The KeyWord Kove

French is truly the language of love, romance and elegance. Since the sixteenth century, European aristocracy all chose French as the language spoken in court regardless of their mother tongue. It is a language that evokes a sense of breeding and sophistication to those who speak it. The advancement of language studies now allows anyone to learn French very quickly. Here is the best way to learn French in six months or less:

1. Immersion

This is the sink or swim method of learning a language. This method is second to none for quickly gaining total fluency because, obviously, one has no choice but to learn and learn quickly. If it is at all possible, one should become immersed in the French culture by spending time in a French-speaking land. When one must communicate in French all day long, one will rapidly learn new words, hear correct grammar and pronunciation and is forced to read French. If traveling to a French-speaking land is not possible, one must form a type of forced immersion at home. The following six points must all be followed daily to carry out a home-setting method of immersion.

2. Formal Lessons

Attend a local community college French course or choose an online form of daily study. Also, many software programs are available for learning French. Whatever the method of choice, make a daily habit of attending the classes and working through the home study lessons. If one chooses to attend actual classes, one should still supplement the classes with daily home study. Spend no more than one hour each day studying French so that one’s brain is fresh and the study time remains enjoyable.

3. Watch & Listen

There are many websites and resources online that will let a person to watch French language television and listen to French radio. Simply type ‘French television and radio’ into a search engine and explore some of the options that come up. Watch no more than one hour of television each day. Listen to French music while working out or doing chores.

One will not understand the context, of course, but the opportunity to hear native pronunciation is priceless. Eventually one will be able to recognize words and even full sentences. This time must be spent in addition to the hour devoted to real study time. Learning any new language is likened to building blocks. This is one of the many blocks to carry out into the building of French fluency.

4. Label the House

This is an age-old practice of the best ways to learn French. It works and it works quickly. Using envelope labels, write out the names of all different pieces of furniture in the house as well as colors. Place these labels on their corresponding objects. Keep the labels small and at eye level so that they are visible without being annoying.

5. Find a French Friend

Most French-speaking people are more than honored and pleased to share their language with people. Finding a French-speaking friend to practice with is like having a personal tutor available for free. In addition, there is no better source for learning French culture than a French person. If there are no French-speaking people available to chat with, reach out across lands to find a pen pal.

By Nina Z. Wilder

Children often seem to take their own education as seriously as their parents do, but when attending a great school like private boarding schools, a lot of emphasis is put on helping them look at their education differently and treat it like the priority it is. Not only do these types of schools make sure each child is fully participating in their education and actively working to get more out of the provided curriculum, but they also make sure the education that each child gets is of the highest quality.

One thing that is certain for societies in every great nation is that s child’s life is full of distractions, from video games, to television shows and movies, to surfing the internet, and so much more – even their friends and family can distract them from what is most important. These distractions serve to put a wedge between a student’s education and their life outside of school, which makes it incredibly difficult for them to focus on getting the kind of education they should. The only way that these young people can do their very best in school is for them allow their education to be a bigger part of their lives.

One of the biggest reasons a private boarding school student is enrolled in the first place is because his or her parents wanted their child to live in a place where they only thing there is to distract them from their education is more education. At these schools, students have unlimited access to the various learning tools that they find around every corner. Their instructors are always nearby to encourage them and help them – answering any questions they might have about their studies or offering them advice on other related matters. Students even have each other to depend on for all the encouragement and motivation they need to get good grades as well as help for test preparation and other curricular endeavors.

The students that attend these schools will have everything they need to help them understand just how important their education is. What’s really remarkable about these private institutions is that the education they offer is on a level that is high above what the average public school could ever afford to offer.

Parents tend to expect their children to achieve a specific level of success through hard work and dedication, and the students or private boarding schools often surpass their parents’ expectations by a great margin. If you expect your child to do well in school, you should definitely think about sending them to a school that can do well for your child.

Check out more about this interesting subject at private boarding schools or boarding college prep schools.

In today’s society, finding a job can be tough, if not impossible. With so many people and so few positions available, a job seeker without previous specialized training could have an immense amount of trouble finding meaningful employment. Many people are giving up on the job search and heading back to school. While furthering your education is a great idea, attending a typical four-year style program can be costly and time consuming. IT training is an excellent way to increase your knowledge and marketability while avoiding the expense and commitment of obtaining a second (or first) degree. With advanced training in the field of computers on their resume, candidates with documented IT experience may find themselves getting more interviews for the resumes they submit, and more job offers for the interviews they attend. Not to mention, with the continual advancement of technology in our world, businesses everywhere are looking to hire capable IT professionals to help their companies run smoothly and grow competitively. With training in IT and an increased knowledge of computers, any job hungry candidate can gain meaningful employment and achieve a better future.

IT training and certification is considerably easier, less expensive, and less time consuming than obtaining a four-year degree in computer engineering or computer science. IT programs generally take much less four-years to complete, and many institutions offer online, evening, and weekend courses for those busy adults who are looking to further their education without giving up their day jobs. The price of an IT program may vary greatly between institutions and no two programs are identical. Be sure to investigate the contents of each program, examining the particular courses and training experiences offered, and weigh the benefits of each program against the cost of attendance. It is important to choose a program not just because it is the least expensive, but because it offers the best training for the best price. Attending a cheap program that offers insufficient or incomplete training will not benefit you in the long run.

Many IT programs start with courses that explain computer operations from the beginning, making them easily accessible to those with little computer experience. However, there are also programs and courses of a higher level for those who are already well versed in many areas of computer technology but may need to fill in some gaps in their knowledge. Regardless of your particular level of education, the very best IT programs are hands on, meaning that you not only learn the theory behind the skills you are learning, but that you are actually completing the physical tasks associated with these skills as well. With this type of training, your understanding and success are much greater than if you simply learn from a book without any practice. Hands on training is key when studying IT and computer courses.

If you are interested in attending an IT program, the most important thing you can do is to start looking into programs. By getting the motivation to take a serious first step towards your IT certification, you are helping to ensure that you have a brighter and more prosperous future. Knowledge in IT and computer technology is an excellent way to get a better, higher paying, and more enjoyable job.

With the explosion of the Internet has come a high demand for not only high school courses online, but also high school diploma programs online. Not all the organizations that offer courses offer diplomas though and you have to be careful when you choose one to make sure it matches up with your goals.

In the near future, none of what we know about traditional education will likely be true. We know that online high schools and universities are springing up all over the place in response to the public’s demand for more flexibility in the learning experience. People are demanding the option to absorb subjects and learn traditional and nontraditional subjects in the comfort of their own homes, since the Internet allows for such ubiquitous flexibility. This is certainly very easy to do on the Internet but some larger more historically conservative institutions are taking the slow road to getting to that point.

These are the types of schools out there where you can get a secondary education on the Internet…

Public Schools and Charter Schools – This is a way for you to free education. There is typically not a charge for either a public high school online or a charter school online. The problem may be though that you cannot get a traditional diploma from one of these institutions. An additional problem with the charter school is that they tend to cater to a specific subject to the minimization of others. For example, charter schools often focus on math or science, or maybe even the arts. This may or may not be what you are after, so if it is not unique just keep on looking for an online institution that fits what you need.

Private Schools – If you go this route it is going to be expensive, but it is probably the most solid and reliable way to get an online education other than through a major college or university.

Colleges – Universities, like Stanford, and many colleges are beginning to offer online high school classes. This is a very prestigious avenue to get your high school diploma onine and to put yourself in a great position to springboard into a reputable college soon thereafter.
These are generally always credited both nationally and regionally, so it is very safe way to go.

In summary, there are tremendous opportunities now for you to take high school courses online. Let the buyer beware though, because the low cost options may or may not be right for you and what you are after.

French is one of the most beautiful languages in the world. It is no wonder so many people want to learn how to speak it. If you are thinking about learning French, you must understand that it will take a lot of energy and patience. Learning French is more than just memorizing vocabulary words from a book; it takes a lot of learning and practicing to master this language. If you are really determined to learn French fast, you will need a lot of discipline and motivation. Learning a second language will make you more marketable for certain jobs. Here are some tips on learning the French language.

Take a French Class

One of the best ways to learn French is to take a class. During a French class, an experienced instructor can help you master the language. Sign up for a French class at your local community college. Do not hesitate to ask your classmates to study French with you after class.

Watch French Movies With English Subtitles

Try to watch at least two French movies a week. You can rent these movies at your local library or order them online. Sit back on your couch, and watch a French video on a night you are not busy. Listen to how the people in the movie pronounce the words. Do not hesitate to rewind the movie a few times if you did not catch something.

Read French

Read French every day, whether it is an article in a magazine or a book. Make a list of the words you are not familiar with, and look them up. Then, read the article again as you refer to the list. If French literature and magazine articles are too difficult, you might want to consider reading French children’s books; the words will be much more simple.

Visit France

If it is feasible, you should visit France for a few weeks to get immersed in the language and culture. When you are around people who speak French fluently, you will be able to pick up the language a little. If you know someone who already speaks French, ask her to go on your trip with you, so she can tell you what other people are saying. If you go by yourself, bring a French vocabulary book with you. Carry this book with you at all times. If you hear someone say a word you do not understand, look it up in your vocabulary book.

Use Flashcards

Using flashcards is a great way to learn French. Write down vocabulary words on several flashcards, and ask one of your friends to quiz you. If you get all of them right, you should give yourself a small reward. Spend at least 30 minutes every day practicing your flash cards. Doing so will help you learn the French vocabulary words.

If you follow these tips, you should learn French in no time. Your friends and family members will be impressed at how quickly you learned the language.

It’s April, and Financial Literacy month over in the US. What a great idea that is.

Here in the UK we are used to being bombarded with stories about school-leavers coming out of the British educational system with woefully inadequate reading writing and numeracy skills, but I haven’t heard much about concerns for the financial literacy of our young people.

We are fortunate to be blessed with a wonderful system of free education for all up to the age of 18 here, but nevertheless there are concerns about the adequacy of the educational provision. In a civilised society continually striving to progress and improve standards it is right that questions are raised about the quality of our schools, and that there is public debate about the right way to educate our children and young people. Times change, and what was right back in the 20th century is not necessarily right today.

I am old enough to remember when a knowledge of ancient Greek and Latin were a basic requirement for undergraduate entry to Oxford or Cambridge. I’ve got an A Level in Latin myself; I enjoyed it and learned a lot from it, including a good grasp of the basic principles of grammar and syntax, and an introduction to the Roman literature and culture upon which much of modern Western civilisation is founded.

Latin is out of fashion these days, and most people think that Information Technology is more important. I wouldn’t argue with that, but what should we be teaching in our schools in the second decade of the 21st Century? Resources are not limitless and no doubt there isn’t time to teach everything.

We have a National Curriculum to which UK schools are obliged to adhere, and over the years the UK government has tried to address public concerns about educational standards with a number of improvement drives. When the Labour Party came to power back in 1997, one of their first acts was to introduce nationwide strategies for numeracy and literacy.

Although these strategies have never been compulsory they are strongly recommended, and nearly all primary schools brought in the now-familiar daily ‘Literacy Hour’. I don’t think there has ever been a ‘Numeracy Hour’ as such, but there was a similar push to improve standards of numeracy and the quality of maths lessons in primary schools which was closely monitored and enforced by the Ofsted school inspection system.

So far so good. This is all very laudable, and a system which has been successful in driving up standards in our schools. So what about taking the idea further and extending it to understanding finance? That might sound like an expensive irrelevance in today’s gloomy economic climate. 2 out of 10 school-leavers have no job to go to, and most recent University graduates I know are working in pizza parlours and sandwich shops on minimum wage. And those are the fortunate ones who are lucky enough to have jobs!

Since the Credit Crunch of 2007 it has been hard for anyone to get a bank loan or a mortgage. In the wake of the Sub-Prime mortgage scandal and the subsequent housing market crash, it is understandable that the banks want to be seen to be promoting responsible lending. But it makes things tough for the new generation of would-be home-buyers.

Prospects are harder still for the unemployed and those struggling to survive on minimum wage. At the end of March this year I learned that young couples who are customers of NatWest and the RBS group will not even qualify for a cheap interest-only mortgage unless they have a combined salary of at least £50,000. Our brightest young people can now expect to come out of university with a debt of between £30,000 – £40,000 as well as a degree.

Faced with all these obstacles it would be all too easy to give up on promoting Financial Literacy and say ‘What’s the point? I haven’t got any money to look after so why worry about it?’ I say that there is every point, and all the more reason to look after whatever hard-earned resources you do have all the more carefully. Getting a job and carving out a career is hard and tough, especially these days, but we all have to do it. We all have to struggle to survive, provide a home and feed ourselves and our families. In tough economic times when traditional jobs are hard to come by, more and more young people are considering starting their own businesses, and have to find out the hard way how to get started with necessary funding.

In the battle of life in the 21st Century Financial Literacy is an important tool in our armoury, as basic and as necessary as reading and writing and learning to cook a simple meal. I’m not talking about anything complicated, most of us don’t need to know about the finer points of high-finance, but we should at least all know the basics. Why work hard for a living and then waste money on bad financial deals?

Banking is an increasingly essential part of life nowadays, with most employers paying salaries directly into their employees’ bank accounts, students having to take on board starting their working lives with the enormous debt of a student loan, and even state benefits now paid by direct debit. Nobody should leave school without a basic understanding of how to run a current account, find the best rate of interest for their hard-earned savings, manage their credit and debit cards, and how to obtain and run a mortgage.

In the US the idea of promoting financial literacy has been around for some time, with Financial Literacy Month first appearing in 2000, and with the US Senate officially recognising April as Financial Literacy Month in 2004. In spite of an ongoing government backed program of financial education for the young, a recent survey by researchers from five US universities revealed a worrying lack of financial awareness. It highlighted a disturbing level of ignorance about credit card interest rates, charges and fees, and found that 90% of college students with credit cards using them to rack up unsustainable levels of debt. The report concluded

“Our students lacked even basic financial knowledge of a common credit tool that many of our students used every day…..There is no way to describe these results as a success in education of financial literacy.”

While the UK has no direct equivalent of the Financial Literacy Month, since 2006 there has been a ‘national strategy on financial capability’. An important strand of the strategy was a schools programme known as Learning Money Matters. This ran between 2006 and 2011; it was delivered by the Personal Finance Education Group (PFEG), and aimed to equip youngsters with a good knowledge of financial matters and to improve standards of teaching by providing schools with additional resources and support. By the end of this initiative finance education was being taught in 4,250 British secondary schools, reaching out to around 1.8 million students.

The Learning Money Matters programme has finished, but the work of PFEG continues. To find out more, check out their website. http://www.pfeg.org/about_pfeg/index.html

Learning a new language as an adult is definitely not an easy task, but it has its rewards. With realistic expectations, other language learners to talk to, and plenty of practice, anyone can learn French. Thankfully, a great many resources, both online and in print, are available to help people get there.

French is a very common language, with anywhere from 70 to 100 million native speakers across the globe, depending on who is counting. Even more people speak French as a second language, so knowing the language can definitely help someone communicate. Although most people think of French simply as the language of France, it’s also one of the official languages in almost thirty other countries spread across five continents.

The purpose in learning a language can drastically change how each person goes about it. Therefore, one of the first things all potential French speakers should do is decide what their purpose is. For example, someone who simply wants to know how to get around on a vacation in Paris will want to know a few common words and phrases like “where” and “how much.” Those who are looking to learn this traveler’s French don’t need to learn concepts like conjugations, even though others focus on them first.

All types of resources are readily available for adults who want to learn French. Many community colleges and local adult education centers offer classes on evenings and weekends to accommodate typical work schedules. Others choose to buy books and software for information and practice understanding the language, and many supplementary materials are available online for free. These supplementary materials are usually wonderful for looking up information and checking for proper pronunciation.

Talking with others is a very important part of learning any language. This is simple for those who are taking a French class, as well as those who find themselves learning the language while living in a French-speaking community. For everyone else, it is important to find others who know or are also learning the language. Conversing together in French helps each person to understand the language better, speak with more confidence, and even pronounce words more accurately and easily.

Frequent practice is also extremely important. Fluency requires familiarity with the language, not just knowledge of it. Even just 10 minutes a day can do wonders for getting used to the idiosyncrasies of a new language. Of course, it’s important to vary the practice and keep from getting bored. Language learners may flip through vocabulary flashcards one night, listen to French music another, and write a letter in French on the third night.

Before beginning a study of French, everyone should try to develop realistic expectations. Without these, people often become disappointed and give up without allowing enough time to see the results. Fluency does not come in one day. In fact, a person could study for a few years and still not be truly fluent. Thankfully, people can communicate even without fluency, and the rewards of learning a new language and culture are huge.

The allure of the military lies in the fine discipline and honor which comes with defending the nation. Recruits learn self-discipline, academic excellence, social skills, outdoor excitement, and alternative education as component of their college education.

Are you struggling with the decision to join a military college? There are surely marked benefits when you join the army, and the following are but the tip of the iceberg:

Self-discipline

One of the main benefits of military schools for girls is the powerful sense of discipline which will be instilled into the college students who will enroll in the academy. A rigid regime and a strict adherence to daily schedules and time charts are things that constitute a large portion of military education. Without this, the daily activities carried out in the school won’t be accomplished. There are good points to this because graduates from these schools have a natural tendency to be disciplined in all areas of their lives, and it goes without a flicker of doubt that discipline is an essential part of success.

Educational excellence

The military has a very strong emphasis on academic excellence, and it goes without saying that graduates or students from army schools exhibit a strong sense of educational awareness. Education is much stressed upon in classes, and students are expected to give their books the attention they need in order to succeed in their future jobs, regardless of whether they end up working for the army or not.

Cultural skills

Enrolling in military schools typically means students are required to live on campus, away from the comfortable cocoon of home. This provides an excellent experience for students who’re typically holed up in their own homes and who seldom get out in society. Living in on-campus accommodations is a great way for students to mingle around with friends their own age and learn how to conduct themselves in community. Kids also learn how to be independent, and they are also much better equipped to face the difficulties that may present in their future occupations. Respect and tolerance are yet a few more virtues that are emphasized in military schools, and all these will be valuable in many aspects of life.

Outdoor fun

It goes without saying that the outdoor part of being schooled in a military school isn’t something that recruits or cadets can avoid. Drills and also fieldwork are but a few of the outdoor activities which students will be expected to be a part of. These are done in order to build up and maintain a preset level of fitness in students, so that they will be well-equipped and trained for the military, should a profession in the army be present. It’s also a great way for students to rest and relax after extended hours spent being cooped indoors.

Holistic education

There is no denying that being part of a military school exposes students to a holistic, all-rounder method of education. Students learn to identify their strengths and weaknesses, as well as to build up on their weaknesses whilst enhancing their strong points. This is vital for them to blossom into the promising young men and women they are destined to be, and these abilities will no doubt come in handy one day.

College and also school choices are tough. However, the right choice undoubtedly holds the key to a bright future.

Technology has brought many changes to society. It has made the global world seem smaller. The distances between the people of one country and another can now be bridged simply by pulling up a web page and typing in a phrase in one language to have it spit back out in another. The grammar is not always perfect and sometimes the context is a little off, but the general idea is there. Anyone can now say anything in every language conceivable by translation software. But sometimes that is not enough. The internet is a portal that has many doors. Behind one of these doors is a chance for everyone to trade in their Starbucks for a delicate porcelain espresso cup and cover their highlights with a beret because anyone can learn French online.

Language has been described as a side effect of culture. The words used to describe objects, actions, and feelings are directly related to the people themselves. To learn a new language is to experience a different way of looking at the world; even if it is just a small part of the world. For example in French loved ones often refer to one another as flea or cabbage to convey endearment. A French expression that means something like “Oh my goodness” literally translates into “Oh the cow.” Knowing someone’s language is essential for understanding both what they say as well as what they mean.

Many people have not tried learning a language beyond the scope of a degree requirement. They remember hours of tedious verb conjugations and translation assignments. But outside of the classroom it does not have to be that way. Out here in the real world ex-students old and young can learn how they feel comfortable: in their own homes in their spare time. Online programs are usually centered around conversational French. Teachers designed these programs to teach someone how to speak a different language the same way they learned to speak their own. The students first learn to replace English words with similar French vocabulary, and as the courses progress replacing the words progress to include entire thoughts and eventually whole conversations.

The internet provides an excellent medium for learning French. The learner sets their own pace and their own focus. If one person has a difficult time with their french “R” sound, but someone else has perfect pronunciation and an inability to remember how to say “Thank you,” both of those people can work on their difficulties separately without holding each other back or fear of group embarrassment. The pace of online French lessons are set by no one but the indiviual.

It does not matter how a person comes to the decision to learn a new language: a second honeymoon to Paris, crossing off an entry on a bucket list, or simply curiosity. Fulfilling the wish to lean a languange can be easy. Anyone may access the wonders of France. Anyone who has a little extra time, an internet connection, and the desire can learn French online.

If you are interested in French culture, you will want to learn to speak French. Although you can find gadgets and online services that will translate French into your native language for you, there’s no substitute for being able to conduct an actual conversation in the language.

You may be motivated to learn French because you have a new boyfriend or girlfriend from France, and you want to make an effort to communicate better. Schools often require students to learn a new language as a condition for graduation, and French is an ideal choice if you need to fulfill such a requirement. Another popular reason to learn the language is that you are planning to take a vacation in France, or your company requires you to take a business trip there. Learning French will also help you exercise your brain, as you build up your vocabulary and grammar skills.

If you have a new friend or significant other who is a native French speaker, imagine how delighted he or she will be to discover that you are making an effort to speak in French, instead of requiring all conversations and text messages to be in English. Learning to speak someone else’s language is an excellent method of solidifying the relationship. He or she may also be encouraged to attain better English skills.

You will miss so much if you take a vacation or a business trip to France without learning to speak their language. Imagine having to type in every phrase you want to say into a translation device, or thumbing through a French phrase book when you want to order a meal or get directions to a landmark in Paris. Take some time to at least learn some basic French phrases so you can get around more smoothly.

Your appreciation of French culture will be enhanced if you manage to learn the language. Instead of reading translations of poetry, plays or novels, you can experience these texts exactly as their authors intended. Translations will never give you the subtle nuances, meaning and wordplay that you will find in the original material.

You can learn to speak French in a variety of ways. If you prefer a structured method, it might be best for you to enroll in a French language class that meets regularly, such as for one hour every day, or a few hours several times per week. Your French instructor will give you assignments and have you practice conversations with your fellow classmates. The school will probably also have a language laboratory, where you can listen to recordings of native French speakers and then repeat what they say to help you improve your accent. You can also find French language learning software to play on your computer or an app for your cell phone. Some people prefer to study independently, using recordings that they can listen to while they commute, along with books and study guides that they follow at their own pace. Another option is to hire a private tutor, who can give you focused attention and help you practice your conversational skills.

Although it may take you a few weeks before you get the hang of speaking basic French, you will continue to improve as long as you put in some effort on a regular basis, practicing your reading, writing and conversational skills.