How Progressive Professionals Can Promote a Forward-Thinking Workplace - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / How Progressive Professionals Can Promote a Forward-Thinking Workplace - Introvert Whisperer How Progressive Professionals Can Promote a Forward-Thinking Workplace You see the bigger picture at work, keep a focus on your organization’s path into the future, and are open to just about any possibility. Along with being an introvert, you are a forward thinker. But what happens when a forward-thinking professional works for a company that doesn’t have the same type of culture? You may get frustrated, exhausted, and even question if getting a new job could solve your workplace problems.     Forward-thinking workplaces have one thing in common: they recognize and even celebrate their employees as a way of showing how they value their staff members. This is usually part of their company culture and can go a long way in keeping staff engaged and happy at work. Many companies have embraced a progressive work environment to flip the script on how staff perceive their job, managers, and coworkers.   If you’re looking for ways to change your company culture, you’ve come to the right place. Here are three strategies you can use to start a positive cultural revolution in your workplace.   Suggest Sustainability Activities like recycling, wildlife protection, and waste reduction are the most common sustainability practices. Creating a sustainable business encompasses these activities but goes a bit further. Sustainability in the workplace requires a broader consciousness about conservation, protection, and environmental stewardship.     Large corporations like Nike and Walmart have embraced sustainability initiatives that improve the environment and save money. Nike tracked the sustainability metrics of their suppliers. This gave them essential data that helped revise their business practices only to choose suppliers that have proven sustainability practices. Wal-Mart looked at metrics like water use, agricultural yields, and gas emissions and found areas for improvement. The changes they implemented reduced foot costs by $3.5 billion.     You’ll probably need to start on a much smaller scale than these examples. The good news for you is that, as an introvert, you’ve probably already observed and worked through a few ways your workplace can go green. If your employer doesn’t participate in simple sustainability practices like recycling, start there. Speak to your manager or human resources to offer ideas of how the company can embrace sustainability practices and save a little money in the process. Here are a few recycling at work ideas you can use to get started:   Recycle cardboard Refurbish old computers Switch to recycled paper Refill or recycle printer cartridges Switch to real mugs in the breakroom Set up recycling stations   Use rechargeable batteries Raise Awareness for Noble Causes Progressive company cultures often focus on social justice issues that are important to the business and their employees. For some companies, this might mean engaging in dialogue about topics both inside and outside of working hours as well as planning events that align with the mission of the issues they support. If you’re trying to begin these conversations, be sure that you know who to speak to and how to strike up the conversation.     Find a cause that aligns with the company culture or events at the workplace. For example, if a coworker was recently diagnosed with cancer, consider creating a team to walk in a local American Cancer Society Event. You might also find local causes such as homelessness or child abuse in your community. If you’re looking for a national organization, consider the Take Back the Night Foundation, which helps to raise awareness about all forms of sexual and domestic violence.     Regardless of the cause you choose, find a few coworkers who share your passion for raising awareness before you approach administration. Create a thoughtful plan that includes possible fundraising activities and a list of who will be in charge of events. Present both positive and negative effects for the company, such as increased morale and potential decreased productivity. Once you get the go-ahead from administration, get creative with ways to embed social awareness in your company culture.   Pitch New Work Schedule Options Many introverts long for the ability to work in the quiet of their own home, at least a few days a week. Some employers have embraced progressive work schedules, which can include anything from a four-day workweek to allowing employees to work from home. Some employers might frown at the notion of not having direct access to staff by just walking past a cubicle. Another concern that the company may have includes unforeseen costs in adopting new technologies to communicate with staff when they’re not on site.     If you and your coworkers are looking for ways to suggest a work change that will be taken seriously, the first step is to just talk about what you want. Bring up ideas like telecommuting, part-time work, or a shorter workweek during a staff meeting to see how everyone reacts.     Make sure you prepare your “elevator pitch,” which is a quick and concise speech about how your proposal can benefit both employees and the company. Bring up benefits such as reducing the risk of burnout at work, increasing staff creativity, and even lowering costs for the company if workspaces could be downsized. Once you’ve opened up the dialogue, give it some time before you bring up the topic again to allow leadership plenty of time and space to think about the idea before making a decision.     You should expect a little resistance from higher-ups at first. Stay positive and use language that shows you’re willing to work through the process with them. You can say statements like, “I can see lots of ways this can benefit the company. “ Make sure to ask questions so that you understand their concerns too. Try starting with “What concerns do you have from a global point of view about these work schedule changes?” Statements and questions like these will help keep the dialogue flowing from all parties involved.   Moving Your Company Culture Forward When you strike up these conversations and initiatives at work, some people may be surprised that you took on such a big problem. However, we know that introverts can be team-building superstars in the workplace and can get everyone working on a shared vision for the future. Use these strategies to get your company moving towards a forward-thinking culture to keep the organization growing and staff happy with their work environment. Image Source: Unsplash By Sam Bowman Sam Bowman  is a freelance writer and introvert who enjoys getting to utilize the internet for the community without actually having to leave his house. In his spare time, he likes running, reading, and combining the two in a run to his local bookstore. 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

Mean Deviation - Online Math Tutoring

Mean Deviation - Online Math Tutoring Mean deviation is the measure of variability. It is deviation from the average of a data set. Mean deviation of the population = | x - | / N = Population mean N= Population size. A manager of a company can find the mean deviation by taking the deviations and averaging these values. Because it is computed using the absolute values, the mean deviation is less useful in statistics than other measure of dispersion. However, in the field of forecasting, it is used occasionally as measure of error. Note: - Sum of deviation from arithmetic mean is always zero. (x - ) = 0 This property requires considering alternative ways to obtain measure of variability. T get the non-zero sum value we take the absolute value so that we can ignore the negative sign of the deviation value. Example: - Find the deviation from arithmetic mean of the given data set. 5 9 16 17 18 Solution:- X x- 5 -8 9 -4 16 3 17 4 18 5 x = 65 (x- ) =0 = x / N = 65 /5 =13 So ( x - ) = 0 Example 2: - Find the mean deviation for the same above data. Solution: - Take the absolute value and then find the sum of absolute deviation. Mean deviation= | x - | / N=24/5 = 4.8

6 Surprising Things About Senior Year of High School

6 Surprising Things About Senior Year of High School Senior year of high school is full of exciting opportunities. You may be chomping at the bit to graduate and get to college, but you must remember to live in the moment and appreciate all that this year has to offer! In order to prepare you for the year ahead, here are six surprising things about your senior year of high school. 1. Taking important classes It is a common misconception that seniors do not need to take anymore of the important classes, leaving them to only focus on fun electives. While it does vary by high school how many core classes a senior will need to take, you definitely are going to have to sign up for some of the more serious classes. One major benefit of senior year is that students typically have the opportunity to take additional courses, such as AP or college-credit classes through local colleges or universities. Classes such as these are helpful as they can help clear up your freshman year of college schedule. Or, if you would rather, take a class you have simply always had your eye on. Check with your high school to see the opportunities available. You never know what you may discover! Keep an open mind and perhaps you will come across a subject within your future career. [RELATED: Why Senior Year of High School is Important] 2. College preparation You should use much of your senior year to start preparing for the transition to college. You cannot wait until the end of the year to begin thinking about your future. You wouldnt want to miss any important housing or registration deadlines for your future campus, for instance. On the flipside, if youre considering a gap year, ensure you explore those opportunities well in advance. Act quickly because deadlines approach sooner than you may think. 3. GPA validity Your GPA still counts and definitely still matters during your senior year of high school. While you may be taking less or even easier classes, you still need to do your absolute best to earn solid grades. Remember that colleges can revoke an acceptance offer if your grades slip too much. A good GPA is important for many reasons including college admissions, scholarship opportunities, or even just to display when you create your first resume. 4. Friendships One thing to keep in mind is that once your senior year of high school is over, you may not see most of your classmates ever again. People change, and friendships change; do not be too hung up on being friends with everyone possible, or by issues that may have occurred with classmates in the past. Savor your time with the people who matter to you. It can be bittersweet to end your high school career, but try to focus on all of the exciting opportunities in your future while you hold these memories dearly. 5. Senioritis Yes, senioritis is a common problem and it will likely set in fast. It can be really tough to stay motivated during the entire final year of high school. In order to avoid senioritis, keep yourself as busy as you can. Stay involved with school activities, get a part-time job, focus extra on schoolwork, etc. You are going to have a year full of lasts, so you might as well make the most of it. Senior year will end up flying by, so do everything you can to enjoy it. 6. Young underclassmen Do you remember being a freshman in high school? Remember how the seniors always seemed so grown up? Well, prepare yourself for the opposite feeling because the freshmen are going to look quite young to you now that youre at the top of the schools totem pole! Consider helping out a freshman with directions in the school or advice on upcoming classes, as you would have likely appreciated when you were in their shoes. Keep in mind that senior year of high school, while very fun and rewarding, is also a time to set yourself up for a successful future. You still have a whole year of classes, so do not let that senioritis kick in too quickly. Find the perfect balance of enjoyment and hard work, and you should have an excellent last year.

Major changes coming to the SAT in spring 2016

Major changes coming to the SAT in spring 2016 College Board President David Coleman has announced the first major changes to the SAT since 2005, when the writing section was added and the total possible score increased to 2400.   The redesigned SAT will focus on skills necessary for college and career readiness and will be modeled on the work that students complete in difficult high school courses.Important elements of the SAT redesign include:A switch back to the old 1600 scale.Three sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, Math, and the Essay.The essay will be optional.   It will take 50 minutes to complete, and will ask the student to analyze evidence from a source and examine the persuasive abilities of the authors argument.The test will take approximately 3 hours to complete, with an additional 50 minutes for the optional essay.In the evidence-based reading and writing section, students will have to support answers with evidence drawn directly from the passage.SAT vocabulary will move from more obscure words to words t hat students are likely to use in college, like synthesize.Math will focus on a few areas only: arithmetic, algebra, functions, and proportional thinking, among others.   Calculators will not be allowed on some math sections.No more guessing penalty.The test will be available on paper and on computer by spring 2016.As you can see, these are major changes from the current version of the SAT.   Students who are taking the SAT this year and next year, these changes will not apply to you.   Dont worry, and keep doing what youre already doing!   Students who will take the SAT in spring 2016 (mainly current high school freshmen), this SAT redesign will apply to you.The College Board will release more information about the new SAT on April 16, including sample problems.   Over the next two years before the redesigned SAT is released, the College Board will make sample problems and materials available to guide your preparation.The College Board also plans to offer free practice SAT material in partnership with Khan Academy over the coming year to assist students with SAT prep, as part of their goal to level the playing field among all students taking the SAT.   This is a great idea, and we support more transparency surrounding the SAT prep process.   However, we also believe that there will always be a need for expert assistance from those familiar with the test and with your specific needs as a test-taker, and a need for structure and accountability in a test-preparation program.We here at AJ Tutoring are looking forward to bringing our Bay Area clients more information about the redesigned SAT when it becomes available in April.   In the meantime, if you have any questions about how the new SAT will impact your preparation (or any questions about the old SAT!), feel free to call us at (650) 331-3251, or email info@ajtutoring.com.   Were excited about helping our students through the changes to the SAT!

Simple and Compound English Sentences - Video and Exercise

Simple and Compound English Sentences - Video and Exercise Ive noticed as an English teacher that many of my students speak correctly when using short simple sentences. However, when students start speaking with more difficult sentences and start using sentence structure that contains multiple ideas, they often have problems with the word order and structure of sentences. I hope this video will help students understand English sentence structure and correct some of the mistakes they make with word order, even if its not the most entertaining subject.(If youre looking for the What if Everyone Rode Bikes? lesson, click here. We sent the wrong link;)Before we do the exercise lets review FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)MORE INFORMATION-andCHOICE-or, norOPPOSITE INFORMATION-but, yetREASON-forRESULT-soExercise: Combine the two simple sentences using the proper connecting word, and dont forget the comma!1. She saw a cat run in front of her. She stopped the car suddenly.2. He gave her a ring.   It is her birthday.3. The zombies eat people. The people kill the zombies.4. She doesnt like the cold weather. She really likes skiing.5. She did not fail her English exam. She was not worried about her English exam.6. We could go to the movie tonight. We could stay home and rent a movie.7. I like enchiladas. I have a really good recipe for black bean and squash enchiladas. Anna 1. She saw a cat run in front of her, so she stopped the car suddenly. 2. He gave her a ring, for it is her birthday. 3. The people kill the zombies, or the zombies eat people. 4. She really like skiing, but she doesnt like the cold weather. 5. She did not fail her English exam, because she was not worried about her English exam. 6. We couid go to the movie tinight, or we could stay home and rent a movie. 7. I like enchiladas, and I have a really good recipe for black bean and squash enchiladas. LOIEnglish Anna,You had some difficulty with Question #2. When we combine the sentences it is important to be sure that we combine them and replace nouns/obj ects with matching pronouns. He gave her a ring, for her birthday. Questions #3: The zombies eat people, SO the people kill THEM. Questions #4: She really likeS skiing, but she doesnt like the cold weather. (remember that s on 3rd person singular. Question #5: She did not fail her English exam, NOR was she worried about IT. Questions #6: We could go to the movie tonight, or we could stay home and rent ONE. 7. I like enchiladas, and I have a really good recipe for black bean and squash ONES.I hope this helps! André Dertrudes de Macena Estes exercícios são muito importantes para mim, gostaria muito de receber ainda bem não apenas falando sobre verbos mais pronomes adjetivos substantivos, e toda regra da língua inglesa meu objetivo é melhorar meu inglês cada vez mais, por isso conto com todos vocês. André Dertrudes de Macena This sait es very very good LOIEnglish Good work Petar. Im glad to see that you replaced the nouns with pronouns! LOIEnglish Thanks for your suggestio ns. We will turn the sound down. Ilka 1. She saw a cat run in front of her, so she stopped the car suddenly.2. He gave her a ring, for it is her birthday.3. The zombies eat people, and the people kill the zombies.4. She doesn’t like the cold weather, but she really likes skiing.5. She did not fail her English exam because she was not worried about her English exam.6. We could go to the movie tonight or we could stay home and rent a movie.7. I like enchiladas, so I have a really good recipe for black bean and squash enchiladas. LOIEnglish Ilka..You have a couple problems connecting the sentence parts.Look at this diagram:MORE INFORMATION-and CHOICE-or, nor OPPOSITE INFORMATION-but, yet REASON-for RESULT-soQuestion # 2: He gave her a ring for her birthday. Question #3: Zombies eat people, so the people kill THEM. Questions #7: I like enchiladas AND I have a really good recipe for black bean and squash ONES.The video doesnt explain pronoun replacement however, we usually replace th e subject in the second part of the sentence with a pronoun. The English language doesnt like repetition, so we rarely use the same word twice in a single sentence. Be sure to look for this weeks video because Im creating the second series about complex sentences. Nguyen Thi Hoa 1. She saws the cat run in front of her, so she stopped the car suddenly 2. He gave her a ring, for it is her birthday. 3. The zombies eat people, but the poeple kill the zombies. 4. she doent like the cold weather, but she really likes skiing. 5. she did not fail her English exam, so she was not worried about her English exam. 6. We could go to the movie tonight, or we could stay home and rent a movie. 7. I like enchiladas, and i have a really good recipe for black bean and squash enchiladas. LOIEnglish Nguyen,One quick thing: usually we replace the subject of the sentence with a pronoun in the second sentence. i.g. The zombies eat people, but the people kill THEM. Question #5: NOR is the best option: Sh e did not fail her English exam, nor was she worried about IT. Good work! Thanks for answering. LOIEnglish Good Rafa. Alvaro Willians 1. She saw a cat run in front of her, and she stopped the car suddaly.2. He gave her ring, for her birthday.3. the zombies ear people, so the people kill them.4. She doesnt like the cold weather, but she really likes skiing.5. She did not fail her English exam, so she was not worried about her English exam.6. We could go to the movie tonight, or we could stay home and rent a movie.7. I like enchiladas, and I have a really good recipe for black bean and squash enchiladas. LOIEnglish Alvaro,You have two problems. Question #1, the better choice is so. We are talking about result in this sentence we are not adding extra information. So often answers the question What happened?Question #5, the best choice is nor Alvaro Willians Thank for your attention. Could you please tell me what does NOR means? LOIEnglish Nor is a conjunction and an adverb. It is used before the second option in a negative sentence. i.g. I do not like wine NOR beer. In Spanish I think it is ni In the case of a conjunction it is used to introduce additional negative information in a negative sentence.i.g. She did NOT fail her English exam, NOR was she worried about it. The two simple sentences are:She was NOT worried about her English exam.She did NOT fail her English exam. When we combine the two we take away 1 NOT and insert NOR. Alvaro Willians Hummm OK. Thanks again!

Moving Up Through the Ranks Becoming a Manager

Moving Up Through the Ranks Becoming a Manager image via www.gameskinny.com When getting a job, you are always going to start at the bottom and have to work your way up. Nothing comes for free and no one is just going to hand you a higher position, so if you want to move up you are going to have to put in a lot of time and effort. If becoming a manager is something that you wish to achieve, here are some tips and advice from managers and superiors about how they went from an employee to where they are now, and about what people are looking for when they wish to promote someone. image via blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com Education, education, education: A higher education shows that you are serious about your future and that you can handle the stress and expectations of a university. Rudolf Muller, director of Lindt and Sprungli, said that the importance of education “doesn’t end with your degreeyou have to stay abreast of new developments in your field of expertise as well as in Information Technology.” You have to be willing to adapt to new concepts in your field, which will happen frequently. Our world is a fast-paced place, and showing that you can keep up will definitely impress your superiors. Be a team player: This is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, but being a team player is an essential part to moving up in the ranks. Mykhaylo Shumko, a fourth year astrophysics and math student at UC Santa Cruz and a manager at the Cowell Dining hall, said “of course you arent going to be friends with every person that you work with, but try and at least have a good relationship with everyone. image via www.alliedmills.com.au Being part of a team is inescapable, so try and make the best of it. You don’t have to agree with everyone, but make sure to try and listen to their opinions. In the end, it’s all about respect. Muller said that being a team player means that you have to “keep your cool in controversial discussions.” You can point out the things that you don’t agree with but you should never attack someone personally. Superiors are going to want to promote someone who can function well on a team and be a leader without belittling anyone. Want some tips about how to become a better team player? Here is an article  by Dorie Clark in Forbes that will give you five tips on how to do so. image via blogs.incpas.org Know what you are doing: Greg Banks, President of Banks Integration Group, said what makes a good manager is “someone who will be able to get the job done efficiently and doesn’t have to be checked up on.” Your superiors are going to want to be able to rely on you, so you really need to show them that you know your stuff. Even when you get promoted and are more of an overseer, it is still good to know how all of the jobs work. Shumko said you need to know the ins and outs of the job, because as a manager there are times when you will have to “get down and dirty with the little details” and you are going to need to know what you are doing. This being said, you don’t have to know absolutely everything and it is okay to ask for help. You just have to make sure you ask the right people. Peter Gottschlich, founder and CEO of Automation GT, said that “the people that really want to manage enrich themselves by learning from others, such as coaches, other seasoned managers, or by training.” Everyone has to learn somewhere, and showing initiative by wanting to learn will definitely earn you some brownie points. The best way to learn is by observing and then doing. If you get a head start and befriend your managers, you can watch how they go about doing things and have a reference point if you are promoted. image via progressalways.wordpress.com Go above and beyond: If you want to get promoted, you are going to have to put in more effort than is asked of you. Shumko said that going the extra mile is actually how he got hired. Try and do something that will make you stand outif your superiors see this they will definitely take note of it and give you a good reference.” You need to show your manager that your job is important to you and you are committed to your company. A lot of people take the route of doing the bare minimum in order to skate by, so if you prove yourself and stand out, you will definitely have a good shot of advancing to a higher position. Amer El-Arid, second year kinesiology student at De Anza Community College and manager at GNC, said you need to be more than just a hard worker. “You need to show potential and passion for the job; you need to love what you do in order to move up,”he said. Managers will see this passion in your work and will appreciate your effort. Going above and beyond is the key to getting yourself noticed. image via seekersportal.wordpress.com Be ready to make sacrifices: Rising up in the ranks means that you are going to bear the weight of more responsibility. Gilbert Fluetsch, COO at Hoplon Financial Group, said that “job management can really put stress on relationships.” Taking on more responsibility means that you have less personal time to spare, and since you can’t be in two places at once, you will have to be prepared to miss out on some things. Fluetsch also mentioned that you have to be willing to “put in long hours.” The extra work doesn’t magically stop when you are able to land the job; you will have to show your managers that they made the right decision by promoting you, and make sure that you keep up the qualities that got you the promotion in the first place. Banks said that he looks for “people to take responsibility for their tasks and deliver them without being asked.” Accomplishing all of the things that are required of you will not always be easy, but the extra effort will prove that you have what it takes. Proficiency in multiple languages: Knowing more than one language will make you stand out to your superiors, because our world is a global economy, and knowing other languages can help your business. image via blog.lib.umn.edu Muller said to “become proficient in as many foreign languages as possible.” The earlier you start learning, the easier it will be for you to pick up on a new language. It isn’t going to be a walk in the park, but if you are willing to put in the time, you will see the results. According to this CNN article by Annalyn Kurtz, knowing a second language is a very sought-after job skill that many people lack. If you can set yourself apart by knowing another language, you are already one step closer to getting that promotion. If you want more tips on what superiors are looking for, Banks said he uses the book People and Performance, by Peter F. Drucker, as a guideline for what he expects out of his managers. Good luck! Run your own business, get control of your future, make an impact on your life. To learn more about College Pro, click here or call 1-888-277-7962.

5 ways English tutors can demonstrate colons

5 ways English tutors can demonstrate colons The colon as we know it - two dots on a vertical line - was first recorded in English around the year 1600 and its use varies across languages worldwide. It has several related but distinct uses in English, mainly to inform a reader that two pieces of information are connected. Here are five examples that English tutors can use when teaching their students how to use colons: 1) The most common use of a colon is known as syntactical-deductive. It is used when the second clause of a sentence presents the logical effect or consequence of a fact stated previously, usually in the first clause. For example: 'There was no one there to welcome him: the party had ended early' 2) The second use follows a similar pattern, but introduces a description. This is known as syntactical-descriptive, and the first clause should be a complete sentence in its own right. 'I have five cousins: John, Joanne, Stephen, Matthew and Laura' 3) Colons can introduce direct speech: Shakespeare had a very sound banking policy: 'Neither a borrower nor a lender be.' 4) Colons can demarcate differing pieces of information: Paddington: A cartoon bear created by Michael Bond. Also a major train station in London, UK 5) Colons can also be used to separate chapters and verses, and to distinguish titles and subtitles: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.

3 Steps to Building a Foreign Language Audio Library Thatll Fulfill All Your Needs!

3 Steps to Building a Foreign Language Audio Library Thatll Fulfill All Your Needs! 3 Steps to Building a Foreign Language Audio Library Thatll Fulfill All Your Needs! Got a pair of headphones?Then learning your target language is about to get a whole lot easier.Plus a little catchier.Did you know the  simple act of  listening  to your target language can help you take huge strides toward fluency?And it doesnt even matter  what you listen to.All kinds of listening materials can improve your skills, whether its stuff from your textbooks, your teachers lectures, conversations with native speakers, radio, TV or movies.Even better,  listening is a hands-off activity. That means you can listen to target-language content  in the car on your commute or during your morning run. Those are great opportunities to get in some focused listening! But you can also listen while you’re doing repetitive work, homework or household chores.The first step, though, is  building that audio library  so you can listen 24/7. 3 Steps to Building a Foreign Language Audio Library Thatll Fulfill All Your Needs!Here are your keys to building a personalized foreign language a udio library, no matter your interests or proficiency level.1. Gather Music Like a FiendBenefits of Listening to Music:Music is often our go-to when we think of foreign language audio, right? It’s catchy, its fun and it’s relaxing. If you’re a person who walks around with headphones on all  day, chances are you’re  already spending lots of your time listening to music.If you switch that music over to your target  language, think of the benefits!Its not time consuming. Youll get tons of practice listening to your target language and building comprehension skills, without taking any additional time out of your schedule. Listen on your commute, during errands or whenever else you already enjoy music.It wont drain you. You can listen for long periods of time without getting fatigued, like you might with talk radio or podcasts.It’s catchy. In your native language, that means getting a song stuck in your head. In your target language, that means memorization. You’ll listen to songs you like over and over, so you’ll effortlessly memorize stock phrases.It’s awesome for learning slang and other casual language.  Most music isn’t in that formal register textbooks use. You’ll learn how native speakers  really use their language.How to Find Target Language Music:Looking for foreign language music can be intimidatingâ€"how do you begin to find  songs and artists you like?Spotify  can be a  window to the world of music in your target language. Start with Spotify playlistsâ€"you can type your  target language in the search bar. (You can search either in the target language or in Englishâ€"you’ll get different results for each, but you’ll still get results!) Scroll down in the search bar and click Playlists for all the results.These playlists are user madeâ€"some cover specific genres, and some are pretty eclectic. Ive enjoyed listening to playlists such as  Mandarin Pop and German Top 100! You’ll have to do some listening up front to find what you l ike, but heyâ€"that’s just more target-language immersion for you! As youre listening, save the songs you like. Spotify will start recommending similar artists (often in the same language) on the artist page.If the playlists arent thrilling you, you can also check out Spotifys  Charts feature (under Browse) and listen to the top songs from a country that speaks your language.Next up, hit YouTube. Search for those Spotify artists youve enjoyed and check out YouTube’s recommendations in the sidebar to gather even more albums and artists in your target language. And dont forget that YouTube has a playlist feature, too. You can search for YouTube  playlists and top hits in your target language  to get more options and find music you wont be able to stop listening to.With these tools, you have no excuse not to have a plethora of target language music at your disposal. Rinse and repeat until you’re satisfied with your options! Hoard Those Native PodcastsBenefits of Listening to Podc asts:Podcasts are  such a convenient way to get valuable target-language listening time. Because they’re made for mobile devices, listening to them is just as effortless as it is with music. Podcasts, though, are generally comprised mostly of speech.Whether you’re listening to documentaries, interviews or fun talk shows, you’re getting all the language learning benefits  that come with immersing in native speech. Its a great way to familiarize yourself with common speech patterns, or to get acquainted with natural accents and improve your own.Basically, podcasts get you used to how normal, everyday people talk in your target language!How to Find Podcasts You Love:First, you’ll need a good bilingual dictionary in your target language.If you’re learning European languages, check out WordReference. For Chinese, check out LINE Dict and for Japanese try  Jisho. Look up words related to your hobbies or interests in your target language.For example, you might be interested in gar dening, video games, news and politics, business, travel or any number of other subjects! Translate the podcast topics you brainstorm and make a list of the new vocab you’re learning.Next, search for those target-language words in your podcast app of choice. You can use  Apple Podcasts, Overcast  or Pocket Casts (iOS/Android), to name a few. It’s best if you have lots of common interests to search for, because that increases your chances of finding interesting, high-quality podcasts!Here are some examples to get you started. If you like video games and you’re learning French, you might like Gamerside. NHK World offers news podcasts in a number of languages,  not just Japanese. And if it’s travel that gets you excited and you’re into Spanish, you can always check out Nómadas by RTVE!Another way to find target-language podcasts is to scroll to the bottom of iTunes (on your computerâ€"this doesnt work for the podcast app) and change the country. The podcast page will then au tomatically suggest popular podcasts in that countrys language, and you can download as usual. Just be aware that if English is widely used in the country where your language is spoken, you might have less luck with this method since popular podcasts may just be in English.When you’ve found a podcast youre interested in, make sure its current and subscribe so that you always have something new to listen to.Finally, keep an eye out for podcast networks that offer a number of podcasts from the same company (such as  RTVE  in Spanish or TBS Radio in Japanese). There’s a good chance that podcasts produced by the same company will be of similar quality.3. Don’t Forget Your Learning MaterialsBenefits of Listening to Learning Materials:When it comes to audio immersion, learning materials don’t have to be left out. Learning materials are things like textbook recordings and podcasts focused on learners (rather than media for native speakers). These are great for focusing on during co mmutes when your mind is free to take in new info.Because theyre intended for language learners, these materials are usually slower and include definitions or explanations. Youll be sure to pick up new  vocabulary and grammar! This can feel less intimidating than audio created for native speakers and can help keep you anchored in your listening. But learning materials always work best when combined with native materials like those listed above.How to Find Audio Learning Materials:Before you search too far, grab that audio CD or digital file that came with your textbook of choice. Upload those audio lessons to your phone for reviewing whenever you want! I find it’s best to re-listen to lessons you’ve already covered in a more studious  setting.Learning podcasts, such as the LanguagePod101 series or slow speech  podcasts such as  Slow Chinese and Slow German are easier to find than native speaker podcasts. You’ll get plenty of choices by simply searching for the language in Appl e Podcasts or Overcasts (if you’re using iTunes, you’ll have to scroll down for podcast results).iTunes U courses are another great option. iTunes U offers recorded university courses as well as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) for those of us who prefer classroom-style tuition over short podcasts like LanguagePod101. For example, here are beginners’ Chinese and beginners’ German courses offered on iTunesU through the Open University.When searching on iTunes for courses, make sure you scroll through the results until you see the “iTunes U” heading. When you find something you like, you can download and listen to the audio to bring that classroom experience wherever you go!Finally, you can get even more learning materials through Spotify! Go to the Browse section on the left sidebar and then scroll down to the Word category. Here, you’ll find a number of playlists that include audio course materials. There are playlists for French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, German, Swedish, Irish, Portuguese, Arabic and Russian.If you have Spotify Premium, or if you’re listening on your computer, you’ll be able to listen to the playlist in order. If you’re out and away from your computer and  don’t have Spotify Premium, no worriesâ€"Spotify will let you listen to the playlist on shuffle, and you’ll get an interesting grab bag of lessons.If you bank up audio materials using the above suggestions, you’ll have a foreign language audio library for every occasion. You’ll never be bored and you’ll be that much closer to fluency!