Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Engage An Online Tutor To Use The PQRST Technique And Learn Better

Engage An Online Tutor To Use The PQRST Technique And Learn Better Traditional learning methods aren’t as effective today as they once used to be. There are very many factors for this such as stress of present day education, competition, hectic schedules and students being involved in a variety of activities (extra and co-curricular). Thus, learning techniques too need to evolve as per today’s standards and quite a few modern learning techniques have proven to be effective. One amongst them is the PQRST technique which simply means Preview, Question, Read, Self-Recitation and Test. Many an online tutor is known to employ this technique and teach their students to use it to score better grades. Read on to learn all you need to know about the PQRST technique. Preview/Skim through the contents of the chapter at hand It is always better to skim through the contents of the topic beforehand so as to get an overall idea of what is to come. In this phase, students are advised to check out the title of the chapter, introduction, read the sub headings and glance through illustrations and pictures and finally read the conclusion or summary. This will serve to give them an idea of the topic to be studied or discussed in class and students must surely do this exercise before attending online classes. Question â€" get thinking about what you are about to learn Putting up simple questions as to what the chapter might entail and what are the things one could possibly learn from it will help getting the brain into the learning mode and get it to think about the topic under scrutiny. Not only does this wire the brain into the concept, it also helps students get into the learning mode. It is imperative that students do this exercise when they are learning a topic or when they are about to do homework in it. Before seeking homework help online, this exercise will help them get better thought clarity and thus help them learn better. Read as many times as you can to grasp the topic better Reading the given chapter a couple of times can help in clarifying doubts and also get a better idea of the entire picture. It is usually advised to pace reading as per convenience levels and go through the content twice or thrice for better understanding. Taking notes is yet another good idea that has worked through centuries and is a time tested method of learning. Summarize what you’ve learnt Self reciting and summarizing what has been learnt helps students put their understanding of the topic in their own words and more often than not, this helps them get a clearer picture while also helping them identify areas that are still unclear. Once they identify the problem areas, they can seek help online for it. For instance, when a student embarks on an assignment, it is better that he/she works till PQRS of this technique and then seek online assignment help. This way, they can identify doubts and get them cleared by the tutor while also getting tips about how to go about the assignment and so on. Test your learning There are a variety of tests available in textbooks, online platforms and so on to help students test their knowledge of the topic in question. Students can even ask their online tutors to set tests to estimate their learning in the subject and evaluate them. This helps students perform better in exams and thus bag great grades! PQRST One Of The Most Effective Study Methods For Achieving Academic Goals https://t.co/4JhHNtS7I4 via @tutorpace â€" Tutor Pace (@TutorPace) October 26, 2015 Summary Thus, employing modern learning techniques such as PQRST is an effective means to study and score better. The PQRST technique has been proven to be very successful and is being employed across the world to enable students to get top grades. Any student who employs this technique is sure to get straight ‘A’s in tests.

Friday, March 6, 2020

When is The Commute No Longer Worth It - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / When is The Commute No Longer Worth It - Introvert Whisperer When is The Commute No Longer Worth It? For most of us, work is a necessity, not a choice. And sometimes finding work means journeying outside the boundaries of our hometowns or cities. The average American commutes about 30 minutes each way to work everyday. And in certain high cost cities, this commute is often much longer for low-wage workers. So, when it comes to commutes, how can you determine the point of diminishing returns? Here are some things to consider when evaluating your commute.   Expense Sure, you have to go to work to make money. But how much of your income is spent on your daily commute? If the cost of your daily commute consumes too much of your take-home pay, it might be time to look for a job closer to home. When considering expense, take into account the wear-and-tear on your vehicle as additional meal costs associated with long hours away from home. Poor Health Is your health suffering from extended periods spent in cars, trains, or busses? Are you struggling to maintain a healthy weight and healthy habits because of the strain of your commute? This might be a sign that your commute is no longer worth it. This is especially true if your commute cuts into your sleep time. The detriments of sleep deprivation are health and productivity are well-known. If your daily commute forces you doesn’t give you enough time to exercise regularly and forces you to frequently eat unhealthy fast food, it might be time for a change. Time If your daily commute cuts significantly into the time you should be spending on maintaining a healthy home life, you might want to reconsider. A long commute can prevent you from attending your kids’ games and recitals, spending quality time with your spouse, or getting the education you need to advance in your career. Career Advancement The truth is, sometimes our dream jobs present less-than-ideal situations, and we roll with it hoping to reap long-term benefits. If this is your situation, then your commute may be worth it. However, if   your position offers no real opportunity for upward movement or career advancement, you might want to reconsider. You should evaluate the merits of your job and the opportunities it provides you. If you can’t see yourself progressing in a meaningful way over the next few years, it may be time to find a new position. Especially, if you can find a closely-related position closer to home. Author Bio: Jordan Perez is a human resource expert at ResumePundits.com with over 10 years experience helping HR managers and employees create better work relations. She’s also an avid freelance writer who has been published in online magazines and corporate websites. When she’s not engaged in HR developments, she loves hitting the road to see new places and spending time with her two daughters. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Purchase the Perfect Beginner Guitar With These Easy Steps

Purchase the Perfect Beginner Guitar With These Easy Steps Suzy S. These days, country music is much more than just grabbing a guitar and singing about losing your job, wife and dog.   Just ask the wildly popular Lady Antebellum who picked up 5 awards at the 2011 Grammy Awards or the growing list of stars who started out in one genre and have since tried their hand at country Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow and Bon Jovi, just to name a few. If you aim to be a country star someday, youll need a good guitar by your side.   Clueless about picking out a guitar?   Dont worry these tips from Creative Guitar Studio are a great starting point: 1. Decide what you want: Decide what you want first. Talk to musicians in your local music scene. Chat with your private guitar instructor, if youve already signed up for guitar lessons, and purchase a few guitar player magazines and look through them.   Get catalogs and company brochures, which are often available from your local music store. Read everything else you can find related to guitars that you are interested in. Search for all makes and models and read what people are saying in online discussion forums and threads. Learn and read everything that you can so you can make a decision you’ll truly be happy about in the long run. 2. Acoustic or Electric?: An acoustic guitar is probably the way to go for the beginner student on a budget. There are no amplifiers or patch cords to buy   just take it out and play! Also, if you aren’t sure about your long term interest for the months and years of practice ahead, an acoustic can be far more cost saving and sometimes less of a hassle to sell second-hand in the event that you give up on your interest. Electric guitars are more expensive since they require amplification; a good guitar practice amp can cost around two hundred dollars or more. If you can afford it, however, they do offer a little more room for sound experimentation since their signal can be run through relatively inexpensive sound processors. Another plus to electric guitars is the fact that they do have lower action and are somewhat easier to play than the acoustics. The nylon string acoustics make for excellent beginner models they are easy to play and quite inexpensive. 3. Go for a test drive: When you go looking at guitars, don’t just look! Grab each one, hold it and examine the shape of the neck. The width and shape should accommodate the size of your hand. It should feel comfortable.   If you have smaller hands perhaps a smaller neck would work better for you (see also: Practice Tips: Exercises and Guitars for Small Hands). Keep in mind that you will be holding this instrument for hours and hours practicing each week. It should feel comfortable. Check for the following things: 1.) Action How easy the strings are to depress? 2). Intonation Is the guitar in tune with itself. (Play chords up the neck to check)? 3). Fret edges Are they clean and smooth, or sharp and poorly machined from the factory? 4. Pay attention to how it sounds: The simplest way to define music is the interaction of sound and silence. When checking out an instrument you want to purchase, who cares about the silence part! Just play it! Strum it, pick it, play those strings. Play it in different parts of the store. If you do not play well, take a friend who does and get them to play the guitars that interest you. Keep in mind accessories you may want to purchase, as well: guitar strap (especially handy for beginners), spare strings, electronic tuner, guitar stand and extra picks.   Oh and dont forget the cowboy boots, if youre so inclined. Once you have the perfect guitar, dont forget to find the perfect guitar instructor to help you get off on the right foot.   Click here to search for guitar lessons near you! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher You might also like Learn to Play 20 Songs Using 5 Easy Guitar Chords 5 Common Mistakes of Beginner Guitarists Watch Now: How to Play Pumped Up Kicks

Thursday, March 5, 2020

11 Free ( Fun!) Resources for Teaching Spanish to Kids

11 Free ( Fun!) Resources for Teaching Spanish to Kids Suzy S. Are you a parent interested in teaching Spanish to your kids? Youve made a big but fantastic decision! Studies have shown the benefits of being bilingual in todays society; not only will you be making an impact on your childs communication skills and cognitive abilities, raising your child bilingual will help set him or her up for  success later on in life. Teaching Spanish to kids is easy if you speak the language yourself, but where do you start if you dont already speak it? Its a wonderful opportunity to learn Spanish at the same time as your kids (benefiting you both), but youll need to find the right resources to do so. And if youre on a budget? You might think it will be even harder after all,  Spanish-learning software can be expensive and weekly tutoring lessons might be too much of a commitment if youre not sure youll stick with it. Luckily, thanks to the Internet, its never been easier to teach a new language to your kids and yourself at the same time. To get a jump on bilingualism, hone your language skills with the following helpful resources. Spanish Learning Apps There are so many  apps to learn Spanish available these days and many of them are completely free. These apps can provide a great introduction to the language, and many of them have games that are fun for kids and adults alike. Here are some of our favorites: Duolingo Learn Spanish by MindSnacks Memrise Learn Spanish for Kids Bilingual Child Wikibooks If you dont have the money for Spanish textbooks, phrase books, and flashcards, dont worry. All of the same instructional benefits are available for free from Wikibooks, an open-source Wikimedia project designed to extend educational material to anyone willing to learn it. The websites Spanish section starts off with basic conversation and grammar lessons, which gradually increase in complexity over time. Spend an hour a day on Wikibooks lessons and you and your child will master basic Spanish conversations in no time. Spanish Learning Websites There are tons of fantastic websites that offer easy-to-follow lessons on vocabulary, grammar, and more. We love FluentU;  with your free account, youll get limited access to Spanish videos and clips, along with subtitles to help you learn how vocabulary and phrases come together in real-world contexts. Paid accounts for unlimited watching and listening start at $8/month. SpanishDict is another great website for teaching Spanish to kids, with more of a focus on vocabulary and grammar. The interactive flashcards make it fun to learn the words for  colors, clothing, numbers, and more! Finally, Spanish Playground is fantastic for kids who want a variety of activities here you can find ideas for games and crafts,  plus printable worksheets, videos, jokes, and much more! Online Spanish Learning Games After  youve done some studying, its time to take a break and play some games! Educational games and activities are wonderful for  reiterating and reviewing what youve learned. An awesome website to bookmark  is  Digital Dialects,  which is full of fun, easy-to-play games that teach Spanish grammar, vocabulary, and conversation skills. The games cover a wide range of topics, including greetings, colors, numbers, foods, units of time, animals, and clothing. The website also offers vocab lists and conjugation breakdowns to help children without prior Spanish experience. For a fun activity, hold contests with your kids to see who can win the most games. The more fun you have, the less of a chore studying will be and the quicker youll pick up the language! ¡Hola Viajeros! When  youve gotten the hang of reading Spanish, its time to start learning how to recognize the spoken language. ¡Hola Viajeros! provides a series of free audiobooks in slow Spanish along with transcripts. By listening to the audio while reading the transcripts, you and your children will quickly learn Spanish pronunciations, inflections, and other nuances. Best of all, these audiobooks are mostly devoted to describing Spanish-speaking countries, customs, and books, allowing you to learn about Spanish-speaking cultures as you learn the language. YouTube Once youve listened to all of ¡Hola Viajeros!s audiobooks, its time to move on to faster-paced Spanish audio. YouTube is great for this, providing a wide range of music videos, TV shows, and movies from Spanish-speaking countries. By watching YouTube videos in Spanish, youll get a sense of how the language is spoken in practice. You can also find a  ton of fun, silly  songs for teaching Spanish  that kids love! Another great idea is to find songs from the Spanish-language versions of Disney musicals. Your kids likely know the English lyrics to many of these songs by heart, so theyll already understand the gist of what the characters are singing about; this will make it easier to break down the meanings of the Spanish lyrics. As an example, heres the Spanish version of Let it Go from Frozen: Once your kids can understand Spanish-language Disney songs without too much trouble, move on to watching films, TV shows, and vloggers. You should have no trouble finding age-appropriate videos for teaching Spanish to kids. So Now What? When you are ready to  invest in your or your childs language mastery, make sure youre spending your money wisely by hiring a qualified  Spanish tutor!  As effective as these resources can be, theres no substitute for working one-on-one with a teacher who can  cater lessons to your specific learning style, and catch pronunciation mistakes that you might be overlooking. After all, these apps and website are all missing one crucial element: actual communication with other Spanish speakers! If youre serious about guiding your child toward bilingualism or securing your own fluency a tutor will help you get there. The money you spend on Spanish lessons is well worth the cost, as most experienced polyglots agree. And in between your lessons? Take advantage of all these free resources for teaching Spanish to kids, and everybody wins thats what theyre there for! Ready to get started? Search for a tutor here! Bonus:   Learn about other budget-friendly options for learning Spanish! Photo by  Jessica Lucia Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Teaching Mindfulness to Students

Teaching Mindfulness to Students Todays students live busy lives, and the hectic pace and many demands can often create stress. Teach your students to be more mindful, which will help them feel calmer, more grounded, and more attentive. Huntington offers a few tips for embracing mindfulness that you can share with your students: Focus on yourself. A big part of mindfulness is bringing awareness to your actions, like your breath, movements, and reactions. One thought at a time. We all have a lot to think about. Its important to declutter the mind periodically, observing every moment and staying in those moments while they are happening. Pause and look around. Mindfulness is also about paying attention to whats around you: sounds, sights, smells, and other people. Train the mind to stay with and commit to each thought, even if briefly. Acknowledge the past, but dont dwell. Past experiences and difficulties offer the opportunity to learn and grow, but they shouldnt interfere with our forward momentum in life. Teach the mind to recognize things as they occur, but accept what cannot be changed. Focus on the present. Mindfulness has many benefits, from decreased stress to increased information processing speed, from better focus to improved communication. Encourage your students to adopt some of these practices and watch them become stronger, more effective students.

Learn English Second Conditionals with Help From Katie Melua

Learn English Second Conditionals with Help From Katie Melua One of the more difficult parts of English to learn are the conditionals. They test several areas of knowledge for students. Here is a basic guide to help you with them, and a Katie Melua song to help you remember.We use second conditionals (also called conditional type 2) to talk about unreal situations in the past or future. Some examples are:If I were you (I am not you and so this impossible).If I won the lottery (I have no ticket so this is impossible).The second conditional has two parts: an if clause and a main clause.When the if clause comes first, a comma is used. For example:If I won 20 million dollars, I would buy a private island.If I were you, I would go to Australia on holidays.However, when the if clause does not comes first, there is no need for a comma. For example:I would buy an island if I won 20 million dollars.I would go to Australia on holidays if I were you.Note that wherever they are placed in the sentence the structure of the clauses are always the same:If cla use = if + subject + simple past verb.Main clause = subject + would + verb.Katie Melua uses many second conditionals in  the lyrics for her song If I Were a Sailboat. Here are the lyrics below. Lets read them and answer the following questions:How many  different examples of second conditionals can you find in the lyrics?Why do you think the situations  she lists can be considered  for the  second conditional tense?Here is the video for If You Were a Sailboat. Below youll find the lyrics.Katie Melua If You Were A Sailboat Katie MeluaIf you were a cowboy I would trail you, If you were a piece of wood I’d nail you to the floor. If you were a sailboat I would sail you to the shore. If you were a river I would swim you, If you were a house I would live in you all my days. If you were a preacher I’d begin to change my ways.Sometimes I believe in fate, But the chances we create, Always seem to ring more true. You took a chance on loving me, I took a chance on loving you.If I was in j ail I know you’d spring me, If I was a telephone you’d ring me all day long. If I was in pain I know you’d sing me soothing songs.Sometimes I believe in fate, But the chances we create, Always seem to ring more true. You took a chance on loving me, I took a chance on loving you.If I was hungry you would feed me, If I was in darkness you would lead me to the light. If I was a book I know you’d read me every night.If you were a cowboy I would trail you, If you were a piece of wood I’d nail you to the floor. If you were sailboat I would sail you to the shore.If you were sailboat I would sail you to the shore.If you were sailboat I would sail you to the shore.Did you find this blog helpful? Feel free to share it on Facebook and Twitter.

Best Study Snacks to Get Delivered

Best Study Snacks to Get Delivered via Pixabay While it is okay to grab a bag of chips every now and then, it is not always the best idea. Eating unhealthily will catch up with you faster than you think and could be the difference between making good grades and graduating on time. If you feel sluggish during the day and just want a snack to keep you energized or even awake during classes, take a little time to consider the other choices around you. Many snacks are available to you through your college’s cafeteria or meal programs, and of course, through your local grocery store and Amazon.com. Caffeine fueling, late-night pizza runs or snacking, and orders for take-out are typically the orders of the day for college students. But, here are some healthy foods and snacks that you can afford to stock up on on a college shoestring budget for the next time you’re pressed for time and need to eat something fast: Vegetables Yes, vegetables can be a snack and a very good one. Cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, and a host of other veggies can be a great way to ensure you get a consistent dose of energizing nutrients that go both to your stomach and to your brain. Crunchy vegetables can also be dipped in hummus, stuffed into pita bread, served with meat, or eaten by themselves. Hummus Speaking of vegetables, many people like to eat hummus. [Personally, I do not eat hummus as I can't take the taste or the smell]. But if you are a hummus eater, it is a nice way to get some good protein. You can make your own for a rather reasonable price or you can buy a ready-made container for also a very reasonable price, less than $5 in most cases. Pretzels / Crackers These are my personal favorites. Consider the ones with whole wheat in them over the ones made with white flour and other stuff. Whole wheat is healthier for you as it is much higher in vitamin B6, vitamin E, fiber, and magnesium, among other things. Even with this, you can use hummus or peanut butter if you so desire. Dark Chocolate Another one of my personal favorites. Since dark chocolate can be addictive, be sure to apply the “all things in moderation” rule with this one. Dark chocolate offers stimulation for the brain and the heart. It is also filled with antioxidants and a good number of vitamins and minerals including iron, potassium, and magnesium which is used to prevent heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. Fruits You can always get individual fruits like apples which are filled with fiber and potassium and oranges that are dripping with vitamin C. Blueberries are another fruit that you can eat individually and it helps to prevent loss of memory and increase learning capacity. However, if you want a wide range of vitamins and minerals injected into your system that also tastes somewhat sweet, try a fruit salad. You can buy these ready-made, of course, or you can buy the individual fruits that you like, cut them up, put them in individual containers, and freeze them until you’re ready to use. via Pixabay Nuts Peanuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts. There is basically a nut for every single person. Nuts can give you a quick jolt of energy and can be an excellent source of protein and fiber. Another bonus point for nuts is that they can actually be filling, keeping you feeling full for a longer period of time and not over-eating. Greek Yogurt In all honesty, while I have tried Greek yogurt before, I can’t stomach the taste and definitely not the smell. However, it offers double the amount of protein than regular yogurt and helps your body to produce energy. Additionally, yogurt produces probiotics (which is basically helpful bacteria that is necessary for your digestive system) and calcium. Trail Mix No. I am not talking about the kind mixed with a little bit of nuts, raisins, cranberries, and dried pineapple and a whole lot of chocolate bites, MMs, and salty pretzels. While this can be tempting and fog your brain as to how many nutrients you’re actually getting, the healthiest option is to go for the ones that contain dried fruits and nuts. Additionally, trail mix can be addictive, so portion control is a must. You can find any of these snacks at your local grocery store. But you can also order them in bulk from Amazon, Wal-Mart, Target, Boxed, Uber Eats, and GrubHub. Happy snacking!

How to Conquer the 4 Top Foreign-language Speaking Fears

How to Conquer the 4 Top Foreign-language Speaking Fears How to Conquer the 4 Top Foreign-language Speaking Fears Arachnophobia: The fear of spiders.Coulrophobia: The fear of clowns.Xenoglossophobia:  The fear of foreign languages.Okay. Well be the first to admit that foreign languages arent half as horrifying as a massive spider or an angry clown (or a tiny spider and happy clown for that matter).Yet when it comes to using a foreign language, even many well-educated speakers get sweaty palms, an upset stomach and the urge to find the nearest hiding place.Even if youve studied your target language extensively, you may still be afraid to actually use it.And beyond just making you feel uncomfortable,  one study  suggests that apprehension can make you underestimate your language abilities.  Another study  takes it a step further, suggesting language anxiety can actually affect your skills in your second language.Self-doubt and diminished skills are a high price to pay for a little nervousness, but you dont need to sacrifice any of the  benefits of learning a foreign language  just yet.With the rig ht approach to foreign language anxiety, you can decrease your fear and stay on track with your language skills. You just need to be aware of what youre afraid of in order to address your fears.Heres all you need to know about the most common language fears and how to address them. Why Is It Important to Understand and Face Your Fear of Speaking a Foreign Language?The nature of foreign language anxiety can vary between cultures and learners.  You cant just assume that what scares you is what scares everyone. Everyone has different fears.  One study  suggests that the nature of language anxiety could vary between cultures and even genders. Regardless, since every learner is different, it can be assumed that there will be some variations between stressors.You must identify barriers  in order to overcome them.One study  suggests that there are several possible psychological barriers to language comprehension. Issues like aphasia (difficulty understanding speech caused by brain damage ) and dyslexia can be more challenging to address, but language anxiety is one identified barrier that you can start working on overcoming right away.Facing and reducing your fear will help you get the language practice you need to improve.  One of the biggest paradoxes of language learning is that interacting in your target language can be stressful without practice. However, that same stress keeps many learners from practicing. If you never use your target language, you wont get all the  social benefits of learning a second language. Luckily, if you can reduce your stress, it will be much easier to get the language practice you need to continue improving, and the more you improve, the less stress youre likely to feel.How to Conquer the 4 Top Foreign-language Speaking FearsFear #1: What if I dont know enough words to make it through a conversation?Many learners fear that they wont know or understand enough words to interact in their target language. After all, how do you know when your skills are strong enough? Luckily, there are some simple tricks you can use to overcome this fear and be confident in your vocabulary.Build your functional vocabulary with authentic media.Once you have practice understanding words in context, you might find your fears about your vocabulary subsiding. Thats why its so valuable to build your functional vocabulary with authentic media. Not only does this help you learn more words, it also helps you understand them in native speech.One fun way to ease yourself into understanding native speech is with FluentU. FluentU features real-world videos, like news, music videos, movie trailers and more. However, with FluentUs unique system, each video is transformed into a powerful learning tool. Videos are captioned, and the captions are annotated, giving you easy access to any words definition, example sentences and an associated image. You can even enjoy quizzes that help you practice what you learned in a fun, interactive format.Another great option is to use YouTube. You can find a huge array of authentic materials just by searching in your target language, giving you plenty of tools to use to practice understanding vocabulary in context.Prepare to make the most out of the words you do know.When speaking another language, you probably dont need as many words as you think. You just need to make the most out of the words you do know.To practice this, practice thinking in your target language. Even if you dont have all the words you want, you can often find workarounds that still allow you to communicate what you want.Recognize the value of nonverbal communication.To quote the great Ursula from The Little Mermaid, Dont underestimate the importance of body language! For language learners, that couldnt be more important. If you dont have the vocabulary to communicate what you want, you might have the body language, facial expressions, hand gestures or drawing skills.Want to practice? Find a friend and try to communicat e with each other without using any words.Dont be afraid to use translators/dictionaries.  When in doubt, a good translator or dictionary can help you fill any gaps in your vocabulary, and theres no shame in using these to help you along. For instance, with Google Translate, you can enter in text or audio for speedy translation, so youll never need to worry about not knowing a word again.Fear #2: What if I feel shy and freeze up?Shyness can hold people back from interacting in their native languages, so it should come as no surprise that the same trait can hold people back in a foreign language. Here are some ways you can overcome your shyness and put yourself out there.Build up your confidence in an online chat room or message board.Chatting online through platforms like Reddit can be less intimidating than face-to-face interactions. You can post on message boards in your target language. For instance, there are subreddits that use predominantly Chinese,  French, German,  Spanish   or another language. Not only will posting in your target language give you practice, it can also help you build up your confidence to overcome your shyness.Pretend youre playing a role.Purposely not being yourself can make you less nervous. When speaking your target language, just create a character in your mind that youre playing. That character can be confident and outgoing. You might even give them a fun name for a little extra excitement.Find groups that are designed to help you meet people.When everyone is together in order to interact, it can take away some of the intimidation factor of trying to interact.  Services like  Meetup  can help you find groups that are getting together specifically to practice language skills. Hey, if everyone else is doing it, so can you!Build yourself up.  Theres no shame in talking yourself up, especially when youre reminding yourself how awesome you are. Positive self talk can go a long way in helping you overcome your shyness.You might go over nice things people have said to you, think about the strides youve made in your target language or even listen to a motivational song in your target language to pump yourself up.Fear #3: What if I embarrass myself?Its easy to come up with ways you might embarrass yourself when using your target language, and this fear can fester. However, with some preparation, youll be ready to push that fear of embarrassment to the back of your mind.Run through common scenarios ahead of time.People who fear embarrassment often have worry about all the ways a conversation could go wrong. One way to overcome that fear is to run through common scenarios. You can consider what someone might say and also consider your response.For instance, if you want to use your language skills at a restaurant, consider what the waiter might ask and how you might answer. You might even role play. If you dont have a friend who will do it with you, you could always play both roles yourself.This extra level of prepared ness can help reduce fear of embarrassment.Consider using a chatbot or virtual reality program for practice.  There are some chatbots and virtual reality programs specifically designed to simulate real conversations, allowing you to practice without fear of embarrassment. This will give you time to build up your confidence before you use your skills in real life.For instance, Mondly VR  is a virtual reality Android app that engages you in realistic conversations. Mondly apps also feature a chatbot to give you extra language practice.Fear #4: What if I accidentally offend someone?If you havent mastered your target language, you might fear that your imperfect communication could actually offend someone. However, as long as youre prepared to react to possible snafus, you can move past your fear of offending.Remember you can use your smile to your advantage.Even if you accidentally say something offensive, a smile can help show that you mean well. Most native speakers will be able to te ll that youre a non-native speaker and will cut you some slack if you seem pleasant.Learn how to apologize and admit you made a mistake.If things go poorly, you can always apologize.  Im sorry, Im confused can go a long way, so be sure to learn this phrase in your target language.Never fear! By identifying and addressing your language learning fears, you can continue your journey towards fluency confidently. As long as no spiders or clowns pop up along the way.