How to Prepare For the AP Chemistry Test for 2020

How to Prepare For the AP Chemistry Test for 2020For this year's AP Chemistry test, you may be wondering how to prepare for it. You will need to do your best to ensure that you do well in this course, especially since it is a major requirement for many careers. There are some things that you can do to ensure that you score a high score.It is important to have a good attitude when taking the test. You will find that this course requires a great deal of critical thinking and the ability to follow a large number of complex instructions. You should avoid doing anything that will distract you from focusing on these skills. What you should focus on is making sure that you are able to think about all of the material while studying. This will ensure that you have enough time to go over all of the instructions and understand them.You will also want to make sure that you use study guides when going over your exam papers. You can find a lot of them online, but be sure to check that they are act ually approved by the Board of Examiners for Assessment of Education, or BEA. If they are not, you will want to get rid of them and get a new one.You will need to make sure that you take your test as soon as possible. Once you know what questions are going to be on the test, you will want to study for them in order to have an advantage. Doing this will mean that you can come up with a strategy that will allow you to not only pass the test, but do so in the fastest time possible.This is why it is important to start preparing for your test as soon as possible. Make sure that you spend time studying for it, and plan ahead. Plan what you will need to do in order to keep yourself occupied during the test. Knowing the answers to your problems will give you the advantage over those who don't. This will give you more opportunities to come up with a strategy that will give you the edge.To ensure that you have the best possible chance at scoring a high score on the test, you will want to be p repared. You should do your best to take the test early, so that you can enjoy it as much as possible. Do what you can to ensure that you take as much time as possible to study, so that you will have the most prepared possible.These are just a few tips that you will want to consider when taking the AP Chemistry test for 2020. There are a lot of other things that you can do in order to ensure that you score a high score.

Helping Your Child Learn to Read

Helping Your Child Learn to Read There is probably no more important activity for preparing your child to succeed as a reader than reading aloud together. Fill your story times with a variety of books. Be consistent, be patient, and watch the magic work. Even after children learn to read by themselves, its still important for you to read aloud together. By reading stories that are on their interest level, but beyond their reading level, you can stretch young readers understanding and motivate them to improve their skills. Advertise The Joy of Reading! Our goal is to motivate children to want to read so they will practice reading independently and, thus, become fluent readers. That happens when children enjoy reading. We parents can do for reading what fast food chains do for hamburgers...advertise! And we advertise by reading great stories and poems to children. We can help our children find the tools they need to succeed in life. Having access to information through the printed word is an absolute necessity. Knowledge is power and books are full of it. But reading is more than just a practical tool.Through books we can enrich our minds; we can also relax and enjoy some precious leisure moments. With your help, your children can begin a lifelong relationship with the printed word, so they grow into adults who read easily and frequently whether for business, knowledge, or pleasure. Remember When You Were Very Young Between the ages of 4 and 7, many children begin to recognize words on a page. In our society this may begin with recognition of a logo for a fast food chain or the brand name of a favorite cereal. But, before long, that special moment when a child holds a book and starts to decode the mystery of written words is likely to occur. You can help remove part of the mystery without worrying about a lot of theory. Just read the stories and poems and let them work their wonders. There is no better way to prepare your child for that moment when reading starts to click, even if its years down the road. It will help, however, if we open our eyes to some things adult readers tend to take for granted. Its easier to be patient when we remember how much children do not know. Here are a few concepts we adults know so well we forget sometimes we ever learned them. Theres a difference between words and pictures. Point to the print as you read aloud. Words on a page have meaning, and that is what we learn to read. Words go across the page from left to right. Follow with your finger as you read Words on a paper are made up of letters and are separated by a space. Each letter has at least two forms: one for capital letters and one for small letters. Imagine how you would feel if you were trying to interpret a book full of hieroglyphics.Thats how young readers feel. But, a little patience - maybe by turning it into a puzzle you can solve together - is certain to build confidence. Home is Where the Heart Is Its no secret that activities at home are an important supplement to the classroom, but theres more to it than that.There are things that parents can give children at home that the classrooms cannot give. Children who are read to, grow to love books. Over the years, these children will have good memories to treasure.They remember stories that made them laugh and stories that made them cry.They remember sharing these times with someone they love, and they anticipate with joy the time when they will be able to read for themselves. By reading aloud together, by being examples, and by doing other activities, parents are in a unique position to help children enjoy reading and see the value of it.

Like Mom Always Says, Safety First

Like Mom Always Says, Safety First Photo by west.m via Flickr.com People are beginning to put their whole life on these social media sites and not thinking about who is actually reading these boards and what they are or can do with this information. Think about it, as I sit here right now typing this I have one tab open for Facebook and another tab open for Twitter. Just by browsing through them I can see all kinds of “check-ins” about where people are at and who they are with, and if that wasn’t enough, it also shows on viewers a map on how to get there. While it may be fun to check-in with all the people you are hanging out with at times it can be dangerous. What if you and your roommates are all going out of town for the weekend and you just let the whole world know via a status or a tweet? Now your apartment, house, or dorm room is free and clear for the taking. Not even just check-ins, but the most dangerous thing about not being smart on social media sites are all the pictures after pictures uploaded. Each picture showing a different aspect of your life, or of someone else’s life, and while some maybe cute pictures of you and your little sister or posing with your friends, others can get very dangerous and even incriminating. People may think that it’s cool to post all kinds of pictures of themselves at the bar or tailgates drinking, but what most people don’t realize that once you put something on the internet it is there forever. You can delete all you want but with intent archives posts and pictures from as far back as you can remember are still stored out there. And with this ever coming popularity of social media, many business now use social media background checks along with other factors in deciding on whether or not you will get the job. So all the comments, updates, tweets, and pictures that you have uploaded can still be f ound out there for all to see. Photo by philcampbell via Flickr.com So what about the new types of social media that can be accessed from your smartphone via apps like Instagram or Viddy. Well, they may fall into the gray area about finding all the pictures and videos you post over the Internet but you have to remember that technology is ever changing. I mean just look at the recent purchase of Instagram by Facebook for one billion dollars. All the photos that were once safe from the Internet will soon if they haven’t already obtain a faster upload rate to Facebook instantly. Don’t mention the fact that there are already options on these sites to have a direct upload to several other social media networks. So just think about things before you put them out for the whole world to see. Just because you think something is funny doesn’t mean that it should be up for the whole world to view. And if it’s not something that you would feel comfortable seeing on a big screen projector while sitting in a room full of your peers or if you wouldn’t mind your grandparents seeing it, then why would you want the rest of the world, including your future employee seeing it?

8 Qualities of a Great Tutor

8 Qualities of a Great Tutor What are the qualities of a great tutor?1. ApproachableA great tutor shouldn't be too intimidating to a student. They should be someone who they can open up to. A great tutor should be friendly and compassionate, and he or she should put people at ease. When a student feels comfortable around you they are going to accept your help and advice more readily, and thus they will improve more quickly. 2. SkillA great tutor should be a good student; that’s pretty obvious. They should have a good GPA, perform well in their courses, and should have a really strong set of study skills. However, they should also have a solid ability to teach. Not every straight-A student makes a good teacher, because they are not able to pass their understanding of a subject on to someone else. A great tutor should have the skills to learn the material, but it is just as important for them to be able to impart that knowledge onto others. 3. SupportiveThey’re your coach. Tutors are there to cheer you on and support you. They are happy when his or her student is succeeding. They are also not afraid to be too good. A great tutor’s goal should always be to give a student the skills to no longer need tutoring, and to be able to do the work on their own. A tutor should also be someone the student feels like they can go to if they have any issues at school, because he or she knows that the tutor has their back.4. AdaptableNot everyone learns the same way. A tutor must be able to see things from another perspective, and be able to come up with new approaches to teaching material if a student just isn't getting it. A great tutor will be a problem-solver, constantly coming up with new instructing methods and solutions to different difficulties. 5. PersistenceA great tutor has to be determined to get the student to his or her goals. If the student is struggling, the tutor should always be the one pushing for them to keep trying. If a student feels that you will give up on them, they will want to give up on themselves. The tutor should not be afraid to be tough if it means keeping the student on track. Some students will need an extra push, and seeing you put in extra effort will encourage them to do the same. 6. PatienceA great tutor is not easily frustrated. They must practice patience with their students and always be understanding that not everyone catches on to certain material quickly. In fact, it is most important to stay patient with the student if the he is already frustrated with himself. Keeping calm when the student is stressed will help them feel supported even when they are struggling.7. They've experienced failure.Failing at something builds character, and even maturity. Failing at something isn't what defines a person, but how they manage to get back up afterwards. A tutor needs to lead their student by example, and having been through a time where they had difficulty in learning something new is an important part of connecting with and relating to one’s clients. 8. IntegrityA tutor should be a leader and should uphold the values of the organization they represent, as well as an upstanding student. A tutor should enforce academic integrity in all of their own and their students’ pursuits, and as well put an emphasis on a good work ethic when interacting with their students. 9. PassionA great teacher genuinely enjoys teaching; a great tutor should be the same way. The job of a really involved tutor is a tough oneâ€"you are a teacher, a mentor, a coach, a friendâ€"and it can get pretty tiring sometimes. A tutor has to have the passion to keep going even on tough days, because they really want to make a difference in their student’s lives.

4 Hacks for Learning a Language Through Immersion Without Breaking the Bank

4 Hacks for Learning a Language Through Immersion Without Breaking the Bank Complete language immersion is within your grasp.Thats right.You have the ability to  learn a language  by being immersed in it, whenever and wherever you want.Whether or not youre in college, or going to college anytime soon.Whether or not you can afford to go abroad.In either or both of the above scenarios, youd get to learn a lot,  meet new people  and oftenpay a lot of money.We might wish that we could go on being college students forever, but the sheer amount of time  and money  needed probably means this isnt going to happen.Similarly, a long stay  in a foreign country to learn a new language is out of the question for many.There are ways to work (literally) around the costs, but we may have jobs, families or other obligations that require us to stay put for the time being.But thats okay.As Scott Young demonstrated at TEDx  when he challenged himself to learn the whole MIT curriculum for computer science without actually enrolling, you dont necessarily have to go to a specific place to get a quality education.Believe it or not, the same idea applies to language learning.If language immersion in a foreign land is what youre seeking, but you just cant seem to make it there, never fear!If, on the other hand, youre already in a foreign land or enrolled in a course to learn your desired language, you can still benefit from what Im about to tell you.Either way, you have everything you need right where you are.So stay where you are, and read on. What Is Language Immersion, Exactly?Im sure weve all heard the term thrown around quite a bit and are familiar with it, but its popular meaning has changed quite a bit from its original meaning.While you might think of language immersion as actually living in a country where they speak the language youre learning, the term was actually originally intended to describe classrooms where the target language (the language being learned) was used exclusively.Thats right.Language immersion from the very beginning has been abo ut learning a language outside of its spoken areas.  Lets focus on that for a minute, because its really important. Language immersion is just using the language you want to learn all the time.Somehow, weve come to think of living in a foreign country as some sort of mystical experience, whereby the language will creep into our brains and slowly grow itself, like some sort of beneficial tapeworm.First of all, gross.Secondly, the truth is that to learn a language you just have to practice. And immersion, whether at home or abroad, is one way to do a lot of that quickly.The 10,000-hour RuleYou may already be familiar with the 10,000-hour rule popularized by Malcolm Gladwell. Its come under a lot of flak lately, but the research on neither side is definitive, so I think it still serves as a handy guideline.Basically, the rule says that if you study something intensively for 10,000 hours, youll have a good shot at being a pro. Language is no different. Study for 10,000 hours, no matter where youre living, and youll be at the top of the heap.But never forget that these 10,000 hours have to be  focused.  If its not difficult, youre probably not learning. Watching 10,000 hours of anime with the subtitles turned on has, I think its safe to say, produced no masters of Japanese listening skills.This is why you should carefully form a detailed plan, allocating a certain number of hours each day to the four main skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing.Some time should also be set aside just for nailing down grammar and vocab.While everyone wants to emphasize different things in their learning, its a good idea to be well-rounded. Working on one skill set will reinforce what youve learned in another.But what should you actually do? And how can you really achieve total immersion?Read on.4 Hacks for Learning a Language Through Immersion Without Breaking the Bank1. Technology: Its changed everythingWell sure, you might say. That sounds great, but language is a differe nt kind of knowledge. You have to speak to people and most of the people you need to speak to live far, far away.And yes, many of them will most likely live far, far away from you. But thats starting to matter less and less.Common pieces of technology that you use every day can be repurposed for language learning.For example, your iPod or iPhone can easily be converted into a handy listening immersion tool. All you have to do is take a movie or television series and convert it into an audio file.Then, when youre out walking around, turn on the file and disappear into a world of foreign sounds.  Continually finding new files and converting them might be a bit time-consuming, but its worth it to have your surroundings take on the tones of a distant language.And if youd rather skip the hassle of compiling appropriate material and get right to learning, you always have the option of using  FluentU,  an online immersion platform that caters to all levels of learners and now offers an app you can download from  the  iTunes  or  Google Play  store.FluentU takes real-world videos created by and intended for native speakersâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.Speaking is probably the hardest skill to practice when youre not living in a country where the language you want to learn is spoken, but by having online language partners it suddenly becomes possible to get speaking practice anywhere and at any time.If youre looking to connect with native speakers,  theres a long list of websites that now offer language exchanges online.Some websites, like Livemocha, will even help your language exchange along by offering guided conversations.There are similar platforms for writing. Take Lang-8,  for instance. Here you can submit a piece of your writing in whatever language you like and have it corrected by a native speaker. All you have to do in return is correct someone elses writing in a la nguage you speak.2. Letting the people come to youGlobalization. For better or worse, it seems like its here to stay. For language learners, this is undoubtedly a blessing.In both the USA and the UK,  there are significant pockets of recent immigrants and long-established ethnic communities that continue to speak a foreign language.Of course, some languages will be easier to find than others. Obviously, if you live in the United States and you want to speak Spanish, the odds are pretty good that you can find someone to speak with.But dont rule out the less common languages! Im currently living in Prague in the Czech Republic, but Ive managed to meet dozens of Japanese people.Oftentimes, you just need to meet one speaker of the language youre learning and theyll connect you to a whole community of speakers of that language.One of the easiest ways to find these groups, if youre not already in the know about a local ethnic community, is to go looking for local foundations or cultural c enters.For example, for Japanese theres the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center as well as the Japan Foundation operating inside the USA.Others examples include the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the Goethe Institut  and the Korea Foundation.While youre at it, be sure to hit up your local universities for any cultural clubs or international exchange programs they might run. If you can speak their language at all, study abroad students will happily befriend you and help you out in exchange for help with their English.3. Your very own immersion mindsetIf you have the right mindset, you can live anywhere and learn a language.If you have the wrong mindset, even living in the deep Siberian wilderness surrounded by country folk whove never heard a word of English wont help you learn Russian.Many an expat has lived years outside of their home country without learning much more than Hello and Thank you in the language of their new country, relying solely on English or a nati ve spouse to translate for them.So if that mindset is what we want to avoid, what mindset  should we have?Well, we should start with a no English language pledge.This is famously used by the Middlebury College immersion program, but its something you can do by yourself. If you work or have one of many other legit reasons for being unable to spend all day every day avoiding English, then choose clear goals that are challenging but not impossible to accomplish, like setting aside four hours each day to read, write, speak listen and even think in another language.Dont forget the last item on that list.Being able to internalize a foreign language  is incredibly important to learning languages and learning them well.If you want to have an immersion mindset, then naturally that mindset should be in your new language.4. Letting the immersion come to you  If you do want to go all out and have the classical immersion experience but still cant quite find a way to make it abroad, there are num erous language immersion programs that can be found throughout the U.S. and elsewhere.While many of these immersion programs are intended for younger learners, there are also some for adults.The program at Middlebury College in Vermont, already mentioned above, is particularly well-known and has a long track record of having students take a no English pledge for their time at the school.You can also check out your local universities to see if they have any public immersion classes up for offer.This type of classical immersion experience would undoubtedly be beneficial for any language learner.But remember, if you put in the effort, you can flip your everyday life inside out, leaving English safely tucked away for only when its really needed.All you need is motivation, a computer, some adventurous friends and a new way of thinking. And One More ThingWeve already mentioned FluentU, but theres a lot more to see, so we thought wed offer you a more detailed look.With FluentU, you learn r eal languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, including movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive Transcripts You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.

How to revise for chemistry GCSE

How to revise for chemistry GCSE GCSE chemistry revision challenges you in several ways. Aside from having to memorise facts spanning the whole specification, you also need to know your chemistry formulae. As a result, it's hard to know where to start. Here's what you need to know. Start revision early With a subject as broad as chemistry, you need to start your revision earlier in the year, compared to other subjects. This then allows you to break the core topics down into digestible chunks and study them little and often. This method ensures better memory retention and recall. At the same time, stay engaged in your lessons right until your exams. Ask questions, and be honest about your knowledge gaps so your teacher can help you fill them. Identify what you need to know Before you start your revision look at the specification for your examining board and ensure you know what exam papers you have and the exact chemistry topics that will be covered. This will help you to identify what you need to know, and what you don't need. If you're confused in any way, see your Chemistry teacher for confirmation of the core areas. Work out where you are right now Next, looking at the specification work out and highlight everything into three zones: Green indicates what you know and understand. Orange indicates what you vaguely know but aren't sure about. Red indicates what you don't know, and or don't understand. This colour-coded key will help you to see where to focus your revision and where to seek help. Always start with the topics in the red zone as this is the area that will help improve your grade. If you have large knowledge and understanding gaps seek the help of a chemistry tutor who can work with you to catch up. Change up your revision tactics For ideas on how to revise do check out our blog post on How to revise for GCSE science - for general tips and advice. Alongside this, find yourself a chemistry revision partner. Explaining what you have learned to a peer is the best way to work out what you know and understand. It also has the added benefit of someone being able to add ideas that you may not have considered. Work on past papers You will hear this piece of advice a lot. However, it's vital to look at past papers at the right time. Trying them without revising or before you have started your revision is demoralising. Factor them into your revision, but only when your revision is in full swing, and you are ready to test yourself. Ask for help Chemistry involves a lot of concepts, which are essential for you to understand before you apply the information to your exam questions. So, if there are any chemistry topics you don't understand, don't be afraid to ask your teacher or a tutor and bring it up in class. Look here for a chemistry tutor in your area.

What Does a US History Teacher Does?

What Does a US History Teacher Does?Are you ready to get a good education and make your career in a good and credible career in the United States history, and if so, then you may need some online information and guidance for your future. With the help of the internet and the knowledge you have now, you can use it to your advantage and start your education on the right track. There are many websites that offer learning resources and tips for those students who are ready to start their life as a professional historian.When you go for the online courses, you are definitely going to get the guidance and the instruction you are looking for. Students can also get the advice from the tutors while completing the course. The courses are so much in demand that some colleges even offer free tuition to the students who can afford it. But, this is only for those students who can afford the fee.If you want to become a history tutor in the United States, the best way to do it is to apply online. Th e process for getting the certificate from the American History Standards Institute is quite simple.The exam for the history teacher's certificate is an open-book exam that the candidates have to take and pass in order to be certified as a history teacher. This certificate is the official certification to the teaching profession. So, the exam will be easy if you are prepared with all the knowledge you will need for the exam.There are many other certification in the education business as well, like the Master's degree. You can find it if you search for it on the internet. Some schools also offer the BA in the United States history in order to prepare more individuals for the more specialized jobs and also to provide more opportunities to the students.As we all know, the United States has so much to teach for humanity as a whole. The books of the people in the United States history are great examples and references for the rest of the world, as we all know the strong history of our co untry, and these are the reasons why the United States history teacher is so important.In conclusion, the United States history teacher is also considered a vital aspect of the United States culture and the history of the people of the United States. So, it is very important to get the certificate to prove you are a genuine teacher. So, you need to visit the websites that offer the certificate.

Free Tutoring in Baltimore City

Free Tutoring in Baltimore CityWhen looking for a way to help out your child with a difficult topic, do you wonder where to turn for free tutoring in Baltimore City? The truth is that there are many places to turn to for a good tutor. If you are looking for someone who can help you work through topics related to math, reading, grammar, etc.If you are interested in having your child taken care of by a tutor, you will want to make sure that you do your homework in finding the best tutor for your child. With the plethora of choices available, it will be important to find a tutor who can fit in with your child's learning style.The best place to begin your search for tutors in Baltimore City is online. There are a number of online tutoring companies that are well-known in the area and they offer quality tutoring services. All you have to do is type in the keywords you wish to use and you will be able to find a good tutor very quickly.If you are looking for the ability to communicate with a tutor in person, then you should be able to find an excellent tutor in Baltimore City in person. There are many good tutoring centers in the city and you will be able to find one that has the training and experience to work with your child. If you are visiting Baltimore City, there are great places to go to find the best tutoring options in the area.One of the best places to get free tutoring in Baltimore City is by going online and looking for a place that offers tutoring in person. There are many people who would love to get their children help with a difficult subject, but they do not know where to turn to for help.The internet has allowed many people to help their children learn new things while in Baltimore City. There are many online tutoring centers that offer tutoring services and are open to help out the younger children as well as the older ones. If you are looking for a way to get some time in with your child, there are many opportunities to see what your child is inter ested in, as well as getting some great attention on their studies.It is always a good idea to find a tutor in Baltimore City, as it is sure to help both the student and the parent as well. Whether you are looking for a good child, a good teacher, or a great program, there are many great places to look to find the best possible assistance for your child.

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