Feb 29, 2012

How To Speak And Learn Spanish Language

Are you interested to learn how to speak or Learn Spanish Language  in the fastest manner possible? In today's highly advanced technology world, it is possible for you to acquire any skills that you want, whether it is car repair, fixing a computer system etc. There are all sorts of learning resources available for you today, and that includes learning a new language as well. I was able to pick up the new language of Spanish in a really short time with an online course called Rocket Spanish.

Some people prefer to skip all of this and just simply learn by listening to audios. You can listen to audios of Spanish words with the English word spoken after it. Many people believe that if you speak a word enough then you will know it. I'm sure at some point in your life you have seen someone with head phones on repeating foreign words followed by English words.

These people are simply learning a new language. It is not enough just to learn a few words in Spanish. If you can say several words but not speak complete sentences then it will not be very useful. Everyone learns at different levels and many of these audios or tutorial websites offer beginner, intermediate, or experienced levels.

1. How to Speak or Learn Spanish Language in the Fastest Manner Possible?

There are many ways to learn a new language, such as attending Spanish classes or hiring a new tutor etc. But all of these methods have always been really expensive and in my opinion, not really worth the fee. They can cost hundreds of dollars per month, which is a high price to pay compared to using online learning software which I have personally experienced to be more affordable and effective.

2. Why I Eventually Decided to Choose
Having tried searching for free learning programs on the Internet, I have found that they would either ask for a more expensive paid version to access the more important resources, or that they simply are not effective. This was why I chose to stop looking for free programs and decided to invest with the Rocket Spanish package. This course provides comprehensive content dedicated for beginners and also for the more advanced learners. It is a high quality and reasonably priced Spanish online course that I would recommend.

3. How Else Can You Improve Your Spanish Skills Quickly?

Watching movies and television channels in Spanish can also be really effective. You can visit my website link below to discover the best online courses for learning the Spanish language.

Feb 28, 2012

Learn A Foreign Language For Employment

For many people, it is important to learn a foreign language for employment and even leisure. In most cases, the demand for foreign language speakers continues to rise as more and more countries are building international relationships. This is especially true in businesses, governments and other organizations with foreign interests. Being able to speak a foreign language helps build credibility and increases progress through international travel and gaining promotions. It also offers the possibility of foreign employment opportunities.

Foreign speaking individuals are very much in demand in organizations such as the Red Cross, Amnesty International, and the United Nations. These organizations operate internationally and need employees that can speak the native language of target countries for management, administrative and even on-field jobs. Most members of these organizations are able to speak English, Arabic, Spanish, or French to communicate with local members and staff.

National governments also need people who can speak foreign languages for their Department of Foreign Services in assigned countries. Working for the department means living in the country of jurisdiction and working with locals. Being able to speak and understand their language is important as the job requires liaising with local counterparts, collecting and translating intelligence reports, and conducting research. Also, being a foreigner to a country and living there means doing regular routines that involve interaction with locals such as doing the grocery shopping, getting a haircut and even just talking to neighbors.

The tourism and travel industries have also been requiring staff to learn a foreign language especially for those who are assigned abroad. Speaking foreign languages is important to be able to offer the best customer service. This provides opportunities for future expansion and maintains a high standard of customer relations as hotels, tour groups, and restaurants almost always receive foreign visitors.

Interpreting, translation and language tutorials have recently been increasing in demand and needs individuals who can speak the native language of their clients and students. Translators and interpreters usually require accreditation to be able to achieve the highest accuracy and credibility. Teaching a foreign language, on the other hand, not only offers passing on knowledge to students but also allows practice for the teachers.

To learn a foreign language really opens opportunities both locally and abroad. These are just a few benefits of learning to speak another language fluently. Commitment and dedication are very important. Proper practice also helps, especially when done with native speakers who can correct grammatical and pronunciation errors. Finally, it is important to enjoy the learning process. When the task is enjoyable, learning comes naturally.

Feb 24, 2012

Adapt To Study Abroad

Most study abroad experiences teach students how to adapt to new environments. Government major Nafees Ahmed (C’12) did not expect that she would have to adjust to three countries in one semester.

Ahmed arrived in Cairo on January 18, 2011, as the Egyptian revolution was beginning to form. She jumped into life as a student at the American University in Cairo (AUC), meeting new friends and taking Arabic classes. “None of us really expected that anything would happen of this sort. Then, slowly, the curfews started being imposed. So first it was 6 p.m., then 4 p.m., and then 2 p.m.,” she said. “We were on the rooftop of our dorm just watching everything happening. We saw black smoke from the [burning] tires, clouds of white smoke from the tear gas.” As the protests intensified, the Office of International Programs called to tell Ahmed and her fellow Hoyas that they were booked on a flight to Qatar the following afternoon.

Although Ahmed was devastated to leave Cairo only two weeks after her arrival, she noted that the students were fortunate to have a close base at Georgetown’s Qatar campus as other Americans scrambled for flights out of Egypt. When buses arrived at the AUC campus the next morning, AUC administrators discouraged the students from even going to the airport. “The Georgetown students kind of united, and we said [no matter what] happens we have to be on these buses. We all made sure we were on the same bus. When we got to the airport, it was like a madhouse, completely packed.

Everyone was shoving each other.” She continued, “That was one of the times I really felt like a Hoya because everybody united. When we were in this situation, we knew we had to stick together.” The SFS-Qatar community provided a warm reception as the students tried to comprehend the events in Egypt and figure out their next steps. After a week in Qatar, Ahmed arrived in Istanbul to study at Koç University.
“I didn’t know how to say hello.

I didn’t know anything about Istanbul,” she said. Before arriving in Cairo, Ahmed had prepared for months, studying Arabic and reading about Egyptian culture. She was excited for a new lifestyle different from the Hilltop. Upon arriving in Istanbul, she was disappointed to find herself at a university that felt similar to Georgetown. “At first it was a struggle. It wasn’t just a struggle of dealing with this new society. It was a struggle of coming to a place, not realizing you were going to be there, not preparing yourself at all, but having to learn to love it and really understand it for what it is,” she explained.

As a research assistant at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and a Doyle Student Fellow, Ahmed had researched Muslim communities in the U.S. and worked to strengthen interreligious dialogue on campus. She had hoped that Egypt would provide balance to her current perspective, gaining an “American lens in a Muslim-majority country [whereas] here I have a Muslim lens in a Christian-majority country.” Turkey, a secular nation with a Muslim majority, added a new dimension to this perspective. In each country, she saw first-hand how individuals wrestle with ideas of modernity, secularism, tradition, and religious diversity.

By talking to fellow students and neighbors, Ahmed learned about the opposing sides of Turkish secularism. She changed her own views after meeting Merve Kavaçki, who was prevented from taking her seat in parliament for wearing a headscarf. “She taught me that secularism is not non-religion. You can be a Muslim, and you can pray five times a day. You can also believe that the state should be secular.” She continued, “It is very possible to be a good Muslim, have your tradition and pride in your past [...] but at the same time be well-educated, take the values from the West of liberty and equality, and implement them in your social thought.”

Through her experience, Ahmed gained valuable insight into how culture, religion, and nationality shape an individual’s identity and the importance of those definitions. Speaking about the revolution and what she found fascinating, she said, “They were taking these values that I identified with as an American—values of equality, standing up for your rights, social responsibility, civil liberty. They were implementing that, but also standing up for themselves as Egyptians, proud of being Muslims, their pharaonic past, and their national identity. [I saw] that these different aspects can be reconciled and can live in harmony.”

Feb 17, 2012

You Need For Successful Online Learning

More and more students are taking college courses online. In fact, recent data shows that over 4.6 million college students (or more than 25%) are enrolled in at least one online class. Maybe you're drawn to the flexibility and convenience of taking classes on the Internet, but have questions about what tools you'll need to succeed. Read on!

Let's start with the obvious. You'll need a computer (or access to one) that you can use to complete coursework online. While programs typically don't require you to have a brand new machine, some older computers may lack the processor speed and memory space you'll need.

Schools offering online classes often the provide minimum technical requirements at their websites. You can also contact an instructor or technical support for information.

Of course, you'll also need access to a high-speed Internet connection to take online classes. Again, technical specifications for connections and modems can vary between schools. For example, you may need broadband to participate in some programs while dial-up may be okay for others. As with computer hardware, it's a good idea to check with the institution offering classes.

When you have adequate hardware and Internet connectivity, you can turn your attention to software. Many online programs require you to have common Microsoft programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access. Depending upon your academic discipline, you may also have to purchase specialty programs to complete your studies.

Taking online courses, you may also be expected to download popular applications that allow you to connect and collaborate with others. Adobe Reader, commonly used in online learning environments, allows you to view PDFs and share documents with others.

You may also be asked to utilize a media player (like Windows Media Player) or communications tools (such as Skype or Google Talk). An instructor can tell you what applications you'll need for a class.

While not all courses will require it, a portable media device - such as a smartphone, mp3 player or Internet tablet - can be very useful when taking classes on the Web. Many online courses feature social networks, discussion boards and other opportunities to communicate and work with classmates.

Mobile devices can allow you to field questions and make contributions when you're on the go. Many have cameras that can also help you share images with peers and teachers via classroom blogs, wikis or eportfolios.