Friday, April 3, 2020

Why Is Learning English Important?

Why Is Learning English Important?Why is learning English important? In many countries of the world English is not widely spoken, but is becoming more popular as the economic and business worlds open up to people who speak the language. If you were born in a country that does not have English as a major language, it can be hard to succeed in the English speaking world.Many businesses consider English as a language of business. Even if it isn't one of the official languages of the country where you are from, it can help with your job if you have the ability to communicate with people from the United States. The fact that English is being used at the most professional level to build new relationships with other countries has made the need for English a very real need. If English isn't considered a language of business, many people may not have any idea how much of an importance it is to a person who is willing to work abroad.So why is learning English important? For one thing, if you'r e going to study in another country, learning the language can help you find a job quickly. Since so many people don't have an easy time in English, it is helpful to have someone who can speak and understand what you are trying to say.One of the biggest problems that most people have when they try to learn another language is that English is so easy to pick up. If you are trying to learn English for the first time, you are at a disadvantage because English is one of the most common languages that most people learn. A lot of the time English is so similar to English, that there's no way that you can learn it without having some understanding of English.Another reason why English is important is because it is often the first language of immigration. It's hard to go through an immigration process where you don't know what is going on and who to trust. Having a language which can be easily understood, can help make your life easier when trying to make sure that you will be able to trave l to your new country.Learning English doesn't have to be a very difficult thing to do. It's all about understanding the language, learning the grammar, and finding the right type of course to use. There are many things that you can choose from depending on how much time you want to spend in your classes. It all depends on your personal preference.There are so many reasons why learning English is important. When you first start out, it might seem like a lot of time and effort. However, it can help you learn quickly and help you get an important skill that is very useful when traveling or working abroad.

Sunday, March 22, 2020

French Vocabulary Basics Prefixes and Suffixes You Need to Know

French Vocabulary Basics Prefixes and Suffixes You Need to Know Megan L. Have you noticed repeated beginnings or endings in French words? French tutor  Tyler S.  breaks down the most common French prefixes and suffixes you need to know Why Prefixes and Suffixes? Have you ever wondered why languages have historically developed what grammarians call “prefixes” and “suffixes”? Why do almost all languages demonstrate these two types of word alteration when there are other ways to express the same changes of meaning? The answer is simple: prefixes and suffixes save us time and energy when using language. Although you may know someone who possesses the super human power of relentlessly babbling on for hours, people typically aim to be informative and concise in language. By adapting over time to use prefixes and suffixes instead of multi-word phrases, language has evolved to conserve time and energy when used as a communicative tool. For example, it takes far less brainpower to attach the prefix “a-“ to the beginning of “typical” to form the word “atypical” than it does to express the equivalent meaning in the multi-word phrase “the opposite of typical”. French is a great example of a language that is rich with prefixes and suffixes that are derived primarily from Latin and Greek. If you want to learn how to speak French with precision and save yourself time and energy when speaking, learning to use prefixes and suffixes is a must! This article will provide you with a quick reference for the most commonly used French prefixes and suffixes so that you can continue to master French à l’aise (with ease). The Basic Rule: Categorize Nouns, Adjectives, and Verbs In all languages around the world, words are composed of individual “building blocks” that combine to modify and create meaningful expressions. The first step is to be able to identify if a given French word falls into the noun category, the adjective category, or the verb category. This is vital to learn because in French vocabulary words have rules for which suffixes or prefixes can combine with each of the three categories. For example, the suffix -able in English may only attach to some verbs such as the verb “do”. We combine the two to get do + able = doable. You cannot merely attach -able to any word in English, and the same rule applies in French. In many ways, English and French are close relatives because their usage of prefixes and suffixes are historically linked. Common French Prefixes Now that you understand how word formation in French plays by the rules of a word’s grammatical category (noun, adjective, or verb), here are some concrete examples to study. Below are two tables that list prefixes or suffixes in the far left column. The next column listed as “Root Type” provides the type of word the prefix/suffix can combine with (noun, adjective, or verb). The middle white column is the approximate English meaning that the prefix/suffix attributes to the root word, and this column is then followed by examples in French that include the given suffix/prefix. Common French Suffixes By studying these two tables, you will greatly improve your vocabulary skills and your fluency for the French language. For a more exhaustive list of prefixes and suffixes, please reference the following links: French prefixes French suffixes Merci pour votre temps! Bonne chance  la pratique!  Thank you for your time! Good luck studying! For more help learning French, try studying with a private tutor. Tutors are available to work with you online or in-person depending on locations and availability. Find your French tutor now! Tyler S. teaches in-person Spanish and French lessons in Minneapolis, MN. He received his Bachelors degree in German and linguistics from the University of Minnesota, and has experience working as a teaching assistant and private tutor with TakeLessons since 2008. Whats more? He can speak 7 different languages! Learn more about Tyler 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  eefeewahfah

Friday, March 6, 2020

How Pop Art Changed The Face Of Art For A Generation

How Pop Art Changed The Face Of Art For A Generation How Popular Culture Inspired Art Chapters10 Characteristics And Ideas Of The Pop Art MovementThe Most Well Known Pop ArtistsA Well-known piece of Pop artPop art began in the United States in the mid-1950s and was led by the revolutionary modern artists Andy Warhol, James Rosenquist and Roy Lichtenstein. These artists created an international phenomenon with their art as there were no art movements like it at the time. Despite the fact that this pop art spread as far as the United Kingdom.Although British pop art and Pop art paintings were very different from American pop art. British Pop art artists often used American popular culture to create their work but could only experience it as outsiders looking in.Pop artists wanted to move away from the themes classically explored by fine art such as morality, classic history, religion and myths. While they could appreciate fine art, they couldn’t find any correlation between it and the lives that they were living. They wanted to close the gap and make art that connecte d on a personal level with the people of the time.They were fired up to explore their everyday environment, commonplace objects, people and things excited their imaginations. They dreamed up the idea of elevating and highlighting pop(ular) culture and commercial culture. In the same way that fine art had been elevated with its more traditional themes. They drew their inspiration from movies, advertising, packaging, pop music, comic books and current affairs. The art critic's reaction against this artistic movement was that work looked like readymades and lacked artistic style. But they had style; Pop style and this spread to Europe thanks to famous artists like Warhol.Find out the English tuition for learning English.a picture of a pencil could be just as highly celebrated as a Monet water lilies painting. Photo Source: Unsplashtechniques to avoid brushstrokes. This was to help him express the effect of mass production when the Brushstroke was absent rather than artistic personalisa tion. Warhol is famous For his paintings, pop style and unique way to share his reaction to the popular culture of the day.One major technique that he became famous for was silk screen printing. His inspiration was consumer goods and commercial items; he printed shipping labels, matchbooks, coca cola bottles, coffee labels etc. He was also fascinated with Hollywood and movie stars and had a series of images highlighting the stars of the day such as Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor.Warhol also experimented with film, creating 60 films in his lifetime of varying lengths. He printed many art books and created a magazine with a friend called interview magazine which is still in print.Top Artworks: Campbell's soup I (1968), Coca cola 3 (Coke bottle image) (1962), Gold Marilyn Monroe (1962), Brillo Boxes (1964), Mao (1973), Orange car crash fourteen times (1963)Birthplace: USA, American artistLifeline: 1928 - 1987Art Style: Pop artArt Forms: Painting, Printing, FilmmakingLichten steinRoy Fox Lichtenstein was born in New York City and grew up with a natural interest in the arts. His art education was spent museums, drawing and taking art classes. He was influenced by Cubist artists like Picasso and Brague and also popular surrealist artists like Paul Klee and Salvador Dali. He also embraced the psychoanalytical subjects of perception, and this became important in the development of his work.Lichtenstein’s most famous works were inspired by popular culture and follow a reportage style displaying little if any of the artist's emotion of the subject matter in the works. He was one of the first artists to gain success in the pop art movement. Though critics fiercely accused him of lack of originality and copying.His method used mixed media; made up of mechanical reproduction and drawing by hand. His work is central to the pop art movement due to his representations of 20th century popular culture.Top Artworks: Popeye (1961), Drowning girl (1963), Yellow Landsc ape (1965)Birthplace: USALifeline: 1923 - 1997Art Style: Pop ArtArt Forms: Painting, sculpture and printmaker (Screenprint)Here is where to find a good English tutor Glasgow.These artists created an international phenomenon with their art. Photo Source: UnsplashA Well-known piece of Pop artMarilyn DiptychThis is a picture showing Marilyn Monroe’s head printed numerous times on canvas. One half of the image is in a bright colour, and the other is in shades of black and white.In 1962 Monroe committed suicide, her death had a huge impact on popular culture because she was an icon of the period.The repetition of Monroe's head is stacked as if on a shelf at the supermarket, giving the idea that Monroe was a product of the time. On the left, the heads are repeated in colour, and to the right, the heads are stacked in black and white. This gives the idea of fading and is said to represent the idea of the fading celebrity. One of the most famous Pop art portraits.Artist: Andy WarholDate c reated: 1962Size: 205 x 145 cm inchesMedium: Acrylic paint on canvas, ScreenprintOther well-known piecesI was a rich Man’s plaything by Eduardo PaolozziJust what is it that makes today's home so different, so appealing? By Richard HamiltonPresident Elect by James RosenquistCampbell's soup cans by Andy WarholCrying girl by Roy LichtensteinPop shop III by Keith HaringElvis I and II by Andy WarholWorld fair mural by Roy LichtensteinThe American dream by Robert IndianaThe only blonde in the world by Pauline BotyPop art was designed by the people for the people, they wanted to make art that people could recognise, understand and relate to on a  personal level. They wanted to make art that people could recognise and feel connected to. They took popular culture and found new ways to develop Pop art design and manipulate it until it manifested as pure pop art.If you found this useful, why not check out our blog on Impressionism. Or learn what the Catholic church had to do with an entire art movement called Baroque. You should also read our blog on the expressionist movement.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Online Tutoring-The Best Mode to accomplish Personal Human Skills

Online Tutoring-The Best Mode to accomplish Personal Human Skills 0SHARESShare Education makes a man perfect-it is said. Online tutoring does this good job with its inherent work philosophy. How does online tutoring help a tutor mould his personal human skills? It activates the listening skills in a tutor Thereby inculcating patience in him Thus leading him  to understand different human natures from different perspectives In due course, preparing him to accept the diversity of human nature at large In the long run,   infusing the emphatic attitude towards other individuals Manifesting accommodative tendency and endearing nature towards other individuals Enhancing communicative capabilities as you find in Oral English tutoring Innovative  and creative abilities as you find in Science tutoring like Chemistry tutoring The student as well learns these following personal human skills Open hearted communication Open minded inquiries about learning anything Interpersonal skills with increased ability to communicate clearly Gentle rapport with any person Clear cut awareness and expression of self motivated goals and targets Self discipline Time management Self motivation Riddance of inhibitions and intimidation Accommodation with peers through online collaborative study Thus online tutoring offers not only homework help and other kinds of tutoring services, but it shows its strong hand in molding the personal skills of both the tutors and students. Tutor Pace. Com has its own forte in molding good individuals out of tutors and students. [starbox id=admin]

Finding high school math answers is not a worry if TutorPace is beside

Finding high school math answers is not a worry if TutorPace is beside Finding high school math answers is not a worry if TutorPace is beside In our society we all want to be placed in with a noble job. Job that will help us to acquire respect and a good image over the society. People make it a point of distinguish you among various other crowd of common man. For this it is very essential that the practice of making oneself into an uncommon man should be started from the very day of their getting admission in schools. Since being a kid it is very important that parents should take good care of their children. Parents should help them to grow up in a better person both personally and academically as well. Students often need high school math answers for good grades. Various sections of School It all starts over with school. School has many sections in it divided for the betterment of the student. It has good teachers, perfect ambience and nice surrounding and so on. The entire span of school life is divided into various parts such as nursery sections, primary school, middle school, high school and higher secondary school. Every section comprises of having in it some of the classes. Primary school starts off with class 1 to class 4, middle school is of class 5 to class 7. The high school comes up covering the largest section of the school from class 8 till class 12. Each class has its own couple of teachers who are there to help and support you during school hours. But what about the time you spent at your home, or the summer vacations or winter vacations during which you have to be at your home. School teachers cannot help you at this time and so you need a helping hand where you can clear your doubts undoubtedly. One option is having a private tutor by your side. When you have a private tutor by your side then you can easily come in and get help. But for that you need to travel to a certain place and then attend your tuition classes. But what if you do not have to so anything as such and still you can easily avail the best facility of having a private tutor. You may be surprised by now that what is being said. You need not have to be very surprised with the kind of help that you will get from something new and trustworthy. It is the entire world of online tutoring. Make out what online tutoring is all about Online tutoring is something that is new yet interesting for any student. In the gennext world, every student is very familiar with internet and its various types of usage. It helps you to get out of various difficulties that arise due to the fact that you do not know the information. Online tutoring is totally based on internet and how it can help you to learn and teach. Today various institutes are coming up that are brining in a new of learning and that is through online tutoring way. The entire process of teaching is conducted through the help of internet and students also can attend the classes with the help of internet. This type of teaching may be new but with time it is slowly getting into the popularity chart. Slowly yet steadying people are accepting the concept and are helping their children to enroll themselves for having a better tomorrow. It is very simple and it has some of the unique features that is not possible for any private tutor to help yo0u in such a way as it does. Now, let us get into some of the features and know about it a little more. Characteristics of online tutoring ? The most important part of a teaching institute is having a good teacher by your side whenever you need. This is possible only when you have enrolled yourself into a good institute and you are surrounded with some of the best teachers for your help. Online teaching courses help you to get help with it. The teachers are good enough to know the subject well and thus pass it to their students for their betterment. The qualified teachers are entertained by the institutes as they have to go through very tough process of interview. ? E-learning institutes do not have any closing time. They are open all round the clock. This means that the availability of the teachers are found every time they sit with some doubts. The teachers can help a student whenever they need their suggestion or help. The process of having someone all round the clock brings to you the best way through which you can know your problems better and that also from a very efficient and intelligent teacher. ? Every child is attendee by every single teacher in the world of online teachers. This is one of the best facilities that e-learning institutes provide you. A weak student is enormously helps with such a kind of service they have. When you get to know that you will not get insulted from the teachers with the problems you face with mathematics or any of the subjects, an inner confidence comes out. This is only possible when a single teacher helps one single student at one point of time. ? The teachers are ample and you can take help from anyone you want. The student do not have to waste their time and energy to reach at a certain place and still they can attend the best class that also easily and this is only possible through online teaching institutes conducting the entire class with the help of internet as video conferencing, audio conferencing and online chats. How can TutorPace help you with high school math answers? There are various types of institutes that are there to help you with online teaching facility. This can help you to know better with less time duration. TutorPace is one of the leading institutes that will help you to get help on various topics or subjects that that also at very affordable prices. High school math answers can also be easily found with TutorPace.  

What is the PreACT

What is the PreACT High school can initially feel a bit overwhelmingtheres a lot to learn, and youve got to begin preparing for any number of tests. Before youve really begun this phase of your life, youre already being asked to think about college. One of the things virtually every high school student has to deal with is standardized testing. While this often happens within the curriculum of your school, youve also got the option of completing testing that will gain you admittance to the colleges and universities you hope to attend. Sure, youve heard of the ACT and SATbut what about the PreACT? What exactly is the PreACT? Simply put, the PreACT acts as preparation for the ACT, which is typically taken during your junior or senior year of high school (if you choose to take it). According to act.org, the PreACT is designed to be an early indication of progress to help guide action plans, provide fast reporting so students and educators can turn PreACT data into action, and easy, flexible, affordable administration to give students high-stakes practice. The PreACT can be taken by students anytime between September 1st and June 1st. Practice makes perfect One of the best things about the PreACT is that it offers the ability to practice taking the ACT in a simulated environment. Your PreACT score is offered in the same format as your ACT score, which can help students feel more prepared and ultimately raise their scores. The act of testing can also give students valuable insights into areas they may wish to study more or those where theyre excelling, allowing teachers and students to further tailor learning plans. [RELATED: Can the ACT Aspire Predict Your ACT Score?] Guidance for your future The PreACT can also be a great tool for helping you decide what exactly it is youd like to do in your future career. While you certainly have some time to decide, it can be helpful to at least have an idea now about what career path you may wish to ultimately follow. The PreACT can offer some insight into strengths or weaknesses and help guidance counselors, parents, and educators encourage students into particular fields that may fit them best. An opportunity for colleges While youre not required to share your PreACT scores with colleges or scholarship sponsors, you may do so if you choose. This can give universities the opportunity to recruit you, which can open new doors. You may also receive more personal correspondence, scholarships, and recruitment when you perform particularly well on the test. Helping make education better The PreACT is beneficial for students and teachers alike, offering guidance and perspective into ideas for more effective education concepts for students. The data gathered from this test can be used to support or amend important decisions about facets of the high school curriculum that will ideally help students in the long-term. The next step Once students have taken the PreACT, they can use that foundation to keep reviewing for the ACTin an effective manner that appeals to their strengths and weaknesses, perhaps by using ACT practice tests or an ACT prep book. Preparing for the ACT is a multi-step processtaking the PreACT is only the beginning. By adequately preparing for the ACT, youre ensuring that youre giving yourself the best chance for a promising academic future.

Online Solutions for Fitness Training

Online Solutions for Fitness Training Is It a Good Idea to Use an Online Personal Trainer? ChaptersWhat are the Advantages of Using an Online Personal Trainer?The Benefits of Free Online Fitness TrainingThe Best Sites for Free Fitness TrainingThe Best Phone Apps for Fitness TrainingUse YouTube to Find the Right Fitness Training for YouThe Differences Between a Personal Trainer Online and in Real LifeNowadays there are loads of online solutions to getting fit when you might not usually have the means or time to do so. But now there is a variety of ways to get back into shape using just your internet connection!The market for personal training just doesn’t stop growing, and we are seeing more and more websites with their own fitness programs and courses; never mind the proliferation of apps to help get you fit.With such an impressive range of choices, you might start asking yourself: which kind of online personal training should I try to lose weight and get fit? Which sites are the most effective for cardio training and muscle-building? What’s the difference between a re al personal trainer and an online training course?Bing Health Fitness is among the best iPhone apps for fitness, cardio training and well-being. This app offers you features which are also quite similar to the two previous apps we’ve seen: calorie counting, sleep and heart rate monitoring, blood pressure checker, speed calculation, GPS, distance tracker and a pedometer.But where this app is unique is in its nutrition tracker â€" you can log everything that you eat and check how many calories and grams of fat are present in what you’re eating, helping you to stay healthy and disciplined.Seven: your daily physical activity in 7 minutes!You’ll probably know this feeling as well as the next person: waking up at the crack of dawn, the chaotic journey to work, an exhausting day at the office, and then doing it all over again.Sometimes it feels nearly impossible to find a moment to fit in a workout â€" and this is where Seven comes in. Seven will offer you:Videos showing how to perf orm each fitness exercise to avoid mistakesVaried fitness, strengthening and stretching exercises to choose fromChallenges to motivate you every day: you win or lose hearts and unlock new exercises according to your attendance â€" you can even win trophies for your effort!Calorie counter and statistic charts showing your results and progressThat’s why Seven could be just the solution for you â€" an app specifically designed for busy people who are always on the go, who only have a few minutes to squeeze in an effective workout.Use YouTube to Find the Right Fitness Training for YouAs well as official coaching websites and fitness apps for your smartphone or tablet, there is also a world of options waiting for you on YouTube!You might only ever use YouTube to watch music videos or catch up with your favourite YouTubers, but there is an enormous array of health and fitness content to be discovered as well.Getting into shape, body sculpting and clean eating are all really popular tren ds these days, and personal trainers have started creating public content to share their expertise online! Now you can access exercise videos, from cardo to yoga, all at the touch of a button.YouTube is home to a plethora of videos from real personal trainers! Photo by jaredpolin on VisualhuntAnd these videos aren’t dull and repetitive as exercise can sometimes feel â€" you’ll find loads of funny, encouraging and well-made videos by professional teams of fitness enthusiasts, so that you can have fun as you slim down or tone up.Here are some great videos you can follow for both fitness and weight-loss:For abs: are you motivated? Fitness Blender offers a plethora of exercise videos that are specially designed for a safe and efficient workout. This ten-minute ab workout is short but very effective!To develop your muscles: follow Six Pack Abs, a channel which offers a number of strength training programs for biceps, triceps, backs and pecs.For cardio training and fitness: If you wan t to lose weight, burn calories and get fit, check out Popsugar Fitness for an intense half-hour workout to target your entire body!Make sure you have a look at what YouTube has to offer, because there really is something for everyone. Whether you want a gentle, relaxing stretching session to a more intense cardio or dance workout, you’re bound to find something you enjoy.The Differences Between a Personal Trainer Online and in Real LifeAs you can probably imagine, personal training with a real life trainer is quite different to using an online program or an app.Of course, the methods and exercises used are often very similar and there’s a lot of overlap in activity content. However, fitness training done in front of a computer screen can actually be quite passive work, and you might not push yourself as hard as you would with a trainer in person.With a personal trainer you will work face-to-face, and you can benefit from human interaction and communication. You are able to ask questions and receive real guidance to make sure you’re doing things right.There are therefore many advantages to working with a personal trainer â€" it can be the most encouraging and effective way to reach personal goals such as weight-loss or body-building. You are forced to be active, and this brings about quick and noticeable results.It is also true, however, that personal trainers come at a serious cost. If you have a gym membership, that might include some personal training as part of the price, but generally personal training is a luxury that not many people can afford.And this is exactly why an online personal trainer is so great! It’s easy to find free, motivational and intense workouts that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home, or when you’re out and about with an app on your phone.

How many languages are there The answer may surprise you.

How many languages are there The answer may surprise you. Have you ever wondered how many languages there are, how they are related, or where they come from? Was there a first language? The TED video we use for our latest English listening exercise may not be able to answer these questions definitively, but explains why they are so difficult to answer, and what we can learn from studying the relationships of languages.Watch the video below, then see if you can answer the listening questions.iframe src=//www.youtube.com/embed/iWDKsHm6gTA width=560 height=315 frameborder=0 allowfullscreen=allowfullscreen/iframestrongAnswer the questions below in comments, and well respond./strong1. We do know that the thousands of languages existing today can be _____ _____ to a much smaller number.2. What does the phrasal verb above mean?3. So how did we ____ ___ with so many?4. What does the phrasal verb above mean?5. So how do we determine whether languages are related in the ____ ____?6. Why dont similar sounding words help use determine if languages are related?7. What comparison does she make with Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese?nbsp;

Reading is key to writing, thinking, and solving problems

Reading is key to writing, thinking, and solving problems Why is everyone always bugging us to read? Because becoming a powerful reader is the best way to become a powerful writer, thinker, and problem solver. When we read, we reach into the author’s mindâ€"not to suck out her brain like a zombieâ€"but to learn how she thinks. Only then can we compare her thinking to our own. Only then can we learn from it. Only then can we argue with it, be persuaded by it, and enjoy it. So, how do we do it? How do we become powerful readers? Dig in How? When you come across a word that you don’t know, look it up. I ran into pleonasm yesterday. The point is gobble down its meaning and rush back to the text. The point is to spend time understanding the word and why it was chosen. Trace its etymologyâ€"its roots. Why? So you’ll be empowered to understand any word that shares those roots. See? Getting more powerful already after just one step. Mark up Now define the new addition to your vocabulary in your own words. Write it down in your text. Yes, I’m telling you to mark up your text by writing in the margins and in between the lines. Annotate your text. Make it your own. Why? Your annotations might lead to a whole new language. Did you know that monks annotating Latin texts created the written form of the languages now used in Europe? So, yes, it’s very cool. Do it. Picture I’m sitting outside on my porch as I write this. Picture my porch. What does it look like? What vista does it look out on? If I tell you there are three trees poking up through the wooden floor of my porchâ€"and they’re really areâ€"what impact does that have on your picture? Think Think about what you’re reading. Does it make sense? No, it doesn’t matter what it’s about. Even vampires and zombies have their own kind of logic. Feel If a vampire suddenly starts sucking brains instead of blood, how would that make you feel? Disappointed? Shocked? Cheated? Read with your whole selfâ€"that includes your feelings. Argue And if you don’t like what you’ve read, argue with itâ€"not just in your head. Write it down. Dear Vampire Authorâ€"Vampires suck blood, not brainsâ€"Your truly, Me. Pretend the author is your best friend and you do not agree with him. Find the fault in his argument and point that fault out to him. Arguing with the author keeps you engaged. It’s what makes reading funâ€"and it’s how reading makes us more powerful thinkers. Ponder Love’s not time’s fool. Really? Is that true? What does it mean? When you know all the words, but still aren’t sure of the meaning, that’s the time to ponder. Get some friends together. Expand your two-person argument between you and the author into a full-blown debate. See how you’re going to solve problems? See how you’re going to get inside the writer’s mind and find out how he thinks? Like Do you really like something you’ve just read? Don’t just like it, write it down. Break it apart. What makes it cool? Here’s part of Sonnet 116 by Shakespeare that I likeâ€"if you need one to start with: Love’s not Time’s fool though rosy lips and cheeks Within his bending sickle’s compass come. Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks But bears it out even to the edge of doom. The image of Time as the Grim Reaper is cool, like a Zombieâ€"only cooler. Question Question what you read. Just because the author wrote it down doesn’t make it true. I used to play in the NBA. See that? Read any book from over ten years ago. You will be sure to find things to question. It is harder is to see how books being written right now include things that you should question, tooâ€"but they are in there, I promise you. Predict That’s right. You get to make up your own story. Stop at the end of one chapter. Write the next chapter on your own. But, remember writers try to surprise us to keep us engaged. What happens next must come from what happened before, but that doesn’t mean it should be boring. Read what? Fiction, okay. You’ll do that on your own, but read non-fiction, too. History. Biographies. No sports stars or celebrities. Sorry. But you could ask, how did Viola Davis make history by winning an Emmy? Try something local or one of your parents’ heroes. My dad loved Quanah Parker, but I fell in love with story of his mother Cynthia Ann Parker. Why? Maybe because it starts with a heart-breaking kidnap. Practice This is the only way to get better at anything. Read every dayâ€"and not just one thing, everything that we’ve talked about here. Find friends and read books together. Then check in your power. Are you writing, thinking, and solving problems more easily? We’ll talk more about how that works next time!