Learn Arabic for Educational Reasons

Learn Arabic for Educational Reasons The Educational Benefits of Learning the Arabic Language ChaptersLearning Arabic as a Second LanguageDeveloping Your Listening and Concentration Skills in your Arabic LessonsWhy Learn Arabic: Make Yourself Stand Out in Your Professional FieldThe Benefits of Learning Arabic: Learn About the World's Second Largest ReligionToday Arabic is spoken by more than 300 million people around the world.It's also the official language of the 22 Arab League nations and one of the 6 official languages used at the United Nations.So why should you learn Arabic?What can learning Arabic bring you in terms of your academic progress?Will learning Arabic help you find a better job? Will it open doors to new professional opportunities around the world?What are the real benefits of speaking this ancient language in the worlds of business, tourism, and science? From a cultural point of view, Arabic has made great contributions not only to Middle Eastern culture, but also to our own.By deciding to learn Arabic, whether its an 'Arabic for beginners' class  in school ,  or through private or even online lessons,  there are a number of advantages to speaking this language:It's the primary language spoken in the Arab world, and is the second language learned by all Muslims.It's the official language of more than 20 countries.It opens doors to Arab and Islamic culture.The opportunity to discover a formidable heritage of religious thinking, architecture, science, and philosophy that has inspired a number of civilizations in the Middle East and the West.Speaking Arabic will help you open your eyes to the world, to develop interpersonal skills, and to indulge your intellectual curiosity.It will also help you stand out from your academic peers and perhaps help you find a job that is truly interesting and desirable.What's more, it studying Arabic couldn't be easier. You can learn Arabic online, take Arabic courses at a local language school, or find a tutor on the Superprof website who can teach you how to speak Arabic, as well as how to master Arabic s cript and its grammatical structures.So, are you ready to make a difference in your academic career by learning the Arabic language?We're here to offer you some advice to get you started.After reading this article, you'll have everything you need to start learning Arabic.Don't force yourself to choose Arabic if you don't feel up to the task because you'll find yourself unable to put forth the necessary effort.But if you like the sound of Arabic, if you're already familiar with some Arabic vocabulary, and if Arabic grammar and reading don't scare you, go ahead!What You Should Know about the Basics of ArabicBefore anything else, you should know that there are two types of Arabic, which are known as literary Arabic and dialectal Arabic.Literary Arabic, also sometimes known as Modern Standard Arabic,  is the form of Arabic common to all Arab countries, and is the predominant written form, but it's also found in public discourse and in the media.Dialectal Arabic corresponds to the form o f Arabic used orally. This changes because the spoken forms of dialectal Arabic are different in each country; Egyptian Arabic has little in common with the Moroccan dialect or that of   Saudi Arabia.Some other basics about the Arabic language:Its alphabet uses 28 letters that change according to their place within words.It's read from right to left.There are fewer vowels.It has a particular syntax that applies to a strict word order: verb, subject, complement.Certain sounds are difficult to reproduce and so it's important to pay attention to gestures, facial expressions, and voice intonation during a conversation.Developing Your Listening and Concentration Skills in your Arabic LessonsThe Arabic language is one of the most widely spoken internationally.But if want to learn this unique language, you'll need to become an excellent listener, meaning not only will you need to learn the Arabic alphabet and learn some basics of Arabic calligraphy, you'll also need to train your ear to he ar these new sounds in Arabic, on a continually regular basis.Check here for an online Arabic course.Improve your concentration by learning Arabic.Immerse yourself entirely in Arabic by listening to speeches, discussions in Arabic,  Arabic speaking radio or even by watching the news on  Arabic language TV stations like Al-Jazeera.For those who want to learn Arabic on their own, there's also the option of listening to podcasts in Arabic, which are an excellent way to develop your listening skills and reinforce your concentration; with podcasts you can download them to listen over again, enrich your  vocabulary, learn the rules of  Arabic grammar, learn how to use proper intonation, and discover the  nuanced meanings of Arabic words.In sum, you'll boost your level of oral comprehension and improve your writing, reading, and pronunciation skills.Some tools to help you learn Arabic in addition to your lessons:Internet radio stations: when you're in the car, in traffic jams, on public tr ansport, on foot, on a plane... there are lots of different radio stations broadcasting live.Arabic language documentary films: there are lots of stations that specialize in showing documentaries in Arabic, covering a variety of thematic subjects such as politics, nature, culture, and the arts.Arabic language audio books: these allow you to learn about Arab culture with novels, stories, scientific non-fiction, etc.Educational websites: they'll have lots of recorded discussions or dialogues between Arabic speaking experts in a variety of fields.Why Learn Arabic: Make Yourself Stand Out in Your Professional FieldFew of your peers, in high school or university, will be able to develop such international experience during their studies.Few of them will have the chance to discover fantastic and mythical countries like Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon, countries where the US and other Western countries have crucial interests (economic, financial, cultural, and religious).Learning Arabic will he lp you understand Arab cultureIn Arabic, the language and culture are closely linked. Your proficiency in one grows as it does in the other. Even from knowing some colloquial slang or a few keys phrases, your understanding of Arab culture will increase which will be an asset for any employer looking for staff to deal with middle eastern relationsThere is often a lack of mutual understanding of local contexts. Speaking and reading Arabic offers you the opportunity to participate in new business endeavours with a better understanding of complex political and cultural situations.Familiarity with the Arabic language and an understanding of the cultural differences within a particular context are more important than anything else when trying to meet the challenges of the Middle East and North Africa.The Benefits of Learning Arabic: Learn About the World's Second Largest ReligionIslam is the most widespread religion in the Arab world and it's through the Quran that believers share in thei r faith.It serves as a prism through which many Arabs see the world.Learning about the Quran will both help you better understand Islam and learn more Arabic vocabulary through its rich text, which is the source of many ideologies in the Arab world.By deciding to learn Arabic, you'll be able to better understand ancient traditions, learn about Islamic beliefs, become a better intercultural communicator, and establish better and lasting relationships with Arabic speakers and Muslim populations.Discover the mysteries of the Quran!As you can see, learning Arabic can prove itself difficult at first, but the benefits and impact on your academic and professional careers are undeniable.With the Internet, there are several ways to learn such as  night courses, free online Arabic lessons, private lessons, adult learning lessons at universities, and  Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC)  amongst others.Learn Arabic now and enhance your language comprehension skills, but more importantly augment your understanding of the world today.You will find arabic lessons london as well as across the country.

Lungs Diagram Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace

Lungs Diagram Online Biology Tutors Tutorpace Our lungs consist of the millions of tiny alveoli. The alveoli and associated bronchioles give the lung a soft, spongytexture. Inaddition, there are elastic tissue, numerous nerves, and blood vessels. The pair of lungs lies free in the chest or thoracic cavity, attached to each other by the bronchi. The two lungs are not mirror images of each other. Inhumans, the right lung is the larger of the two and is partially divided into three lobes. The left lung is divided into two lobes. A thin sheet of epithelial cells, called the pleural membrane, which encloses each of the lungs and is continuous with the lining of the chest cavity. The pleural membrane secretes a lubricating fluid that reduces friction and allows the lungs to expand and contract without being irritated. The amount of fluid secreted is quite small, and it is normally absorbed by lymph vessels as rapidly as it is produced. Internal structure of the lungs: Bronchi: When primary bronchus reaches to lungs, it soon divides into secondary bronchi which further divide into tertiary bronchi. Bronchioles: The tertiary bronchi divide into bronchioles .Thebronchioles divide repeatedly and give smaller bronchioles. Each bronchiole enters into lung lobules known as lobular bronchioles. It gives rise to terminal bronchioles which further divides into respiratory bronchioles. The respiratory bronchioles open into alveolar duct. The alveolar duct terminates in atria which is expanded passages. These in turn lead into air sacs, which later open into alveoli. The wall of the alveoli is very thin and made up of squamous epithelium. Here exchange of gases takes place easily.

The Guide to Drawing Houses

The Guide to Drawing Houses How to Draw a House ChaptersWhy Draw a HouseWhere to Begin when Drawing a HousePerspective: The Key to Drawing a Good HouseAdding Colour to Your HouseLearning How to Draw a House“Drawing includes three and a half quarters of the content of painting… Drawing contains everything, except the hue.” - Jean-Auguste-Dominique IngresA lot of people would admit that they don’t know how to draw. However, creative pastimes are amongst the most popular. Artistic pursuits (including drawing, painting and sculpture) are the most popular to have been taken up in 2019.   Creative hobbies are becoming increasingly popular.Would you like to learn how to draw a house?Vanishing points, linear perspective, colouring, etc., discover all the different ways to improve your drawing.In this article, we'll look at the reasons for drawing a house, where you can get started, the keys to drawing a good house, how to add colour to your drawings, and where you can learn all this. FernandoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st les son free!Discover all our tutors EmmaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidDrawing Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenDrawing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Julia janeDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvelinaDrawing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Draw a HouseDrawing a house is something that most of us will have done as children. In nursery, many children are asked to draw their house and their family. Some draw their house accurately and others not so much.Each young artist can improve, that’s for sure. There are some interesting houses you can draw to test your skills as an artist. (Source: FrankWinkler)However, most artists learn to draw their house in their childhood. We draw a square with a triangle on top and we’re done. As simple as this is, it can be quite useful for learning shapes.As we grow up, some of us continue to draw regularly and some even continue to draw their house. Whether you live in the country or the city, houses can be the object of fine art. Painting pictures of houses has been popular among many great artists.Drawing a house is also very common among decorators and architects, of course. They need to draw rooms, layouts, etc. This type of drawing can be useful for decorating houses or getting work done or even designing the house of your dreams. But you can’t do this type of drawing without learning about one-point perspective. Getting the basics right is essential.  Whether you’re drawing the outside of your house or a particular room, the perspectiv e will give your drawing depth.Perspective is particularly important if you want to create something more like a work of art and less like a design. It can also make your work more realistic.Learn more about drawing nature and landscapes.Where to Begin when Drawing a HouseThe first thing you need to do when drawing a house is to choose an example to work from. When sketching a house, you don't need to make an architectural drawing. (Source: ElasticComputeFarm0)You can choose your own house or any other house you like the look of. The advantage of this is that you can see it with your own eyes and have a look at the different aspects of it. Having a look around is also useful for perspective.Of course, you can draw a house from an example. To do this, you can just take a photo from the internet. Whether it’s from a search or social networks, there are plenty of pictures of houses online.You might even choose to draw an imaginary house. In this case, you won’t need to look for a model. Your imagination will do all the work.To get started, you first need to choose the medium you want to work on. If you’re working on canvas, you’ll want to make sure that you have an easel to paint almost anywhere. That said, if you’re working on paper, you’ll still need something to support the paper while you work.You’ll want to start with a ske tch. Almost every drawing starts with a sketch. You need to start with the basic outlines. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. This is the whole point of starting with a sketch; you can make mistakes and rub them out.Don’t rub something out immediately just because you think you’ve made a mistake. Leave all the marks there until you’ve finished. Your sketch will start to take shape even with all these erroneous lines.Learn more about drawing mountains. FernandoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidDrawing Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenDrawing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Julia janeDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvelinaDrawing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all ou r tutors ZangmoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsPerspective: The Key to Drawing a Good HouseAs we explained before, you can’t draw a realistic house without perspective. Perspective can give depth and relief to art. It’s one of the fundamentals of drawing. Perspective helps your drawing appear more three-dimensional. (Source: stux)To add perspective to your drawing, you can use one or several vanishing points. Vanishing points usually have several lines radiating from them. The lines are there to show you how an object placed along them would vanish on the horizon.For example, the walls of the house may follow a couple of vanishing points.  You need to know that vanishing points vary according to what you’re drawing.Perspective didn’t appear in art until the Renaissance alongside techniques like sfumato, which was made famous by Leonardo da Vinci, particularly in the Mona Lisa. Nowadays, almost all artists use perspective in their work to add depth to it.Learning to portray perspective realistically is the first step towards drawing a good house.  Once you’ve got your vanishing points and your lines, you’ll start to see where you can put the objects in a room or the outside of the house.Discover how to draw a beach.Adding Colou r to Your HouseOnce you’ve got the main lines down, the next step is inking. This is where you go over the right lines, ignoring the mistakes in your sketch, with a pen, Indian ink, marker, or even coloured pencils if you want.If using a wet material, make sure you allow it to dry before you start erasing the mistakes in your sketch. You’ll be left with a clean outline of your house.Each artist can choose whether or not they want to add colour to their picture. A drawing can be left without colours. It depends on your goals and what you plan on doing with your work.To add colour to your picture, you can use watercolours, gouache, acrylics, coloured pencils, etc.You can also colour your image by scanning it and colouring it digitally using special computer programmes. These allow you to use digital versions of charcoals, markers, special brushes, etc. You’ll even have a palette with every colour imaginable. That said, you will need to be handy with a computer.Whatever technique you choose, have fun with it and practise regularly to get better.The way you add colours will express your style so don’t hesitate to try out different things. Even if it doesn’t produce the desired effects, it’s all part of the learning process.Find out more about drawing gardens in parks.Learning How to Draw a HouseThe right advice will go a long way when it comes to improving your drawings. You can get this advice from a teacher or tutor. Teachers will help students with the basics of drawing and their projects, particularly in private drawing tutorials. While becoming an architect can take years, you can learn to draw a house much more quickly than that. (Source: Wokandapix)Learning to draw can be quite complicated. Each student has different objectives and won’t want to specialise in the same things. In private tutorials or a workshop, you’ll be able to let your teacher know what you want to learn:SketchingPortraitsDrawing contoursDrawing with dotsThe human body and life drawingsPencil drawingDrawing charactersEtc.If you're interested in drawing lessons, figure drawing, perspective drawing, how to draw animals, or even just simple shapes, get in touch with one of the talented and experienced tutors on Superprof.You can get either face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, or group tutorials. Each comes with its pros and cons so take your time when deciding what's right for you, your learning style, and your budget. Face-to-face tutorials are more cost-effective but also more costly while group tutorials tend to be cheaper but yo u won't get as much one-on-one time with your tutor.In private tutorials, you can also choose the tutor who’s suited to helping you learn exactly what you want to learn. Architectural drawings, interior design, sculpture, there are art tutors of all kinds.Keep in mind that many of the tutors on Superprof also offer the first hour of tuition for free. You can use this time to get to know them, discuss what you want out of your tutorials, and agree upon the conditions of your private tutorials. Try out a few different tutors before you decide on the one that's perfect for you.You can also teach yourself how to draw. Whether it’s drawing a face, animals, or a house, there are plenty of video tutorials and guides available online. They can guide you through each step of learning a new technique. There are great tutorials on using watercolours, pastels, etc.You just need to go for it!

Math Tutoring to Increase Your Academic Ability in Math

Math Tutoring to Increase Your Academic Ability in Math 0SHARESShare Facing math homework problems? Tutor Pace is ready to help. Our math tutoring will clean your academic path full of doubts, problems, and confusions in math. Math tutoring: 24/ 7 math help from us Learn math concepts and work on math problems anytime with our experts. You can connect with us all day and all night. Tell us when you need help and we’ll provide you an instant access to our math experts. Whether late night or early morning, we have you learned 24/7. Math online tutoring: One-on-one tutoring sessions Our math online tutoring lets you learn in comfortable private tutoring sessions. Whether a conceptual doubt or a regular math problem, you can ask everything on a one-to-one basis with our math experts. Work in our interactive virtual classroom, where you have access to the wonderful whiteboard. Solve your math problems in real time using this tool. Get full coverage on your math topics. Ranging from algebraic expressions to graphs and inequalities, our experts teach you all. Bring any topic that you feel uneasy and we’ll make you perform exceedingly well in that specific area. Math tutors: Helpful and cooperative for you Our math tutors help you in every inch of the subject. We offer certified math tutors from K-12 to college level students. Once connected, you get to: ? Seek math homework help ? Avail math assignment help ? Ask math problems ? Take help on test-prep and exam-prep ? Take assistance on academic math project ? Practice using math worksheets and tests Tutor Pace provides math tutoring for students of all skill levels. Thus, students can master both basic and advanced math concepts from now on-wards. Time is ticking! Get math online tutoring from Tutor pace right now! [starbox id=admin]

Introvert Tendencies You Can Overcome - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Introvert Tendencies You Can Overcome - Introvert Whisperer Introvert Tendencies You Can Overcome Let me emphasize that Self-Promotion doesn’t have to be obnoxious to be effective.  But, if you don’t Self-Promote you, who will? If you ever want to get ahead, you have to learn how to Self-Promote. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that shows you simple, yet effective ways to Self-Promote. Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Can You Trust What You Hear - Listening Exercise

Can You Trust What You Hear - Listening Exercise Famous American inventor Benjamin Franklin once said Believe none of what you hear, and half of what you see. Todays listening exercise will have you believing Mr. Franklin.Youve probably seen lots of different optical illusions images and videos that are meant to trick your eyes and make you see something that isnt there. But what about audio illusions? These are illusions meant to trick your ears.  In the video below you hear some illusions that will really surprise you. Watch the video, then try our listening exercises. Weve only created a listening exercise for the first illusion, about 1 minute of the video. Answer the questions below in comments, and we will respond.1 Many of us have _____ ____ to catch illusions that trick our eyes, but ___ ____ do you consider illusions of the ear?2. If you heard bar, bar, bar, ___ __ right.3. What is the contraction in the sentence above?4. The audio ____ ___ change between the two videos.5. __ ____, ___ ____ watching each video, and see ho w the sounds morph.6. What is the meaning of the phrasal verb above?

Getting Ready for Middle School and High School with ADHD

Getting Ready for Middle School and High School with ADHD 4 Key Areas to Prepare for Before Day 1 It may only be July, but back-to-school shopping commercials and sales are already under way! As you create the list of school supplies and backpacks that your family will need for the next school year, remember that teens with ADHD also need extra programs and support to succeed academically. By planning for extra support now, you will ensure that your teen has everything that he/she needs to succeed right from the start. I recommend having a plan in place that targets the three areas below. Involve your teen in the planning as much as possible, so youll both feel confident and prepared heading into the school year. To be effective in school, kids need to be organized. Where do books go? Where do you take notes? Where do you write down assignments that need to be completed? Where do you keep handouts and worksheets? And what should you do with notices from school? Teens with ADHD have weak executive functioning skills which makes it hard for them to stay organized. Start off the school year right by helping them create systems. Color-coded notebooks by subject, simple folder systems for storing worksheets and assignments, assigning places for everything from school supplies to school notices, and visual calendars. Goal Setting. One of my favorite tools that a high school English teacher used with his students was the Grade Contract. At the beginning of the semester, he asked each student to decide on the grade they wanted to achieve in the class, and then shared the work they would need to do to achieve to reach that grade. The Grade Contract helped each student set specific goals and promoted a keen understanding the milestones they would need to meet along the way. In a less formal sense, parents can have discussions with their kids about course goals the academic year. You can help your teen break down each goal into the necessary milestones, and provide them with the support they need to achieve their goals. Having a roadmap for your child makes the end goal less daunting and helps your child stay focused and on-task. Since kids with ADHD struggle to sustain motivation for long term goals, attach rewards and motivators to each milestone and check-in regularly. Time Management. Staying on task and completing an assignment means understanding how to manage the time at hand. Its helpful to coach your child through the steps of the first few assignments of the school year. Ask your child to articulate the assignment that needs to be completed, then write out the plan of attack together -- First this, then that, next this, and after that Have your child check-off each of the steps as he/she goes. After your teen announces he/she has completed the assignment, review the checklist. Praise hard work and effort! If he/she has missed a step, have him/her make corrections before turning in the assignment. Eventually, you can try pulling back on your support and have your teen create his/her own plan of attack. If it goes well, you can supervise from a distance. If your teen is still struggling, then dont hesitate to stay involved or get him/her extra time management support and skills training. If your child needs more support than what you can provide at home, learning centers like Huntington Learning Center offer great programs like the Advanced Study Skills Program that help kids improve their organization and executive functioning skills and give them practical tools and tips for improving their goal setting, time management, memorization and recall, and study guide use. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Language Textbook Central 6 Textbook Sources Youll Love

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