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By MyEdge

What are the benefits of learning a foreign language?

Learning a foreign language has always been a rewarding experience. Irrespective of demographics, people of all age groups love to learn new languages because it is a fascinating experience to understand other cultures & civilizations. Children and young students specially find the entire experience unusually adventurous.

Most children intuitively are more adaptive towards learning new languages than adults. It is a joy to hear new words, accents, phrases been mouthed by children when they learn a new foreign language. Here are the most plausible benefits of learning a new tongue:

  1. As per conclusive research, a large percentage of children achieve higher test scores and perform better academically when they study a new foreign language. The monolingual peers more often than not score less in critical reading sections than children who learn an additional language. Learning a new language enables students to be more efficient through increase in brain power.
  2. Such children also develop astounding reading skills that are far higher than the usual reading abilities of school goers. In a study conducted by York University in 2014, bilingual children had an edge over their national counterparts when it came to the ability to read and do well. Aged 5 to 18 years, these children did much better than most others in the same age group from a singular language background. Insights and experiences of these children improved with learning an additional language that is not part of their native culture.
  3. Choosing a new foreign language to learn also enabled the child to appreciate international music and culture, arts and literature of other countries. A lot of children often use learning new languages as the first step towards getting to know about another country which they possibly might visit in the future for pursuing academic or employment opportunities.
  4. Language is often an asset which proves its worth much later in life. Many job offers and universities stress on an additional language proficiency. Its knowledge helps in boosting the resume in the long run and also develops confidence & pragmatism. Foreign universities and colleges often stress on taking in students that have an additional proficiency in a foreign language. The study abroad options thus increase creating better opportunities for students.
  5. Finally, such children grow up to be much more confident and attuned to the differences in tone and sound of the foreign speakers. When researchers from UCLA and the University of Hong Kong, first conducted a study where young children were exposed to a new language spoken by a native, many of them started speaking smoothly and confidently better than natives in terms of intonation and imitation of tones.

Most languages offer a varied world view with differing cultures and peoples. In case you want to learn a new language from private tutors in the comfort of your home, then download install the WONK Mobile application from Google PlayStore and start browsing through profiles of the best language tutors. You are sure to hit a gold mine of options!

By MyEdge

5 tips to make learning math an easy task

Learning maths is not an easy task, infact we have heard of numerous stories of student’s having nightmares even on opening the maths book. A good private maths tutor, if you are able to find one, can really prove to be god sent and can help you learn the art of number crunching. However, that is not the end of the story, there are a host of other skills needed to succeed in maths. In order to get your mathematical acumen in place, you need to be clear about the concepts in the first place. After which, a decent amount of practice and solving test papers can actually make a significant difference.

Solving puzzles and other interesting riddles can also be a good technique to improve one’s learning abilities in this subject. Refrain from treating this subject as your enemy and instead befriend it with open arms. Believe us, the results can be astonishing and there are numerous studies which have scientifically proven the effectiveness of such learning techniques.

Here are our top tips to make maths a congenial subject for students of any age:

No substitute to hardwork: To start off, maths is all about learning well and appreciating concepts with deep understanding. Some of us do not even appreciate the concepts in the first place. You need to be ready about putting in a lot of effort and time/practice when you start off with cracking numbers. Thorough revision is always a great way to get going with maths.

Get a great private tutor: Further, it is imperative that you hire the services of a quality maths tutor/mentor as soon as possible. The tutor will not only help you to learn concepts effectively in order to score above average but also guide you in avoiding making careless mistakes in calculations. Finding quality tutors has now become extremely convenient and easy through mobile application such as WONK (Available on Google PlayStore). You can browse through verified tutor profiles and choose the one that fits your requirement.

Synergize the learning techniques and use creative strategies to master math theorems: Maths is all about learning in a way that is very novel and effective. This is a subject that requires a lot of practice and use of flash cards can help more effectively. Theorems, formula and geometry all need some amount of creative learning strategies. Certain math facts can be remembered through use of memory games and flash cards.

Involve yourself in play activities and make groups with other learners: Maths often is all about applying collective logic in learning. Geometry and statistics along with trigonometry can be learnt in groups by memorizing the theorems. Maths games that are played in groups often induce memorization and active learning. Without being too fanatical, maths games can be played for at least 20 to 30 minutes every day and then repeated in different groups of learners. This active participation often spells success and a deep rooted love for the subject.

Use specified time slots each day for maths assignments: This is a method that is ideal for learners in various age group with differential maths skills and complexities. This exercise, when run daily, may not be too time consuming and can help cut down time spent in solving problems. This method is often known as Speed Maths Technique and requires students to answer questions on a variety of topics in record time. The largest number of questions solved in the least amount of time is what helps a student succeed.

Depending on varied ability and interests, children may be able to harness their maths skills without a lot of effort by banking on the suggestions given above.

In case you want to choose quality verified Maths Tutor of your choice, in your locality, download WONK and browse through hundreds of stellar profiles of math tutors. To know more, visit https://www.myedge.in/student-parent.html.

By MyEdge

6 English language mistakes you should certainly avoid

If you are wondering how to ease the crease in your verbal English proficiency, then you should just read on. Here are a few of the most common mistakes made when writing or speaking in English:

The use of “could of” rather than “could have”: This is common error most English language writers face. The phrase “could have been better” is a common error that should instead be “it could have been better”. Even native speakers commit errors that are more like a confusion than anything else! The abbreviation of “could have” is often made to sound as “could of” in “could’ve”. Such issues often crop up in other contractions too. These include “could have” and “should have” often confused with “could of” and “should of”.

The way we use “can” and “can’t”: This is a classic English language conundrum that will almost always sound as “can”. The sound is pretty much the same for a native speaker. The “Can” has a short “A” sound and is similar in rhyming with a “van”. The “can’t” with a long “A” just like an “A” in harm.

Use of the apostrophe: In many ways, native speakers also find in hard to use the apostrophes. A lot of people often use the apostrophe to make a word plural. In reality, apostrophes, could indicate the possession and contraction of a word. E.g.: the dog’s dinner – the dinner actually belongs to the dog or perhaps “You don’t know” – or the fact that you do not know! A lot of problems arise with the word “it”. The possessive form or the use such as in “The dog ate its dinner” is different from the shortening of the “it is” used as a contraction.

The use of “sorry”: A lot of the native speakers of the language use “sorry”. But there are many speakers who say “sorry about” and “sorry for” interchangeably. In fact, “sorry for” means an apology whereas “sorry about” means expressing sympathy about an act that has been committed or towards expressing a sense of hurt and remorse at someone.

When expressing the third person singular, add an “s”: Without getting into the complications of conjugating verbs, it is commonly seen that most speakers forget to add an extra “s” after the end of the verb. If you are referring to an group in third person, then skip the “s” . E.g.: They help as opposed to “he helps”.

Finally, the gender of certain words: The first learners of English often confuse the genders of inanimate objects. These do not have genders and we often do not refer to objects as “he” or “she”. The only exception that one would notice are in the case of cars and boats, which are often lovingly referred to in the feminine.

On a final note, finding a good tutor can be a smart way of learning the English language well. Even if you buy language guides, having someone with extensive knowledge of the language to point out your mistakes can be very helpful. Need to find a reputable English tutor in a hurry? Try one of the tutor-booking apps or online marketplaces, where you can choose the best tutor matching your needs, from hundreds of profiles. WONK is a great new App which enables you to book verified English language tutors near your location.

By MyEdge

7 Tips To Be Proficient In German Language

If you want to break into the bastion of learning a foreign language such as German, you need to keep pursuing it relentlessly. Most learners learn differently with varying degrees of success and acumen. Nevertheless, it is of paramount importance that you learn the language in a proper way. Just like learning English, which may come easy to some, German too can be a whole lot of fun, provided you put in the commitment, passion and hard work.

Here are the strategies that work best for you in the long run.

  1. If you are already in a German language course, it makes sense to read as much possible in German. Even a perfunctory knowledge of words and phrases will help you stay focused and will be able to make you identify the gaps in learning. Having a German textbook always enables you to imagine the way you would like to speak in hypothetical situations.
  2. Listening to German music and watching a lot of German language television will help you understand the patterns of speaking, with the linguistic similarities between German and English. If you want to learn German in an organic way, you need to make intuitive leaps and learn repetitively and slowly.
  3. Getting a German speaking partner or a Sprachpartner is a must. You could start out conversing with a partner a little higher up in the learning curve and learn about the basic conventions of grammar. The best way you can learn German is by using a frame of idioms, expressions and daily slang. A native speaker will help you learn in a better way by surprising you with sentences and words that are not printed in any German textbook.
  4. Just like Private English tutors help students learn English is a better way, it makes sense that you also find a group of German speakers who are from various backgrounds and scholarship. You can help organize a daily Stammtisch event that comprises professors and students along with older speakers. This mix of speakers will help you learn in the language in myriad ways. Another good way to enhance the experience of learning German is to attend offline classes, or hire a tutor. There are several online marketplaces and now even a first-of-its-kind mobile App, WONK, which list hundreds of profiles of experienced German tutors, from which you can choose the one most suited to your needs near your location.
  5. You can also learn to watch German music videos on FluentU. This is a social interactive site that helps you start off is by looking up the words and watch it in images that help retention. You can also learn through definitions in English and watch videos describing it. At FluentU, you can watch native language speakers in videos that have an interactive transcript and enables you to learn on the go.
  6. If you want to learn German in a cultural set up, you need to understand the way the children understand it! This means a regular reading of the books available in children’s book stores. A lot of the cultural nuances are best learnt when you understand the way children learn and speak. And yes! It’s not silly as a child!

Eventually, learning German may be all too easy. It is a language that is similar to English and has words borrowed heavily from the Queen’s language. If you adequately immerse yourself in these learnings strategies, you will reap results all too soon for sure!

By MyEdge

5 tips for an essential guide to cracking the civil services preliminary exam 2016

Clearing the civil services preliminary examination is fraught with difficulties and challenges. While the competition is steep, most students often lack the right regimen and methods to crack the preliminary examinations before taking on the mains. The first attempt at the preliminary examinations is always tough, you should not waste much time and get started.

Here are the top 5 things to do when attempting to clear the civil services preliminary exam 2016:

  1. Go through the syllabus: It makes good sense to stay updated about the syllabus of the civil services examination. In case you are attempting to pass the preliminary examinations at one go, you need to adhere to creativity and innovation. Most students who excel, are aware individuals that know the minute changes undertaken when framing the syllabus.
  2. Take a balanced view while choosing an optional subject: A lot of students have to select an optional paper for the prelims and the main exam. These selections may differ at both levels. In both cases, such topics should be selected that go complementary with the interests of the student and fetches him or her the most marks. Do not just neglect the optional paper to start with. Clear the prelims first and then set your sight on the mains.
  3. Try and focus on presentation skills and not on quantity: A lot of students often think quantity of the study materials helps win the examinations. While it does pay off if you actually refer to various resources when studying, maintaining a balance of subjects, and presenting answers well is the key. It makes sense to use pie charts, visuals and flow charts to help the examiner understand that you are a candidate that has done it differently.
  4. Current affairs and its knowledge is key: The prelims just like the mains stresses on the student’s knowledge of the current affairs and news. A bureaucrat or a budding one at that, needs to be a well-rounded individual. A good knowledge of the daily news and analysis can be carried out if you read the leading national dailies. Listening to the news on television is always a plus.
  5. Selective study: For most potential IAS bureaucrats, the tough task is about wading through reams of books and prepare for a test that has a vast syllabus. It makes good sense to actually skim through the study materials and select what is best. One should have the right approach when studying the optional and main papers to come out victorious. Rote learning and cramming will also not help.

In case you need some professional guidance to prepare for the exams in the right way, look for a good private tutor. There are plenty of online marketplaces, and even mobile apps, which let you browse hundreds of private tutors profiles and find the right tutor in a hassle-free manner. WONK is a great new App which enables you to book verified civil service entrance test tutors near your location.

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What are the benefits of learning a foreign language?
5 tips to make learning math an easy task
6 English language mistakes you should certainly avoid
7 Tips To Be Proficient In German Language
5 tips for an essential guide to cracking the civil services preliminary exam 2016