What Are The Best Ways to Learn Russian

What Are The Best Ways to Learn Russian Best Learning Methods for the Russian Language ChaptersHow to Learn Russian on Your OwnSpeaking Russian: What Are the Principal Difficulties to Watch Out For?How Long Until One Speaks Russian?Is It Possible to Work in Russia Without Learning Russian?Can You Learn to Speak Russian Quickly?Russian is spoken by 260 million speakers and is considered the third most complex language to learn according to the MosaLingua learning platform.So what are the best ways to learn to speak Russian like a local?There are enough American companies that are well established in Russia. This will make your job when trying to seek a job easier.Can You Learn to Speak Russian Quickly?Even if Russian is deemed difficult, if you have a good learning method and great motivation, you can quickly learn the basics of Russian.After a few Russian language lessons, a learner will master the alphabet and some essential Russian expressions. This means it will be possible for the learner to have a basic conversation with a native after a few weeks or months. The f ocus will be on speaking rather than on any one grammatical aspect so as not to be discouraging at first.It will take a little more time for the learner to reach an intermediate level or even an advanced level.  We do not master all the subtleties of a language in a few weeks.Linguistic experts believe that for someone to be fluent in Dostoevsky's language, it takes about ten years. To boast an advanced level, it takes between 2 to 5 years, depending on, of course, the pace of the learning, the seriousness of the learner, and the methodology used.MosaLingua or Babbel offer turnkey solutions to take Russian classes online and improve quickly.Taking some private lessons with a tutor is not useless either, especially if your budget allows it. It will help you pronounce complicated words or learn more about Russian culture, for example.Searching for Russian course London  still produces the most results for Russian tutors but there is a lot more choice if you're willing to learn Russian online.Finally, working a little every day, we can not say enough, is the best way to progress quickly and hope to master the Russian language quickly.If you are going to live in the biggest country on Earth, check out our article about expat life in Russia.In short:Several methods are available to a beginner in the Russian language: learning alone, taking classes, learning with a native Russian Skype correspondent...It's up to you to choose the method that suits you best.Just keep in mind that Russian is a language that holds some difficulties such as: the alphabet, phonetics, or grammar. But nothing is insurmountable with the right amount of work and rigor.Becoming bilingual in Russian takes between 5 and 10 years but mastering the basics of conversation is possible in a few weeks or months at the most.Finally, if you are hoping to go work in Russia, it is better to have some basics in the language if you want to find work more easily.

Workplace Conflict Resolution using Mediation - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Workplace Conflict Resolution using Mediation - Introvert Whisperer Workplace Conflict Resolution using Mediation Conflicts can arise from a lot of factors. The usual ways to resolve conflict cannot be done by the untrained individual. This part is where the professionals come in to help save the relationship. Workplace conflicts cannot be prevented. This one is primarily because of conflicting theories that come up at every point, different points of view that come up during meetings, and different beliefs in handling workplace issues. As a manager or as an employee, If you are looking at the best ways to do workplace conflict resolution, you should keep the information shared here in mind. The Things to Prevent in Case of Workplace Conflict For managers and supervisors, there are a few things that they cannot do during a time of conflict and they are listed below: First, you should not avoid the conflict. A common mistake that individual managers do is avoid the conflict as if it is not an issue. As a leader, you need to face the problem head-on because a conflict that you try to put under the bridge would just increase your level of stress and disagreements between employees. Whenever you allow a disagreement to go unresolved, you feed your employees with the belief that you they should survive despite feeling like they are walking on eggshells all the time. This fact would not lead to a good working environment, not for you nor for your employees. Second, you should not meet with the people in conflict separately. If you allow everyone to meet with you personally, you take the risk of polarizing their positions. It makes no possible sense for you to convince yourself of each side, you need to nip the problem at the root cause and hear both sides at the same time as it prevents partiality as well. You should remove the belief that the only people affected by the conflict are the participants. Everyone in the office would have to survive everyday knowing that a fight may erupt at any time. It is not going to be good for you nor for your employees to make them feel like this. By preventing the problem, you make it even bigger because you are pushing people to pick sides. The Right Way to Resolve the Conflicts There is a right way to resolve any kind of work conflict. The following are the steps that you can take in case of a conflict: Recognize that a problem exists The first thing that you should do is to recognize that a problem exists in your workplace or organization. Keep in mind that you should first accept the problem for you to be able to resolve it. Make sure that you do research first Keep in mind that before meeting with the people in conflict you should research and ask around. Ask people who are affected by the problem first and third-party individuals who may know anything about the issue. Clearing the problem is a good step to take as it allows you to make sure that you know all the facts before you meet the individuals Meet with the antagonists together You should meet them together. Let them summarize their points in front of the other while preventing the other from commenting or interrupting the other party. It should be a short discussion of the issues with all parties listening. During the meeting, make sure that the following are followed: The parties should not interrupt the other when the other is still talking. There should be no attack from either one of the parties. Both parties should be calm and collected. At the end of the meeting, you should ask each participant to discuss their expectations with the problem. Ask them to make a report that encompasses the following: The resolution that they expect to have; The compromise that they are willing to follow; and Their commitment that such problems would no longer be an issue in the future. By the time that the conflict has been resolved, you should get both parties to make a commitment on the changes that they will do to address the problem. What If the Problem Is Not Fixed? If the problem persists despite your conflict resolution methods, you should get a workplace mediator to help you. You may even decide to get one during your initial meeting with the parties so that you would have that foundation and assistance that you need to resolve the conflict. Conflicts Should Be Addressed As Soon As Possible Conflicts that go on for too long end up getting bigger and even more complicated. Stories give birth to more stories and misunderstandings lead to more misunderstandings. The right way to resolve conflicts is to address the problem as soon as you possibly can and that is close to its occurrence. Author’s Bio: Khaled Soufi CEO MediatorSelect https://mediatorselect.com/ My Goal: “Even though mediation becomes a more popular option every year, most people still jump to litigation when they experience a conflict. I want to help change that!” Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!  Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Singers Do You Make These 4 Common Errors

Singers Do You Make These 4 Common Errors Suzy S. The long-hyped premiere of NBCs new show Smash aired on Monday night, and 11.5 million viewers reportedly tuned in.   Critics have been giving it mostly positive reviews, despite a few flaws (The Atlantic called it messy, cheesy and a bit of a letdown).   Readers, what do you think?   Will the show be the next smashing hit?   At the very least, we cant wait to hear more of Katharine McPhees powerful voice. For the uninitiated, singing may look easy you either can sing on pitch, or you cant, right?   Not so fast.   Without proper training, its common for beginners to make simple errors, and if those turn into habits, they may make or break your future as a singer. Here are a few common singing mistakes, as written by Teresa Radomski, an operatic soloist and professor at Wake Forest University: 1.   Poor posture The efficient alignment of the body is of primary importance to voice production.   Problems in posture range from the collapse of the chest and rib cage with corresponding downward fall of the head and neck, to the hyper-extended, stiff posture of some singers that results in tension throughout the entire body. 2. Poor breathing and inappropriate breath support Some beginning voice students gasp for air and exhibit clavicular (shoulder) or shallow breathing patterns.   Trained singers, on the other hand, use primarily diaphragmatic breath support.   The muscles of the lower back and abdomen are engaged, in conjunction with lowering the diaphragm.   As the breath stream is utilized for phonation, there should be little tension in the larynx itself. 3. Limited pitch range, and difficulty in register transition All singing voices exhibit an optimal pitch range.   The term register is used to describe a series of tones that are produced by similar mechanical gestures of vocal fold vibration, glottal and pharyngeal shape, and related air pressure.   Some common designations of registers are the head register, chest register, falsetto, etc.   Singing requires transitions from one register to another.   Lack of coordination of the laryngeal musculature with the breath support may result in register break, or obvious shift from one tone quality to another.   Regardless of the style of singing, a blend, or smooth transition between registers, is desirable. 4. Poor articulation Pronunciation with excessive tension in the jaw, lips, palate, etc., adversely affects the tonal production of the voice. The longer duration of vowel sounds in singing necessitates modification of pronunciation.   Retroflex and velar consonants (such as American r and i) need careful modification to allow sufficient pharyngeal opening for the best resonance, and the over-anticipation of nasal consonants (m, n, ng) may result in a stiff soft palate and unpleasant tone. Of course, the best way to fix these errors is to work with a professional relying on YouTube videos alone will give you some tips, but wont give you the one-on-one feedback necessary to really improve.   Were here to help find a music teacher near you, and start working toward your goals! 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 ataelw.

The Ideal Length of Time to Spend in Lisbon

The Ideal Length of Time to Spend in Lisbon How Long Should You Spend in Lisbon? A Mini-Guide ChaptersWhy Fly to Lisbon?A Week in Lisbon to Visit All the Unmissable SightsOur Plans for Visiting LisbonHow long should you stay in the Portuguese capital to really get the most out of it?This is a question that most people planning a trip to Lisbon will be thinking about.In 2015, tourism brought €8.4bn to the city of Lisbon with an annual growth of 10%.Lisbon is a popular destination with its beautiful surroundings, the historic city centre with unmissable cultural heritage, beautiful beaches, a nice climate, and a low cost of living.In this article, Superprof is looking at how long you should spend in Lisbon. IrineuPortuguese Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GabrielaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoanaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LouisePortuguese Teacher 5.00 (2) £27/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RodrigoPortuguese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors BlancaPortuguese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarolinaPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AdamPortuguese Teacher 5.00 (6) £11/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhy Fly to Lisbon?It’s usually your holiday allocation from work that will define how long you can go on holiday for and it’s unlikely that a job will let you use all your holidays in one go.You can get some really cheap flights to Portugal if you go at the right time. (Source: fak1911)Those working full-time probably won’t have the freedom to go as long as they want to Lisbon. However, if you’re retired, a job seeker, a freelancer, or a student, you’ll probably have more freedom when it comes to the length of your holidays.Interested in discovering more about Portuguese culture in Lisbon but not sure how long to go for?Before you compare flights, you should consider a few things.What do you want to do in Lisbon? Visit museums? Party all night? Go to the beach? Head of the beaten path or do a road trip down to the Algarve? Thinking about staying a bit longer and learning to speak Portuguese?It might seem obvious that you’ll need a flat and a job if you want to stay in Portugal for a few months.  On the other hand, if you’re heading just to get away, a weekend or a few days should be enough to enjoy the best monuments and attractions Lisbon has to offer.Of course, you’ll need to have the holiday allowance for this. The cost of flights might also dictate how long you can go for.Portugal is a great destination to take in some sun without spending too much money once you get there. However, you’ll still need to know what you’re going to do there.Make a list of what you want to visit: the Bairro Alto, the Alfama, the Castelo São Jorge, the Jerónimos Monastery, the Tower of Belém, etc. This will help you know how many days you’ll need and how long your trip should be.You should also keep in mind that n ot everything will happen exactly as planned.If you’re staying for a short amount of time, you might have to skip some of the things you’ve planned as you can’t do everything in just a couple of days. You’re going to have to make some tough choices.Find out the best time to visit Lisbon.A Week in Lisbon to Visit All the Unmissable SightsA week in Lisbon will give you enough time to see all the tourist attractions and also spend some time further afield.If you go to the Belém neighbourhood, you'll probably visit this. (Source: fxxu)We recommend getting the Lisboa Card.  This is a pass valid for one, two, or three days that allows access to different tourist attractions and use of the city’s public transport.The price is:24 hours: €2048 hours: €3472 hours: €42This works out at €20 per day, €17 per day, and €14 per day respectively.Given that a metro ticket for an hour costs €1.45 and a day-pass costs €6.15, you can see how cost-effective the Lisboa Card is s ince it also includes certain attractions.A week in Lisbon is enough time to see the famous neighbourhoods (Alfama, Bairro Alto, Chiado, etc.), visit the museums, relax in the Botanic Gardens, go to the beach (depending on the season), have a relaxing day where you try the pasteis de nata and other local pastries, and have a romantic night out.If you want to visit outside of the city, we recommend renting a vehicle and maybe adding a few days to your trip.Find out more about accommodation in Lisbon.Our Plans for Visiting LisbonHave you booked some last-minute flights to Lisbon and don’t want to miss the best the city has to offer?Don’t worry!Whether you stay two days or a month, you should take the tram! (Source: essuera)Here are some ideas on how to spend your time in Lisbon.3 Days in LisbonFresh off the plane at Lisbon airport, you’ll need to get to the city centre. You can take the shuttle bus, metro, or a taxi.You can take the red line to the centre of the city in just 20 minutes costing €1.50 (or free with a Lisboa Card).Day 1: Arrive at hotel, Tower of Belém, Padrão dos Descobrimentos, Jerónimos Monastery, the city centre, São Jorge Castle, Praça do Comércio.Day 2: Bairro Alto, Chiado, Alfama and its Moorish architecture, take the Line 28 tram, Lisbon Cathedral, bars in Bairro Alto, Parque Eduardo VII and the viewpoint.Day 3: Ocreanário (Europe’s second largest aquarium with 8,000 different species and 7 million litres of seawater), enjoy some local pastries, Sintra National Palace, Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, National Museum of the Azulejo, Museum of the Orient, Carmo Convent.A Week in LisbonWhat can you do in a week?This would be your chance to see more sites and museums or take a day trip to the places to visit outside of the city.You can enjoy the Archeology Museum, the Gallery of Coaches, and the Roman Theatre.Don’t forget to enjoy the Amoreiras 360 ° Panoramic View 174 metres over the river Tage and the city.For the last two or t hree days of your visit, consider renting a car and going to the beaches, visiting the coast from Sintra to Nazaré, the Parque Natural da Arrábida near Setúbal in the south.You can also visit Lisbon for its nightlife and festivities between June and September.A Long Stay in Lisbon to Learn PortugueseIf you want to really learn about the Portuguese language and culture, you’ll need a few days.  We’re thinking about language immersion, for example.There are some beautiful gardens in Lisbon. (Source: Freesally)You could stay with a host family and learn more about the culture and everyday life.  If you’re planning on doing something like this, you might want to spend at least 6 months to a year in Portugal.Portuguese evolved from the Vulgar Latin used by the Romans present in the Iberian Peninsula, Gaul (France), Dacia (Romania), and Italy.  Portuguese, theoretically, should be easier to learn for anyone with a knowledge of other Romance languages.If you can’t live in the ce ntre of Lisbon because it’s too expensive, you should consider sharing a flat. If you’re young, you may want to stay near Bairro Alto.There are a number of companies and organisations offering language stays in Portugal.  During your stay, you’ll have the opportunity to learn Portuguese vocabulary, grammar, the history of Portugal, etc.During your free time, you can explore the Park and National Palace of Pena in Sintra, the Castelo dos Mouros, and the coastal resort town of Cascais.On the weekends, you can head to the south of Portugal and visit the Benagil caves.Are these experiences too expensive?Don’t panic!Have you thought about travelling on your own?You can head to Portugal for a few weeks with World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, HelpX, or Work Away.Looking to learn some Portuguese before you go?Get help from one of the many talented tutors on Superprof. There are three main types of tutorial available on the site: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. There are pros and cons to each and the best one for you really depends on your situation.Face-to-face tutorials are the most personal and have you and your tutor working together for the whole session. Of course, this bespoke service comes at a cost, making it the most costly type of tutorial available. If shyness has been getting in the way of your language learning, this is probably the best option. Additionally, the tutor can tailor each lesson to exactly what you need to learn or what you've been struggling with.Online tutorials are similar to face-to-face tutorials with the main difference being that the tutor isn't physically in the room with you and you're more likely to find native Portuguese speakers as you can broaden your search to anywhere in the world!Finally, there are group tutorials. In these types of tutorials, there are several students and just one tutor. With all the students sharing the cost of the tutor's time, these tutorials are usually the cheapest per person per hour but each student won't get the bespoke tutoring or one-on-one time that they would in the other types of tutorials. However, you will get plenty of opportunities to practise your language skills with the other students in the class.

A Maze of Educational Tech for Tutors, Teachers and Students

A Maze of Educational Tech for Tutors, Teachers and Students We visited Bett (British Educational Training and Technology) show this year, and were amazed by the sheer mass of people, products and passion all in one room. Bett certainly was what it said on the tin: ‘The global meeting place for the educational tech community’, with over 700 exhibitors, over 400 speakers and over 300 hours of content. Bett 2014 brought educational thinkers, developers, entrepreneurs, students and teachers all-together to look to the future and discuss how technology really can make a difference in education. Tutorfair’s Edd Stockwell at Bett From the latest apps to audio ‘Teacher Feedback’, from video conferencing to using twitter as an educational resource, (and from 3D printers to MOOCs according to Michael Gove), the variety of educational innovation displayed was endless. Bett really did celebrate its 30th birthday of powering learning in style with fantastic guests such as Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the world’s greatest living explorer. Who could ask for more? Within this maze of educational technology, the Bett exhibition allowed everyone to take part in the debate with seminars and panels occurring all over   - in the real world and of course the virtual ‘twitter world’. Tutorfair was lucky to be a part of two of these discussion panels   - the edtech panel session and the EDUKWEST and Macmillan Digital Education panel . The latter panel was all about tutoring in the UK and held a lively discussion about traditional agencies, online marketplaces, face to face and online tutoring. Tutorfair’s very own Edd Stockwell loved being a part of the debate. Inside ExCeL at Bett “Inspiring the next generation” Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, opened the Bett show 2014 with a look to the future. He clearly expressed his enthusiasm for an education system “open to innovation, which can use technology creatively to advance learning”. He also emphasised the importance of the new ICT curriculum which will teach “not just how to work a computer; but how a computer works and how to make it work for you” so that our youth will be prepared and develop the skills needed for the jobs of the future - and the present for that matter. Gove wants not only equip to “young people with crucial computing skills and knowledge” but to “inspire them with incredible possibilities opened up by science and technology”. “Technology is transformational” Matthew Hancock, MP, Minister of state for skills and enterprise also shared his excitement for the prospects of technology in education. He listed a range of benefits that technology can bring to education so that the “drudge” of teaching will be removed, “allowing teachers to focus on inspiration”. Hancock was keen to highlight that when technology is used properly in education, standards will rise. Tutorfair is excited to be part of technology in education by using online technology to create educational opportunity. Our website is the first of its kind in the UK, allowing parents and students to find the best tutor for their requirements. Not forgetting our ‘child for a child’ promise of course â€" for every student who pays, Tutorfair supports one who can’t. As Matthew Hancock would wish, Tutorfair uses technology for the benefit of students. Want to book a Tutorfair tutor? Visit the website here to find out more. Feel like you need to be more clued up on computers and technology? Why not book a session with one of our computing tutors? Tony D - Experienced tutor creates an appetite for learning: Computing, Programming, ICT and Microsoft Office Ian M - Game and app developer: Computing, Computer programming, Computer graphics and game development

Whats It Like to Volunteer Abroad

What's It Like to Volunteer Abroad Some of our volunteers have masses of teaching experience in their home country and decide to volunteer abroad. Qualified teacher and nanny Victoria has been helping out in Spanish lessons since October. She shares her Tutorfair Foundation experience here. Opportunity to Volunteer Abroad Victoria took on the “great opportunity” of a placement at Pimlico Academy to help her understand the British education system. She  enjoyed her first day as a volunteer abroad and jumped straight into  helping students in the UK learning environment. Our partner schools are rewarding to work in whilst also providing challenges to stretch experienced volunteers.  So for Victoria the  unique experience  of teaching in a London school have been a great source of professional development. Victoria says, “I think now I am more patient and I can manage with Spanish classes.” Each day in one of our placement schools is different, presenting unique challenges and with them rewards. Victoria enjoys every session and finds she “always learn[s] something new.” Like many of our qualified volunteers, she relishes volunteering and sees it as a chance, “to give something special to society.”  Confidence through volunteering Victoria benefited from her time in the classroom  as much as the students did. Since working as a volunteer abroad,  Victoria has had a confidence boost!  She says “now I am ready to teach in the UK.” Some  of the  success of her volunteering experience was as a result of  the training day run by the Tutorfair Foundation. Top teachers and tutors run these free skill sessions to equip new recruits. The free training days offer guidance for both classroom and small group teaching placements. Being trained helps to ensure a positive impact can be made in as little as 10 weeks so that every hour counts. We asked Victoria for words of encouragement for those considering giving their time and joining the Tutorfair volunteer team. She told us, “I [have] actually [already] told many people it is a great opportunity for their life and careers!” Interested in teaching in a UK classroom? Get involved  today! You can book Spanish lessons with Victoria on Tutorfair.com

GTunion

GTunion GTunion Good Teachers Union began in 2009 and has helped over 1000 teachers from all around the world find teaching jobs in China. Our primary objective is to not only provide you with a suitable job in China but also help you have a positive and memorable China teaching experience. We also promise to save you time by finding a great school for you to teach at without any of hassle. Using Good Teachers Union to help you find a job makes your life easier. WHAT WE PROVIDE Moving to China on your own is an exciting but also intimidating decision for most. Our promise to you is that we will help with any problems or questions you have during your stay in China. We understand that moving your entire life to China is a big deal and we are happy to offer unrivaled customized support to make your transition and stay in China as smooth as possible. We don’t charge you any fees for our service. It’s completely free! OUR SCHOOLS The schools that we work with are put through a strenuous vetting process to make sure that they are up to our high standards. We want the best working environment possible for our Good Teachers Union teachers. Unlike other companies who drop you off at the door and leave you on your own, Good Teachers Union will offer you a strong support system until your teaching contract is finished. GTUnion GTUnion TU (Great Teacher Union) is a professional education and employment agency which located in Beijing the capital city of China, the company has five years of history on hiring English teacher from English speaking country for a big range of organizations. After five years hard work and sincere communication, the company built up stable co-relationship with dozens of organizations and language training centers in China, the target of the company is that establish a cultural and linguistic bridge between the western countries and China

Say Hello to 9 World Languages with Graded Readers!

Say Hello to 9 World Languages with Graded Readers! Say Hello to 9 World Languages with Graded Readers! Language learners want to soar.We dream of reaching new levels of fluency, flying high like an eagle and straight into foreign language nirvana.We imagine heart-to-heart chats with locals in faraway lands, reading foreign novels, navigating idioms and conjugating verbs with ease.We want it all.So how, then, can we  make that happen more easily?Let’s take a quick peek back down Memory Lane.When we first tottered off to kindergarten, we already had a grasp on how our native language works. We could already speak, think and dream in our native language without any real effort. Most of us could read and write to some extent, even if reading felt laborious and our writing skills were unrefined. Teachers jump on that knowledge, encouraging more in-depth language skills using a very important tool.Graded readers  are that tool. Theyre ideal for teaching reading in  a first language, and instructors know that. The good news? They perform equally well with any subsequent languages you choos e to learn after your native language, and many publishers have made graded readers specifically for this purpose.Everything You Need to Know About Graded ReadersWhat are graded readers?Graded readers are books written for language learners. As in, theyre completely geared toward increasing language ability! How awesome is that?Their use of limited vocabulary and grammar thats appropriate to the skill  level of the reader allow reading to happenâ€"at all levels, even a basic oneâ€"without a struggle. And that, my friends, is a gift.They often introduce vocabulary, grammar and cultural details with glossaries, indexes or  on-page notes (think footnotes and margin notes). Some are formatted to have one page of text and the  following page with definitions and notes side by side. There are graded readers that have audio accompanying the book, which is one of my favorite features. Hey, why not learn how to pronounce while increasing other language skills? Win-win!But how can graded read ers amp up language learning? Let’s take a peek at how graded readers are structured.The most basic or beginner-level graded readers are just thatâ€"basic. For example, most children’s books are lower grades. Theyre perfect for the beginner level, with a few little challenges here and there to keep brains working. As reading skills improve, the next gradeâ€"or levelâ€"of books is accessible to the reader.  Language and reading skills build upon each other. As proficiency increases, intermediate level books come into the mix.Graded readers improve reading skills and proficiency in a logical manner. Vocabulary increases and thinking skills broaden in the target language while stories progress in difficulty to match those growing skills.What does graded mean?You might be wondering how graded readers are actually graded. Good question!The Extensive Reading Foundation grades readers  according to vocabulary. It’s all about the wordsâ€"how many we acquire and our ability to use them .Can anyone benefit from using graded readers?Remember how we hit grade school, with limited reading and writing abilities? We had a core vocabulary but a thirst for knowledge. It’s the same with learning a secondâ€"or third or fourth!â€"language. As long as you’ve got a basic vocabulary, you should be able to read. You won’t understand everything at first, but that comes with the vocabulary and language skills graded readers encourage.You might be wondering how extensive a vocabulary is considered the minimum for reading in a foreign language. Most agree that  90-95%  of the words should be familiar, both for conversation and reading.You’re getting discouraged, aren’t you? Don’t go there!  Even though research shows knowing 95% of the words on a page makes reading a snap, with the help of graded readers, reading is possible even without being familiar with that many words.  It’s not as easy, but it’s not impossibleâ€"and that’s what counts!At first you’ll probab ly guess the meanings of many new-to-you vocabulary words. That’s okayâ€"keep the guesses coming. With time, those words will become part of your skill set and help send you flying on to the next level. There are plenty of great benefits that anyone can get from working with graded readers, such as:Increased confidence is a biggie! Reading in a new language is a big dealâ€"strut your stuff, fluff out your feathers and shine.Gaining a more extensive  vocabulary in your target language is a huge payoff. Each level of graded reader incorporates new terminology.Graded readers have been proven to improve reading skills and encourage thinking skills in a target language.Listen, they worked for us in grade school through high school, didn’t they? They still workâ€"in any language!Which graded readers should you choose?Definitely read something youre interested in. It’s a fact that we pay attention to anything that naturally  catches and holds  our attention.Don’t even think about c hoosing a book that you feel like you should read unless it’s something you want to read, too.Read slightly above your comfort zoneâ€"encourage your mind to stretch a bit. Again, don’t expect to know all the words on the page. Challenge yourself.Say Hello to 9 World Languages with Graded Readers!Hola! Spanish Graded ReadersSpanish graded readers are so plentiful that there’s sure to be a boatload that pique your interest. Truly, the selection is nearly endless.  Narrowing it down a bit, here are a couple of solid options.European Schoolbooks Limited  is a Spanish language learners dream. They offer not only various levels but diverse subject matter as well.Alvaro Parra Pinto is a bilingual Venezuelan journalist whos the founder of the Easy Spanish Language Center. He has published over 50 Spanish graded readers  which can be bought on Amazon for a minimal cost. They even offer my favorite, The Little Prince!Bon Jour! French Graded ReadersFrench is so beautiful and the graded r eaders for this language are just as attractive. Vibrant colors and interesting titlesâ€"there’s something for everyone.Ebooks Libres Gratuits  offers an array of free books, most of which are graded readers. Bonus? The site is in French, so you’re practicing reading skills even as you choose new material.Childrens Library  contains 59 children’s books to read online. AvaxHome has 85 French titles to read online. Both of these are excellent optionsâ€"load up your tablet and your graded readers will always be at hand. All those lost hours sitting in waiting rooms, on coffee break or between meetings can become productive language learning time.Konnichiwa!  Japanese Graded ReadersOne of my favorite sources for Japanese graded readers is White Rabbit Japan. They currently offer levels 0 3 but level 4 is on the horizon. The readers can be downloaded right onto a tablet, so there’s no portability issue here. Plus, native Japanese speakers read the books aloud so proper pronunci ation is guaranteed.The company  cdJapan  stocks a number of Japanese items, including books and graded readers. Their graded readers may seem a bit pricey but theyre high quality and the pictures are superb, so theyre  definitely worth a look!Hallo!  German Graded ReadersGerman readers are abundantly available.German Book Shop  is an excellent source for graded readers. Youll find fables, fairy tales and simple stories for the lower grades, working up to intricate plots and stories written by popular German authors, can be found here. Some come with CDs so accurate pronunciation is made more accessible.Black Cat is another terrific source. Their titles use both book and audio CD to reinforce German reading and listening skills at once.Klett provides teacher resources and also stocks materials for cultural studies. Learn the language and culture, all in one place!Hello! English Graded ReadersThere are so many sources for English graded readers it was hard to choose only a few.Teachi ng English Blog  offers links to no-cost English graded readers, a few chapters at a time. They’ve broken the stories up into manageable chunksâ€"and free is always a bonus!Penguin Readers, found at Learning English, are a series of simplified novels, film novelizations and original titles that have been written for learners of English as a second language. There are six levels of difficulty, and they begin with familiar titles like Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving and go up to Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina.A huge assortment of titlesâ€"with discount pricing for bulk ordersâ€"is offered by Pearson English Readers. They even put forward sample downloads so you can judge what level you’re at before buying anything.Ni hao!  Chinese Graded ReadersChinese is such an exciting language to learn!Mandarin Companion offers a limited selection but they seem beautiful and the artwork is enticing.Sinolingua publishes a variety of Chinese readers. Each is a bit different and focuses on reinfor cing a specific vocabulary level. Graded Chinese Reader 500 Words  is a compilation of 15 award-winning Chinese stories. Graded Chinese Reader 2500 Words  features short stories and novellas written by contemporary Chinese writers. Pinyin is added for those who  are more comfortable reading with it.And for more on Chinese readers, this FluentU blog post is an excellent reference tool.The Endless Horizons of Graded ReadersFeeling even more adventurous and working on a language other than one of these six? Don’t despairâ€"we’ve got you covered. There are virtually no language limits to graded readers. A little searching yields fabulous results!Olá! European Schoolbooks Limited carries a selection of Portuguese graded readers. Divided into three levels, theyre suitable for children as well as adult learners.Namaste! The Routledge Intermediate Hindi Reader  features Hindi texts, film dialogues and contemporary Hindi literature. Its available in several formats and even contains int eresting cultural notes!Ciao! The Italian Bookshop is stocked with Italian graded readers. They carry an incredible mix of contemporary as well as classic stories, and there are several titles available for each grade. Catering to language learners from early childhood straight through to adults, its the go-to spot if you’re looking to upgrade your Italian language skills.By now you’ve probably gotten the idea that graded readers can be an indispensable tool in any language learning program. With something for everyone, there’s really no reason not to read and start soaring in your chosen language.Good luck, and have fun!