5 Ways To Prepare For Bluegrass Guitar Lessons

5 Ways To Prepare For Bluegrass Guitar Lessons Suzy S. Starting bluegrass guitar lessons is fun and exciting, and odds are youll have a lot to learn! Guitar teacher  Samuel B.  shares a few things youll want to do before you get started Bluegrass is as much a piece of American musical culture as jazz, blues, country, gospel and early rock and roll. All of these styles (save for jazz) are based on the same three chords: C, F and G7th. Three of these styles (blues, country and gospel) are based on a slow rhythm that allows the guitarist room to experiment with varied melodic patterns within the space of a single chord. What sets bluegrass apart from these other categories is not its chord structure, but the way that its chords are played hitting the bottom string and strumming the chord only once. Bluegrass picking must be in perfect sync with the fast-paced rhythm that this pattern imposes. There are a few things you can do before you start your bluegrass guitar lessons to begin recognizing and appreciating the intricate melodies you will eventually be learning to play that stem from this rhythm. 1. Do a Lot of Listening One piece of songwriting advice that resonates with me is this: determine what specifically moves you about your favorite songs and copy those elements in the ones you write. Comparably, youll want to familiarize yourself with the music of various bluegrass artists (I recommend Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, and Alison Krauss), in order to get a clear idea of who you want to sound like (or perhaps not sound like). If you live in or near a music-friendly city, go to a few local bluegrass shows. They need not be held at sports arenas nor should you treat these outings like field research. Theyre just opportunities to surround yourself with the music and let it sink in over a sandwich and a drink. Bring a friend or other loved one and share the experience. 2. Do a Guided Visualization In order to a gain a more in-depth understanding of the music and why it matters to you, listen to your favorite piece of bluegrass music with your eyes closed and then write down what it made you think of. Whats familiar to you about the sound? What isnt? Is there a specific landscape or region of the world that came to mind? If so, who was there? What was this person or these people doing? What colors do you remember from the scene? What sounds? What smells? Was anyone serving food? If so, what do you suppose it would have tasted like? Would anything pertaining to your sense of touch have been relevant? If so, what did it feel like? In a manner similar to what I described about the shows, your visualization should not be treated like its supposed to be prize-winning literature. Your answers need not be relevant to the music in any historical or socially significant way â€" just true to how it made you feel and what it made you think of. 3. Consider Joining a Bluegrass Song Circle If youre already familiar with first-position chords (the ones on the first three frets), a song circle will provide you a chance to learn some new tricks as well as introduce you to a network of other musicians you might perform or record with in the future. Above all, song circles will actively engage you with bluegrass music and musicians in a communal format unavailable in one-one-one bluegrass guitar lessons. What youll learn in the lessons will compliment what you learn in the circle and vice versa. 4. Practice Your Scales You probably saw this one coming a mile away, but scale mastery is pertinent to every genre. Bluegrass is certainly no exception. Unless you want to play only chords, practicing scales (particularly major ones) is the only way of improving your dexterity, as well as your familiarity with the notes that comprise the form. Start with the major scale in C,  and learn it backwards and forward: E|O||-O| B|O||-O| G||O|| D||O|-O| A||O|-O| E|O||-O| Then, take it up a full step to D, and do the same: E||O-|O||-O| B||O-|O||-O| G||O-||O|| D||O-||O|-O| A||O-||O|-O| E||O-|O||-O| 5. Do Some Research About Appalachia If youre a serious musician (or are at least intent on becoming one), youll want some understanding of what inspired your specific genre to come through in your playing. Youll want to know about the daily livelihoods and struggles of the people who originally made the music. How did they provide for their basic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter? What were their personal struggles (medicine, family life)? Their professional ones (industrial)? In what ways do you suppose all of these daily uncertainties inspired their music? One of my favorite books about the region is October Sky. Written by former NASA engineer Homer Hickam Junior, it chronicles the slow collapse of a West Virginia mining town. While bluegrass music is a mostly pleasant and playful-sounding form, its inspiration lies in the rugged, desolate and often bleak environment its original makers inhabited. Your goal as a musician should be to paint a both colorful and heartfelt portrait of this environment. Dont wait to get started with your guitar lessons! Search for a guitar teacher now. Samuel B. teaches beginner  guitar lessons in Austin, TX. He teaches lessons face-to-face without sheet music, which is his adaptation of Japanese instruction (involving a call-and-response method).  Learn more about Samuel here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Elvert Barnes

Basic Accounting Tutoring Online

Basic Accounting Tutoring Online Basic Accounting Tutoring Online Proper and accurate accounting can be the difference between staying in business and closing the doors. The more proficient you become in accounting, the more likely you will become an asset to a future employer. To put it simply, mastering Basic Accounting can put you on track to a higher salary and faster promotions. Expert Basic Accounting Help Our online tutors arent just good with numbers. They understand the intricacies of accounting and how crucial concepts relate to each other. When they guide you through the learning process, everything adds up. Online Access Anytime Our tutors are available 24/7 to help you with homework, test prep, and class projects. Each Basic Accounting tutoring session takes place in our interactive online classroom that makes learning simple, fun, and intuitive. Everything You Need to Succeed Income sheets, balance statements, and cash flow statements dont have to stump you. Our Basic Accounting tutors have been certified as experts in their subjects and have extensive experience working with students to explain complex ideas. Dont get left behind in your classwork. Let Tutor Pace prepare you for success in class and in the future.

Infographic 14 Career Paths for Singers Pro Advice

Infographic 14 Career Paths for Singers Pro Advice Suzy S. Want to do what you love for a career? As an aspiring singer, you have several paths you can take including full-time gigs and side jobs to ensure music stays a part of your life. In this career guide, voice teacher Liz T. shares how much a singer can make, and the many tips she used along her own journey to become a professional singer Many people dream of becoming a professional singer but are unaware of the certain steps and criteria that will help them achieve success. It takes a lot more than natural talent if you want to become a famous singer, especially, youll need the right attitude and a strong business sense to make it in the music industry. Read on as I answer the common questions my voice students ask when it comes to how to become a professional singer and what to expect. 1) What kind of training does a professional singer need? Sure, some singers are discovered seemingly out of the blue, based on raw talent and without having much training but thats not the route I would advise taking. Think of it the same as any other profession; if you want to be a doctor or a nurse, you must practice in that field before you can get anywhere in your career. Similarly, if you want to be taken seriously as a singer, then you must invest time and money to study your craft properly. Training from an Early Age If you started taking voice lessons at a young age, youre at a huge advantage in your training! Personally, I started taking music and acting lessons at the age of five, and I was also in my first live musical theater performance then. Doing that helped me internalize the proper techniques and hone my talents, as well as get used to being in the spotlight. So my first piece of advice: commit to those weekly music lessons! No matter what age you start, a private voice coach will teach you valuable techniques that are sometimes difficult to learn on your own. Find a teacher who you trust and enjoy working with, and make sure he or she understands your goals. Continuing Your Training If youre in high school and are thinking seriously about becoming a professional singer, its time to start thinking about college music programs.  Whether youre interested in pursuing classical/opera, musical theater, jazz, or contemporary rock/pop, there are many music colleges to look into. Some of the best music schools for singers include Berklee College of Music/Boston Conservatory, Juilliard, The New School, Oberlin, and University of the Arts. While going to music school requires time and money, it will benefit you greatly. Youre investing in your future, and youll have the opportunity to meet other singers, professors, and performers that can help you throughout your career. Youll also be able to explore other styles of music and become a more well-rounded singer. I went to the Berklee College of Music for my Bachelors in Voice Performance and am now working on my Master of Music in Voice Performance there as well, and it’s something I will never regret! 2) What does it take to have a career in singing? As I think about my advice for how to become a singer, two things come to mind. First, you need to be prepared to work hard. Youll always be working at your craft even famous singers continue to take lessons!  In addition to performing regularly, youll also want to continue networking with other musicians and attending others performances to stay in the game. Second, you need to have thick skin! Your music will be out in the public eye, whether it’s at a performance, in an audition, on your website, or streaming on Spotify or YouTube. Even great singers face criticism, so you need to learn to handle rejection and not be so hard on yourself. Youll hear the word “no” at auditions more often than yes; if singing is your passion, its your job to pick yourself back up, listen to the feedback you received, and continue working hard. 3) What are the pros and cons to becoming a professional singer? There are many advantages and disadvantages to having a career in the music industry. Its not for everyone, but often the benefits make up for the struggles. Heres what Ive learned over the years. Pros: Rewarding career Being a singer is an extremely rewarding career overall! You have the opportunity to share your talents and love for music in front of many people. Music is healing, and its something that we all enjoy in both good and tough times together! Network of friends Throughout your schooling and performances, youll find an incredible network of people! Ive met some of my best friends this way. And since this business is all about who you know, establishing this network is also key to your success. Cool jobs and travel As a professional singer myself, Ive been fortunate to travel to almost 10 different countries to perform. Ive worked as a performer on cruise ships and at theme parks around the world. I’ve also performed at small intimate jazz clubs, big venues like Carnegie Hall, and even at events like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! I’ve performed in front of Presidents and Popes, and if it werent for singing, I probably wouldnt have had these experiences. Cons Instability Singing careers certainly have ups and downs, and it’s a very tough path to pursue. There arent many “safe” jobs for singers that come with steady benefits, income, or hours. Most jobs are seasonal, only lasting for the summer or for that tour, and they may not even be full-time. Sometimes you may be offered 10 gigs in a row, and sometimes you may go a few months to a few  years without getting a single offer. This is standard in the industry. Furthermore, the gigs youre offered may not always pay much and if youre busy with rehearsals, you may not have the time to work a second job. If you want to be a singer, you have to be able to juggle your finances and be comfortable with instability. Physical demand Performing as a professional singer in a major production may mean anywhere from seven to 10 shows a week. This is physically and mentally exhausting on the brain and body, so you must be healthy and in top-notch shape all the time! Also, while touring may be fun, being away from family and friends can be lonely, and traveling long distances can be tiring. Cost Lets face it: pursuing higher education is costly, no matter what you study. As a singer, youll also need to factor in your voice lessons and the costs of auditions (applications and possible travel). If you want to get signed, you may also have to pay upfront. Nowadays, most singers that get noticed from AR Executives have already spent anywhere from $5,000-$50,000 to create their demo or EP. Recording costs, copyrighting songs, and hiring other musicians and engineers is costly, and many singers have to save up for this or take out loans. Also, many of the singers you see that have become famous from their YouTube or Facebook account or website did not do this without investing any money. They may have paid an extraordinary amount in hiring people and the space to film their music video, a photographer to take photos, and a manager to run their social media and web marketing. Pro and Con: Settling down in a major city This can be seen as a pro or a con! If you want to be a professional singer, you must be where the action is. Some of the big cities for music are New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, Las Vegas, London, and Paris. While some singers are able to avoid these big cities, its something to consider if you want to get seen and heard by industry professionals. The only problem? Youll be competing with thousands of other aspiring singers who move there. 4) How much does a singer make? Weve all heard the struggling artist jokes so if youre seriously considering a career in music, you might be wondering, How much does a singer make, exactly? The average singers salary  depends on many different factors. First, what types of gigs are you performing at? As a singer who performs standards in restaurants and clubs, or as part of a wedding band playing covers, you can expect to earn anywhere from $40-$300 a night but you may not be working every night. If youve worked your way up the ladder and are an in-demand performer, you could land a steady gig (and paycheck),  earning anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000 a year. Joining your local musicians union (such as the American Federation of Musicians or the American Guild of Musical Artists) can help you earn better income and benefits while performing. If you or the show youre performing in is a member of the union, youll also receive health benefits. You will, however, need to factor in monthly or quarterly dues to be a member. Other factors that can affect how much you make as a singer include  your overall level of talent and the type of company youre working with. Luckily, youve got a lot of options!  While the financial struggles of being a singer may be discouraging, don’t let it bring you down. There are many ways you can get creative with your income as a singer. I encourage you to put your good voice to use and find them! Scroll down to the end of this guide to check out the average salaries of professional singers. 5) How much does a backup singer make? How about other singing career paths? If you dont want to be right in the spotlight, youve got options! Backup singers can make a decent salary, but keep in mind you may not land the gig with Beyonce right away. Other career paths include being a session singer, working as a songwriter, hosting karaoke, or even teaching voice lessons to others. Again, check out the infographic at the end of this guide to learn more! To conclude If you’re still reading this article, I applaud you for your patience and determination! To be a professional singer, you must be strong-willed, determined, and in touch with your emotions. I hope this article has given you much to think about on your journey! And if youd ever like to learn more about my career as a professional singer, or if you want to schedule a voice lesson with me, please send me a message through my TakeLessons profile! Post Author:  Liz T. Liz T. teaches singing, acting, and music lessons online.  She is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music with a B.M in Vocal performance and currently performs/teaches all styles of music including Musical Theater, Classical, Jazz, Rock, Pop, RB, and Country. Learn more about Liz here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Powerless or Powerful at Work. Its your choice. - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Powerless or Powerful at Work. It’s your choice. - Introvert Whisperer Powerless or Powerful at Work. It’s your choice. I’m sure we all have experienced the moment when a co-worker (and maybe you as well) has been negatively impacted by decisions management has made. You might be very concerned the most for your friend.   Yet, you feel you should do something because of just how unfair the issue is or how serious the impact is.   But, you feel powerless to do anything. Many times things happen at work that negatively impacts us or those we work with.   We can feel powerless and out of control about a situation.   We feel victimized and frustrated because of this sense of powerlessness or we feel that for our co-worker/friends. What should you do? First, you can’t go fight for your friend.   You can help them, counsel with them but any actions done on behalf of your friend; need to be done by them.   Otherwise, you are going to muddy up the situation and if it’s already bad, making things worse isn’t helpful. Be a role model of what to do.   In other words, you can empower you to take whatever actions you need to do to help improve the situation.   Your co-workers can also do the same.   Remember, your parents couldn’t go fight your fights when you were a kid and the same thing applies now. Many people think when it comes to “management” that they are powerless to do anything but that’s simply not true.   We are more powerful than we realize and we don’t have to turn into a jerk to be that way.   Management is people like you and wants the same things out of life and career.   Also like you, they don’t always know everything they need to know about decisions they make including the impact to you.   You see, people are the single biggest resource any business has.   Without you and others, there would be no business.   That means you have to communicate with management.   They need to understand the implications and you can’t assume they always know. At the same time, you also have to understand that management has more information on the business and takes a broader view than you do.   It’s their job and with it may come unpopular decisions born out by conditions you know nothing about.   You may never know the entire scope of information that goes into any given decision.   That means that while a decision might be made that negatively impacts you or others, you do have to place a certain amount of trust that management is making the best decisions they can.   Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t share your concerns because those concerns might not have been considered. You have to also keep in mind that even if you voice your concerns that the best you can hope for is for management to listen.   It may not change anything but they will gain insight from you stepping forward.   It’s okay to hope it influences change. You may not be comfortable being assertive like I’m suggesting.   I know many people aren’t but it’s like this:   Which is worse? The discomfort of feeling powerless and victimized or the discomfort of stepping forward? Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

English Expressions with Speak and Speech - Intermediate Level English

English Expressions with Speak and Speech - Intermediate Level English In this post I would like to review the topic of speech and in particular English expressions with speak and speech.I was raised to believe that  freedom of speech is one of the cornerstones  (something of great importance)  of society.  However,  as I get older my belief is challenged time and time again.  Now I understand that in reality I have the right to freedom of speech  provided that I generally agree with what the general population now accepts. Unfortunately,  this is not my view of freedom.The following are English words and phrases connected with speech  and hopefully you will find something useful for you. English Expressions with Speak and Speech Going back to my earlier point we all have the right to  SPEAK OUR MIND (to say what we feel)  provided we do so with respect to other people’s feelings and beliefs. When we were young we were advised by teachers,  trainers and parents to learn to SPEAK UP FOR YOURSELF (  not to be afraid to put your hand up and give an opinion or view or simply get involved).  Alternatively,  if you were not able to speak up for yourself you tried to get someone  to SPEAK ON YOUR BEHALF  (someone to say what you want to say but cannot).There are many phrases and expressions connected with speech.  The following are the key and important expressions with examples.SPEAK CLEARLYEveryone can speak but not many speak clearly,  pronounce words  in a way that makes it clear to the listener exactly what you are saying. Some mumble (speak very quietly under their breath) and we have to ask them to PLEASE, SPEAK UP  (to raise their voice a little so that we can hear what they have said)  some SPEAK TOO QUI CKLY  (so quick that we have to ask the person to slow down or repeat what they have said). Some even speak so slow  that we are tempted to finish the sentence for them!Parents, grandparents and teachers are often heard to correct the tone and language of young people by chastising them  (complaining and correcting them)  when they speak perhaps rudely to them. DON’T SPEAK TO ANYONE LIKE THAT!!  (speak more mannerly) English Expressions with Speak - Infographic Enjoyed this infographic? Here's what you can do next: Collocations with Speak SPEAK THE TRUTHHow many times did you hear this as a kid. Don’t lie always tell the truth. (Of course,  when  we grow older it is not always the best policy.)Example: I believe if you want to be heard, you need to speak the truth.WELL SPOKENWe consider someone to be well spoken when the speak clearly, concisely and in an assured fashion. They do not have to raise their voice  (shout or scream), they do not use too many words but speak with authority and knowledge in an understandable way.Example: He is a very well spoken man he has a lot of life experience.SPEAK OUTIf we feel strongly about a topic we are often encouraged to speak out about it. This means to make ourselves heard.Example: Recently the “Me too” movement has raised the issue of women and sexual exploitation particularly in the movie and entertainment industries. Women have spoken out about their experiences and feelings.ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDSEveryone can talk and tell you what they will or will not do but doing something is often seen as more productive. What somebody does is more important than what they say.Example: Don’t tell Auntie Paula that you miss her, just go and visit her. Actions speak louder than words! Collocations with Speak SPEAK OF THE DEVILWhen someone we are thinking of or talking about suddenly and unexpectedly appears then we can say ‘ah speak of the devil!’Example: You are discussing your friend David with another friend Susan. You are talking about something funny or interesting he did recently when you suddenly see him approaching you in the coffee shop. ‘Ah David, speak of the devil, we were just talking about you.’THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAKA great piece of advice at any age. We often speak our minds  but occasionally it might not sound the way we intended and someone might get offended  (be upset or hurt) so it is always a good idea to think before you speak.SPEAK WHEN YOU ARE SPOKEN TOAnother reminder of my childhood. How often did your  mother or father say this? It means that someone is only allowed to say something when they are asked for an opinion.Example: Speak when you are spoken to and not until!!SPEAK FOR YOURSELFThis is a way of reminding people that they are only expressing the ir own opinion and that other people might think differently.Example: ‘This year’s test was really easy.’ ‘Speak for yourself! I thought it was really difficult.’I have a much more relaxed attitude to communication these days and always encourage my younger students to express themselves in a calm and clear manner. Words can be easily misinterpreted so speaking clearly but never be afraid to speak.

New Tutor Spotlight - Sam

New Tutor Spotlight - Sam Improving Academic Performance MyGuru is proud to announce that Sam Ribnick has joined its elite team of private tutors in Boston, MA. Sam is also a capable of providing online tutoring in Math, Physics, and the ACT and/or SAT. Sam holds a BS in Physics from MIT, and currently teaches high school physics in Boston Public Schools. His classes have outperformed on standardized tests, with a 90% passing rate vs. a 70% passing rate prior to his start date. At MIT, he tutored students in physics and various math subjects. He’s worked as a recitation instructor leading a section of multi-variable calculus. For 3 summers at the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University, he was the TA for summer physics classes for gifted high school students. He has tutored students from many colleges around Boston and has a strong background in physics, chemistry, biology and all math subjects (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, etc). Furthermore, Sam has experience in the business world, having worked for the prestigious Boston Consulting Group after MIT and before returning to the world of education to become a high school physics teacher. Sam is a great example of the tutors we work with at MyGuru.

Subsidized Vs. Unsubsidized Loans

Subsidized Vs. Unsubsidized Loans Photo Credit: gotcredit.com With rising college tuition costs, students are looking for ways to fund the investment. Firstly, students seek out scholarships to fund their endeavor. The best part about scholarships is that they are essentially free money and they can be awarded for any reason be it ethnic, academic, or something else. There are scholarships for being a woman in engineering. There are scholarship for being the first person in your family to go to college. There are scholarships for being a certain ethnicity. There are even scholarships for people with red hair. With all this money floating around, you’d think that no one would have trouble paying for school. But it’s a bit more complicated than that. Most scholarship recipients receive one or two scholarships worth a fraction of their tuition. So without the rest paid for, students need to seek alternative means of paying for school and many choose to join the military. Military service has been seen by some as an alternative to college education for a while now. However, the US military has taken it upon themselves to change that idea. They offer thousands of dollars in service loans. Service loans are essentially an agreement by the loan recipient to serve for a certain number of years in the military and sometimes to graduate with a certain degree that the military could find useful, like in a foreign language or computer science. These loans are usually pretty generous and are paid off with a corresponding number of years of service. However, if the student drops out without a degree, they are still responsible for repaying that loan. Some majors will not have a specific scholarship and others won’t be paid for by the military, so inevitably, some will be left out in the cold. Those people are now left with two options: pay for school out of pocket or take out loans. It’s actually not as drastic as it sounds, but those are the next two basic options. With the mention of loans, some students shake with fright. The looming burden of debt hanging over them like the Sword of Damocles is enough to make everyone hesitate to sign away their soul to college loan sharks. Before anyone takes on any loan, they should understand it and what it means for them down the road. Right now, student loan debt in the US is estimated to be between $900 billion and $1 trillion with an average student debt of $28,400. (image via www.nerdwallet.com) There are two basic kinds of loans: unsubsidized and subsidized. Subsidized loans are the lesser of two evils because while you’re in school, the loans arent going to be accruing interest. Why? Well, that’s because the US government is paying the interest while you’re in school and for six months afterwards. Wait, what? The US government is loaning you money, paying the interest on it for 4 years and 6 months, and then asking for money in return? Well essentially, yes, they are. This is better explained by saying that the US government is not going to charge the interest and will pretend you never had a loan until six months after you leave school. Because of this, subsidized loans are almost exclusively government loans. The second kind of loan is an unsubsidized loan. These can be extremely dangerous loans to get since they accrue interest from day one of you signing the agreement. These interest rates are usually dangerous because they can quickly gain thousands of dollars of debt beyond what the original amount was. However, these unsubsidized loans are freely available from banks, loan agencies, and even the government. They do usually have lower interest rates than subsidized loans, except for the federal version of these. The federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans have equal interest rates right now and consequently it would behoove students to take out as much money in subsidized loans from the government as possible while taking out as little as possible in unsubsidized loans. This way you can maintain as little debt as possible for as long as possible. With the debt crisis in Greece making headlines and concerns about national debt being brought back up in the US, one has to wonder about the state of affairs when student loan debt in the US is higher than most countries GDP. For now, you can arm yourself with knowledge on what loan is best for you and use that to help decrease your personal debt.

The Best Way to Learn a Language Playing Games!

The Best Way to Learn a Language Playing Games! Does learning a language always have to be so tedious and boring?The answer is a resounding No!.Mastering a new language should be challenging, but nobody ever said it has to be dull.Learning a new language can be really enjoyable when your approach to learning is geared towards having fun! Nowadays, we can learn languages through social media, movies  or even by playing games!Any form of education can be quite dull when you approach learning through repetitive rote learning methods. This creates a poor (and lackluster) learning pattern, which will usually lead to smaller amounts of progress.So throw out your old boring learning techniques and lend me your ears (or eyes in this case), as we explore how to learn a language by playing games and having fun! Such games can be played through apps on your smartphone, games on the internet, a handheld game console, computer gamesâ€"basically whatever you have and enjoy! Learning While Having Fun: The Ultimate CombinationThere is a common misconception that proper learning should be serious and solemn in nature, and if one is having fun then theyre not truly learning. Games provide an alternative route to learning a language while providing a pleasurable method to do so.The idea of learning no longer means rote memorizationâ€"it instead means acquiring the skills necessary to be able to respond appropriately in another language, when under pressure in various circumstances. Games can help deliver these benefits in the most entertaining way. Therefore as you delight in playing a game, you can enjoy yourself while unconsciously acquiring an array of language skills!The use of games can be a fantastic learning tool to advance in any language. In this approach, youre winning in the game by learning more of your target language.How Games Can Really Help Learn a LanguageThere is an old Chinese proverb that describes the beauty of learning languages through games: Tell me, and Ill forget. Show me, and I may remember. Involv e me, and Ill understand.  The best language games are designed to involve you  in different ways of using the language.These games offer a dynamic learning atmosphere, so it really comes down to youâ€"the game playerâ€"to benefit from playing the game. You can choose to play when the time works best for you and enjoy the time you spend learning your target language. The best part is that while youre absorbed in the game, youre actually learning. So rather than pay attention to standard learning, you simply focus on doing well in the game (which also requires strategic thinking, by the way, which can further improve your proficiency).Games also provide a great personal way to learn the language without any fear of making mistakes with the language in public. You can refine your skills with pronunciation, spelling, grammar and syntax all at your leisure. In the game-orientated context, you engage with the language in several ways by writing, listening, speaking and understandingâ€"wh ich all help generate speech fluency.Furthermore, learning through games actually motivates you to learn more of the language! When you love playing the game in your free time, that element of enjoyable competitiveness works as a catalyst to get you practicing the language more frequently. To progress in the game involves learning more of the language, so as you reach higher levels in the game, you also reach higher skill levels in your target language.The Benefits of Learning a Language Through GamesResearch was conducted in 2003 by the language acquisition experts, Asian EFL Journal. The research considered the effectiveness of game-based education methods on students when learning a new language. The students commented that they enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere the games provided, as well as the competitiveness and motivation that games brought to the learning environment.It was further observed by the teachers that the students actually seemed to learn at an increased pace and ret ain the information gained through playing games compared to learning through rote methods. The research confirmed that games are a highly effective tool to language acquisition.Thus far, weve already  seen numerous benefits of playing language games, so heres a brief summary:Time effectiveA welcome break from the usual method of educationFun and enjoyableProvides meaningful context for language useIncreases learning motivationPromotes communicative competenceReduces anxiety of making errorsIntegrates numerous linguistic skills: reading, listening, speaking and writingEncourages players to use the languageCreates positive attitudes towards learningThe results of education through gamification speak for themselves. Games are used extensively in the United States for education and training purposes.  In 2008, nearly 170 million Americans played computer games to achieve multiple learning goals, spending almost $12 billion.Just by playing a game, your brain becomes heavily stimulated w hile learning, and you simultaneously improve on other useful cognitive skills such as problem solving, memory, focus, mental agility andâ€"of courseâ€"language.So which language games should you play?Which Language Games Are Best to Play?All games are not created equally. There are definitely some games that are fantastic fun, while others will provide a more enjoyable way to learnâ€"but wont be as entertaining.A good language game should push you to enhance your speaking, listening, writing, reading, vocabulary and understanding of the target language. It should have longevity so you cannot become bored with the game in a short period of time. A lot of language games are designed to fit the criteria above and achieve more as well.You should definitely look for games created specifically for your target language, but here well share some of the top games currently out there that have versions for various languages.Duolingo  (Internet App)Native English speakers currently have 16 l anguages they can learn through Duolingo, but still not Japanese or Chinese. Native speakers of many Asian languages can still use the app to learn English, however, as the site can be used in 23 different languages. Duolingo has a fascinating game design, and you level up and unlock new categories the more you play. Its focus is on using speech, translations, spelling, visual queues and multiple choice to learn languages through an array of different games.Duolingo also allows you to play with other friends and keep in touch with them while they learn a language of their choice as well. What most users may not realize is that Duolingo was created as a language-learning platform that simultaneously helps translate the internet!FluentU  (Internet App)FluentU has a unique approach to language learning.  With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that natives  speak them.FluentU has a wide variety of videos like movie trailers, funny commercials, vlogs and web series, as yo u can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.Interactive transcript for Carlos Baute song.You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs Learn Mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the iTunes or Google Play store. FluentU is currently available for English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, I talian, Portuguese and Russian.Babbel (Internet App)Babbel currently teaches 14 languages, which includes Indonesian, Danish and Russianâ€"but not Japanese or Chinese. The app focuses on learning grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation skills (Yes, it has speech recognition!).Babbel stands out because of its more direct approach, and features a variety of mediums. If you would prefer to focus on more practice and less of a game feel, this could be the game for you.Bravolol  (App)Bravolol currently has learning apps for 17 languages, including Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Arabic and Thai. Languages are taught through themes such as greetings, romance and weather. You learn through spelling, pronunciation, visual recognition and problem solving activities.One interesting aspect about this game is that it allows you to hear your own voice when pronouncing, and then compare it to a native speaker. On top of the Learn language apps, Bravolol also provides dictionary apps and two Chinese-spe cific apps: Business Chinese and Financial Chinese.Mindsnacks (App)This company has won the best education app of the year award for their game design. The game itself is comprised of several smaller mini-games that revolve around different ways to learn a language. Mindsnacks has seven languages available now: Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Chinese and Japanese.The mini-games involve recognizing correct definitions, correct spelling and common errors through all facets of cognition: visual, audio and kinesthetic. There are a lot of different lessons available to learn, from the basics of numbers and colors to being able to hold a conversation in your target language.If youd like to find more apps right away for your specific language, weve got you covered:Best  English  AppsBest  French  AppsBest  German  AppsBest  Japanese  AppsBest  Spanish  AppsWhatever game you choose to playâ€"and whichever device you choose to play it onâ€"is entirely up to you. Each person enj oys a different stimulus when it comes to games, which is why the game manufacturing industry is so large.So go ahead and enjoy yourself; experiment with a few different language games.You wont believe how entertaining it can be to pick up a second language. Game on!