Why introverts are (really) better networkers - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Why introverts are (really) better networkers - Introvert Whisperer Why introverts are (really) better networkers Most advice articles about building a network start out with overused advice like “take lots of business cards!” and “go to as many events as possible!” and “try emailing strangers out of the blue to see if they’d like to get coffee!”   This is not one of those articles. I’m an introvert.   I’m not interested in talking to a lot of people.   I hate big events, and meetings with strangers make me nervous. I also understand that building authentic relationships is one of the most important things I can do for my career.   As a young professional, I know it’s important to start networking. But how can I do it in an authentic way, avoiding events and coffee with strangers? Through a ton of research and some uncomfortable experimentation, I’ve figured out a system that works for me to meet new people, have interesting conversations, and keep in touch with the people I like. If you’re ready to build a better network, I’ll walk you step-by-step through some of the challenges of introvert networkers and how to overcome them 3 Introvert Advantages to Use While Networking We’ve been led to believe that networking is an extrovert’s game.   The conventional wisdom says if you want to be good at networking, you’ll have to act like an extrovert. I simply don’t buy that. Introverts have been told that they’re inferior networkers.   I call this the Introvert Networker Myth, and there are 3 main reasons why I think it’s a myth: Introverts are better connectorsWe’re better at creating deep relationships. When we connect with someone, it’s powerful and we’re loyal. We’re selective about who we give our attention to, and we’re more skeptical of smooth talkers. We’d rather have one deep conversation than 20 instances of small talk. We love to help, and we only ask for things when we really need the help.All of these things aren’t true for every introvert, but as a whole, introverts have a real advantage at creating loyalty and connection. It’s time we recognized that advantage. The size of your network matters less than the quality of your relationshipsAlmost everyone agrees with this in principle. How many of us actually practice it? If you measure your networking success by the number of business cards you got or the amount of email introductions you’ve received, then you’re doing it wrong. I would rather (and I have) leave a convention center to buy one person a beer than spend all night drinking free beers at the evening event.As an introvert, find people you genuinely like or admire, and invest heavily in them. Jettison the acquaintances who don’t interest you. Events and happy hours are among the worst places to meet peopleThere’s a reason why so much of “networking” is based around events. Extroverts love events because they’re energetic, and you can talk to a lot of people at once.     The problem is at events everyone has rehearsed answers and asks the same questions over and over. You don’t create real connection until you get behind that facade.This morning, I met a guy in the locker room at the gym. It was the third day in a row I saw him in there, so we started talking about P90X. His name is Rich. I have no idea where he works, but I know his arms are sore as hell today. We know something personal about one another.   Because of that, Rich and I are already more connected than I will ever be with the people behind the business cards on my desk.   I’ll probably see Rich tomorrow, too, and we’ll get to know each other a little better.You can skip events and still build a great network. 3 limiting beliefs that stalled my career Okay, so if introverts really have all these networking advantages, why is networking still so hard? For me and for my readers I’ve found 3 main limiting beliefs (there are many others) that hold introverts back from meeting and connecting with new people: Belief: “Some people are born extroverts. I’m just not wired to be good at talking to people.” Reality: When I tested this belief, I found people actually prefer talking to introverts because of one trick up our sleeves: We LISTEN. My active listening made people feel comfortable and valued.   I realized what I thought was a weakness (not being able to think of a lot to say) was actually an asset (thoughtfulness, and good questions).My rule of thumb is to only talk 20% of the time in a conversation and to ask questions to get the other person talking as much as possible.   My conversations stopped being the trite “where do you work,” “what do you do,” etc as soon as I brought curiosity and generosity to the conversation. Belief: “If I try to start a conversation I’ll get embarrassed, or worse, ignored.”Reality: I did an experiment where I spoke to 5 random strangers every day. It was terrifying for me, but my fears were unfounded.   We talked about the weather, or where a stranger got his cool shoes.   I realized the stakes of starting a conversation were never as high as I was making them in my head.   Pro tip: people love to get compliments. Belief: “I just have to be myself, and eventually I’ll get noticed for x (a new job, a raise, a promotion, an award, etc)”Reality: I could write a whole article about this limiting belief alone. I wish we lived/worked in a society that spontaneously recognized great work and automatically gave promotions to those who deserve it most.   Unfortunately, we don’t.   I found I have to communicate to my boss and others what I’m doing well.   It’s not shameless self-promotion but making sure I’m valued at work.   For me, the best way to do this was in our weekly meeting, presenting metrics for the things I’ve accomplished. If you hate events, where do you meet new people? I meet new people in two main places. I suggest you try these, though your results may vary from mine: Ask the people you currently know who you should meet - Explain a project to a friend then ask who they know that could help. This has the benefit of getting a warm introduction and not needing a topic for conversation. Instead, you get to talk with someone about a project. The hard part? You need to be working on something interesting and worthy of talking about. Go volunteer on a committee, nonprofit board, etc This is great because you get to show off your expertise. Tons of organizations need volunteers to offer skills and/or time. You may be able to get to know organizers of events, work with high-profile speakers, or meet regularly with colleagues in your industry. The main benefit of this approach is that your hard work will earn you respect, and you’ll develop relationships around a common cause. These aren’t the only places to develop your network as an introvert. At your job, do your best to stay in touch with clients you’ve liked and former coworkers. Calling people on their birthdays is a great way to keep in touch. Networking as an introvert (for everyone, really) should be a long game. Of course, everyone’s network will be built on a combination of these and other tactics. Be genuine. Ask lots of questions. Stay interested in other people. Keep in touch with people you’ve liked, and with time you will build a great network. Over to You Today, I don’t have a huge network, and I don’t need one.   But I do have a small group of people I like and respect who I stay in touch with.   I know if I need their help, they’ll be willing to help me at a moment’s notice.   That’s my definition of a great network for an introvert. Maybe you see your own limiting beliefs above.   Or maybe you’ve thought of a different psychological barrier for introverts not on my list.   Share your #1 barrier in the comments below. Author Bio:

Videos We Love Awesome Guitar Pick Art!

Videos We Love Awesome Guitar Pick Art! Suzy S. We LOVE when musicians start getting creative with other art and mediums, and we couldnt get enough of this video!   Check out MysteryGuitarMan below as he uses thousands of colorful guitar picks to create a stop-motion masterpiece.   And then, like us, watch it again and again and again Want more? MysteryGuitarMan has a lot of other super creative videos on his YouTube channel that are definitely worth a look!   Check out the stop motion version of Dust in the Wind done backwards and 90s kids, the live action Doug intro will bring back some great memories.   We could watch these videos all day how about you? Visit us on Facebook and share your thoughts!  What other art could you create using only guitar picks? (Dont forget to Like us while youre at it!) 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

English Conversation Class Immigration and Emigration

English Conversation Class Immigration and Emigration Last weeks topic for our group English conversation class about travel naturally led us to a conversation about immigration and emigration. They are complicated topics, with potentially different meanings to different people.For some, immigration immediately brings to mind illegal immigration. This isnt just an issue between the U.S. and its neighbors to the south. When Teauna and I lived in Argentina, people were concerned about the illegal immigration of people from neighboring countries, such as Bolivia and Paraguay. While we lived in Argentina, we overstayed our visa by a few months, technically making us illegal immigrants for a short time.Both legal and illegal immigration bring a lot of issues. Whether youre from the U.S., Argentina, or almost any other country, I suspect that there are people who blame illegal and legal immigrants for economic and social problems. There are others who argue that immigration has positive benefits, such as bringing in more workers, and new idea s and culture.Emigration is also   interesting. In some countries, people talk about brain drains, i.e., when the most intelligent people from a developing country flee for more developed countries at the first opportunity. In the Americas most people have a history of emigration in their background.If you have already taken a group conversation class with us, you will receive your invitation to the class via email on Wednesday morning. If you havent taken a conversation class with us yet, click here to register.A few questions to think about for the class:How have immigration and emigration affected you personally?How have they affected your familys history?How does it affect your country? Your city?Are immigrants treated fairly where you live?Do you think immigration is good or bad for your country?Would you ever emigrate to another country?Here is a humorous look at the illegal immigration issue from the U.S. satiric news show, The Colbert Report:The Colbert ReportMon Thurs 11:3 0pm / 10:30cImmigration Protestswww.colbertnation.comColbert Report Full EpisodesPolitical Humor Satire BlogVideo Archive Euzeli Santos Jr. Interesting text and discussion about immigration and emigration. I just believe that people who are against the immigration forgot who they are, they are also decedents of immigrants. For instance, in US, whats the percentage of the real american people, maybe just the Indians could be considered as americans (real native people) Think about that!

Bedtime Nightmares 5 tips to reduce the stress

Bedtime Nightmares 5 tips to reduce the stress Its a typical night for a family with an ADHD child. You plan to have your child in bed by 8:00, but when 8:00 comes around so soon, you wonder where the evening has gone. Your child is bouncing off the walls, or zoned out in front of the TV, and you have a million things to do before bedtime. You call out to them from the other room, telling them to stop what theyre doing and get ready for bed. But when you go to check on her 15 minutes later, she hasnt made any progress! Feeling frustrated, you hover, you nag, and you do things for her that you think she should be able to do on her own. When shes finally in bed, shes complaining that shes not tired and cant sleep, and youre both irritated. Yet again, youre ending the day on a sour note. Sound familiar? Bedtime can be challenging, especially when your child has ADHD. Try these tips to break the bad bedtime cycle: Have a set time each night for when your child starts getting ready for bed, and stick to it. Leave enough time to get everything done (teeth brushed, tomorrows clothes picked out, etc.) that they will be done in time for bedtime. Turn off all of the screens at least 1 hour before bedtime. The blue-light that emits from LED screens disrupts sleep. Especially for kids! When you tell your child to get ready for bed, get their attention first, then tell them to get ready for bed. That way, you know theyve heard you. Then stay with them until theyve started to get ready for bed. (Dont walk away when you tell a child to go to bed. Youll come back in 15 minutes to find nothing has happened.) Staying focused and staying with them lets them know that you mean business. Create a list with the steps of your childs bedtime routine, and post it up in a place where your child can check it every night. They may need you to supervise them, or provide a couple of reminders when they are first starting to use their new checklist. Provide a lot of specific praise when your child follows through, I really like how you looked at the checklist and then started to brush your teeth right away! If they need some extra motivation, provide a reward when they complete all of their bedtime routine steps. For example, if they finish their steps by 8:20, then youll read a book together for 10 minutes. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Teaching in the Middle East with your family Kuwait vs Dubai (With job postings)

Teaching in the Middle East with your family Kuwait vs Dubai (With job postings) While many teachers dream of living abroad, they can often feel scared to make such a big life change. That change can feel even more daunting when you’re relocating with your family. Despite the potential hurdles you might encounter on the way, though, there are so many great reasons to raise your family abroad. The benefits of moving overseas with your family Teaching abroad is a life-changing opportunity for your whole family to witness the world from a culture that differs from your own. Your children will get access to a diverse and unique education, becoming truly global citizens and developing a stronger understanding of other cultures and backgrounds in the process. Plus, it’s a great chance for them to experience more of the world and even learn a new language! Kicking off your research Anyone with parental responsibilities will know that, regardless of where you choose to live in the world, there are a number of issues relating to the needs of your family that have to be taken into careful consideration. The quality and cost of living, especially, are important things you need to think about when living and teaching abroad with children. So, if you’re thinking of taking the plunge and teaching abroad with your family, your next step should be to undertake some in-depth research into the most family-friendly teach abroad destinations out there. As you’re googling, more often than not, you’ll probably see the Middle East topping most lists, if not all, as the most attractive location for experienced educators with families. This is, in large part, due to the tax-free salary and sweet parental perks like free tuition. The best country in the Middle East for teachers with families While many teaching families do end up living in or near cities in the UAE, like Dubai or Abu Dhabi, it's still well worth investigating other countries in the Middle East you may have otherwise overlooked in your search. Especially Kuwait - one of the most family-friendly teach abroad destinations in the world. Right now, Teach Away is recruiting experienced educators for a wide range of teaching jobs at the American United School of Kuwait (all of which offer unbeatable family perks): Math teachers Science teachers English teachers Kindergarten teachers Elementary teachers Elementary counselor ELA teacher ICT teachers High school PE teachers Librarian/Information Specialist AP economics teacher AP environmental science teacher AP geography teacher AP English teacher Despite their close proximity, Kuwait and Dubai offer very different things to teachers looking to raise children abroad. Here’s why Kuwait might be a better fit for you and your family: 1. Teaching salaries in Kuwait are higher. This isn’t to say that teaching salaries in Dubai aren’t also sought after (they are). But the vastly higher cost of living in Dubai is bound to eat into a fairly large portion of your take-home pay. Especially given the fact that you won’t be on the hook for housing or tuition, your saving potential will be much higher in Kuwait. Depending on your teaching experience and subject, teaching salaries at Kuwait international schools, such as the American United School of Kuwait and American Creativity Academy Kuwait range from about $2,500 - 4,800 USD monthly, tax-free. Which leads us to our next point: 2. The cost of living in Kuwait is lower than Dubai. Compared with Dubai, Kuwait is far more affordable for families. While Dubai offers an incredible lifestyle, it comes at a high cost. In fact, Dubai was recently ranked the eighth-most-expensive city to live in the world. Although not necessarily a hard-and-fast rule, we often find that fast-paced Dubai is a better fit for single teachers or child-free teaching couples, rather than families. Want to find out your earning potential teaching anywhere in the world? Get a decent idea of what you can expect with the help of our free teach abroad salary calculator! 3. The lifestyle in Kuwait is more kid-friendly. Overall, the lifestyle in Kuwait is more laid back and less hectic than the bustle of Dubai. The climate and outdoors activities offered by both Kuwait and Dubai are quite similar - there’s plenty of sunshine and easy access to beaches in both locations. However, Kuwait has much lower humidity levels, making it more comfortable to play outside for young children year round. The traffic in Dubai - especially during rush hour - is chaotic. This can be a rough transition if your children are used to a quieter pace of life. Also, although Dhabi is justifiably world famous for its luxurious restaurants, the local cuisine in Kuwait is, in a word, sensational. There are also plenty of grocery stores selling important western foods that aren’t ridiculously overpriced - thanks to the fact that there are also no taxes in Kuwait. 4. The quality of education is exceptional in Kuwait - and tuition is free. Finding the right school for your children to attend won’t be much of a struggle in Kuwait. Over 60% of the population is made up of expats and it’s home to a thriving international community. When it comes to education options for your family, Kuwait definitely clinches the top spot. With programs like the American United School of Kuwait covering tuition for successful candidates with children, you can take your pick of over 90 international schools in the region, offering a range of curricula including UK, US and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses of study. Teaching jobs in Kuwait in 2018 Search and apply for the latest teaching jobs with the American United School of Kuwait Search and apply for the latest teaching jobs with the American Creativity Academy 5. Accommodation in Kuwait is more suited to families. Unless you want to live further outside of the city, expect sky-high rental and property prices in Dubai. If you’re looking for a living space with a garden for your children to play in, Kuwait is your best bet. 6. Kuwait is a great base to explore the world. Are you a family of aspiring globetrotters? One of the biggest benefits of teaching abroad is all the time you’ll have to travel as a family - thanks to the ample vacation time. Not only is Kuwait a wonderful place to raise kids - it's also a great base to travel the world from. It happens to be conveniently located smack bang in the middle of the other major Middle Eastern and South Asian countries. Kuwait offers lots of direct flights to cities in Europe, the Middle East and Asia - even Australia and New Zealand! So there you have it, folks - just a few of the reasons why Kuwait is the best country for teaching families to move to in the Middle East! If you’re thinking about taking the leap and moving abroad to teach with your kids, don’t forget that doing your research and preparing as much as possible will ensure a smooth move and help you and your family settle into your new life in no time at all. As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Noor Al Diyar Private School

Noor Al Diyar Private School Noor Al Diyar Private School Noor Al Diyar is a brand new, purpose-built school set on the shores of North Bahrain, close to the International Airport. The next academix year, the school seeks to accommodate Reception to Year 8 students (KG1 Grade 7) but will extend its year groupsand eventually to AS and A levels. Noor Al Diyar School is fully equipped to teach the Cambridge Curriculum with a capacity for nine classes per year group. Its state-of-the-art Library, IT Suites, Music Rooms, Hall and Early Years provision, as well as its beautifully attractive classrooms, make this school very popular with parents. This is a school with a strong and positive ethos which nurtures children to reach their potential in a safe and happy environment. We are looking for KG and Primary Teachers for immediate start. All candidates shall be graduate with a teaching related degree and minimum of 2years teaching experience We offer Unique teaching environment A faculty environment that is second to none Attractive local salary Private accommodation School transport Air travel home every twoyears Why us? We own and run award winning schools in the region. Over 25 years educational experience and a proven track record of quality education. Our schools have waiting list year on year for the last 10 years. Our schools have produced 2000plus graduate at secondary school level. Our combined student strength is 10,000 and growing. We employ staff from across the globe which is made up of 50 nationalities. We have approved centres for CIE exams and second in the region for Cambridge Professional Development training. Want to learn more about us? Send us your CV and we will arrange a short Skype interview.

VRoom! Getting Started with Virtual Reality Language Learning

VRoom! Getting Started with Virtual Reality Language Learning VRoom! Getting Started with Virtual Reality Language Learning The future is now.You can watch a 3D TV from the comfort of your couch.You can morph your face from the comfort of your phone.Hands-free devices allow you to focus more fully on your taco consumption.Lets face facts: We now live in an era that would make Marty McFlys jaw drop.And the best part about the future is that technology isnt just limited to entertaining options that will impress your friends.Technology can also help you improve yourself, and that includes your language skills!From language apps  to  language learning systems  to  innovative language learning tools, technology is changing language learning.  Each new technological advance leads to new developments in language learning, and each technology offers different advantages. Some  apps can  help you  memorize words. Software can guide you through a full language course in the comfort of your own home.Meanwhile, virtual reality, the latest player on the language learning scene, can help you practice your language skil ls like never before.Virtual reality (also called VR) uses computers, phones, tablets, headsets or other devices to simulate a real environment. Rather than merely showing you a scenario, virtual reality puts you in that scenario. It should come as no surprise, then, that HuffPost reports  that virtual reality is the new, sexy way to learn a language.While there are at this point still limited options for virtual reality language learning, there are already some good choices on the market.There are also ways that you can easily DIY a virtual reality foreign language experience, which well get into below.And dont worry, while were defining virtual reality pretty broadly here just to make sure youre aware of whats out there, well definitely get to those neato headsets.So theres no need to wait.Your language learning future can start now. Why Virtual Reality Language Learning Is Taking OffFirst of all, virtual reality can provide  interactive experiences to help you perfect your lang uage skills.  One study indicates that one reason why virtual reality language learning is so valuable is that it supports interaction. Interactive experiences are much more engaging than studying alone; plus, they give you valuable practice, which helps reinforce learning, which brings us to our next point.Virtual reality can also offer an opportunity to try out your skills without the intimidation factor of interacting with native spevakers in real life. Practicing your language skills is important. However, it can also be intimidating, particularly if youre interacting with a native speaker, which can seem downright terrifying. VR language learning programs provide the opportunity to get that valuable practice without any fear. And, thankfully, the more you practice, the less daunting interacting with native speakers will seem.Virtual reality can simulate real-life scenarios youre likely to encounter, thereby preparing you to encounter these scenarios in real life. Some study pro grams focus on learning vocabulary that you may never use. For instance, while naming colors is valuable, do you really discuss them more often than you order food? Probably not. VR language programs tend to focus more on real-life contexts that youll probably encounter if you travel abroad rather than abstract activities. This functional knowledge is useful and easy to apply to actual situations.Finally, the virtual reality experience is flexible and can be as authentic as you make it. And make it more authentic you can! Enhance VRs  feeling of authenticity by combining it with cultural authenticity through using FluentU in conjunction with one or more of the tools below. FluentU takes real-world videos from the webâ€"like travel videos, music videos, informative talks and moreâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons. One of the tools below even works with YouTube videos, so you can let FluentU curate content for your level and teach it to you according to your needs, then make real people, locations and language come alive with VR.VRoom! Getting Started with Virtual Reality Language LearningFirst things first: To use some virtual reality options, youll need (or have the option of using) a virtual reality headset. Here are three of the most popular options and what sorts of apps theyre compatible with.OculusOculus is compatible with apps sold through the Oculus store. Oculus works with Galaxy smartphones.DaydreamDaydream is a virtual reality viewer produced by Google. Its compatible with select Android-based phones.CardboardGoogles affordable virtual reality viewer is compatible with virtual reality apps for Android from the Google Play store. You can use it with newer-model iPhones and Android devices.Pioneers of Virtual Reality Language LearningMondlyAvailable: Android  |  Oculus RiftSeasoned language learners are no strangers to Mondly. Their online and app-based language learning options have been bringing their A game for a while. Bu t now, Mondly is also venturing into virtual reality language learning, and its a real game changer.Mondly VR focuses on putting you in realistic scenarios, like checking into a hotel, riding in a taxi, ordering at a restaurant or chatting on a train. From there, a character will speak to you, and youll respond verbally based on a list of possible responses. Voice-recognition software allows for immediate feedback on your pronunciation to help you perfect your skills.Mondly VR offers around 30 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hebrew, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and more.While the regular Mondly app is also available on iTunes, the Mondly VR app is only available for  Android  (which works with Daydream) and  Oculus Rift.ImmerseMeIf nothing excites you more than an exotic locale, ImmerseMe might be just the virtual reality program youre looking for.Scenarios will help you practice common interactions, like greeting s, ordering food and ordering coffee, with native speakers. If you respond correctly and clearly, the dialogue will move forward. However, ImmerseMe has a unique twistâ€"it features real locations, so not only can you practice your language skills, you can actually feel like youre abroad.ImmerseMe offers Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.ImmerseMe is currently available as a Chrome desktop application. Launches of an iOS app, an Android app and a VR headset app are planned for 2019.CrystallizeIs it a game or virtual reality? Trick questionâ€"its both.Crystallize helps students learn Japanese through an interactive, VR game. In it, you collect words that you find so that you can reuse them in the game. Then, you make use of your vocabulary stash in scenarios like making friends and getting a job.Your responses will come in the form of either a response to a multiple-choice question or a sentence-building activity. When you complete the response correctly, the dialogue will move on. If you dont have a vocabulary word you need, youll have to go listen in on other conversations until you find it.But Crystallize is useful for more than just vocabulary acquisition. One study shows  that Crystallize can also help teach you valuable non-verbal communication skills that youll need if you visit Japan, like how and when to bow.Plus, you can go on quests or even work with other players, both of which can increase the fun factor and your motivation.Crystallize is currently available via download for Windows, OSX or Linux.Other Virtual Reality Options You Can Use for Language LearningWhile these options arent specifically designed for language learners, you can use them to practice your language skills in VR.Avakin LifeAvailable: iOS | AndroidAvakin Life is a 3D mobile app in which you develop an avatar and then interact and explore in a virtual world. You can dance, build and decorate your living space, get a job or just han g out.For language learners, though, Avakin Life provides some opportunities to practice your target language in a simulated environment. Thats because Avakin Live supports 11 languages:  Chinese, English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. To find someone speaking your target language, you simply need to go to the social spots screen and toggle to international mode. Then, you can practice chatting in your target language in an immersive environment.The 3D element of Avakin Life works with Daydream, though you can still access the world from your phone without using the 3D element.FulldiveAvailable: iOS  | AndroidWouldnt it be nice if YouTube videos really pulled you in and made you feel like you were actually there? Well, weve got some life-changing news for youâ€"they can.Fulldive is a virtual reality platform that allows you access to various forms of media in a virtual reality context. This means you can enjoy content in a Ca rdboard or Daydream virtual reality headset.Fulldive offers an array of user-generated content, including photos and video. However, whats really exciting for language learners is that Fulldive allows you to stream YouTube videos in virtual reality. This means that you can use a virtual reality headset to enjoy web series, vlogs and all your favorite FluentU content in your target language. While its not interactive like options designed specifically for language learners, enjoying these videos on a virtual reality headset can help enmesh you in the video and make you feel more engaged, which is still quite useful.Fulldive is designed to be used with a Google Cardboard or Daydream viewer.So get your flux capacitor in gear.If you see fluency in your future, check out these VR language learning options! And One More ThingWeve already mentioned FluentU a couple times, but theres a lot more to see, so we thought wed offer you a more detailed look.With FluentU, you learn real languages â€"the same way that natives  speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, including movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse Screen.FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive Transcripts You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.