to be friends â€" you don’t even have to get along. Instead of getting mad when you and your roommate clash, be proactive and talk about rules you want to establish when you move in. From turning the music down after a particular time to cleaning up after meals, house rules can keep a bad roommate accountable and make your life less stressful. 2. Find an Outside Spot Sometimes there’s no way to fix a bad relationship. If you can’t get along with your roommate and can’t find a path to compromise, find an outside spot where you can regain your sanity. Some people enjoying spending time at their favorite cafe or coffee shop, taking a book or computer along. When the weather is warm, I like to escape roommates by walking to the park or going on a bike ride. 3. Ask For Help Bad roommates come on a spectrum, meaning some are worse than others. If you find yourself living with a roommate you cannot tolerate â€" maybe they refuse to stop throwing parties or you’ve discovered they’re selling drugs â€" ask for help. When the situation becomes too much to handle, there are people you can reach out to for guidance. In college, that might mean discussing things with your RA. If you’re renting an apartment, you could talk to the landlord or property manager. Living With a Roommate If you’re lucky, you’ll find the ideal roommate that can blossom into a friend. Just keep in mind that living with any roommate can have its challenges. While you cant always pick who you live with, there’s still plenty you can do to save your sanity and make life easier. Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.  Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

How is the SAT Scored

How is the SAT Scored The SAT is a standardized exam utilized by the majority of colleges and universities to assist in admissions decisions. Because the test is standardized, schools can roughly compare the abilities of all applicants based on their SAT results. [RELATED: What is an Average SAT Score?] A prospective students overall SAT score is the combination of results earned in three categoriesCritical Reading, Math, and Writing. Scores currently range from 600-2400, though the SAT will return to a scale of 1600in the spring of 2016, when the College Board releases its revision of the exam. View our past postfor section-specific changes. How is my score calculated? Final scores are calculated in the following manner: each correct multiple-choice answer is worth a maximum of one point. One-fourth of a point is deducted for an incorrect answer. (Beginning in 2016, the guessing penalty will no longer exist.) Omitted questions will neither help nor hurt the overall scoreno points are awarded or deducted. Certain math problems are scored differently. Questions that require the student to perform calculations and record a final response are scored on a point-no point basis. If the student's answer is correct, one point is awarded. If the response is incorrect, no point is awarded. There are no deductions on problems of this format. Here are five great SAT test prep tips. How is my essay assessed? The essay, which will become optional on the new SAT, is also marked in a different manner than multiple-choice questions. The Writing portion of the SAT includes an essay element that is given a score of 1-6 by two separate readers, for a maximum of 12 (unwritten essays will receive a score of 0). Readers are education professionals who grade each response based on the level of quality in a number of areas. These include: demonstrated critical thinking, a developed point of view with a clear focus and organization throughout, the appropriateness and quality of examples and vocabulary, overall flow and the rhythm of sentence structure, and grammar and mechanics. You may also want toutilize aprep bookto help you prepare. What is equating? What is percentile rank? When the raw scores for all three sections (Critical Reading, Math, and Writing) are obtained, they are each converted to a result between 200 and 800. This is known as equating. After raw scores are converted into what are now referred to as the calculated scores, they are used to compare the student's performance with the performance of other individuals. This percentile rank is what schools pay close attention to, because it describes how well a student compares to all other individuals who have completed the SAT at that time.

Logical Fallacies

Logical Fallacies 11 Logical Fallacies Explained A well-constructed argument avoids logical fallacies, flaws in the reasoning that will render the argument invalid. Following are some of the most common logical fallacies. 11 Logical Fallacies Explained Oversimplification. The tendency to provide simple solutions to complex problems. “The reason we have low unemployment today is the threat of war in Central America and the Middle East.” Hasty generalization is a generalization that is based on too little evidence or on evidence that is not representative. “It was the best movie I saw this year, and so it should get an Academy Award.” Post hoc, ergo propter hoc (“After this, therefore because of this”). Confusing chance or coincidence with causation. Because one event comes after another one, it does not necessarily mean that the first event caused the second. “Ever since I went to the hockey game, Ive had a cold.” The assumption here is that going to the hockey game had something to do with the speakers cold when, in fact, there might be one or more different causes for the cold.   “Students who sit at the back of the class get lower marks to those who sit near the front of the class, so sit near the front!”   The fallacy here is the suggestion that simply sitting at the front of the class will improve a student’s grades.   Other factors seem more accountable: students who are likely to sit near the front of the class take a more active interest in the lessons, do their homework or make a more favorable impression on their teachers. Circular argument. Offering a restatement of an argument as a reason for accepting it. “Smoking is injurious because it harms the human body.” Or “There is only one argument that can be made to someone who rejects the authority of the Bible, that the Bible is true.”  Paraphrase is not evidence! False analogy. Making a misleading analogy between logically unconnected ideas. “Of course hell make a fine coach. He was an all-star basketball player.” Non sequitur (“It does not follow”). An inference or conclusion that does not follow from established premises or evidence. “She is a sincere speaker; she must know what she is talking about.” Begging the question. You beg the question by assuming something that is actually your responsibility to prove, by building your argument on an undemonstrated claim. “Conservation is the only means of solving the energy problem over the long haul; therefore, we should seek out methods to conserve energy.” Or with a question: “Have you stopped beating your wife?”   Another form of begging the question is to make a claim and then insist that someone disprove it.   “How do you know that UFOs haven’t been visiting the earth since the time of the pyramids?”   In all argument, the burden of proof is on the person making the assertion.   It is a waste of your time to try to disprove a conclusion that was never proven to begin with. Argumentum ad Hominem is attacking the person and not the question at issue. “You are opposed to a war on terrorism because you are a coward!”   The speaker ignores the issue by attacking the man.   To avoid confusion, it should be added that an argument criticising a particular individualâ€"a government official, a candidate, etc.â€"is probably not argumentum ad hominem; in such cases, the man is the issue. Extension is another way of ignoring the question. By extending the question, you can find yourself arguing a different subject altogether.   “If you outlaw guns, you might as well outlaw cars, too. And where would we be without cars?”   Are you arguing about guns or cars?   “I know Jean Chretien has his faults, but nobody is perfect!”   Are we discussing specific faults or attainment of perfection?   To arguments that ignore the question, the reasonable response is “Let’s get back to the issue.” Either/or thinking. The tendency to see an issue as having only two sides. “Used car salesmen are either honest or crooked.” When the debate begins on giving up civil liberties for the sake of increased security, we will probably hear: “Are you are in favor of getting rid of terrorism, or not?   Which side are you on, anyway?”   This is a clear oversimplification of the issue. Argumentum ad Populum is when writers appeal to popular sentiment or prejudices or claim that since everybody thinks a certain way, that way must be true. “Everyone knows that the private sector is more efficient than the public sector is!”   Just because everybody believes something, doesn’t make it true.   Everybody once thought the world was flat.   It turns out everybody was wrong. Identify the Logical Fallacies Here are 11 sentences containing logical fallacies. Try to identify which logical fallacy is contained in each. Everybody knows that men are smarter than women are. He must be telling the truth.   After all, he is very friendly. I am certain my teacher is a drug addict because I saw him take a pill once. I know cigarettes are bad for your health, but lots of things are bad for your health.   Take alcohol, for instance… If you didn’t cheat on your exam, then prove that you didn’t! It’s simple.   Metallica is the best because it is the best!   You can’t deny that. My brother says that marijuana should be legalized, but I disagree because he is an idiot. My sister broke a mirror last year.   That is why she has been very unlucky this year. She was an excellent student at university, so I’m sure she is a great teacher. The reason people get cancer is that they don’t eat enough carrots. If you don’t support sovereignty, it means you hate Quebec. Please follow and like us:

Early Bird Gets the Worm Taking Advantage of Brain Plasticity

Early Bird Gets the Worm Taking Advantage of Brain Plasticity Improving Academic Performance Have you ever met a child that knows a surprising amount of foreign languages. Has it ever amazed you how quickly a child can pick up new skills and learn new techniques? Turns out new evidence shows that children learn more and earlier than previously thought (Kuhl, 2011). However, at the same time, the rates of inattentive children in classrooms as well as the prevalence of learning disabilities have been on the rise. In my many years of tutoring, I’ve been able to witness firsthand how young children have the capacity to quickly pick up new information. This article will focus on the importance of introducing students to the concepts of learning and education earlier on in their development to leverage the phenomenon of neuroplasticity. There is a direct relationship between how young your brain is and its fertile capacity to learn new information. Essentially, this can be thought of as how easily our brain can be molded like play-doh. When you keep play-doh sitting out for a very long time it gets harder to manipulate and handle (I think both parents and young children alike can sympathize with this). Similarly, the younger we are, the fresher and more malleable/flexible our brains are. Current research in this field can directly show that in many instances, success in school begins at infancy (Kuhl, 2011). But why is this the case? What is different about our brains at a young age than when we are older? The younger we are, the more flexible our neural pathways act and it becomes more likely for certain brain cells called neurons to form and reform new connections that eventually establishes behavior and psychological/psychological patterns. Furthermore, the earlier we take advantage of this fertility our brains exhibit at such a young age, the better our expected performance is to be in the following year. But what kind of things affect brain development and shape the way our neurons form? Turns out it’s a multifaceted issue that involves a lot more than we once thought! The maternal environment in utero first influences the brains development. In the second phase however, the brain is very sensitive not only to the environment but also to the patterns of brain activity produced by experiences (Kolb et al., 2011). This means the way we think about our experiences also affects our brain development. Behavioral and brain studies on developing children show that children’s skills quantified and assessed very early during infancy, predict their performance and learning abilities later on in life (Kuhl, 2011). It is probably safe to assume that introducing children to learning a new language or basic arithmetic can be very beneficial to them later on in life. Taking these steps is likely to help moderate problems associated with learning as well as improves scores and performance over the long run. Indeed, a 2009 study by Rabiner et al. demonstrated that providing early age reading tutoring was associated with modest reading achievement benefits for inattentive children without early reading difficulties, and substantial benefits for children with early reading difficulties who were not inattentive. The study goes on to discuss how it is the inattentive nature of children with ADHD that makes it hard for them to learn, and not the hyperactive component of the disease (Rabiner et al., 2009). In the case of this particular study, providing reading tutoring, offered significant improvement to a number of subjects. Other studies show how beneficial learning music, art, and other fine arts can be to the developing brain. We previously mentioned learning language is more efficacious in younger children and can also be more beneficial to them to learn at an early age. In essence, it seems all roads point towards increased benefits involved with starting to teach children at as early an age as possible. The benefits of early learning cannot be undermined. At the same time, I want to make it clear that other studies of academic success and come at the issue from different directions and arrive at very recommendations. For example, new research, from the likes of Angela Duckworth at the University of Pennsylvania, has demonstrated that character skills like grit, perseverance, patience, attentiveness, and conscientiousness correlate strongly with success in school. She argues that these are the types of things we should be teaching our very young children, not necessarily math and writing, perhaps because they are foundational to being able to sit still in class and learn academic skills. Other scholars p oint to creative play as the key to helping extremely young children blossom and grow intellectually. In our view, to fully take advantage of the phenomenon of neuroplasticity, parents of young children should focus on introducing children to formal and informal education through exposure to ideas and concepts, and some formal skill building, in three broad areas: Character building: perseverance, patience, grit, etc. Academic skills: math, writing, reading, etc. Creativity and exploration: make believe play, music, foreign languages, art, etc. In this article we examined the phenomenon of neuroplasticity and how it may play a beneficial role in starting the educational process at an early age in children. From improved language acquisition skills to musical performance, it is truly a spectacle to see the incredible rate at which young children learn. With the rate of learning disabilities and disorders rising, it is important for us as a society to make a conscious effort to try and combat this problem by utilizing the brain’s gift of malleability. Or, more selfishly, if you are looking to give your child an advantage in school and in life, it makes sense to strategically introduce the above concepts to your young child. About the Authors By Gaurav Dubey (M.S. Biotechnology) Founder Executive Producer of Biolitics and Mark Skoskiewicz, Founder of MyGuru Works Cited Kolb, B., Gibb, R. (2011). Brain plasticity and behaviour in the developing brain. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 20(4), 265-276. doi:ccap20_4p265 [pii] Kuhl, P. K. (2011). Early language learning and literacy: Neuroscience implications for education. Mind, Brain and Education : The Official Journal of the International Mind, Brain, and Education Society, 5(3), 128-142. doi:10.1111/j.1751-228X.2011.01121.x [doi] Rabiner, D. L., Malone, P. S., Conduct Problems Prevention Research Group. (2004). The impact of tutoring on early reading achievement for children with and without attention problems. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 32(3), 273-284.

Mastodon The New Twitter

Mastodon The New Twitter Photo Via: https://assets.mastodon.social At this point, there are very few individuals that aren’t familiar with Twitter. It’s used weekly on “The Tonight Show,” daily by our President (unfortunately), and every time there’s a break in your class schedule (or if you just aren’t feeling that history class today). The social media network quickly worked its way to the top, now perhaps bigger than ever. But bigger isn’t always better. At least, that’s what Eugen Rochko believes. In the past few years, Twitter has limited third-party app growth, which Rochko (as well as many others) took issue with. So instead, he built a new social media platform with more freedom. He created Mastodon, which is still basically Twitter, but there are notable differences as well. Posts on Mastodon can be 500 characters (as opposed to the 140 on Twitter) and individual posts can be made private. Mastodon launched six months ago, but it’s already causing some major changes in the way social media works. For instance, last week, Twitter updated its display, which confused many of its users. Overnight, thousands of ex-Twitter … ers … switched over to Mastodon. Within a two-day timespan, Mastodon has grown almost 75 percent to just over 40,000 users (this is a great accomplishment as the initial six months only drew in 24,000 users). And between these 40,000 users, a total of about 1 million posts have gone live. For a social media site just beginning, this is a promising statistic, even if it’s coming several months after the site’s beginning. While this is a potential problem for the servers, Rochko is all over this. He shut down new sign-ups to the site “until quality of service can be assured for existing users.” This is a new way of running social media: placing value on the individual over the company’s growth. While it’s a risky move, it’s likely going to create much stronger brand relationships over time. According to Rochko, “I brought all my friends to Twitter back in the day. I kept promoting it to everybody I knew. I really loved the service. But it continuously made decisions that I didn’t like. So, in the end, I decided that maybe Twitter itself is not the way to go forward.” Of course, he isn’t the only person to have these thoughts. And he certainly isn’t the first person to act on them. Back in July of 2012, Dalton Caldwell created App.net in opposition to Twitter (a site that Rochko had also joined for similar reasons). According to Rochko, “I’m not doing this to get rich, I’m doing this because I think it’s right. I only want to be able to pay my rent and insurance.” And it’s safe to say this probably won’t last, so that’s probably a good thing for Rochko. New sites such as this one have a hard time getting up and running, so it’s more than likely Mastodon isn’t going to be around for very long. But even so, its point has been made, and only time will tell if Twitter is willing to take the criticism to make itself better. In the past, all Twitter competitors really haven’t lasted it’s very hard to take down a name like that. Think about taking down Facebook and what that would entail it feels near impossible. But perhaps that’s why there’s a bit of an explosion in users we don’t want to miss out, just in case this is the one that does it. Just in case this is the next Twitter. The better Twitter. Or, at the very least, maybe this is the site that makes Twitter bigger and better than ever. Of course, over time, we’ve all fallen in love with our favorite social media brands; whether its Facebook or Twitter or Instagram or Snapchat, they’ve become a part of our everyday lives, whether we want to admit it or not. No matter what, we always seem to have a smartphone on us, and more often than not, we’re using it. Social media is growing and over just a short period of time, and technology is evolving with it. Think about the days of Myspace that wasn’t all that long ago, and still, Facebook has completely taken over and Myspace is nothing but a memory we’ve long since forgotten. So next time you’re procrastinating a major homework assignment or trying to avoid spending time with your roommate, take a look at Mastodon and join in on the rebellion, even if it isn’t going to last long (or even if it does really, it’s a win-win). And really, it’s only a matter of time before the next big social media outlet takes us by storm, so be on the lookout for that as well. Who knows? Maybe Mastodon is it. You never know when you could be missing out!

14 Fun, Painless Ways to Practice Languages Online

14 Fun, Painless Ways to Practice Languages Online 14 Fun, Painless Ways to Practice Languages Online No one ever said I need to have less fun.Theres a good reason for that.Who can resist a good time?And when it comes to language learning, having fun while learning does as much  for your education as it does for your spirits.After all, the more fun studying is, the more often youll do it.And the more often you do it, the more youll learn.There are plenty of fun ways to learn a language if you know where to look for them. And one great place to head for tons of practice opportunities is the internet.Practicing languages online  gives you the opportunity to find the type of practice you enjoy and even switch once you start to get tired of it. Online practice is also often interactive: Its much more entertaining to engage with a language in an interactive way than it is to learn it passively from a textbook or other traditional means!So grab your laptop and get some active learning in with these 14 fun ways to practice languages online. How Do You Make Language Practice Fun?First and foremost, choose activities you enjoy. Just because someone else thinks an activitys fun doesnt mean you will. Try different activities until you find one you truly enjoy.Its also important to vary your activities. Doing the same thing can get boring even if its fun. You dont see people binging on cake everyday, do you? Thats why its important to vary your activities. Maybe throw in an occasional pie or tart. If you vary your activities, youre less likely to get tired of them. Plus, using varied activities will result in a more well-rounded language practice.Finally, when youre no longer having fun, switch activities. Even activities that start out fun can get boring after a while. When you no longer enjoy an activity, dont hesitate to cut and run. There are plenty of fun activities out there, so theres no need to linger on one thats not fun anymore.14 Fun, Painless Ways to Practice Languages OnlineInstagram it upIf youre a social media  maven, theres nothing quite like Instagram fo r fun, easy language learning.To use Instagram for language learning, you can set up a separate account and post in your target language. Over time, you may get followers who also speak that language. Follow them back or interact with them to pile up the language learning.While you can start a new account for your target language, using your main account is a clever way to sneak in some language learning without even having to set any time aside for it. Just follow some Instagramers who use your target language. When you check Instagram for fun, youll wind up reading in your target language just by glancing at posts by users you follow.Another benefit of using Instagram to practice your language skills is that Instagram is primarily visual with only short text. Itll never be daunting to read since its so  brief.Who to follow is based entirely on your interests. For instance, beginning language learners might follow accounts designed specifically for language students. To find one, s earch hashtags like #learnArabic, #learnChinese, #learnFrench, etc. If youre a foodie, you might find food accounts by searching for #recipes in your target language (for example, #?????, #??, #recetas). Love TV and movies? Follow your favorite stars to learn more about international celebrity lifestyles (and the global nature of sponsored posts) as you brush up on your language skills.If youre a fan of social media, you can try the same tricks with Twitter or Facebook. For that matter, if you cant get enough of Pinterest or LinkedIn, you could even look for authentic language content there!Find a language exchange partnerFinding a language exchange partner  is an enjoyable way to get conversational practice and make a new friend.The idea behind language exchange partners is that your partner lets you practice speaking in your target language. In exchange, you give your partner speaking practice in your native language. Not only does this help you build your language skills, it help s you connect with a native speaker, an invaluable source of language and cultural information.Plus, its fun to make friends! You can talk about whatever you like, so your language practice can be just as fun as a casual chat with a good friend.Maybe you already know someone who speaks your target language who you could partner with. If not, there are plenty of online resources out there to help. For instance, you might try  italki,  MyLanguageExchange.com  or  Verbling.Many online language exchange websites also offer video or text service to help you interact with your partner. If not, you can  try using Skype to connect with your partner online.Use FluentUWhen youre looking to pack a lot of learning into your downtime, FluentU is a great choice.Thats because FluentU combines fun, authentic videos, like music videos, movie trailers and news, with high potency learning material. Each videos captioned and each words annotated to give you easy access to any words definition, example sentences and an associated image. You can even click on words to see how theyre used in other videos.Plus, FluentU also offers learn mode. This mode transforms videos, pictures and example sentences into flashcards and exercises you can use for an engaging, authentic learning experience.FluentU uses an algorithm to personalize lessons based on a learners history. This way, the questions you see are based on what you already know, so you can challenge yourself without being in over your head.Use  FluentU online  or  download the FluentU app for iOS or Android devices.Binge TV and moviesBinging TV  and  watching movies  are undeniably fun activities. After all, how else would your couch have developed such a perfectly human-shaped groove? But enjoying TV and movies can also be one of the funnest ways to practice a language.While you can download content or buy DVDs, using a streaming service is the easiest way to have a lot of foreign language content at the tip of your fingers.Netfl ix  is one top streaming choice. It offers an abundance of options in most popular languages. Plus, Netflix is even producing its own original foreign language content that you cant get anywhere else, like the popular Spanish series  Las chicas del cable  (Cable Girls).  If you already subscribe to Amazon Prime, you also have access to some free foreign language programming via Amazon Prime Video. To browse, look at the sections for foreign TV or foreign movies. Hulu  also has some options for language learners.To get the most out of your viewing, try experimenting with subtitles. If you can understand what youre watching without subtitles, thats great! If not, you might try using subtitles in your target language to read along as you watch. Still too overwhelming? Use English-language subtitles to give you a clearer idea of whats happening. Regardless of your subtitling choice, youll still learn a lot of great words and work in some fun listening practice.Follow an authentic vlogge rIts easy to learn a language on YouTube. After all, theres a seemingly limitless supply of content in any language you might be learning, including  Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and  Spanish.You can harness the power of YouTube to practice a language by following vloggers who use your target language. Whenever your favorite vlogger posts a new video, just watch and enjoy to get a little language practice. If you want to up the learning ante, you might even try interacting with other viewers in the comments section.To find your next favorite authentic vlogger, try searching terms in your target language. For instance, try searching beauty tips in your target language to find beauty vloggers.You can also use a tool like Channel Crawler to search YouTube channels by language. If youre interested in a particular regional dialect, you might also filter by country. If you want to see which YouTube channels are most popular, you can sort them by number of subscribers to see what other people are watching.Read popular blogsImprove your reading skills as you learn more about your favorite topics by reading popular blogs in your target language.You might be familiar with English-language blogs covering your favorite topics like food, exercise, sports or virtually any topic you can think of. But there are blogs on the same topics in your target language!Reading a blog in your target language is an easy way to practice thematic vocabulary related to the topic. Plus, its easy to do. If you follow a blog that updates regularly, its like a built-in reminder to do a little reading practice.To find your new favorite blog, search for blog and any topic youre interested in using your target language. For instance, if you want to read about fashion as you study French, search blog de mode  (blog of fashion). You might find fun options like La Penderie de Chloe  (The Wardrobe of Chloe). More interested in improving your Italian c ooking? Try Il Fatto Alimentare  (The Food Fact).Stream musicIf you want to tap your toes to the rhythm of learning, try learning a language with music.Thanks to the internet, you have easy access to tons of music in your target language, and that musics just as catchy as your favorite English-language songs.Popular services like Spotify  and  iHeartRadio  offer some international fare that will fit the bill.Online radio  is another fun, easy option. Services like AccuRadio  offer a nice array of world music, while free online services like TuneIn let you filter by language and/or country.To get the most out of listening to your favorite foreign language music, try to look up words youre unfamiliar with and listen to your favorite songs frequently. Eventually, youll have the song memorized, making it easy to remember any words the song uses.Play a gameYou can satiate you fun side, your competitive side and your language learning side all with one thing: Playing games.Playing games   is super fun, and you can even use it as a break during your regular study sessions. That way, you can keep learning without feeling like it takes any effort.To find online games, search free games in your target language for some online options. For instance, Spanish students might enjoy Juegos.com.Most games dont lean too heavily on language, but invariably, there will be a few words in your target language. This ensures that playing games isnt too intimidating even for beginning students.If you want a little more language, though, you can also find multiplayer games. To do so, try searching multiplayer games in your target language. For instance, Italian students might like Giochi di Multiplayer (Multiplayer Games). Multiplayer games often offer chat with other players.Word games provide another good way to study basic spelling and vocabulary rules in your target language. Many word games are targeted at language learners, so you can find them by searching the name of your target language and word game or vocabulary game. For instance, Russian for Everyone offers lots of fun language games.Delve into world knowledge with WikipediaEver fallen into a Wikihole? Sometimes, its hard not to. You open one page youre interested in and soon youre flipping through 20 tabs of related content.Thankfully, there are lots of versions of Wikipedia in different languages. The next time you want to look up something on Wikipedia, try doing it in your target language. Not only will you get the information you need, youll also get some language practice. Plus, you might soon find yourself spiraling into an uncontrolled learning binge.Since Wikipedias user-generated, its important to remember that it wont always be accurate. However, if you see something that isnt accurate or want to contribute additional material, you can also practice your language skills by contributing content yourself!Enjoy an international edition of BuzzFeedYou need to know what your choice in furnishing s says about your love life. You cant resist finding out what your Zodiac sign is based on your choice in avocado toast. And obviously, who can resist cat pictures?Normally, BuzzFeed is a hub of viral, compulsively-shareable content. However, you can also use BuzzFeed to make your language learning go viral. Thats because in addition to a U.S. edition, BuzzFeed has a number of international editions in foreign languages. French students can read  BuzzFeed France, German students can enjoy  BuzzFeed Deutschland, Japanese learners can read  BuzzFeed Japan, Portuguese students might like  BuzzFeed Brasil  and Spanish students can choose between  BuzzFeed España, BuzzFeed en español and BuzzFeed México.To use BuzzFeed to practice your language skills, all you have to do is choose which articles interest you. You might even set a specific goal, like reading two articles a day. Read whatever you can. If you have trouble, you can also look up unfamiliar words to help build your vocabula ry.Volunteer using your target languageDo you want to help people while practicing your language skills? Volunteer using your target language!You dont even have to go abroad to use your language skills to volunteer. In fact, you dont even have to get off the couch. There are volunteer opportunities you can do from the comfort of your own home.For instance, you might try reading for LibriVox. LibriVox offers free public domain audiobooks in a wide variety of languages. However, in order to do this, they need volunteer readers. If youve reached a point in your studies where your reading and speaking skills are strong, volunteering for LibriVox might be just the boost you need to get to the next level.If you prefer something else, you can search for volunteer opportunities with Idealist. You can filter by remote to find opportunities you can do from home. Then, search for your target language to see what volunteer experience is right for you.Not only will it feel good to help people, i t might also increase you motivation to continue improving your language skills.Read foreign editions of familiar magazinesForeign language magazines  are more than just a fun readâ€"theyre also a fun learning tool.Many popular magazines youre familiar with have international editions in foreign languages. This makes it easy to find a magazine youll be interested in and helps you know what to anticipate.For instance, National Geographic is available in a wide array of languages, including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Castilian Spanish and Latin American Spanish.Online editions often offer free articles, and new articles are added regularly.To get the most out of reading foreign language magazines, you might also base your selection on what thematic vocabulary you want to work on. For instance, if you want to learn more food terms, you might try a cooking magazine. Then, try to read articles regularly to practice your reading and im prove your vocabulary.Plan a vacation in your target languageTravel can motivate you to improve your language skills, but travel planning in your target language can actually help you practice your language skills for a one-two punch of motivation and learning.There are travel websites in virtually any language you can imagine, so the next time you want to plan a vacation, try doing it in your target language. For instance,  Lonely Planet offers websites in a number of different languages, including French, German and Spanish. This has the added benefit of helping you learn travel-related vocabulary that you may need on your next adventure.Read a bookBookworms rejoice!  Reading a book  is a terrific way to practice your language skills, and you can do it entirely online.Sure, you can download books through Amazon or virtually any other book seller, but you can also find books for free. Your local library may have ebooks available in your target language that you can check out. There s also  Project Gutenberg, which offers free online books in a number of different languages. Plus, since many works appear in several languages, you could even have the English version open alongside the foreign language version so that you can quickly check back if you dont understand something.For a little extra help, you might also keep your favorite dictionary open in another tab to look up any words you dont know.When it comes to fun ways to learn a language, youre only limited by your own imagination. Be on the lookout for even more fun ways for practicing your target language!

5 Reasons to take a Practice Test before taking the AP Exam

5 Reasons to take a Practice Test before taking the AP Exam Tips From an Orange County AP Tutor: Reasons to take a Practice Test before taking the AP Exam Although nearly every student of the SAT and ACT will take multiple practice exams, many AP students don’t take a full-length practice exam in its entirety until the real test in May. There are several reasons students fail to take a practice test for any given AP subject. For example, they feel they have gotten enough help from their classroom teacher at school, they are already exhausted from taking multiple SAT or ACT practice exams, or it’s their first Advanced Placement experience. However, failure to take at least one full-length practice test leaves students in a bad spot when it comes time for the real exam need further help on you AP exam? Book your Orange County private AP tutor today. Reason #1 Get a realistic view of your score Many students dont understand the grading process for AP or how much each section counts for. The only way a student can truly find out what their expected score will be is to sit down and take a full length test. So many students feel confident they will get a 4 or 5, but come home with a 2 or a 1, neither of which counts towards college credit. However, students who take a practice test in advance have time to work with their tutor on their test prep skills (READ: AP Exams and the DBQ: How to Improve). Reason #2- Get used to sitting for a very, very long time Students in AP classes, especially those taking their first AP, forget how long the actual test it is. Of course, students who have already taken the SAT will have some idea of what its like to sit for extended periods, however, its a good idea to think about issues such as mental fatigue, back and hip pain, and other issues associated with taking long standardized tests in one sitting. Reason #3- General test prep Students who are taking their first AP exam are probably not familiar with test prep techniques. A big portion of the multiple-choice exam is basically learning about these techniques. If terms like ‘process of elimination’, ‘going with your gut’, ‘looking for evidence’, and ‘choosing the best option’ are not intimately familiar, the student is in need of more practice. A private tutor can sit down with the AP student and explain why certain answer choices are there to confuse them and why and how to eliminate these answer choices. This can make a big difference on test day and can also help prepare AP students for the all-important SAT and ACT exams later on (CLICK: AP English Language and Composition Exam: 101 Key Terms). Reason #4- Each AP classroom experience is different Each AP class will be a little different. Although teachers have a certain syllabus and rubric they are required to follow, every educator has a different teaching style. Some will focus on the essay while others may work on test prep techniques. Some will be easy graders and others may be exceedingly strict. The issue with this is that the AP test is standardized, meaning it will be the same throughout the country. On the real test theres no room for leniency, different grading styles, or anything other than the standard rubric for the AP exam. Reason #5- One chance and only one chance Students taking the SAT and ACT often have to take it two or three times. This has become fairly normal and takes quite a bit of pressure off of students who dont do that well on the exam the first time around. In fact, students who happen to have an ‘off’ day when they take the SAT simply never show that particular score to colleges they are applying to and no real harm is done. However, there is one chance and only one chance to take the AP exams. Students who are unprepared will have to find a way to get it together for the exam or risk losing a full year of college level study (READ: Ask a Nerd! Grades and AP Class). Bottom line Choosing to take an AP class and exam is a big responsibility. Although many students dont want to spend multiple hours sitting down to take a full length AP practice exam, theyre advised to remember that if they dont score at least a 3 on the exam they will lose their college credit option. This means that they may have traded those few hours one day in high school for an entire semester of Math or English 101. At the end of the day a practice test is totally worth it. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us post about. 5 Reasons to take a Practice Test before taking the AP Exam Tips From an Orange County AP Tutor: Reasons to take a Practice Test before taking the AP Exam Although nearly every student of the SAT and ACT will take multiple practice exams, many AP students don’t take a full-length practice exam in its entirety until the real test in May. There are several reasons students fail to take a practice test for any given AP subject. For example, they feel they have gotten enough help from their classroom teacher at school, they are already exhausted from taking multiple SAT or ACT practice exams, or it’s their first Advanced Placement experience. However, failure to take at least one full-length practice test leaves students in a bad spot when it comes time for the real exam need further help on you AP exam? Book your Orange County private AP tutor today. Reason #1 Get a realistic view of your score Many students dont understand the grading process for AP or how much each section counts for. The only way a student can truly find out what their expected score will be is to sit down and take a full length test. So many students feel confident they will get a 4 or 5, but come home with a 2 or a 1, neither of which counts towards college credit. However, students who take a practice test in advance have time to work with their tutor on their test prep skills (READ: AP Exams and the DBQ: How to Improve). Reason #2- Get used to sitting for a very, very long time Students in AP classes, especially those taking their first AP, forget how long the actual test it is. Of course, students who have already taken the SAT will have some idea of what its like to sit for extended periods, however, its a good idea to think about issues such as mental fatigue, back and hip pain, and other issues associated with taking long standardized tests in one sitting. Reason #3- General test prep Students who are taking their first AP exam are probably not familiar with test prep techniques. A big portion of the multiple-choice exam is basically learning about these techniques. If terms like ‘process of elimination’, ‘going with your gut’, ‘looking for evidence’, and ‘choosing the best option’ are not intimately familiar, the student is in need of more practice. A private tutor can sit down with the AP student and explain why certain answer choices are there to confuse them and why and how to eliminate these answer choices. This can make a big difference on test day and can also help prepare AP students for the all-important SAT and ACT exams later on (CLICK: AP English Language and Composition Exam: 101 Key Terms). Reason #4- Each AP classroom experience is different Each AP class will be a little different. Although teachers have a certain syllabus and rubric they are required to follow, every educator has a different teaching style. Some will focus on the essay while others may work on test prep techniques. Some will be easy graders and others may be exceedingly strict. The issue with this is that the AP test is standardized, meaning it will be the same throughout the country. On the real test theres no room for leniency, different grading styles, or anything other than the standard rubric for the AP exam. Reason #5- One chance and only one chance Students taking the SAT and ACT often have to take it two or three times. This has become fairly normal and takes quite a bit of pressure off of students who dont do that well on the exam the first time around. In fact, students who happen to have an ‘off’ day when they take the SAT simply never show that particular score to colleges they are applying to and no real harm is done. However, there is one chance and only one chance to take the AP exams. Students who are unprepared will have to find a way to get it together for the exam or risk losing a full year of college level study (READ: Ask a Nerd! Grades and AP Class). Bottom line Choosing to take an AP class and exam is a big responsibility. Although many students dont want to spend multiple hours sitting down to take a full length AP practice exam, theyre advised to remember that if they dont score at least a 3 on the exam they will lose their college credit option. This means that they may have traded those few hours one day in high school for an entire semester of Math or English 101. At the end of the day a practice test is totally worth it. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us post about. 5 Reasons to take a Practice Test before taking the AP Exam Tips From an Orange County AP Tutor: Reasons to take a Practice Test before taking the AP Exam Although nearly every student of the SAT and ACT will take multiple practice exams, many AP students don’t take a full-length practice exam in its entirety until the real test in May. There are several reasons students fail to take a practice test for any given AP subject. For example, they feel they have gotten enough help from their classroom teacher at school, they are already exhausted from taking multiple SAT or ACT practice exams, or it’s their first Advanced Placement experience. However, failure to take at least one full-length practice test leaves students in a bad spot when it comes time for the real exam need further help on you AP exam? Book your Orange County private AP tutor today. Reason #1 Get a realistic view of your score Many students dont understand the grading process for AP or how much each section counts for. The only way a student can truly find out what their expected score will be is to sit down and take a full length test. So many students feel confident they will get a 4 or 5, but come home with a 2 or a 1, neither of which counts towards college credit. However, students who take a practice test in advance have time to work with their tutor on their test prep skills (READ: AP Exams and the DBQ: How to Improve). Reason #2- Get used to sitting for a very, very long time Students in AP classes, especially those taking their first AP, forget how long the actual test it is. Of course, students who have already taken the SAT will have some idea of what its like to sit for extended periods, however, its a good idea to think about issues such as mental fatigue, back and hip pain, and other issues associated with taking long standardized tests in one sitting. Reason #3- General test prep Students who are taking their first AP exam are probably not familiar with test prep techniques. A big portion of the multiple-choice exam is basically learning about these techniques. If terms like ‘process of elimination’, ‘going with your gut’, ‘looking for evidence’, and ‘choosing the best option’ are not intimately familiar, the student is in need of more practice. A private tutor can sit down with the AP student and explain why certain answer choices are there to confuse them and why and how to eliminate these answer choices. This can make a big difference on test day and can also help prepare AP students for the all-important SAT and ACT exams later on (CLICK: AP English Language and Composition Exam: 101 Key Terms). Reason #4- Each AP classroom experience is different Each AP class will be a little different. Although teachers have a certain syllabus and rubric they are required to follow, every educator has a different teaching style. Some will focus on the essay while others may work on test prep techniques. Some will be easy graders and others may be exceedingly strict. The issue with this is that the AP test is standardized, meaning it will be the same throughout the country. On the real test theres no room for leniency, different grading styles, or anything other than the standard rubric for the AP exam. Reason #5- One chance and only one chance Students taking the SAT and ACT often have to take it two or three times. This has become fairly normal and takes quite a bit of pressure off of students who dont do that well on the exam the first time around. In fact, students who happen to have an ‘off’ day when they take the SAT simply never show that particular score to colleges they are applying to and no real harm is done. However, there is one chance and only one chance to take the AP exams. Students who are unprepared will have to find a way to get it together for the exam or risk losing a full year of college level study (READ: Ask a Nerd! Grades and AP Class). Bottom line Choosing to take an AP class and exam is a big responsibility. Although many students dont want to spend multiple hours sitting down to take a full length AP practice exam, theyre advised to remember that if they dont score at least a 3 on the exam they will lose their college credit option. This means that they may have traded those few hours one day in high school for an entire semester of Math or English 101. At the end of the day a practice test is totally worth it. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us post about.