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Preschool Mathematics


My preschooler can count twice as high as your preschooler -- but does that mean she really understands number concepts? In truth, she has memorized a sequence of words. Although children can't learn math unless they know how to count, counting is only one aspect of math.

Children begin to count on their own as they grow, and they learn from everyday experiences with length, quantity, time, temperature, money, and more. Through Preschool program, children expand their true understanding of math. Adults should recognize that games such as sorting and putting objects in sequence are actually early experiments in math, even if they don't look much like geometry!

Here are some everyday opportunities for children to begin thinking about numbers:

• All about me - Teach children their own address and phone number as well as their age. Also, record their height – in centimeters and metres. Putting a child on a scale represents an opportunity to compare pounds and Kg, and heavy versus light. Children can also learn what size clothes they wear, and be able to judge what will fit and what won’t.

• Cooking -- Adults pour, measure, divide, estimate time, and read labels every time they prepare a meal. Why not include young children in on the activities? Before he can pour pancake batter or read recipes, a child can stir with a wooden spoon in a plastic bowl. Show a child how you follow a recipe step by step, and how you set the oven temperature. Remember to warn children about what's too hot to touch or eat!

• Managing money -- Children can start knowing about money even before elementary tutoring. You can start letting your child touch, count, save, sort, and spend money. What better way to teach children about the value of money than by taking them shopping and showing them how much they must pay for items -- and how much they will save with coupons!

• Around the house -- Household repairs offer children excellent opportunities to practice math skills. Let children watch as you measure a door frame, or hang a picture in the center of a wall. Children can help you make a list of items you will need to complete a project, including the number of tools. Everyday activities like setting the timer on the VCR or setting the dinner table are opportunities for children to count and work with numbers.

• Play -- Children may also race against the clock or measure the distance they can hit or throw a ball. Help children make neighborhood activities and sports more than just good exercise.

When children pretend, they often create lifelike situations in which they may check a bus schedule, or gauge how much gas is needed for a long car trip.

• Travelling -- Even a short car trip offers children experiences with math. Ask children to identify the speed limit on a passing sign. Estimate the number of minutes it takes to get to a relative's house. Remember games you played in the back seat of the car, like counting yellow school buses and adding up the numbers on license plates.

For more information on how to better prepare for you preschooler, please visit us at the Bayhill Bulletin at http://www.bayhilleducation.com. We are located in Ontario Richmond hill specialized in preschool elementary high school tutoring. And remember…we are among the leaders in York Region preschool program education.


About The Author Maggie Duarte

Growing up in a family that placed great emphasis on education, Maggie Duarte developed her love of learning at an early age. Teaching and motivating others to achieve their best is ingrained in her character.

Ms. Duarte a teacher for over fifteen years in both the public and private school systems has a diverse background in education.

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1439.shtml

Learn Japanese Easily


My quest to learn how to speak Japanese began with the Anime movies, Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, by the renowned Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki. These amazing movies were the catalyst that propelled my interest in the Japanese culture and hence, my desire to learn Japanese fast but in the most proficient way possible.

I was determined to learn a language that most of my fellow North Americans either have no interest in or find it too challenging. Why? Japanese not only sounds significantly different from English but the Japanese letters, (Hiragana) that represent the sounds that make up the Japanese language and is central to the Japanese writing system, are very different. Because of this, I was even hesitant to learn basic Japanese but I put my fears aside and proceeded to find the best way to learn Japanese. After weeks of researching the Internet and networking by word of mouth, I found an amazing course that teaches you to speak Japanese online. So, here's a brief overview of this course to help you in your goal to learn Japanese easily.

First, there is a 31-lesson Interactive Audio Course that covers everything that you need to know to learn Japanese quickly and to become part of a Japanese community. Second, their software: the vocabulary software is a word building game designed to help you learn about 1000 Japanese words and to cover 20 different topics. You can also use this game indefinitely because it allows you to add your own images. The audio software will help you overcome the most difficult aspect of learning Japanese and that is the comprehension. The Hiragana Software learning game helps you to easily recognize and memorize the Hiragana character set used in the Japanese writing and pronunciation system. Third, there are the Grammar Newsletter Series that provides you with 31 illustrated Grammar Lessons and examples. These are invaluable cultural informational tools with explanations of written Japanese and of popular Japanese grammar. The visual tools of this series are unique to this product and their value is priceless enabling you to learn Japanese easily.

Finally, there is also access to a Learner's Forum and Support system that is staffed with fellow students, natives and Japanese teachers. This provides you with extra free resources to further assist you on your quest to learn to speak fluent Japanese.

I am pleased to say that I am able to watch Miyazaki’s movies in their original Japanese and I look forward to visiting Japan one day. Thank you, Hayao Miyazaki for opening up the door for me to experience, acknowledge and respect the Japanese culture.



About The Author Suzanne and Paul Brown

We are passionate about languages and life-long learning. To find out more information on Japanese you can visit, http://www.learnbasic-japanese.blogspot.com or http://www.speakjapanese-online.blogspot.com

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1440.shtml

School Loans Am I Eligible


Student loan eligibility is something that each student should be aware of prior to putting together a financial aid package. The federal government will give you a good idea of what you eligible for when you fill out a FASFA form, but you should also have a good idea going into the process. This way, you will never be side-wisped by something that you never expected. There are a couple of different types of loans and each one requires a different qualification process. Understanding the dynamics of this relationship can help you prepare for the student loan process.

In order to be eligible for a federally funded student loan, you can to show that you have a need for such a loan. This need will have to be shown when you fill out the Federal Application for Student Financial Aid (FASFA). The federal government does this in order to make sure that they are only giving help to those who really need it. If you or your parents make plenty of money, then chances are that you are not going to receive a need-based loan from the federal government. There are some exceptions to this rule, however. If you are applying for a non-subsidized Stafford loan from the federal government or a Parent PLUS loan, you do not have to show financial need. These loans must be paid back at a higher interest rate, however.

There are other conditions of eligibility to go along with the one mentioned above. You must go through a few different hoops in order to satisfy eligibility. For starters, you have to be a United States citizen and have a social security number. You must get your high school degree and attend a college or university. In addition to that, the federal government checks to make sure that you are working towards a degree and making satisfactory academic progress.

If you aren't applying for federal financial help, then there are other loans that you can qualify for. Many private lenders are looking to help people with higher education in today's market. Since the mortgage loans market has taken a hit because of sub prime borrowers, banks are exploring other ways to lend money. They understand that student loans carry significantly less risk than other types of loans, so they have taken the directive to lend to many students. If you have decent credit and you are a college student, then there are quite a few different private loans that you could ultimately qualify for.

What type of college loan are you eligible for? That depends upon what your college needs are and what your financial situation is. The federal government has different standards of eligibility that you will have to adhere to, so make yourself aware of those rules. Private loans are much more flexible, as just about anyone can make themselves elibigible.

Copyright (c) 2008 USUniversityReviews


About The Author Written by Glen Orenstein. Search Online for Top College Financial Aid or find out more information on Top US Online Degrees. Read More at: http://USUniversityreviews.com

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1441.shtml

The Availability of Home School Curriculum


Homeschool Curriculum - How Do I Choose?

The availability of home school curriculum can be a blessing and a curse. There are many books and programs to choose from, but trying to choose can be quite overwhelming. There are a few basic thoughts you need to look into to try to help keep you from getting too frustrated in trying to choose what you will use.

1. Consider learning style - Look at how you and your child learn best. Do they like workbooks, creating notebooks, acting out a story. Knowing yours and your child’s learning style can help reduce the amount of “wrong” curriculum that you purchase. If you have a clear picture of how everyone in your home learns best, then you can choose books or curriculum accordingly. This can save money and frustration in the long run.

2. Look at many types of curriculum - This can be overwhelming too, but if you go into it just browsing you can gain a lot of knowledge about what is available to you. You can go to home school conventions, used curriculum fairs or have the curriculum sent to you by using “Curriculum Fair in a Box.” A variety of sample curriculum is sent to you and you can browse over it in the comfort of your own home in your own time.

3. Plan Ahead - Think about what you want your child to learn or know at the beginning of a school year. Or better yet, if pray and ask God to guide you in what He thinks your child should learn this year. You can take a sheet of paper and list subjects across the top and the names of your children along the side. As you are looking at or thinking about what your child needs, you can jot that down in the proper column for each child. You might have many items under each subject for each child. Once you have written down all your options, then you can circle those that you feel are most important. Then when you go to look at books or resources to use, you will have narrowed down what you need to look for.

Choosing books, curriculum, and resources to use in a school year doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. If you know how your child learns best, know what is available, and focus on what you want to accomplish for that year you can save yourself quite a bit of frustration.


About The Author Heidi Johnson

For more tips on homeschooling, grab your free report "How to Homeschool using the Best Resources" at http://www.hjresources.com/freehs Heidi Johnson specializes in helping families find resources to simplify and improve their lives.

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1442.shtml

Homeschool Curriculum


Homeschool curriculum and books are plentiful. Choosing from the huge selection can be overwhelming. Do you really need to purchase a home school curriculum or can you save some money and home school with books alone? Here are some thoughts that can help you make your decision:

1. You need a core plan - Whether you purchase a home school curriculum or develop your own, you need to know what you want to accomplish. What do you think your child should be doing each day? What do you want them to know and understand by the time the school year is over?

2. Focus on reading, writing and arithmetic - Any good home school program focuses on the basics. Make sure you address the core subjects and know what you want to accomplish there before you add any other subjects to your list.

3. Know how you and your child learn best - Learning style plays a key role in how you and your children will learn. In public school teachers can’t really teach based on learning style because of the volume of students they have to work with. But a home school parent can certainly know their child’s learning style and use resources to support that. If you don’t know yours or your child’s learning style you can take an assessment online and find out. http://www.hjresources.com/hsrecommend Then when you decide to choose curriculum or books you will know what types of resources you need. You might even save yourself a lot of frustration in the long run.

4. Use your resources - In the early days of home schooling there wasn’t much available to parents. That is definitely not the case now. There is almost too much information available now. You have the internet, library and a host of used curriculum sites where you can get books and resources at a fraction of the cost.

5. Do you use a curriculum to learn something yourself? Think about what you do when you want to learn about something. Do you buy a curriculum to learn or do you read books, listen to audio and watch videos? Your children need to see you have a love for learning. You can learn about how to cook, sew, garden, remodel your house, improve your skills at a job, etc.

Even though purchasing a curriculum can give you a feeling of security knowing that everything your child needs to know will be covered, be careful that you don’t take on too much and get burned out. If you focus on the basics and know what you want to accomplish, then you can make an informed decision as to whether you will need to purchase a curriculum or whether you can just use books and resources to accomplish the same goals.


About The Author Heidi Johnson

For more tips on homeschooling, grab your free report "How to Homeschool using the Best Resources" at http://www.hjresources.com/freehs Heidi Johnson specializes in helping families find resources to simplify and improve their lives.

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1443.shtml

The Myth of the Invincible Sword


The Myth of the Invincible Sword

Nearly all cultures throughout history have been subject to the myth of the all-powerful sword. China’s history is filled with legendary swords and swordsmen some of whom even rose to the levels of gods. The Japanese have the legendary Samurai with their world famous katana, often referred to as the Samurai sword. Cossack, Moor, and other Muslim cultures are often remembered as mounted, saber-wielding warriors. In Western Europe the medieval knights were in no way an exception to the sword culture. The sword’s symbolic connection to the heraldic nobility remains to this day, although in ceremonial form only. For most cultures around the world, the sword still holds a position of reverence.

I have dueled and sparred with and against swords for many years and yet I am still amazed when the first words out of almost every new student are, ‘I want to learn how to fight with a sword.’ I explain that unless your armored and riding a horse whenever the sword is pitted against nearly any other ancient weapon of equal length or longer inevitability it comes up wanting. However, the invincible sword myth is so deeply ingrained in human culture that such warnings are rarely heeded, and predictably, the sword becomes most students’ first focus.

The sword’s true combat nature can only be revealed through the handling of the real thing, authentic replicas, and precise training weapons that are meticulously designed for proper accuracy and use. With the aide of such training tools the myth of the sword can be unlocked, not just from a historical approach but from a hands-on approach as well. Sadly, often schools do not follow an accuracy policy with training weapons or when sparring with weapons. This is one reason why there are so many misconceptions about genuine sword combat.

The Japanese sport of kendo is commonly believed to be a martial art based on dueling with katanas. Nothing could be further from the truth. The two are as different as kickball and baseball. The kendo sparring sword called a shinai is a straight sparring sword meant to be a safe representation of the katana. This very light weapon averages anywhere from 35” to 47” in length and is made of several straight strips of bamboo bound together with leather. With the exception of the lengths, the balance and design of this sparring tool from its tip to handle holds absolutely nothing in common with the Samurai’s curved katana. The shinai blade is straight and its handle is long, round, and wrapped in a soft leather sheath. The katana blade is curved and its handle is long and somewhat egg shaped but a little more flat along the sides, and it is braided. The hits and points scored in sport kendo have more in common with European cudgel play or fencing than with a katana duel. Points are most often scored with snapping hits as opposed to the drawing cuts that come naturally with a curved blade. Though snap cuts are also a part of the katana’s arsenal they are not a staple of attack as in kendo. A closer representation would be sparring with curved wooden bokkens, which are considerably more accurate reproductions of the katana and were the traditional training weapon of the classical Bushi. The bokken offers a close though not completely accurate representation of a bladed katana duel and was often used for dueling as a replacement for real swords. Miyamoto Musashi, arguably one of the greatest swordsmen in Japanese history, by his own account won several duels against katanas with a bokken. As with shinais, the same problem arises from modern and the ancient western forms of cudgel play. The rattan or other wooden forms of broadswords are bulkier, unbalanced, poorly weighted, and often have no obvious flat side to parry with. Because of these design flaws cudgel play can only be considered a sport not a f

orm of combat. One should not compare these sport-related styles of combat to the real thing. A comparison cannot accurately be made if for no other reason than the sparring weapons are so dramatically removed in weight, shape, and design from the weapons they are supposed to replicate.

When a student reaches a high enough sword skill to spar against other types of weapons, the design flaws of the sword as a singly competitive weapon become painfully obvious. It is not long after this realization that the sword student fades out of the picture along with dreams of becoming an invincible swordsman. The few persistent sword students who remain quickly find the value of an added weapon to their free hand. Shields, maces, flails, daggers, or other swords become the new order of training. With a little more sparring, the student begins to see the ultimate truth behind the myth of the sword. Even with the aid of another weapon, it is a very difficult task for a swordsman to defeat longer-reaching weapons. When a swordsman is matched up against a weapon that is longer and therefore holds greater reach capabilities that swordsman’s chance of survival drops dramatically. Without the aid of a companion weapon, even a highly skilled swordsman finds it difficult to defeat lesser skilled opponents with longer- reaching weapons.

The sword master Miyamoto Musashi, victor of sixty life-and-death encounters, was in a famous duel of record against the long-swordsman, Sasaki Kojiro. Kojiro called his sword ‘clothes pole’ because of its unique design: a long, straight, blade quite the contrary to its contemporary, the curved katana. When Musashi dueled Kojiro, he was not wielding a curved katana of his own or even using his famous two-sword style. Instead he wisely used a large, carved boat oar to defeat his opponent. This boat oar gave Musashi two very important advantages: first he did not have to concern himself with the angles of his cuts, and second, he did not have to worry about parrying with his sword and having it destroyed by a big boat oar. It is no mystery why Musashi won this duel. When two duelers meet and are equal or even close to equal in skills, the odds go to the dueler with the technological advantage. I know the entertainment industry would have us believe otherwise, but when it comes to sparring or dueling with weapons, you can’t change the math behind the design of the weapon, techniques, and the movement the weapon’s nature requires. George Silver, an accomplished dueler and prizefighter who wrote two treatises on combat in 1599, Brief Instructions and Paradoxes of Defense pointed out in his works, and I paraphrase, "He who moves in the least amount of space and time, moves ahead of his opponent and so stays out of harm while being able to inflect harm." To make Silver’s point consider the story of David and Goliath. Goliath is unrivaled on the battlefield and no Israelite can stand against him in single combat. He holds several advantages over his opponents: he is stronger and so can attack and defend with more power than his opponent; he is taller which gives him the ability to both outreach and outstride his opponents; and he is undefeated, which gives him a psychological advantage over his opponents. Goliath would likely have been armored and have the contemporary weapons of the times, bronze or leather arm

or, a bronze or wicker shield, spear, and according to legend a great sword.

On the other side of the dueling scale is the boy, David. David is a mere sheep-herding child, not even a warrior in the traditional sense. David’s only weapon is a sling. It would appear that the scales tip heavily in favor of Goliath, but a more detailed look reveals the opposite. The sling is a formidable weapon in this realm of single combat, especially single combat on an open battlefield that offers room to maneuver. Bearing in mind the nature of the ground in the Middle East, David also had plenty of rocks to choose from while maneuvering. Out of necessity as a sheepherder, he would have been a well-practiced slinger and skilled at keeping predators away from the herd with endless days to spend flinging rocks with his sling to pass the time away. With those skills he could have continually launched a rock at Goliath for every other step Goliath did or did not take, all the while staying out of reach of Goliath’s weapons; thus fulfilling Silvers’ recipe for victory. Due to its translation through time, the story has led us to believe that David’s sling was both laughable and ultimately a shock to Goliath. Neither would be true, the sling has been around for a long time and was a commonplace weapon in early biblical warfare. It is reasonable to believe that Goliath was defeated because of the nature of the weapon’s reach, the terrain conditions, and the psychological effects of the whole scheme of things, i.e., the undefeated war giant versus a sheep-herding boy with everybody watching. How much time would Goliath spend hiding behind his shield from a boy while the Philistine and Israeli armies watched? Let us assume that Goliath, like every other solider during biblical warfare, has seen a sling in action before, as opposed to the common belief that he thought it laughable and fell victim to his overconfidence. Goliath could hide behind his shield and try to close within sword range, but in order to hit David he has to be able to see him. When Goliath exposes his face to look, David only needs t

o time his next rock for impact into that exposed moment. It is nearly impossible to successfully time a parry against a missile weapon launched at close range. The smaller the projectile, David’s rock, the more difficult it is to see, calculate its speed, and accurately react to defending the target area of its destination. Also added to David’s advantages is he can launch his rocks continually. With the sling David can follow a familiar formula: he can attack repeatedly while remaining out of reach of his opponent’s assaults. At best Goliath would have had the opportunity for one spear throw at David, but again at the cost of over exposing himself to David’s faster sling attacks. After that spear throw its back to sword range. Whatever tactic Goliath used we all know the result of it.

Musashi used a similar technique to David’s against the chain and sickle fighter Shishido Baiken. Again, rather than use his sword and face the extra challenges that comes with it, Musashi opts to make a close range throw of his tanto, a Japanese dagger which hits and kills his unsuspecting opponent. In the West, one seldom hears of duels pitting a sword against another type of weapon. In Europe it was considered an unfair advantage to mix weapons during duels. The European duel was as often a matter of righting wrongs and maintaining honor as it was about issues of martial skills. In the East reasons for dueling ranged from matters of honor to testing martial skills. One dueled with whatever weapon one specialized in, and it was believed if you were a warrior you should be able to defend yourself with your weapon regardless of what your opponent was using, the only true rule was to win. This is a much harder test of skills than to be protected by the equality of weapons. Knowing this, one must question why dueling with the katana did not reach its peak until after the age of elite Samurai warriors. After the dismantling of the Samurai class, an action that turned the once proud warrior class into living archives of an age gone for good. During this later era, most Japanese field weapons became obsolete and where impractical to carry in public. With a major decline in the use of most battlefield weapons, the time for the sword to shine was at hand. The katana became the Samurai’s last symbolic hold on an ancient warrior system soon to be completely outdated by cheaper and more efficient guns.

The replacement of the elite warrior class by the gun was not a phenomenon known only to the Japanese. The gun in its own time systematically brought about the dismantling of the elite warrior classes worldwide. The Chinese Boxers, the Scots Highlanders, the Zulu, the Aborigines, and the American Indians were among the last holdouts of the warrior elite, and they all fell victim to the gun. For most of these warrior cultures the sword became a symbolic relic of an age far more romantic then it actually was. Since the end of the elite warrior classes the facts regarding the sword and its value as a weapon have been exaggerated far and away beyond its real functions as an instrument of war. The sword has several weaknesses as a combat weapon. Due to its limited reach or in the case of the great sword, excessive length; one has less time for reaction to an opponent’s attack. The sword’s edge is fragile and easily damaged so parries need to be made with the flat of the blade, making defense both complicated and cumbersome. The tang of the sword, the blade’s extension into the handle, receives most of the impact when parrying and can be prone to breaking. Many styles of the sword offered little hand protection and so the hand of a swordsman was a primary target. To counter this, some swords were built with elaborate basket-like guards to protect the hand. There are accounts of the basket-hilt broadsword of Scottish highlander fame having to be pried off of the Highlander’s hand after battle due to its collapsing under the pressure of enemy blows.

The sword is complicated to learn, time consuming to make, and generally an expensive arm. In medieval Europe, a single-handed broadsword could cost as much as 25,000 dollars by today’s standards. The Japanese katana was, in its own fashion, an equally high-priced weapon. One can see the obvious reasons why, during Eastern and Western sword histories, the weapon was really more of a class and power symbol than a mainstream weapon for war. There is a Japanese house code that states “Do not yearn for katanas and tantos created by famous masters. A katana or tanto worth 10,000 pieces can be defeated by 100 yari (spears) each costing a 100 pieces. It is better to purchase 100 spears and arm 100 spearmen, in this way you can defended yourself in time of war.” (Toshikage Jushichikajo, 1480)

Today the sword and Samurai have nearly become the same word. Yet during the height of the age of the Samurai, the bow, naginata, and spear were the main focus for war. The bow is found in the earliest history of Samurai warfare and the Yari-Samurai, elite spearmen, mounted or on foot, were among the highest valued warriors in a warlord’s army. The katana was more often used as a backup weapon and for personal ritualized dueling. In most cultures during the age of battlefield dueling, duels were fought on horseback with bows or lances. If the warrior lost either of those weapons, he then used his sword as a last ditch effort to save or take his life. Around the same time the drafted peasant soldier of the late nineteenth century came into full force, the sword, due to its impractical functions on the battlefield, was eventually reduced to an ornamental symbol of authority. During the Second World War the ancient Samurai sword that was made using the secrets of a holy swordsmith still remained among the upper class, but the sword for the average officer was a 1933 mass-produced weapon. This 1933 version was designed so that the older traditional katana blade could fit into the handle and replace the standard contemporary blade.

Because of the entertainment industry from ancient times to the present, the myth of the swordsman’s abilities has always been far beyond any true feat of real swordsmanship. The western broadsword has followed the same path as the eastern swords, only it has been even further reduced into a simplistic, shining hip-hanger used only for parade. The Chinese straight sword has not escaped this symbolism either. It has been reduced to a lightweight flimsy show piece far more suitable for fast acrobatic Wu-Su routines then actual combat. What the general public has been led to believe almost entirely through the media is that the sword was the most powerful dueling weapon of all times. There are many reasons why the sword could not actually hold this title. First as mentioned is reach; second, arch versus thrust; third and most important, exposure.

To better explain the realities of sword combat and the troubles a swordsman would have, consider facing a spearman with a sword. To start the swordsman’s troubles, the spearman need only keep the swordsman the distance of a spear thrust away. In doing so, the swordsman is put in danger of spear attacks while his target, the spearman, remains out of reach. Being out of reach of the attacks of his opponent, the spearman has many advantages added to his hopes of self-preservation. A spear, or even a lance of ten feet or less, can both cut and thrust like a sword and so deliver a variety of attacks without fear of immediate counterattack. For the swordsman to survive, he needs to close the distance on his opponent while trying to ward off thrusts and cuts from the attacking spear. The spearman need only keep attacking while retreating or circling a few steps if necessary. This is comparable to a man with an empty eighteenth-century musket fighting a ten-pace duel against a man with a colt revolver. Unless an act of God occurs, the musketeer is in for hard times.

The next problem is the issue of arch versus thrust. Everyone has seen a movie where the hapless spearman comes charging in with a stiff-armed thrust at the hero, who is always a swordsman, who jumps to the side and chops the oncoming spear in two. This is a perfect example of the mythological power of the arching sword stroke in its full absurdity. If the swordsman were to attempt a wasted motion like trying to cut the assaulting spear in two, it would be an ill-fated move for two reasons: it seriously exposes the swordsman to a counterattack, and it is an almost impossible cut to make. It is one thing to cut in two a shaft stuck firmly in the ground, it is another thing entirely to try and cut in two a free-floating shaft that deflects on impact.

Try hanging a spear-like shaft in the air by attaching a rope to the butt of the shaft and attaching another rope at a halfway point. Then try to chop that shaft in two with a single or several strokes. When you are through shaking your head, all those great movies will be ruined forever. The easily imagined results of this simple test are exactly like the real results of such a cut. The reader can see just how unlikely performing that cut actually is. Some Arthurian legends claimed the sword, Excalibur, could cut a boulder in two as though the rock was made of butter. Strangely, no sword culture can deny having myths of an equal nature to that of Excalibur’s. There is also a Japanese legend of a katana so sharp that when it was left stuck in a stream, floating leaves were not sliced in-two by it but actually purposely avoided the sword’s edge. Legends of this nature have always led the populous into believing that in the realm of edged weapons, the sword holds full royalties on slicing and chopping abilities. This is simply not true regarding personal combat.

All of the elite warrior-based cultures knew and used the advantages of thrusting and slicing with a spear as well as other long-reaching weapons. The difficulties of getting past that deadly reaching spear would be no small task for a swordsman. In addition to this reach advantage, even a moderately skilled spear fighter can deliver several thrusts or cuts to an oncoming swordsman before that sword can reach its target. History has shown us that one of those many spear cuts would be to either to the swordsman’s lead knee, hand, arm, or foot. A good hit to any of these areas would end the swordsman’s attack promptly. A common misjudgment is that a large portion of a weapon’s edge needs to strike the surface to do any real damage. An edge need only penetrate the depth of three fingers in the right areas of the human anatomy to be a fatal hit or lead to one. Though the stroke to the knee is not a fatal blow, worldwide archaeological finds from battle sites involving ancient weapons have consistently shown that such a wound led to a final lethal blow. In these archaeological digs, large percentages of the fallen were first struck at the bend of the knee, or other exposed appendages, and then delivered a fatal blow while they lay prostrate from the first injury. By studying the results of many years of full-contact dueling with training and blunted weapons, I have rarely found this cut to a charging opponent’s knee, ankle or foot to fail. An equally successful tactic is thrusting into the opponent’s oncoming feet.

When infantry used swords and shields against lance-carrying cavalry, the results nearly always ended in disaster for the foot soldier. When foot soldiers replaced swords with spears and lances, the disaster fell on the heavy cavalry. It was so effective that infantry pike units became the standard for hundreds of years. Pike units were not removed from the battlefield until the advent of efficient firearms sporting bayonets, which was not the demise of the pole weapon but rather a merger of pike and gun. When the sword is pitted against a spear, the swordsman also has to overcome the issue of too much exposure. Combat manuscripts of old break the sword down into sections depending on the type of sword. The first third of the blade from its tip down was for cutting, the next third was for soft parries, and the final third above the hand guard was for heavy parries and coming to grips with your opponent. The old masters from the East and West also wrote that the preferred method of defense with a sword was simply to avoid your opponent’s attacks physically and through footwork. This method was preferred over jeopardizing your sword’s cutting edge and its structural integrity by using it to fend off blows from other weapons. With exceptions, the sword length averages from 20 to 42 inches. On the contrary, the smallest battlefield spear is around six feet in length with a shaft designed for warding off blows from other weapons. The swordsman must also overcome the limited range of his defense, referring not only to the sword’s reach but also the axis with which one can parry and so defend the body.

Take into account the mechanics of the human body and the length, manner, and design of the weapon being used. The nature of the sword creates a problem when defending above or below the waist. The problem is to defend one’s body above or below one must, by the nature of the sword, expose the opposite of what is defended. This is true with all weapons but to a higher degree with sword and similar weapons. The pole arm offers considerably more options. By tipping the weapon vertically, horizontally, or diagonally out from the body, one can readily defend and strike from any axis of the body. The pole arm fighter does not even have to resort to this guard until the swordsman gets in close enough to be a threat. The swordsman, on trying to close, has to defend too much exposed area and so is subject to attack at several areas on his body. To a large degree this is why the shield was developed. In most cultures, the shield was developed for war and not dueling. The shield was designed to be part of a wall of shields used as a defensive battle tactic as demonstrated by the front lines of a Greek phalanx, the Roman turtle formation, and the Viking shield wall. In a duel or single combat, the shield is used in a considerably different manner than in a melee or mass melee. Regardless of how it is used, the shield can only effectively protect one side of the body during a charge and so forces the wielder to defend his opposite side with the sword. Because of the leverage that can be placed behind a thrusting or sweeping pole attack, the sword and its wielding arm cannot compete with the impact of an oncoming pole weapon As mentioned earlier, this is especially true when a sweeping spear cut or a thrust is delivered to the swordsman’s stressed knee, ankle, or foot. Such an attack forces the swordsman to bring the tip of his sword down; the arm position would be the equivalent of completely emptying a drinking mug gripped in your hand. Doing this simple motion the reader can see how the position is both awkw

ard and weak; furthermore, the position also exposes the upper torso. The lower guard that could be used exposes even more of the swordsman’s body. A high or low, well-timed thrust or cut to this weak side will put an end to the charging swordsman.

Though I have used the spear here as the swordsman’s nemesis, one can see that any weapon of greater length or weight would prove technologically superior. It becomes obvious why the swordsman’s survival is so unlikely. The sword has come to stand on a solid throne where its powers are more mythical than the sword-wielding heroes themselves. We have come to believe the sword and its powers as the staple of all the classical warrior societies. Swords have been given names and positions of power; some were even believed to be magical. The right person with the right sword could smite injustice, slay the wicked, and restore kingdoms, assuming that is no one else shows up with a spear, halberd, pole-flail, rake, pitchfork, or sling. The entertainment industry may keep the sword on a throne of power and awe, but for those who have fought with and against the sword in all its manifestations, it’s a translucent and mythological throne.

By
Larry L Andrews


About The Author

Larry L Andrews

I live a secluded life, when I can, in the woodlands of PA working in my studio and enjoying life with my wife and daughter.

I’ve been an artist all my life, and subject to many disciplines, I draw, paint (airbush, acrylics, inks, and pastels,) sculpt, design web pages, metal smith, cartoonist, historian, and author. My interests are wide ranged in those disciplines and I remain ever growing. As one can see I’m a bit of a renaissance man. I am currently working on my next gallery show, which is a series of portraits of working class women.

I am a historical martial artist bringing to my books 30 years of experience in training and fighting with the ancient weapons of Eastern and Western warrior cultures. I’ve spent the better part of my life researching ancient master’s personal combat manuals, testing, and applying their lessons through academic and hands on research. I have been a personal instructor of historical martial arts for two decades, educating various living history organizations on how the weapons they carry were actually used. I regularly holds seminars covering such subjects as full contact armored and unarmored weapons combat, grappling, the sling, the atl-atl, archery, spear throwing, and axe throwing. I am a metal smith specializing in custom made combat ready weapons, and the author of three books; The Cutting Edge, broadsword and targe, The Cutting Edge, the complete edition, third edition, and Lessons from the Warrior Sage. For more information on my work please visit my web site at spearduel.com

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1445.shtml

Does Your Child Have a Bad Case of Senioritis


This is the time of year that some kids really begin to slack off. You know, they feel like because the applications are done, the colleges won't care how their grades are or what classes they are taking.

This is wrong, wrong, WRONG

First off, let me make you feel better. It's not just your kid, it's EVERYBODY'S kid. Ok, well almost everybody's kid...

Anyway, it's so bad that Charles Reed, the chancellor for the Cal State system called 12th grade 'the biggest wasteland in America'. And right now, even as I write this, 9 state governors are seeking to completely overhaul the senior year, saying that it's currently a "waste of the student's time and taxpayer's money".

Crazy, huh?

So, don't beat your kids too bad if they've got it.

BUT, and this is the big but, that does NOT give them an excuse to totally slack off and just basically coast until summer.

Here's why: (seniors, are you paying attention?)

First off, the slacking is SO bad that 1/2 of the colleges nationwide have to offer remediation (think: remedial). And I'm not talking about community colleges at all. I'm talking 4 year schools ONLY. Half of them

What that means in plain English is that if you slack off and don't pay attention this year, no problem, you'll just have to re-take those classes once you get to college. Which means, it's longer until you graduate. Which, of course, costs your parents more money and delays you getting out into the real world and making serious money of your own.

Oh yeah, and that's IF you get in in the first place.

Here's what I mean:

If you are applying to any sort of competitive school, meaning pretty much anything other than a community college, they WILL be looking at what classes you are taking your senior year.

And they WILL notice if you went from challenging yourself by taking, say, 6 academic classes your junior year, and now you're only taking 4 classes and they are all electives. And that WILL affect their decision.

Right here, this can be the difference between getting into your 1st choice...and your last.

..Or not getting in at all.

Now, on the same subject, once and for all, YES! YOUR SENIOR YEAR GRADES DO COUNT.

A LOT

Got it?

Here's what happens: If you are borderline for getting in to a college, they will call your high school to request the latest copy of your grades. Which, by the way, you gave them the right to do when you filled out your application. And if they notice that you are slipping, they probably will not admit you.

Or, they can withdraw your admission even after they've offered it.

I know, it's not 'fair', but I've warned you.

Story: We had a student last year who was offered admittance to SDSU….on one condition: she had to get a 'C' or better in chemistry her senior year.

Yep, you got it: she got a 'D +'.

So, her admission was revoked, and NOTHING we could do would get them to reinstate her. Not offering to retake the class over summer, not getting the teacher to re-do her grade.

Nothing.

Because, basically, they said that she had shown them that she didn't have the discipline to succeed in college. Goodbye SDSU, hello Cal State San Bernardino.

She already had her room and everything. She had even started hanging out with her future roommate.

Do NOT let this happen to you.

Now, I know you're burnt out and everything, but here's what you can do to finish strong:

1. Realize that senior does count...both the classes you take AND the grades you get in them. So, like I said above, finish strong. You're almost there, don't let up know.

2. Evaluate your schedule. Don't get so busy with work or friends or your boyfriend/girlfriend or whatever that you're using up all the time you used to spend studying. Stay focused on your academics.

3. All right, this is going to sound lame, but challenge yourself. Yeah, yeah, I know. You've been hearing this forever. Here's what I mean: Look for ways to push yourself. Form a study group if you have to, or try to find something for extra credit that's interesting (key word: interesting).

4. Get your dang internship already. I've beat this one to death, but it's vitally important which is why I keep sounding like a broken record on this. Remember, it will help you both in determining whether you're even going to school for the right thing or not, AND it will get your foot in the door for the future.

5. Lastly, you're so 'done' with high school? Cool. Go take a class or two at a community college. Make sure it's academic, but this will give you a chance to get your feet wet and see what college is like, as well as being able to walk the halls with adults, and not a bunch of 14 year old freshman.

I don't know if these will help you or not. Like I said, probably the MOST important thing is to realize that 'almost done' and 'done' are NOT the same thing.

In fact, that's a pretty good quote. You should probably write that one down.

Hang in there. You'll be in college soon enough.


About The Author

Ron Caruthers is the nation's leading expert on how to get into college and pay for it-as well as helping students choose their careers and command top money in their fields. Ron also has expert knowledge of how to prepare for a college interview.

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1446.shtml

The Easy Way Learn French


It is easier than ever to learn basic French. There are so many options available that you might find it difficult to know where to start. Don't worry, I have got four great tips that will help get you started. Ready? Then lets go...

You're going to have to start by looking at your life. How much spare time to have each day and how much of that time are you willing to dedicate to French learning? It's a great idea to start by working out a learning routine. If you've got half a hour free each evening, then use that time each and every night and stick to it. The sooner learning French becomes part of you everyday routine the easier it will be to learn. There are many courses available on the market that only require 15-20 minutes learning time each day, so be sure to check these out.

Don't underestimate the amount of French you already know. You be amazed by just how much French you have picked over the years, just by watching films and TV. Why not try and build upon this existing knowledge in the simplest way possible. Watch some more French films and TV. Check out the TV guide, there is bound to be a French film or documentary on. If not you could always head to your local library. Libraries don't just carry books, they now offer excellent audio and video sections. I bet you'll find some DVDs that will entertain you whilst you learn.

You don't have to spend hundreds of buck on expensive French tuition. You could start buy buying a simple phrase book. They only cost a couple of dollars but they include everything you'll will ever need to get you started. Not only do they contain everyday words and phrases that will have you speaking and understand French in no time at all, but they will also teach you basic grammar, pronunciation and numbers. You'll literally be amazed just how much information there is in these tiny books. They're usually pocket sized so, you can take them with you everywhere. If you get bored, check out your book and learn another useful phrase.

Starting to learn French is easy – but staying motivated to learn isn't. Make sure you set yourself realistic goals. No one ever learned to speak French in a week! It takes time – so don't worry if you don't pick it up straight away. I know its hard, but you must try and stick to your learning routine. Don't give up – it'll all be worth it in the end. If you do start to loose motivation then don't just stop. You could always approach learning in a different way – join a class, get some one 2 one tuition or purchase a course. If you really feel like you want to give up then maybe you should take a trip to France. Nothing will rejuvenate you more than a holiday. Not only will your French instantly improve , but your motivation to learn will be doubled when you get back.

I hope my learn basic French ideas have helped you realise just how easy it is to learn a new language. If you stick to this simple advice, you'll be speaking French in no time at all.


About The Author Jane Morgan
Fast French Tuition
Teach Your Kid French
http://www.frenchtheeasyway.com

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1448.shtml

Speak French


Check out my handy hints to find out how easy it is to learn French like crazy. These tips are designed to help speakers at every level - whether you are at a beginner or intermediate level I'm sure you could benefit from some simple advice.

How you ever thought about DIY French? It's easy if you know how, so here's how to make your very own French phrase cards. There are so easy and cost next to nothing to make. Pick up some card from your local store and cut it into small rectangles – about the size of a credit card (this doesn't have to be accurate). Next, get on the net and find some easy everyday French words and Phrases. Write the French word or phrase on one side of the card and the English translation on the other. Test yourself by flipping the cards and guessing the correct translation. Be sure to take these cards with you everywhere, so you can practice any time. Don't spend to long learning with them each day, about 10-15 minutes each is perfect.

Another great way to learn is by using a French tuition course. Don't worry, this doesn't have to mean expensive and boring academic courses. Some of the CD and MP3 courses on the market are very reasonable and offer new innovative and fun ways to learn. The makers of these courses understand that people want to learn new languages quickly, so they tend not to pad the courses out with boring masculine and feminine grammar. Courses now concentrate on conversational skills, so learners can expect much quicker results in a shorter time.

Don't underestimate books. Courses my be able to use cutting edge technology to help you learn, but reading is still one of the best ways to learn any new skill. People have been learning by reading for centuries. There number of books on learning French is simply astonishing, you'll be amazed how many titles you'll find at your local book store. Remember, there's no need to buy these costly books – simply rent them from your local library. It's a great way to save money!

The number 1 way to learn any new language is... to go to a French speaking country. You will be forced to pick up the language because you'll be out of your comfort zone. People have managed to learn to fluently speak another language in a couple of months, just by living in a foreign country. You learn very quickly because you have to. It's a very drastic and expensive measure, but it will certainly work. I realise that this may not be an option for very many learners, so you could instead try and taste some French culture on your home town. You could do this by simply going to see a French film, eating at a French restaurant or by going out of your way to meet some French speakers.

I hope my handy hints have given you a better idea of how easy it is to learn French like crazy. If you follow my simple steps your French will be sure to come on in leap and bounds.


About The Author Jane Morgan
Basic French Online
Top French Tips
http://www.frenchtheeasyway.com

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1447.shtml

Quickest Way To Learn French


Did you realise that it is now easier than ever to learn French fast and for free? Yes that right for free! I have some great ideas that won't cost you a dime. These quick yet effective methods are proven to get great results in less than two weeks. Read on to learn more...

The first thing you need to do is to visit your local library. If you're not a member, then all you have to do is join - don't worry it's free. First start buy checking out all the book they carry on French learning and French Tuition. Guess what, not only will they have shed loads but they are all free to lend. Don't stop there. Move onto the audio section. Yeah that's, right libraries don't just carry books these days. Get yourself some French audio courses – again these are usually free, if not it'll only cost about two bucks to rent for the whole week. We're still not finished – now move on to the DVD section and look for some French DVD tuition. Look at just how much French tuition there is on offer – and the best part is, it's all free.

If you were shocked by how much free stuff they've got at the library then your gonna be amazed by how much free stuff you are going to find online. Lets start simple – you're going to need to use a search engine. You can use Goolge, Yahoo or whatever you prefer. Now start looking for some French websites, it doesn't matter what ones, just as long as the text is written in French. The next thing I want you to do is to try and read it. “What on earth?” I hear you shout. Calm down – just give it a try. You won't understand very much in the beginning, but the more you do it the more you'll understand.

Make sure you check out what's going in your local community. Get down to your local, book store, coffee house, college or library and check out some of the notice boards. I bet you'll find either a French group or some French evening courses. These groups and courses are usually free or very inexpensive to join. What a great way to meet new people! You'll actually be able to have real life French conversations with real people.

Take a trip to the movies. No, this isn't an excuse to check out the current Hollywood blockbuster – you've gotta watch a French film. Don't worry, they all have subtitles, so you'll be able to understand what's going on. Not only will you be entertained, but you'll also be improving your vocabulary and pronunciation. Its a win win situation. If they're aren't any films showing at your local cinema, then visit a video store and rent some – this is a even cheaper option.

Did you ever imagine that learning French fast and for free could be so much fun? I hope my suggestions have made you realise that learning can take place outside of the classroom.


About The Author Jane Morgan
Easy French Words
French The Fast Way
http://www.frenchtheeasyway.com

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1450.shtml

Best French Advice


The best way to learn French is different for each person. You'll find that there is not one concrete definite way that works for everyone, as everyone is different and their learning methods will reflect this. Instead of looking for the definitive best way to learn French, check out the rest of this article to find some ways that may help you.

Home study is one of the most popular ways to learn anything,and has been for a while. You may find this especially useful as a method of learning another language, as it allows you the freedom to go at your own pace and learn at your own speeds. This will make sure your knowledge and vocabulary is thorough, rather than being patchy. Modern home study courses can include anything from CDs, MP3s, even video to help you get your pronunciation and accent down.

Another traditional method of learning another language is a night or evening class. These can usually be found in your local community centre or community college. Courses like this are not expensive, and you will often find that there is some form of concession available, or even lessons that are free altogether. Benefits of learning to speak French like this can be the opportunity to interact with others, as well as participation in field trips and even some real trips to France. Nothing will better your accent than speaking to French people!

For those that perhaps already have some experience of speaking French or working with a French accent, there is always the idea of a French study vacation. These are readily available and easily found on the web, and what better excuse to travel to Paris and see the sights? Obviously, learning a language in this fashion is just about the best way to actually get to grips with it and put it into use, but the downside is that travelling to Europe is a whole lot more expensive that travelling to your local college!

Another method of learning French that may fall on the expensive side is some private tuition. If you can afford it, this is great, possibly the next best thing to travelling there as you will often find that the teachers are native French speakers, with a wealth of experience of teaching people how to speak their home tongue. Many tutors will have their own tips and tricks to get you remembering and expanding your vocabulary on a daily basis, so if you opt for this choice be ready to make some fast progress.

As you've seen, learning French is not as difficult as it first seems-with the advances of modern technology and the internet, you are only a click away from a French lesson whenever you want one.


About The Author Jane Morgan
4 Great French Ideas
Learn French Online
http://www.frenchtheeasyway.com

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1449.shtml

Learn French Whilst You Drive


If you want to learn a new language, then why not learn it in the comfort of your very own car. There are hundreds of excellent courses around that will help you do just that. I have put together the top four tips on how to go about learning French in your car. It's so easy that you could start today!

I think your car is one of the best places to learn a new language. The best thing about learning in your car is that you can do it alone. Trying to pronounce new words and copying strange accents is difficult, not to mention embarrassing. French is a beautiful language but, recreating an authentic accent can create some very comedic results. Thankfully, you can do this in the privacy of your own car. No one can hear you making mistakes, so you can repeat words over and over again without annoying the hell out of anyone.

Some people find it difficult to maintain a structured learning pattern. The best results can be seen from learners who set aside time each day, which they to dedicate to learning. This shouldn't even be a concern for you as you could use ever journey in you car as a learning session. Be sure not to learn during those longer journeys – be sure to keep the sessions short. Your drive to work, the school run or even the weekly trip to the supermarket would be perfect. It's proven that short bursts of learning are the most effective and help you retain maximum amounts of information.

Listen, repeat and learn. This is the mantra for the most popular CD and audio courses on the market. Repeating and learning is simple, but listening is the most difficult thing to do. Sometimes you think you are listening, but really it's going in one ear and out of the other. Listen as many times as possible. The more times you hear a word or phrase the more likely you are to commit its meaning and how to pronounce it to memory. Listen for the subtleties in the accent and the rhythm of the language. Recreating an authentic accent is far more difficult than remember words.

Now you know the benefits and best techniques for learning French in your car – you are going to need a French tuition course. Because you are learning in your car, the best solution would be for you to purchase an audio course. Many of these courses are created specifically to use in a car. All teaching will take place in the car and there will be no written work involved. You won't have to worry about scary French grammar, allowing you to fully concentrate on your French conversational skills.

It's easier than ever to learn French in your car. You now know the best and most successful ways to go about it, so all you need now is a French CD or MP3 Audio course – oh and a car.


About The Author Jane Morgan
French In 20mins
French In Your Car
http://www.frenchtheeasyway.com

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1451.shtml

Teach Kids French


Teaching your kid a new language can be extremely beneficial to them in the future. Just think of the opportunities it will open up in later life. They'll have a head start over other kids and it'll be an excellent addition to their college applications. We all know that kids pick new thing up much faster than adults, so now is the perfect time to help them learn French. Here are some suggestion that you may find helpful...

Is it hard to get you kids attention? Are they forever playing on their computers or listening to their ipods? Well, you can now find modern French tuition that's available as interactive Cdrom games that can played on their computers, and as MP3s for their Ipods. There's no point trying to get your kid to read text books that focus on difficult French grammar, they'll never stay focused long enough to take it all in. You have to move with the times and let your kid learn French using modern technology.

A great way to get you kid interested in learning a new language is to introduce them to French culture and customs. Don't worry, you don't even have to travel to France. A great alternative is to take them for their first French meal, or try cooking it yourself if you're up for a challenge. You could even take them to the movies to watch a French film. Why not get hold of some French music (on-line French radio or from your local library). The French are famous for their Hip Hop – I but your kids will love it!

There are many excellent French tuition courses around at the moment, some offer courses tailored to young children. This could be the prefect way to get your child learning French. Not only will they save you a lot of time and effort, but I'm sure you'll also learn or thing or two. These courses are extremely well structure and will move your child from the beginner to the intermediate stage in a few weeks.

Remember learning is fun. Try and make it as different to school as possible. Don't apply too much pressure, expect instant results or be afraid to give your child rewards for their learning effects. And above all don't forget, they also have pressures and homework from their school life. If your kids has an important exam coming up, then ease off on the French. It's not a race – your kid has the rest of his/hers life to learn French, so don't rush.

You see, learning doesn't have to be boring and all hard work - it can be fun if you know how. I hope my suggests help your kid learn French.


About The Author Jane Morgan
Easy Online French
Best French Tips
http://www.frenchtheeasyway.com

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1452.shtml

The Free and Easy Basic French


I have put together a collection of words and phrases that will help you learn basic French words. Once you have committed these simple phrases to memory you'll be able to have you very first French conversation!

Part 1 -
These are the first French words you will need to learn. They are very basic and easy to remember. Once you have mastered these then you can move onto section 2.
Yes = Oui
No = Non
Please = S'il vous plaît
Thank you = Merci
You’re welcome = De rien

Part 2 -
Start with part 1 – if you can't understand what someone is saying, simply use these phrases to help get you out of this sticky situation.
Part 1 -
Excuse Me = Excusez-moi
Sorry = Desolé/Pardon
I don’t understand = Je ne comprends pas

Here are some basic questions that will help you whilst you are out and about vacationing in France. Once you have committed these phrases to memory move onto section 3.
Part 2 -
Do you speak English? = Parlez-vous anglais?
Aidez moi, s’il vous plaît = Can you help me please?
Combien ca coûte? = How much is it?

Part 3 -
Here are the some essential words that will help you meet and great new people in French.
Hello = Salut
Glad To Meet You = Enchanté
Good Morning/Good day = Bon jour
Good Evening = Bon soir
Goodbye = Au revoir
My name is = Je m'appelle

Here are two great tips to help you learn basic French words and improve your vocabulary.
1 – Make your very own vocabulary book. Every time you learn new word, simply add it to your book. Be sure to keep it with, and you will have your very own tailor made phrase book.

2 – Make some flash cards. Write the French word of phrase on one side of the card and the English translation on the other. Flip the cards and test your French knowledge.

You see, its easy to learn basic French words when you know how. I hope my handy words and phrases and top tips have helped to get you on the right track.


About The Author Jane Morgan
Learn Basic French
Fast and Free French
http://www.frenchtheeasyway.com

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1453.shtml

About Learn French Guide


Learning French is now easier and more accessible then ever. I have put together a list of the top four ways to learn French. Hopefully this will help you choose best possible French tuition option for you.

Learning a new language doesn't have to take hours each day. You'll find that most modern language courses understand how busy people are, so they create courses that require less than 20 minutes study time each day. I am sure you could spare 20 minutes a day out of your bust schedule to gain a new valuable skill. These short daily sessions help you retain more information and are a great way to keep you motivated.

Have you ever thought about using your time more effectively? I am sure there are times during you day that you could fit in some extra French tuition. What about during your commute to work? Maybe even during your lunch break? Think about it? Could you squeeze in some extra French tuition into these times? Most modern courses can be purchased in CDs or MP3s formats. All you would need to do is upload the tracks onto your Ipod and take it to work! The last thing any of us want to do when you come home from work – is work some more. If you use your time more wisely you won't have to.

Have you ever though about teaching yourself to learn French for free? I know it sounds crazy, but it's easy if you know how. The best way to start is to simply use your ears. Get on-line and listen to some French internet radio stations. The more you listen the more you'll realise the similarities between English and French. Before you know it you'll start to understand some of the things they are saying – you'll be amazed how quickly this will happen. Another great tip is to rent some French movies from your local library. All foreign movies now have English subtitles so it's understand what's being said.

If you want to learn French very quickly then you may want to think about one 2 one French tuition. This can be quite expensive, but you will be able to speak and understand French in no time at all. If you are serious about learning another language, and are prepared to pay for it then this is definitely the way to go. A great less expensive alternative is to attend an evening class. You won't receive the same amount of individual attention, but expect to see some pretty impressive results in a relatively short amount of time.

Hopefully my top four ideas on French tuition have enlightened you, and help you get a step closer to learning French.


About The Author Jane Morgan
Amazing French Tuition
French For Kids
http://www.frenchtheeasyway.com

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1454.shtml

Home schooling


As with any project you take on, there is always the chance for burnout. Here are some simple steps you can take to help avoid burning out on home schooling.

1. Don’t try to do more than you or your child are capable of doing. Most students are average. Don’t expect your 3 year old to read novels or your teenager be able to ace the SAT test and get a full ride into college. These things happen, but they are not the norm.

2. Set a routine and skip the strict schedules. Do your children know what is expected of them each day? They need to get up, eat breakfast, do some chores, read, write, do arithmetic and a few other things that you set for them to do. They should not be playing on the computer or playing outside until their normal routine is finished. Some days are easier to accomplish than others. On the low motivation days, you can always throw in some fun or an occasional incentive.

3. Enjoy your children and develop your relationship with them. If you have a habit of relating with your child, with mutual listening, then you can work through any curriculum struggle or lack of motivation. You and your child should enjoy learning together and separately. If you are interested in a certain topic like cooking or gardening then your children should see you pursuing that knowledge. We all learn better when we are motivated to learn something ourselves.

4. When you home school you don’t have to mimic what the schools do. They have to structure their days a certain way because of the volume of students they have and the tests they have to pass. Homeschoolers can learn in many different ways using unusual methods like hopping up and down a step when you answer a flashcard or problem correctly. Use the flexibility of home schooling to avoid burnout by changing the atmosphere a little bit. Play music one day. Light some candles another day. Declare a “game day”.

If you keep your life and day in proper perspective, you can easily avoid burning out on home schooling. Your children probably won’t remember the lesson of the day although they will build on their knowledge and grow in their intelligence, just as they won’t remember the meal they eat, but it will help them grow physically. Your children will mostly remember the atmosphere of your home and how you treated them.


About The Author Heidi Johnson

For more tips on how to homeschool, grab your free report "How to Homeschool using the Best Resources" at http://www.hjresources.com/freehs Heidi Johnson specializes in helping families find resources to simplify and improve their lives.

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1444.shtml

How Learn To Speak French Free


Do you know that you can now learn to speak French free online? All you have to do is know where to look. I have put a list of the four best places to start looking. If you follow my simple ideas you could start learning French for free online - today!

Do you ever come across French words and have no way of finding out their accurate English translation? If so, the Google language tool may just the thing that you've been looking for. It so simple to use and best of all it's absolutely free! Go to the Google search engine and type – “google language tool”. Click on the link and you will be taken to the translation page. Type in the word, choose the language (in this case it will be French), then choose the language you want it translated into (this will be English), hit enter and you'll have instant translation. Remember this can work the other way too.

There are hundreds if not thousands of online companies that will try and sell you all kinds of online French courses. Because there is so much competition, these sites will often offer freebies as incentives. Some will even offer free trails of their products with no obligation to buy. Why not take advantage of this? All you would need to do is sample a handful of these courses and you'll have enough French tuition to last you the next couple of months. When you eventually run out, all you would need to do is sign up for some more free courses. It's so simple and you'll never have to spend a dime!

I am sure you have heard about the new craze of streaming video sights such as youtube.com and Google video. You can literally find clips on any subject you search for. Have you ever thought about searching for French tuition? Give it a try. You'll be amazed at how many free video clips there are available. You don't have to stop there, you could even check out some current French TV and music Videos – the possibilities are endless.

There are numerous websites such as the UK site bbc.co.uk that simply offer free tuition. All you have to do is know where to look for these sites. Fortunately, there are search engines that can do all the hard work for you. All you need to do is type “learn to speak French free online” and hit enter. This search will instantly return one and a half million sites for you to choose from (depending on your internet connection). You don't have to look at all of them out (that would take forever), just check out a handful from the first page and you will bound to find some great information - free of charge.

Most people underestimate the amount of free information that is available to them via the internet. I hope my handy hints have helped you realise just how easy it can be to learn to speak French free online.


About The Author Jane Morgan
Learn French Like Crazy
French In Your Car
http://www.frenchtheeasyway.com

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1455.shtml

5 Ways to Improve YOUR English without even Trying


Learning a second language can be a very stressful and arduous task if you let it. Somehow, the words you learn in the books don't seem to apply very well to real life situations. Those small and seemingly un-important elements the show a person to be in command of not only the language, but the culture of the people who speak it cannot be adequately expressed by words on paper.

So, how do you learn these little secrets of mastering the ability to articulate yourself in another language?

Here are 5 proven techniques that will help you improve your English without even trying, if you are learning to speak English as a second language. Do they really work? Yes. I've tried them myself as I've had opportunity to live somewhere where English wasn't the primary language. I found it to be a fun, exciting, and painless way to learn both the language and the culture. The culture is simply learning the way the natives express their own words. The genuine accent, facial expressions, hand gestures, sighs, moans, groans, laughter, smirks, and other things that go along with everyday conversation.

Regardless of how extensive or not your vocabulary is, if you master the ability to "sound" like you know the language and can speak it, people will be more than generous to assist you.

1. Watch Movies!

Watching movies is always a fun thing to do. In order to get the most out of your movie watching experience, if your vocabulary is limited, watch a movie in English that you are very familiar with in your own language so you always know what's going on. Try not to translate as you go because you lose blocks of conversation this way. Instead, watch the picture and listen. Hear all the words, but determine what's going on by the pictures you see and the words you're hearing that you already know. Believe it or not, other words will sink in too, and so will the accent and everything else that went with what you saw and heard.

As your vocabulary grows, expand your movie selections to other movies you'd like to see but are only available in English. Try to be able to see the film more than once if possible.

According to the location and type of film you intend to view, you will be able to experience different accents, and other cultural expressions of the English language. Pick and choose the things that you think will suit you best. If it doesn't work out, pick and try something else! Have fun with yourself and your efforts.

2. Watch Soap Operas

The place where extreme expression and limited vocabulary meet! This is such a fascinating way to learn a foreign language. Every accessory that goes with the expression of a word is demonstrated on a soap opera. "Outrage" expressed with a word, facial expression or two, and perhaps even a subsequent face slap, all of that being understandable in any language. "Love", another universal subject, or violence, good versus evil can all be discerned quickly and easily on a soap opera. Plus, soap operas are naturally designed to allow anyone just tuning in to pick up the story quickly. The characters are easily loveable and deliciously "hate-able" so you turn to it again and again to see what's going on, and not only improve your English each time, but reinforce what you've already learned.

3. Read the Comics/Funny Papers

Very non-stressful! Pictures with words, or words with pictures, however you want to look at it, it's a great way to learn! For each thought presented there are words that match a picture, and vice versa. It doesn't matter if you read comic books, or the comics in the Sunday newspaper, read whatever will make you laugh and cause you to enjoy learning at the same time.

4. Read Children's books

If you know any little kids between the ages of 5-8, try reading one of their books to them. Usually little kids know their favorite books by heart, so if you stumble a little, they'll be able to help you.

If you enjoy this method of improving your English, and you find yourself to be pretty good at it, then try reading a few Dr. Seuss books. The rhyming will challenge you, but once you master it, your pronunciation of English, and your delivery will have been considerably refined and improved.

5. Take a service job like waiter or waitress; bartender, or sales person.

This type of job can be done if you have a decent vocabulary of verbs, and know how to say "I, we, she, he, they", etc. The only other thing necessary is a working vocabulary of things relevant to your specific tasks and goals.

For example, as a breakfast waitress, you want to be able to ask if they want their eggs, "scrambled or fried", if they want "more coffee", if everything is "alright", do they want "anything else", and the total of their bill in their own language!

If you sell real estate, you'll want to incorporate words like "mortgage, loan, co-sign, 30 year fixed", etc.

If you sell shoes, you need words like "how does that feel", are they "too tight, too loose, to short in the toe, to big", etc.

The longer you work at your job, the more your working vocabulary will improve.

6. Learn these two sentences and you'll be set for life . . . seriously!

"How do you say (blank)", in English (Spanish, French, etc.), and "What is that called?" (Point if you have to, and smile too). Smiling is a universal language. Once I learned how to ask these two questions, I was on my way to being conversant in the language of my choice!

I could use my limited vocabulary to ask the question and then when I got my answer I would repeat it a few times to make sure I was saying it correctly, and "BAM" I had a new vocabulary word. And, because I asked my question to the best of my ability in the native tongue, the natives realized my sincere desire to learn, and helped me!

7. What happens if you make a mistake?

Nothing. The world won't come to an end, and you haven't embarrassed yourself to the point where you can't show your face again. Just apologize if that's what's called for, or laugh at yourself, make the correction, and count it as a learning experience.

Once I was in a restaurant and I wanted to ask the waiter for a "to go" box, however, I was speaking to my kids in English, and trying to think of what I wanted to ask for in Spanish, and I promptly and incorrectly asked him for a "house to go". He looked at me kind of funny, but he was very courteous, and didn't laugh until I laughed.

I've committed other language faux pas as well over the years, all of which have been a learning experience, and if given enough time, will become a humorous story as well.


About The Author Kim Rogers has lived and worked in the Caribbean, Denmark, and along the Mexican Border. Kim has developed 101 Words that will make You Sound Smarter Right Away! To read more got to http://www.soundsmarternow.com

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1456.shtml

Strategies You And Your Child Survive Homework


Is homework wreaking havoc in your home? If the answer is YES, then finding the real causes behind the homework problems, and taking steps to resolve them, will improve both school success and family harmony.

How do we know? Homework is the single biggest issue affecting home life, according to many of the parents who bring their children to us at STRONG Learning Centers®.

Here are the ten most common causes of homework problems, along with suggestions to help you resolve them.

1. THE HOMEWORK IS TOO DIFFICULT.

If the homework is continuously too difficult, with everything that entails, then a child will try to avoid it. Look into the cause. Begin by having a conversation with the teacher. If the problem is class-wide, hopefully the teacher will evaluate and adjust the nature of his or her homework assignments. If the problem is limited to your child, she may require additional help from the teacher after school, from you, from a sibling, from a teenager you hire, or from a tutor. If this fails to resolve the issue, then a reevaluation of the type of class, or course level, or teaching vs. learning style, or school may be in order.

On the other hand, the cause of the problem may be a disability: physical, learning and/or attentional. Your child may have difficulty in such areas as: hearing, seeing, reading, processing language, or writing, or she may have ADD or ADHD. If the problem is one of these, sometimes it is easy to resolve. For example, corrective glasses can easily resolve some seeing issues and behavioral therapy and/or possibly medication might help AD/HD, the newer term for the disorder. In many cases, consulting teachers, counselors, or specialists in the appropriate field, might be in order.

Note: If you suspect AD/HD, a valuable resource is CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder organization). For information on the learning disability (LD) issue in general, contact the Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA).

2. THE HOMEWORK IS TOO CONFUSING.

When children chronically complain that assignments or directions are confusing, they are likely to become frustrated and/or anxious, eventually avoiding such assignments. Parents usually respond to these children by asking, "Weren't you listening?" Or "Just read the directions!" The children were listening or reading, but they may not have been able to process the information.

In this case, the cause may be reading comprehension and/or language processing problems. You may need to seek the help of teachers or a learning specialist to help your child learn strategies she can use to overcome or compensate for her disability. For example, she may need to put the words into pictures or graphic organizers. Children who become confused due to problems with language processing, do better when they can see things visually.

And, regardless of who is working with them, be sure they remain actively involved. Children (and adults too) are notorious for shaking their heads "yes" when asked "Do you understand?" even when they don't understand. Sometimes they are just yessing you and sometimes they think they understand. However, when you ask them to explain or discuss what you were just talking about, they realize that they really don’t understand.

If neither of these areas are the cause of the problem, then you may need to investigate why your child continues to complain. If it turns out it is simply a ploy to get you to do the work with him, then you need to address the reason for that behavior. But wait – before you get annoyed, remember what it was like for you when you were a child. Homework isn't always fun, and sometimes it's nice to have a little company. Your child may simply want your company during homework time. Wow! How's that for the ultimate compliment?

3. THE HOMEWORK IS TOO LOW-QUALITY OR TOO BORING.

Sometimes homework assignments are low-quality boring busywork and children will avoid them simply because they don't want to do them. Unfortunately, one of life's little lessons that children need to learn is that sometimes we simply have to do boring things. If, however, every assignment appears to be dull, too easy, or too low-quality, you may need to talk to your child's teacher to determine the purpose of the assignments. Many teachers do not realize how some of the assignments are coming across to the children; chances are they will appreciate the feedback and adjust the work as appropriate.

4. THE CHILD IS DISORGANIZED.

He brings home the book and forgets the assignment. He brings home the assignment and forgets the book. Or he forgets the assignment and the book. Does this sound familiar? If so, it sounds like you've got yourself a disorganized child. The same is true for children who can’t judge time or can't manage their time. They may have the best intentions to get the homework done, but somehow it gets lost in their time-maze.

It is so difficult for disorganized children to get their homework done that some of them would rather lie, insisting that there is no homework, than be criticized and punished. If poor organizational skills seems to be the issue, there are many books and articles that offer great strategies to help the disorganized child. See, for example, pp 123-127 in Why Bad Grades Happen to Good Kids.

5. THE HOMEWORK IS TOO INTRUSIVE.

It's a fact; homework cuts into playtime. So what's the problem? The problem is that in some cases homework time creeps up to the point of consuming the home lives of the children and sometimes that of the family as well. Besides the obvious down side, this may be harmful to children's intellectual development. Their brains are developing and they need to use all parts, and good quality play provides opportunities to use the "far corners" of the brain that might otherwise remain fallow. So, it turns out that children need to play. Surprisingly, brain research indicates that occasional boredom is good, too, as it forces children to think of things to do — that is, to use their brains to create.

So if homework time seems to have taken over your home, work out a schedule with your child so that he doesn't have to lie in order to play.

6. TOO MUCH PARENT INVOLVEMENT.

Some parents are overly involved in their child's homework. Here are the three most common types, all of whom tend to drive their children toward lying and deception. If any of these describe you, then work to change your behavior.

A. The "perfectionist parents." Perfectionists demand picture-perfect-homework. Their children hate to let them see their homework papers out of fear that they will judge the work unworthy, tear it up, and make them do it again. Besides being tedious and time demanding, in these extreme cases it is downright disrespectful of the child.

B. The "helicopter parents." These parents hover over their children, making sure that every "t" is crossed and every "i" is dotted. They think they're being helpful, but here's the problem: By not giving their children any breathing room, they are delivering the tacit message that their children are not capable of doing the work themselves. Not only does this harm their self-esteem, but it also denies them the opportunity of taking responsibility for their own work.

C. The "Pandora parents." The children of Pandora parents tend to deny the existence of any homework they don't understand because asking Mom or Dad even the simplest question is tantamount to opening Pandora's box. Their well-meaning parents can't contain their enthusiasm and turn what would ordinary require a short answer into a long-winded treatise on some esoteric detail.

7. THE CHILD IS UNMOTIVATED.

Most children don't want to do homework. But while they may put up quite a fuss, somehow they manage to get the work done. If they don't, motivation may not be the problem; they may appear unmotivated, but this may be a convincing protective screen they've set up to mask a larger issue.

For example, many children appear unmotivated when in fact they avoid homework to protect their egos. How's that? Because these children erroneously equate failure with stupidity. Their logic is as follows: If they try and fail, it is a reflection of their intelligence. If they don't try and fail, it is not a reflection of their intelligence; it is due to lack of motivation or irresponsibility. These labels they can live with; the label "stupid," they can't!

8. TOO MUCH HOMEWORK.

Many kids simply cannot keep up with the projects, tests, quizzes, reading and other assignments they are given.

Here is a general guide for the typical amount of time children should be expected to spend on homework each school day. Grades K-2, about 10-20 minutes. Grades 3-6, about 30-60 minutes. Grades 7-12 will vary considerably, depending on subjects, projects due, tests, etc., but a reasonable average is about two hours, with more on weekends, as needed, for major projects and exams.

If your child spends considerably more than this on homework, look into the cause. Begin by having a conversation with the teacher. If the problem is class-wide, hopefully the teacher will make adjustments. If the problem is limited to your child because your child works slowly, or has other issues discussed in this section, talk to his teacher and see what can be done to modify his assignments.

9. IT'S TOO NOISY.

Many kids complain that they can't concentrate at home. Their siblings are running around, TVs and music systems are blaring, someone's on the phone, people are fighting, the dog is barking, the baby is crying. I don't know about you, but I need quiet to do work that requires thinking. Closed bedroom doors don't help much, as the muffled sounds of chaos always manage to get through.

Here is an idealistic solution. Even if it can't be carried out fully, at least it is something to aim for. As a family, consider designating a block of time as quiet time. Normal living continues, but more quietly than usual. Kids can use the time to do homework; parents can read, balance the checkbook, and write e-mails; those who have time to watch television can do so with headphones or the sound turned low. Sometimes quiet sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

10. THE CHILD IS TOO ALONE.

Some children are lonely when required to do homework in their rooms, and don't work efficiently in that setting. Some need continuous support and direction. That is, they need someone to help them stay on task or to provide a little assistance when they get stuck. If required to work alone in their rooms, these are the kids who emerge three hours later with little or nothing accomplished. Both groups of children tend to prefer doing homework on the kitchen table. This way they have people around them, either for support or company.

So, if homework causes chaos in your home, look into the reasons. Once you find them, and do what you need to resolve the problems, you'll be back on the road to school success and family harmony.

(Originally published at the Strong Learning website and reprinted with permission of the authors, Linda Bress Silbert, Ph.D. and Alvin J. Silbert, Ed.D.)


About The Author Linda Bress Silbert, Ph.D. and Alvin J. Silbert, Ed.D. are the founders/directors of STRONG Learning Centers in New York. They've written over 40 books and developed 20 phonics games for children of all ages. To learn more about the Silberts and the STRONG Method, visit their website http://www.oureducationalbooks.com. To subscribe to their free e-zine, send a blank email to: subscribe@StrongLearning.com.

source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/education/article_1457.shtml

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