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Student's demo 'How to' http://youtube.com/watch?v=DOcJj5-NQWM
1.Username: pick a username that identifies you well and is easy to remember, but also make it sufficiently specific, in order to avoid confusion with other usernames. Remember, your name is your first signature on Myngle. There will be one day when the name you always wanted to have will be no more available.
2.Photo: uploading a photo is important, as it gives a face behind the description, which most students really appreciate.
3.Profile description: make sure all the information here is correct. The profile information can be used by teachers to adapt the program to your specific needs, but also by other students to get to know more about you as it is more effective, as well nicer, if you share some common interests.
4.Study Together or Conversation Exchange: We recommend you to be open to exchanges with other students. These are totally free, and give you the possibility to exercise as well as having fun. Study together means looking for another learner studying the same language to share the teaching class or do homework or conversation practice together. Conversation Exchange means looking for a native of your target language to help you in practicing it, this can be done in exchange for practice in your language or simply because the native likes the contact with people studying his/her language.
5.“About me�: a descriptive profile is important to inform about yourself. State some of the interests, and other relevant information such as books you like to read. This not only will make your profile more personal but will identify also common areas of interests with other students as well as with the teacher. It is better for the student to have more in common with the teacher which will encourage conversation.
Taking lessons online can be quite different then in a face-to-face (offline) environment, especially the first time. You need to get used to it. After a couple of lessons you will realize that it is very simple, and much more convenient. You can take your lesson anytime, anywhere and also have all the supporting resources available at a click of your mouse. It’s easy to get used to learning online!
Learning a new language requires commitment and dedication. This applies not only to online learning, but to learning in general. In the online learning environment, however, there is no pressure of other students in the class or of a teacher physically present in the same room. The responsibility lies even more on you. You are the only one who can make the commitment and hold it for the time necessary to learn.
Here are a few tips that will help you making your learning experience effective and fun:
Learning a language requires time. Do not expect to be able to understand everything from the beginning. Remember that during the initial period your ear and your mind are adjusting to the sounds and the rhythm of the new language. Also, making mistakes is natural; your teacher is there to help you. As long as you feel you are making progresses, you are on the right path. Make sure you are also enjoying it!
You will learn more effectively and retain more if you study often and for shorter period of times. Try to study regularly every week, possibly every day. Take a couple of lessons per week, which will help you not forgetting what you have just learned by the next lesson. You can always find 45 minutes somewhere in the week to schedule your next lesson, this is also an advantage of learning online. The more you practice the new language, the quicker it will become part of you.
Try to use any opportunity to practice the new language. During the lesson, speak as much as possible, as well as make use of other students to practice during the week. You might not know a native of your target language living near your home, but on Myngle you can reach natives in any part of the world or other students eager to practice with you. You can only learn a language by practicing it!
Try to keep the lessons on a regular schedule, make them a part of your weekly routine. It is easy to loose commitment during busy periods, but the advantage of online lessons is that you can schedule them with full flexibility, and in private tuition the teacher will always adapt to your pace and specific needs. Also, try to spend additional time each week to revise what you have just learned or prepare for the next lesson. This will improve the speed of learning, as well as the effectiveness of the lessons.
The teacher is responsible for the lesson and for operating the whiteboard during the lesson. Our whiteboard was designed to be simple and user friendly. So, all you need to do is to be there in time in front of your computer. But you can also help the teacher making the best out of your lesson.
Learning a new language requires concentration. You will be required to reply to questions or express yourself in a language you are not yet comfortable with. Pick a room that is quiet, with no other people around; that will help concentrating as well as not feeling embarrassed of pronouncing new words or trying expressing yourself.
Make sure the teacher can understand what you say and can hear if you are pronouncing words correctly. Make sure you are speaking close to the microphone but not too close to have disrupting breathing sounds; a computer microphone can be pretty sensitive and pick up breathing sounds easily. You can practice by making some Skype calls with your friends. You will find out that it is easy and fun!
Because you are not physically present in the same room, the teacher might sometimes misunderstand your silence. Communicate with your teacher any problems that may be interfering with your learning, whether it is during the lesson or during your own study. Do not feel embarrassed to ask questions or interrupt if the explanation is not clear. The teacher is there to help you
You need to practice to learn well. One of the main advantages of using a live tutor is the possibility for you to practice during the lesson, as well as being corrected for mistakes you make. Take full advantage of this opportunity! You might feel insecure about expressing yourself in a new language you are not yet familiar with, or talking to somebody who is a complete stranger. Don’t, the teacher is there for you. Also, the lesson is much more fun if you feel you are participating and fully immersing in it!
The advantage of learning on Myngle is also that you have additional supporting tools all available in one place, at the click of your mouse. Take advantage of all these resources to combine the different skills: listening, talking, reading and writing. They are easy to use and will impact the speed of learning as well as the fun you’ll have with it. And they are all completely free!
You might not know a native in your area, but on Myngle you’ll find natives willing to help you practicing their language. This in exchange for you helping them practicing your own language or even only because they like to help people interested in their country or culture. There is a treasure of knowledge in someone who lives the language you are attempting to learn. It is extremely interesting to understand a new culture seen through the eyes of its people. After all, you are learning that language with the purpose of communicating with them!
We recommend you also look for study buddies, other students taking the same or similar courses. Make (virtual) appointments with them to work together on homework assignments, to learn vocabulary, or just to practice speaking the language. You will benefit from their knowledge and abilities, as they will from yours. Because of the details on each student’s profile, you can select the buddies that best match your profile and interests. Having study buddies make the experience more complete and fun!
You will learn quicker if you increase the amount of contact you have with the language. You should not limit your learning to the lesson, but take full advantage of the additional resources we are offering (homework, podcasts etc). We also hope you will give us input about additional resources you would like to find on Myngle. We want to develop Myngle together with you.
Learning a language is more than vocabulary and grammar rules, it is also learning about a country and its culture. Join or start a language forum in the community part of Myngle. This is the place to connect with native speakers as well as others around globe who share the same interest in a particular language. Take an active role, share your experiences, stories, traveling tips about your target language as well as about your own language and country. You are the core of Myngle!
The perfect online lesson recorded