Chemistry - Answer Key

Chemistry - Answer KeyThe theory behind the answer key is really simple. All you have to do is take a look at any piece of chemistry text and you will discover that there is a few basic operations that are followed to solve a given problem.The key for solving the problem is the combination of these basic operations, which are called the 'operation'. When you translate the idea of an operation into a key, it sounds similar to a tennis player who is trying to find the best combination to hit the ball. Of course it is more than just that.Chemistry has lots of problems, and each one of them requires a different answer. Even the standard operations, such as polar and partial polarization are open to alternative solutions, but the key is always the same. The key is the combination of operations. That is why the question is so important.In chemistry, there are many different molecular orbitals, and each one has its own function. However, all the operations can be carried out by a single sys tem, which is the molecule. An illustration will help you understand.If you drop several single molecules onto a t-shirt, the arrangement of their orbitals would allow the molecules to form a cluster that would generate heat from the body heat. However, if you dropped dozens of single molecules on a t-shirt, then a different arrangement of orbitals would cause them to form a different cluster. The cluster would absorb heat from the body, resulting in a different temperature.It is the combination of operations that is important. They must work together to get the required result. If there is an operation missing, then the result will not be the same.Chemistry is really exciting. It is a science that look at the properties of atoms and molecules and tries to find out how they combine to create new things. A better understanding of chemistry will lead to new materials and new technologies. The key to success is to remember that the answer is everything.

What to Know About Pi Day

What to Know About Pi Day March 14 is a special day on the calendars of mathematicians, math teachers, and math students around the world. Why? Its Pi Day! An important thing to know about Pi Day is that its recognized on 3/14representing 3.14, the first three constants of the famous irrational numberevery year. You dont have to be a math fan to celebratebut it certainly helps! Heres what to know about Pi Day: History of Pi Day Physicist Larry Shaw of the San Francisco Exploratorium is responsible for celebrating the first-ever Pi Day in 1988 with his co-workers. Since then, Pi Day has turned into a national phenomenon celebrated by people everywhere. Interestingly enough, Pi Day is also physicist Albert Einsteins birthday. [RELATED: What to Know About College-Level Math] Some facts about Pi Pi is an irrational, never-ending number represented by the symbol, . The first 31 digits of pi are: 3.1415926535897932384626433832795. Pi is officially defined as the ratio of a circles circumference to its diameter. A circles diameter is the distance across it from one edge to the other while its circumference is the distance around the whole circle. Pi is considered a constant number because Pi is the same for all circles, regardless of their size. Pi is used in several geometry formulas involving circles. Most often, it is used to find the area of a circle (Area = Pi multiplied by the circles radius squared, or A =r2) or the volume of a cylinder (Volume = Pi multiplied by the cylinders radius squared, multiplied by its height, or V =r2h). [RELATED: Study Strategies for Math] Mathematicians been using Pi for about 4,000 years. Originally, the ancient Babylonians would calculate the area of a circle by taking three times the square of its radius, giving Pi a value of 3. As time went on, the Babylonians and other civilizations all over the world began making closer approximations of Pi, based largely off of their astronomical measurements. Pis official symbol came from the Greek letter, , in the 1700s. How to celebrate Pi Day Students and teachers at schools and colleges across the world hold Pi Day celebrations that often include eating at least one type of pi(e)whether its made of fruit, chocolate, or pizzaas well as telling Pi jokes and discussing Pi history. You dont have to be a student to celebrate Pi Day, however! Some organizationshave big events open to the public on March 14. These include the San Francisco Exploratoriums afternoon festival of all things Pi and Princeton, New Jerseys Pi Day Princeton celebration, a whole weekend of Pi Day events. [RELATED: What are the High School Math Courses?] Turns out, Pi Day is also a great day to shop for, well, pies! Many eateriesmostly national pizza chainsare offering food for just $3.14, or with BOGO deals. These include: Blaze Pizza: build your own pizza for $3.14 Pi Pizzeria: get a free large pizza if youre born on March 14 and have ID to prove it, or buy a large pizza and get another for just $3.14 Urban Bricks Pizza: get pizzas for $3.14 Villa Italian Kitchen: get full-size Neapolitan cheese pizzas for $3.14 each, with coupon (available on their website) Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Why SAT Scores Might Be Decreasing

Why SAT Scores Might Be Decreasing The average SAT scores for the high school class of 2011 fell across the nation, according to the College Board (the creator of the SAT) and an article in the New York Times. The average, national reading score fell to a record low of 497, a three-point decrease from 2010. The average writing score dropped two points to 489, and the average math score fell one point to 514. The College Board believes that a more diverse group of students caused this decrease, mainly students whose first language is not English. Nearly 27 percent of the roughly 1.65 million students who took the test came from a home where English is not the only/primary language, which is an increase from 19 percent 10 years ago. However, others believe that changes in the test caused the decline. Robert Schaeffer, public education director of FairTest, a nonprofit group that is critical of standardized testing, said he believes the decreases were caused by the nations high emphasis on high-stakes testing programs. These high-stakes programs can add more pressure to the SAT, which could either improve or decrease students scores. Also, younger students are taking the SAT, hoping to get a head start on the college process. Traditionally, high school juniors and sophomores do not perform as well on standardized tests as high school seniors. [RELATED: What Does SAT Stand For?] Students with only three years of high school English scored an average of 464 on the reading section, compared to an average score of 556 for students who took Advanced Placement or honors English. Schaeffer also believes that the No Child Left Behind act and other federal education laws have made the tests more difficult. How many wake-up calls do policy makers need before they admit that their test-and-punish strategy is a failure? Schaeffer asked. Policymakers need to embrace very different policies if they are committed to real education reform. The SAT has three sections (math, reading and writing), which are scored from 200-800. The highest possible combined score is 2,400. The combined, average score was 1,500 in 2011, compared to 1,506 in 2010. The writing section was introduced in 2005, and students writing scores have been declining every year since then. However, math and reading scores have remained fairly steady over the past 10 years. Math scores have remained between 520 and 514. Reading scores have averaged between 508 and 499. Despite the average SAT scoredecline, the number of high scores is actually increasing. On the math section, the number of students who scored at least 700 out of a possible 800 has increased more than 20 percent since 2007. The SAT and other standardized tests like the ACT are designed to indicate how well a student will perform during his or her freshman year of college. However, there has been much debate about how accurate that actually is. Many educators have long believed that a students high school grades are a better indicator of college grades than standardized tests. However, the College Board recently tried to create a tangible scale to predict future grades. For the first time, it estimated that the combined score of 1,550 means that students will have a 65 percent chance of averaging at least a B-minus in college. About 43 percent of the Class of 2011 test-takers met that mark. [RELATED: How is the New SAT Scored?]

What is it Like to Attend University of Hawaii at Manoa

What is it Like to Attend University of Hawaii at Manoa The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Gavin holds a Bachelors degree in Meteorology from University of Hawaii at Manoa. He graduated in 2012 and currently tutors in Los Angeles, specializing in several subjects including GRE prep tutoring, Algebra tutoring, and Physics tutoring. See what he had to say about his time at school in Hawaii: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Gavin: The UH Manoa campus lies in the Manoa Valley, only a few miles from Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head and is just on the outer edge of Honolulu. With the newly instated bus pass, tuition students get a free bus pass included. For those farther away, cars are recommended for faster transportation options. Living on campus, there are bike racks scattered all over campus and if you live a few miles from campus, bikes might be the best option for time purposes. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Gavin: My favorite part of the college experience was my academic adviser. Without her I would have been lost. When it comes to professors, there are amazing ones and not so amazing ones and I had the fortune (and misfortune) of having both. TA's for the better part were helpful and sometimes even better than the professor counterpart. I felt more comfortable talking to TA's than teachers. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Gavin: There are dozens upon dozens of club at UH, and if you can think of something they will most likely have it. There are 4 towers for freshman dorming, a newly furnished and air-conditioned dorm, 2 apartment towers, a suite-like tower building for upperclassmen, and 2 other dorms that house freshmen as well as upperclassmen. Each dorm usually has activities and the RA's come up with events usually once a week to help those who aren't sure what to do and to make new friends that also live in their dorms. There are two housing dining options that are just steps away from the dorms that serve buffet-style. Also, there is a little market by the dorms for those who don't want to go out to Walmart to pick stuff up and serve meals as well. On campus, there is a huge food court that serves many different types of food: sandwiches, burgers, Asian, and local cuisines. There is a Subway, Jamba Juice, Starbucks, and Panda Express on campus as well, the latter two being recently built. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Gavin: UH Manoa is known for being top in the nation for Marine Biology, International Business, and Earth Sciences. My major was Meteorology, as my passion since I was young was weather. The School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology is one of the most funded schools on campus from outside sources. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Gavin: It was easier than I thought it would be to make new friends. The dorm events, courses, and clubs are how I met my friends during my time at UH. Greek life doesn't play the biggest role, but they still have a few fraternities and sororities to choose from if you are interested. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Gavin: The Career Center is pretty helpful and can help you if you have any questions. During campus events (like a career fair), there are plenty of opportunities to choose from to help get insights on a career you might want. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Gavin: There are two libraries on campus and each has its own pluses to them, such as one can rent videos and one has air conditioning. For the most part, they are pretty spacious and you can usually find a space with ease, except during midterms and finals when it becomes more difficult. Dorm lounges vary randomly from being overly crowded to no one there and it depends on the time of year and day. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Gavin: The campus is so close to pretty much anything you want. Walking distance includes a variety of restaurants such as curry or Thai food. Malls, beaches, and hiking trails are also only a short bus ride or longer walk away. Going downtown, Kailua, and other parts of the island are also a bus ride away and going to the infamous North Shore is about a 2 hour bus ride (45 minute drive). No matter the type of person you are, there is something for everyone that is not so far away. Most people stay near campus during the week and tend to go farther out when its the weekend. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Gavin: The overall student body has more than 20,000 students for a given semester and class sizes can vary widely. For example, my Intro to Chemistry class had almost 300 people, while my Meteorology Dynamics 2 course only had 5 students. But overall, I was generally happy about these numbers due to hearing friends with even more students in their classes at different schools. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Gavin: The most memorable moment for me with a teacher was with my Linear Algebra teacher. He was the best math teacher I had in the longest time. He was funny, smart, understanding, and anything you would want in a professor. He always had a smile on his face and even offered me recommendation letters to graduate schools that I applied for; I credit him for getting into the school I am in now. Check out Gavins tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Spanish Tutoring Rates in the USA

Spanish Tutoring Rates in the USA What Are The Rates for Spanish Tutoring Classes in the U.S.A. ChaptersWhat Criteria Should You Be Thinking About When Setting Your PriceWhat Are the Rates for Spanish Tutoring?Are you Free to Fix Rates?The language of Cervantes is in the spotlight today.Spoken by nearly 500 million people, it is the second most widely spoken language in the world. It is also estimated to be the future language of the business world.Spanish is therefore becoming the foreign language to master.But Americans are known to have problem learning foreign languages. It is known all over the world, Americans have very bad reputation when it comes to learning living languages.Learning a foreign language is more complex than it seems, but there are many solutions: tutoring, language school, online Spanish classes...Because the language is in such high demand, if you speak Spanish, you might think about being a tutor.If you have a good level in Spanish and are recognized for your pedagogical qualities, you may be able to start giving Spanish lessons!Would you like to embar k on this adventure?You will quickly run into administrative and financial issues. But which rates will you need to apply to your lessons?

Famous Artists Who Paint With Acrylics

Famous Artists Who Paint With Acrylics Famous Artists Who Paint With Acrylics ChaptersAndy WarholDavid HockneyRobert MotherwellKenneth NolandBridget RileyMark RothkoSuperprof TuitionWhile many artists favour the traditional oil painting over working with acrylics, due to its timeless aesthetic, many others choose acrylic paint for its versatility and the variety of techniques you can achieve with it.Acrylic paints are also great to work with for the professionals since they dry out extremely quickly, allowing for layering and detailing to be added without extended periods of waiting around. Moreover, they come in a variety of ways, making it easier to experiment with different methods and techniques. Acrylic paint can be bought in everything from plastic squeeze bottles, to tubes, or jars. Each container brings its own advantages and disadvantages, which can influence the way an artist works, but the flexibility and choice is hugely helpful.Working with acrylic paints allows artists the creative freedom to replicate other mediums too. By adding water to the pa ints it’s possible to achieve similar effects to watercolour paints for example, or oil paints. There is even more creative freedom offered by the surfaces you can paint with acrylics too. Almost nothing is off limits. Artists aren’t limited to the canvas and paper, but rather have access to everything from wood, to brick, allowing for a variety of interesting textures and visuals in their work.Last, but not least, there are numerous techniques associated with acrylic painting, - some of which are listed in this great article by MyModernMet  - which help artists create all sorts of visual effects. These include, but aren’t limited to: splattering, dabbing, and layering. All of these and the other techniques add to the artists’ tool belt and give them plenty of scope to get creative with their painting, be it realistic, abstract, or anything in between. These techniques are amplified through the use of professional-grade acrylic paints which ooze quality and make everything l ook better on the canvas.So without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the most famous artists who paint with acrylics, so you can get a better idea of the incredible versatility of the medium and how impressive the results can be with years of practise and experimentation. FernandoPainting Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaPainting Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidPainting Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPainting Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StefaniaPainting Teacher 5.00 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SakinaPainting Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenPainting Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Off2themoonholliePainting Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsAndy Warhol The humble subject of Warhol’s iconic painting.Starting out with a household name in the field of art, Andy Warhol used acrylic paints for many of his most iconic works of art.Warhol caught the eye of the public with his striking depictions of pop culture figures, like Marilyn Monroe, and Elizabeth Taylor, a form of art he pioneered which was coined pop art. Using photos as inspiration, Warhol would use bold colours and acrylic paints to make his paintings really pop. One reason why he preferred acrylics over other mediums is due to the brash, at times shiny, effect that they can produce. While this is seen by some as a negative in comparison to the more classic aesthetic of oil paintings, for what Warhol was trying to achieve, it was the best option.As we already mentioned, acrylic paints lend themselves very well to the eye-catching nature of many of Warhol’s paintings, which was presumably his main justification for using them. However, it’s clear that the esteemed artist wa s also very fond of the technique of layering, which is much easier to pull off using acrylics. So this might have been another factor which influenced his decision to go with the acrylic medium.David HockneyDavid Hockney is a British painter who, like Warhol, can also be labelled as a pop artist. He is responsible for many incredible acrylic-based paintings, the most famous of which is arguably the swimming pool scene known as ‘A Bigger Splash’.Both rich in colour and bold in aesthetic, Hockney’s paintings are a visual delight. His blend of realistic and abstract techniques brought about intriguing results, the likes of which you can find your eyes lost in for long periods of time. ‘A Bigger Splash’ somehow manages to be both minimalist and full of imagery at the same time, which is a powerful combination which can leave you contemplating life itself.As for why the famous artist opted for acrylics, he likely preferred the quick-drying nature as opposed to its counterpart oil paints. While relatively new on the scene while he was painting in the 50s, the emergent acrylic paint made layering a lot easier and allowed Hockney to build complex scenes through his paintings, the likes of which would at times replicate real-life scenes with great accuracy. In fact, Hockney could be said to be one of the first pioneers of the medium of acrylic paint, as he used it almost exclusively in his work and was one of the first adopters.Robert MotherwellAn influential American Abstract Expressionist painter, Robert Motherwell likened painting to music, in that it could stand on its own as something to be appreciated and enjoyed.Robert Motherwell was part of a wave of abstract expressionist painters, along with the likes of Jackson Pollock, and Willem de Kooning, who adopted acrylic paints for the great versatility that they offered, particularly when it came to their fast-drying nature. The great advantage of using acrylics with abstract painting for this group of pa inters, was that they could experiment much easier due to how soon the paint would dry after application. Layering was one of the techniques that Motherwell would employ heavily in his work, for example in his series of iconic paintings falling under the title ‘Elegy to the Spanish Republic’. FernandoPainting Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaPainting Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidPainting Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPainting Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StefaniaPainting Teacher 5.00 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SakinaPainting Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenPainting Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Off2themoonholliePainting Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsKenneth Noland Noland enjoyed painting with simple blocks of colour in his work.Kenneth Noland was an American Colour Field painter, who was best known for his bold, abstract paintings which made the most of acrylic’s unique qualities.An artist who operated around the same time as Motherwell, Kenneth Noland also appreciated the unique characteristics of the emerging medium of acrylic, but he used different techniques in his work. Noland was particularly fascinated with Colour Field painting, which is the use of large blocks of single colours. To the untrained eye, some of Noland’s art can seem straightforward and/or easy to reproduce, but the precision of his strokes and his detailed knowledge of colour combinations are what made his work stand out.So why did Noland prefer acrylics for the new (at the time) painting style called Colour Field? Well, mainly for the ease of layering they allowed for, and the bold colours available. Layering is a technique that Noland relied upon to create his stun ning visuals, and the range of colours gave him plenty of scope to realise his artistic vision.Bridget Riley Riley had a fascination with the optical illusion.An English Op Art painter (which is short for optical art), Bridget Riley embraced the medium of acrylics to create mesmerising patterns and entrancing paintings.While Riley didn’t work exclusively with acrylics, choosing not to use them until the latter stages of her career in art, she certainly made the most of them when she did start using them. What eventually drew her to acrylics was actually what turns some professional artists away from the medium - which is the somewhat artificial visuals they can produce in comparison with oil paints. Riley was fascinated with the synthetic nature of acrylics, which lent itself incredibly well to optical illusions and mind-bending patterns.A great example of how acrylics can be used to create interesting visual effects is ‘Achaean’. A series of lines of various colours, this painting is striking in its simplicity, but will have you mesmerised as your brain struggles to find a focal poin t.Mark RothkoMark Rothko was an American painter whose work, although he never himself labelled as such, falls under the category of abstract expressionism.Rothko used a combination of oil paints and acrylics in his paintings, which allowed him to create fascinating works of art combining the best of both mediums. One thing he particularly enjoyed about using acrylics is how they reflected light, which contrasted with the way in which oil paints would reflect light. Due to the use of different mediums in his paintings, a fascinating phenomena has occurred over the passage of time: his paintings are changing in appearance as the paint slowly fades away.While Rothko’s paintings, like those of Noland, seem relatively simple, they are all eye-catching and draw the attention of anyone who passes by them in a museum or gallery. Rothko’s work can serve as a refreshing reminder that art doesn’t have to be ultra-realistic, or highly detailed to provoke a reaction in the audience, which should encourage even beginners to let their creativity flow uninhibited and without judgement.Superprof TuitionIf you’re inspired by some of these famous artists who used acrylics, and now you want to produce your own enviable works of art, then it might be worth seeking out some one-to-one tuition to brush up on your knowledge of acrylic painting.Here at SuperProf we have loads of qualified tutors on hand to help you get up to speed on whatever subject you can think of. If you’re looking for a tutor to help you with your acrylic painting in person, then you can use the find a tutor near me function on our website to see if there’s anyone near you. Alternatively, you can take online classes with our tutors from the comfort of your own home!

15 Easy Ways to Practice Spanish Throughout the Day

15 Easy Ways to Practice Spanish Throughout the Day Suzy S. Learning a new language  shouldnt be  limited to textbooks and coursework! Here, tutor Kaitlin W. shares her (easy) ideas for practicing Spanish  throughout the day   I dont come from a Spanish-speaking family, nor is my family from a country where Spanish is spoken. Yet every time I open my mouth to speak Spanish, Im asked where I am from. I have a near-native accent that leaves little trace of my Anglo roots. I often make people guess what country Im from, and Ive heard everything from Spain to Cuba! Students always want to know my secret. How did I manage to essentially eradicate my native accent and achieve a level of pronunciation that native speakers themselves envy? Below are a few of the ways that I created my own self-immersion program. By including these activities in your everyday life, you can learn and practice Spanish without  feeling like its homework! Practice Reading in Spanish 1. Change the language on your devices Consider changing your phone, computer, tablet, Facebook page, and anything else with a language option to Spanish. This is an easy way to practice Spanish, since youll see more of the vocabulary on a daily basis. For example, every time you look at your phone, youll see the date in Spanish, reinforcing the days of the week and months of the year. Facebook will ask you if you would like to agregar amigos, teaching you the verb that means “to add.” Seeing a few of the same words over and over again will help the language feel more natural to you, and youll find  it becomes easier to incorporate them into everyday life with very little effort involved! 2. Research in Spanish How many times a day do you Google something that you’re curious about? I use Wikipedia at least once a day, and I always go for the Spanish version of the website first. Next time you need information about your favorite celebrity, look at their page in Spanish and see how much you can understand before switching the language to English! 3. Pick up a Spanish newspaper In most cities, these can be found for free on the street. You can also download apps and read the news  on your phone. I recommend El País, an international newspaper from Spain. I like to read the articles out loud to practice Spanish pronunciation in addition to my reading skills. This is also a great way to stay informed about what is happening in Spanish-speaking countries. 4. Read a book in Spanish I recommend beginning with teen literature or popular novels that don’t have a lot of challenging vocabulary. You can also start with poetry, which is challenging but shorter. Pablo Neruda is one of the most famous Spanish-language poets of the 20th century, and he has written beautiful love poems, such as “If You Forget Me” (Si tú me olvidas). Another great idea  is to pick a book in English that you like and read the translation. All of the Harry Potter books are available in Spanish, as well as other popular novels such as The Da Vinci Code, The Life of Pi, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. You can find anything on Amazon! As you build your vocabulary, try some books that were originally written in Spanish. I really enjoyed La Sombra del Viento by Carlos Ruíz Zafón. This popular book uses some advanced vocabulary, but mainly tries to use common words in unconventional ways, making it a very satisfying read for a conversational Spanish speaker. Be sure to read with a dictionary and make note of new and interesting words! 5. Take notice of signs and brochures in Spanish Depending on where you are, you might see signs in Spanish pay attention to  these! If you purchase an item with directions listed in Spanish, try reading those too. You can do this with shampoo bottles while you’re in the shower, as well. 6. Play games in Spanish Once your phone is in Spanish, many of your games will appear in Spanish, too. Trivia games force you to be quick on your feet as you practice  Spanish, as many of them are timed. If that isn’t your speed, WordBrain offers an interesting vocabulary challenge in Spanish! (Editors Note: Check out some other tutor-approved Spanish apps and games here!) Practice Listening in Spanish 7. Watch TV Shows and YouTube Videos Don’t knock telenovelas  until you try them! Netflix and Hulu now offer shows and movies in Spanish, some of which include English subtitles so you can check  how much you understand. You can also watch your favorite movies with Spanish subtitles. As for telenovelas, I recommend the ones  from Mexico. The production value is higher than other Latin American countries and the accent is faint. They speak a pure Spanish. Typically, accents of Colombia, Argentina, and Chile are harder to understand if you’re just getting started. Don’t have Netflix or Hulu? Try watching Univisión or Telemundo! I love Caso Cerrado, a Spanish-language Judge Judy! You can also check out Spanish lessons on YouTube in your spare time. Heres a playlist to get you started- 8. Get Spanish language music for your daily commute Why not practice Spanish during your commute? Singing along to songs will help your pronunciation and helps you  begin to think in Spanish. Make an effort to learn the lyrics! You can get music in any genre in Spanish, just like in English. If you like soft rock, I suggest Maná. For reggaetón, a Spanish rap, try Don Omar. You might recognize Danza Kuduro! Juanes is great for pop music, and for salsa, try listening to Marc Anthony, Celia Cruz, and Juan Luis Guerra. My favorite artist, however, is a jazzy Mexican rock group called Camila! 9. Listen to podcasts in Spanish While you’re sitting at your desk, in your car on your way to work, or at home cooking dinner, put on a podcast in Spanish. It could be one aimed at teaching Spanish or a Spanish-language podcast about another topic. For learning conversational Spanish, I recommend Coffee Break Spanish, which  focuses on conversations for  traveling abroad, like  how to order coffee! If you are a true beginner, SpanishPod101 is another great one.  They have all levels of Spanish for any student! Practice Writing in Spanish 10. Write your shopping list in Spanish Before you head out to buy something, look up the things you need to purchase and make a list in Spanish! As you find your items in the store  and  cross it off your list, actively think about the new word and associate it with the item you’ve just picked up. This is how I learned a lot of Spanish vocabulary for food! 11. Write a blog in Spanish Whether you write a public blog or a more traditional private journal, writing is a great way to practice Spanish. You can write about any topic that you are interested in, which makes your  learning experience fun and personalized. You could also make it as simple as writing about your day. Taking a few minutes to practice your Spanish writing is a great way to keep your mind thinking in the language and to pick up on any grammatical issues you may be having. 12. Get a Spanish-speaking pen pal There are many websites,  like  iTalki,  that connect you to people who are trying to learn English. I have met friends in Colombia and Chile this way, and we are still Facebook friends to this day! You can send emails  or  texts, or use Skype to practice reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Practice Speaking in Spanish 13. Visit Hispanic bodegas and supermarkets If you enjoy cooking, you may have fun shopping at Hispanic supermarkets and buying ingredients to make dishes from Spanish-speaking countries. If you can’t find the item you’re looking for, ask an employee for help in Spanish! 14. Talk in Spanish… even if you’re alone! Those moments when you don’t have anyone to speak with may be your best opportunity to really speak without inhibitions! Take advantage of alone time to speak out loud, even if no one is there to correct you. As long as you are practicing the sounds of the language, you are making progress! Speak your thoughts, narrate your day, and talk to your dog! We all do weird things when we’re alone why not make your weird thing productive? 15. Teach someone what you already know Teaching can be a great way to reinforce the knowledge that you already have without even realizing that you’re doing it. When you have to search for ways to explain something to someone, you’re actually explaining it to yourself all over again! This can be as simple as teaching your friends and family what youve learned. I continue many of these rituals daily to keep my Spanish as strong as ever. I also give  my students resources to implement their own immersion programs. Everyone has different reasons for learning a language, and its  important for students to know that they have control over their learning process and can  tailor their experience to fit their needs. You control your learning, so make it fun! Post Author:  Kaitlin W. Kaitlin W.  teaches in-home and online Spanish lessons in Medford, NJ. She holds a Bachelors degree in Spanish from The College of New Jersey. Kaitlin aspires to be a professional Spanish teacher and would love to help you succeed in learning Spanish. Learn more about Kaitlin  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