How Many Spanish Speakers Are in Your State [Infographic]

How Many Spanish Speakers Are in Your State [Infographic] Suzy S. Spanish is quickly becoming a prominent language in the US in fact, its estimated that there are now more than  54 million Spanish language speakers throughout the country, accounting  for almost 20% of the entire US population! These stats alone are a compelling reason to learn Spanish as a second language. But its also interesting to look at how the language has grown over the years. The infographic below, put together by Day Translations (with data from the US census, Pew Research Center â€" Hispanic Trends, and Wikipedia) shows the distribution of Spanish speakers in the US, and just how much the total has increased  since 1970. Check it out: Continue reading the post here.  And if you want to learn more about Spanish speakers in the US, the Pew Research Center for Hispanic Trends is another cool website to browse! Ready to Learn Spanish? There are so many benefits to being bilingual, and Spanish is a great second language to choose! Here are some resources to help you get started: Live, online group classes from TakeLessons (for a limited time, sign up for one of our classes for free!) Private Spanish tutoring Spanish articles and guides Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Why The Dept Of Education Is Investing In Early Childhood Education

Why The Dept Of Education Is Investing In Early Childhood Education The government is investing heavily in early childhood education, trying to get students school-ready earlier. This will then cut down on catching up time, making class time more efficient, according to an article in the District Administration. The U.S. Department of Education has collaborated with the Department of Health and Human Services to create a $500 million grant for early childhood education. The government is also throwing in incentives to encourage states to promote early childhood education. Under Obamas Race to the Top, states can earn extra funding if they create better early childhood education programs that close the school readiness gap for young children. Jacqueline Jones, senior adviser on early learning for the Department of Education, told the District Administration that the school readiness gap can appear as early as one year of age. Data shows real differences in math, language and literacy achievement scores in kindergarten for children coming from homes of poverty, where English isnt the first language, where the mothers education is less than a high school diploma, single parent homesall of these are major risk factors, Jones said. This is the exact group that the Department of Education is trying to target because it believes that the school readiness gap will only widen if the problems are not addressed early. It says the gap can widen to a point where it will be almost impossible for young students to catch up. The Department of Education said the funding will help states build more coordinated and structured early childhood education programs. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced this funding on May 25, 2011. The money will help states create various head start programs for early childhood development. Currently, these programs are funded through grassroots organizations, and funding can be very inconsistent. Because of that many of these programs go under. But, the Department of Education is trying to provide consistent funding to stabilize these programs. Were not just adding to the array of early learning. Were trying to leverage the funds and bring Head Start, Title I, special education and other programs together in a coordinated manner, Jones said. These programs will be geared toward low-income students to help narrow the school-readiness gap. These programs will also be aligned with K12 standards to cut down on training students to be school-ready. Obama created the Promise Neighborhoods initiative, a similar plan in 2010. This initiative funded similar programs in urban communities to help ensure those students are not already lagging behind when school starts. These grants can range from $50 million to $100 million, depending on the state and will be awarded at the start of 2012.

5 Productivity Tips for Already Busy People - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 5 Productivity Tips for Already Busy People - Introvert Whisperer 5 Productivity Tips for Already Busy People Julie B June 3, 2015 Career Development No responses Go to top Being extremely busy does not mean that some things have to be left undone. These tips show you how it is possible to accomplish more in less time by preparing to deal with tasks, avoid time-wasting distractions, handle emails efficiently, manage staff and save time on meetings. 1. Divide Your Tasks Be realistic about how much you can get done in a day. Break up a big project into separate tasks when making a list of jobs to be completed, and consider if any of them can be delegated or outsourced. A good way to deal with a big workload is to decide on completing one major task in the morning, followed by three medium-sized tasks and five shorter ones. With one big task completed, you should feel a sense of achievement and find it easier to get through less time-consuming tasks. 2. Manage Your Time Make a list of tasks that you can get through quickly, such as report reading and answering emails, and allocate small chunks of time for getting these done. Space in between meetings or while waiting for an appointment can be ideal times to get odd jobs done. You will increase productivity by setting strict deadlines for each primary task that you need to complete, whether or not these already have a fixed completion date. You can manage staff with HR software. This will allow you time to spend less time on admin and more time on pro-active management. 3. Become Email Efficient Restrict the number of times you check your emails during the day by setting specific points in the day for doing this. Rather than spending time on responding first thing in the morning, try to leave this task until you have completed something on your to-do list. (Tweet this!) Set up an automatic filter that will send things like newsletters into a separate folder, so you can look at them when you have more time available. If you regularly receive queries that involve frequently asked questions, use an autoresponder to send out an instant response with a set of answers or relevant information. Keeping your responses short will save time. If you take too long to respond to emails you will have to begin each one with an apology for the delay. You can save time by answering emails with a brief message stating that the sender can expect to get a response from you within the next 48 hours. 4. Cut Down on Meetings Efficient management of meetings will help you to be more productive when you have a big project to work on. Try to keep at least one day a week entirely free from meetings, so you can focus more on what needs to be done. When possible, arrange meetings in groups, so you can go directly from one to another, and take control to ensure that each meeting stays on topic and reaches a conclusion within its allotted time. When a meeting has to be arranged outside your workplace, consider whether it is really necessary to be there in person or whether a conference call or video conference would save time and accomplish the same result. 5. Take Action to Avoid Distractions Prevent other people from distracting you with non-urgent questions or trivial chatter when you need to wall yourself off. Make sure your office door stays closed or wear headphones while you work. Even if you are not listening to anything, people are less likely to try telling you anything that is not important when they can see that you have headphones on. If you use an internal messaging system, send a ‘Do Not Disturb’ message stating when you will be available again. Stay offline when doing work that does not require use of the Internet. When you do need to be online, disable your auto-logins for the social media sites you use, or get an app that you can set to block access to your favourite social network during your hours of work. Switch off your mobile phone and turn off any device that pings when you receive a message. Keep your workspace free from clutter. You will achieve more by staying focused on one thing at a time, instead of trying to multitask. Go to top What are some of your best productivity tips? Share with us in the comments! Image: Photobucket Personal Branding starts with how well you speak about YOU.   I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook â€" The Definitive Guide to Creating and Using an Elevator Speech.   In this guide, I give you simple to follow instructions for creating a “wardrobe” of ways to talk about you â€" to leave a lasting impression.   Get your copy now: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

In-Person, Online, or DIY Whats the Best Way to Learn Guitar

In-Person, Online, or DIY What’s the Best Way to Learn Guitar Sign up successful Pros: Due to the plethora of materials and teachers, you can sample many media and teaching styles easily to find what works best for you. Lessons can happen any place or time you find convenient. You can decide precisely what you would like to learn, and take as much time as is needed to master it. In most cases, DIY is the least expensive option for beginners. Cons: If you are practicing incorrectly, there’s no one to correct you. Progress can be slow due to not being motivated by a teacher and not having a set schedule. Important skill building may be missed when you are creating your own lesson plan ad-hoc. Remote Instruction Online guitar lessons via video calls provide an alternative to in person lessons, where you can communicate in real time with your teacher without leaving your home. Pros: Great for students with mobility issues or tight schedules. Assistance is available as you learn, and you progress at your own pace. The selection of teachers is not limited to those in your geographical area. Often this option is cheaper than private lessons. Cons: Internet connections and software are not always reliable. It can be quite difficult to learn guitar when your only model is a reverse image of what you’re trying to play. It may be difficult to catch subtle mistakes when your teacher is not actually there with you. Group Instruction In larger towns and cities, group lessons are sometimes offered at community  centers  or after hours in schools. Often high school or college students, or retired musicians, provide weekly lessons to a small group. Pros: Learning with others can be enjoyable, especially if you find a group which fits your age and skill level. Unlike online guitar lessons, there is a teacher on-site to help you correct mistakes. Cons: There is little personal attention. Your teacher may not catch your mistakes, leaving your skills sloppy and incomplete. There can be many distractions as it’s easy for a group to get off topic. Much of your time may be devoted to solving other people’s problems. You have little input into what you’re learning. Everyone moves at the same pace, even if you are capable of learning more quickly, or need more time. Private Lessons in-Person One-on-one learning with a skilled teacher focused on you, your interests, and your progress. Pros: Your teacher is a professional who can bring all the benefits of years of practice to you. All of their technical skills and tricks are at your disposal. You set the pace. You can choose between styles and methods, notation or  tablature, and which songs you want to play. Regular lessons and homework keep you on track and motivated to do your best. The education you receive will be complete, and will give you the skills you need to become truly talented. Cons: One-on-one lessons are generally the most expensive option. You’ll need to find someone in your area whose schedule is compatible with your own. Whether you choose online guitar courses or a more tailored experience, learning guitar is a rewarding and enjoyable pursuit. Remember to take pride in your accomplishments and have fun. The best way to learn guitar depends on your goals and what will best help you to achieve them. Good luck! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo  by  bennylin0724

Jumpstarting Your Music Career 5 Tips Nobody Talks About

Jumpstarting Your Music Career 5 Tips Nobody Talks About Suzy S. If youre one of the many with dreams of scoring a record deal, embarking on a world tour, or gracing the Broadway stage or maybe even the big screen, youve probably received a wealth of advice from teachers and mentors. You know the importance of working hard, practicing a ton, acing your auditions and networking. But theres actually much more to it. When it comes to making it in the entertainment field and getting the opportunity to do what you love, the path to success can be filled with frustration and unpredictable outcomes. So how do you survive the ups and downs? New York, NY teacher Natalie W. recently gave us her 5 tips for survival that arent always mentioned in the career guidebooks. Here are her words of wisdom, coming from years of experience as a professional opera singer: 1) Dont go to school for the performing arts.   No one truly cares where (or whether) you went to school; they just want to see what you can do.   You will get far better training studying privately with teachers and coaches and designing your own curriculum than you will get in pretty much any program.   With few exceptions, the best teachers dont teach in universities, because they can make far more money teaching privately in a city like New York. 2) Do go to school and study something that interests you.   Study philosophy, psychology, art history, political science, biology, whatever.   Broaden your world.   Make yourself a more complex, well-rounded person.   This will serve you as an artist, and help prepare you for my next piece of advice: 3) Prepare for a parallel career.   I was always told I would need a fall-back career, something to do if I didnt make it.   Well, of course, I was going to make it, so I didnt need one.   In fact, I didnt want a fall-back career, because then I knew I would end up falling back on it.   If I gave myself no option except to make it, then Id have to make it right?   (wrong)   Heres the reality: except for the most miniscule percentage of people, even highly successful performers those who have had national tours, performed on Broadway or at the Met, have made blockbuster movies or been on Law Order have times when they are not making money as performers.   Even if you make it, you will have to support yourself by other means at times.   If you dont want to spend the largest chunks of your life temping or waiting tables, figure out something you would like to do that allows you some flexibility for your artistic pursuits and train yourself for that.   I have found that for myself wit h my teaching the only reason Im glad I have a Masters degree in voice performance (even though nothing of what I learned in grad school gets passed on to my students). 4) Make time for friends and family.   It is so easy to say I cant, I have rehearsal (my mom actually bought me a t-shirt with this on it once, and I wore it with pride), and then wake up years later when your career is stalled to realize you have no friends and your marriage is on the rocks.   There is no one audition, no one show, no one opportunity that will be the deciding factor in your career.   You cant always sacrifice your career dreams for your friends and family, but you also cant always sacrifice your friends and family for your career dreams.   In the end, your relationships are what sustain you, what nourish you, what make you a whole person, and are what you can count on when the dream eludes you.   Besides, who are you going to thank when you win your Tony? 5) Lastly, if there is anything else in life that will make you happy, do that.   It is rare that the moments of joy outnumber the moments of pain and frustration in this business, so it is only worth doing if you are miserable not doing it. Natalie W. teaches piano, singing, Broadway singing, music performance, music theory, opera voice, and acting lessons to students of all ages in New York, NY. She joined the TakeLessons team in October 2012, with over 20   years of teaching experience. Find out more about Natalie, or visit TakeLessons to search for a teacher near you! Photo by Emz.watson

Your Guide to Past Perfect in English

Your Guide to Past Perfect in English English Past perfect tense can be a difficult for English learners, especially in conversation.  The goal of todays lesson is to make it easier for you.  Hopefully it will be the confidence boost you need to use past perfect  the next time youre talking about more than one action in the past!  Dont forget to schedule a class with LOI if you need a friendly, professional native speaker to practice with.  Lets get to it!English past perfect tense to talk aboutA completed action before something in the past:I had read the book, so I knew what would happen in the movie.She had never been to that restaurant until she went on a date there.I had never visited Amsterdam before I moved here.Duration before something in the past (non-continuous verbs):He had had the job for 20 years before he got fired. By the time he left, he had been  in Thailand for 3 months.He had felt unhappy  for months before he quit  his job.Good to Know For using English past perfect tense:regular past participles end with -ed, but here are some  common irregulars:bite - bitten                          â€¢  see - seenblow - blown                        â€¢  show - shownbreak - broken                     •  sing - sungeat - eaten                             •  speak - spokengive - given                           •  take - takenknow - known                      â€¢  tear - tornovercome - overcome         •  wake - wokenride - ridden                         •  wear - wornrun - run                               •  write - writtenWatch and Learn About English past perfect tense:Complete the sentences  with the correct use of English past perfect tense in the comments section.When I arrived at the cinema, the film (start).She (sing) a few times before she tried out for the play.We (be) in Taiwan for a year before we moved away.Before he tried today, he (ride) a bike one time.___ you guys (meet) before you went on your first date?He didnt arrive until after you (leave).I  (have) that car for 10 years before it broke down.The shark (bite) a few people before it bit her.Now, fill in the blanks below with English past perfect tense.  When youve finished, start the video at 1:00 to check your answers.A woman in Paris  was on her way to go shopping, but she ___ _________(forget) her coat. went back to get it.When she ___ ______(get) her coat the phone ___ ____(ring), so she ___ _______(stop) to answer it, and talked for a couple of minutes.While the woman was on the  phone, Daisy was rehearsing for a  performance at the Paris Opera House.  While she was rehearsing, the woman (off the phone now) ___ ____(go) outside to get a taxi.Now, a taxi driver ___ ______(drop) off a fare earlier and ___ _______(stop) to get a cup of coffee, and all the while Daisy was rehearsing.This cab driver, who dropped off the earlier fare and ___ _______(stop) to get the cup of coffee, an d picked up the lady who was going shopping and ___ ______(miss) getting the earlier cab.The taxi had to stop for a man crossing the street who ___ ____(leave) work five minutes later than he normally did because he forgot to set his alarm.While that man, late for work, was crossing the street, Daisy ___ ________(finish) rehearsal and was taking a shower.While Daisy was showering, the taxi was waiting outside a boutique for the woman to pick up a package, which _____ ____(not/be) wrapped yet because the girl that was supposed to wrap it ___ ______(break) up with her boyfriend the night before and forgot.The delivery truck pulled away and the taxi was able to move, while Daisy, the last to be dressed, waited for one of her friends who ___ ______(break) a shoelace.And if only one thing ___ ________(happen) differently-if that shoelace _____ ______(not/break), or that delivery truck ___ _____(move) moments earlier, or that package ___ ____(be) wrapped and ready because the girl _____ _ _____(not/break) up with her boyfriend, or that man ___ ____(set) his alarm and got up five minutes earlier, or that taxi driver _____ _______(not/stop) for that cup of coffee, or that woman ___ __________(remember) her coat and got into an earlier cab-Daisy and her friend would have crossed the street, and the taxi would have driven by.Great work!  Cant get enough?  Click here for another fun past perfect post!

Guiding Your Teen During the College Admission Process

Guiding Your Teen During the College Admission Process Whether your teen is knee-deep in college viewbooks and applications or he or she is just beginning to explore his or her college options, the college admission process can easily instill fear and anxiety in the calmest of parents and teens. Its not uncommon for parents to become obsessed micromanagers when their teens start evaluating collegesfeeling compelled to push them in the right direction or even take over the process, says Eileen Huntington, co-founder of Huntington Learning Center. The parent plays a vital role in the college search and selection process, but should be more of a partner than an organizer. Huntington offers these tips to successfully guide your teen through the college admission process: Give up some control. In your teens junior and senior years, many decisions will need to be madeabout the college traits that are important to you and your teen (location and school size, for example), the best date to take the SAT and/or ACT and even which colleges to visit. Establish with your teen the types of decisions you are comfortable letting him or her make alone as well as those you must make together. Give your teen opportunities to explain the reasoning behind his or her viewpoints and decisions, and trust the decisions he or she makes, even if it you disagree with them. Doing so allows your teen to mature and learn to be more responsible for his or her choices. Guidance is good. Overinvolvement isnt. Theres a lot to the college admission process, and its important for parents to be supportive, stay aware of important deadlines and get familiar with the financial aid process. However, your teen must take ownership of his or her college admission. While you should be on hand for questions and be a part of decisions that impact the family, you shouldnt write your teens college application essays or fill out his or her applications. Ultimately, your teen is the one who will be attending collegenot you. Help your teen find a great fit, not just a random choice. Remember that the college admission process is an opportunity to assess your teens academic strengths, personality and potential field-of-study interests, and find colleges that are best suited to him or her. Set realistic expectations at the outsetan expensive, highly competitive film school may simply not be possible given your budget and/or your teens GPA and test scoresthen take a proactive approach to evaluate the choices. Foster good communication. The college admission process can be stressful for every member of the family, but regular, healthy communication can minimize conflicts and bring you and your teen closer together. Establish the best way for the two of you to stay in touch throughout the process. Understand that you will not agree about everything, but be sure your teen understands when your input is required and when you expect him or her to make decisions independently. And always encourage your teen to talk with you about his or her fears, questions and aspirations.

How to cope with exam stress

How to cope with exam stress There is no getting away from it - exams are stressful. They involve hours of revision and studying and can leave you feeling exhausted and stressed to the hilt. Just one reason why you need to learn how to manage what you are feeling and find ways to cope. While a certain amount of exam stress is healthy (and even good for studying) it's very easy for small worries to spiral and become overwhelming. If you are experiencing any of the following you need to take action. 1. Crying because you are worried about failing 2. Finding it hard to sleep or focus due to anxiety 3. Feeling unwell with headaches 4. Not eating or overeating to cope with stress 5. Not able to think about anything but exams 6. Feeling high levels of anxiety Strategy one: talk to someone Friends are great, but sometimes they can make you feel worse, which is why a tutor or teacher needs to be your first port of call. Unlike your peers, they will be able to put your fears into perspective and help you to tackle the areas that are stressing you out the most. Common areas a tutor can advise on: 1. A revision plan or lack of it 2. Fear of failure 3. Exam nerves 4. Anxiety about taking the exam Strategy two: relaxation techniques Knowing how to handle your stress with proven techniques can also help you to feel more in control. Award-winning apps like Headspace and Calm can help you to switch off and manage your anxiety via breathing and mindfulness techniques. A good routine around revision, with breaks, will also help. Make sure you have a break every hour and that you stop revising at least an hour before bed. This way, you have time for your brain to unwind and relax before bed. Finally, get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. Rest is a powerful mechanism for both remembering information and lowering your stress levels. Too much or too little sleep will have the opposite effect. Strategy three: tackle your stress/study trigger points There will always be certain aspects of exams that will cause you more stress than others. Talk through what's bothering you the most so you can tackle this head-on and lower your stress levels. If it's lack of revision, talk to a tutor/teacher about where your knowledge gaps are and the most effective way you can catch up. If you are worried about forgetting everything on the day, work with past papers, so you feel comfortable with how exam questions are asked and graded. If you are worried that nerves will get the better of you trust yourself. When we get nervous, we all doubt ourselves and begin to question even the most obvious answers. If this happens, give your mind a few minutes to absorb the information before you answer. Finally remember you are not alone. Many students feel a considerable amount of stress when it comes to exams. The key to remember is that exams, as vital as they are, are just one of the stepping stones you need to get to your goals. For more on revision and exams see our blog posts on revision, GCSEs, mocks and more.