5 Excellent Sight Reading Exercises for Singers

5 Excellent Sight Reading Exercises for Singers Megan L. Unless youre a career-chorister, the concept of sight reading music is probably going to at best make you slightly nervous, and at worst paralyze you with fright. However, at some point, probably when you join a choir or perhaps go to an audition, youre going to have to face that hurdle. Sight reading comes easier to some singers than others, but its not some mythical task akin to retrieving a golden fleece; sight-reading, even for the more able, is a learned skill, and there are several sight reading exercises you can practice to improve. Here are five sight reading exercises that will make a difference and help calm your fears: Familiarity Pick an octave that comfortably covers the middle of your voice. Sit down at a piano and play up and down that octave; as a major scale, harmonic and melodic minor scale, and as a chromatic scale. Listen carefully to each of the notes, and fix them in your mind and your ear. Next, play intervals to yourself within that octave and memorize the sound of the interval. The final stage a friend will be useful here is to play the home note, and then sing back a specific interval. Check your work thoroughly, as this sight reading exercise has as much to do with memory as anything else! Ear and Eye Once your ear has established what those intervals sound like, train your eye to recognize them on paper, as youre going to struggle in any sight reading exercises if you cant translate that knowledge from ear to page. Be aware that intervals dont always look how you might expect on paper, so use this as an opportunity to improve your general music reading skills as well. How Do You Eat an Elephant? The answer should always be a forkful at a time! It may feel overwhelming to be faced with a whole page of tricky music during sight reading exercises, but dealing with it one bar at a time will make it seem much less scary. If the whole page fills you with panic, put the brakes on for a moment and just deal with small sections at a time. Map Reading Think of a piece of music like a roadmap. Take careful note of key and time signatures, and pinpoint interesting landmarks like accidentals or key changes. Look ahead, and fix rest spots, i.e. half or whole notes where you can take stock and plan your strategy for the rest of the piece.  Dont be afraid of sight reading new pieces a little under tempo better to do this and keep going than practice with an error that you cant shake. Self-sufficiency Rules Nothing will give you greater confidence as a singer and a musician than being able to prepare your music yourself, and to know that youve prepared it accurately. There are many singers out there even working within the classical industry at the very highest level that cant read music, and need a voice coach to teach them every single note.  Being able to read songs as easily as you would a newspaper is a valuable skill that will carry you far. Now that you have all these tools to make you a confident and capable singer, there is one final, important thing to bear in mind over and above any exercise or other preparation rule: Without a well-trained, properly-produced instrument, all of your work will be pointless. Finding a good voice teacher is essential to take you beyond being a talented, untrained amateur singer with natural ability. Since we cant hear our own voices accurately, its important to find a good teacher to help you identify and correct bad habits as they happen, and show you the right exercises to practice to improve your skills. Good luck with your singing, and dont forget to have fun! 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 Dave

Jukebox Musicals

Jukebox Musicals Artists Featured in Jukebox Musicals ChaptersEarly Jukebox MusicalsThe Jukebox Musical Gains TractionThe Jukebox Musical Matures, DiversifiesThe Future of Jukebox MusicalsOnce upon a time, the novelty of musical entertainment was a box containing wax or paper cylinders that, once a coin was deposited into the machine, the selected song would play.Early versions of these machines predate the radio but once radio broadcasting went mainstream â€" meaning that music could be had for free, the pay-to-hear music boxes became the go-to device for listening to popular songs while at one’s favourite hangout.Those boxes were called jukes or jukeboxes.They presumably got their name from the American South, from the Gulla-Geechee language spoken by the Creole people, who would go to juke joints to drink, dance and generally get rowdy.By definition, juke or jook means rowdy, disorderly or wicked.Fascinating history lesson but what does it have to do with musical theatre? Great question!At the height of their popularity, these juke boxes, no longer confined to the bayous of Louisiana were installed in every venue possible, from dance clubs to dive bars â€" the places where carrying at least a knife was advisable.In the US, where their popularity soared, they featured in malt shops and restaurants where kids congregated after school, and they always contained the latest hit records by all the top stars.A single jukebox might contain five or six records each from Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley and Fats Domino.From those random groupings of songs â€" some from the same artists, it wasn’t much of a stretch to compile a single artist’s, group’s or year’s music into a choreographed stage show, with or without a storyline.It helped that musical films such as An American in Paris and Rock Around the Clock were wildly popular; if they could make money by presenting loosely associated collections of songs, why shouldn’t a repertory company or performing troupe?And so, the first jukebox musicals were crafted… Car lActing Teacher 5.00 (5) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaActing Teacher 5.00 (8) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ElifActing Teacher 5.00 (10) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CalumActing Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChristopherActing Teacher 5.00 (9) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriActing Teacher 5.00 (8) £85/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielActing Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CiaranActing Teacher 5.00 (5) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsEarly Jukebox Musicals Elvis Presley's music, so often featured in jukeboxes, inevitably would become a new musical Image by blitzmaerker from PixabayObviously, recording artists could not exist until there was a way to record them. And then, once recording methods were established, who would become a recording star would be decided by public opinion, reflected in record sales.Finally, there had to be enough records by said artist to fill a respectable number of slots in a jukebox.The long and the short of this analysis is: jukebox musicals could not exist before the mid-20th Century.Admittedly, early efforts at weaving a single artist’s work into a musical were paltry; in fact, most of the early attempts yielded musical revues rather than anything remotely resembling the day’s Broadway shows.The lone exception to the shows put together in the 70s was Elvis, a 1977 production that detailed his life and career. Ticket sales were no doubt driven, at least in part, by his legions of grieving fans; he had died that year at only 44 years of age.You might wonder about Beatlemania…Indeed, the Beatles were quite popular and their music was ‘covered’ - performed by other artists. Inevitably, the Fab Four’s popularity led to their being the subject of a Broadway musical.This Broadway production, which ran from 1977 to 1979, was remarkable for nothing if not its technical aspects.Against the backdrop of the turbulent 60s, Beatles music played as various newspaper headlines and video clips of newsworthy events flashed on multiple screens, topped by headlines that roughly corresponded to the same time the song being played was popular.In that sense, Beatlemania too was a revue, even though it broke barriers for its innovative use of technology.Trivia question: why weren’t the Beatles’ musicals considered rock/pop musicals?The Jukebox Musical Gains TractionMany believe that Mamma Mia!, the sensational musical comprising of ABBA songs was their first foray into weaving a musical out of their chart-toppers.As well-loved as this engaging show is (you can stream it or rent it; some devoted fans have even bought their own copy of it!), it was not the group’s first time adapting their music and lyrics to suit musical theatre; Abbacadabra was.If you’ve never heard of it, there’s probably a good reason: the show was created as a children’s television programme and the songs were altered to be more suitable for young audiences.For instance, the slightly menacing Money, Money Money became Mon Nez, Mon Nez, Mon Nez â€" My Nose, My Nose, My Nose â€" a song topic that would no doubt thrill any child between the ages of two and five!By this time, Disney Studios had firmly established themselves as American film musical producers for that demographic. They satisfied English-speaking audiences's craving for musicals (and, later, audiences of other languages) and ABBA filled any gaps for musicals that the American musical producer left.Rather tellingly, the ABBA men w ent to collaborate on several stage musical ventures…As the Swedish group’s star was rising, the American musical was still looking backwards. That decade, two retrospectives premiered: Always… Patsy Cline and Buddy â€" The Buddy Holly Story.Both musicians had died very young and in plane crashes. As they were much revered, the best way to pay tribute to them was to write new musicals about their life and art.Still, not all was tragedy on Broadway, even if the rest of the decade’s jukebox shows was spent on looking back. Two shows, The Leader of the Pack and Return to the Forbidden Planet both featured sounds from early 60s rock’n’roll.It seemed, for a while, that the jukebox musical was doomed to hindsight… until just before Y2K. As disco ruled the airwaves, so to did it feature in musical productions Image by Pharaoh_EZYPT from PixabayThe Jukebox Musical Matures, DiversifiesFor most of the 90s, jukebox musicals continued their trend of looking back. Among the titles of that decade were:Saturday Night Fever â€" the stage show based on the 70s smash filmDisco Inferno: loosely based on Dante’s work, it featured music from the disco eraForever Plaid: male vocal harmony groups of the 50sThe Marvelous Wonderettes: female vocal harmony groups of the 50s and 60sFive Guys Named Moe was based on a musical short from the 40sBoogie Nights: the lone British offering of the decade (save one), which also showcased music from the 70sAnd then came Mamma Mia!It obliterated any record set by Rodgers and Hammerstein â€" it out-performed both The Sound of Music and The King and I, legendary shows by those ‘song and dance’ producers. It surpassed Beauty and the Beast for the number of shows played.Rumour has it that, on any day of the year, you can find tickets for Mamma Mia!, put on by any given theatre company, anywhere in the world.The show is raucous and fun, ultimately relatable to anyone who grew up during the disco era, anyone who has ever been a single parent and anyone who longed to discover who their absent parent really is.And, of course, anyone who likes to be a part of the show: for its encore, the cast invites the audience to stand and sing with them!Mamma Mia! did for the jukebox musical what Phantom of the Opera did for book musicals: it made the genre appealing, accessible and relatable. No longer would musical theater be targeted to patrons of certain sensibilities; Mamma opened the floodgates to the greater public.Audiences have never been hungrier for musical entertainment.The first decade of the new millennium brought forth more than 40 musicals of this type; some showcased the music of a single artist or group, such as Tonight’s the Night, featuring the music of Rod Stewart or Jersey Boys â€" the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.Others addressed an era or facet of popular music, such as Rock of Ages (80s glam metal) or On the Record (Disney songs) â€" although there is some debate over whether that last should be considered a true jukebox musical or a revue.As you might guess from some of these titles and/or descriptions, these shows do not have the gravitas of My Fair Lady or Fiddler on the Roof.But then again, the times are different and audiences want feel-good familiarity, not concept musicals that will make them think or preach at them. With her more than 60 years worth of performances, Cher certainly deserves her own musical! Image by skeeze from PixabayThe Future of Jukebox MusicalsThe glory of jukeboxes didn’t last long. Portable radios and, later, portable devices pretty much cancelled out the jukes’ practicality.They did enjoy a brief resurgence when compact discs came on the scene; today, they still enjoy a bit of a novelty effect thanks to their MP3 format, which allows the storing of more music, more compactly.Still, the Golden Age of jukeboxes, and of the music they featured, is long gone. Does the same hold true for jukebox musicals?We need only to look at box office receipts for The Cher Show (2018) that depicts her life and songs. It ran for just over a year and won several Tony Awards. It is not an original Broadway show; rather, it premiered in Chicago and then joined the catalogue of Broadway musicals for that year.Is Cher a bit too dated? How about Britney?Once Upon a One More Time is a story abo ut princesses, set to the very pop music of that former Disney star. Its debut is set for next spring, with Keone as the choreographer.Did you enjoy the film Clueless? It’s not exactly Mean Girls but it does feature similar elements and songs from the film. It opened off-Broadway last year; talks of it going international are underway.Do you like Cabaret shows? You’re in luck! Moulin Rouge is headed your way in about a year; don’t miss out on your chance to buy tickets.Fact is, everybody is now getting in on the act: French artists put on Hit Parade, Mexico staged Si Nos Dejan and German artist Udo Lindenberg broke away from his rock roots to become writer and artistic director for Beyond the Horizon.In this decade alone, Take That regaled us with The Band, Richard Hawley gave us Standing at the Sky’s Edge and The Spice Girls treated us to Viva Forever!None of them are Tony Award winners. None of them is quite of the same calibre as West Side Story, even though they mean to speak to a more youthful audience, as West Side did.Clearly, with titles ripped straight from Top 40 charts, we shouldn’t expect grandiose opera or anything that compares to the likes of, say, a Gilbert and Sullivan production.What you will get is a hefty dose of fun and perhaps a dash of reminiscence… and, if you’re in luck, perhaps the best musical adaptations ever conceived.If you find it hard to distinguish between operas and musicals (don’t worry, many think they are one and the same!), you need our exposé on the different types of musicals…

Boxing Lessons Edinburgh

Boxing Lessons Edinburgh Learn to Box in Edinburgh ChaptersThe Edinburgh Boxing AcademyThai Boxing comes to EdinburghBoxing and More at Krav MagaBox at Leith VictoriaTrip Notes: Boxing in EdinburghIn spite of Glasgow having been nominated the friendliest city, there’s no denying that Edina is friendly as well.Just think of how open she is: welcoming international students, the International Arts Festival and the Fringe, soon to kick off...Naturally, considering the amiable nature of the average Edinburgher, one wouldn’t think that boxing would be their forte... and that would be wrong.Your Supeprof has been traipsing all over the UK to find the most rigorous workouts: boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.You will be surprised at the wealth of classes we found in the Athens of the North, starting with...Joining the ranks of professional boxers is difficult; most people box for fitness Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from PixabayTheir home page is a bit off-putting; it proclaims ‘there is no easy way ’. It makes you wonder what they mean because they certainly make it easy to work out there!Let’s start with their classes: Beginner’s Boxing, Youth Boxing, Adult Boxing and, if you are at your peak of fitness, you might enjoy what they call T.E.B.A. Ultimate Fitness.Known by its generic name, Boxercise, this exercise class incorporates the moves that boxers make to keep fit:Shadow boxing: essentially, boxing with your shadowrope skipping: an excellent cardio workout!Shuttle running: a short-distance sprint featuring quick turnaroundsbag work: punching and kicking a heavy bag and working the speed bagCallisthenics: squat-jumps and situps, press-ups and chin-ups.As you cycle through aerobic and anaerobic exercises, your body benefits from bursts of intense work separated by relatively mild reps; a manoeuvre designed to build cardiovascular endurance as well as burn fat.Sports enthusiasts and experts agree that Boxercise is one of the best fitness regimens. That is why you can f ind a T.E.B.A. class every day of the week at the Boxing Academy.What else do they have, besides a fitness studio and a weights room; locker rooms and changing facilities?They have a decidedly generous membership plan; £40 a month give you access to unlimited classes. Youths and children as young as five can enjoy membership for £5-6   a month.However, if you were hoping for personal training, that will cost you a bit more.Why not head down to 13 West Harbour Road, catch a glimpse of their full-sized boxing ring and talk with a coach?Do fitness enthusiasts in Leeds have such a fine facility to work out in?Thai Boxing comes to EdinburghThe ‘art of eight limbs’, or Muay Thai â€" literally Thai Boxing, is a combat sport that incorporates elbow and knee strikes along with clinching and striking techniques found in traditional boxing.It is referred to as ‘eight limbs’ because there are eight striking ‘points’: kicks, knees, elbows and fists. By contrast, boxing has only two : both fists, and kickboxing and savate, the French combat sport, each use 4 ‘points’: hands and feet.By the number of 'contact points', you can see how the whole body is engaged in Thai boxing.It was a bit difficult, at first, to flex traditional fighting rules to incorporate the extra strikes that Thai kickboxing permitted.An insistent demand for the sport, along with the proliferation of dojos offering training finally brought Muay Thai into mainstream arenas.Where in Cardiff can one practise Muay Thai?In Edinburgh, the go-to gym to get your Thai on is Hanuman.You might start out with a personal trainer, if only to get an assessment of your current physical condition and advice on work you might do to build up your endurance.If you are not sure you want to commit to such a rigorous regimen, you could take them up on their free trial offer; take a class to see how you hold up.What if Thai boxing is truly not for you?Would you be curious to know what gyms and dojos in Glasgow a re like?For some, extreme sports such as MMA take fighting just a bit too far Image by Mirko Zax from PixabayPerhaps K1 would suit you better. This combat sport is based in Muay but goes further to include aspects of karate, taekwondo, savate, San Shou and traditional boxing.If you are a boxing purist, you could also take traditional ‘western’ boxing lessons there.As intensive as these classes sound, you can rest assured that your coach will not permit you to work harder than you are ready for, nor will s/he put you in any kind of danger: for Hanuman, safety is paramount whether you are warming up, sparring or competing.They are located at 10 Stewartfield; maybe you could drop by and see what they’re all about...There’s a good chance you couldn’t find better boxing classes anywhere in the UK.went mainstream twenty years later.This particularly aggressive discipline ‘borrows’ from other fighting techniques, namely wrestling, boxing and bare-knuckle fighting; in its curr ent incarnation, it is mainly taught for self-defense.The best person to learn this unique fighting style is Marcus Houston, Edinburgh’s only full-time Krav Maga instructor.There’s no need to discount this training facility because you think Krav Maga is a bit too much fighting for you; there are other programmes you and your family could benefit from.If you have young children lazing around the house during their summer break from school, you could enrol them in the Little Ninja programme.The martial arts are primarily about discipline and less about fighting.As such, studying the arts as a child helps respect â€" for himself and for his environment, and inner peace.  There is a spiritual element to martial arts, even though it doesn’t seem likely that a child as young as four could understand those concepts.Nevertheless, teaching young children such a balance is an excellent means of paving the road that leads to self-confidence.Adults can benefit from studying martial arts, too. The Krav Maga centre is well aware of that; they offer MMA training classes for adults several times per week.You don’t need a membership to their club to attend these classes; you could just drop-in and participate. That's great news for  MMA fighters from Liverpool who visit Edinburgh!All they (and you) have to do is go to the Combat Ready Gym on Newhaven Road; soon, you too will be learning moves you might have never known you could make.Also, find out where fighters in Belfast go to train...Thai Boxing and mixed martial arts permit more strike points than traditional boxing Image by Mirko Zax from PixabayBox at Leith VictoriaWe could hardly write an article about boxing in Edinburgh without visiting her oldest boxing club.This year, Leith Victoria celebrates one century of training fighters for the ring and for fitness. By no means should you infer that this is an outdated facility with tired, defective equipment.The coaches and leaders of Leith have long held a stance o f continuous improvement â€" in their equipment and their training methods.As a trainee, you will start your sessions with warm-ups: stretches, isometrics and jogging in place. And then, you get to kick-start your heart by skipping rope and shuttle running.You will then take your place at the speed bag or heavy bag for a bit of hand-eye coordination practice and rhythm training. Don’t forget your hand wraps!What about circuit training, so common in Manchester boxing lessons? Yes, those also feature at Leigh Victoria.These high-intensity exercises are designed to help build and maintain your endurance all while keeping your muscles primed for action.Once you have completed your cardio burn, it is time to get in the ring for a bit of sparring. Naturally, all protective gear â€" gum shields, head guards and gloves will be worn.When all is said and done and the cool-down stretches are finished, you will be left with the glow of health and the pride of accomplishment.Whether you ever w anted to step into the ring to box competitively or use aspects of the noble art of boxing to maintain optimal fitness, you could hardly find a better place than the most venerable boxing club in Edinburgh.Could amateur boxing in Birmingham be that good?Trip Notes: Boxing in EdinburghIn the course of our investigation into Edinburgh’s boxing scene, we uncovered a few facts:1. Unlike Nottingham, called the Home of Sport by our travel council, Edinburgh does not have a strong relationship with boxing.2. Like youths in every major city in the world, Edinburgh’s young people need places to release their pent up energy in healthy, constructive ways.Bradley Welsh, a former amateur boxing champion, was painfully aware of both of these facts and the lack of facilities for young people to exercise in.Five years ago, he announced his intention to open up 10 new boxing facilities so that kids could have a safe outlet for their energy while learning good habits for a lifetime.Today, we see the fruits of his labour: more boxing clubs than we could write up in a single article, more devotion to a cause than most people expend even professionally... and more kids learning how to box.Are kids in London so lucky as to have someone like Mr Welsh looking out for them?

How a Personal Trainer Can Help You Build Muscle Mass

How a Personal Trainer Can Help You Build Muscle Mass Why You Need Personal Training from a Sports Coach for Building Muscles ChaptersWhen to Engage in Personal Training SessionsHow to Select a Fitness Trainer Specialising in Building Muscle MassWhat is the Objective!?!Overview of a Toning WorkoutThe Cost of a Workout SessionHow long have you been working out and watching what you eat, only to see little â€" or worse: no results?How often have you modified your exercise routine and diet, all with no concrete idea of what would suit your body type and metabolism the best for losing weight?It is now time to call on a personal trainer!This scenario has been happening with more and more frequency, the more Britons grow concerned with their health and fitness.To meet that demand, fitness professionals have been putting their knowledge of exercise science and passion for physical activity to use to help you reach your fitness goals with a programme adapted specifically to your needs.When you wonder which way to turn for physical fitness, a personal trainer is the logical choice Source: Pixabay Credit: SylviaP it is imperative that you give them time to relax, a respite from their hard work.Overview of a Toning WorkoutFrom your first meeting, your in-home personal trainer will establish a workout plan suited to your fitness goals.S/he will conduct a physical assessment, and take into consideration your past physical training efforts â€" including sports you have played, even casually; your lifestyle and diet.Together you will then hammer out a training program that addresses muscle development, endurance, and nutritional guidelines specifically geared toward your physical metamorphosis.Your personal training program should be fluid: at the beginning and again at the end of every session, your home training coach should review your current state â€" physical as well as mental, and adjust your fitness routine accordingly. S/he should take into account the progress you've made during past sessions and build upon it.At no time should s/he neglect your posture or moves. For your safety as well as progress, s/he should always be present to correct your pose and encourage greater effort.After winding down from your workout, your fitness master should instruct you on exercises to do on your own, to maintain conditioning until your next session together.S/he might suggest further fitness activities you could partake of, such as Pilates or aerobics in order to get a broader perspective on your personal fitness training â€" expanded ways to gain muscle mass, build strength,  refine your nutritional programme, or simply stay in shape.Your personal trainer can guide you to a slimmer, more toned abdomen Source: PixabayThe Cost of a Workout SessionIt is true that engaging a personal fitness trainer is more costly than working out by yourself. However, it should be  understood that, to achieve long-term results, it is best to seek the services of a sports master, one who will guide your efforts toward building and sculpting your body.Should you settle on a fitness center or health cl ub:There are advantages as well as drawbacks to this solution because you are paying both for the use of the gym and your personal trainer's fees.Starting from around £20 for a no-frills sports facility, you can make use of sports equipment, and perhaps participate in group sessions.But, if your sole desire is to work one on one with a sports master, then your membership cost could be higher, averaged out over a one-year period.You prefer an in-home personal trainer:The price depends on your coach and his/her bespoke fitness plans. You should reason to spend at least £60 on the average per workout session in your home.And, there is the question of what equipment to buy: mats, weights, special clothing, shoes and accessories that will optimise your fitness gains.Other than clothing and shoes, your fitness guru should make use of everyday items already in your home to provide strength and conditioning.You could negotiate a lower rate for yourself with your fitness trainer by asking if s/he would conduct a small group session in your home for a few weeks. Invite a few of your besties to share the cost and you may get away with a mere £20 per workout fee.You have discovered that a Superprof fitness expert, in your home or online, is the way to go!A level, reasonable price is this solution's greatest appeal. Over the course of your subscription â€" one month, three months or a year, you stand to find rates as low as £15 per session.Enticing for its price alone, this workout solution is tailor-made for those motivated persons who find no problems with working out alone, at home, guided by their online  personal trainer.No matter which method suits you best, you now have decided reasons to find your perfect workout leader.

MyGuru Joins Forces with Two Expert Tutors for the GMAT, GRE, amp; LSAT

MyGuru Joins Forces with Two Expert Tutors for the GMAT, GRE, amp; LSAT Improving Academic Performance MyGuru has recently brought two exceptional test prep instructors onto its team: John Easter, Indiana University, B.S. in Mathematics and French M.S. Candidate in Mathematics at University of Illinois at ChicagoJohn Easter attended Indiana University, where he majored in French Composition and Mathematics. While at UI, he tutored privately, and even founded a tutoring agency of his own specifically designed to help freshman and sophomore students struggling to pass the math classes required for entrance into the business school at Indiana.John is currently a master’s degree candidate at the University of Illinois at Chicago, studying mathematics. He has tutored dozens of students privately over the years.While he is more than qualified to tutor or teach both Mathematics and French, John is an expert at helping students with the GRE and GMAT. In fact, John scored a 760 on his GMAT, which places him in the top 1% of all GMAT test takers.David Yi, Middlebury College, B.A. in Political Science JD candidate from the University of ChicagoDavid Yi is our newest LSAT tutor. He is attending the University of Chicago for a JD degree, after attending Middlebury College in Vermont and majoring in Political Science.After graduating from Middlebury, David spend several years overseas with the Peace Corps, where he ended up taking the LSAT, and earning a perfect score. Upon finding he had a knack for the LSAT, be began tutoring privately, and eventually signed on with a major test prep provider.Over time, he became an instructor of other LSAT instructors, helping prepare others to teach the LSAT. In the past few years, David has been developing his own private LSAT test prep materials. He also recently graduated from the University of Chicago with his JD.John and David provide excellent examples of the type of tutors we regularly bring onto the MyGuru team. These are tutors with exceptional credentials - tutors who would be considered “expert level” and billed out at hundreds of dollars per hour at the major test prep firms (e.g., Kaplan and Princ eton Review).However, because these tutors believe in what MyGuru seeks to represent, a unique mix between high quality but high priced national test prep firms and the low cost but uncertain quality of individual tutors found on “tutor matching” sites like Craig’s List, John and David are passionate about working with MyGuru’s results-focused students.To learn more about David, John, or MyGuru, call us at 312-278-0321.

Dinnertime Strategies Peace around the table

Dinnertime Strategies Peace around the table Having dinner together as a family is an important part of a childs development. Family dinners support healthier eating habits and provide an opportunity for kids and parents to connect and decompress after a hectic day. But in families of kids with ADHD, dinnertime can be a challenge. The impulsivity and hyperactivity that comes with ADHD can make it hard for kids to stay seated, wait patiently, and have enjoyable conversations. The good news is that with some structure and support, kids with ADHD can be successful at the table. Start with these 5 tips: Provide clear expectations. Tell your child exactly what is expected of him or her during dinner. Focus on very specific behaviors, like stay in your seat, talk without interrupting, no electronics at the table. Be realistic. If your child really struggles with a behavior, then make sure your expectations not beyond your childs reach. For example, if your child currently gets up from his or her seat four times during dinner, then he or she will likely find it very difficult to sit for the entire meal. A more reasonable expectation may be to allow him or her to get up only once or twice during dinner. Once he or she has mastered this, then you can expect him or her to work on staying seated for the entire meal. Try using a talking stick. If family members struggle to have good conversations during dinner, then try using a talking stick. The person holding the talking stick speaks while others listen and ask questions. Then the stick gets passed to the next person at the table. You may need to set some ground rules around topics that can be discussed especially if things have a tendency to become way too silly, or too tense. Pay attention to good behavior. It can be easy to accidentally give your child less attention when he or she is quiet and following the rules and more attention when he or she is misbehaving and demanding your negative attention. Youll see better behavior at the dinner table if you give your child the most attention when he or she is behaving well. He or she will be much less likely to engage in attention-seeking behavior if he or she is included in conversations and feels seen and heard at the table. Reward good behavior. When your children meet your mealtime expectations, provide them with a reward. Some of my favorite rewards include: healthy desserts, the privilege of listening to music during dinner, playing a quick game as a family at the end of the meal, or points toward a larger reward at the end of the week. Just make sure the reward is something that your child really wants, and let him or her know about the reward ahead of time. During dinner, point out good behavior and tie it to the reward, Youre doing a great job staying in your seat. If you keep this up then well be able to listen to music during dinner again tomorrow! 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.

This Black Belt in Karate is Driven by Perseverance

This Black Belt in Karate is Driven by Perseverance This Black Belt in Karate is Driven by Perseverance Somya  Nog, 11, Level  J  Math  and Level L Reading Somya, a bright and ambitious young student, is proud to say she’s close to completing the  Kumon Reading Program,  and has reached Level J in  Math,  which is the study of algebra.  This 11-year-old has proven time and time again that perseverance is the secret to achieving her goals both in-and-out of Kumon. Having been enrolled in the Kumon Math and Reading Program since the age of  three, her parents credit Kumon for her mental discipline, which  they’ve seen  become exceptionally stronger over time, and  the  ability to commit to any challenge that is given to her.  Somya has also developed a love and desire to continually learn new concepts. Ambition comes top of mind when describing Somya’s character. Outside of the classroom, she is an accomplished violinist in the school orchestra, practices Kathak (Indian Classical Dance), and  plays  tennis. Somya  also  achieved first-level black belt in karate earlier this year. When asked about her aspirations for the future, she confidently states,  â€œI would like to be a software engineer for Microsoft.”  There’s no stopping Somya from achieving her dreams. Because of Somya’s accomplishments and her natural ambition for success, she was one of 55 students selected to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference in Calgary, Canada.  We had a chance to talk to Somya about her Kumon journey thus far. How has Kumon helped you in the classroom? It has  helped me in the classroom because I feel like I already know the material that is being covered, so it’s almost like a review for me. Thanks to Kumon, I am skipping 6th  grade math, and advancing to 7th  grade math. What keeps you motivated in Kumon? I think that the excitement and the challenges that come packed with each level  and every new concept keeps me motivated in Kumon. Also, I will soon be reaching J by 6 in Math  (the study of algebra before the 6th  grade)  and am excited! I have already reached J by 6 in Reading, so that’s cool! How has Kumon helped you beyond academics? Kumon has significantly helped me develop discipline and commitment in life. It has also helped me develop  a  keenness to learn new concepts,  and more importantly, how different approaches can be used to solve the same problem. This helps me face the challenges in life better. Kumon has also given me  a  platform to  seek  inspiration and learn from my peers,  and not just teachers. What did it mean to you to be invited to the 2018 Kumon Student Conference? One day,  my mom said that there was something special in the mail, and I said,  â€œWow!  Did  I get accepted?” I was so excited! What advice do you have for other Kumon Students? Perseverance and just stick with it. It’s going to be hard, trust me I’ve been there, and you will want to quit. Keep going and  push  yourself  because you can accomplish a lot with Kumon. Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: This Math Program Completer is Driven by Perseverance THIS KUMON STUDENT HAS A BLACK BELT IN TAEKWONDO AND APPLIES SELF-LEARNING IN HER EVERY DAY ROUTINE This Future Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Applies Discipline and Repetition In-and-Out of the Classroom This Ballerina Applies Discipline And Perseverance On And Off The Stage This Black Belt in Karate is Driven by Perseverance This Black Belt in Karate is Driven by Perseverance Somya  Nog, 11, Level  J  Math  and Level L Reading Somya, a bright and ambitious young student, is proud to say she’s close to completing the  Kumon Reading Program,  and has reached Level J in  Math,  which is the study of algebra.  This 11-year-old has proven time and time again that perseverance is the secret to achieving her goals both in-and-out of Kumon. Having been enrolled in the Kumon Math and Reading Program since the age of  three, her parents credit Kumon for her mental discipline, which  they’ve seen  become exceptionally stronger over time, and  the  ability to commit to any challenge that is given to her.  Somya has also developed a love and desire to continually learn new concepts. Ambition comes top of mind when describing Somya’s character. Outside of the classroom, she is an accomplished violinist in the school orchestra, practices Kathak (Indian Classical Dance), and  plays  tennis. Somya  also  achieved first-level black belt in karate earlier this year. When asked about her aspirations for the future, she confidently states,  â€œI would like to be a software engineer for Microsoft.”  There’s no stopping Somya from achieving her dreams. Because of Somya’s accomplishments and her natural ambition for success, she was one of 55 students selected to attend the 2018 Kumon Student Conference in Calgary, Canada.  We had a chance to talk to Somya about her Kumon journey thus far. How has Kumon helped you in the classroom? It has  helped me in the classroom because I feel like I already know the material that is being covered, so it’s almost like a review for me. Thanks to Kumon, I am skipping 6th  grade math, and advancing to 7th  grade math. What keeps you motivated in Kumon? I think that the excitement and the challenges that come packed with each level  and every new concept keeps me motivated in Kumon. Also, I will soon be reaching J by 6 in Math  (the study of algebra before the 6th  grade)  and am excited! I have already reached J by 6 in Reading, so that’s cool! How has Kumon helped you beyond academics? Kumon has significantly helped me develop discipline and commitment in life. It has also helped me develop  a  keenness to learn new concepts,  and more importantly, how different approaches can be used to solve the same problem. This helps me face the challenges in life better. Kumon has also given me  a  platform to  seek  inspiration and learn from my peers,  and not just teachers. What did it mean to you to be invited to the 2018 Kumon Student Conference? One day,  my mom said that there was something special in the mail, and I said,  â€œWow!  Did  I get accepted?” I was so excited! What advice do you have for other Kumon Students? Perseverance and just stick with it. It’s going to be hard, trust me I’ve been there, and you will want to quit. Keep going and  push  yourself  because you can accomplish a lot with Kumon. Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: This Math Program Completer is Driven by Perseverance THIS KUMON STUDENT HAS A BLACK BELT IN TAEKWONDO AND APPLIES SELF-LEARNING IN HER EVERY DAY ROUTINE This Future Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Applies Discipline and Repetition In-and-Out of the Classroom This Ballerina Applies Discipline And Perseverance On And Off The Stage

Innovative Language Review Is It Worth the Cost

Innovative Language Review Is It Worth the Cost Innovative Language Review: Is It Worth the Cost? There are just no two ways about it.Hands down, Innovative Language is the best there is.(Or so they say.)For the longest time, Innovative Language has been touting itself as the “fastest, easiest and most fun” way to learn languages.They claim that students will be speaking native-level conversation within minutes! With their powerful learning tools, clients will spend less time studying and more time actually speaking the language.But is that true?In this Innovative Language review, Ill dive deep into the nuts and bolts of the language learning software and see what the fuss is all about.This post includes affiliate links that will earn us a commission if you click on them and make a purchase (at no additional cost to you). All products and services are thoroughly tested. We provide an honest review based on our experience and not influenced by commissions. The Basics of Innovative LanguageIn December 2005, Innovative Language launched its first language learning program:  Ja panesePod101.com.Within a year, the site garnered a membership of 10,000 active learners, signaling to founders Peter Galante, Eran Dekel and Aki Yoshikawa that they must be doing something right.In August 2007, they launched their second language program: Korean. Over the course of a little over a decade, the company reached a cascade of milestones and achievements.Today, Innovative Language offers 40 languages, including popular options like French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese and Chinese.Innovative Language provides curated content for every type of language learner, from beginner to advanced. In fact, they cater to nine language levels: Introduction, Absolute Beginner, Lower Beginner, Beginner, Upper Beginner, Lower Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate and Advanced.When you become an Innovative Language member, you receive fresh language material (audio or video) every week.Once you join any of the language programs, you’ll automatically get free, f ull access to all the premium content for that language course. This unrestricted access lasts for seven days, giving you plenty of opportunities to look under the hood and take the program for a spin.After seven days, your account automatically reverts to the “free lifetime” category, where you now have only limited access.There are four Innovative Language subscription levels: free, basic, premium and premium plus.With the free membership, you no longer have all the lessons at your fingertipsâ€"you now only have the first three lessons of each series.A basic subscription ($8 per month) will give you full access to the lessons, but it lacks many vocabulary learning tools youd have with a premium membership, such as “Word Bank” and “Voice Recording Tools.”A $25 monthly premium subscription will give you access to all the lessons and all the tools for that specific language course.Premium plus, Innovative Language’s highest-tiered subscription, is $47 monthly and gives you the chance for one-on-one training. The access to a language teacher ensures that every lesson is tailored to your needs and that a professional manages ongoing assessments of your progress. (And yes, there will be assignments!)Truth be told, Innovative Language often has sales, special offers and discounts. So the amount you actually pay may vary depending on the price reductions you find. Also, unlike other language learning programs like FluentU, languages are priced separately. So if you want to study multiple languages, youre going to need multiple subscriptions.Now that you have a grasp on the languages and membership options, its time to figure out how Innovative Language actually works.Innovative Language Review: Is It Worth the Cost?Methodology: Innovative Languages Core BeliefsFocus is on the communicative approach  to language learning.The folks behind Innovative Language believe that language is best learned through meaningful interactions with others. Thats why they urge you to speak in the target language from the very first lesson.It doesn’t matter if your pronunciation is off-target or if your sentences violate a dozen grammar rules. It’s all about practice! The important thing is that the target language is being employed to convey real communication. Students opening their mouths and purposely practicing in the target language is the main goal.You learn a language by using it. For example, you may have to ask for directions to the nearest exit. Or perhaps you need to tell a native speaker that the train has already left.Tasks and other communicative situations give rich context to the language. After all, context is what makes language meaningful.When Innovative Language  teaches you grammar, it only does so for clarity of communication. You’ll notice that grammar is taught in the context of a communicative task or dialogue.The examples and illustrations given are relevant and practical. You don’t get unicorn sample sentences that don’t exist in real life, like The green dog jumped over the small bear.Non-repetitive repetition is the mother of all learning.Innovative Language believes that for the lessons and insights to stick, you have to see the material repeatedly. However, they know they have to do it in interesting, non-repetitive ways so students don’t drift off.There are around a half dozen functionalities to help students remember vocab in the target language. You have flashcards, powered with spaced repetition technology. You have a word bank that allows you create a personal roster of handpicked terms. You have your “Word of the Day,” the “100 Most Common Words” and the “2,000 Most Common Words.” All these are geared to hone your vocabulary skills.True to tradition, lessons come at you through different modalities for maximum impact. You get a potent mix of videos, audio and text. You’ll have access to written notes and complete transcripts. Hosts talk about the topic and relate i t to an interesting cultural tidbit.Lessons come at you again and again, and at different angles to make ideas stick.There’s plenty of built-in repetition. But each go-around has a different flavor to it.Learning is on your own terms.Folks at Innovative Language make sure that students have almost complete control of the learning process. This core belief is reflected in every facet of their language courses.You choose your own language, level and topics. Because each student learns differently, Innovative Language casts a wide net, employing different modalities (audio, video and text) to deliver the lessons.Students can set their own pace. And you can go back, move forward, rewind, fast forward or pause within lessons.Innovative Language has collections of videos called Pathways. Each Pathway has topic-related lessons, such as dining out, shopping, travel, animals or body parts. And even certain lessons in Pathways can be skipped or viewed out of order!Innovative Language is als o flexible in that you can use it on practically any device. Study on your web browser, iOS device or Android device.What Are Innovative Language’s Features?The dashboard: Taking control of your learning    The dashboard is pretty much the first thing you see after you set up your account. It’s the starting point of your language-learning journey. On the web version, you’ll see the options to go to “Lessons,” “Vocabulary” and “My Teacher.”The “Lessons” section will probably be your first stop. Here you’ll find the treasure trove content Innovative Language is famous for. Go to “Lesson Library” and you’ll have a list of topics (or “Pathways”) as well as the number of lessons under it. There will be a lot to choose from, so I recommend you sort the list according to popularity so you identify series that other language learners have found useful.Once you’ve zeroed in on a Pathway or topic, click on it and you’ll see the full list of lessons under the category. Before starting your first lesson, don’t forget to click the “Add to Dashboard” button so the next time you log in, you can readily see the Pathway on the dashboard. (This will essentially allow you to pick up where you left off.)Going back to the Dashboard (web version), you’ll also find the “Vocabulary” menu. This houses all the vocabulary tools Ive already mentioned. Generally, there are two types of vocabulary aidsâ€"the ready-made ones and those that you gradually build yourself.The Word Bank” is one you build yourself by populating it with words as you go through the lessons, while the “Vocabulary Lists” are pre-made decks you can study immediately. “Flashcards,” on the other hand, is both. There are pre-made decks, but you can also make your own.“My Teacher” is another dashboard menu you’ll find. You can only use this if you’re subscribed to the Premium Plus ($47) tier of the course, which gives you access to one-on-one language les sons.For the app interface, youll see similar options: Browse Lessons, Newest Lessons, My Library and My Teacher.These sections are pretty self-explanatory. “My Library” is where your downloaded lessons are stored. Downloading content allows you to study anytime and anywhere, without being at the mercy of a Wi-Fi connection.Youll learn even more about the dashboard in the next section.Dialogue: The heart of the lessonMost lessons will involve two podcast hosts, who’ll serve as guides. They’ll be talking to each other and discussing the lesson. Its kind of like listening to amped disc jockeys on your morning commute.At the heart of many Innovative Language lesson is the sample dialogue.One of the hosts will say, “Hey, why don’t we listen first to this conversation?” Then comes a pre-recorded dialogue.The dialogue can be about anything. It can be about a guy talking about his family, asking another fellow about his job or making plans for the weekend. The hosts will refe r to this dialogue over and over throughout the lesson, using it to show the communicative aspects of the target language. For beginner lessons, the exchanges are usually less than eight lines.The recorded interaction between native speakers may be short and sweet, but youll be dealing with this material throughout the whole lesson in various ways.Maybe you’ll hear the exchange a little more slowly the second time, or with translations given after every line. Or maybe you’ll access a PDF of the important phrases in the dialogue, showing the vocabulary used in other contexts. (This is the second core belief in action!)The whole conversation will be fleshed out, with the two hosts even talking about their personal experiences on the topic. For example, if the lesson is about calling for taxi service, one of the hosts might share an interesting story of when she called to be picked up at a restaurant.Students are able to milk the dialogue for every language lesson it hides. You’l l get pronunciation practice, vocabulary, key phrases, cultural tidbits and even a shot of grammar. You’ll come out of lessons knowing the lines like the back of your hand.The lesson format: the web version and the appThere’s a little difference in how the lessons are presented in the web version and in the app. Let’s take a look at the web version first.In your web browser, a lesson usually has five standard parts: Dialogue, Vocabulary, Lesson Notes, Lesson Transcripts and Comments.DialogueAs mentioned, the heart of each lesson is the dialogue. So the conversations transcription will be the first thing you’ll see.Beside each line are two icons: the speaker icon and the microphone icon. Pressing the speaker icon will bring up the audio so you can listen to a native speaker deliver the line.Pressing the mic icon brings up a voice recorder. Here you’ll record yourself delivering the line so you can actually compare your pronunciation with that of the native speaker.Vocabular yThis section picks out the key words and phrases from the conversation.This time, there will be three icons beside each entry: two speaker icons and one microphone icon. The first two have the same function as in the previous section. The third icon (which is a speaker icon but with “X0.5” written below it) plays the audio at half speed, helping listeners follow the conversation.At the far right of each entry, you’ll see the word “Example/s.” Clicking on this will pull down some example sentences of how the keyword can be used. (The English translations are provided, as well.)At the bottom of the Vocabulary section are some of the study options available for you. There’s “Add to Flashcard Deck,” “Add to Word Bank,” “Slideshow” and “Take Quiz.”Lesson notesThis section is an in-depth dive into the grammar-related topics you can learn from the conversation. If youd like to pick up on your target language’s syntax, conjugation rules or acceptable synonyms, you’ll find it here. You’ll be taken behind the scenes and pointed to the nuances of the language.For example, if there are formal and informal forms of the language, and the informal one is used in the dialogue, you’d find the formal alternative here. This would also come with a brief explanation of when each form is appropriate.Lesson transcriptRemember the two podcast hosts who act as your guide throughout the lesson? This section is the transcript of their dialogue. So if your teachers/hosts speak too quickly or have thick accents, you can still follow along.The only annoying thing about the Lesson transcript section is that Innovative Language has buried it deeper in the lesson when it would be super handy to have on hand from the very first second.Anyway, more on my frustrations later. My advice is to proceed to this section as soon as you press “play” on the podcast.This is also where cultural gems are hidden. Hosts often share their personal experiences as well as observations of native practices and traditions. This is where you’ll learn just how friendly Italian men can get or how warm Spanish-speaking locals are.CommentsThe Comments section simply lets you feel that you arent alone on this journey. Yes, this is a self-paced and self-taught program, but youre definitely not going at it alone. You’ll find kindred souls here.The support team also shows up and posts stuff from time to time. You can pick up lessons and insights even in the Comments section.That said, let’s now turn to the app interface. It has both similarities and differences with the web version. Each lesson contains the: Audio, Dialog, Review, Line-by-line, Vocabulary, Expansion, Lesson notes and Lesson transcripts.“Audio”â€"This refers to the lesson itself, where hosts banter and explain the lesson.“Dialog”â€"This is the short, pre-recorded dialogue/conversation that forms the basis of the whole lesson.“Review”â€"This is where you practice pronunciation. The host will prompt you to enunciate words and phrases.“Line-by-line”â€"You can practice each line of the conversation here.“Vocabulary”â€"Instead of lines, it’s the words and phrases that are highlighted in this section.“Expansion”â€"Here, you’ll have usage examples of the vocabulary taken up in the previous section.“Lesson notes”â€"Same as in the web version.“Lesson transcript” â€"Same as in the web version.Innovative Language: The Pros and ConsOf course, no language learning software is perfect! Lets look at what Innovative Language does well and where it struggles.The pros of learning with Innovative LanguageThe communicative approach to language learning is a game-changer.The folks at Innovative Language did their subscribers a solid when they decided on the communicative approach to presenting the lessons. The communicative approach to language has been shown to be more effective than traditional approaches.Why? Because this approach is interactive in nature.You cant just read about a language to learn how to speak it. You have to actually practice speaking it in the context of a communicative task.Lessons dialogues allow students to witness authentic, meaningful interactions. By putting students in a position where they have to negotiate meaning and make inferences about the target language, Innovative Language pushes students to become more invested in the lessons.Even though the focus is on communication, this language learning software did not forsake grammar! Innovate Language does an excellent job of presenting grammar rules exhibited in each dialogue. This gives learners the whole picture and achieves maximum impact with every lesson.Youll never run out of content.Innovative Language is one of the most prolific producers of content. Week after week, they ply you with fresh material.You’ll probably notice early on that there’s a lot of material to digest. I mean, a lot! You’ll definitely have your fill of the target l anguage and won’t come away thinking, “Is that all?”The lessons are practical and relevant.When studying a language, have you ever thought, “This example sentence will never come up in real life.” Maybe the textbook is throwing you lines like “The ducks went to school” or “The blue ape ate the apple.”In this program, you’ll have practical examples that will prove useful in your regular interactions with native speakers. Lessons arent there for lessons’ sake. They have a communicative purpose, which means the vocab and grammar are likely to come up in your normal conversations.By integrating lessons with cultural insights, it hits two birds with one stone.You cant divorce a language from the culture, so Innovative Language has made a point of including cultural tidbits in its lessons. This is often done through the banter between hosts as they try to deconstruct and flesh out the details of the sample conversation.Let’s say the lesson is about meeting stranger s. The hosts give you a short primer on the dos and donts between strangers in the culture, such as the cultural expectations of meeting a significant others family in Italy. These cultural gems are priceless because they give you an insider’s look at the traditions, beliefs and practices of a group of people.So you really get more bang for your buck! Culture is expertly weaved into your lesson and you come away appreciating more of the language because you’ve come to appreciate the people who speak it.The cons of learning with Innovative LanguageThe lessons could use much better organization.I’ve said that there plenty of course content to digest, right? Well, this is really a two-edged sword.Because of the volume of content involved, you might actually be at a loss on where to start or where to go next. You can feel bombarded with so many choices and end up indecisive about which Pathway to stick with.Its kind of like the “Netflix Effect,” when you spend more time browsi ng through titles than actually watching the movie. (There’s just too many to choose from!)For example, in the Spanish program, you’ll have lessons that deal with elements of Peruvian Spanish, Puerto Rican Spanish, Mexican Spanish and European Spanish. Do you want to go through each one of them, or just one? And if just one, which one?The lessons could use a much more instinctive organization so subscribers have an easier time choosing what to study next.The dashboard could benefit from more purposeful design.I have no beef with the appâ€"I think it’s organized and designed pretty decently. The issue is the web version.The dashboard is the first thing a student sees, so it’s important that it be visually appealing. It should be easy to follow, and your eyes should automatically be drawn to the most important elements of the page.Unfortunately, nothing stands out and everything seems flat. Nothing about the design jumps out and says, “Boy, youre going to have an awesome exp erience learning Italian!”This isnt just for aesthetic reasons. If a student is supposed to spend hours and hours studying content, it would be much easier for them if the web interface possessed an inspired and inspiring design. It really affects motivation and engagement.Lessons could be bolstered by more engaging videos.In my opinion, Innovative Language relies too much on audio material and podcasts.Dont get me wrong, the listening material is great. But the language learning software could be made even better with more video content.Innovative Language does provide the occasional video, but if they put time into developing even more content, I think their videos could make them one of the most effective resources for language learning out there.Students can achieve so much by watching videos! A video stimulates multiple parts of the brain, making the content more vivid and memorable.It can set the proper visual cues for the conversations, as well. It would also really be cool if students actually get to see the faces of their hosts or teachers. Watching someone speak in a foreign language can make it a thousand times easier to understand them, so this would be particularly helpful for beginners who struggle to comprehend listening material.If you like Innovative Languages audio content, lessons and flexible styleâ€"but want the benefits of more video materialâ€"then youll love learning with FluentU.FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons. It shares a lot of features with Innovative Language, so you could use it in lieu of Innovative Language or as a supplemental resource.With FluentU, you hear languages in real-world contextsâ€"the way that native speakers actually use them. Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of FluentU videos on offer:FluentU really takes the grunt work out of learning languages, leaving you with nothin g but engaging, effective and efficient learning. It’s already hand-picked the best videos for you and organized them by level and topic. All you have to do is choose any video that strikes your fancy to get started!Each word in the interactive captions comes with a definition, audio, image, example sentences and more.Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab, and easily review words and phrases from the video under Vocab.You can use FluentU’s unique adaptive quizzes to learn the vocabulary and phrases from the video through fun questions and exercises. Just swipe left or right to see more examples of the word youre studying.The program even keeps track of what you’re learning and tells you exactly when it’s time for review, giving you a 100% personalized experience.Like Innovative Language, you can access FluentU on your web browser, iOS device or Android device.The quality across language programs isnt consistent.To be fair, this is one of those things that’s very difficult to pull off, but it just really needs to be said.The language learning software does relatively well with many of major languages, but its hit or miss with the lesser known dialects. For example, theres plenty of room for improvement with their Vietnamese and Arabic programs. The development team needs to put all the languages on equal footing so that each becomes an excellent language program in its own right.The good news? All of Innovative Language’s programs are continually being updated and improved. So hopefully, all the language programs will be amazing over time!After all is said and done, is Innovative Language worth the tab? I would say yes! And if you bring in additional resources like FluentU, you have great potential to become fluent.Of course, the volume of content alone from Innovative Language will give you your money’s worth.But keep this in mind: When you subscribe to a language program, you get out what you put in.There are no shortcuts to becoming fluent in a language. You have to do all the leg work. And you know what they say Dont skip leg day!