Everyone enjoys doing quizzes and exercises when learning a second language.

Everyone enjoys doing quizzes and exercises when learning a second language. When we learn a new language, we usually begin by learning vocabulary and quickly move on to learning the 7 or 8 million rules and exceptions…&nbsp;&nbsp; But, if we do not have an opportunity to apply and use these rules, we can easily forget 25% of these rules. This is where working with a good teacher can help.A good teacher will correct written or spoken mistakes.&nbsp;But that alone may not be enough to help the student get used to using the rules.By adding quizzes and exercises to the mix, the student can test their knowledge and reinforce their language skills. Here is a simple example of why quizzes and exercises may be quite helpful. Let’s use an example from the Russian language.If we directly translate a Russian sentence into English, word for word, the sentence would read as, “I am waiting David on the theatre”.This sentence is correct in the Russian language, but the direct translation is not correct in English.The correct English sentence would be, “I am waiting FOR David AT the theatre.” The preposition “for” has at least 7 uses.In the case above, the preposition for is being used to show a purpose.The purpose of “for David” answers the question related to the verb “am waiting” and it answers the question “Why are you waiting?”So, in English, “for” tells us the reason or purpose of:-&nbsp;waiting for someone or something (usually followed by a noun or pronoun (David or him) or-&nbsp;waiting for something to happen (e.g., waiting to receive the test results or waiting for summer). Also, the preposition “on” often refers to something that is found on a surface (e.g., the book or food on the table).The preposition “at” explains the location (where the person waiting is located (e.g., at the theatre)). Memorizing information is not enough… we need to apply/use the information we have learned.But by doing quizzes and exercises, we use our memory, but we also think and recall specific data we have learned. Doing quizzes and exercises help us to improve:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <h3>RETRIEVAL</h3>Quizzing is beneficial to a student’s learning because it involves retrieval practice (i.e., thinking back to information previously learned and bringing it to mind). Cognitive psychology strongly suggests that the act of retrieving information directly helps students improve.&nbsp;Cognitive psychology is the scientific study of mental processes such as attention, language use, memory, perception, problem-solving, creativity, and reasoning (in other words: how people think and process information). There is clear evidence from psychological experiments that practicing retrieval of something after learning it, for instance by taking a quiz or test, makes you more likely to retain it for the long term. <h3>DO QUIZZES ENHANCE INFORMATION RETENTION?</h3>Retrieval aids retention, and quizzes excel in this aspect. While reading is useful, combining it with quizzes ensures more effective learning. Forcing the brain to retrieve/remember/recall information embeds it for future use. Indeed, quizzes contribute to better information retention. <h3>FEEDBACK FOR TEACHERS</h3>Providing frequent quizzes to students gives a teacher an idea of how well the student or class understands the topic.Testing provides feedback to instructors and lets them know what has been learned or what has been forgotten or not been learned. <h3>FEEDBACK FOR STUDENTS</h3>Quizzes help students identify what they know and especially what they don’t know.By identifying a learner’s mistakes, the student will then know what they need to work on and improve.&nbsp;&nbsp;The feedback/results from quizzes can help students monitor their own progressFurthermore, when a student does well on a quiz, it boosts the student’s confidence and motivates them to learn more. <h3>EXPECTING A QUIZ</h3>Studies have shown that students may pay closer attention to the lesson material when they are expecting to be quizzed.Students who received the warning about the upcoming quiz did better than the students who were not given a warning. This suggests that expecting a test can be beneficial to learning, and one way to set up test expectancy is to keep quizzing! <h3>QUIZZES ARE LESS STRESSFUL THAN TESTS AND EXAMS</h3>The power of quizzes lies in the low-stakes or no-stakes definition of the activity. Compared to tests, quizzes offer students the opportunity to practice their skills and knowledge without the fear of failure.&nbsp;Also, according to a recent study, quizzing can help reduce test anxiety and stress for students, and this is another reason why teachers should use quizzes and exercises. <h3>COLLABORATIVE QUIZZES</h3>Quizzes can also be used creatively by having students work collaboratively to find and discuss the answers to the questions together. Research has shown that when students worked in pairs to discuss the answers, they achieved a much higher score on their final exam. <h3>SUMMARY ― THE BENEFITS OF DOING QUIZZES AND EXERCISES</h3>Regularly doing quizzes has several benefits and include:&nbsp;<ul><li>practicing the information you are learning in a low-pressure activity</li><li>allowing you to self-assess your knowledge of a subject</li><li>showing you topics that need further revision</li><li>doing quizzes will improve your concentration and information retention</li><li>your confidence will increase</li><li>your ability to concentrate will improve</li><li>students who do quizzes and exercises do much (MUCH) better on final tests compared to non-quizzed students</li><li>immediate feedback from instructors can positively impact a student’s performance, and</li><li>best of all, quizzes are fun!</li></ul> So, what do you think?Are quizzes and exercises helpful?

Doing Quizzes is a Good Way to Learn a Second Language… True or False?

If you are starting to learn Spanish, you may find it difficult to choose which teacher or tutor to choose from. You may have some questions: Should I learn with someone from Latin America or Spain? Should I learn all the variations of Spanish or a more standard Spanish?

If you are starting to learn Spanish, you may find it difficult to choose which teacher or tutor to choose from. You may have some questions: Should I learn with someone from Latin America or Spain? Should I learn all the variations of Spanish or a more standard Spanish? These are hard questions to answer, and for that matter, many language apps try to offer programs that generalize the language so that you learn in a more standardized way and for all Spanish native speakers to be able to understand you.&nbsp; One of the reasons why you are in doubt about who to choose as your language guide is because Spanish is spoken in 21 countries as the official language, which makes it the second most spoken language in the world. Also, another reason is that some people on the internet may look up to sometimes say that Spanish from a particular country is better than another country, but that is not true at all. Although listening to such information may leave you confused, this article will help you find the right answer to your doubts. To be able to tackle this matter in the best way, let´s see some points in favor of learning standard Spanish and some points that are against it. In Favor <ul><li>Learning neutral Spanish will allow you to understand all Spanish speakers, and they will be able to understand you. It is better to learn neutral Spanish because it is always proper.</li></ul> <ul><li>If you learn neutral Spanish, you will not have any problem adapting yourself to the variations of Spanish in the country you visit; it will be easier to understand it, and you will be able to use it when appropriate.&nbsp;</li></ul> Against <ul><li>Neutral Spanish does not exist on the streets, and it has been created artificially to be used in the media. Each country has its variation, which is what is special about a language.</li></ul> <ul><li>The student has to learn the vocabulary and expressions of each country or teacher. That is the real Spanish.</li></ul> <ul><li>The student should become familiar with the different Spanish accents. This will make it easier to adapt to the variations of the language when he or she visits different Hispanic countries.</li></ul> <ul><li>The student has to become familiar with colloquialisms which is what most people use to communicate. By doing this, he or she can see the differences from one country to another.</li></ul> As you may see, there are many things to take into account, and you may feel even more confused now. Do not panic! To decide what Spanish to learn, you must answer one question first. Are you learning Spanish to move to a Hispanic country?&nbsp;If the answer is positive, then you should learn Spanish from that particular country on your own and with someone belonging to that country. However, if your answer is “no,” then learn a more standard and proper Spanish from someone who has a neutral accent and who speaks properly. This is more convenient because you will be able to understand and communicate with any Spanish speaker, and with time, you will be able to adapt your Spanish to certain regionalisms and colloquialisms. It is going to be fun! By the way, likely, your teacher or tutor does not speak Spanish on the street the same way that he speaks with you in class, and that is fine. What happens is that this instructor is trying to help you communicate with anyone who speaks Spanish, and yes, you will maybe sound very formal at the beginning, but little by little, you will adapt your Spanish to sound formal or informal when appropriate, so do not worry much about sounding too formal. To conclude, we can say that you can choose to learn Spanish with a teacher or tutor with neutral Spanish if you are not planning to move to a Hispanic country, but if you are, then learn the colloquialisms and regionalisms with someone from the country you are going to move to, so you can connect better with the people in the area. On another note, what do you think about online classes? Italki was created back in 2007, and it has been growing since then. You can find thousands of teachers and tutors here, so look no further and take a lesson with someone who fits your needs on Italki. You can watch the video and introduction of the language instructor you are more interested in. Also, if you ever want to know more about my country, El Salvador, do not hesitate to reach out to me. Please leave in the comments your thoughts about what Spanish is better for you. I look forward to reading what you have to say on this matter.

What Spanish to Learn

When learning a language such as Italian, you are eager to sound as native as possible. You want to be able to gesture like a true Italian, have an accent like a true Italian, and use expressions like a true Italian. Today, I will share eight expressions that will make you sound like a true native s

When learning a language such as Italian, you are eager to sound as native as possible. You want to be able to gesture like a true Italian, have an accent like a true Italian, and use expressions like a true Italian. Today, I will share eight expressions that will make you sound like a true native speaker. <h3>1."Cuor di panna" - Heart of cream</h3> If someone says "come stai cuor di panna," it means "how are you heart of cream." In this situation, the phrase "cuor di panna" is used synonymously with sweetheart or dear, often describing someone very sweet, kind, and harmless. You can use this expression to describe someone as sweet as cream. <h3>2."Un sole che spacca le pietre" - a sun that breaks the stones</h3> If you hear the expression "oggi c'e un sole che spacca le pietre," it means " today the sun is breaking the stones." It is implying that today we have such a strong sunny day that it can break anything. The underlying assumption is that it is a super hot and humid day. <h3>3."Sei bello come il sole" - you are beautiful as the morning sun</h3> If a woman sees you and compliments you by saying "sei bello come il sole," she is telling you that you are as beautiful as the morning sun. The sentence is an innocent compliment, not necessarily implying that a person is flirting with you. "Sei bello come il sole" is used to describe a male individual while if you want to compliment a woman, you have to change bello to bella. <h3>4."Buono come il pane" - as good as bread</h3> "Sei buono come il pane" is an expression used to describe someone who is kind, good-hearted, or generous. In Italian culture, bread is often seen as a symbol of essential nourishment and generosity that accompanies every single meal. So if someone compliments you as being "good as bread," it is a high compliment. <h3>5."Un fulmine a ciel sereno" - a lightning in a calm sky</h3> This expression is usually used to describe an unexpected situation that happened out of nowhere, often with negative connotations. In English, a close metaphorical translation would be "out of the blue." For example, "it hit me out of the blue" could be translated as "mi colpi come un fulmine a ciel sereno." <h3>6."Hai la faccia da pesce lesso" - You have the face of a boiled fish</h3> If someone says "hai la faccia da pesce lesso," it means that you are so bored that your face looks like a boiled fish. Be careful with your facial expressions! <h3>7."Chi dorme non piglia pesci" - who sleeps, doesn't catch fish</h3> This expression has a similar meaning to the English expression "the early bird catches the worm”. It emphasizes the importance of starting early to increase the chances of completing your to do list of the day. If all you do is sleep, you will never achieve anything in life.&nbsp; <h3>8."Essere come il prezzemolo" - be like parsley</h3> If someone tells you -&nbsp;"sei come il prezzemolo", they are telling you that like parsley, you are everywhere and present in every single situation.In conclusion, mastering Italian expressions not only enriches your language skills but also allows you to embrace the culture and nuances of Italy. So, next time you're conversing with native speakers, don't hesitate to sprinkle these expressions into your conversations. They not only add flair but also demonstrate your appreciation for the language and its vibrant heritage. Buona fortuna! (Good luck!)

8 Daily Expressions to Sound more like a Native Italian

Learning Business English skills in English is crucial for individuals looking to excel in a globalized business environment.

Learning Business English skills in English is crucial for individuals looking to excel in a globalized business environment. English has become the lingua franca of international business, with companies from different countries often using it as a common language for communication. As a result, possessing strong Business English skills opens up a world of opportunities for professionals, enabling them to effectively collaborate with colleagues, clients, and partners from diverse linguistic backgrounds. One of the key benefits of mastering Business English is enhanced communication and negotiation abilities. Clear and concise communication is essential in business settings, whether it's delivering presentations, participating in meetings, or negotiating deals. Proficiency in Business English equips individuals with the vocabulary, grammar, and communication strategies needed to convey ideas accurately and persuasively, leading to more successful interactions and business outcomes.&nbsp;&nbsp; <h3>Understanding and Respecting Cultural Differences in Business: </h3>Understanding and respecting cultural differences can lead to better communication, collaboration, and overall business success. Let's delve deeper into the importance of cultural awareness and sensitivity in global business, along with specific examples of cross-cultural communication challenges and solutions: 1.Importance of Cultural Awareness: Cultural awareness involves recognizing and understanding the beliefs, values, norms, and behaviors of individuals from different cultural backgrounds. In a business context, being culturally aware allows professionals to navigate diverse environments with respect and empathy, thereby avoiding misunderstandings and conflicts. 2.Specific Cultural Differences Impacting Business Interactions: Cultural differences can manifest in various ways that impact business interactions. For example:-Communication Styles: Some cultures value direct communication, while others prefer indirect or nuanced communication. Understanding these differences helps in conveying messages effectively.&nbsp;&nbsp;-Decision-Making Processes: Cultures may have different approaches to decision-making, such as consensus-based decision-making versus hierarchical decision-making. Recognizing these differences enables smoother decision-making processes.-Time Management: Cultural attitudes towards punctuality and time management vary. Being aware of cultural perceptions of time helps in scheduling meetings and managing expectations. 3.Benefits of Understanding Cultural Differences: Understanding cultural differences leads to better outcomes in business interactions. For instance:-Building Trust: Respectful acknowledgment of cultural differences builds trust and strengthens relationships with international partners and clients.-Enhanced Communication: Adapting communication styles based on cultural preferences leads to clearer and more effective communication.-Conflict Resolution: Cultural sensitivity facilitates smoother conflict resolution by acknowledging diverse perspectives and finding mutually acceptable solutions. By embracing cultural sensitivity and addressing cross-cultural communication challenges, businesses can foster inclusive environments, strengthen international partnerships, and achieve greater success in a globalized marketplace. <h3>Communication and Negotiation Strategies in Business English: </h3>Effective communication in business requires more than just language proficiency; it involves employing specific strategies to convey messages clearly and persuasively. Here are some key strategies and scenarios demonstrating how Business English skills can be applied: 1.Effective Listening Techniques: In a business meeting, actively listening to colleagues, clients, and partners shows respect and enhances understanding. Business English learners can practice paraphrasing to ensure they've understood correctly, asking clarifying questions, and maintaining eye contact to demonstrate engagement. 2.Conflict Resolution Methods: When faced with conflicts, using Business English skills to navigate conversations diplomatically is crucial. For example, employing "I" statements to express concerns without blaming others, active listening to understand different perspectives, and proposing solutions collaboratively can help resolve conflicts effectively. 3.Persuasive Language Use: In negotiations or sales pitches, using persuasive language can influence decision-making. Business English learners can learn techniques such as using power words, framing benefits clearly, and addressing objections confidently to persuade stakeholders and close deals successfully. <h3>Leveraging Business English for Career Advancement: </h3>Professionals can leverage their Business English skills strategically to advance their careers and access international opportunities. Here are some actionable strategies: 1.Networking in English-Speaking Forums: Participating in industry-specific forums, conferences, and networking events conducted in English allows professionals to connect with global peers, gain insights into international trends, and build valuable professional relationships. 2.Seeking International Job Opportunities: Actively exploring job opportunities in multinational companies or organizations that operate globally can leverage Business English skills. Tailoring resumes and cover letters to highlight language proficiency, cross-cultural competence, and international experience can make candidates stand out to recruiters. 3.Showcasing Language Proficiency on Resumes and LinkedIn Profiles: Including language proficiency levels, such as CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) ratings, on resumes and LinkedIn profiles is essential. Additionally, sharing content in English, obtaining certifications like TOEFL or IELTS, and showcasing language projects or collaborations can demonstrate Business English proficiency to potential employers. <h3>Business English Training Programs: </h3>To enhance Business English skills, individuals can benefit from various training programs tailored to their needs. These programs include language courses, workshops, and online resources. Language courses offer structured learning environments with certified instructors, focusing on grammar, vocabulary, and business communication. Workshops provide hands-on practice in specific areas such as presentations, negotiations, and email writing. Online resources, including courses, videos, and interactive platforms, offer flexibility and accessibility for self-paced learning. Reputable training providers for Business English include:-British Council-Cambridge English-TOEIC By enrolling in these training programs, individuals can improve their Business English proficiency, enhance communication skills, and boost career prospects in today's competitive business landscape.In today's interconnected business landscape, mastering Business English skills is not just advantageous but essential for professionals aiming to thrive in global markets. The ability to communicate effectively, negotiate persuasively, and understand cultural nuances are pillars of success in international business interactions. Cultivating cultural awareness and sensitivity fosters respectful and harmonious collaborations, leading to better communication, stronger relationships, and enhanced business outcomes. By acknowledging and adapting to cultural differences, professionals can navigate diverse environments with empathy and forge meaningful connections with colleagues, clients, and partners worldwide. Additionally, leveraging Business English proficiency strategically opens doors to career advancement opportunities, from networking with global peers to pursuing international job roles. By showcasing language proficiency, cross-cultural competence, and a willingness to embrace diverse perspectives, individuals can position themselves as valuable assets in today's competitive job market. In essence, the synergy of Business English skills, cultural sensitivity, and career advancement strategies empowers professionals to excel in a dynamic and interconnected global business environment. Embracing these elements not only enhances individual success but also contributes to creating inclusive and thriving workplaces on a global scale.

Navigating Global Business: The Power of Business English, Cultural Sensitivity, and Career Advancement Strategies

Many learners need help to get used to Japanese adjective conjugation. Let’s review the basic rules and cement your knowledge.

Many learners need help to get used to Japanese adjective conjugation. Let’s review the basic rules and cement your knowledge.Why do adjectives conjugate? Is it necessary?Yes. Adjective conjugation is one of the most important aspects of Japanese grammar. Conjugated adjectives are necessary to express negation, tense, conditional, etc. Here are 7 conjugation patterns of adjectives.&nbsp; -Attribute form-Infinitive form-Negative form-Adverb form-Conjunctive form (Te-form)-Past form (Ta-form)-Conditional form (Ba-form) There are 2 kinds of adjectives in Japanese: い-adjectives and な-adjectives. So why are there 2 kinds? This is because な-adjectives were invented later than い-adjectives. During the Heian period (795-1185), there were not enough adjectives to describe complex concepts. So they converted some nouns into adjectives by adding な at the end. This is how な-adjectives were made. Therefore, い-adjectives often describe fundamental concepts such as emotions, sensations, and colors, while な-adjectives tend to describe abstract concepts such as states of things. い-adjectives end with い, and な-adjectives end with な. See the following adjectives. Can you guess which is which? <table table_id="bpneq9lpzgp"><tr row_id="nbhpinrncvd"><td table_id="bpneq9lpzgp" row_id="nbhpinrncvd" cell_id="cuhkd8a1cgk">あつい・きれいな・たのしい・かわいい・にぎやかな・べんりな</td></tr></table> The answer is, あつい, たのしい, and かわいい are い-adjectives, and きれいな, にぎやかな, and べんりな are な-adjectives. Easy! Both types of adjectives are used in the same way in sentences. The only difference is the pattern of conjugation. In summary, Japanese adjectives have 7 conjugation forms, and each of the 2 adjective types has its conjugation pattern. Therefore, you must know at least 14 patterns to use an adjective correctly. Let's look at them one at a time! <h3>Attribute form</h3>Any adjectives ending with い or な are in the attribute form. The attribute form of an adjective is a basic form used to describe nouns. You can put them directly before nouns, just like English adjectives. <table table_id="4vpxkxdbwtf"><tr row_id="cuzjtzsgju6"><td table_id="4vpxkxdbwtf" row_id="cuzjtzsgju6" cell_id="zlji644ztv">かわいい ねこ　a cute catにぎやかな みち　a busy street</td></tr></table> And you need to remember the attribute forms to know the stem of an adjective.&nbsp; <table table_id="fp717ki164d"><tr row_id="sljdwaa7qca"><td table_id="fp717ki164d" row_id="sljdwaa7qca" cell_id="mpirzyikpt">かわいい</td><td table_id="fp717ki164d" row_id="sljdwaa7qca" cell_id="4wc1t6drmwq">にぎやかな</td></tr></table> The stem is a fixed part that is not affected by conjugation. In this example, かわい and にぎやか are the stems. Conjugation changes the parts in red: the last い and な in the attribute form.&nbsp; <h3>Infinitive form</h3> The infinitive form is used when an adjective is at the end of a sentence. <table table_id="ubm24c3cdt"><tr row_id="3ittzwvpwa4"><td table_id="ubm24c3cdt" row_id="3ittzwvpwa4" cell_id="s0procglplo">ねこ は かわいい。　The cat is cute.みち は にぎやかだ。　The street is busy.</td></tr></table> For the infinitive form, い-adjectives are the same as the attribute form, while な-adjectives change to “stem+だ”. This だ is a short form of です. だ/です are auxiliary verbs that are used at the end of assertive sentences. Assertive sentences are sentences like “X is Y” and their endings are always nouns or adjectives. です is politer than だ and more common in polite conversation. <table table_id="x1div73ep2n"><tr row_id="gq0aztykz0g"><td table_id="x1div73ep2n" row_id="gq0aztykz0g" cell_id="rmm6q7gfxys">ねこ は かわいい +です。　The cat is cute. (polite)みち は にぎやかです。　The street is busy. (polite)</td></tr></table> <h3>Negative form</h3> When the sentence is negative, you must change the adjective to negative form. <table table_id="gt59jdzy5t"><tr row_id="yqcmplh85ij"><td table_id="gt59jdzy5t" row_id="yqcmplh85ij" cell_id="i36l1xyimmh">ねこ は かわいくない。　The cat is not cute.みち は にぎやかじゃない。　The street is not busy.</td></tr></table> For the negative form, い-adjectives change to “stem+くない”, and な-adjectives change to “stem+じゃない”. If you say かわいいじゃない/にぎやかくない, it’s wrong because かわいい is an い-adjective and にぎやかな is a な-adjective. Please do not mix up these 2 conjugation patterns.&nbsp; <table table_id="t0elqumks"><tr row_id="4zxm458okaw"><td table_id="t0elqumks" row_id="4zxm458okaw" cell_id="oxfj2mvpz0h">かわいいじゃない - Not correct!にぎやかくない - Not correct!</td></tr></table> The negative form can be used in front of nouns just like the attribute form. <table table_id="ta9088haoo"><tr row_id="5omiz3u6d1d"><td table_id="ta9088haoo" row_id="5omiz3u6d1d" cell_id="fbfydjrk5y">かわいくない ねこ not a cute catにぎやかじゃない みち　not a busy street</td></tr></table> And of course, when it’s the last word of a sentence, you can add です at the end to make the sentence more polite. <table table_id="5xvsspnn73y"><tr row_id="hw6tbl6ub4t"><td table_id="5xvsspnn73y" row_id="hw6tbl6ub4t" cell_id="okjhk0ct2u">ねこ は かわいくない +です。　The cat is not cute. (polite)みち は にぎやかじゃない +です。　The street is not busy. (polite)</td></tr></table> <h3>Adverb form</h3> You can turn adjectives into adverbs using the adverb form. Adverbs are content words to describe verbs or adjectives. For example, “slow” is an adjective, and “slowly” is an adverb. Here are the adverb forms: <table table_id="rq86kuqus7"><tr row_id="r1rqsid2o1"><td table_id="rq86kuqus7" row_id="r1rqsid2o1" cell_id="4mon2rjht8l">ねこ は かわいく ねた。 The cat slept cutely.こども は しずかに あそんだ。　The children played quietly.</td></tr></table> For the adverb form, い-adjectives change to “stem+く”, and な-adjectives change to “stem+に”. Japanese grammatical order is Subject+Object+Verb, while English is SVO. So verbs are always at the end of sentences. Adverbs are usually right before verbs.&nbsp; <h3>Conjugative form (Te-form)</h3> When you list 2 or more adjectives in one sentence, you must change the adjectives into the conjugative form except the last one. Let’s look at an example. <table table_id="a4kmp10pkdp"><tr row_id="xw5rwjrz5t"><td table_id="a4kmp10pkdp" row_id="xw5rwjrz5t" cell_id="092bzt38sulc">いぬ は かわいくて、にぎやかで、たのしい。　Dogs are cute, lively, and fun.</td></tr></table> There are 3 adjectives in this sentence; かわいい, にぎやかな, たのしい. The first and second adjectives must be in the conjunctive forms to connect to the next adjective. For the conjunctive form, い-adjectives change to “stem+くて” and な-adjectives change to “stem+で”. The conjugative forms cannot be used at the end of sentences. <h3>Past form (Ta-form)</h3> The past form expresses the past tense. <table table_id="4lotubznfrn"><tr row_id="53d8zcztqoh"><td table_id="4lotubznfrn" row_id="53d8zcztqoh" cell_id="gr1kbybjec6">ねこ は かわいかった。　The cat was cute.みち は にぎやかだった。　The street was busy.</td></tr></table> For the past form, い-adjectives change to “stem+かった”, and な-adjectives change to “stem+だった”. Like other forms, the past form can be put in front of nouns, too. <table table_id="val3t4aba2l"><tr row_id="ne79r0j3f7"><td table_id="val3t4aba2l" row_id="ne79r0j3f7" cell_id="q57hjhns8gg">かわいかった ねこ　The cat that was cute.にぎやかだった みち　The street that was busy.</td></tr></table> Can you add です at the end to the past form when it’s at the end of a sentence? Yes and no. Look at the examples. <table table_id="loaeuiwfhnn"><tr row_id="za7fuez96n"><td table_id="loaeuiwfhnn" row_id="za7fuez96n" cell_id="4cj7wpjd33o">ねこ は かわいかった +です。　The cat was cute. (polite)みち は にぎやかでした。　The street was busy. (polite)</td></tr></table> For い-adjectives, you can add です after the past form. However, for な-adjectives, “stem+だった” changes to “stem+でした” when it’s polite. This is because だった is a short form of でした. Do not mix up these rules. かわいかったでした/にぎやかだったです are incorrect. <table table_id="6au4tfbj96i"><tr row_id="59mzuxa5j2v"><td table_id="6au4tfbj96i" row_id="59mzuxa5j2v" cell_id="v787f4gxzxl">かわいかったでした - Not correct!にぎやかだったです - Not correct!</td></tr></table> <h3>Conditional form (Ba-form)</h3> The conditional form expresses conditions. It’s the part of the sentence that contains “if” in sentences such as: “If it’s sunny tomorrow, I will go outside.” <table table_id="30i38bo3uxh"><tr row_id="cjhalzeu2h6"><td table_id="30i38bo3uxh" row_id="cjhalzeu2h6" cell_id="9dnrkuk28wp">ねこ が かわいければ もらいます。　I will get the cat if it is cute.パーティ が にぎやかならば/であれば いきます　I will go to the party if it is lively.</td></tr></table> For the conditional form, い-adjectives change to “stem+ければ” and な-adjectives change to “stem+ならば/であれば”. The past form +ら also works as the conditional form. <table table_id="mch22uud6vr"><tr row_id="wit0sc73oq"><td table_id="mch22uud6vr" row_id="wit0sc73oq" cell_id="nylgg2rd1ig">ねこ が かわいかった +ら もらいます。　I will get the cat if it is cute.パーティ が にぎやかだった +ら いきます　I will go to the party if it is lively.</td></tr></table> Here is a summary.<table table_id="llxtuzp7wsp"><tr row_id="j5nwc72b4ga"><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="j5nwc72b4ga" cell_id="2clfuu7fvf6"> </td><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="j5nwc72b4ga" cell_id="1fj71il15be">いadjective</td><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="j5nwc72b4ga" cell_id="l7m6wqnc58">なadjective</td></tr><tr row_id="l0fwpx8tmv"><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="l0fwpx8tmv" cell_id="3hdt3j8ovcv">Attribute form</td><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="l0fwpx8tmv" cell_id="14iiq4brwxw">stem+い</td><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="l0fwpx8tmv" cell_id="612qr2f7ze">stem+な</td></tr><tr row_id="iahluvw4pwj"><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="iahluvw4pwj" cell_id="64ulxbs7vi3">Infinitive form</td><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="iahluvw4pwj" cell_id="xc7e0zxoa5">stem+い (+です)</td><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="iahluvw4pwj" cell_id="2kmv692dehi">stem+だ (or です)</td></tr><tr row_id="pooswgvi3ge"><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="pooswgvi3ge" cell_id="qz8h3qbexnn">Negative form</td><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="pooswgvi3ge" cell_id="gouzsmsl138">stem+くない (+です)</td><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="pooswgvi3ge" cell_id="9lnayavfe8">stem+じゃない (+です)</td></tr><tr row_id="scn7p9ql66"><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="scn7p9ql66" cell_id="9l4n8qj2zgb">Adverb form</td><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="scn7p9ql66" cell_id="gq1z8jfet7c">stem+く</td><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="scn7p9ql66" cell_id="of83pntk05m">stem+に</td></tr><tr row_id="p9xv61zudy8"><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="p9xv61zudy8" cell_id="diw9lwyvq8u">Conjugative form (Te-form)</td><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="p9xv61zudy8" cell_id="fin04k98vif">stem+くて</td><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="p9xv61zudy8" cell_id="zdc9vcikj3">stem+で</td></tr><tr row_id="nuch4760qeb"><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="nuch4760qeb" cell_id="q2j19aeznxg">Past form (Ta-form)</td><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="nuch4760qeb" cell_id="dljyvtdmdyg">stem+かった (+です)</td><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="nuch4760qeb" cell_id="t316w976w3">stem+だった (or でした)</td></tr><tr row_id="sdrw1dfm4h"><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="sdrw1dfm4h" cell_id="r8kpw1vy3r">Conditional form (Ba-form)</td><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="sdrw1dfm4h" cell_id="3dwdsoq1u8g">stem+ければ</td><td table_id="llxtuzp7wsp" row_id="sdrw1dfm4h" cell_id="uawfm1rmea">stem+ならば/であれば</td></tr></table> So, how can you change the conjugative form, the past form, and the conditional form to the negative?&nbsp;What are the differences among the several conditional forms? Take a Japanese lesson to find out the answer!&nbsp;

Basics of Japanese Adjective Conjugation

As you probably already know, Easter is a Catholic holiday, accompanied by masses, processions, and religious rituals still very much felt throughout Italy.

First and foremost, what is Easter and when do exactly Easter dates fall?&nbsp; As you probably already know, Easter is a Catholic holiday, accompanied by masses,&nbsp;processions, and religious rituals still very much felt throughout Italy.&nbsp; It is a so-called movable feast: because its date varies from year to year since it correlates with the lunar cycle.&nbsp;&nbsp; As you know, Italy is an intensely Roman Catholic country and the week leading up to Easter is&nbsp;known as ‘Settimana Santa’ (‘Holy Week’), which includes:&nbsp; - Domenica delle Palme (Palm Sunday)&nbsp;- Lunedì e Martedì Santo (Holy Monday and Tuesday)&nbsp;- Mercoledì Santo (Spy Wednesday)&nbsp;- Giovedì Santo (Maundy Thursday)&nbsp;- Venerdì Santo (Good Friday)&nbsp;- Sabato Santo (Holy Saturday)&nbsp;- Domenica di Pasqua (Easter Day)&nbsp; But there is also ‘La Pasquetta’ - namely Easter Monday or ‘Little Easter’ - which we will see later in this article.&nbsp; After Christmas, Easter is chronologically the first and most important festivity in Italy.&nbsp;Of course, it is an occasion to celebrate with family and friends and to discover the many traditions that vary from region to region.&nbsp;&nbsp;When we hear the word Pasqua (Easter), our thoughts immediately run to chocolate eggs,&nbsp;doves, baskets with bunnies and chicks, and flowers in pastel shades.&nbsp;We wait to celebrate it after the cold winter because it falls on the Sunday following the first full moon of the spring season.So, you may also find people celebrating outdoors – if it is sunny of course - having traditional&nbsp;Easter picnics.&nbsp;This day means friends, family, and food with big meals and of course lots, lots of chocolate.&nbsp; Let me tell you a fun fact about Pasqua:&nbsp;When someone does a lot of cleaning, they call it ‘pulizie di Pasqua’ (spring-cleaning), we say&nbsp;for example: ‘Questi giorni sto facendo le pulizie di Pasqua’ (These days I’ve been doing Easter&nbsp;cleaning) to mean that we are cleaning and putting the house in order. This saying comes from a past tradition to welcome the new season by cleaning the house before Easter, and today is&nbsp;still used, and not only during Easter.&nbsp;⬇️ I'm curious to know if this expression also exists in your native language, so please let me&nbsp;know in the comment section down below!&nbsp; Ok, let’s explore the first Easter tradition I have picked for you!&nbsp; <h3>1) Savoury and sweet breakfast&nbsp;</h3>I love waking up on Easter day because the table at breakfast is just amazing. When I was a child, it was one of the most awaited moments of the whole year. But let me&nbsp;tell you why:&nbsp;Of course, depending on the region in Italy, you may find different and typical treats, but something that really cannot miss is hard-boiled eggs.&nbsp; Eggs are a symbol of life and rebirth and they give color to the whole table since usually children and adults like to dye and decorate them with brilliant colors. I really love the final look on the table and the fact that coloring the eggs is an activity that brings children and adults together during this period.&nbsp; As the title suggests, one typical thing related to the Easter breakfast is that it’s both savory and sweet.&nbsp;As you know, Italians are famous for sweet breakfasts, which usually include a cappuccino or caffè with cornetto – and I’m one of those sweet-addicted people – but at Easter, I feel like I can give it a try and ‘change’ only for a day my habit to explore also savory tastes at breakfast, which include pizza di Pasqua al formaggio – namely the&nbsp;Easter cheesecake - which as the name suggests is made of cheese (parmigiano and/or&nbsp;pecorino) - omg this is soooo good – accompanied by the already mentioned hard-boiled eggs, and some ciauscolo, which is a traditional cured meat from Umbria and&nbsp;Marche.&nbsp; Since I’m in Rome – so centre of Italy - this is what my Easter breakfast most of the time looks like.&nbsp; But one thing that is in every house at Easter, is the famous Colomba, which as you can see from the picture is a traditional Easter bread, the counterpart of the two well-known Italian Christmas sweet treats: Panettone and Pandoro. Since ‘colomba’ means ‘dove’ in Italian, its dough is fashioned into a dove-shaped bread and topped with pearl sugar and almonds before being baked. But of course, you can also find other versions topped with chocolate instead. This sweet treat is typical of the Lombardia region and it’s now worldwide renowned. Another northern tradition is the pinza&nbsp;pasquale from Trieste in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, a sweet bread with a three-point cross carved on top.&nbsp; <h3>2) Easter Lunch:&nbsp;</h3>After the amazing breakfast, which looks like lunch already, we prepare ourselves to gather with the family and friends for lunch!&nbsp; In Campania, especially in Naples, you will find the amazing casatiello, whose basic ingredients are flour, lard, cheese, salami, eggs, and black pepper; and the sweet pastiera napoletana, which is a Neapolitan Easter cake made of short pastry, with wheat cream, ricotta, and candied fruit.&nbsp; For many Italians, Easter without lamb on their table is hard to imagine. The tradition of eating lamb at Pasqua is strongly rooted in history. The lamb (‘agnello’ in Italian) is an important symbol in many religions, but especially in Christianity. The image of the lamb appears in some of the most treasured Renaissance masterpieces—Da Vinci’s&nbsp;“Sant'Anna, la Vergine e il Bambino con l'agnellino” for example.&nbsp;&nbsp; Again, from lamb, you can also find another typical dish called coratella which is usually the lamb’s heart, lungs, and liver. It is oven-cooked with white wine, lemon juice,&nbsp;extra virgin olive oil, broth, salt and pepper, often served with artichokes. In Lazio, instead, we especially eat abbacchio alla romana, which is a baby lamb cooked in white wine, garlic, and rosemary. ‘Abbacchio’ is the Roman slang word for&nbsp;‘agnello’ - lamb – in Italian.&nbsp; ⬇️Disclaimer: I’m not a chef, and this is my personal experience with some of the most typical Easter meals in Italy. Of course, there exist many others according to each region and tradition, so if you want to provide your precious contribution on the topic, feel free to leave a comment below for the sake of knowledge-sharing!&nbsp; <h3>3) Chocolate Easter eggs:&nbsp;</h3>After lunch, it is time for sweets! Besides the typical Colomba, another must-have sweet&nbsp;treat is uova di Pasqua al cioccolato (chocolate Easter eggs)&nbsp; ⬇️ In this regard, if you also do celebrate Easter, let me know what you are used to eat during this day!&nbsp;Today, chocolate Easter eggs rule the Easter world. Even in the smallest villages, every grocery store, shop window, and market stall will boast an abundant display of these treats in the days leading up to Easter Sunday. Inside, the chocolate eggs may be hollow, contain creamy fillings, or even feature a tiny surprise, like small trinkets and even engagement rings – for the most romantic!&nbsp; <h3>4) Pasquetta:&nbsp;</h3>'Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi', namely ‘Christmas with your folks and Easter with whoever you want’. This saying is especially true after the ritual Sunday lunch.&nbsp;Angel Monday – Pasquetta in Italian – which is a national holiday as well, is dedicated to trips out of town, picnics, or barbecues for having the so-called grigliata (bbq), to enjoy nature and spring. It’s a very old tradition, dating back to the Middle Ages when people used to visit churches and shrines to receive the angel's blessing.&nbsp;&nbsp; Also, this day is a great excuse to enjoy some time with family and friends, hopefully blessed by some sun!&nbsp;Indeed, you must know that it’s pretty common that during this day it rains, and when it doesn’t people run out of their houses to go under the sun like lizards!&nbsp; So, good, that’s all for today!&nbsp;These were my 4 Italian Easter traditions that I wanted to share with you!&nbsp;Maybe you knew them all, or maybe you didn’t, despite this, I hope you enjoyed this article and learned something about how Italians are used to celebrating this special day.&nbsp;Of course, if you have any questions, please let me know in the comment section down below!&nbsp;Thank you for reading this article.&nbsp;If you want to learn more about me, feel free to check out my profile!&nbsp;Ciao!&nbsp;

4 Italian Easter Traditions

Latin American cuisine is a vibrant tapestry woven from the rich and diverse culinary traditions of Indigenous peoples, European colonizers, and African slaves. From the fiery flavors of Mexico to the savory delights of Brazil, the cuisine of Latin America reflects centuries of cultural exchange, ad

Latin American cuisine is a vibrant tapestry woven from the rich and diverse culinary traditions of Indigenous peoples, European colonizers, and African slaves. From the fiery flavors of Mexico to the savory delights of Brazil, the cuisine of Latin America reflects centuries of cultural exchange, adaptation, and innovation. In this article, we explore the fascinating interplay of Indigenous, European, and African influences that have shaped the gastronomic landscape of the region.&nbsp;&nbsp; Indigenous heritage forms the bedrock of Latin American cuisine, providing a foundation of ingredients, techniques, and flavors that continue to define the culinary identity of the region. Corn, beans, squash, chili peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes were staples of pre-Columbian diets, cultivated and consumed by Indigenous peoples across the Americas for thousands of years. These ingredients not only sustained ancient civilizations but also laid the groundwork for the vibrant culinary traditions that emerged following the arrival of&nbsp;European explorers.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Spanish conquest of the Americas in the 16th century brought European ingredients and cooking techniques to the New World, leading to a culinary fusion that would forever alter the course of Latin American gastronomy. Spanish colonizers introduced wheat, rice,&nbsp;citrus fruits, olive oil, pork, and beef, along with culinary methods such as frying, baking,&nbsp;and braising. These new ingredients and cooking techniques merged with Indigenous culinary practices, giving rise to iconic dishes like tamales, empanadas, and ceviche,&nbsp;which blend Indigenous and European elements in perfect harmony.&nbsp;&nbsp; However, it was the forced migration of millions of Africans to the Americas added another layer of complexity to Latin American&nbsp;cuisine. Africans brought with them a wealth of culinary knowledge, including techniques for smoking, stewing, and seasoning food with aromatic spices. They also introduced ingredients such as okra, yams, plantains, and various tropical fruits, which quickly became integral components of the culinary repertoire in regions with large African populations, such as the Caribbean and Brazil.&nbsp; One of the most iconic examples of culinary fusion in Latin America is found in the Afro-Brazilian dish feijoada. This hearty stew of black beans, pork, and sausage is believed to have originated from the slave quarters, where enslaved Africans would make use of leftover meats and beans to create a flavorful and nourishing meal. Today, feijoada is considered a national dish of Brazil, symbolizing the country's multicultural heritage and the resilience of its people.&nbsp;&nbsp; Similarly, in the Caribbean, dishes like jerk chicken and rice and peas reflect the fusion of&nbsp;African, Indigenous, and European culinary traditions. The use of fiery Scotch bonnet peppers, aromatic spices like allspice and thyme, and cooking techniques such as slow smoking are all hallmarks of Afro-Caribbean cuisine, which continues to delight palates around the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;In Mexico, the ancient tradition of mole sauce exemplifies the intricate blend of Indigenous,&nbsp;European, and African influences in Latin American cuisine. Mole is a complex sauce made from chili peppers, chocolate, nuts, seeds, spices, and sometimes even fruit, creating a rich and flavorful accompaniment to meats and poultry. The use of chocolate in mole is a testament to the culinary exchange between Indigenous peoples and European colonizers. At the same time, the inclusion of chili peppers and spices reflects the influence of African flavors and cooking techniques.&nbsp;&nbsp; As Latin American cuisine continues to evolve and adapt to changing tastes and trends, its multicultural roots remain firmly planted in the soil of Indigenous, European, and African heritage. From the street food stalls of Mexico City to the fine dining restaurants of Buenos&nbsp;Aires, the region's flavors tell a story of resilience, creativity, and cultural diversity. In every bite, one can taste the legacy of centuries of cross-cultural exchange, making Latin&nbsp;American cuisine a true reflection of the melting pot of cultures that defines the region.

Culinary Melting Pot: The Fusion of Indigenous, European, and African influences in Latin  American cuisine

Teaching young students English on italki may be enjoyable and difficult, particularly in virtual environments. It takes imagination, tolerance, and a range of techniques to keep your students interested and involved. Here are ten easy-to-implement strategies that can help you make your italki lesso

Teaching young students English on italki may be enjoyable and difficult, particularly in virtual environments. It takes imagination, tolerance, and a range of techniques to keep your students interested and involved. Here are ten easy-to-implement strategies that can help you make your italki lessons with young students interesting and fun, regardless of your experience level. 1. Establish a Friendly Atmosphere: Start each lesson with a smile and a kind salutation. Creating a welcoming and encouraging environment will make kids feel at ease and eager to engage. Remember to speak slowly and clearly and help make your students feel at ease. 2. Games and Activities: Since kids enjoy playing and experiential learning, try to include interactive games and activities in your teaching. This could be an online scavenger hunt, bingo, role plays, and interactive games to build excitement and engagement, based on their interests and hobbies. 3. Use Visual Aids: Use visual aids for your students, such as flashcards, pictures, and videos. These are powerful tools for engaging young learners. Incorporate colorful visuals to reinforce vocabulary points, specific grammar concepts, and language structures you want your students to master. 4. Tell Stories: Young students have vivid imaginations and love stories. Try to share stories, using online/interactive books, including fairytales. Use this as a chance to ask lots of comprehension questions, complete extension activities, and create writing tasks.&nbsp;&nbsp; 5. Use Songs, Chants, and Music: Songs, chants and music are a great way to help your students understand and connect with the language and content of your classes. This is a great way to help your students improve pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar in a relaxed and simple way while engaging and helping young students to succeed online. 6. Encourage Movement and Activity: Asking young students to sit still for a long time can be challenging. An easy way to implement movement, also known as Total Physical Response (TPS), is to incorporate games like Simon Says, movement games, dancing, acting, or bringing items to/from their room to their desk. This will not only help children stay active and engaged, but also make them enjoy classes, and continue to book/buy packages in the future.&nbsp; 7. Provide Feedback and Positive Reinforcement: Feedback is essential to encourage and build a child’s confidence and motivation levels. Try to offer lots of small, regular and timely feedback for your students, to help them succeed and to monitor their progress during classes. Positive reinforcement is a great way to build and create a positive learning environment, boost the self-esteem of young learners, and keep them coming back to your sessions week after week.&nbsp; 8. Create Personalized Learning: To ensure the best experience for your young students, make sure to tailor your lessons to mirror their interests, preferences, and style of learning. Create lessons and materials that reflect and resonate with them. It could be animals, sports, superheroes, hobbies, or food. Personalizing learning experiences for your students will build a strong enthusiasm for learning English and a strong connection with your young learners.&nbsp; 9. Try and Facilitate Peer Interaction and Reflection: If you teach more than one student or small groups of young learners, encourage them to interact with each other and reflect on their learning where possible. Try and create collaborative tasks you can work on together with your student, or small groups of students, and incorporate role plays, discussions, and collaborative projects. This can help build communication skills, teamwork, and improved social interactions in English. Have a few minutes free at the end of the class? Or do you want some extra homework tasks for students? Create a learning journal or learning diary for your students to work on at the end of class, or between classes to help connect learning, practice writing skills, and help enhance student engagement. 10. End with a Memorable and Fun Activity: At the end of your session, make sure to take a few minutes to wrap up your session properly, and include a rewarding and enjoyable activity. You could use a reflection task as mentioned above, or it could be a drawing task, a creative task, a video, or a song/chant to wrap up the lesson. This will help your learners end the session with excitement and look forward to booking their next class/package, as well as a positive review for your italki profile.&nbsp; Building a fun, enjoyable environment, building rapport, and creating strong relationships with your young learners are the key to success when teaching on italki. Remember to be patient, flexible, and creative in your approach, as a memorable and enjoyable session will translate to more bookings, more positive reviews, and more income. You will also be able to build your own confidence and teaching skills while inspiring your child learners on italki.&nbsp; Written by: Daniel Shaw (B.A., M.A. TESOL, Dip. TESOL), italki teacher since 2018.

10 Strategies to Keep Young Learners Involved in Your italki Classes

Greek language and culture have a timeless charm that entices travelers to delve into its extensive literary, philosophical, and historical legacy.

Greek language and culture have a timeless charm that entices travelers to delve into its extensive literary, philosophical, and historical legacy. Greek, which has its roots in the birthplace of Western civilization, is a gateway to ancient knowledge, providing access to the profound ideas of philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. Beyond its historical importance, learning Greek provides access to a dynamic modern culture and a more profound comprehension of the linguistic foundations that have shaped numerous other languages across the globe. Here are 6 reasons to learn Greek today: 1. Ancient Civilization: Greek is the language of philosophy, literature, and ancient civilization. It provides direct access to the writings of important thinkers such as Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates.&nbsp; 2. Origin of Western Culture: Ancient Greece is where many fundamental ideas of Western civilization, like democracy, drama, and mathematics, first emerged. Gaining an understanding of Greek helps one understand where these ideas came from. 3. Cultural Heritage: Greek mythology, art, and architecture are all part of the country's rich cultural legacy. Knowledge of Greek enhances one's enjoyment of these cultural facets and promotes a deeper comprehension of Greek ancestry. 4. Language Family: Greek is a member of the Indo-European language family, which makes learning Latin and Sanskrit easier. Learning Greek can make learning related languages easier. 5. Learning Greek is an intellectual struggle because of its intricate grammar and highly inflected vocabulary. It provides a fulfilling language endeavor while fostering analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities. 6. Breadth of Greek influence in English: Democracy, philosophy, theatre, mathematics, academy, logic, drama, geometry, mythology, marathon, Olympics, acropolis, alphabet, analysis, syntax, metamorphosis, dialectic, problem, algorithm, cryptography, aesthetics, astronomy, biology, economy, geography, history, music, telephone, and theology and many more! It’s just a little example of the words you already know!&nbsp; In conclusion, exploring Greek language and culture reveals a captivating journey through the epochs of history, rich with profound insights and artistic expressions. Through its profound influence on human thought and expression, Greek serves as a window into the essence of humanity's intellectual and creative endeavors.&nbsp;

6 Reasons to Learn Greek

We all know that reading is a great way to improve your knowledge of a language. When it comes to learning a language, the more you read, the more you learn. But, what kind of books should you choose to read if you are trying to improve your level of English?

We all know that reading is a great way to improve your knowledge of a language. When it comes to learning a language, the more you read, the more you learn. But, what kind of books should you choose to read if you are trying to improve your level of English? Below, I have put together a list of things you should think about when choosing a book to learn English. Rather than a list of specific books, I have focused on the genre, format and type of material you should be focusing on in order to help you improve your English. <h3>1. Choose something you want to read!</h3>Sounds simple doesn’t it? But so many of my students choose a book because a friend (or even their English teacher) recommended it, it is on a bestseller list, or simply because it went viral on TikTok, without actually thinking about whether or not they are interested in that book!Like so many other things in life - a job, a marriage, a hobby - you will not succeed unless you want to do it and enjoy doing it. So choose a book on a topic that you have an interest in. You will be more motivated to read, you will want to understand new words and grammar structures so that you fully understand the topic. <h3>2. Choose non-fiction books</h3>Non-fiction refers to any book which conveys information about the real world, rather than fiction which is grounded in imagination (such as novels) and there are a number of reasons why reading non-fiction books will help you learn English.<img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/zqGhrbEvqyAEUZAYqMcat5T3hGDUH19124oLXUxZupgAkqPe3gDd7dqrBbP-wMkYIUWXP1vKi_O6YJjJ0QJPK5Mb0xilEMK4LL8F_bQMKWGY5wu7Q6YmGItDrJHjgnDXwDhjUJiSrkcuXl87mKcZFA" height="281" width="213">First and foremost, the language used in non-fiction is often much more useful, up-to-date and practical than anything used in fictional stories. Non-fiction writers are more concerned with the subject matter rather than the emotional response that fiction writers try to evoke. This means that most non-fiction books are largely free of wordplay, archaic language and useless descriptive language. Additionally, non-fiction books often repeat vocabulary throughout the book, allowing you to notice new words and phrases again and again, helping you to memorize them. Furthermore, grammatical structures in nonfiction books are often have a functional meaning as opposed to fictional stories which often include complex grammatical structures to give dramatic effect, making it more difficult to understand However, it would be bad advice to choose any nonfiction book, as mentioned above, you should choose something you want to read. <h3>3. Choose something with short chapters!</h3>One of the biggest reasons why English learners struggle to finish reading a book in English is that there is a natural limit to how long you can focus, especially in a foreign language, before you get bored and your mind starts to shut down! Books in which the chapters are fairly short and can be read in one sitting, say 30 minutes to 1 hour, are much better for English learners trying to comprehend something in a second language. Likewise, if the chapters are long, but subdivided into smaller sections it gives you the option to take a break at logical points, without harming your understanding of the material. So, before you decide on a book to read, flick through it and try to imagine how long each chapter or each section is going to take to read. If you see page after page of solid text with no breaks for 20 pages, there’s a good chance your mind will start to wonder halfway through! <h3>4. Try before you buy!</h3>So many of my students buy a book only to find out that they get stuck on every other word and have no idea what the author is talking about. Obviously, this means you’re going to give up! But also, it knocks your confidence and you are unlikely to give reading another go again anytime soon. Therefore, I recommend that, before you take the plunge and buy a book, you read an extract from it, preferably the introduction or the first chapter. This can easily be done with most books on amazon using their ‘look inside’ function or you could go to the bookshop and find a cozy corner to sit and read a few pages before you decide if you want to buy it. <h3>5. Choose memoirs!</h3>If you aren’t a fan of nonfiction books but find traditional novels a bit intimidating, memoirs - a narrative writing based on the author's personal memories - are a great alternative! Memoirs mix the best aspects of informative nonfiction books about the real world and the imagined stories of novels with all their energy and emotion into one. Memoirs provide a great way to build your descriptive vocabulary and idioms as the author will often write in an informal style, indicative of their local area. These can be a great resource, especially for more advanced readers. Some notable mentions include:<ul><li>Educated by Tara Westover</li><li>I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai</li></ul> So, what are you waiting for!? Get to your nearest bookshop, pull up Amazon and start searching for your next book! I honestly believe that reading is the gateway to fluency because it not only provides useful language practice but also plenty of fascinating talking points. It is for this reason that I set up my Book Clubs on italki. If you are interested, head over to my profile and take a look at my group classes.&nbsp;Happy reading guys!