The Strong Base Definition of Chemistry

The Strong Base Definition of ChemistryChemistry is a broad term encompassing a variety of disciplines. In chemistry, you will study the elements and their properties and how they interact to create substances. There are three classes in chemistry: the descriptive class, the experimental class, and the theoretical class. Each class has specific areas of study that are best learned through laboratories.The descriptive class is taught to students who wish to understand how a chemical reaction occurs. The word 'descriptive' means to describe in writing. Thus, the theory class is teaching students how to 'describe' a substance's properties. The laboratory involves the use of solvents, gases, and other substances that react with different substances to form new compounds. You will also be taught the classification of reactions and how you should read a material.The experimental class is taught to students who desire to conduct research. An experiment may involve separating two chemicals, or using a machine to measure an element. The theory class discusses how materials combine and how two materials may react with each other. The laboratory teaches you how to mix chemicals and how your method of mixing is accurate. Students learn what may happen in a chemical reaction and how to distinguish between exact reactions and those that are statistical. Students learn that an experiment must be 'brought to a close' when the reaction is complete, so the lab involves knowing the end product of the reaction.The theory class is taught to students who wish to study and apply concepts in the course of research. It is very similar to the experimental class, in that they are taught how to combine compounds to form a compound. However, this class requires you to do some more research. Students learn more about the characteristics of a compound, and how the qualities affect its properties. Some of the requirements include conducting experiments and then writing up your findings.The ba se definition of chemistry includes a strong base. In other words, if you wish to earn a chemistry degree, you will need to take courses in all three of the classifications of chemistry. If you have taken more than one class in chemistry, you will have completed all the necessary courses. To avoid becoming overwhelmed, you should plan your coursework by knowing the type of chemistry you plan to pursue.Many colleges and universities have degrees in chemistry, and they offer multiple options for these degrees. These degrees are often earned from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), the College of Education (CE), or the College of Medicine (CM). The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) offers a Masters of Science in Chemistry (MSc) as well as a Master of Science in Environmental Science (MSES). The College of Engineering (CE) offers a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (BSCE). At some colleges, you can obtain a degree in science and engineering without taking an y chemistry courses.A high school diploma is not enough to become a student in any of the fields of chemistry, but you will need to study at least enough to meet all of the requirements for admission. If you want to go into the teaching profession, then your teacher education should include chemistry classes.

English Conversation Classes with TED Creativity, Music and Language

English Conversation Classes with TED Creativity, Music and Language Two things I have always been fascinated with are music and language. Ive been writing in some form or another since I was young, studied English at university, and worked as a journalist before teaching. I have also played guitar for about 15 years now, and particularly enjoy improvising music on the guitar with other musicians.In this TED video, Charles Limb, a brain surgeon and musician, talks about scientifically looking at creative genius, by looking at the brains of improvising musicians with scanners, while they are creating.Its a fascinating video, bringing up questions about the relationship between music and language, among other things. It will certainly be a fun and interesting English class! This video can be watched with Spanish, Portuguese and Korean subtitles.Why you should be interested in Charles Limb (from TED.com):Charles Limb has two titles on his official website: Associate Professor, Otolaryngology, Head Neck Surgery, and Faculty, Peabody Conservatory of Music . He combines his two passions to study the way the brain creates and perceives music. Hes a hearing specialist and surgeon at Johns Hopkins who performs cochlear implantations on patients who have lost their hearing. And he plays sax, piano and bass.In search of a better understanding of how the mind perceives complex auditory stimuli such as music, hes been working with Allen Braun to look at the brains of improvising musicians and study what parts of the brain are involved in the kind of deep creativity that happens when a musician is really in the groove.Read more from Dr. Limb on the TED Blog If you think about it from a kind of abstract philosophical level, it’s unusual that acoustic vibrations in the air can make you feel deep emotion, something that can affect your life.Charles Limb in Urbanite Baltimore magazineWatch the video below, and then see if you can answer the questions afterward: What is Charles joke about creativity and surgery?What makes Keith Jarretts concerts unusual?What does off the top of his head mean?Use five adjectives to describe Keith Jarretts music.What question did Charles ask himself about the music?What is the difference between magic and magical?How does the FMRI scanner measure brain activity?What happens in the brain when someone is improvising music?What was the hardest thing for jazz musician Mike Pope about playing music inside the scanner?What was the second experiment with the jazz musicians?What did the second jazz experiment show?What does Charles compare music to?Use 5 adjectives to describe Charles rapping.Will he ever rap again?What happens when rappers improvise?What question does Charles hope to answer some day?Want to take an English Conversation class?English Classes | Cursos Inglés | Aulas Inglês

Tips for Teens Changing your Study Mindset

Tips for Teens Changing your Study Mindset Youve got a big test coming up at the end of the week, and youre dreading it. You know you should start studying now so that youll be well prepared, but whenever you think about studying your mind gets flooded with negative thoughts: Theres so much material to study for this test, where will I even start? What if I cant find my notes? What if my notes arent good enough and they dont make any sense to me now? What if I put all of this time into studying and then fail the test anyway? All of these thoughts can quickly send you into avoidance mode. Before you know it, its the evening before the test and you havent studied at all. Our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all dependent on each other. If we want to change the way we behave or act, and the way we feel about the things that we have to do, then we can start by changing the way that we think. So, if you want to develop study habits that will allow you to put your best foot forward, then challenge the negative thoughts that might be getting in your way. There are common negative thought patterns that everyone experiences sometimes. These thoughts are more likely to come up when were faced with something that makes us nervous, stressed, or overwhelmed like studying for a big exam! All or Nothing Thoughts. With these types of thoughts, youre either great at something or terrible at something. You need to do things perfectly, or not at all. When it comes to studying, this kind of thinking can cause you to set an impossibly high standard for yourself. If you think that you need to study perfectly and get a top score on the exam, then youll quickly become overwhelmed and anxious when you think about all of the work you need to do. On top of that, the possibility of failure seems very high since anything less than a perfect grade will be a disappointment. All or Nothing Reframe: Remind yourself that you wont get a top score on every test, and that is okay. No single test is going to make or break your final grade. If you study and prepare for the test then youll have worked hard in order to do your personal best. Turning Small Problems into Catastrophes (Catastrophizing). When people catastrophize they take one small incident and allow it to grow larger and larger in their mind until its been built up to be a complete disaster. For example, if you get one bad grade on a math quiz, you think that this just proves that youre terrible at math. Youll probably fail every quiz and test for the rest of this year. This will show up on your college applications and now there is no way youll ever get into your first-choice school! Catastrophizing Reframe: Remind yourself that this is just one small problem, and that you dont know what it means for the future. Youre not a fortune teller! Try to put the problem out of your mind. Learn from any mistakes that were made, and start fresh today. Should Thoughts. When you have a long list of rigid rules about things you should do in order to study effectively, you set yourself up for guilt and regret when youre not able to follow through. This is especially true when youre lists of shoulds is impossibly long, impossibly challenging, or simply not a good fit for your personality or study style. So, if you thought that you should have started studying on Monday, but you didnt start until Thursday, then youll feel very guilty and defeated before you even sit down to study. Should Reframe: Try not to think about what you should have done and instead think about where you are at right now. Make a plan based on the amount of time that you have available and do your best right now. Then, when youre getting ready to study for another test in the future, think about the lists of rigid shoulds that you have in your mind. Ask yourself: Are they are realistic? Are they a good fit for you? Are they helping you move forward or just making you feel guilty and holding you back? Talk to a teacher or tutor about finding new strategies that will work for you. Challenging these three common negative thought patterns will go a long way in helping you change your study mindset. Youll feel less stressed when its time to start studying, and youll tackle your study plan more effectively. Youll shift from avoidance mode to action mode, and before you know it youll be well on your way to achieving your best on that test! Youve got this!! 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.

Can I teach English abroad for the summer

Can I teach English abroad for the summer Remember how awesome summer was when you were a kid? Freed from the everyday grind of school, months of complete freedom lay before you. Every day was a chance to do something new, to have an adventure, to make new friends and create memories that would last a lifetime. If you’re like most of us, the magic of summer dimmed somewhat as you got older. If you’re in college or university, summer is probably not so much a time to do amazing things after a long and sometimes tedious school year as it is a time to get an even more tedious summer job in order to pay for more school. If you’re in the workforce, well, maybe the only sign it even is summer is that the view from your office window when you look up from your computer screen is now sunshine instead of snow, which you enjoy for a few seconds before looking back at your computer screen again. What happened? Do summers as adults have to be like this? Can summer once again be a time for adventures and new life experiences? Well, yes it can, which is why you should consider teaching English abroad for the summer. Imagine being in a new place, experiencing a new culture and having daily adventures and new experiences just like you used to as a kid! First things first, we’re not going to lie to you. Most English schools abroad are looking to hire teachers for at least an entire school year. This means that the options for teaching English abroad for just the summer are a little bit more limited than if you were willing or able to make a long-term commitment. The Teach Away job board is a great source of info regarding more long-term English teaching jobs. But if you’re just looking to teach during your own school’s summer break, or take a summer sabbatical from work, it can still be done, and here are some ideas how. Option 1: Teach English at a summer camp What better way to remember how awesome childhood summers were than by spending your summer as a camp counselor at an English language summer camp? English language summer camps are particularly popular in Europe, and are similar to the summer camps of your youth with games and outdoor activities. These are great opportunities for university students on summer break as a degree is usually not required (though a TEFL certificate would be a plus). Instead, the primary prerequisites are the ability to speak English (well, duh!), a youthful personality and the ability to lead recreational activities and games. Some English language instruction may be required, but at the end of the day it is a camp, not a school, so having fun (in English) is the name of the game. Many of the camps will require the counselors to live on site and conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times, so free time might be minimal, but hey, you are living at a summer camp! As a plus, room and board will usually be provided, meaning you can save most of the money you earn for books (or, who are we kidding, beer) for the fall semester. Check out Camp Europe for upcoming positions. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. Option 2: Teach English online for the summer We’re currently looking for university graduates from Canada and the United States to teach English to Chinese students online from the comfort of their own home. However, nobody says where your own home has to be! Home may be where the heart is, but for the purposes of teaching English online, home can be anywhere with a reliable internet connection. Becoming an online English teacher could mean spending the summer, well, wherever you want! It could be as easy as throwing a dart at a map and grabbing your laptop. Be warned however, that teaching hours are geared toward the convenience of the students in China, so depending on where you choose to set up shop and what timezone it is in, you may be working some odd hours. Read this: This calculator shows how much you can earn teaching English online (Hint: It’s a lot!) Option 3: Teach English in a homestay abroad Another option when it comes to summer teaching jobs abroad is to stay with a family, receiving room and board in exchange for tutoring them or their children. This is a great chance for a complete cultural immersion, and you might be able to also get some lessons in the local language as part of the exchange. Social media or local classified websites (think Craigslist or the local equivalent) are a great way to find and negotiate these exchanges yourself (often with the help of Google Translate, because after all, if they spoke English, they wouldn’t need you!) Another good site for homestay English teaching opportunities is Greenheart Travel. Option 4: Apply for volunteer English teaching opportunities Okay, so you’re not going to be getting paid for these, but let’s be honest, that university summer job probably isn’t paying you that much either and you can’t put a price on helping to make the world a better place. There are plenty of opportunities to teach English abroad as a volunteer. Often this will be in a more economically disadvantaged region of the world and will involve teaching English to people who would not otherwise have the chance to learn it. This will result not only in a much different experience for you, in a more off-the-beaten-path destination, but could be life changing for your students, as knowing English could open up a myriad of opportunities for them they might not otherwise have had. A simple Google search will bring up plenty of volunteer positions in all corners of the world, because there is never a shortage of people needing a little help. Perhaps the only thing better than having an adventure is changing someone else’s life while doing so. Check out Go Overseas for the latest volunteer teaching opportunities. Whatever option you decide, it would be best to start sorting it out well before summer arrives. Positions might fill up quickly, there will be plane tickets to be bought and maybe even visas to be obtained. And if teaching English abroad for a summer turns out to be more fun than you expected, why not make it a year round thing? Teach Away is always a great resource regarding more long term teaching opportunities throughout the world. After all, the adventure shouldn’t stop just because summer does. ? Read this: How to find a short-term job teaching English abroad

Feeling Low It Could Be Seasonal Affective Disorder

Feeling Low It Could Be Seasonal Affective Disorder Image Credit to normanrosenthal.com The start of spring semester can be daunting for a lot of reasons.   You have to start planning for your summer, applying for internships, and if you’re graduating, you have to start searching for jobs.   You have to get used to a new schedule and transition from the holidays back into the daily grind.   But there’s another reason that the beginning of spring semester can feel especially daunting: the weather.   If you attend college in New England, or anywhere in the world where winter is no joke and sunlight is scarce, the term spring semester is a bit of a misnomer.   Actual spring weather doesn’t come around until at least mid-March, which means you’re kicking off your term in cold, often snowy weather with very little sunlight.   This may seem like a trivial detailâ€"but it’s actually not.   Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression and it’s very real.   So if you’re having a hard time dragging yourself out of a funk in mid-January and wondering why it se emed so much easier in September, consider the possibility that something bigger than you could be the cause. Season Affective Disorder has a list of symptoms similar to those you probably already associate with depression, including but not limited to: anxiety, loss of energy, social withdrawal, oversleeping, appetite changes (especially increased carb-cravings), and difficulty concentrating.   The Mayo Clinic notes that cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder tend to become more common the farther one moves from the equator.    This is thought to be due to the decreased amounts of sunlight during winter in these locations.   Seasonal Affective Disorder is very treatable, but you do have to get yourself to a health center if you suspect you might be suffering from the disorder.   Be prepared for your appointment; this webpage has a great list.   Once they see you, a doctor can diagnose you and suggest appropriate treatment options.   These typically include light therapy and/or oral medication, but there are lifestyle changes and alternative medicine options you can try if you are concerned a bout taking pills.   Regardless, do keep in mind that the proper diagnosis and care can only come from an appointment with a medical professional. If your symptoms aren’t terribly severe and you feel you’re missing some of the key aspects of actual depression but still feel sluggish and not yourself, it’s also possible that you might have a Vitamin D deficiency.   According to the Daily Mail UK, nine out of ten people in Britain have a Vitamin D deficiency.   It’s not at all unusual to see such a deficiency, especially in climates that don’t see a lot of sunshine.   Harvard Health published a pretty comprehensive article on the topic.   It contains a particularly helpful discussion on how Vitamin D deficiency is an issue in regions that lie above or below the equator by thirty-seven degrees or more.   This puts New England squarely in the area where Vitamin D deficiencies are commonplace.  If you think you aren’t getting enough Vitamin D, make an appointment with your school’s health center and share your concerns with a professional.   Correcting a Vitamin D deficiency usually just involves taking a Vitamin D su pplement.   These are pretty readily available; CVS carries them.   Your doctor should be able to suggest the correct amount to take and even perhaps which brand is best. Regardless, don’t worry.   If you suspect you may have Seasonal Affective Disorder or a Vitamin D deficiency, there is no reason to panic.   Both conditions are very treatable and there are lots of helpful books on the subjects.   A great one to have if you do find you have Seasonal Affective Disorder is Winter Blues by Norman Rosenthal.   He has a very helpful website as well.   Arm yourself with knowledge, but don’t overreact, and bear in mind: Spring is on its way.

Xabia International College

Xabia International College Xabia International College The Xabia International College is an Independent, International school offering the British National Curriculum from Primary to A level. It is based in the beautiful coastal town of Javea on the Costa Blanca. There are 24 different nationalities, with British and Spanish as the main two. Classes are restricted to 20 as a maximum; allowing pupils easy access to their teachers and teachers more time to support each and every student. This key to our success is the caring environment within which our students and staff can work in unison to ensure both succeed in fulfilling the ambitions of our youngsters. We prepare children for the challenges they will face in a modern and fast changing world. We can embrace the variety of talents in our students through the dedication of highly experienced teachers using modern methods in small classes. It is an exciting journey; one that offers opportunity and a refreshing perspective towards the daily trials faced by our young people. The College is a happy and caring place in which all children are given a wide range of opportunities to develop their full potential whilst carefully nurturing their self-belief and confidence. We give each student time and space, respect and encouragement. They need the warmth and security which allows them to develop their own special talents and personalities. Most importantly, we have developed ways in which we can listen to the needs and aspirations of the students and support their needs at every stage. We help to give children confidence so that they can make important contributions to many areas of College life. XIC is a happy place where pupils can attain high academic standards whilst feeling valued and encouraged as individuals. We encourage independence and initiative and help children to develop the attributes and values of being courteous, responsible, pro-active and engaging. We are a family school and place enormous importance on this vital aspect in the lives of our students. A close synergy with the home provides an excellent base supporting all we aim to invest in the lives of those within our community. We are extremely proud of our students at all levels of the community and celebrate their achievements constantly. In XIC friendships are made and lessons learned that will last a lifetime! View our Brochure

FluentU Reviews 5 Smart Language Programs for Discerning Learners

FluentU Reviews 5 Smart Language Programs for Discerning Learners FluentU Reviews 5 Smart Language Programs for Discerning Learners You cant wait to get to the good stuff.Thats right, I see you skimming search results on your laptop.I see you, skeptical but hopeful, determined to find the best resource for learning a language out there.Come on, youre thinking, Whats the best language learning program of them all?Whats the most  effective learning system on the face of the earth?Whats going to get me fluent in the least amount of time?Well, you shouldnt think like that.When you seek answers to  such general questions, you only sell yourself short.Youre smarter than that, and you deserve better.Heres why. Choosing a Language Program: Its About the FitYou know what happens when you go searching for the best of them all?You go on a wild goose chase where you find people wholl swear on this program or that program. And on the other side of the aisle, just as sure of themselves, are people screaming, Give me back my money!Most of the time, when you read reviews of language learning programs, just as with any other pr oduct reviews, you end up feeling like theres a tug-of-war going on between those who think a certain programs the best thing since sliced bread, and then another group who are completely dissatisfied.The better question to ask would be Which program is the best for me?Take the idea of best and focus it on yourself. Because there are different kinds of people in this world, and theres no one super-awesome, super-scientifically-backed program that does everything for everyone.Furthermore, theres no program that contains all the resources you should be making use of in your language learning (books, movies, native speakers, etc.). The question really is what a particular program can bring to your personal learning journey.Sure, every program has features that merits its existence. And for sure, many people will benefit from them. But how about you? What will work best for you?So when looking for the best, dont immediately go looking for whats out there.  Instead, get  selfish and ask yourself, Whats in here?In order to do just that, here are a few things you need to keep in mind while choosing the language learning program thats right for you.PricePrice is a tricky subject. Theres no one way to determine if a program is priced just right.Some programs price themselves out of the running because theyre simply out of your range. Others, when theyre too cheap, can make you feel suspicious. And when theyre free, theres always the danger that youll automatically think theyre no good when they could actually be offering something more robust than some paid programs.All of the above is worth taking into consideration as you consider programs based on your budget and what you think theyre worth. Again, youll have to determine this yourself, but its important to consider. Feeling youre getting a good price  will make you happy about your purchase, and can actually make you feel motivated about learning.Medium of InstructionWhat sorts of materials do you like best while l earning? Video, audio, text, games a mix of all these media?There are different routes to fluency. Different types of learners will benefit from different types of media being used to teach a language. Are you an audio learner? Then podcasts could be your key. Do you absolutely have to see words in order to remember them? Then look to programs that fit that need.Do you want it all? No matter who you are, a mix of media is probably going to be your best bet but then is the price attractive enough?Content DepthThis is the other side of the coin, and youre going to have to balance this with price to see if youre getting enough bang for your buck.Going back to price for a moment, a free program could be free because it only scratches the surface and contains material for beginners, or material that you can find many other places. Or a program could be expensive because it  promises to take you from absolute beginner to advanced level.To understand whats really going on with a program, f ocus on the depth of content. Read the features section of the program ad. But steer clear of words like awesome or amazing that have been purposely written to entice. Look for facts. How many vocabulary  words are you supposed to be able to learn? How many hours of material are you given? What kinds of topics or content will be covered? How much personalization does the program offer?Focusing on the actual features of the product while trying to stay neutral to the advertising will get you a reasonable picture of the program.Target SkillsIt would be ideal for you to learn speaking, reading, writing  and listening in the target language. But because you dont have all the time in the world, you need to prioritize which of the linguistic skills is most important for you.If you want to speak a language fast, for example, then choose a program that focuses on developing speaking skills. Also consider, though, that simply learning to communicate some basic phrases in a language wont help you to understand what another person is saying, so listening can be just as important in conversation.What do I want to learn? Ask yourself that question and be specific as possible. Do you want to learn vocabulary? Then choose a program whose strong suit is exactly that. Do you want to focus on grammar? Then know that there are programs that are hardcore on that.Also, you should take note of how youll be using the language. Are you a vacationer who needs to learn just enough to get by? Then gravitate towards material specifically made for travelers. Are you going to use the language for academic or business writing? Then stay away from titles like Spanish Slang Other Four Letter Words.AestheticsAesthetics is the general look of the program, whether its a physical book or CD cover, the fonts and colors used in an app. Its also about the clarity of the audio or the attractiveness of the graphics.Aesthetics is about beauty, good taste and ease of use.Does the general look of the pr ogram appeal to you? Whether its the pages of a workbook or a computer screen, the look is often reflective of the thought and effort put into the program. It isnt always the case that the more attractive the program, the better the content, but its worth thinking about how the two connect.If, somehow, the look, format or structure of a program just does not appeal to you, then theres no reason for you to spend hours slogging through material that seems a little off to you in the first place.All that being said, lets now review five famous language programs based on the factors weve just mentioned.Also, the links in this post are affiliate links, so by purchasing some of these products, you’ll be supporting our efforts to keep bringing you top-notch language learning content on the FluentU blogs.FluentU Reviews 5 Smart Language Programs for Discerning LearnersFluentU ReviewFluentU is the webs largest repository of real-world videos specially designed for language learning. It carr ies hundreds of videos each for Spanish, English, German, French, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Russian and Koreanâ€"with a Portuguese program in the works.PriceThe Basic plan is $20/month or $240 annually. This includes unlimited watching and listening of videos and audio. The Plus plan, at $30/month or $360 annually, has additions of unlimited vocabulary deck and PDF printouts. It also features quizzes that teach you new words via questions and prompts and keeps a record of your progress, making the whole experience as personal as it gets. You can try out either plan to see how it works for you with a free seven-day trial.Medium of InstructionFluentU uses real-world videos to teach a language. Depending on the video, this may mean a TV clip, a newscast, a commercial, movie trailer or an interview in the target language. The videos have been embedded with interactive transcripts that turn them from normal video clips to mini language lessons.The dialogues, lines or narration in the v ideos come with real-time captions that allow you to follow along. So not only do you have engaging content, you also have learning support that makes that content digestible and highly meaningful.Content DepthFluentU has a wide variety of real-world video content and covers the full spectrum of language learners, from absolute beginner to very advanced.Our materials serve language learners on widely-varying linguistic levels. For example, there are clips that tackle basic subjects like numbers, days of the weeks or colors. There are also interviews and vlogs that provide authentic and immersive content for advanced learners.Because of the interactive transcripts, you can not only pace your learning, you can choose what you want to learn and how much you want to know. When you hover over the words in the captions, you get a full menu of information on that word including translation, meaning, pronunciation and usage. So you not only get a vocabulary lesson in context, you learn ever ything else about that word.FluentU has a wide variety of videos, including movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive Transcripts You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Target SkillWith the FluentU system, youre given access to big picture (video) and the details (interactive captions) at the sa me time. Because of the pairing of videos and interactive transcripts, youll be learning different skills. Youll learn vocabularyâ€"vocabulary thats embedded in a memorable visual context. Your ears will become more attuned to the target language as you listen how native speakers take their language for a spin.And using the transcripts, you can get plenty of speaking practice talking along with the video clip. You can also pick up gems of grammar as you dive deeper into the words through interactive features.AestheticsThe FluentU interface is smooth and instinctive. Youll get the sense that the team that developed it had you, the language learner, in mind.The videos are not only technically sound, theyve been meticulously handpicked with language learning in mind.The explanations are written to be helpful and informative, but not to the point of being overwhelming.Pimsleur ReviewBased on the memory research of Dr. Pimsleur, which placed concepts like spaced repetition on the linguis tic map, the Pimsleur language program is one of the most well-known and widely-used language products today. As with any program, there are those people who swear by it, and others who dont so much. Lets see how Pimsleur fares with the factors we talked about earlier.PriceDepending on the language, a single course (one level) can run you over $100. A comprehensive course usually has three levels, and some, like Spanish, even have five. Needless to say, this is one of the more expensive language programs around. However, you can lower the cost by buying more than one level bundled.Audio CDs, software and downloadable files are available. Typically, 30 lessons, 30 minutes each.Medium of InstructionPimsleur is an audio-based programâ€"which is great if youre a multitasker and want to learn a language while commuting, waiting for a friend or walking your dog. Less so if youre the type who wants to see texts, faces or graphics while learning.Content DepthYoure advised to just stick to o ne 30-minute session a day. Following that, a whole level would take you about a month.The lessons open with a conversation by native speakers. This dialogue then becomes the basis for the lesson. Youll be brought up to speed with clever drills, prompts and repetition. Youll not only learn new vocabulary, but also come to understand what the dialogue was all about.The lessons are phrase-centric. Meaning youll not be learning just words, but bunches of them. Around five phrases will be introduced for each lesson, and some old ones will be reviewed later on. The lessons are interactive, meaning that youll not only be prompted by the teacher to repeat after her, but youll be asked to answer some questions, too.The lessons are placed within useful context and situations to help you imagine how and when to use what youve learned. Youll learn the basics in this course, like greetings and pleasantries. And if youre a businessperson who travels, youll probably find the audio lessons quite u seful for your purposes.Pimsleur believes in core vocabulary, focusing only on the most useful and most common words in the target language.The repetition in the lessons may be a double-edged sword for some: You get the phrases drilled into long-term memory, but this also drags out the lessons quite a bit.Some grammar is explained from time to time, but you get the sense that its not really at the heart of the lessons.Formal styles of communication are used in these lessonsâ€"like the kind of language you use if youre talking to an elder or a complete stranger.Target SkillsIts obvious that this program hones in on your speaking and pronunciation skills. Youll find plenty of opportunities to talk in the target language, albeit parroting the teacher. But as long as you perform the activities asked, your verbal skills will improve.Youll also really improve your listening skills, familiarizing yourself with the tone, melody and cadence of the target language, and be able to make out ind ividual words with no visual prompts. Youll get help with your intonation from native speakers whose dialogues provide handy contexts.AestheticsTheres not much to go through here in terms of the visuals, because hey, the system is in audio. But the sounds are sharp enough to hear the tonal rises and falls of the target language.Rosetta Stone ReviewThere actually is a Rosetta Stone, which is a stone slab containing inscriptions in three different languages, including Greek. This stone slab became the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics. Why dont you pay it a visit in the British Museum? But for our purposes here, were looking at the Rosetta Stone language learning software, one of the biggest names in language education today.PriceDepending on the target language, prices of comprehensive courses (three levels) hover around the $150-$200 level. This includes a CD with software you need to install on your computer.SpanishFrenchGermanChineseJapaneseItalianArabicKoreanPortugueseYou can now also purchase access via subscriptions ranging from three months to two years.You also have the option to purchase in-product live tutoring from native speakers.Medium of InstructionThe biggest thing you need to remember about Rosetta Stone is that its a target-language-based undertaking. Meaning, no, you dont get any translations or English at all. Proceedings are to take place in the target language and youre going to have some figuring out to do. (Plenty of photos are provided to help you.)Text and audio are in the target language. Rosetta is immersive in that sense.Content DepthRosetta Stone is a software program that contains audio-visual lessons. Think of it as a superpowered flashcard application. Expect to see plenty of pictures.Because of the pictures proffered, youll find yourself able to decipher the meanings of the words without any translation. For example, in the Spanish program, you will see lápiz  being paired with a clear picture of a pencil. No translatio n will be needed to catch the drift on that one. (And then later on, the Rosetta Stone software program will make a game out of it, by asking you to pair the picture with the word and vice versa.)Not a whole lot of vocabulary will be taught, because like Pimsleur, Rosetta Stone also only carries core vocabulary. For vocabulary fare that goes beyond words like man, book and table, youre going to have to do your own research outside the Rosetta Stone interface.One of the most useful features of the program is that it gives you access to native speakers of your target language. Book sessions and youll be in for a live tutoring experience from competent and patient coaches. And get this, they stick to the script of talking (and teaching) in the target language. So, no English.This, by far, is the most immersive element of the whole program, and I encourage you to utilize every minute of those sessions.Target SkillBecause everything is done in the target language, your skills of comprehe nsion in the target language are greatly increased. Youll be able to negotiate meaning and learn the language without being encumbered by the slow process of translating one word to another.Youll also hone your listening skills in the target language. In addition, your pronunciation skills can get a boost from the speech recognition feature, where you can actually compare how you speak with a native.And, as always, Rosetta Stone is great for learning vocabulary. Youll always have a visual component (pictures!) with which to remember words.AestheticsRosetta Stone does excel in beauty and form.The installation of the software is pretty straightforward. The interface is very instinctive and approachable. You wont lose your way as you progress along the course activities. If youre looking for true target language immersion, and dont easily get disoriented when you dont hear English for a few minutes, then this ones for you.And unlike some language programs that arent particularly clicka ble, Rosetta Stone is pretty responsive and interactive.The pictures are professionally taken, and some of the best in the field of language learning. These visuals can practically embed themselves into your memory.Audio-wise, Rosetta is clear and crisp, and allows you to hear very specific sounds of the target language. Surprisingly, while you often may think of this program primarily for its visuals, you may find it compares favorably to other programs specifically in terms of audio.Assimil ReviewAssimil programs are produced by a French company and are big in Europe. Assimil is a favorite material of many translators and polyglots including Luca Lampariello, the fellow behind the site The Polyglot Dream.In a way, Assimil has similarities with both Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone. Its like Pimsleur in that its audio-based, and its like Rosetta Stone in that the audio is exclusively in the target language.PriceDepending on the language course, the program can be purchased for a reasonab le price. Included will be downloadable audio files containing the lessons, with an accompanying workbook.Medium of InstructionAs mentioned before, Assimil is audio-driven, although it comes with a book that contains transcripts of the dialogues as well as translations of them. Only the target language is heard on the audio files.Explicit grammar explanations only come every once in awhile and they are but little footnotes in the workbook. The method is sentence-centric. Meaning youll be learning vocabulary and grammar in the context of dialogues and the conversational to-and-fro of sentences.Content DepthEach lesson can be finished in 30 minutes. The course comes with 100 lessons, with each lesson covering around five pages in the workbook. The lesson typically opens with a staged dialogue, which gradually gets longer. The sentences also become more complex as you move along through the course.The first 50 lessons are known as the passive wave because they involve plenty of listeni ng and attuning yourself to the intonations, inflections and flow of the target language. In the second wave, from the 51st lesson on, exercises and reviews of past lessons are integrated, and the learner moves into a more active role from here on out.In the 100 lessons, youll learn about 2,000 words.Target SkillYour listening skills will really be developed in this course. And because of the dialogue format, youll start to get a feel for conversations in the target language. You may not actually get to B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages  (CEFR) as promised by the folks behind the program, but youll definitely be able to communicate with native speakers in everyday situations.Also, by experiencing appropriate contexts for vocabulary, youll retain a considerable number of words in your long-term memory.AestheticsAudio-wise, the recordings are clear and you wont have any problem hearing whats being said. Speedwise, the speakers enunciate well and even seem to purposely slow down, especially in the early parts of the program.The accompanying workbook admittedly may not be a big hit with some learners. The pages can come across as somewhat cluttered, and dont offer much in the way of color.That said, this is a great way of packing in practice if thats primarily what you want. The accompanying workbook is fat with useful content and gives you an insightful behind-the-scenes look at what you hear in the audio. The precise translations provide a welcome relief for learners who may find audio-only or full immersion a tad bit challenging.Duolingo ReviewDuolingo has plenty of world languages under its belt, with more under development. It claims its the most popular way to learn a language with its millions-strong userbase. Its easy to use as an app, and its first compelling feature might be its unbeatable price.PriceFree. You wont shell out a single dollar for Duolingo. (The company makes money through a crowdsourced translation service.)Med ium of InstructionDuolingo lessons are not really lessons, but a bunch of activities done one after the other. The modules take you on a series of tasks you need to perform, like pairing words with their correct translations, or sequencing words in order to come up with a grammatically-correct sentence. By performing the activities, the idea is that youll embed the lessons and words into your long-term memory.Duolingo has a game-ified philosophy when it comes to language learning. The whole interface looks like a game where you earn points for correct answers. The progress bars gives you a visual indication of your performance, and the program  gives you a heads-up on the specific words and areas that need improvement.Content DepthBecause of the nature of the exercises and activities, theres also a limit on the things that you can learn through Duolingo. The program is great when it comes to learning vocabulary with spaced repetition technology, and decent when it comes to grammar e xplanations. Its also great at deconstructing language into its word components.In summary, its a good basics course, but cannot really be a standalone source for someone who wants to learn a language. Duolingo is best as a supplement to more robust content.Target SkillDuolingo allows you to practice your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. But dont expect to become fluent just from using this program. At best, it scratches only the surface of these skills.For example, more focus could be given to really speaking the language, instead of just enunciation. In Duolingo, youre only asked to repeat what you hear, and theres really not a strong communicative component.But that said, your basic skills do get a workout.AestheticsI have only great things to say about the interface of Duolingo. The graphics, colors, fonts, animations, icons, etc., are all synced to give you an experience thats so smooth and so instinctive, you begin to wonder if the thing is really actually free .Duolingo is one of the most visually zen programs I have seen in the field. Kudos to those behind the great design.So there you have it! Five different programs, five different sets of strengths and focuses. All you have to do is match them with your needs and you can have something that works for you.Again, there’s really no objectively best language learning program out there.Only whats best for you.And the great thing is that you get to decide what that is for yourself.