Chemistry is Fun

Chemistry is FunWith so many interesting experiments that you can do with Chemistry, it's possible to find out that it is fun. Let's face it; some of the most exciting things about science are discovering new things and learning how things work. This can be fun too.There are a lot of simple experiments that can be done with Chemistry. How about mixing up two teaspoons of water and putting them in a glass of water? Now you know how to get an exact quantity of water. All you have to do is add more or less water until you reach the right amount. It's easy to do and can be useful for making some soda or other liquids.However, even more interesting than this would be to mix together more than two teaspoons of water and watch as it boils. This can be done by heating up a container of water and adding a substance that will make it boil.Another experiment that can be made with Chemistry is using bits of something like a cigarette, or a twig, or a piece of wood to make the fireworks display. All you have to do is use the lighter to melt the materials and set off a firework. That can be fun and exciting if you have a little bit of the fire element in you.You may also want to try your hand at testing a little of the power of chemical reactions in a Chemist. This can be done by putting something together that will burn. This can be fun and exciting, because you could make something beautiful out of something that was once just plain ugly. And once you have the chemicals with you to see what it is that works, you could play around with the reaction to see if it will be more effective.There are a lot of chemicals that you can use to make things that you've never seen before. Onething that would be great for this would be changing some of the colors in a few flowers. And even more exciting would be finding a way to use green stuff to make a flower glow in the dark.Chemistry can be a fun thing to learn about. And once you have all the chemicals on hand to try it with, you may want to find other fun things to do with it. You'll probably see many more interesting ways to utilize the chemicals that you will have on hand.

GCSE results out today! Congratulations your hard work has finally paid off

GCSE results out today! Congratulations your hard work has finally paid off The long wait is over for the 500,000 students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland waiting to hear their GCSE results. We hope all that hard work has finally paid off and you can now make clear decisions about where you go from here. Figures out today reveal a mixed picture as schools and teachers have had to deal with extensive exam reforms this past year. Overall though students achieving grade C or better at GCSE increased for the first time in three years. Student getting at least a grade C or higher in Maths has gone up slightly. Those getting an A* increased from 4.9% to 5.4%, while those students receiving an A* or A increased from 14.3% to 15.2%. Although the percentage of students that achieved a C or higher at English was slightly lower this year, those getting an A* increased from 3.3% last year to 3.6% and those students getting an A* or an A increased from 14.2% to 14.3%. There was also significant increases in those achieving a C or higher in science. There is a 6% increase on last years figures although those students achieving an A* remains static at 1.4%. We wish all our students, and of course all those parents that have been anxiously biting their nails the past few months, the very best for the future and would love to hear your good news stories and what you intend to do next.

Reading Program Completer Uses Problem-Solving Skills on the Volleyball Court

Reading Program Completer Uses Problem-Solving Skills on the Volleyball Court Reading Program Completer Uses Problem-Solving Skills on the Volleyball Court Elise, 12-years-old,MathLevel K ReadingProgram Completer 12-year-old Elisehasdeveloped a passion for the game of volleyball that stretches beyond the court.Whenshe joined her volleyball team over six yearsago,Eliselearned the importance ofbeing a team player.Volleyball is all about strategy,and each player on the teamplays a specificrole.Elise has found thattheproblem-solving skills shedeveloped inKumonhelp her serve as an asset on the court. “Kumon has helped me discover that there are multiple approachesto solve a problem,” said Elise. “Kumon hasalsotaught me that hard work always pays off. There will always be problems,butit’s overcomingthese obstacles and learningfrom our mistakesthatis the reward. With school and volleyball, Kumon has taught me to remain disciplinedand has improved my time management.” Elise’s competitive edge and embracement of teamworkshine through during each practice and match.Amongtheachievementsshe’s most proud of, arebeing the team captain and her position as a libero, which is the team leader in defense. Elise’s accomplishments go beyond the volleyball court. Shewas one of 56 students selected for Kumon’s 3rdAnnual Student Conference in Chicago, Illinois. “Iwas ecstatic, happy, and very excitedwhen I found out I was selected,” said Elise. “I was so honored and thankful to have the opportunity to attend this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Elise and the rest of the attendees were celebrated for their accomplishments and encouraged to aspire to become individuals who tackle some of the world’s challenges. “Ihad an amazing experience at the Student Conference,” saidElise. “It was such a special opportunity to be with other Kumon Students across NorthAmerica andlearn from them and their amazing accomplishments.My favorite part was the escape room as I was able to work with others in a team setting to solve a fun and complex puzzle.” Eliseshares with ushighlights from her Kumon journeyand adviceforotherKumon Students. Whatdo you enjoy most about Kumon? Kumon has provided me the opportunity to learn at my own pace, which makes learning new concepts in math and reading a lot easier. Howhas Kumon helped you academically? Kumon has allowed me to advance well beyond my academic level. Mastering concepts has given me such great confidence in school. My discipline and approach to solving problems has helped me in all of my classes. What do you want to be when you grow up? When I grow up, I want to be a lawyer. I become passionate and excited when I have a good point to stand for. I enjoy speaking and debating different viewpoints. What’s your favorite book and why? My favorite book is “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio. “Wonder” is my favorite book because enjoy reading stories of courage. This book is full of courage because it’s about a boy who suffers from a condition which leaves his face disfigured. Despite his adversity, he found the courage to go to school and make friends. Who’s your biggest inspiration and why? Hellen Keller once said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” She’s an inspiration to me because she never gave up despite her disabilities. I admire her for overcoming obstacles, because they were not obstacles for Hellen â€" she accomplished so much in her lifetime. Whatadvice would you give to kids just starting Kumon? As in anything in life, what your get out of Kumon is what you put in it. There will be times when your work will be challenging and difficult to understand, but don’t give up. Overcoming your obstacles is satisfying, rewarding, and will boost your confidence. This will help you overcome any challenge in life. If you could sum up your Kumon experience inone word, what would it be? Special. Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: Reading Program Completer finds Connection to Music Through Kumon This Young Kumon Reading Program Completer is an Aspiring Computer Engineer This Reading Program Completer is Shooting for the Moon This Reading Program Completer Gained Confidence from Kumon Reading Program Completer Uses Problem-Solving Skills on the Volleyball Court Reading Program Completer Uses Problem-Solving Skills on the Volleyball Court Elise, 12-years-old,MathLevel K ReadingProgram Completer 12-year-old Elisehasdeveloped a passion for the game of volleyball that stretches beyond the court.Whenshe joined her volleyball team over six yearsago,Eliselearned the importance ofbeing a team player.Volleyball is all about strategy,and each player on the teamplays a specificrole.Elise has found thattheproblem-solving skills shedeveloped inKumonhelp her serve as an asset on the court. “Kumon has helped me discover that there are multiple approachesto solve a problem,” said Elise. “Kumon hasalsotaught me that hard work always pays off. There will always be problems,butit’s overcomingthese obstacles and learningfrom our mistakesthatis the reward. With school and volleyball, Kumon has taught me to remain disciplinedand has improved my time management.” Elise’s competitive edge and embracement of teamworkshine through during each practice and match.Amongtheachievementsshe’s most proud of, arebeing the team captain and her position as a libero, which is the team leader in defense. Elise’s accomplishments go beyond the volleyball court. Shewas one of 56 students selected for Kumon’s 3rdAnnual Student Conference in Chicago, Illinois. “Iwas ecstatic, happy, and very excitedwhen I found out I was selected,” said Elise. “I was so honored and thankful to have the opportunity to attend this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Elise and the rest of the attendees were celebrated for their accomplishments and encouraged to aspire to become individuals who tackle some of the world’s challenges. “Ihad an amazing experience at the Student Conference,” saidElise. “It was such a special opportunity to be with other Kumon Students across NorthAmerica andlearn from them and their amazing accomplishments.My favorite part was the escape room as I was able to work with others in a team setting to solve a fun and complex puzzle.” Eliseshares with ushighlights from her Kumon journeyand adviceforotherKumon Students. Whatdo you enjoy most about Kumon? Kumon has provided me the opportunity to learn at my own pace, which makes learning new concepts in math and reading a lot easier. Howhas Kumon helped you academically? Kumon has allowed me to advance well beyond my academic level. Mastering concepts has given me such great confidence in school. My discipline and approach to solving problems has helped me in all of my classes. What do you want to be when you grow up? When I grow up, I want to be a lawyer. I become passionate and excited when I have a good point to stand for. I enjoy speaking and debating different viewpoints. What’s your favorite book and why? My favorite book is “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio. “Wonder” is my favorite book because enjoy reading stories of courage. This book is full of courage because it’s about a boy who suffers from a condition which leaves his face disfigured. Despite his adversity, he found the courage to go to school and make friends. Who’s your biggest inspiration and why? Hellen Keller once said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” She’s an inspiration to me because she never gave up despite her disabilities. I admire her for overcoming obstacles, because they were not obstacles for Hellen â€" she accomplished so much in her lifetime. Whatadvice would you give to kids just starting Kumon? As in anything in life, what your get out of Kumon is what you put in it. There will be times when your work will be challenging and difficult to understand, but don’t give up. Overcoming your obstacles is satisfying, rewarding, and will boost your confidence. This will help you overcome any challenge in life. If you could sum up your Kumon experience inone word, what would it be? Special. Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: Reading Program Completer finds Connection to Music Through Kumon This Young Kumon Reading Program Completer is an Aspiring Computer Engineer This Reading Program Completer is Shooting for the Moon This Reading Program Completer Gained Confidence from Kumon

Teaching English in China Hangzhou City Guide

Teaching English in China Hangzhou City Guide At Teach Away, we’ve been all abuzz about China as the place to be when it comes to teaching English abroad this year. That’s why we’re excited to get the ball rolling on the third (and final) installment of our blog series on living in China.And it just so happens that we’ve saved the best city for last - Hangzhou! Read on to find out how can get around the city, where you can find great food, bargain-heavy shopping, beautiful scenery, fun nightlife and much more. Living in Hangzhou Interested inteaching English in China? Hangzhou could be just the spot for you. Located on China’s east coast, Hangzhou offers expats all the conveniences of a large, modern city, but at a slightly slower pace than Shanghai or Beijing. Well-known for its picturesque West Lake, Hangzhou has lots of natural beauty and a great mix of traditional and Western culture. Climate Hangzhou has a generally warm and mild climate, with four distinct seasons and two rainy periods. Although considered mild, average temperatures in the area can get up to 86 (34 degrees Celsius) degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, and down to 37 degrees (2 degree Celsius) in the winter, so it’s best to bring both winter and summer clothes! As well, make sure to invest in some quality rain gear if you plan on moving to Hangzhou, as there are two rainy seasons in both June and September. Transport Trains. Hangzhou has three railway stations throughout the city, with high-speed trains connecting the city to nearby Shanghai, Ningbo, and Changsha. The East Railway Station, located in the Jianggan District, is the largest high-speed train center in eastern China! Buses. One of the most popular forms of public transportation in Hangzhou, bus routes operate throughout downtown and run almost 24/7 - making transportation accessible at almost any time of the day. Most city-buses will cost you about ¥1-3 ($0.15 - $0.45 USD), or less if you have a Transportation Smart Card. Extra tip - Hangzhou city buses only accept exact fares, so be sure to carry some extra change on you at all times! In addition to city lines, suburban and tourist bus lines also run if you want to visit anywhere outside of downtown, or want to explore some of Hangzhou’s famous landmarks! Taxis. Taking a taxi is a quick and convenient way to get around Hangzhou, but there are also some important things to consider if you are planning to take a cab. Be sure that you only take “official” taxis and ask to be charged by the meter to ensure that you will not be overcharged. Taxis are easy to find and flag down anywhere in the city, but ensure you are only using licensed cars and drivers! Flag-down fare for first 2 miles (3 km) ¥11 ($1.65 USD) For the following 2.5-6 miles (4 - 10 km) ¥2.50 per 0.6 miles (1 km) ($0.37 USD) Distances over 6 miles (10 km) ¥3.75 per 0.6 mile (1 km) ($0.56 USD) Waiting fee ¥2.50 for every 4 minutes ($0.37 USD) Food Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. Hangzhou has a prevalent local cuisine, as well as influences from many other areas of China and Western culture. It’s a city where you can not only try traditional food, but also get the comforts of home and try modern twists on ancient Chinese dishes! When living in Hangzhou, traditional dishes such as West Lake Fish in vinegar gravy, Braised Dong Po Pork and fried shrimp with Longjing tea leaves have been passed down for centuries and are a must-try! Hangzhou also has a thriving “snack” scene and is a great way to experience authentic Hangzhou cuisine. Commonly eaten at breakfast, popular local snacks are noodles with seafood, fried bread, and endless others! To fully immerse yourself in the culture, take some time to stroll down the snack streets like He Fang Jie (Qing He Fang) to sample local street food. Basic dinner for two at local restaurant ¥154 ($23.09 USD) Dinner for two at an upscale expat restaurant ¥406 ($60.88 USD) Cappuccino ¥31 ($4.65 USD) Milk (1 liter) ¥17 ($2.55 USD) 1 dozen eggs ¥13 ($1.95 USD) Leisure Entertainment Hangzhou offers expats many options of things to do and explore during weekends and off-hours! During the day, make sure you make time to walk through one of the many shopping areas in the city, especially Silk City - the biggest silk market in China. In addition to traditional markets, Hangzhou also has a number of shopping malls with many popular Western stores. Tea houses are a popular place to relax, talk with friends, and sip on famous Longjing tea. Many of the most well-known tea houses are located along the shores of the West Lake and provide great views of surrounding scenery. Hangzhou boasts a vibrant nightlife entertainment scene, with lots of options for a late night out or drinks with friends after work. Shuguang Lu is a popular area to find bars and nightclubs, as well as mingle with locals. If hanging out at a bar or club doesn’t really feel like your scene, downtown Hangzhou also has a number of theaters to catch live shows and music or spend the night on a cruise around the West Lake. Fitness club/gym (monthly) $332 ($49.78 USD) Movie ticket (single) ¥81.50 ($12.22 USD) 1 drink at a downtown club/bar ¥43 ($6.45 USD) 2 tickets to the theater ¥267 ($40 USD) Monthly Rent Like many other cities in China, the cost of living in Hangzhou will be much more affordable than most Western, native English speaking countries. Still be aware though that rent is still more expensive if you are living in downtown Hangzhou rather than in the suburbs! One bedroom apartment (in the downtown area) ¥5,556 ($833.15 USD) One bedroom apartment (outside of downtown area) ¥3,717 ($557.38 USD) Internet (monthly) ¥140 ($21 USD) Missed our earlier blogs on living in China? Check back to read our deep-dives into life in Tianjin and Nanjing!

3 Reasons Why Good Students Get Bad English Grades

3 Reasons Why Good Students Get Bad English Grades In my experience as an English tutor, I find that it is not only students who struggle with English that can get poor grades. Good students can also get bad grades in papers and exams. Here are three reasons why. 1. They over-prepare.When you have been assigned a paper thorough research is important. But there is such a thing as too much research. I have had students who had to write papers on Shakespeare plays who knew the plays backwards and forwards. They were also experts on scholarly interpretation of the plays. However, with so much research they lost sight of the key points they wanted to make in their papers and in their exams. As a result, they produced poorly structured essays which had too many ideas that were not properly developed. The best essays might have only three to five ideas that are well developed. 2. They do not do enough timed exam practice.Revision is not only about reviewing your notes and re-reading set texts. A core component must be timed exam practice. I have yet to see a student that consistently does well in timed assessments that has not practiced questions under timed conditions. This is essential for two reasons. Students must learn to read and understand a question quickly. They must also learn to manage time in exams. They should leave enough time to create a writing plan and write a conclusion. Those who do not leave time to plan rarely produce as essays of the same quality as those students that do. Those who do not conclude their essays give the marker the impression of an unfinished piece of work. Both situations should be avoided. Time management in exams is vital for getting high grades. Students who do not manage their time carefully in exams often lose easy marks. I once had a student who lost 30% on his English Literature exam because he did not answer a third question, only completing two out of three. Unfortunately, the third question was one he could have answered well. 3. They read too quickly.While slow readers often struggle with text comprehension, I have found that good readers sometimes also perform poorly in reading comprehension. This is because with their faster reading pace they start breezing through a text without clarifying the purpose of their reading. There is a balance between speed and clarity of purpose. Students need to consciously ask themselves what it is that they want to learn from the text. This encourages targeted reading which often leads to higher scores on reading compression tests.

Using Tutoring Online

Using Tutoring OnlineIn Orange County, CA we have several private tutoring companies that offer online tutoring. If you are a first time learner, it is easy to learn when the teacher sits right there beside you. For those who have some prior experience or knowledge of reading and writing, it may take a bit more time to learn a specific topic.In today's economy, most people will use a company that offers tutoring to their employees. Of course, there are many other reasons for the use of tutoring online. Whether it is because the company is a leader in the industry, or because the student has decided it is best for them to complete their education in the comfort of their own home.Tutoring through the internet is a great way to save time and money. When your child has a lot of homework that needs to be done, using the tutoring service can be easier. It is best to set up payment plans if the person who is being tutored has a limited amount of time or money. In Orange County, CA the compa nies make this easy to do by offering flexible payment plans.Online tutoring also offers an added benefit. After your child has completed a lesson, it is helpful to look at their work afterwards to see what they could have improved. Using a company online is easy and simple. At the end of the lesson your child will be able to download their assignments.Online tutoring is a great opportunity for students who have a bad habit of procrastinating. To avoid further disruptions, it is a good idea to review your notes after the lesson to make sure you are on track. After all, you may need the help of a tutor in the future. A good tip is to print out the assignment and put it in a folder, even if you just want to review them.Online tutoring is a great choice for adults, as well. If you have been asked to stop working for a while it is very helpful to use an online tutoring service. The main reason is that an online lesson allows you to work as much or as little as you want. This is importan t if you are still working and wish to continue learning.With the growing trend in the use of online tutoring, it is a great option for both parents and children. Both need extra help and this is a very affordable option. Many of the online tutoring companies have a good reputation and many offer great rates for personal tutoring.

Advantages of Using a Dictate -Integral Organic Chemistry Tutor

Advantages of Using a Dictate -Integral Organic Chemistry TutorIf you're in the process of applying for a new job or perhaps a promotion, it may be helpful to consider using a definite integral organic chemistry tutor. The Internet provides a number of resources that are available for some people. You can find books and other materials that can be used to help you learn the material. The books often can be acquired at a significant discount from some retail locations or from online vendors.The books are generally self-contained and consist of a small set of pictures with graphs and equations that can be utilized. The tools are self-contained but have been converted into equations that you can use. The process involves preparation of problems in which you are expected to think about the formulae.If you are not familiar with the use of certain hand-held devices, the tutor can show you how to use these devices. Some examples of the software that can be used by the tutor include Microsof t's Excel and Lotus Studio, Adobe Elements, Delphi and R Math and The Microsoft System Works to name a few. The tutor can help you learn the concepts and procedures required to produce some of the formulas as well as help you discover the process to eliminate errors.Using a definite integral organic chemistry tutor can benefit your career, as the tutor will be able to provide you with the skills you need to succeed at your new job. In addition, you can use the information to improve your resume or to enhance your overall resume.To become an integral organic chemistry tutor, you will need to acquire a specific certification or degree. One type of degree that will qualify you for employment as a tutor is The School of Organic Chemistry.When seeking employment as an organic chemistry tutor, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the core subjects. Additionally, you will need to provide a good level of performance and effectiveness to meet the needs of the position?To becom e proficient, you will need to perform well in any of the particular job that you seek. If you need to be effective, you will need to have an adequate knowledge of the particular chemical elements and chemicals that are used to make some of the products used in the workplace.

The Best Tools for Learning Chinese

The Best Tools for Learning Chinese Apps, Sites, and Books for Learning Standard Mandarin Chinese. ChaptersLearning Chinese: The Apps for Getting AheadLearning Chinese: The Best WebsitesLearn Chinese by Watching VideosLearning Chinese: Which Books Should I Get?The digital age has completely changed the way we learn foreign languages and learning to speak Chinese is no exception.  There are now plenty of people who are now using their computer, smartphone, tablet or television to learn more about the Middle Kingdom’s most popular language and Chinese culture.Mobile e-learning apps are also innovative and exciting ways to learn Chinese Mandarin  when you compare them to dusty old tomes and textbooks.Learning Chinese isn't always free. (Source: Peter Griffin)Chinese Characters First Steps  currently has a rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 stars on Google Play. The app will teach you about the characters and also help you practise writing them.  It includes over 400 different Mandarin Chinese characters for you to practise from the Open University’s Beginners’ Chinese module which was ba sed on the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Education’s frequently used words list.It’s perfect for getting started with Chinese characters and once you’ve learnt them all, you can actually start combining them in order to make over 200 extra new words. This will help you both learn and remember Chinese characters, making your language learning process a little bit easier.Pleco English-Chinese DictionaryThere are plenty of Chinese students from around the world who recommend using Pleco. This is probably why the app is so highly rated both on Android  (4.6 out of 5) and iTunes  (5 out of 5 for the current version).“Pleco is alone in it's class of products for excellence and they offer many add-on features, dictionaries, and it has a good flash card system. I highly recommend it.” - Josh DillonThere are nearly 130,000 Mandarin words, 22,000 Cantonese words, and 20,000 examples of expressions in Pinyin,  a writing system that uses the Latin Alphabet to transcribe Chinese words.The Pleco Dictionary App also offers a number of useful functions and features:Practise writing the Chinese characters. A great way to become a pro in Chinese calligraphy.Scan Chinese characters on your smartphone and get a real-time translations.Listen to Mandarin, Pinyin, or Cantonese audio clips from native speakers.Say a Chinese word or phrase into the app and it’ll tell you the Chinese character.Try it yourself!Learning Chinese: The Best WebsitesForvoLearning Chinese on the Internet couldn’t be simpler and learning Standard Mandarin Chinese online is becoming increasingly popular..The Confucius Institute promotes the Chinese language and Chinese culture around the world. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)If you’re learning Chinese, you have to add the pronunciation dictionary “Forvo” to your browser favourites.  Just type whatever Chinese word you’d like to pronounce into the search bar and the website will tell you exactly how it’s pronounced.However, thi s isn’t just a website for those learning Chinese. Forvo claims to have pronunciations for every word in the world! While this probably isn’t true, there are still tonnes of different languages available with multiple examples of pronunciations for each word.In addition to words, there are also examples of full sentences, expressions, and idioms for you to listen to as well.JukuuWhile dictionaries are great for looking up words, you’ll understand a word much better if you can see it being used in context or in a sentence.  This is where Jukuu comes into play. Jukuu is more than a dictionary, it’s a search engine for Chinese-English sentences and translations so that you can see both what the word means and how you’d use it in a sentence.Personally, I find that these kinds of websites are far more useful than dictionaries since an out-of-context translation of a word can result in you completely misunderstanding a word or a whole sentence.Chinese ForumsIf you want to improv e you Chinese from the comfort of your own home, you need to get involved with communities of other language learners, too.  Chinese Forums is one of the best places to go if you have any questions about learning Chinese or are having a problem.There are plenty of very active users who are happy to help absolute beginners as well as more experienced students. You can find the answers to almost all of your questions on Chinese here as well as meet other forum users who are just as interested in Chinese as you.The best thing, though? It’s completely free!Learn Chinese by Watching VideosWhen we mention e-learning and videos, we can’t not mention YouTube, which is home to plenty of language learning resources that are completely free.Chinese is often considered one of the most difficult languages to learn. (Source: Peter Griffin)Since Chinese is generally considered a difficult language to learn, it’s a good idea to learn Mandarin Chinese through videos in addition to taking Chine se language courses. This will help you memorise the tones (which can be rather tricky) as well as master the pronunciation.You can teach yourself some Mandarin Chinese (or any other variety of Chinese, for that matter) by watching one of the many educational channels on YouTube. Alternatively find Chinese tutors across the UK (including Mandarin courses London) for in-home or online lessons.Whether you want to start learning Chinese, master your recognition of Chinese characters and ideograms, or even become a master of Mandarin Chinese grammar, YouTube is one of the first places you should go looking for quality language learning resources.However, to make things a little simpler, Superprof has put together a list of a few of the very best YouTube channels for learning Chinese:Yoyo Chinese: The host of Yoyo Chinese is Yangyang Cheng, a resident of Los Angeles who’s fluent in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. In addition to the lessons on the channel, you can also find interviews with other native Chinese speakers as well as some recordings of Google Live Hangouts that she’s conducted.Learn Chinese with Emma: Emma’s online Chinese lessons are very well produced and aimed at both absolute beginners and advanced beginners. While most of the videos are in English, there are sections completely in Chinese that are accompanied very clearly by subtitles so that you won’t get lost.Chinese with Mike: While Mike’s lessons are never serious, that doesn’t mean they can’t be educational. These are a great way to learn Chinese while having a load of fun. The videos are between 10 and 15 minutes each and go at a very good pace for those learning. You’ll never be bored in Teacher Mike’s (MIKE LAOSHI) classes.Aside from all the educational videos you can find on Chinese on YouTube, don’t forget that there are other ways to use videos to help you learn Mandarin Chinese. Younger readers (and maybe even a few of our older readers) should be familiar with Net flix. If you’ve never heard of it (somehow), it’s a TV and film streaming service and a service you should check out if you’d like to watch TV series and films in Chinese!Learning Chinese: Which Books Should I Get?Discover the best books for learning Chinese.??????| Integrated ChineseIntegrated Chinese (3rd Edition)  is a textbook written by Yuehua Liu and published by Cheng Tsui. This book is highly recommended by Chinese professors and students alike and while it's probably a bit dry for some learners, it does have everything you’ll probably want to know about Chinese.There are plenty of great places to learn Chinese. (Source: Lilla Frerichs)The book is highly rated on Amazon (between 3.5 and 5 stars, depending on the version) and is available in paperback for less than £20.Unfortunately, if you’re wanting to do the audio exercises, you’re going to have to pay extra for the CD or audio. The CD can set you back around £40, too. Ouch! With all that said, this is a res ource that you’ll be able to keep referring back to every time you need to refresh the basics.It’s perfect for:Students just starting out in ChineseGetting used to Chinese characters, how they’re written, and how to use them.Anyone preparing to stay in China (or any other Chinese-speaking country) for an extended period of time who needs to familiarise themselves with the basics of the language.Chinese for DummiesNever underestimate the “Dummies” series of books. The version on learning Mandarin Chinese by Wendy Abraham is worth picking up and is available on Amazon for less than £20 (and for only a couple of quid if you’re happy to buy a used copy!).Aimed at absolute beginners, the book can teach you how to have everyday conversations, get to grips with the tones used in Chinese, and get around in China. Furthermore, the accompanying CD can help you listen to actual Chinese being spoken by native speakers and help you to train your ear to the tones.This book is great f or anyone getting ready to go to China as it covers all the basics that you’ll need from the second you get off the plane.Additionally, it also covers customs and taboos, meaning that you’ll never make any embarrassing errors and nor will you offend anyone when you go to China. You should also consider buying the book of Chinese expressions for dummies.??????? | New Practical Chinese ReaderThis book  is a useful Chinese course.  However, don’t forget to buy the workbook as well so that you can actually practice your Chinese.  While there isn’t much difference between the first and second editions in terms of content, the second edition has changed the layout slightly.You’ll be able to get both the textbook and workbook for under £30 and for even cheaper if you look around for used versions of the textbook  Obviously, don’t buy a used version of the workbook as you’ll not be able to use it!Get started learning Chinese with a private tutor from Superprof:Chinese courses LondonChinese tutors in Scotland

How to Learn Cantonese

How to Learn Cantonese How Can You Learn More About Cantonese? ChaptersThe Origins of CantoneseThe Particularities of CantoneseThe Differences Between Mandarin Chinese and CantoneseLearning Cantonese“Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself” - Chinese ProverbMore and more Brits are choosing to learn Chinese and speaking Chinese is a skill increasingly sought by employers. In fact, Chinese can be a complicated language to learn and can be made much easier by learning with a teacher, speaking with natives in China, or taking intensive classes here in the UK or in China.That said, there’s no single Chinese language and in Canton and Hong Kong, Cantonese is spoken. While often thought of as a dialect, Cantonese is actually a distinct language from Mandarin Chinese with its own writing system, vocabulary, culture, and history. You’ll see (and hear) this if you travel around China. As you move around the country, you’ll hear a lot of different languages, including Cantonese.According to a study from the government, around a third of the population of the People's Republic of China (around 400 million people) can’t speak Mandarin Chinese, also known as Putonghua or “people’s speech”.While most people will probably opt to learn Mandarin, this figure shows that it can be worthwhile learning another Chinese language, such as Cantonese. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Origins of CantoneseHave you decided that you want to learn how to speak Cantonese?Congratulations! What a great idea! You nee d to keep in mind that Cantonese isn’t a dialect of Mandarin Chinese but rather a language in its own right. You need to know that this language is mainly spoken in southern China and is the origin of a number of different Chinese terms.China has so many different languages, dialects, and regional variations that it can be hard to work out the right one to learn. (Source: Mikelmania)Like all languages, Chinese, and Cantonese, in particular, has an interesting history and origin story. By knowing where languages come from, we can find learning them much easier as we’ll be familiar with certain constructions. Of course, with Mandarin being the most common Chinese language in the country, you might be tempted to learn that first.However, advocates of Cantonese will quickly point to the fact that Mandarin is only really 100 years old while Cantonese has been around for a millennium. This makes it far more representative of Chinese culture than its Mandarin counterpart.Cantonese is a lso the main language of Hong Kong, which was a British colony until 1997 when it was handed back to the Chinese. This effectively makes it the capital city of the Cantonese language and helps keep the language alive.Of course, Cantonese was born in Canton (or Guangzhou), a place where its still spoken today. If you spend time there, make sure to use the language to help you open doors to the fascinating culture and history of the area of which this language is an important part. It’s Chinese at its best!You may do the same in Fujian Province by learning Min Chinese!The Particularities of CantoneseSo what’s so special about Cantonese?We can’t stress this enough, but Cantonese is often wrongly thought of a spoken dialect of Mandarin Chinese and not as an independent language in its own right. However, it’s a language that is spoken in Guangzhou (Canton) in Mainland China as well as in the administrative region of Hong Kong, as we said earlier. In fact, from the border between these two languages, you can see the differences much more clearly.Cantonese is a rich language with its own fascinating history and culture. (Source: sasint)For example, written Chinese characters are not the same as Cantonese characters as Chinese characters are simplified. There are also a good number of linguistic differences, something that a beginner probably wouldn’t be able to notice.For example, the difference between the Cantonese pronunciation that sounds like a “ch” in English and the  â€œts” in Mandarin is often confused by beginners. A lot of foreigners find distinguishing these two sounds almost impossible. Of course, this is something that can occur when you learn any foreign language.Similar, the “s” in Cantonese may be heard as a “sh” and vice-versa. As you’ve probably understood, Cantonese is a language in its own right, which is different from the official language of China, Mandarin Chinese.The Differences Between Mandarin Chinese and Cantones eMandarin Chinese is the official language of China and the language spoken by most people in the country. This is why Cantonese is often thought of as a language when it’s actually a minority language, albeit a minority language spoken by over 50 million people natively. However, speakers of Mandarin can understand Cantonese to some extent when it’s spoken to them.With its own distinct culture, Cantonese can be confusing to anyone who's used to hearing Mandarin. However, you need to know the differences between the two languages. (Source: sasint)Of course, while these are two different languages, they share common origins. Cantonese grammar is richer than that of Mandarin. There are a significant number of differences in terms of pronunciation, though (especially in terms of tones). These linguistic differences help support the argument that each language has its own identity and its own history.One key difference is that Cantonese has a lot more syllables that end with a conso nant. This is a trait that is also shared with the Korean language. Mandarin, on the other hand, doesn’t do this anywhere near as often.Mandarin and Cantonese don’t actually have as many things in common as you’d think, each language is at the heart of a different culture. However, if you have your heart set on learning Cantonese and want to make things easier for yourself, you can do thanks to the private tutors on Superprof or by taking an intensive Cantonese course either in the UK or in China.What if you're headed to Shanghai? Best to learn the Wu dialect...Learning CantoneseTo learn Mandarin London is good, and learning Cantonese is also good. In fact, this language is as good a language to learn as any. In fact, you could learn it instead of French, Spanish, German, or Italian. Let’s not forget, you’ll learn Cantonese in a similar way to any other foreign language.If you're planning on going to Hong Kong, it might be worth hiring a private tutor to teach you some Can tonese before you go. (Source: carloyuen)It’ll also help you stand out when applying to jobs given that most other applicants probably won’t speak Cantonese. If they speak a Chinese language, it’ll probably be Mandarin, which is more commonly spoken in both Mainland China and the West. That said, learning the language of Hong Kong can be just as valuable as learning the language of Beijing. It’s an original linguistic skill that’ll get people talking about you.Getting private tutorials with a tutor, online lessons, or intensive lessons are all good ways to get speaking Cantonese as quickly as possible. A tutor can act as your guide, provide you with support, and help you learn more about the language and culture.Remember that a foreign language is a gateway to another culture and learning Cantonese, while a challenge, is also an incredibly rewarding experience. There’s nothing better than being able to speak a foreign language and once you’ve learnt one, learning other s becomes even easier.The characters, typography, and pronunciation have seemingly nothing in common with English, which makes the language inherently more interesting to learn than languages related to our own. It also allows us to discover new cultures, meet new people, gain self-confidence, and nourish our curiosity.In short, Cantonese isn’t a dialect, it’s its own language and deserves to be treated as such. It’s also fascinating in terms of its culture. This should be enough to encourage you to learn it, especially given that its story is far from over.Additionally, language learning is a rewarding experience and whether you learn to speak Chinese Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka Chinese, or any other Sino Tibetan language, you'll have a great time.There are language courses to help you read and write Chinese, conversational Chinese lessons to get you started with how words are pronounced, the tonal aspects of the language, and common conversational expressions and phrases that you'll hear regularly, and private tutors who can teach you Chinese online or in person how to communicate with Chinese people.So what are you waiting for?If you're looking to learn Cantonese or one of the less common languages spoken in China, working with a private tutor is probably your best option. If you live in a big city, you're more likely to be able to find a tutor who teaches the language you want to learn.If you don't live in a big city, don't worry as there are also online private tutorials. Online tutorials are conducted over Skype  and, as long as you have a computer with a webcam and a decent internet connection, can be with anyone from anywhere in the world.It's time to tune your ear: can you recognise the different forms of Chinese?