Online Chemistry Tutoring - Why Does Online Chemistry Tutoring Work So Well?

Online Chemistry Tutoring - Why Does Online Chemistry Tutoring Work So Well?Online chemistry tutoring is becoming more popular these days, especially among students who wish to get into the high school level of science. Online tutoring is a wonderful way to learn all about chemistry, whether you are a college student a college graduate, or a middle school graduate. Chemistry is an incredibly fascinating subject, and studying it online is a very good way to study this extremely important subject. Students love it because it is so much fun to learn all about chemistry.There are several different types of chemistry tutoring that can be used, depending on the class in which you will be taking chemistry classes. If you are in college, you may find online chemistry tutoring at your university. You could also find online chemistry tutoring from home with a chemistry text book.You might find online chemistry tutoring that is delivered by email, or over the Internet. A common application of o nline chemistry tutoring is using the Internet for both classroom and online chemistry study.The advantage of online chemistry tutoring is that there is no need to travel to and from the college, nor does the student have to attend a classroom to meet the teacher. Most online chemistry tutoring offers fast feedback on the student's performance.If you are in a basic science course, then online chemistry tutoring is great. You can watch television while sitting in your living room, and study at your own pace. You can just log on whenever you want and learn how to make things, cook for yourself, cook for others, or just study in your spare time.A few major advantages of online chemistry are that you can study chemistry at anytime, and you can study chemistry anytime, anywhere. It is really just like being in your own class, except you can learn at your own pace, and you do not have to worry about bringing a book or classmate. With online chemistry tutoring, you have the freedom to work at your own pace, no matter where you live.This way of learning is the fastest way to learn chemistry, and it is affordable, too. Students can usually learn at their own pace, wherever they are, and at any time. Online chemistry tutoring is the easiest and fastest way to learn chemistry.

Your Guide to Past Perfect in English

Your Guide to Past Perfect in English English Past perfect tense can be a difficult for English learners, especially in conversation.  The goal of todays lesson is to make it easier for you.  Hopefully it will be the confidence boost you need to use past perfect  the next time youre talking about more than one action in the past!  Dont forget to schedule a class with LOI if you need a friendly, professional native speaker to practice with.  Lets get to it!English past perfect tense to talk aboutA completed action before something in the past:I had read the book, so I knew what would happen in the movie.She had never been to that restaurant until she went on a date there.I had never visited Amsterdam before I moved here.Duration before something in the past (non-continuous verbs):He had had the job for 20 years before he got fired. By the time he left, he had been  in Thailand for 3 months.He had felt unhappy  for months before he quit  his job.Good to Know For using English past perfect tense:regular past participles end with -ed, but here are some  common irregulars:bite - bitten                          â€¢  see - seenblow - blown                        â€¢  show - shownbreak - broken                     •  sing - sungeat - eaten                             •  speak - spokengive - given                           •  take - takenknow - known                      â€¢  tear - tornovercome - overcome         •  wake - wokenride - ridden                         •  wear - wornrun - run                               •  write - writtenWatch and Learn About English past perfect tense:Complete the sentences  with the correct use of English past perfect tense in the comments section.When I arrived at the cinema, the film (start).She (sing) a few times before she tried out for the play.We (be) in Taiwan for a year before we moved away.Before he tried today, he (ride) a bike one time.___ you guys (meet) before you went on your first date?He didnt arrive until after you (leave).I  (have) that car for 10 years before it broke down.The shark (bite) a few people before it bit her.Now, fill in the blanks below with English past perfect tense.  When youve finished, start the video at 1:00 to check your answers.A woman in Paris  was on her way to go shopping, but she ___ _________(forget) her coat. went back to get it.When she ___ ______(get) her coat the phone ___ ____(ring), so she ___ _______(stop) to answer it, and talked for a couple of minutes.While the woman was on the  phone, Daisy was rehearsing for a  performance at the Paris Opera House.  While she was rehearsing, the woman (off the phone now) ___ ____(go) outside to get a taxi.Now, a taxi driver ___ ______(drop) off a fare earlier and ___ _______(stop) to get a cup of coffee, and all the while Daisy was rehearsing.This cab driver, who dropped off the earlier fare and ___ _______(stop) to get the cup of coffee, an d picked up the lady who was going shopping and ___ ______(miss) getting the earlier cab.The taxi had to stop for a man crossing the street who ___ ____(leave) work five minutes later than he normally did because he forgot to set his alarm.While that man, late for work, was crossing the street, Daisy ___ ________(finish) rehearsal and was taking a shower.While Daisy was showering, the taxi was waiting outside a boutique for the woman to pick up a package, which _____ ____(not/be) wrapped yet because the girl that was supposed to wrap it ___ ______(break) up with her boyfriend the night before and forgot.The delivery truck pulled away and the taxi was able to move, while Daisy, the last to be dressed, waited for one of her friends who ___ ______(break) a shoelace.And if only one thing ___ ________(happen) differently-if that shoelace _____ ______(not/break), or that delivery truck ___ _____(move) moments earlier, or that package ___ ____(be) wrapped and ready because the girl _____ _ _____(not/break) up with her boyfriend, or that man ___ ____(set) his alarm and got up five minutes earlier, or that taxi driver _____ _______(not/stop) for that cup of coffee, or that woman ___ __________(remember) her coat and got into an earlier cab-Daisy and her friend would have crossed the street, and the taxi would have driven by.Great work!  Cant get enough?  Click here for another fun past perfect post!

Seven reasons why smart software is becoming a must have for tutors

Seven reasons why smart software is becoming a ‘must have’ for tutors The one-to-one model of private tutoring has worked well for years, and as we all know, the tutor ‘industry’ is booming. The secret’s out: tutors play a vital role in driving their students’ success. But is it ever possible to offer the ‘perfect’ service? There’s almost an unlimited amount of preparation you could do, and a sea of resources out there that you could wade through. Worst of all, when it gets to Easter, it’s almost impossible to balance workload and quality… if you've ever planned a session on the tube on the way to your tutee’s house, you’re definitely not alone!! At Create a Test, we had previously built assessment software targeted at maths teachers in secondary schools. This software lets a teacher create very targeted, professional assessment papers in minutes, tracks each student’s performance, and lets users create tailored assessments for students in seconds. We’ve had a lot of early success, and are endorsed by the Manchester Grammar School and Mossbourne Community Academy, amongst others. But the really interesting thing was this: several of our users were also tutors, and they kept telling us how useful Create a Test was for their tutoring. So we asked ourselves: why shouldn't tutors get access to software like this? How would software like this help tutors (aka, you!)? We've had several tutors adopt Create a Test already, and the friendly folk at Tutorfair have also given us plenty of their time. Here are seven of the biggest benefits people get from using software like ours, which provide good food for thought: Incredibly easy to build between-session and in-session question papers, targeted any way you want: This is at the core of what we do. Create a Test contains a bank of 1000’s of questions searchable by difficulty level and subject sub-topic. Even better, you can regenerate questions to refresh the numbers used, meaning you can have an endless supply of questions. Great brainstorming tool: Unsure if your tutee really ‘gets’ what you’ve run through on averages… but know they love cricket and want to make things engaging? Simply scroll through our highly filterable bank of questions in seconds, grab bits you like, then change a boring looking data series into a question on batting averages!   Be “exam-board-proof”: All our questions can be filtered by exam board and are maintained to the latest curriculum. You can be sure you don’t get that awkward and deflating moment when your tutee can’t answer a question that they’ve never been taught how to do. One-click personalised tests: Picture the scene â€" there’s a minute of the session left, you’ve got to shoot across town to your next tutee then the mum comes in and asks if you could set homework. Create a Test really comes into its own here â€" we can track every score every student gets on every question, and have built one-click functionality that can, for example, generate a test based on the last 20 questions that your tutee answered incorrectly. It’s ready by the time you’ve finished answering “No problem” to the mum! Professional look and feel boosts your standing with your tutee and their parents: Each paper is professionally assembled with an exam-style front cover, and formula sheets can be included. Best of all, you can tailor the paper name â€" tutees love seeing their name on the front page! Access anywhere, no need to update: Access Create a Test from any web browser â€" if your tutee has access to a computer, no need to bring anything with you or rely on them having textbooks. Also, all of your students’ scores and papers are saved remotely, so you have no need to worry about archiving and losing your work or tutees’ scores. Best of all, updates will be ready for you as soon as you log on â€" no need to download anything! Track and show your student’s progress: Create a Test tracks every student’s performance and lets you see, for every sub-topic of the syllabus, their strengths and weakness. We’re also developing some pretty cool charting output, which you’ll have access to as soon as it’s released. Pretty soon, you’ll be able to use our analytics to show as many charts, line graphs and tables as are needed to pacify those super-keen parents! When you get used to these benefits, it’s hard to go back. But here’s the really interesting question â€" as other tutors start using software like this as a part of their daily routine, can you really afford not to? ---- Create a Test provide software for Maths tutors with students at the KS3/GCSE level, across all UK syllabuses and the iGCSE. While a license normally costs £250 per annum for schools and £150 per annum for tutors, we’re really happy to say that Tutorfair Maths tutors get a 20% discount: a full-year, unlimited use license costs £120. What’s more, for every Tutorfair purchase, £15 will go to the Tutorfair foundation. Not bad for something that saves you time and keeps you ahead of the game! Visit www.createatest.co.uk and use discount code “tutorfair”. Contact me at phil.craig@createatest.co.uk, and follow us on Twitter (@createatest) for free assessment papers and more!

The 5 Best Polyglot E-books for Anyone Who Dreams of Becoming Multilingual

The 5 Best Polyglot E-books for Anyone Who Dreams of Becoming Multilingual The 5 Best Polyglot E-books for Anyone Who Dreams of Becoming Multilingual Technology  has made it possible to go beyond lugging heavy textbooks around.No need to stuff those  100  must-read books into your poor, tired backpack.Convenient, right?Well, e-books are way more than  just convenientâ€"theyve proven themselves to be great tools for learning a foreign language.First, you get quantity. With  e-books, you can tote several  great language learning books around at once and interact with diverse multimedia content.  Oh, and all of this valuable digital content is cheaper than whats in print.You also get  quality.  Some e-books out there are absolutely ideal for learning a foreign language.In my years as an English and ESL teacher, I realized that a surprising amount of students had never heard of books that  teach language learning strategies  (and not just languages themselves). Too many  students go straight for  the workbooks and language DVDs, skipping over the foundational approaches that are actually essential to  learning any language successfull y.The 5 Best Polyglot E-books for Anyone Who Dreams of Becoming MultilingualConsider these e-books life hacks for learning a new language. Whether it’s your first or  your third language  that youre studying, youve got to recognize that  training your brain to think a certain way  helps immensely when youre taking on such a big project.You need to get yourself in the language learning zone. What should you expect? What problems may crop up? What are the best learning  methods for you?  All these questions and many, many more are explored in the following books.Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget ItCheck availability: Ama zon’s Kindle and  Barnes Noble’s Nook“Fluent Forever” is the lengthiest book on this list at a whopping 336 pages, but this in-depth guide is well worth the time it takes to read. At 36 years old, the book’s author, Gabriel Wyner, speaks six languagesâ€"all self-taught. In this book, Wyner introduces the strategies he’s ma stered through learning languages on his own.The overall focus is to help you formulate a  faster way of acquiring a new language, which Wyner does by showing you how to divide and conquer all the aspects of learning a language. For example, flashcards  are a common learning strategyâ€"but what’s the most efficient way to make and use flashcards for studying? Youll find out here.The book also stresses memory tactics, since the idea of remembering all the grammar and vocabulary that makes one fluent in a language can easily seem overwhelming.“Fluent Forever” starts with pronunciation and moves on to repetition techniques and exercises, which are based on the spaced repetition learning system  (SRS). Youll learn tricks that will help you associate sounds and spelling with images. Youll really get into the right frame of mind for  thinking in a language, rather than thinking first in your native language and then translating into your target language.Wyner makes a big promises: W ith his methodologies, you can learn 100 words in a month (that’s more than three words a day!) and this is all laid out for you from the get-go in a chapter on setting your vocabulary goals.Outside of learning strategies, the book also includes a useful FAQ section about language learning, such as how quickly one can realistically expect to become fluent in a language (spoiler: it depends) and what kind of books and resources youll need to move ahead (think workbooks and language groups).One of the greatest things about this guide is that the writing has a humorous and relatable edge. Wyner begins the book with an anecdote about how he had joined the fencing team in high school to get out of gym class. After that,  you feel like you really know and can trust the guyâ€"and youll need to trust him to let his great methods get to work on your brain.In addition to Amazon, this book is available on VitalSource, a place where you can rent or buy e-books and access them on the Bookshelf app (for Kindle, iPad, Android and Chromebook). Their World Languages section is quite robust, so its an excellent resource for dedicated language learners to check out.31 Steps to Learn a New LanguageCheck availability: Amazon’s KindleThe whole title of the book is actually “31 Steps to Learn a New Language: Fun, Fast Easy Steps Learn Any New Foreign Language You Want,” and fast it is: In just 44 pages, this motivating book proves to be a great tool for those who want to learn a language for the first time.Author Philip Veng is like a lesser-known version of do-it-quick, do-it-smart Tim Ferriss (author of “The Four Hour Work Week”), writing about quick routes to accomplishments that are seemingly impossible to the everyday person.“31 Steps” will help you tackle things like setting goals, making a study schedule and determining your learning style. It lists some great resources for everyday learning (like listening to foreign radio stations and reading childrens boo ks) that you may not have thought of.Each chapter is quite shortâ€"averaging a page and a halfâ€"which makes it very digestible for those not looking to read a huge, in-depth book.The True Polyglot Guide: How to Learn Any Foreign Language Fast and for FreeCheck availability:  Amazon’s KindleThis 24-page guide is chock full of language learning methods and secrets that are ideal for those who want to add a second (or third!) language to their arsenal but arent sure how to start.Author Ryan Lair clearly understands the unique challenges of learning multiple languages (like mixing up vocabulary for similar languages). If you’re not sure what language you want to tackle yet, this book offers tips that will help you determine what the easiest language for you to study might be based on your learning style.The book covers the stages of language learning, like spelling, pronunciation and vocabulary, and outlines learning strategies unique to each of them.Lair doesnt leave out the motiv ational factor thats so crucial to the serious commitment of language learning, either. His book promotes the many, many benefits of being multilingual, issuing encouraging claims such as improved mental alertness and increased personal confidence.Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language From Anywhere in the WorldCheck availability:  Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes Noble’s NookSome scientific studies have shown that the ability to learn a foreign language dips significantly after the age of 30, and this 256-page book does a pretty good job of disproving that theory.Yes, the book’s title certainly sounds like a big promiseâ€"but with dedicated effort many language learners have found this book to be true to its word.If you need proof, consider this:  Author Benny Lewis was named a 2013 “Traveler of the Year” by National Geographic Traveler magazine, and is a self-taught polyglot who speaks over 10 languages (he knew just one of them in 2003). Fo r that reason, this e-book offers the advantages of someone who has actually accomplished learning numerous languages at a relatively older  age.The book is divided into two parts: The first goes over how to begin learning a foreign language, and the second part covers how to move into the intermediate and advanced levels.The beginner section doesnt scare you away with the more technical aspects of language learning. Instead, it hones in on what you need to learn for your particular situation (are you a tourist or are you moving there for a job?) and gets you talking as a soon as possible. The second section stresses grammar mastery and immersion through multimedia, which Lewis believes are better saved for when youre more comfortable with your new tongue.Like “The True Polygot,” Lewiss e-book also does a good job of pep-talking you through learning a foreign language and debunks common myths, which makes this a great resource for true beginners.Learn World CalligraphyCheck avai lability:  Amazon’s Kindle  and  Barnes Noble’s NookThis is the best e-book Ive found for taking foreign language learning way beyond speakingâ€"where the emphasis so often liesâ€"and moving  it into writing, a key part of learning a language that doesnt share the same alphabet as your native tongue. It’s also a sure way to impress others, if nothing elseâ€"you can learn to write lesser-known scripts like Celtic, Ethiopian and Mongolian. You’ll also find Greek, Russian, Chinese and Arabic, among others.This beautifully laid out full-color book, which consists of 192 pages of gorgeous calligraphy and step-by-step instructions, is perfect for those who learn visually and by doing.In addition to teaching you how to write in a foreign language, it also provides a history of each language that brings a new appreciation to why scripts have ended up looking the way they do.Since e-books can be limiting when it comes to writing, one extra plus to this book is that you can print out free practice sheets on the author’s site.Theres something for everyone in these e-books, so shop aroundâ€"read some previews and ratings, and get a feel for what will work best for you!Jane K. Callahan is a former teacher turned writer who has traveled to over 30 countries across six continents. She has lived in Ireland, Thailand, Italy, Hawaii and New York City. You can follower her on Twitter at @JaneKCall.And One More ThingIf youre digging these polyglot strategies, youll love using FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with inter active transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs learn mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes store  or Google Play store.

Orange County SAT Tutor Tips The Summer SAT - TutorNerds

Orange County SAT Tutor Tips The Summer SAT - TutorNerds Tips From an Orange County SAT Tutor: 4 Ways to Study for the Summer SAT Right now, most students are focused on last-minute study for advanced placement exams as well as final study for all of their courses. However, students who signed up for the summer sat will have to hit the ground running as soon as they complete the requirements of their classroom assignments. Although it can be a challenge for students to take the SAT exam over the summer, theyre saving themselves a lot of stress by getting it out of the way before fall. Additionally, students who take college entrance exams in the summer months will have the chance to avoid dealing with classroom work at the same time. The most important thing is that students can stay focused and remember that the results of their SAT can make a big difference when it comes time to apply for college our experienced Orange County SAT tutors are here to help. 1. Identify strengths and weaknesses The first thing students should do is identify which sections of the SAT they need to work on the most. One of the best ways to achieve this is by taking a practice test, which will give students an idea of how they scored in each section and how it adds up to an overall composite score. Students are encouraged to try to score the test themselves so they can see how the scoring system works and identify which problems they got wrong. They can then share the results of the exam with their Orange County SAT tutor who can help them identify patterns of strengths and weaknesses. 2. Time management Test prep students are also encouraged to create a plan for the day they commence their SAT study and the actual date of the test. The ideal study plan will allow time for students to focus on areas of improvement as well as do a general review of the topics they usually excel at. They should also allow time for breaks, so they dont get overwhelmed and also have a couple of extra study sessions in their schedule just in case something unexpected comes up (READ: TutorNerds Featured in Orange County Mom Blog). 3. A clear goal Students should have a goal in mind before starting their SAT prep. They are encouraged to talk with their college counselor as well as do some independent research in regards to the average score for an admitted student at the colleges and universities they are interested in applying to. They can then compare this to the score they got on their first practice test. Once students know where they stand they can plan their study sessions around the number of points they want to increase to have a good chance of admittance. 4. Math practice Whether a student is naturally talented with numbers or if they try to avoid math at all costs, the reality of the SAT requires a fair amount of math practice. The top things students should focus on include memorizing formulas, practicing multiple-step problems, checking their work for accuracy, and working under pressure. There is not an excessive amount of time on the big day so students should learn how to solve problems as quickly and efficiently as possible. Dont wait to book your Orange County private SAT tutor for the summer! Call us today for more information. Members of the TutorNerds team and our private tutors write every blog post. If you have any questions about our blog, please email us at pr@tutornerds.com.

No Vote, No Complaining Why Students Should Be Involved In Politics

No Vote, No Complaining Why Students Should Be Involved In Politics Photo credited to The Sentinel Welcome to the world of college. If you haven’t noticed by now, you’re on your own finally. You are now the master of your fate and you can steer this ship wherever you please, captain. Except you can’t. Last year’s elections were the worst in 72 years. No state achieved more than 60 percent voter turnout last November. Nationally, only 36.3 percent of the population voted. Take a moment to consider what you were doing November 4. Were you in class? Out with friends? Doing homework? Voting? If you answered no to the last one, you have no say in what happens in this country and consequently, to you. In a country as big as the U.S., it’s easy to think that your vote would not matter. It’s a common belief that many have. Someone else will take care of it. My vote’s not going to matter. I don’t know enough to vote. All of these ideas are common excuses used not to vote. Now you may be wondering, what this has to do with you. You’re just a college student. You’ve got school and probably a job to worry about. Why should you vote? Well, simply because you can. You dear reader are likely in a country where you have at least some say in what goes on nationally and certainly what goes on locally. If you have the fortune to attend a state sponsored school in your home state, you have a share in what goes on in your university’s hierarchy. Internationally, many are not so fortunate. According to the CIA Fact Book, most of the world has at least some form of representational government, be it a constitutional monarchy, a democratic republic, or some odd mix of other ideas. The point is that the U.S. is rather unusual in that since its inception, the country has had more voter control over the upper echelons. Originally, many positions in the U.S. government were appointed without voter approval like most notably, senators. In the world at large however, many countries have a large number of upper level control. If your country is a parliamentary republic, the common voter has no choice in the head of state. Instead, the voters elect a parliament, or sometimes just one house of a parliament, and then the house or houses of the parliament elect the head of state. In the U.S., we can elect the head of state and both houses of our legislative branch, something huge amounts of the world can’t do. On top of that, you as a new adult can vote in local government too. While the U.S. is a federal republic, where the central government has the last say, the local government is markedly more effective at getting things done than the monstrous bureaucratic behemoth that is Washington D.C. Consequently, the federal government has historically been less involved with local and state affairs with the notable exception being the Civil War. On top of voting, students should seek to find out political issues. College is a forum for discussion of ideas. Be they conflicting or complementing, the spread of ideas is how we keep this world rolling forward. Have a problem with police brutality? Dont just rant to your friends. Get attention for it. Let the people know whats going on. Stir up interest. If youve got a problem with something, chances are, someone else does too. Students are not powerless. They have voting power and are very active in communication. Some of the largest groups to lead the Arab Spring were students. They had the gumption to find out what was wrong, talk about it, and fix it. If students in the Middle East can rise up and overthrow dictators, look at what you might be able to accomplish on your campus. Students are in the public eye and always have been. Just look through history to see who political reformers where. They were usually young, ambitious and highly motivated. There are dozens of organizations across the nation formed and run by college students. The student government is an excellent place to start if you want something done on campus. Take care to be involved with them and your local government. Lastly, be sure to keep up with the national, and international news and vote in all elections. Do you like potholes? How about uneducated people? Hate libraries and highways? If you answered yes to any of those, then go ahead and don’t vote, because you will have no say in these things. They will be decided for you by an oligarchy of dedicated voters who will vote and impose their ideals on you through their voting. You are an adult now. As an adult, you have a national right and international privilege to vote for your national and local leaders. So take the time and find out more about local and national leaders and go vote.

NYC Polyglot Conference 2015 A Few Thoughts on #PCNYC15

NYC Polyglot Conference 2015 A Few Thoughts on #PCNYC15 “What’s in a name?” William Shakespeare. On October 10th and 11th the largest polyglot conference yet took place in New York City. The event saw the coming together of 400+ polyglots, and some of the most influential speakers in the field of foreign language education and linguistics. The speaker line-up was star-studded, with talks delivered by John McWorter, Loraine Obler, Barry Farber, and other celebrity scholars, linguists, and polyglots. The talks covered diverse topics from finding work through your passion for language to historical linguistics. When discussing this event with others, the question that inevitably arises is, What, or who, is a polyglot?” A traditional definition of a polyglot is a “person who speaks, writes, or reads multiple languages”. This definition does not quite capture what those attending the Polyglot Conference seem to mean when referring to “the polyglot community”. In becoming a community, the word itself gains a special, distinct meaning. There are many reasons why one may speak several languages, including upbringing, education, extended family or friends. We collect languages and bits of languages in environments where multiple languages are present. Growing up in multiple countries will very likely to result in someone who at least “speaks a little bit of X, Y, and Z”. Depending on the particular situation and circumstance, a person can grow up perfectly quadrilingual without much conscious effort or significant notice of the linguistic feat. Attempts to define “polyglot” begs the answer to yet another question: what does it mean to ”speak” a language? The range of “speaking”, so often designated as “fluency” can be hard to pin down. Designation through a system of proficiency levels (A1 C2) can also break down. There are, technically, no Esperanto speakers at a C2 level (as the test for the C2 level does not exist), though there are, of course, plenty of fluent and native speakers of Esperanto. In addition, language is not a perfectly testable skill, and varies with domain specificity. A native fluent speaker of English, for example, would still have trouble comprehending a lecture on human anatomy. Speaking “doctor” and speaking “English” are different skills. Though both are contained within the umbrella designation of “English”, listening to an intense, specialized conversation between doctors can be as incomprehensible to an average English speaker, as listening to a conversation in Farsi or Afrikaans. The city of New York is teeming with languages. The language landscape of the city is at a rolling boil. Pockets of language communities are everywhere, and though most people speak English, having a 2nd or a 3rd language is entirely unsurprising. If anything, single-language speakers may be in the minority here. The old joke goes “a person speaking 3 languages is trilingual, two bilingual, and one and American. New York defies this stereotype. There is, however, a difference between the polyglot population of New York (or any other place in the world) and the sort of polyglots that willingly cross states, countries, and oceans in order to attend the conference.The people that came together to spend a weekend celebrating language are actively seeking out exposure, continuously learning and exposing themselves to the fear and vulnerability of making mistakes, being uncomfortable, and saying the wrong thing. While many of those in attendance can be quite shy this tolerance for vulnerability is inspiring. This attitude, this purposeful vulnerability, is something that seems to tie the community together. Seeking out a new environment, a new perspective, a new door of perception through which to connect with others: that is a polyglot. In this sense, a polyglot is someone who actively seeks perspective and connection through the eyes of a speaker of a different language. What the Polyglot Conference atmosphere has achieved a sense of community, of curiosity, and of support for learning. italki is extremely proud of sponsoring and participating this event, and hope that the speakers and participants, as well as italki students and teachers, will carry this open-minded, can-do attitude into the world. Our favorite summary of the experience comes from Siskia Lagomarsino, also known as “The Polyglotist”: “From what I saw this week, the “polyglot community” has grown beyond the definition of a polyglot being a person who speaks more than two languages: it is now a denomination for anybody who loves languages in general, without foolish distinctions based on ability, work or number of languages. “ We are excited to be part of this community, and truly look forward to meeting again in Thessaloniki 2016. NYC Polyglot Conference 2015 A Few Thoughts on #PCNYC15 “What’s in a name?” William Shakespeare. On October 10th and 11th the largest polyglot conference yet took place in New York City. The event saw the coming together of 400+ polyglots, and some of the most influential speakers in the field of foreign language education and linguistics. The speaker line-up was star-studded, with talks delivered by John McWorter, Loraine Obler, Barry Farber, and other celebrity scholars, linguists, and polyglots. The talks covered diverse topics from finding work through your passion for language to historical linguistics. When discussing this event with others, the question that inevitably arises is, What, or who, is a polyglot?” A traditional definition of a polyglot is a “person who speaks, writes, or reads multiple languages”. This definition does not quite capture what those attending the Polyglot Conference seem to mean when referring to “the polyglot community”. In becoming a community, the word itself gains a special, distinct meaning. There are many reasons why one may speak several languages, including upbringing, education, extended family or friends. We collect languages and bits of languages in environments where multiple languages are present. Growing up in multiple countries will very likely to result in someone who at least “speaks a little bit of X, Y, and Z”. Depending on the particular situation and circumstance, a person can grow up perfectly quadrilingual without much conscious effort or significant notice of the linguistic feat. Attempts to define “polyglot” begs the answer to yet another question: what does it mean to ”speak” a language? The range of “speaking”, so often designated as “fluency” can be hard to pin down. Designation through a system of proficiency levels (A1 C2) can also break down. There are, technically, no Esperanto speakers at a C2 level (as the test for the C2 level does not exist), though there are, of course, plenty of fluent and native speakers of Esperanto. In addition, language is not a perfectly testable skill, and varies with domain specificity. A native fluent speaker of English, for example, would still have trouble comprehending a lecture on human anatomy. Speaking “doctor” and speaking “English” are different skills. Though both are contained within the umbrella designation of “English”, listening to an intense, specialized conversation between doctors can be as incomprehensible to an average English speaker, as listening to a conversation in Farsi or Afrikaans. The city of New York is teeming with languages. The language landscape of the city is at a rolling boil. Pockets of language communities are everywhere, and though most people speak English, having a 2nd or a 3rd language is entirely unsurprising. If anything, single-language speakers may be in the minority here. The old joke goes “a person speaking 3 languages is trilingual, two bilingual, and one and American. New York defies this stereotype. There is, however, a difference between the polyglot population of New York (or any other place in the world) and the sort of polyglots that willingly cross states, countries, and oceans in order to attend the conference.The people that came together to spend a weekend celebrating language are actively seeking out exposure, continuously learning and exposing themselves to the fear and vulnerability of making mistakes, being uncomfortable, and saying the wrong thing. While many of those in attendance can be quite shy this tolerance for vulnerability is inspiring. This attitude, this purposeful vulnerability, is something that seems to tie the community together. Seeking out a new environment, a new perspective, a new door of perception through which to connect with others: that is a polyglot. In this sense, a polyglot is someone who actively seeks perspective and connection through the eyes of a speaker of a different language. What the Polyglot Conference atmosphere has achieved a sense of community, of curiosity, and of support for learning. italki is extremely proud of sponsoring and participating this event, and hope that the speakers and participants, as well as italki students and teachers, will carry this open-minded, can-do attitude into the world. Our favorite summary of the experience comes from Siskia Lagomarsino, also known as “The Polyglotist”: “From what I saw this week, the “polyglot community” has grown beyond the definition of a polyglot being a person who speaks more than two languages: it is now a denomination for anybody who loves languages in general, without foolish distinctions based on ability, work or number of languages. “ We are excited to be part of this community, and truly look forward to meeting again in Thessaloniki 2016.