How to Learn Japanese by Reading Manga

How to Learn Japanese by Reading Manga How Reading Manga Can Help You Learn Japanese ChaptersRounding out Your Japanese Lessons with MangaOnline Resources: Manga and Books to Learn JapaneseEasy Manga Series for BeginnersAnime and Manga: Complementary Learning CompanionsAside from learning one’s mother tongue, language learning is never an easy undertaking, especially with no formal guidance at the outset.That was a general statement pertaining to learning any language; now let’s talk specifically about learning Japanese.While not necessarily difficult to speak, its written form is another matter altogether. This language does not primarily use the Roman alphabet; instead, it is a blending of it and three additional writing systems.Chinese characters used in this language are identified as Kanji. The syllabic Hiragana are purely Japanese and Katakana is the Japanese way of transcribing foreign words. Those instances where the Roman alphabet is used are referred to as Romaji.Are you confused yet? Overwhelmed? Have we effectively frightened you away from learning th e language? Now let us put you at your ease.There are ways to learn Japanese that are not difficult at all. In fact, they are rather engaging and entertaining!Manga, the wildly popular Japanese cultural export, offers a way for you to learn the Japanese writing system and pick up on grammar constructions â€" all while giving you a taste of that exotic culture and providing hours of entertainment.Are you interested?We take this opportunity to present tips, tricks and techniques you can use in your quest to learn Japanese London through manga.Identifying and interpreting Japanese writing is more fun with manga books! Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from PixabayHowever, there is a Japanese art form that is nearly as old as those titles but far more accessible to someone such as yourself, who are just starting to read in Japanese.Manga is a fun and simple way to further your studies in Japanese.You might, for instance, use dialogue found in manga as a way to recognise the ideograms you’v e learned. Perhaps, if you’ve been particularly diligent in your studies, you may translate some of them.Naturally, all of that is predicated on whether you have access to manga written in Japanese.Don’t plan your raid on Tokyo bookstores just yet!As virtually everything is available online, naturally you could find manga editions in their original language or, if you are a fan of the digital, you may read manga online.It would help if you had a hardcopy of the manga you're reading so that you can make notes and highlight characters you don’t know; perhaps you could print digital editions out?Now that you have a way of getting your hands on authentic Japanese manga (and have done so!), skim through your new treasures.What you’re looking for are words that you recognise and context that will help you understand them better.At the outset, you will probably need to do a bit of translation; going back and forth between manga and dictionary.Whether or not you’re taking language courses, using manga as a study tool will immerse you into dialogue â€" something that generally doesn’t happen to that degree in beginners' language classes.And you will certainly not learn colloquial words and phrases in class but manga will provide you with them, along with proper grammatical constructions and word usage.That kind of makes manga worth reading all on its own, doesn’t it?Online, you can find a list of manga suited to your level of Japanese Source: KazeOnline Resources: Manga and Books to Learn JapaneseIf you are already a manga and anime fan, you might be familiar with One Piece, the fabled treasure that Monkey D. Luffy is in constant search for.You don’t need to look that hard; your treasure trove is the Internet.Like the best of gifts, many of the Internet’s treasures are yours at no cost. When talking about free manga, your best bet would be Manga Z, the site where many a manga artist permit the free download of their work.Another great site that permit s free manga reading in its original language is Raw Senmanga. For those of you who believe you must pay for what you acquire, you may purchase manga from Honto.Other than those freely available and paid-for manga, you may also find learning support sites that incorporate manga into their teaching tools.Note: you could also study Spanish, French and Korean with the tools that site provides.Another fun and simple way to let manga help you learn Japanese is to arm yourself with books dedicated to teaching Japanese through manga. Among those titles are:Nihonjin no Shiranai Nihongo by Umino NagikoJapanese in Mangaland by Marc BarnabeThe Kana and Kanji of Manga by Glenn KardyThe Japanese of Manga by Shima KadokuraBesides these, you may consider stocking up on Japanese workbooks, the kind that are given to young children in Japan â€" in other words, not too complicated. Because they are printed primarily for Japanese preschool children, subjects such as maths, geography and language histo ry are covered.You may even find a book dedicated to the history of manga!They are produced by big names in manga publishing such as Shueisha, the same house that puts out Shonen Jump.Did you know that some Manga stories have enjoyed amazing longevity?Easy Manga Series for BeginnersPopular manga makes it possible to sample Japanese culture while learning the language.Let’s say you’ve long been a fan of anime series; perhaps that is what drove you to study Japanese.When casting about for manga to learn from, you might be tempted to hunt for Dragon Ball or Naruto, stories you are already familiar with. That would be a mistake.If you are an absolute beginner at learning Japanese, the profound concepts and elevated dialogue in those stories may be way above your current level.Thus, it would be best to start out with Kodomo, the manga meant for the youngest readers.Don’t think about it as your ego taking a hit; think about the fact that the youngest Japanese readers have language s kills that far exceed yours so, if you are able to make headway with these simply-written books, you may consider yourself as progressing!There is absolutely no shame in reading:Doraemon: simple dialogue and uncomplicated situations make this title an ideal choice. Besides, you will definitely get your full dose of kawaii â€" Japanese-style ‘cute’!Pokemon: if you grew up during the 1990s, you know there was no escaping Pikachu and the rest of the Pokemon gang. Again, ‘cute’ plays a large part in this series but it is a great selection to become familiar with oft-used Japanese ideograms.Other titles you might know from your own childhood, such as Astro Boy and Captain Tsubasa offer you rather long tales to follow while learning Kanji.Don’t stop there; learn more about legendary Manga heroes!Consider also Shojo manga titles like Fruits Basket and anything from Studio Ghibli, such as My Neighbour Totoro.If authentically Japanese characters from manga magazines puzzle over the language, it stands to reason that you would too! Source: NetflixAnime and Manga: Complementary Learning CompanionsWe learn less from success than from failure â€" Japanese proverbBeing able to interpret the printed word in any language including Japanese is a major aspect of learning a language.Being able to correlate what you hear with what you read is an advanced skill that every language learner must cultivate. After all, reading a social convention phrase is different than hearing it spoken.If your love of Japanese animation is what stoked your desire to learn, we’re not going to tell you to stop watching and concentrate on your studies.In fact, watching anime or anything dealing with Japanese pop culture is a fun and practical way to train your ear to tones and sounds unique to the Japanese language.Pop culture shows can teach you the most up-to-date expressions, too!But, here again, we have to take into consideration what you might be ready for. That probably won’t be th e convoluted storylines of Death Note... at least, not at first.Again, we throw kids’ anime into the mix.Unlike most American comics and cartooning, Japanese cartoons are not meant exclusively for children so you have to be selective in your choices.Of course, you won’t stay at the beginner level for long if you work hard. Soon enough, you’ll be ready for a more advanced manga magazine and more elaborate anime shows.When that time comes, you might consider titles such as One Punch Man, Berserk or Yu Gi Oh!.As time goes on and you mature â€" and your language skills grow ever sharper, you’ll have an entirely different category of manga to explore. Seinen manga, meant for young adults, might suit your tastes better.Some titles to consider: Tokyo Ghoul, Fullmetal Alchemist... or romance manga such as My Hero Academia, if you’re looking for something in the Josei category.You don’t have to be male to enjoy fighting anime or female to idolise Mononoke but you do have to be de termined to learn Japanese on your own.And, you have a lucky star on your side! Other languages do not offer such engaging, fun and culturally relevant learning materials as Japanese does; manga volumes literally designed to help you learn.Could you have a more enticing reason to learn the language?Well, besides having a fab Superprof tutor who will help you decide which anime to watch and give you assignments based on it...Find out what else you need to know before you make manga your favourite reading material.

Maths for Kids

Maths for Kids Learning Maths: Tips and Advice Teaching Maths to Children ChaptersEvery Child is Capable of Learning MathsHelp Your Child Learn with Maths GamesAdvice for Teaching Maths to Children with Learning DifficultiesAre Boys Better at Learning Maths than Girls?Parents always want the best for their children, especially when it comes to their academic career.For this exact reason, many parents start teaching their children basic maths or a foreign language at home while they are still very young.But is this a good idea?Of course, teaching methods play a big role when sharing knowledge with young children.In order for them to be effective, the child must be engaged with the topic, whether it's counting, mental arithmetic, telling time, calculation of sums, or identifying polygons.Approaching learning with a positive mindset and even taking the subject out of an academic concept can be key to maths mastery. For example, playing online math games  and puzzles can help learners visualise maths problems in context without the pressure of an exercise form at.But what if your student has dyslexia or dyscalculia?And is there a battle of the sexes when it comes to maths-based subjects? MyriamMaths Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £200/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Dr parikhMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KamalMaths Teacher 5.00 (9) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PetarMaths Teacher 5.00 (8) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GowsikaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RubenMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ConorMaths Teacher 4.75 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsEvery Child is Capable of Learning MathsLinguists recommend that when is comes to learning a language, the younger the better. This is because of the way young brains seek to acquire new languages, and by learning two languages, an infant could become bilingua l.But what about maths?  Surprisingly, if you ask a  mathematician, they will say the same thing.A study by Michele Mazzocco at the University of Minnesota showed that even children who are not yet old enough to start school are capable or learning some easy maths concepts, such as geometry and symmetry, for example. However, the study also found that the parents' own difficulties could slow the progress of the child.Just as with phobias such as going to the dentist, parents can pass on their fear of maths. This fear usually has its roots in sitting exams or being ridiculed for not being able to solve problems in school math such as probability and statistics, Pythagorean theorem, proportion, inequalities, algebraic expressions, complex numbers or vectors.Embrace children's' curiosity and take pleasure in sharing your knowledge with them ¦ source: Pixabay - AriethWhen the time comes for children to start primary school, interactive  maths games can be fantastic for helping them un derstand and apply what they are being taught.But are all children as capable as each other when it comes to learning math? There is no doubt that each and every child has a natural desire to learn more about the world around them. With a positive frame of mind and a good maths teacher, any child can see the fun side to maths.And to complement their formal education, why not find a private maths tutor?Private maths tuition at home or online tutoring can help make sure students are not falling behind their peers, as tutors look for strengths and weaknesses in pupils' knowledge to give them the tailored maths help they need with fractions, decimals, long division, addition and subtraction, place value and understanding maths vocabulary and notation.With a math tutor, you can also take your learning further by looking deeper into maths questions to build a firm base for future study of trigonometry, square roots, coordinates and graphing, calculus, algebra, reasoning, geometry, multipl ication and division, finding the exponent, polynomial, quadratic, integral and differential equations and problem-solving.Help Your Child Learn with Maths GamesParents tend to put their trust in school teachers when it comes to their child's education, however, there are things parents can do to help their children's maths along the way.First of all, no matter how much stress maths may have caused you in your school years, learn to talk openly about the subject at home. This gives maths a place in your child's life outside of school, allowing them to feel at ease to ask you questions about homework help or the math problems they are studying and give them an appreciation of math for everyday life.There are plenty of free online maths games and board games that can support your child's learning, so it's worth investing some time in these to help your children move away from the textbook and learn maths is fun.It's not unheard of for an educator to  use Lego to teach maths!Change you r point of view on maths by playing games ¦ source: Pixabay - TraumsicherheitLearning is most successful when you're having fun. That's why learning through play is ideal for young children and students of any age who enjoy pracitcing maths. There are many maths websites including Math Playground and Primary Games Arena which are full of fun maths games for kids see how their math skills fare.Maths is all around us, we just need to learn to appreciate it!Advice for Teaching Maths to Children with Learning DifficultiesWhat should you do if your child has a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) such as dyslexia or dyscalculia? Do you need to adapt your methods to teaching maths?As you are probably aware, dyslexia affects reading, writing and comprehension. When it comes to maths, this could mean difficulties solving maths word problems and what they are being asked to do. Dyscalculia is very similar, however, those affected have problems processing numbers rather than words.SpLDs also affect short-term and working memory as well as concentration and organisation. So what is the most effective way of teaching children with SpLDs?A multi-sensory approach to math learning can prove powerful as students receive information through several channels: sight, hearing, touch and movement. People who live with SpLDs are usually first and foremost visual learners, meaning that using pictures and models prove most effective in helping them understand and use maths.When teaching children with SpLDs, it is incredibly important to be patient with them. Repeat points as many times as it necessary for them to fully understand, changing the approach each time to keep the student engaged.Since SpLDs make organisation difficult, it can be invaluable for teachers and parents to put mechanisms in place to give structure to learning such as:A colour-coded system to differentiate between math conceptsSticking to a routineUsing a learning diary alongside exercise books (to keep all work in one place)There are plenty of other tricks you can use such as colours, progress charts, checklists and recaps of the math lessons before.Good organisation can mean the difference between grades when it comes to children with SpLDs. With a routine and clear goals, the learner feels more in-control and the stress which causes mental blocks is removed.Are Boys Better at Learning Maths than Girls?Let's finish by discussing a rather sensitive subject: is there a difference between boys and girls when it comes to mathematics?Even at this age, is there a battle of the sexes? ¦ source: Pixabay - BessiSome studies have revealed statistical tendencies:In France, of a class of 14-15 year olds, 82% of female students have a high level of French compared to just 68% of male pupilsIn maths, this figure is 87% for boys and 86.8% for girlsOf 7 million students across 10 US states at the ages of 7, 10 and 18 years old, there was no difference in the performance between gendersSo where does the myth that men are better at maths come from?Maybe it's down to the preferences of the students. Perhaps girls tend to prefer subjects such as literature, nursing, and psychology, whereas there are more boys in maths, science and economics classes.The explanation could equally be down to the pupil's upbringing and social practives. Very early on, boys may be encouraged to play construction games as girls are given dolls houses.So even though seats in maths lecture halls are predominantly filled by men, this does not mean that they are more capable than women, but that women are less likely to choose to study scientific and mathematical subjects.What will be the next major mathematical innovation? What new mathematical revelation will overturn our current conceptions of life as know it?Superprof remains on standby, and will be the first to let you know! Find a tutor for  maths revision GCSE.

Studying Economics At University

Studying Economics At University Is It Worthwhile Taking A Degree In Economics? ChaptersAre Economics Degrees Useful / In Demand?Best Universities For Economics In The UKCan you Study Economics Without Maths?The Fight For Diversity In Economics TeachingApplying to university can be a very stressful time in life â€" there are so many choices to make when it comes to deciding which university, and which degree course, is right for you.Thankfully, for A-Level students looking to launch their career as an economist and study economics at university, there are a few hints and tips below about how to apply for an economics undergraduate degree.Economics graduates are usually highly numerate and great problem-solvers; andEconomics graduates have great analytical skills and can interpret economic data,  which employers highly value.With this in mind, you should feel confident when applying for an economics degree.Indeed, studies have shown that upon completion of an economics degree, on average  economics graduates tend to earn more five years after leaving university t han graduates of other subjects, including social science disciplines, such as history and psychology.Although such studies are not a sure-fire indication that studying for an economics degree will land you a high paying job, it’s reassuring to know that economics graduates do appear to be highly valued in today’s workforce, and generally are able to find employment within a profession of their choosing.Of course, the joy of studying at a U.K. university is that, often, the degree course you take doesn’t dictate what kind of career you have to have after university. This means that most job options (besides highly trained professions, such as medicine, veterinary science, and architecture) should remain an option for you with an economics degree.This means that if you wish to land a career or internship in areas such as:Accountancy;Banking;Consulting; orFinancial advisoryA graduate degree in economics can help you secure these jobs.However, even if you decide part way through your course that your heart is set on a career in journalism or marketing, you are still free to pursue that career with your economics degree, along with thousands of other economics undergraduates that pursue such career paths each year.This means that an economics degree does not limit you to roles purely in finance or accounting, which can be a relief for some.You might find it helpful to check in with a careers advisor when you reach your second or third year of university, as they may be able to point you towards elective modules that could be relevant for your future career.A degree in economics can open up so many career opportunities. (Source: CC0 1.0, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay)Best Universities For Economics In The UKThe U.K. is a fantastic place to go to university, as there are so many quality institutions that deliver world-class education and research, and give students a solid founding in economic principles, microeconomic theory, and econometric theory.As a result , students applying for a place on an economics undergraduate degree are spoilt for choice in terms of where to apply.If you’re looking to study economics at one of the U.K.’s top universities, then there are a number of institutions you can choose from.For instance, you may wish to apply to either Oxford or Cambridge University to study economics. Both universities deliver their economics courses in slightly different ways, as:Oxford integrates economics study into wider courses, such as Philosophy, Politics and Economics; andCambridge offers economics as a sole subject.As such, it’s important to think about whether you’d like to study economics on its own, or whether you'd prefer to study economic theory as part of a combined degree before you apply to a university.If Oxbridge isn’t for you, then there are other universities you can apply to. University College London and the London School of Economics offer world-renowned economics degrees that are equally competitive t o get into.If you do decide to apply for a place at one of these universities, or any of the other top-tier universities in the U.K. to study economics, then you should make sure that you’re on track to get the required grades during your A-Level results in order to meet your preferred university’s entry requirements.Given how competitive places onto such courses can be, it’s worthwhile seeing whether there are other ways to help boost your academic performance, especially if you’ve found yourself struggling in one or more of your A-Level subjects, or have found particular pieces of coursework challenging.Tutoring websites, such as Superprof, have a range of tutors that can provide assistance across a range of subject areas, whether that’s:Mathematics and Further Mathematics;History;Government and Politics; andEconomics.If you let your tutor know in advance what subject areas you most need help with, they can make sure to tailor your tutoring sessions to help you boost you r results, and give you more confidence in your understanding of economic principles before you head into your final exams.Oxford University recently topped a university economics league table. (Source: CC0 1.0, MichaelDBeckwith, Pixabay)Can you Study Economics Without Maths?Before applying for an undergraduate place at university to study economics, it is worthwhile taking the time to research your preferred courses so that you know what kind of business and economics topics you’ll be taught during your three or four years at university.This is especially important if:You didn’t study maths at A-Level; orIf you’re not confident in your maths ability and don’t want to take a maths-focussed economics course.This is because there are a lot of economics courses that will require students to have maths and in some cases further maths, at A-Level. For example, due to the course’s focus on mathematics and statistics, the economics course at the University College London requires applicants to have a maths A-Level.One way of gauging whether a degree course is likely to be maths-heavy is the kind of degree that you will take away with you upon graduation. Generally speaking, undergraduate economics degrees that award a BA will be less maths-focused, while BSc courses will have more mathematical modules and emphasis.This isn’t a hard and fast rule though, so make sure to look at each university’s prospectus to see the kind of modules on offer throughout the degree.Although it is possible to study economics at university without having a maths A-Level, this doesn’t mean that your economics course will be completely devoid of maths.In fact, as maths is the cornerstone of many economic theories and pieces of economic analysis, you will come into contact with maths at some point, for example, in your micro- or macroeconomics modules, or in any quantitative analysis modules your course offers.If you know you’re going to go to a university that has a focus on maths, then you might want to prepare yourself before going to university by enlisting the help of an economics or maths tutor, to get you up to speed with the key numerical skills you should need for your first year at university.Superprof has a range of economics and maths tutors to select from, who can be filtered based on factors such as location, and how lessons are delivered (e.g. online, in private, or in small groups).A BSc economics degree can often have a focus on maths and statistics. (Source: CC0 1.0, Averater, Wikimedia Commons)The Fight For Diversity In Economics TeachingWhen researching different economics courses, you may notice that most universities have quite a few modules in common.More often than not, during an economics undergraduate degree, you will study subjects such as:Macroeconomics;Microeconomics; andEconometrics.Although these courses will be taught in their own particular way at each university, based on each lecturer’s experience and research expe rtise, economics graduates usually leave university with a solid understanding of these core areas of economics.However, over the past few years, there has been a growing movement at the student level to try and get universities to make their undergraduate economics courses broader in scope.Societies, such as the University of Manchester’s Post-Crash Economics Society, have argued that the teaching of the subject by any  economics teacher throughout the U.K. is almost homogenous and has too great a focus on the neoclassical school of economic thought, to the detriment of other areas, whether that be post-Keynesian economics or Marxist economics.They also argue that there should be more focus on economic history, as sometimes graduates run the risk of completing degrees without having studied in any great depth topics such as:The causes of the 2008 financial crisis;The Industrial Revolution;The collapse of the Bretton Woods system; andThe Great Depression.Although these areas may b e given more prominence during undergraduate economics courses in the years to come, it’s unclear whether any change is scheduled within the immediate future.As such, if you would be interested in learning more about economic history during your time at university, or would like to know about different schools of economic thought and their development, it may be worthwhile paying extra close attention to the modules on offer at universities’, to see which modules most align with your interests.You could also hire an economics tutor to help guide you through these areas, through sites such as Superprof. The choice is yours!

Produce Error Free Draft English Writing Online Tutorpace

Produce Error Free Draft English Writing Online Tutorpace Errors in a draft confuse the readers and the intended meaning does not get conveyed. Errors usually undermine the authority of the writer too. Hence it is essential to have drafts free from errors. The common errors that occur in a draft could be classified into grammar and punctuation. The most common grammar error to look for is the subject-verb agreement. Not only the subject and verb must agree in number but the subject and the pronoun should also agree. For example: Everyone was asked to bring his or her contribution. In this sentence, the subject everyone is singular but the verb are is a plural verb. Therefore it should be Everyone was asked to bring. Since everyone is singular, the pronoun their is wrong. Therefore, the correct sentence should be, Everyone was asked to bring his/her contribution. Further more, the writers should watch out for shift in tense and compound subjects while writing. However, there are ways and means of producing error free drafts. First of all if the writers use a computer, they could use the spelling and grammar checking in the system itself. In addition, the writers could read aloud to listen and recognize the mistakes if any. They could also avail of the help of their friends to go through the essay in order to find any errors that they have missed in their draft.

Quem disse que burro velho não aprende línguas

Quem disse que burro velho não aprende línguas Image courtesy of Juan Gnecco / FreeDigitalPhotos.netHá um ditado popular que diz que burro velho não aprende línguas, dando a entender que, a partir de uma certa idade, deixamos de conseguir assimilar novos conhecimentos. Contudo, é possível notar que cada vez mais surgem cursos voltados para aqueles que se encontram na terceira idade. Possivelmente porque estímulos mentais contínuos permitem uma menor degradação das funções cognitivas, mas também porque, hoje em dia, entrar na terceira idade não é o fim do mundo. Aliás, para muitos, é o início da fase da vida na qual, finalmente, irão viajar e conhecer o mundo.Um estudo publicado na  Neurology ®  revela que idosos que tenham um bom nível de instrução, que se exercitem uma vez por semana e não fumem têm mais probabilidade de manter a saúde das suas funções cognitivas. Tal como manter o corpo em atividade permite que este e o cérebro beneficiem, manter a mente trabalhando também é necessário para garanti r uma maior qualidade de vida. Daí que cada vez mais idosos procurem atividades que estimulem o cérebro, como é o caso de cursos de idiomas.Se prestarmos atenção às publicidades de cursinhos de Inglês tradicionais, podemos verificar que muitos são os que já abrem turmas para a galera nessa faixa etária. Essa é uma tentativa válida de fazer com que mais pessoas se interessem por aprender uma língua estrangeira, sem se sentirem desconfortáveis com os olhares curiosos dos mais novos. No entanto, em uma era na qual os idosos aprendem a navegar na internet tão facilmente como as crianças, um bom número de pessoas prefere aulas online. Dessa forma, não precisam se adequar ao ritmo de uma turma, mesmo que essa turma seja de pessoas de idades semelhantes à sua.Por isso, ter aulas online pode ser bastante benéfico para aqueles que estão na melhor idade, pelo fato de as aulas serem preparadas de acordo com o objetivo de cada aluno, o que permite que a pessoa foque nos pon tos que acredita serem mais importantes para o que pretende fazer, como viajar, por exemplo.

Learning Chinese on italki Ken

Learning Chinese on italki Ken Here is another story of an italki member learning a foreign language with a teacher online.   Ken is from Osaka, Japan and spends a lot of time traveling for work, therefore he needs a flexible arrangement for learning Chinese. [Translated from Japanese, original is below.] I joined italki almost 2 years ago. I started online lessons at the beginning of this year. In Japan the fee of the language lesson is extremely expensive, and it is easy to forget everything if you have only one lesson a week, so I chose italki where I can learn everyday with local teachers.   I initially did the trial lesson with several teachers. Now I study with only one teacher. [I chose this teacher because] she is very kind when she teaches and she also generously spares her time, even very early in the morning. [I started learning Chinese because] I wanted to talk more with my Chinese friends.   I feel that I progress day by day. Taking lessons everyday makes it easier to review the contents of the previous lesson and remember things more clearly. [As for learning online,] recently, Skype has been working well, so theres no such a big problem if you use it with video. Im kind of an idle fellow, so it offers better condition to study continuously rather than to study by myself.   Im hoping italki will continue to make a user friendly system,   and I expect them to succeed! Original Japanese italki?????2????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???Skype??????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? If you’d like to share your italki story on our blog, please contact us! Learning Chinese on italki Ken Here is another story of an italki member learning a foreign language with a teacher online.   Ken is from Osaka, Japan and spends a lot of time traveling for work, therefore he needs a flexible arrangement for learning Chinese. [Translated from Japanese, original is below.] I joined italki almost 2 years ago. I started online lessons at the beginning of this year. In Japan the fee of the language lesson is extremely expensive, and it is easy to forget everything if you have only one lesson a week, so I chose italki where I can learn everyday with local teachers.   I initially did the trial lesson with several teachers. Now I study with only one teacher. [I chose this teacher because] she is very kind when she teaches and she also generously spares her time, even very early in the morning. [I started learning Chinese because] I wanted to talk more with my Chinese friends.   I feel that I progress day by day. Taking lessons everyday makes it easier to review the contents of the previous lesson and remember things more clearly. [As for learning online,] recently, Skype has been working well, so theres no such a big problem if you use it with video. Im kind of an idle fellow, so it offers better condition to study continuously rather than to study by myself.   Im hoping italki will continue to make a user friendly system,   and I expect them to succeed! Original Japanese italki?????2????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???Skype??????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? If you’d like to share your italki story on our blog, please contact us! Learning Chinese on italki Ken Here is another story of an italki member learning a foreign language with a teacher online.   Ken is from Osaka, Japan and spends a lot of time traveling for work, therefore he needs a flexible arrangement for learning Chinese. [Translated from Japanese, original is below.] I joined italki almost 2 years ago. I started online lessons at the beginning of this year. In Japan the fee of the language lesson is extremely expensive, and it is easy to forget everything if you have only one lesson a week, so I chose italki where I can learn everyday with local teachers.   I initially did the trial lesson with several teachers. Now I study with only one teacher. [I chose this teacher because] she is very kind when she teaches and she also generously spares her time, even very early in the morning. [I started learning Chinese because] I wanted to talk more with my Chinese friends.   I feel that I progress day by day. Taking lessons everyday makes it easier to review the contents of the previous lesson and remember things more clearly. [As for learning online,] recently, Skype has been working well, so theres no such a big problem if you use it with video. Im kind of an idle fellow, so it offers better condition to study continuously rather than to study by myself.   Im hoping italki will continue to make a user friendly system,   and I expect them to succeed! Original Japanese italki?????2????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???Skype??????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? If you’d like to share your italki story on our blog, please contact us!

Do you Celebrate National Burger Day

Do you Celebrate National Burger Day Imagine a just-baked bun, a divine flavor of beef-patties, a crispy fresh leaf of lettuce, juicy tomatoes and a tenderly spicy sauce. Dont be afraid to confess that your mouths watering right now, because today is National Burger Day and you may allow yourself to eat this wonderful piece of art created by human! The history of origin of hamburger is now convoluted. Some say, that it originated from the German city Hamburg, the others believe that it takes origin from  Hamburg, NY (1880s), when two brothers, who sold sandwiches,  were out of sausages, and used beef patties  instead and thus invented an unforgettable recipe of burgers. Also Hamburger Charlie is known in  history of USA. In 1885 in Seymour, Wisconsin American Charlie sold meatballs at the fair, but people didnt want to buy it, because it was not convenient to eat them with bear hands. So, inventive Charlie started to put his meatballs between two slices of bread and people liked it. In such a way, a beautiful bun with meat  was born and Great Charlie gave it name Hamburger! But who was the first who created a  burger? Nobody knows for sure On contrary, people know exact days and places where the biggest burger was baked and the most expensive hamburger is sold! To put it in a nutshell, a gigantic hamburger was cooked in 2012 at  Black Bear Casino Resort in Minnesota. It was the hugest hamburger ever made and it went to Guinness World Records. Its weight was  2,014 pounds and the bun was baking during 4  hours in specially built oven. It was so big that the crane was used to flip it! An enormous burger was diced and served to the guests,  who  said that it was really delicious. Well, it still boggles my mind how cooks could manage to do it! And as promised, the most expensive burger also exists! Actually, there are two of them. So, ladies and gentlemen, the first one is Fleur Burger, which is served in Fleur Restaurant in Las Vegas. They want $5000 for their enormous beefburger! And whats more, the cost of the burger is only $70. The secret is in the  bottle of wine that goes with it. They say that it really complements the taste of the burger. The highest number  of Fleur Burgers, that reach humans mouth each year is 6 which is not many. And the second biggest yummy burger you can buy also for  $5000 at Juicys in Corvallis, OR. It weighs 777 pounds. Do they cook it  for elephant? Anyway, Im sure these guys know how to grill meat and make savory toppings! I dont how you feel right now, but I cant help  dashing to the kitchen and cooking fantastic holiday burgers for me and my family! Feel free to contact our Cooking tutors  to learn how to make a healthy burger or burgers with funky fillings! And, probably, our History experts  know more versions of origin of hamburgers! Hurry to learn!  Happy National Burger Day!