How to Make Charts in Excel

How to Make Charts in Excel Creating Graphs in the Microsoft Office Suite ChaptersWhich Graph Should You Create on Excel?Organising Data into a GraphCreating the Graph in ExcelChanging the Formatting of an Excel GraphExporting the Graph from ExcelWhat Are Excel Graphs For?“A good sketch is better than a long speech” - Napoleon BonaparteA picture is worth a thousand words... In the age of Instagram and Snapchat, visuals are important. A simple graph can explain the whole concept. That's why using Excel to create graphs can be very useful.However, while younger generations are masters of social media and using smartphones, some still have a few things to learn when it comes to the Microsoft Office suite. 19% of us according to CSA Research.In this article, we're going to have a look at which type of chart you should use to represent your data, how to organise data in a graph, how to change the formatting, and how to export your new chart into other programmes. 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Excel allows you to organise data and perform calculations on them.You can use graphs for everyday things. (Source: Goumbik)The programme is famous for being used to create spreadsheets, tables, and graphs. It’s quite a mathematical tool and its use is taught to schoolchildren.That said, if you don’t use it, you’ll quickly forget how to use it even though creating a chart in Excel is quite simple.Before you create a graph, you need to know which chart types are the best for displaying your data:Column chart: this is a graph with vertical bars allowing you to com pare sets of data. This is useful for comparing two values and seeing the difference between them on the vertical axis.Line Chart: The line graph uses straight or curved lines to show a trend or progression. Pie chart: This displays one series of data. If can show you proportions of data.Stacked chart: this puts series into columns on top of one another.Bubbles: this shows the relationships between several values.Bar chart: This is just like your column chart but with data expressed on the horizontal axis.Scatter graph: The scatter chart is a type of graph that plots each data point is plotted in a given position on the x-axis and y-axis.Histogram: This is a column chart that shows frequency data.You need to choose each graph in accordance with the type of data you’re presenting. Charts and graphs are only effective if they clearly display the information from your data table.Microsoft Excel has some powerful chart tools but if you use a bar graph to display Excel data that expres ses a change over time, people will think you're an amateur.Find out more about using logical operators in Excel.Organising Data into a GraphLike with spreadsheets, when you create a graph, you need to organise the data correctly so that the programme knows what you want to do.Graphs are supposed to make data clearer to read. (Source: PIX1861)Firstly, choose the type of data you want to be shown in your graph and give them a title in the first row of the spreadsheet.If your graph is going to show the number of members in a group, you could write “Volunteers” in B1 and “Paid Members” in C1.Column A will be used for time. You could write “1950” in A2 and “1960” in A3, etc. This will give your axes labels.Once you’ve got the groups set up, you can start putting the data into the columns. You don’t need to compare the two columns to one another. You might just choose one column and have a simpler graph.To create a pie chart, it’s even simpler. You can just provide one series of data and the programme will create the segments.For example:Paid Employees: 23Volunteers: 110Excel will work out the percentages for creating the graph. CalumDrama School Entrance Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToriSpanish Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors OliviaSchool support Teacher 5.00 (2) £21/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarkESOL (English) Teacher 4.76 (17) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JenniferMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouiseAutoCAD Teacher 5.00 (3) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RickyPercussion Teacher 5.00 (7) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicolasGuitar Teacher 5.00 (2) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MyriamOrganic chemistry Teacher 5.00 (13) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Jonat hanEconomics Teacher 5.00 (9) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Oluwakemi imoleMaths Teacher 5.00 (1) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AlexPhysics Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamSinging Teacher 5.00 (14) £48/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ValentiniMusic reading Teacher 5.00 (2) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MilenaMaths Teacher 5.00 (5) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RashmiEconomics Teacher 5.00 (1) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsCreating the Graph in ExcelOnce all your data is in your spreadsheet in Excel, you just need to follow the steps to create a graph. This doesn’t take much time. The most time-consuming activity if getting your data into the spreadsheet. Once you've filled your rows and columns with data, it's very easy to create graphs in Excel.You need to choose the cells with the data from your Excel spreadsheet.Click on the cell at the top left of your data, hold down “shift”, and then click on the bottom right cell. This will select all your data.You can do this by dragging by holding down the left mouse button as you click on the top left cell and dragging down to the bottom right one.You then need to go to the “Insert” tab on the toolbar. New elements will appear in the toolbar.In the “Charts” section, you can choose the type of graph you want to make. There’s also a “Recommended Charts”.ColumnsLinesPieStackedBarBubblesThe small arrows next to each type of chart allow you to see what it’d look like before creating it. You can do this by hovering the mouse cursor over it.You just have to click and the graph will be created in your spreadsheet.Now you can give your graph a title by clicking on the text above the graph.Changing the Formatting of an Excel GraphYour graph is now ready.But how do you change it once you’ve made it?You can change the colours and formatting of your graphs. (Source: 6689062)You just need to click on the graph and go to the “design” tab that shows up when you select it. In the new toolbar, you can edit the visuals of your graph.You can alter things such as:The axesThe title of the axesThe title of the chartThe labelsThe graphThe legendIt’s a good idea to include a legend so that people can understand your graph. Something that may seem obvious to you may not be as obvious to somebody else.Exporting the Graph from ExcelTo use your graph outside of the spreadsheet, you’ll need to save or export it.Exporting the Graph to Microsoft WordIt couldn’t be simpler putting your graph into word processing software like Word. You just need to select the graph, right click, then copy and paste the graph into Microsoft Word. This allows you to put the graph next to text.Saving the Graph as a PDFTo save as a PDF, you need to go to “File”, then “Save as...” and choose the .PDF formate.Saving the Graph as a JPGIn order to save the graph as an image file, y ou can copy and paste the graph into Pain and save it as a JPG there.If you want to use Excel more efficiently, consider learning some keyboard shortcuts.What Are Excel Graphs For?Excel graphs are useful for displaying information in an easy-to-understand way. Excel graphs are useful for displaying information in both our professional and personal lives.Make sure your graphs are clear. (Source: Pexels)You can use graphs to visualise data.You can compare expenses, for example. As you’ll have understood, you can transform data into charts in Excel. Excel charts are fantastic ways to display data. Give it a go and you'll soon learn how to excel with Excel!If you want to learn more about using Excel or computers in general, you should get help from a private tutor. On Superprof, there are plenty of skilled and qualified private tutors ready to offer you tailored lessons.There are three types of tutorial on the platform: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials.Fac e-to-face tutorials take place with just one student. This means that the tutor's entire focus is on their one student and the lessons are planned with them in mind. While these tutorials are often the most expensive, they're also the most effective.Online tutorials are similar but rather than the tutor being in the room with their student, they teach them using video conferencing software such as Skype. Since the tutor doesn't need to travel or bring physical resources with them, they can charge less per hour of tuition. This is also a great option for those who live rurally.Finally, there are group tutorials. Group tutorials include several students and work out cheaper per student since the cost of tuition is shared amongst all the attendees. However, this does mean that you won't get as much one-on-one tuition from your tutor and the lessons won't be as tailored to your needs as the other two types.Don't forget that the first hour of tuition is often offered for free. This is a great opportunity to try out different tutors, see if you get on well with them, and make sure that their teaching approaches are right for you before you commit to several lessons with them.

Life Coach Resources

Life Coach Resources What Resources are There for Life Coaches? ChaptersTraining for Life CoachesCoaching Tools and Resources OnlineHow Lean Six Sigma Relates to Life Skills CoachingMaking that Paradigm ShiftA football coach has playbooks to refer to when pondering strategies to bring his team to victory.A dance coach has a wide selection of choreography books and manuals to choose from, and may even invent a few moves, perhaps eventually penning a book himself.A life coach, on the other hand...You’ll note that the other two types of coaches mentioned have specific actions and goals: the former one should lead his team to a win; the latter should cause dance students to execute flawless moves and sequences.A life coach’s mission is to guide you in becoming your best self so that you can achieve your life’s goals.Which begs the question: what is best?Some with a meretricious bent might argue that appearance is everything, and may aim for only the illusion of best.Others with a penchant for usury may seek coaching sessions with the sole inten t to make more profit at the expense of needy clients, considering those rewards an indication of being their best selves.The very definition of one’s best self being subjective, how is a life coach Glasgow supposed to assess the most effective way to help whoever engages him?And how can s/he tell the difference between an earnest client desiring an all-encompassing personal evolution and one whose goals could best be described as self-serving?In short: what manuals, playbooks and resources are there for life coaches?Your Superprof now endeavours to gather, into one convenient checklist, any failsafes a life coach London might need to help people in their transformational journey.International Coach Federation credentialing.The IFC is an organisation dedicated to the support of coaches everywhere in the world. To that end, they offer continuing professional development that includes skills enhancement and building on coaches’ core competencies.Like so many professions, such as t eaching and medicine, the ICF requires continuing further education in order to maintain valid, up-to-date coaching certification.You may attend professional development events to learn about the latest coaching tools and how to use them. You might even benefit from mentoring by a Continuing Coach Education specialist.Further resources on the ICF website include self-study programmes and other self-paced courses, either online or through correspondence.You can find these resources and more on the ICF website.Discover what skills you'll need to train to become a life coach.Coaching Tools and Resources OnlineShould your client wonder where the time goes, present him with a free time management worksheet! Source: Pixabay Credit: AllesThe Internet is a vast treasure trove of anything you might think to look for.Thus it stands to reason that anyone looking for new coaching techniques or to further see to their own personal development could find all types of materials just by typing a fe w keywords in their favourite search engine.Unfortunately, shouting ‘Open, Sesame!’ as you sit in front of your computer with the expectation of appearing treasure will leave you gravely disappointed.You have to ask the right question in order to get the answers you seek, and then winnow your search results down to those qualified for your particular situation.In the interest of promoting self-help, your Superprof has undertaken that task for you!Life Coach on the Go could be a particularly valuable resource for you because they specialise in short articles and activities that are nevertheless packed with information and insight.They have an entire page dedicated to free worksheets and exercises that you may use for yourself or challenge your clients to complete.As with every profession and progression, one does not become a life coach Bristol and then rest on one’s laurels; you would hardly be credible to your clients if you did that!As we pointed out earlier in this text: pe rsonal development is a continuous, lifelong pursuit.To that end, this website strives to provide you with daily nuggets of wisdom, in articles that take about one minute to read.The wealth of topics include these titles:Coaching questions to get unstuck: how to get around clients’ defencesIdentify what you’re tolerating â€" for clients (and coaches!) who often feel overwhelmed, scattered or anxiousWhere does all my time go? Ever feel like the day rushes away while you’re moving in slow motion?What do you need to let go of? - be it emotional baggage or a misplaced sense of responsibility...Are you stuck in a rut?Except for the first title, all of these exercises would be suitable for you and your client.Wait! Do coaches need guidance too?Just because you earn your living in the field of professional coaching doesn’t mean that you have your life set or manage to keep it together better than anyone else when unforeseen events occur.Furthermore, having such tools at your dispos al provides you with a variety of approaches you could take; surely, among them, you would find a way to connect with each client after having tested each one out!Imagine meeting with a prospective client for their intake interview... You would need to ask all the right questions, help them identify what they’re accepting and need to relinquish, and help them see how they can manage their time better.Another way to overcome that barrier would be to use a Life Wheel, which is also freely available on their site!Some say less is more and some believe that more must be better.In this case, we take both approaches: listing a number of websites that offer tools and resources for life coaching in this table, for you to pick and choose those pages that best suit your operation.Page NameWhat's on OfferWeb AddressLife Coach on the Goworksheets, planners, motivational phrases and articleshttps://lifecoachonthego.comThe Coaching Tools Companyexercises, newsletters, assorted templates, intake questionnaireshttps://www.thecoachingtoolscompany.comLife Coach HubSetting up your coaching practice, attracting clients to your business, how to grow your businesshttps://www.lifecoachhub.com/coaching-business/coaching-resourcesCircle of Lifereadiness for change, blueprint for success, vision to reality flowchart, personal values exerciseshttp://www.healthandwellnesscoaching.org/tools/02Notes/index.htmParadigmsa Life Wheel, assorted worksheets, conflict tools, porcupine problem solverhttp://www.life-coach-tools.com/free-tools/How Lean Six Sigma Relates to Life Skills CoachingLean Six Sigma is an approach to manufacturing intended to reduce waste and maximise efficiency.If you think about it, isn’t that what life coaching is all about?We could equate waste in manufacturing with unproductive, and even counterproductive actions and emotions in our lives.Production efficiency in manufacturing would correlate to the confidence we exhibit in our everyday dealings.The function of Lean Six Sigma, and that of life coaching programs, is to provide a framework for overall change.The Six Sigma concept dates back to just after World War II when allied troops were helping to rebuild Japan.Their teaching programme included a short video, titled Improvement in Four Steps.So impactful was this narrative that the Japanese industrial standard of kaizen emerged; that word that literally translates to improvement.Those same standards are still in place in manufacturing, today!Isn’t it interesting that the fundamentals of life coaching involve Zen principles, a concept incorporated into the basis of, and indeed the very word kaizen!The psychology behind the principles of personal coaching and industry is the fundamentally the same: get rid of counter-production and excessive ballast in order to become the leanest and most efficient.If it works for manufacturing, why wouldn’t it work for people, too?Be the life coach that brings about meaningful paradigm shifts. Source: Pixa bay Credit: GeraltMaking that Paradigm ShiftWhether you are a business coach, an executive coach, a leadership coach, a wellness coach or a Six Sigma specialist, your job is the same.A coach’s job is to bring about a paradigm shift: to guide their clients away from limiting beliefs and into the world of endless possibilities.This transformation that you help bring about is not meant to lead to happiness, but to a new level of self-awareness â€" through which happiness may result.Whether it does or not is your clients’ choice.Once you’ve done everything you can to motivate your client to make positive changes in his life, once you’ve ensured they are passionate about living a more holistic life and will pursue a healthy life balance, your job is done!On the other hand, they may perhaps declare that they wish to take a turn at helping others, in which case you may motivate them to take steps to become a life coach themselves: talk about fulfilment!Isn’t that idea empowering?

Patience and the Learning Curve - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Patience and the Learning Curve - Introvert Whisperer Patience and the Learning Curve While we are constantly facing the challenge of change, often it means we have new things to learn. Ugh! That can be painful all by itself. But, have you ever noticed that many times when you are learning that when the pain increases, the patience decreases? Pearl of wisdom time: First: You will feel uncomfortable during a learning curve. It’s part of the process called transition and it’s how we tick. Any new endeavor you plan to take on, however well intended, will have its moments of discomfort. Second: A learning curve and many important things in your life and career require patience combined with tenacity. I think as a society we are losing our patience because of how fast things move due to the Internet. Yet, we’re human and our ability to learn and change moves differently. You have to stay patient with you and set your expectations realistically. Practice patience my friend. You will appreciate you when you do. Go to top Let me emphasize that Self-Promotion doesn’t have to be obnoxious to be effective.  But, if you don’t Self-Promote you, who will?  If you ever want to get ahead, you have to learn how to Self-Promote. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that shows you simple, yet effective ways to Self-Promote. Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Words Culpable to Temerity - Private Tutoring

Words Culpable to Temerity BobbiM May 6, 2014 Here are some useful words you need to know.  Now LEARN them! Culpable; adj. At fault; deserving blame. We knew he was culpable for robbing the bank because of the expensive things he bought the day after. Decry; v. To openly condemn. Dont decry her. She can make her own choices! Mom yelled at me as I started to berate my sister for her poor choice. Denounce; v. To condemn, criticize, or accuse. I denounce him as a cheater from all Ive heard of him from broken-hearted girls. Deplore; v. To express strong dislike or disapproval; to condemn. I deplore my younger sisters actions but I try to support her when she tries to change her life. Deprecate; v. To belittle; express disapproval; deplore. The teachers deprecating tone hurt my feelings. Despise; v. To look down on with contempt or scorn. I despise her because of the big argument we had last year. Disparage; v. To speak in a disrespectful way; to belittle; to reduce in esteem. I hope you dont disparage them just because you have conflicting views. Excoriate; v. To censure severely; to denounce; to scold; to rebuke sharply. Be careful that after you excoriate those around you they start to despise you. Objurgate; v. To scold sharply; to berate. The lab technician was quick to objurgate the intern for messing up the equipment. Reprehensible; adj. Deserving rebuke, scolding, or censure. Her reprehensible behavior at dinner made it easy for her father to ground her. Reproachful; adj. Deserving reproach or blame. He looked at me reproachfully and I knew then that he thought I had committed the crime. Reprove; v. To voice reproof or disapproval; to find fault with. I reproved her for bullying the new kid in school. Foolhardy; adj. Recklessly careless; unwisely daring. His foolhardy action of slamming on his brakes periodically almost caused an accident. Hotheaded; adj. Quick to anger, quick to act, often without regard to the consequences. He is so hotheaded that everyone tiptoes around him as to not make him mad. Impetuous; adj. Impulsive and passionate, sometimes marked by violent force. Sometimes my impetuous actions prove to harm my future. Impulsive; adj. Inclined to act on impulse rather than on thought; acting without thinking things through. Impulsive behavior is the cause of a lot of hurt in others lives. Insolent; adj. Bold; arrogant; rude; rash and disrespectful. The insolent brat mocks me and imitates me in front of her friends! Madcap; adj. Behaving impulsively, madly, or rashly, with little thought or consideration of consequences. My madcap adventure left me stranded on the highway with an empty gas tank. Offhanded; adj. Performed extemporaneously, without forethought or planning. His offhand speech was rushed but from the heart. He was surprised he came up with the speech that earned a standing ovation. Perilous; adj. Full of or involving peril or great danger. My perilous journey trekking across the Midwest ended with much welcome. Rash; adj. Characterized by or resulting from ill-considered haste or boldness; reckless. Instead of making a rash decision, I think long and hard before coming to a final decision. Reckless; adj. Indifferent to or disregarding of consequences; careless. I am reckless when I make decisions involving love. I decide before I think. Temerity; n. Reckless disregard for danger or ones own safety; recklessness. My temerity in encouraging her on the stage resulted in us both tripping on the stairs.

Volunteer Tutors Share Impact Of Tutoring

Volunteer Tutors Share Impact Of Tutoring Volunteer Tutors Share Impact Of Tutoring Volunteer Tutors Share Impact Of Tutoring September 2, 2015 Please watch this 90-second video to hear firsthand accounts of Heart Math Tutoring from the program’s volunteer tutors, students and educators. In 2015-16, Heart will serve 350 elementary students in seven Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. “This is our opportunity to give back to kids, the future â€" a chance to give back… one hour per week â€" what you see out of these kids, it’s well worth it,” â€" Chris Gialanella, second year #VolunteerWithHeart. “Selfishly for me what I would share is that it’s the best of starting of starting my week getting to come into an elementary school and be able to measure the impact of just 30 minutes of my time on one kid? That’s tremendous.” â€" Sheila Wheeler, sixth year #VolunteerWithHeart. Sign up now to become a tutor for one hour a week, please click here for more information.

Huntington Learning Center Offers Tips to Help Students Embrace Positive School Habits

Huntington Learning Center Offers Tips to Help Students Embrace Positive School Habits Whats the difference between a child who is a productive student and one who struggles to stay organized and get things done? Good habits, says Eileen Huntington, Co-founder of the Huntington Learning Center. Its simple but true: good school habits can make all the difference in a childs academic success, says Huntington. If you teach your child from an early age to acquire positive habits, you will equip him or her with the tools to flourish. Huntington offer several suggestions for parents to help their children develop better habits. Establish routines that work. Children benefit from structure and routine in many ways. A reliable routine helps children learn to be responsible, take ownership of their to-do lists and feel confident in approaching new and familiar tasks. Top 3 tips for children: Plan ahead to avoid procrastination, break large tasks into smaller steps, and create a homework chart or tracking system (and review each night). Get organized. Good organization helps children use their time wisely and feel and act more independent. On the other hand, a child who has difficulty staying on top of multiple prioritiesfrom school assignments to extracurricular activitieswastes time and likely suffers from unneeded stress. Top 3 tips for children: Develop a homework organizational system and stick to it, create and maintain a neat, stocked study area, and put things awayfrom pencils to backpacksin the same place every time. Focus on study skills. There are obvious study pitfalls that your child should avoid to be an effective student, such as cramming and procrastinating. You can help your child make the most of study time by encouraging organization, time management and tried-and-true study techniques. Top 3 tips for children: Set ground rules to improve concentration (i.e. sufficient sleep and food and no TV or electronics during study sessions), develop a nightly plan to keep study sessions on track, and develop long-term study schedules for concepts that require repeated review or multi-step projects. Take note of when your child is at his or her best. Finally, pay attention to what works for your childkeeping in mind that all children learn differently. Is your child most productive doing homework immediately after school or after activities and dinner? When studying, does your child do better independently or with a study partner? Does your child prefer a planner notebook or a planner app? Top 3 tips for children: Try out different study approaches and organizational systems, ask teachers for suggestions for effective study strategies, and stick to habits that yield positive results. Helping your child develop and hone good habits in all aspects of his or her academic life will benefit your child in the long run. Talk with your child about the habits that yield positive results and those that do not, says Huntington. Then, establish effective habits that help your child achieve his or her best. In time, your child will be a more successful student. About Huntington Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com.

Language Textbook Central 6 Textbook Sources Youll Love

Language Textbook Central 6 Textbook Sources Youll Love Language Textbook Central: 6 Textbook Sources Youll Love Textbooks  are too academic!If you want to learn how to swim, you need to be in the waterâ€"not sitting in the shade, reading some book about swimming.Textbooks lack real-world, real-life flavor, which makes them less useful for language learners.Why use textbooks when youve got the whole internet at your disposal?These are just some of the good arguments put forth by fellow language learners and experts.Should they spell the end of textbooks?Are you ready to swear off them and toss those thick tomes into the dumpster?Not so fast.For all the flack that they get, language textbooks are still some of the purest and most robust language learning material you can get your hands on. What Can Language Textbooks Do for You?Think about this: How many equivalent hours of podcasts, videos or in-field training will you need to cover as much material as just one thick textbook?The whole thing is right there. I mean, its literally in your hands! While were also going to cover the usefulness and money-saving power of electronic textbooks in this post, one advantage to textbooks is that you dont necessarily need to boot up a gadget or drain precious phone battery to access all that information. Even if you do, you can often do it offline.But beyond logistics and ease of use, language textbooks quickly zero in on those things about the language that are the most usefulâ€"the building blocks, the rules of the road, the pitfalls you need to avoid so you quickly graduate from being a language toddler making linguistic booboos and join the ranks of decent speakers.Textbooks as a broad category can be as general or specific as intended. They can be general like Schaums German Grammar,  which talks about  everything grammar-related from verbs to tenses. They can be specific and zero in on a certain subject, like Practice Makes Perfects Italian Pronouns and Prepositions  (some would consider this a workbook, but were not here to split hairs).  General titles are often fatter, for o bvious reasons, and the more specific ones are more bite-sized.But all the same, textbooks are written in such a direct way that they take away any guesswork about the topic, giving you the exact things you need. In fact, they spoon-feed you the target language so you dont need to figure anything out on your own. You just need to believe that this is indeed how one conjugates a particular Spanish verb, or that this is how one forms the past tense of that English word. Boom! Youve learned a valuable lesson good for a lifetime. Literally.Deducing grammar rules yourself takes a whole lot of trial and error and is prone to incompleteness. (Many native speakers dont even know the rules to their own languageâ€"because theyre too close to the subject to notice. They simply know how theyve always talked.)Language textbooks strip and slow everything down so you can actually notice the unmentioned laws and assumptions that animate everyday communication. They superficially slow things down an d break the language into constituent elements so that in the normal speed of actual conversation, you at least now have the requisite tools and insights you need.Owing to the technological advances of our time, textbooks now come in various formats. You have the classic paper-printed thing, which your grandfather will swear by, and you also now have paperless digital versions. Publishers have also been brilliant enough to bundle some textbooks with audio CD or online material so learners can follow along on their headphones and hear how the target language is actually spoken. In addition to audio, your purchase sometimes comes with additional online information, like this one from Living Language Korean,  which comes with online access to flashcards, games and interactive quizzes corresponding to lessons in the books.All language textbooks are not created equal. So in this post, well be looking to recommend some very good ones that you can check out. But before that, we turn to the next section and look into the most important things to remember when working with textbooks.Oftentimes, were overly critical of textbooks, when we need to manage our expectations so that we can truly appreciate the awesome role they play in our language goals.5 Important Things to Remember When Working with Textbooks1) Dont overwhelm yourself with material.Did you know that you can easily intimidate yourself into language failure?Yup, it can happen. You can overwhelm yourself with so much material that youll begin to think learning the language is actually impossible. In this day and age, when access to an infinite number of textbooks has become so easy, a diligent language learner can easily amass piles of textbooks without the hope of ever getting through every last one of them.The thinking behind this is, The more, the better. I need to cover all my bases.Before long, youve started to intimidate yourself into thinking, This is harder than I thought.Testimonies of failed languag e ventures almost always come along with something like, Ive tried them all Well, maybe part of the reason they failed is that they jumped from one textbook to another.Dont overwhelm yourself with a preponderance of material. Start with a general textbook. After that, make sure you dont use more than one book for the same thing. For example, you really need just one grammar title. Only when you think its absolutely necessary should you get a different one for a more specific topic, like verb conjugation, for example. And that only after you finish the general textbook.So, how do you deal with the one that you have in your hands? You overlearn it ‘til kingdom come. You go at it day and night. Take it with you on dates, read it while standing in line at the ATM. Master the material like the back of your hand, and youll have learned more in that one book than a whole stack that you never got to read because merely looking at it extinguished your motivation.2) Choose the appropriate l evel of content.So if youre to start with just one textbook, then which one?How do you choose from the buffet thats before you? Let the list presented in the next section be your guide, but here are a few specifics to consider.Price you should definitely take into account, but at the end of the day, a textbook that efficiently teaches you the target language will pay for itself many times overâ€"no matter how expensive at the outset.You should be asking instead, What language skill or topic am I after?Not all textbooks are created equal. And not all of them are talking about the same things. So dont expect a single textbook to be equally strong on all fronts. Textbooks have different specialties and personalities, much like the authors behind them. Even a more general grammar textbook may be skewed towards a particular topic. One could specialize in conjugation, another in sentence construction, etc.Know what you hope to learn. Because when you know what youre after, youre in a bett er position to evaluate if a certain title can deliver what you need.Another thing you should consider is the difficulty level. This is very important because many learners have actually challenged themselves out of the running. There is such a thing as too difficult. And you definitely dont want that.If you’re a beginner, then get the book for beginners. Dont go for advanced courses and assume youll pick up the fundamentals along the way. Things will just go over your head.The fastest way to lose your motivation is looking at the pile of textbooks youve amassed. Then opening one just blows you out of the water.3) Textbooks can be entertaining, but their true purpose lies deeper.Language textbooks that have a breezy style of writing, some catchy fonts and pictures are awesome. They can make study sessions quite effective.But dont be too quick to discount those titles that people often describe as too dry or too academic. These no-frills materials, stripped of the fluff, are packed to the rafters with language gems. They teach you more per page because they get straight to the point and tell you what you need to know.Entertainment is good, and heaven knows we need more of that in education. But dont knock textbooks just because they dont jump at you with vivid graphics, colors and sound. Dont wave them off just because they come in a form and format that reminds you of the libraries of yore.The main job of textbooks is not to sing and dance, its to make plain the hidden, elucidate on concepts that even native speakers are not aware of. If you think the book in your hand is able to do that, then keep it within arms reach. Thats a good textbook.4) Get a healthy mix of language material.Even Michael Jordan needed teammates. No language textbook, no matter how good at sinking jump shots, will ever be sufficient on its own.Your language textbook plays a vital role in your language goals, but so do many other things. Its this concoction of different and synergetic content that turns a non-speaker into a fluent one. Besides your textbook, immerse yourself in the  videos, apps, blogs  and websites  that are available for every language learner.Get your hands on different tools. They have a specific part to play in your learning. They stimulate a variety of senses, and the more experience you have with the language, the more immersive your experience and the more memorable the target language becomes.But again, dont overdo this by overwhelming your attention with three or five of each material. Just as you really only need the one general textbook to get the ball rolling, you really only need one flashcard app, or one online course. I dont mean that you should close the door to other apps or courses, of course not! I just mean that you should prioritize one and take it as far as it can go, and then, only then, should you see how other sources in the same category can fill in the gaps or take you farther.Just pick one material in each category, a nd accept that every material will have its limitations, but put all your energy into it, anyway.If youre looking for the closest you can get to a one stop shop, FluentU gives you a flexible online course with videos and multimedia flashcards that are tied together for a varied and optimized learning experience. FluentU takes online videosâ€"like movie trailers, music videos, vlogs, cartoons, news and moreâ€"and makes them into personalized language lessons. Throw it together with a decent textbook, and youll have a feast of learning material to work with that isnt overwhelming.5) Read, but dont forget to practice.Reading is one thing. But practicing, that is, actually getting your mouth, lips and tongue moving in specific ways is an altogether different proposition. Getting in front of native speakers and conversing with them is also quite another.Textbooks are just a means to an end.  They impart knowledge. Then its up to you to put that knowledge to work.Think of it this way: Te xtbooks get you off to a great start, but theyll never take you to the finish line because they were never designed for that. They were made for a specific purpose and that is to tell you flat out what the rules of the language are. They are instructions for action. Textbooks presuppose action. Reading and rereading? Thats not action.Some language learners use textbooks as a means to escape the actual work of speaking the target language. They put in the hours, cooped up inside their rooms, reasoning that when theyre ready, when they get all the vocabulary and the grammar rules down, then they’ll open their mouths. I can really relate to this feeling, having been once very much like thisâ€"procrastination and all.Well, Ive since learned better.You dont need to finish a textbook cover to cover before you actually get dirty. You can read a little, then get to work on that specific material immediately. Work on it by chapter, for example. If the chapter is about prepositions, then pr actice them as soon as you finish the chapter. For instance, describe the location of objects in your room in the target language. Dont just write this, say it! And repeat it a dozen times during the rest of your day, when you go out, when you see a vase on top of  a table, when you see a boy inside  a car, when you get your shoes from behind the door. Begin to think (and talk) in the target language.Thats how you put your textbook to work. Thats how you take it as far as it can go.That said, and now with a little appreciation for textbooks, where do we go looking for them? Heres your top six sources for these babies.Language Textbook Central: 6 Textbook Sources Youll LoveLiving LanguageHead on over to Amazon and youll see that the Living Language materials are consistent bestsellers, perennially topping their particular language categories.Living Language is an imprint of Random House, one of the biggest paperback publishers in the world. The self-study language outfit currently of fers material for more than 20 languages, including American Sign Language and Dothraki, the artificial dialect created for the hit series Game of Thrones.Living Language, developed by language experts from the U.S. State Department for America’s diplomats and overseas-bound personnel, has been around for over 65 years. The Living Language Method rests on four philosophies that are reflected in every Living Language textbook:Build a Foundation. Your native language will be used as a bridge to your target language. Through direct translation and a bit of memorization to start the ball rolling, learners will be given some basic and essential words (vocabulary) that are to be used and practiced from Day One.Progress with Confidence.  The building block approach is used and each lesson will build on the previous one. So you go from words to phrases to sentences (grammar) and then to full conversations.Retain What Youve Learned. Exercises, games and reviews are used to transfer the lea rning from short-term memory to long-term memory.Achieve Your Goals.  With those three bases covered, youre now ready to build the specific language skills that you want.Living Language courses now include audio components, interactive online games and smart flashcards, keeping pace with the times. But at the heart of every language course are still their textbooks. You can choose from the Essential Edition ($22.99), Complete Edition ($49.99) and Platinum Edition ($179).McGraw-HillMcGraw-Hill is one of the big threeâ€"that is, three of the largest textbook publishers in the world (the other two being Pearson and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).McGraw-Hill houses some of the most trusted foreign language textbook series. Theyve touched the lives of literally millions. Here are some of their best.Practice Makes Perfect.  This language series offers learners bite-sized lessons on the many different language skills and topics that they want to focus on. For example, there’s French Conversa tion,  French Reading and Comprehension,  French Sentence Builder,  French Vocabulary Games,  French Verb Tenses  and even French Pronouns and Prepositions.  So whatever language skill needs work, or whatever level youre at, this series has got you covered.Easy Step-by-Step.  Learning languages has never been easier! The books in this series take absolute beginners by the hand and show them the structures and rules that give a language life. The lessons progress slowly, so they dont end up confusing or overwhelming you. When they say step by step, they do really mean it.Dont be troubled if your book suddenly approaches 400 pages. Thats just so you get a solid grounding of the basics, whether it be in  Italian, German, French  or Spanish. Every page is paced so that youre prepared for the next one. There are even a handful of exercises that develop your confidence as you move forward. This building block approach is the fastest way to master grammar and comprehension.Schaums Outlines .  Traditionally known for its excellent series on hard science topics like physics, biology and chemistry, Schaums have tackled languages like French, German and Spanish. There are several focuses for each language. For example, if you want to study French grammar, theres Schaums French Grammar.  For vocab needs, theres French Vocabulary.  Then theres just French.  Theres also  French: Crash Course  and Communicating in French. And I have to say, true to form, the language exercises in these titles are quite extensive. Case in point, the grammar book alone has 578 exercises to hone your language chops.BarronsBarrons is the leading name in test prep and has a formidable catalogue  of language textbooks that covers the major languages.For example, the Spanish language alone has over 40 different titles ranging from Mastering Spanish Grammar to 1001 Pitfalls in Spanish. The books, which sometimes come with an audio CD, cater to all types of learners from beginners to advancedâ€"even t o specific categories of learners like attorneys, paralegals, healthcare practitioners and law enforcement personnel.Barrons has come a long way from just being a test prep outfit. But youll still get the Barrons flavorâ€"signs of their origins like clear-cut examples, rigorous review exercises and on-point, no-nonsense explanations.Once youre at the main page of the Barrons website, go down through the categories, past Childrens Books and Crafts and Hobbies. Locate Foreign Languages. Click on it and youll be brought to a page that contains all of Barrons language titles. There are 13 sub-categories on this page. For example, Arabic is one, and clicking on it will land you on a page that displays all books related to learning Arabic.Other languages covered are English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Russian and Spanish. Clicking on these subcategories will get you a list of all titles concerned. Most of the books here are ideal for beginners, such as  Modern Mandarin Ch inese for Beginners  and Italian Now! Level 1.Theres a section called Other Languages that you might be interested in. Its actually a catch-all for the other languages available: Swedish, Hebrew, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish, Latin, Korean and even American Sign Language. Most of the textbooks here are concerned with verbs. (Except, of course, the American Sign Language books.)BerlitzBerlitz has a rich history of language instruction, from 1878 in Providence, Rhode Island to its present-day global headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey. The company, which was once a subsidiary of Macmillan, has a post in over 70 countries around the world and boasts of training for every living language on the face of the earth.The Berlitz Method, named after its founder Maximilian Berlitz, utilizes the direct method of teaching languagesâ€"meaning the target language is used as the medium of instruction. So a German class is taught in German, a Chinese class is taught in Chineseâ€"not English.Language is not merely a set of grammar rules, but a means of communication. So instead of drilling on grammar, students observe how a language is used to convey a message and are encouraged to figure out the meaning and the grammar rules for themselves. In a class where the direct method is used, a lot gesturing and repetition is employed to help students figure out what the teacher is talking about.But werent we talking earlier about how textbooks are especially vital for grammar? Well, yes. And as a proponent of the direct method of learning languages, youd think that Berlitz would shy away from releasing grammar textbooks of their own. Not so. They actually have grammar handbooks for English, German, Italian and French.When even a company with a school of thought that seems antithetical to the grammar-translation method releases a grammar textbook of their own, it speaks volumes to the special role or function that such a text plays.The best place to access Berlitz textbooks is through A mazon rather than their website, which is really a platform to promote their training programs around the world. So head to Amazon and search for Berlitz and the language youre learning.Its also worth mentioning that their forte is really in the production of phrasebooks. Berlitz has phrasebooks in practically any language you can think of, and this can be great for learners who might be grateful to find any kind of learning material in a more obscure language. If the language youre interested in is not as popular as Spanish or French, your best bet would be Berlitz. They have books for Vietnamese, Finnish, Hindi or Croatian, for example.For DummiesIt might seem counterproductive to denigrate your readers right off the bat. But theres actually something so comforting about a title that says, Weve really dumbed this down for you. It relieves people of any pressure to learn because, hey, they’re dummies. It places them in a position to just sit back and relaxâ€"knowing that what the y have in their hands is the most simplified, most undemanding and foolproof language text on the market.The Dummies franchise, published by John Wiley Sons, Inc., has over 2,700 titles to its name. Granted, many of these titles will never interest you (The Royal Wedding for Dummies, anyone?), but language learners would do well to check out their foreign language series, which covers the major world languagesâ€"from Arabic to Russian, Spanish, Italian, etc.Once on the Dummies site, look for the Shop for Books link and click on it. That will open another page which will take you to the Dummies store. The  search box will be easy to spot. Just type your terms in the box. For example, Spanish. Hit Enter and youll get all the relevant titles, from Spanish Grammar for Dummies  ($19.99) to Intermediate Spanish for Dummies  ($19.99).Decent descriptions are written about the books, and youre given the chance to see the Table of Contents and Author Information so you have an idea of what y oure getting into. For most books, youll also be alerted to the e-book option (which is cheaper).Most of their language books are in the $9.99 to the $19.99 range. Although their all-in-one titles naturally cost moreâ€"$34.99 for Spanish, for example.The Dummies series specifically caters to beginner and intermediate language learners. They pretty much deconstruct the basics of the language. There are also helpful sidebars that emphasize a certain point or bring up interesting trivia, making the lessons really come alive.VitalSourceWhat if the reason youve been balking at textbooks is that you have a bad back? Besides, you cant possibly be caught looking all nerdy lounging around with piles of textbooks.Well, you remember that there are often digital versions of these babies, right?And VitalSource is your most trusted, well, source of e-textbooks offered at reasonable prices. Your chosen book can immediately be downloaded onto your smartphone, tablet or computer. So not only is the weight issue obliterated, the wait issue becomes a non-issue. No more wondering when your package will come knocking.Now, you have the freedom and flexibility to chip away at those language goals anywhere and anytime you want. As of this writing, there are almost 2,600 textbooks  available for languages like German, Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Portuguese and Greek. (They have textbooks available on other subjects, too, so if youre a student or lifelong learner, you may find shopping with them especially convenient.)Download Bookshelf,  VitalSource’s free app, for an intuitive and intelligent reading experience. The app allows you to make highlights and create notes so you can personalize the pages of your textbook. You can also locate a specific text faster with its smart search capabilities. So whether online or offline, you get an enhanced studying experience, which inevitably results in an enhanced learning power.Oh, and did I mention you can re nt e-books instead of buying them? Yep, so the price gets even lower.So that ends our explanation of why you still need textbooks today, and why you should get your hands on one right now. You really just need to manage your expectations and see textbooks for what they areâ€"tools that are limited like any other, but eminently useful for the language learner.I wish you all the best on your language journey!

?? How To Teach English And Maths So Your Students REALLY Get It

?? How To Teach English And Maths So Your Students REALLY Get It How To Teach English And Maths So Your Students REALLY Get It Guest post byRobert LomaxRobert Lomax has been a tutor for many years, working in London, Italy and Hong Kong. His award-winning English and maths materials are available from RSL Educational. I doubt you’re here because you’re wondering how to teach.You’re already a tutor with a fair bit of experience. What’s more, you’re getting plenty of work…If you weren’t, you wouldn’t be reading this: you’d have given up already â€" which is what happens to most people. You must be doing something right!So my aim in this article isn’t to tell you how to do your job:I’m just going to share the method which has been most effective for me over the years. If it’s obvious to you, I can only say that it wasn’t to me: as you’ll see, it took me a long time to work these things out.A big problem …I spent years telling children how to write things â€" how to structure a comprehension answer, how to make a start with a maths question; how to write a good story â€" and sometimes they got the idea straight away. But, very often, they didn’t. And however many times I went back and told them again, and again … and again … some children just didn’t get it, at a ll. Ever. It seemed that even my clearest, most patient explanations just didn’t make sense, however hard I worked to make them better.… And a magic solution â€" which wasn’t all it seemedThen, in frustration, I started doing the work for them. “Look, give me the pen and watch me: THIS is how you do it!” And, like magic, almost everybody got it.So I began carrying model answers around with me: “Here’s one I made earlier!” I’d ask the student to compare their answer with the example, and explain the differences: How theirs could be better … How mine could be better!For a while, this was great. My students were doing better in school. More importantly, they were starting to think about their work more critically â€" more objectively.But over time, I realised that this wasn’t working quite as well as I’d first hoped. An example I’d photocopied last week didn’t quite cut it: It wasn’t real.Eureka!I kept trying. Maybe I just had to focus on comparing our an swers more effectively? Perhaps I could make games out of it, find ways to create a sense of competition?But it wasn’t enough. Each student lost interest in the model answers, because they weren’t fresh enough. They weren’t for them.So I put my pre-written answers away. I wrote my answers alongside the student, while they worked â€" even if this meant I wrote an answer to the same question, for three different people, on the same day, and went home feeling I never wanted to look at it again in my life.And it worked, just like the first time! This was what I’d been missing! If my answer was elegant and well-written, straight away the child had something to imitate. If I was tired and a bit bored and I’d let a mistake or two slip through â€" I hadn’t explained a quote clearly, or (horror!) I’d forgotten the units at the end of a maths question â€" they pounced on it triumphantly:If I could get it wrong, they realised, then obviously I didn’t have superhuman skills afte r all. If there was no magic involved, then surely they could produce brilliant work for themselves! And so, the curse was broken.Making this method really work for your students’ successYou can carry this technique into virtually any area of teaching. Yes, it leaves you less time to read the newspaper online â€" but in return, you get motivated students and delighted parents.Here are some of the ways I adapt the approach for different tasks:ComprehensionThis is perhaps the most straightforward way to use the method. In particular, you can show students how to support their points with short (one to five word) quotes within sentences and reach simple analytical conclusions. For example, many children simply have no idea how to write something like this: The author describes the rays of light as ‘fingers’. This metaphor makes me imagine the early dawn as dots of light peeping over the rim of the hills (‘fell sides’). When they ‘creep over’, the rest of the hand seems to come into view, as the points of light join together and make the sky bright. The one-word sentence, ‘Sunrise’, is surprising. It suggests that the shepherd is amazed by the new day, or at least very happy to see it.- taken from RSL 11+ Comprehension, Volume 2.It’s very difficult to explain all the elements of this answer to an 11 Plus student, if you try to do it theoretically. It’s only when they see how it’s done and try to copy it, that the idea of developing an idea around small units of meaning begins to make sense. MathsAbove all else, working in parallel to the student can demonstrate how to move from a confusing word question into the beginning of an answer: how to get past the ‘staring gormlessly at the page’ stage.As maths tutors we’ve all been there!For example, here’s a fairly simple GCSE question (taken from GCSE Maths by RSL) which nevertheless confuses some people: What does ‘in terms of x’ actually mean, in practice? More importantly: How do I start?So I would say:Just have a go â€" start anywhere â€" while I do it at the same time. When you finish or get stuck, let’s compare our work.And I’d do something like this: The very fact that I have done the work there, alongside the student, makes it real and encourages them to pay attention. Would they have thought of beginning with a sketch (or drawing on the diagram in the question)? If not, there’s no better way to make it sink in than to show them!Then we’d talk though our answers together, discovering what worked and what didn’t. In case it’s of interest, here’s how I break the explanation down in the book: Creative WritingThis is the area where I’ve found this method most useful. I don’t think it needs an example here, because there are so many different approaches, and the point (when you think about it) is quite obvious:The majority of children don’t have a clear idea what descriptive writing means â€" and particularly, what an examiner is looking for. Instead, they have stale checklists: a simile; a metaphor; two personifications â€" and so on â€" as though beautiful writing could be done just as well by a computer program.But if they can see something coming to life in their presence, and discuss how it was created, they have a chance of working it out for themselves. In fact, the majority manage to!You don’t need to do whole stories like this. In fact, it works best for five or ten minute, single-paragraph writing tasks: for example, ‘Describe the moment when you discover you are lost in a strange place’.One thing I should add: you don’t need to be a world-famous nov elist for this to work. The point is that the student can share your thought process. If they can point out room for improvement in your piece, that’s all the better.Final thoughtsI did warn you it might be obvious! But it’s taken me years to get the hang of this stuff, so I hope there’s the odd new idea you can try out with your students. And (as if that wasn’t quite enough) there are many more teaching tips on my blog.You might also like to try some of the free sample papers for 11 Plus and GCSE maths and English on the RSL Educational website.