It’s a common misconception that you can’t learn a new language past a certain age. People think that their brains are too ‘slow’ and aren’t young enough to process so much new information. This article discusses the benefits of learning a new language in later life.

It’s a common misconception that when we leave our childhood behind, we leave our ability to learn new skills behind too. This is especially true, or so we think, when it comes to learning a new language.

If you have ever wanted to order in Italian or converse in German, you can, no matter how young or old you feel.

And here’s why learning a language at any age is not only possible but great fun too;

1.   Change your expectations

Some people see speaking another language as taking on the persona of that country, so talking Italian means being Italian. But this isn’t always the case.

And fluency means different things too. To say you ‘speak Italian’ doesn’t necessarily mean you eat, think and drink it.

Speaking a language means being able to communicate with other people. Ordering your meal in Italian and having a light-hearted conversation with someone whilst waiting for your train or bus in their mother tongue is just fine too.

2.   Tap into your motivation

Now that you have adjusted your vision of what success means for you, we come to the sometimes-thorny issue of motivation.

We assume that children learn without trying and that for us, as adults, we need to burn the midnight oil for anything to go into our saturated brains.

The solution is a little simpler but more complex than you may think because it comes down to motivation, something that ebbs and flows with life.

Motivation is the key to success. And so, there will be times when studying online courses you just can’t get the grammatical rule of a new language or you can’t quite pronounce a word or two correctly, but your determination will get you there.

You have decided to invest in a language course, you are committed to learning a new language, all valuable in keeping you motivated.

3.   You can try it out

The best way of learning and cementing the learning of a new language is to practice the skill. For children, this means using a phrase or two on their next family holiday, if they have one.

As an adult, you are financially more stable (hopefully!) and thus, have the ability to travel. As well as sightseeing holidays, there are also a variety of breaks that are centred around learning and using a new language.

4.   Previous experience

Another benefit of learning a new language as an adult is all that life experience we carry around with us.

You have achieved language fluency in your own language, or maybe more than one if your parents spoke more than one language to you.

All this means you have picked up on small pieces of information about language and communication, how things are said, their annunciation and how the emphasis on the wrong word at the wrong time can be the biggest insult.

You will have already spotted grammatical patterns and similarities between words. You can work out that some words we use in English have their roots in Latin, French and other languages.

Because you ‘see’ all this, you ‘see’ it too when studying online language courses.

5.   You have study skills

You may not think it, but because you have studied previously, you have a smattering of study skills that come in handy when learning something new.

A key skill, for example, is being organised and being able to prioritise what needs to be done first. You will also understand how practising and trying things out is important too, but you have the reflective skills to be able to understand why something worked and why something didn’t.

All of these skills that you thought were lost and forgotten will come back, all combining to give you the success you want.

6.   Perspective

You understand that life is full of ups and downs. You understand that sometimes, things don’t go according to plan. and that means assignments might not the roaring success that you thought they would be BUT, you are still learning.

Speaking another language is all about confidence. The confidence to do something a little scary – we would all be more comfortable if we ordered our breakfast on the shores of Lake Garda in our own language but push your comfort zone and order with your new-found confidence in spouting Italian…

Learning a new language is a great way to exercise the grey cells. If you are a frequent visitor to Germany and/or Austria, you will understand just how handy it can be to trot out the odd phrase or two in cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions and more.

But are online language courses the right option?

#1 Commit to It

There are many reasons why you would want to learn a new language, but underpinning them all should be a commitment to the language itself, to using as much as you can and so on. Languages are an inherent part of culture and by learning a new language, you are promoting and safeguarding that culture.

#2 Find a Working Partner

Learning a new language is about reading, writing, listening and speaking – in other words, using the language as often as possible.

One of the problems many students face, whether they are sat in a classroom or at home, is a sudden and paralysing attack of self-consciousness.

Pronouncing strange words, having to think clearly and quickly to produce coherent sentences in a different language need one thing – a willing partner to listen. Why not learn the language together?

#3 OR, Talk to Yourself

welcome to germany

Learning a new language is a great way to exercise the grey cells.

It may sound a little odd, but many students of online language courses all say that talking to themselves, practicing phrases, making lists in their new language and so on, all help to cement the new ideas they are learning. Try it!

#4 Don’t Get Lost in a Textbook or Course Materials

Make conversation your goal and that means not hiding in the textbook or course materials. You may have a sound theoretical knowledge of how German sentences are constructed, but when it comes to ordering a “burger ohne zwiebeln”, you will be tongue-tied.

#5 Have Fun with It

Think of fun ways you can practice your new German language skills. Draw a comic strip, write a poem, write a Facebook post in German, tweet in German asking for German language email pen pals or talk in German whenever and wherever you can.

#6 Age is NOT Stopping You Learning

As children, we learn by sitting at our desk in school, we have an expectation that we won’t get things perfekt every time.

We also assume that as we get older, our brains have less aptitude to take on new things and new learning. But there is no scientific evidence to prove this. As an adult, you are just as capable as learning a new skill as you were when you were a child.

#7 Push Out of Your Comfort Zone

We mentioned the feeling of being self-conscious in an earlier point but frankly, for anyone studying online language courses, being embarrassed by mispronunciation or the use of the wrong German word stops them from really enjoying learning a new language.

There is a psychological process that says for anyone scared of something, the way to overcome the fear is to face the stimulus over and over again. Familiarity means less fear of getting it wrong.

And that means using your new language skills as often as possible. Take a look online; are there online German speaking communities that could be useful?

#8 Listen

The digital age means we live in an increasingly smaller world where we can easily access newspaper and TV programmes from around the world.

Listening is also part of learning a new language. For example, some languages pronounce letters and combinations of letters differently.

Invest in spending time listening to German music stations, accessing German TV programmes via the web and other German language outlets.

#9 Watch People Talk

To get the sounds right, you will need to move and use your tongue differently to form different shapes. And this means watching the expressions and shapes of people’s faces as they speak German. Enjoy a German language film – how do facial expressions change with different sounds.

It sounds odd, but maybe the way in which you are holding your mouth and tongue is stopping you from grasping the sounds correctly.

#10 Deutsch Sprechen Jeden Tag

The translation? Speak German every day – or whichever language you are using.

This can be having a conversation with yourself, listening to German-language music and pop songs, reading a German article aloud from the Internet – there are so many tasks and activities you can complete in German or the language you are choosing to learn.

Above all, make it fun and enjoy it!

 

Translations

ohne zwiebeln – without onions

perfekt – perfect

 

Curiosity or obsession? Hobby or career?

In the last thirty years, researching family history has become popular. The ability to access records online has made some of the research easier and more accessible. Whereas once you would have had to travel to archives, possibly in various parts of the country to access paper documents, with a click of a mouse, you can now access all kinds of records and information online.

For some, this is a pleasant hobby, a way of tracing family roots centuries into the past. For others, it is an obsession, almost akin to detective work through the ages, finding lost ancestors and providing proof of lineage.

Genealogy is not just the study of your own family history. It is acquiring a set of skills to know where to look for information, how records were kept through the ages and what certain symbols, signs and language you will come across is actually telling you.

The history of genealogy
The study of lineage has been around for a long time, and is not a new or modern phenomenon. Those of noble birth in Europe sometimes had a hard time holding on to their crowns, titles and lands and as such, need to be ready to prove their lineage through the years. This way, they could prove they were entitled to the throne or the mass of land or titles they were wanting.

Using key information such as birth, death and marriage certificates and records, a genealogist can look back through centuries of information, tracing the line back of a family through generations.

It varies slightly from family history as this is more of an in-depth look at names, dates of birth and so on. With genealogy, there is so much more that you need to know from location of events, things that happened, the part family members played in events such as wars or rebellions. It is a richer history, a wider net that is cast and more information that is sought.

A genealogist produces something known as a pedigree chart – or, in layman’s terms, a family tree – that charts everyone who was born and died in a family, who they married, their children and then who they married and so on.

It can be complex and complicated, especially once adoption is added to the family and how, over the years, the nuclear family has changed. There are many dead ends, many obstacles and hurdles and it takes time, as well as dedication.

It is a skill and one that many people studying genealogy courses will testify too. Learning to understand records from different eras, how they kept information and why is all part and parcel of unravelling the mystery that is before you.

Genealogy is not just the study of your own family history. It is acquiring a set of skills to know where to look for information, how records were kept through the ages and what certain symbols, signs and language you will come across is actually telling you.

Genealogy is not just the study of your own family history. It is acquiring a set of skills to know where to look for information

It can be a mathematical puzzle, as well as a historical one. There are two parents, four grandparents, so many children, and then spouses. With death or divorce, come more spouses and so on.

Finding ancestors and their stories
A genealogist will use a variety of sources for information and pieces of the puzzle:

Studying online
Online genealogy courses are a great way of studying this interesting subject. Courses such as these will equip you with the skills you need to unravel the mysteries of the past, and be able to piece those parts together in the modern-day.

From understanding language used in years gone by, to understanding how referencing works in archives, you too can unravel the events of the past and the part that your ancestors played in it. This is more than just drawing up a family tree, it about looking at their lives and perhaps an explanation of why you are where you are today.

For some, this is a hobby but for others, it can become a possible career too. Although there are no formal qualifications needed to become a genealogist, it takes more than just being able to construct your own family tree.

Studying online means you can do so at your own pace, manage your own learning and, more importantly, study at a time that suits you.

You can enrol today on one of our genealogy courses online. There are no pre-requisites to our courses meaning you can enrol on the course you want!

If you are a non-English speaker or learning English as a second language, it can feel like a big task. With so many rules when it comes to writing and speaking, English can feel like a difficult language to understand.

But once you have started to learn English, you will realise it is far simpler than it seems. Learning a language is difficult but can have so many benefits. The way you learn English is important too.

In this article, we show you how learning English is simpler and easier when you opt to learn with a course that you study from home.

Why learn English?
If you are living and working in an English-speaking country, learning English will have many benefits. Learning to speak and write fluently in English will help you in many ways:

how-to-learn-english-at-home-and-fast

With online or at home courses, you will recieve a lot of support.

How to learn English at home
There are many ways that you can choose to learn a new language.

Online
One way you can learn a new language, is to sign up to a course that you complete online. You can do this at a time that suits you and you can spend as much time as you like to complete the course.

You will have activities and things to do to practice your new English skills. You will regular access to the Internet too as your course materials will be online.

Home learning
These types of courses involve completing some of the course online as well as having a booklet or workbook to write in.

Again, like an online course, you can complete an English course at home and in your own time. You can also read some of the course materials, practice some of the speaking activities at work, on your way home or whilst out shopping.

Classroom-based courses
This type, of course, is held at a college or local school. Classes are usually held at the same time each week, with courses last for several weeks. Some courses last for 10 weeks or more.

This means that you will need to make sure that you go to every class. You will make friends and have chance to practice your English language skills.

Not everyone feels comfortable or can go to a class at the same time for every week.

how-to-learn-english-at-home-and-fast

One of the most important aspects of learning something new, like a language, is the support you get.

Support
One of the most important aspects of learning something new, like a language, is the support you get.

Support comes from many different people. With online or at home courses, you will get a lot of support:

 

Choose the right course
Choosing the right English language courses for you is important. When looking at courses, check:

Learning a new language is fun and exciting! When looking at how to learn English, always look at how well the course suits you and the level the course is being offered at.

Communication in any situation or setting is important but in a workplace setting, clear and effective communication is vital. But why?

What is communication?

It is not just about sending emails to remind everyone of their tasks for the day – communication is far more than this. It is the verbal and non-verbal communication skills that we all have in some shape or form.

You would think that, as humans and the most advanced mammal on the planet that we wouldn’t need training in effective communication in the workplace. Surely, a conversation at work is just like one at home? One person says something, the other responds and so on and so forth.

The truth is, companies spend thousands of pounds on training their staff to communicate better, from writing reports to emails that get responses.

Understanding the benefits of effective communication helps companies to understand what their customers wants and needs are, as well as being able to push the boundaries of the business too. A workforce that can communicate effectively can deal with international trade partners and other vendors.

The benefits of effective communication in the workplace

#1 Helps with diversity and inclusivity

There is a lot written of workplace diversity and tolerance. Britain has an immigrant population that means there are workers in all sectors and industries from countries within the European Union and beyond.

Language and cultural difficulties are significant barriers. Thus, companies who employ workers from the UK and beyond have long recognised the need to train all their staff in effective communication.

People can feel confused when they feel excluded; others find it a lonely experience and these negativities can become a festering ground for further issues. It may also be a possibility that people feel bullied, or ‘left out’. Clearly, if people are unable to communicate – and do so without causing confusion – then the end results will not be pleasant.

There is no doubt that communication fosters better understanding which means that productivity would increase (in theory), errors decrease and everything should run smoother.

#2 Global Marketplace

We no longer live in a world where we do business with our immediate next door neighbours. The internet has put paid to this, opening up the market for all industries, transgressing all boundaries.

Exporting your goods is now a real possibility but this brings with it, its own set of issues and problems – one of which can be communication.

Just like cultural differences within your staff team, you need to be aware of the differences with customers from the four corners of the globes – and you need to understand how to effectively communicate.

#3 Teambuilding

Your teams need to be as efficient and productive as possible. There are many things that can get in the way of teams performing well together.

Feeling of competition can be overbearing, a by-product of poor communication. People can feel singled out, or when important information is missed, it can have disastrous consequences. Poor communication can make work feel like a slog, important deadlines are missed and customers see this too.

People feel valued when they feel included and this is exactly what effective workplace communication brings about. When mistakes are made, the process is analysed and not the person. There are positive relationships between colleagues, as well as with management.

#4 Staff morale

Overall, the most positive benefit of effective workplace communication is staff morale. Feeling valued boosts morale, and when employees feel appreciated, they also enjoy their roles more. Good communication will often start with management being open, honest and transparent with the information that they communicate to staff – and how they do this too.

One of the gripes that many employees have of working for a company is that they ‘don’t know what is going on’. Often, rumours and counter-rumours will circulate that muddy the waters even more. This is certainly true when there is change in the air.

Poor, ineffective or non-existent communication leads to one things – dissatisfaction. The feeling of not being trusted or valued leads to plummeting staff morale. When morale drops, with each downward notch you will need to work twice as hard to improve morale.

Effective communication = happiness!

Who would have thought that an email or phone call, a conversation or an announcement could make such a big difference to how people feel at work? But it does.

Of course, if a business has traditionally suffered from a lack of direct and effective communication, it may take some time to swing the effects around. But it can be done!

Neuro-linguistic programming – known as NLP – is often touted by any people as being the new way of thinking and developing as a person, as well as a professional. In some ways, it is a way of changing how people think and their perceptions of an event, which is how magicians have long performed their craft.

What is NLP?
NLP is the practice of understanding how people organise their thoughts, emotions, language and behaviour to produce that results that they do.

When you understand your own pattern, according to NLP practitioners, you change your thought processes which should produce different results.

It is also a means by which people can model themselves on others. For example, Richard Branson has had phenomenal business success. My understanding how he thinks, using language, understanding his emotions and so on, people can ‘copy’ these trains of thought – and possibly emulate his success too.

NLP acknowledges that we create our own unique mental maps of the world around us, utilising our five senses. The three key elements of NLP are defined as:

NLP and magic – is there a link?
The likes of Dynamo and Derren Brown offer an intriguing insight into how we perceive certain visual information and clues. There are those of which we are aware, but there are also cues that we process without being conscious of them, or overtly aware.

In essence, illusionists and magicians take advantage of a fundamental fact – attention is limited.

For example, some people say that no one reads online. What their intended meaning is, is that people do not give the written word on the screen the full attention that it needs. They take a quick look, maybe skim read over a paragraph or two in order to get an idea of what the intended meaning is.

Science tells us that our attention span is limited. We focus on a small amount of content and then everything outside of this content although still in sight, is essential ‘blurry’. These blurrier parts are known as the ‘fringe’ and the ‘margin.’

By focusing on one small spot, you miss all kinds of information that goes on in the fringes and the margins. With so much information bombarding us, we miss a lot of this information.

Magicians and illusionists manage our attention.

It is as simple and as complex as that. There are other people who manage our attention:

Love it or hate it, magic is a means by which perception and awareness are altered by the person performing the magic. Most of the time, people see this as fascinating, cool and at times, simply incredible. It is also fun and light-hearted, with magicians or illusionists rarely using it as a means to instil fear into someone.

This is how NLP and magic are similar but this is true of many other things in life too:

NLP is used in all kind of facets
From marketing and promotional work, to magicians and psychologists – changing how people think and their perceptions of an object or a process is something that happens to us every day.

From a magician understanding at what point the audience will object the trick and showing them something else, to an advertiser understanding that drawing attention away from something less than perfect is an accepted promotional technique, completing Neuro Linguistic Courses provide a great platform for improved understanding of what makes people tick – and why.

ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder refers to a disorder that varies widely in severity from one person to another.

One person displaying signs of autism will be very much different from those displayed by another person, also with a diagnosis of ASD. However, there are some commonalities. Everyone with a diagnosis of ASD will have difficulties in three main areas: social communication, social interaction and social imagination.

With difficulties reading people’s emotions or picking up on hints such as body language, people with autism can find social situations overwhelming.  This difficulty can lead to self-isolation or to public meltdowns. Many people assume that those with autism will live lives less-ordinary and that the inability to cope with social functions; many autistic children and adults face bullying, as well as misunderstanding.

However, autism does not stop people from overcoming the challenges of autism. In fact, some people use the strengths of autism to excel in life. Indeed, there are many examples of famous people with autism. Here we highlight some of the best-known people, all facing the challenges of autism in a world that can sometimes be unforgiving and intolerant but striving and thriving anyway.

Albert Einstein

Einstein is proof that being different isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, being different enabled Einstein to develop ideas and theories that are still celebrated and used today. It could be argued that his autistic mind allowed him to reach beyond the boundaries of what others thought.  So, while he is reputed to have struggled with social interactions and lacked tactile sensitivity, his intelligence and fascination with science transformed the way we think.

Mozart

Easily one of the most famous composers in the world, Mozart is believed to have had repeated facial expressions; have incredibly sensitive hearing (particularly to loud sounds) and was in an unintentional constant state of motion; he just couldn’t keep still.  Imagine though if he hadn’t been so sensitive to sound. Would he have been able to bring the subtlety and depth to his compositions that we consider so timeless? Imagine if he had been able to still himself.  Would he have been so prolific?

Daryl Hannah

The blonde, long-haired actress that is probably best-known for her role as a mermaid in the film Splash also has a diagnosis of ASD. Her shyness as a child was misunderstood, and even now, Daryl admits to rocking as a way of comfort when she is faced with situations she finds it difficult to comprehend. Although acting was the magical land to which she escaped, she found coping with the publicity and stardom of being a Hollywood actress almost impossible, refusing on many occasions to attend premiers of her own films. She now shuns the limelight, performing only occasional acting roles. She works happily from her home, protesting with lobby groups who work to address climate change.

Courtney Love

Courtney was diagnosed with a mild form of autism. There is no definition of ‘mild’ autism, as such, but behaviours in her childhood and in her adult life are likely connected with autism, including being excluded from several schools.  She has a strong following, thanks to her musical career.  However, her behaviour can appear erratic and almost dangerous in some situations, traits often exhibited by children and adults with autism.

Dan Aykroyd

The star of Ghostbusters was diagnosed, like many so many other famous people with autism, in his childhood years. However, at the time, there was not a diagnosis mechanism for ASD; thus it wasn’t until his adult years that he received a full and frank diagnosis.  It was Dan’s wife that noticed several obsessive traits, familiar to those with ASD. On her insistence, he saw a specialist and was given the diagnosis. His two main obsessions were ghosts and policemen, which may explain the films he has worked on over the years.

Tim Burton

Again, it was Tim Burton’s wife who spotted the signs of ASD. Married to actress Helen Bonham Carter, it was during research for a role that Helen noticed that her husband exhibited several of the traits.  As a result of the diagnosis, Tim was able to talk about the film and character of Edward Scissorhands as being semi-autobiographical. The feeling of being different and being shunned for this difference is one that never leaves those with have a diagnosis of autism.

Hans Christian Anderson

It may be challenging to believe that someone with such a vivid imagination could be considered autistic.  A common prejudice is that people with ASD tend to logical and fixed in the perspective they hold.  Reading his diaries, however, shows that he had a tendency towards obsession.  He desired things that were often unattainable.  If you speak to those with autistic diagnosis today, they will tell you they recognise some of the themes of their lives in the story of The Ugly Duckling and The Little Mermaid.

Charles Darwin

Obviously living in a time before autism was a recognised disorder, Darwin, like Anderson, has been linked to ASD long after his death.  There were reports from his childhood that he was quiet and isolated.  He was said to be fixated on topics from the sciences.  It is likely that the high sensory input experienced by those with autism, along with an obsessive disposition, allowed Darwin the skills needed to observe nature as carefully as he did. We may never have had such a coherent theory of the survival of the fittest had it not been for Darwin’s autistic traits.

Bill Gates

The co-founder of Microsoft and now the co-chairperson of a significant global foundation, Bill Gates should be considered nothing short of a phenomenally successful man.  Although there has no official confirmation of his diagnosis, there is a general agreement amongst those with ASD that he is on the spectrum.  The evidence they cite is his speech pattern and the way he avoids eye contact.  It is important to remember that the degree of autism can vary greatly.  It is likely that Gates technical brain and powers of concentration may also be a positive aspect of autism.

Steve Jobs

Again, as with Bill Gates, this is a matter of speculation rather than an official part of Jobs biography.  However, Jobs social skills, or lack of them, are well documented.  Equally, he had an obsessive nature, as he focused in one small details.  This led him to some unorthodox modes of thinking, which turned out to be ultimately successful.

Andy Warhol

Another man with an unorthodox mind is the artistic genius of Andy Warhol.  The lead for diagnostics in autism insists that Warhol’s love of repetition and fixation on ideas is evidence of someone on the spectrum.  Judith Gould adds that his concise answers in interviews and some quirky decisions, such as refusing to wear green underwear, can also be used to come up with a diagnosis after his death.  Why would this be important? Well, it increases awareness that autism is less of a disorder than a difference and sometimes that difference can breed genius.

WB Yeats

At school, Yeats was bullied for his disinterest and for his somewhat awkward social behaviour.  It is interesting that the poet is known for his intense appreciation of emotion.  However, one academic points out that his obsession with Maud Gonne may have been a facet of his autism.  Also, if you pay close attention to his poems, there is an intense sensuality, which suggests he experienced the world to an extreme of his senses. Yeats biographer disagrees with academics, as Yeats emotional intelligence cannot be doubted.  However, what Yeats illustrates is that the range of characteristics of ASD makes it difficult to make generalised claims.

Emily Dickenson

There is a notable lack of women on this list.  Women are more difficult to diagnose with autism, as the emotional profile of an autistic woman is different from that of a man.  Therefore, it may be that Yeats sensitivity could hide his autism, as Dickenson’s could too.  Dickenson’s way of thinking was highly unconventional for the time, she was reclusive, she preferred the simple rules that govern a child’s world, and she was fascinated by the scent of flowers.

Stanley Kubrick
Finally, on our list of famous people with autism, is movie director Stanley Kubrick. Born in 1928, autism was not given its name until the 1940s, making a diagnosis of Stanley unlikely during his childhood years.  He was, however, an iconic director, who happened to display many autistic traits. Those that worked with Kubrick noted his poor social skills, narrow, obsessive interest, and inflexibility. Yet, he is widely seen as a genius within the genre of films he directed, mainly because of his obsessive attention to detail.

The message we should take

In April, when we are recognising Autism Awareness Month, it is essential to recognise the value that people with ASD bring to our world.  To be different is often not tolerated.  However, we should show compassion and kindness to people who work at the edges of our society for they enhance our understanding of the world in so many ways.

For those working or living with those with autism, life can be difficult and inflexible, but just as rewarding. Autism awareness courses are a fabulous way of being able to expand our understanding of autism, appreciating that it is both a gift and a curse for some.

At one time, the solution to the problem of how to learn a language was to take yourself to that place, live there for months and return fully versed in the language, culture and ways of life.


For many of us, however, this is an impossible dream. The prospect of giving up work and living abroad for a few months may appeal but is financially impossible. And it may not be your dream – you may just want to enjoy the challenge of learning a new language.

So, how to learn a learn a language and not travel? Here are a few ideas:

#1 Immerse yourself

If travelling is not an option at the moment, there are other ways of immersing yourself in the language.

The Internet is a fabulous thing most of the time and whereas the TV and radio programmes of far-flung countries were once unattainable, it is now possible to access some of these via the Internet. As you learn a new language, spend some time viewing and listening to programmes in the language of your choosing.

This is a great way of hearing how the language is used on a day to day basis. There are different styles in all languages; news programmes, for example, tend to use more formal language, speaking slowly and concisely. Presenters and actors tend to use less formal language, including slang and will speak faster too.

#2 Mumble and babble to your hearts content!

To understand this point, you have to consider how babies learn to speak. They do so by copying and mimicking.
Pronunciation is an important part of learning a new language and this, without a shred of shyness of self-consciousness, you need to babble and mimic everything you hear in your new language.
Imitating sounds and copying linguistic expressions are a shortcut to fluency in your new language.

#3 Phrases

When learning a new language, you will often be taught common phrases and greetings a these tend to be the words and phrases that you will utter most. From asking directions to a common greeting used every day, these are undoubtedly useful phrases to learn.
Many language experts, however, suggest adding one more phrase to this early repertoire – and that is “how do you say…?” People whose native language you are learning will be more than happy to help you master it and so when you are stuck, asking in your new language how do say a phrase or pronounce a word is also another shortcut to fluency.

#4 Write it

Many people verbally learn a new language and this makes perfect sense. This is, in most cases, how people will use it whether that is ordering a meal or holding a conversation with the locals.
What can help with memory is when you have had a conversation in your new language, to jot down words or phrases that you have not fully understood. This way, you can look them up online or in your course materials, your dictionary and use them the next time you converse.
Some people create grammar sheets of colloquial expressions and phrases that they can use, keeping them as handy references.

#5 Use cognates

Have you noticed how some words seem similar in all languages? These are called cognates and unlocking their use can give you several more words in your vocabulary.
For example, most words ending in “ion” in languages with strong Latin connections tend to be the same in English. For example, information and información, or donation and donación.
Words can also be recognised across some languages because they have common root words such as fromage in French and fromaggio in Italian.
The good news is that learning languages becomes easier. Once your brain has learnt the patterns of a second language, it soon learns to look for patterns in words of other languages.

#6 Get a pen pal

At one time, when they taught languages in schools, students were paired with students of a similar age in another country. You would write in the language you were learning, and they would respond in English.

There are many websites that offer this service; you can rely on old-fashioned letters or email. Clearly, you need to be safe and not give out personal information etc. but, many people have pen pals who become firm friends.

Online language courses are the perfect way of learning a new language. Learning from the comfort of your own home, at a time and pace that suits you, makes learning and studying fun. With no pressure to hit milestones according to someone else’s timetable, you can take your time and enjoy learning a new language.

Mediators are the people who can be asked to step in and help both sides solve a dispute or argument.

There are many times when mediation is required. Conflict is normal and an inevitable part of life, within the family, business or work setting. Every day, people express different values, needs, principles, prioritises and so on. This leads to disputes which, if poorly managed, can lead to family break-ups, workplace grievances and when things get really tough, court and tribunal hearings.
Mediators are the people who can be asked to step in and help both sides solve a dispute or argument. NCC Home Learning have mediation courses that can propel you into an exciting career.

 

What is mediation?
Mediation is an effective way of resolving a dispute between parties, without the need to go to court. It involves a third party, a mediator, who helps both sides come to an agreement.

It is a flexible process used to settle all kinds of disputes from consumer disputes to contract issues, from neighbourhood issues or problems, to family conflicts and workplace fallouts.

Conflict of any kind, whether at work or in the home, is physically and emotionally exhausting. However, a mediator is not a fancy term for referee; they do not bring two parties together, light the fuse and sit back. There is a process that is followed, with key questions that both side need answering.

Here is part of this mediating process:
What would you like to see happen? What does the resolution or the solution the problem look like for you?
These questions are asked of both parties but the mediator needs to ensure that both parties are listening and communicating with each other. People who are in conflict with another are usually surprised during the mediation process that both side actually want similar outcomes; it is that a set of circumstances and factors became involved in the process causing the end product to be lost.

What is needed to help us move forward? How do we get there?
There are no right and wrong answers. Part of the mediation process may be that both parties resolve that there is no common ground and moving forward is therefore not an option. This then means that the tangles of life need to be untangled so that people can go their separate ways. If both parties do decide to go ahead, then a path to peace and harmony needs to be decided upon.

In both cases, this can be an emotional and painful process.

Can you tell me more about…?
If you have been part of a mediation process or conflict resolution, you will notice that the mediator will not ask ‘why?’. ‘Why’ is a word that incites defensive reactions from people. Think about when you are asked why you did something – how did it make your feel? Did you feel you needed to defend your actions or your thoughts?

However, as part of the mediation process, it is important that people are able to express how they felt and thus the mediator will choose their words carefully.

Why is mediation necessary
Conflict can be long running with a high impact on people individually, as well as emotionally and physically. Productivity at work can also suffer, if this is the root cause of the conflict. As a business, holding on to skilled staff is essential but if there are issues, and people are not getting along, then output will suffer.

All too often, internal ‘mediators’ are used, people who may have an interest or qualification in psychology, counselling or human resources. But, there can be an issue with this; one of the parties may feel that because the person is internal to the company, that they are being judged. There is also the question of whether the mediator is also truly impartial.

This is why many companies and businesses employ external mediators. They have no prior knowledge of the people involved or the issue at hand. They will work through a set process. It may take one meeting, or it may take several.

Can you cut it as a mediator?
Mediation is used in all kinds of situation but there is one commonality: conflict. People in conflict are tense and there may be times when tempers become frayed and harsh words uttered. A mediator needs to stay calm and focused, unabashed by the language used or the sentiments expressed.

Mediation courses from NCC Home Learning can be studies at your own pace, in your own time and wherever you feel most at ease to do so – your lounge, the kitchen table or a paragraph or two as you wait for the train home.

Being a mediator is an interesting career choice, with plenty of scope to help people in all kinds of conflict and circumstances.

Research suggests that within a few weeks, the New Year resolutions have fallen by the wayside, all but forgotten.

 

Why New Year’s Resolutions Do Not Work – But Can with NLP!
New Year is a perfect time, or so you would think, to make those all important changes in your life. From stopping smoking to being more active, New Year resolutions are made by many people.

But, they don’t last. Research suggest that within a few weeks, the resolutions have fallen by the wayside, all but forgotten.

 

The reasons why resolutions don’t work

Resolutions are about making a change. Breaking one routine and attempting to replace it with an-other may, on the surface, seem like an easy thing to do.

And yet, as soon as the first hurdle or obstacle looms, the resolution fades away and here are five common reasons why:

#1 Emotional investment is lacking
We all know we should eat healthier/eat less/exercise more/not be as stressed and so on but un-less you feel the desire deep down inside of you to make a change, it can seem like an uphill battle right from the start.

#2 Unwillingness to raise standards
Everyone has different standards and desires when it comes to certain facets of life. Someone who gets up at 5 am for a morning run has a high dedication than someone who does no exercise at all. Making a change or sticking to a resolution may mean upping your dedication to a cause.

#3 Hedging your bets
It is a common phrase and this means holding on to something, ‘just in case’. For example, quitting smoking is a common New Year’s resolution but you don’t throw ashtrays away, just in case. If you decide to make a change, burn your boats, get rid of stuff and you will find a way to make it hap-pen.

#4 Lacking in internal motivation
Frankly, if your mo-jo to make a change is not in place, it ain’t gonna happen. To make a change and follow through with it, you need to have a strong emotional desire.

#5 You don’t believe you can change
What is often lacking is the self-belief that change is possible. This can be a negative cycle that many people are caught in. As soon as something happens that potentially thwarts the ‘new you’, you slip back into old ways.

How can NLP help?

There is help at hand with NLP courses which can be instrumental in helping people to make per-sonal and professional changes. NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming is a behavioural modification technique that came to prominence in the 1970s. Used by psychiatrists, psychologists, managers, counsellors and so on, NLP is a popular tool in the workplace. It is also used by many people in their personal lives and relationships too.

Essentially, it is a tool to initiate and motivate personal and positive changes. It focuses on the con-nection between mind and language, assessing how this connection affects both the body and be-haviour.

Over the years, there have been all kinds of claims, studies and research projects that have linked NLP with successful person changes including weight loss, reducing anxiety, negative moods and so on.

It has also been used in the sphere of learning as well as by many managers and supervisors in the workplace. The impact of making a positive change in anyone’s life is not to be underestimated.

NLP as a vocational skill

Understanding NLP in depth and how it can be applied in the workplace can open up many oppor-tunities for employees, as well as having a beneficial effect on productivity. Like New Year resolutions, changes in the workplace can be stressful and have a negative impact on employees and their morale.

For managers and supervisors, a grounding in NLP techniques can make a positive impact on how a team is managed but, finding the time to study for an NLP qualification can be tough.
Learning online through a home learning provider is one solution for gaining an NLP qualification:

NLP can make a big difference to your personal life but in your workplace too. Take a closer look.