#basically it’s teach yourself online but come to class to do practicals

[rigelmejo]

In honor of seeing 5 more posts on reddit about 'best way to learn X language again':

Here's the guide on how to learn a language from r/language learning: https://www.reddit.com/r/languagelearning/wiki/guide

The answer to 'the best way to learn' is to find whatever study materials and study activities you can get yourself to do regularly for hundreds to thousands of hours, that will regularly teach you some new stuff and allow you to practice understanding some stuff you've learned. Ideally, study materials and study activities that focus on teaching how to do the things you wish to do in the language. (So if your goal is to speak about X topic, you eventually DO need to study listening, speaking, practice speaking with others, and learning vocabulary that comes up when speaking about X topic). You will notice that 'the best way to learn' is going to be different for different people! One person's answer may not be the 'best' way for you, only you can determine the 'best' way for you.

If you've never studied a language before, my personal opinion would be recommending you stop focusing on 'the best way to learn' and focus on structured language learning materials. If you've never studied a language before, never made your own study materials or collected them and planned your own study activities and scheduled your study time? Then I think it may be easier for you to just pick a study material that TELLS you what vocabulary and grammar to study, TELLS you what exercises to do to practice reading, writing, speaking, listening, and then just committing yourself to working through that study material 1-2 hours a day on average. You will want to pick a well made study material - such as a textbook many people recommend for that language for beginners, then for intermediate learners, or a class at a university/college, or a free online course that's equivalent to a college course (like on Coursera), or a well known language learning material that many people said worked well for them (Assimil, Teach Yourself, etc). If you're bad at figuring out what to study yourself, I recommend you pick a study material that teaches ALL 4 listening, speaking, reading, listening. So the study material should have audio and text, and you should do practice writing exercises based on grammar and vocabulary in each section, and practice speaking like the audio that is provided. The study material should also have 2000 words or more (if for beginners) and cover a variety of basic grammar, so that you're prepared to move to an intermediate study material when you're done. So while I love study materials like Language Transfer podcast, if you're a beginner who's never studied a language before, Language Transfer mainly focuses on grammar and listening skills... so if you aren't good at finding other resources for reading, and aren't good at making up your own writing/speaking exercises, then Language Transfer will not be ideal for you. If you pick multiple study materials (which will be a bit more difficult if you're bad at planning your own study plan), make sure the combination of those study materials covers overall beginner material (2000+ words and basic grammar) and writing, speaking, listening, reading skills.

Another option, if you've never studied a language before: find what someone else did and copy what they did. Is it the 'best' method? Depends on if you can get yourself to study regularly for hundreds to thousands of hours. What you can get yourself to do regularly, will be the best method for you. People share their methods online all the time, some name them (Refold, Mass Immersion Approach, Comprehensible Input, Automatic Language Growth, Assimil, Listening Reading Method), some people just share their study plans online. Choose to copy the study methods of people who've reached goals similar to what you want to do - so for example if your goal is to read in Chinese, copying the guide on Heavenly Path's Site for reading is likely to help you reach that goal. If you like learning by just listening/watching, Comprehensible Input methods like Dreaming Spanish may suit you well. My initial goal was to read in Chinese, so I looked up people who'd already done what I wanted to do, and read their study plans, and then studied the same materials they studied. It worked. Then I looked up how people improved listening skills, and again copied the study methods they did. If you know what your goals are - what you want to do in the language, you can just look up what other people did and find something that both would help you reach your goal AND that you can get yourself to do regularly.

In the end, my personal opinion is, it doesn't matter what the 'best' way to learn is... aside from whatever motivates you to study regularly. I've read a LOT personal experiences people have shared of their progress. For the most part, most people who put 2000 hours into studying a language end up with a similar level of skill. So just study the same amount of hours everyone else who accomplished your goal has studied, and your language abilities will end up similar to theirs.* (The only exception to this is: if you avoid studying the actual skill you wish to be able to do in the language, you will still EVENTUALLY need to put study hours into THAT SPECIFIC SKILL. I saw someone who studied 3000 hours with audiobooks and asked why they couldn't understand show dialogue... they knew the words, of course! They just had spent 0 hours practicing listening to the way people speak in shows, how they talk fast and less clearly compared to audiobooks. To get good at doing something specific... you need to spend some time DOING that specific thing. Or if you spend say 1000 hours like me reading chinese, then wonder why you can't understand an audiobook even though you know all the words? You still need to spend study hours LISTENING to audiobooks to get good at understanding them. So assuming you are spending your study time ON the actual activities you wish to do, then yes you'll reach similar language levels to others who studied toward that goal for X hundred or thousand hours. Also, depending on the languages you already know, and the language you're studying, will effect how many hundred or thousand hours you need to study - compare your progress to other people who know the same language and are studying the same language. A motivating little story: many people who study with Dreaming Spanish's comprehensible input lessons made for learners reach a ~B2 level after 2000 hours, starting to read after 600-800 hours and starting to speak after 1000 hours. There was a guy who studied French by watching TV shows without looking up the translations of any words, not necessarily comprehensible, and then after 1200 hours he started reading French, and after 1500 he started speaking, and after 2000 hours he passed a French B2 test. The Dreaming Spanish learners used videos made for learners, where they're made to be extremely easy for learners to guess what each word means. The guy who watched French shows could guess the meaning of some words in kids cartoons - but could not understand nearly as much as those DS learners using material made for learners - and then after several hundred hours moved to shows for adults. Both DS learners and the guy who used regular stuff for French native speakers, achieved similar abilities after 2000 hours. I would argue that a LOT of people would say the guy who studied French did it in a 'worse' way... since he did not look up translations which could have helped him understand more faster, and did not use videos intentionally made to be super understandable to learners like DS learners do. And yet, he achieved similar results. A lot of people who study with Refold method - tons of anki flashcards, looking up words while watching shows/reading - also have similar results. So I would say this is all a good example of: just pick whatever study method you can get yourself to do for thousands of hours. Eventually your results will be similar to people who've done other study methods anyway. So the 'best' method is simply whatever you can get yourself to DO REGULARLY.

[mochayoubi]

hello!! how are you? i'm reaching out to you because you're the one i keep seeing my dashboard that's related to japanese learning.

i wanted to ask: how do you suggest a beginner should start studying? like, they're N5, and they know hiragana and katakana, but do not know how to move forward from there because it scares them? (it's me, btw, hi hello how are you how are the kids)

thank you so much!! have a good day!!

omg hi!!! im doing ok (im sick rn but it's fine lol) thanks sm for the ask! :3

i think the best thing you can do for yourself is follow your curiosity! at the early stages of learning curiosity will take you much farther than trying to set hard deadlines for yourself - especially when it sounds like moving forward is a bit intimidating at the moment.

so, i'm going to list out things that might be worth checking out. it takes a while for people to figure out what works for them, and since you mentioned you already know hiragana/katakana you're primed to get out there and really explore your options! embrace the feeling of possibility rather than the fear of the unknown :D i say this bc if you get too caught up in making the "right" choice it might just make learning too stressful to want to continue

anyway here's some things that beginners commonly go for when continuing with japanese learning (under the readmore)

find a textbook and work through it there's a bunch out there, I know Genki I is probably the most well-known, but i'm also familiar with Tobira I, Yookoso, and Minna no Nihongo. textbooks are nice because they're literally designed for learners and offer structure to what order you learn kanji, grammar, etc. and come with lots of practice questions. the difficult part is self-teaching through them since they tend to assume youre also using it with a teacher who can correct you and give advice. however they're still pretty good as references imo! if you google "[textbook name] pdf" they're pretty likely to come up

find an app you can use daily there are also a lot of these, and many of them are designed to be used daily so you can better enforce the habit of studying japanese every day. these tend to be simpler and gamefied to make it more appealing and easier to pick up as well. i would just stay away from duolingo as i've heard their japanese curriculum is bad. some other ones i've heard are helpful are Renshuu and Human Japanese.

find an online guide and follow it by "online guide" i mean websites people have compiled of their own guides to learning japanese, such as Tae Kim. these are more accessible and unlike textbooks tend to assume that you are self-studying, so it's easier to follow independently, but usually don't have any practice questions or ways to test yourself. still good as a reference. you can also check out this website that specifies their philosophy on what makes effective japanese learning and what steps to take as a beginner (imo it's very. long. and winds on for a while. but people have said it helps!)

download and use anki anki is an app (both phone and pc) that uses flashcards and that many learners use to retain vocab. their site has decks other people have created, and you can find decks of "core vocab" for example which has flashcards of common japanese vocab. you can also create your own flashcards of words you encounter in the wild to help practice them even after you've read it. i think anki is super useful, but i would probably suggest using it once you have more of a grasp on basic japanese concepts or else you'll just be rote-memorizing things that don't make sense to you yet. but i'm putting it here in case this appeals to you!

take a class or find an online tutor now this one will most likely cost you money, but it offers the most structure and guidance possible which can be extremely helpful starting out since you're able to ask questions and get feedback. you can look into nearby universities who might offer japanese classes, or you can try one of the many language-learning tutor websites out there. i've had some decent success with italki, and there's also JOI (japanese online institute) that i've heard is very helpful too.

watch japanese-learning videos these can be nice bc you can actually hear the japanese and how it's supposed to sound, and it's typically lower effort and easier to get into than actively starting a textbook or class. miku real japanese, japarrot, and 日本語の森 are channels i've watched before and like, but there's plenty others out there too. i'd just steer away from clickbait-y looking ones like "i learned japanese in 30 days and here's how!!" since they tend to not be that helpful.

read simple stories in japanese reading in japanese tends to be the most intimidating step for people, but there's sites that have stories made for beginners that are easy to follow and only use hiragana/katakana. my go-to for my students is usually tadoku since the stories are short, organized by level, and very beginner friendly. a while ago someone showed me natively which lets you look up japanese books, also by level. if you want some good beginner manga, yotsuba and teasing master takagi-san are what i've recommended before

misc. things you can try!

watch anime but intentionally - try to actively listen and pick up on words they say. a long time ago i used animelon, which puts japanese subtitles that you can adjust to show hiragana only

look up jlpt n5/n4 specific materials. they're geared for an exam so it might not be the most natural feeling, but they do tend to be convenient for lists of vocab and grammar. this website has some helpful resources for that

add an extension on your browser that will let you hover over japanese words and see its definition. i use firefox and have 10ten reader to do this, but rikaikun and yomichan are also similar extensions

when you learn the japanese word for something in your house, put a sticky note on it that has the japanse word. like, for "table" you can put a note on it that says 「テーブル」. i heard this can help with retention (i haven't done it myself tbf)

EDIT: ohh i can't believe i forgot this. but join a japanese-learning community! there's discord servers out there, and if you have a friend willing to study with you you can ask them to be your accountability buddy.

anyway, i know that was a lot but i hope that gives you some direction on where you'd like to go next in your japanese learning journey! ^_^ and again, absolutely no pressure to do all of these. the most important thing is letting curiosity be your guide and fostering a positive relationship with learning japanese rather than being afraid. if i can help out some more lmk!!

[sombra-conlangs]

I just had a thought I want to share: I don't think the conlang community is great at helping beginners to get into conlanging, and while the art form is kind of esoteric and requires lots of knowledge I also think there's probably better approaches for tackling the huge task of learning how to create an entire language.

I can't figure out a way to say it concisely, I'll just spew out all my thoughts on this so hopefully others can see where I'm coming from and share their thoughts, I'm curious to hear what y'all have to say.

First let's look at something that I've noticed is pretty common in other artistic hobbies and communities:

When people decide to learn a new skill there can be a lot of excitement that builds up initially, they may have never touched an instrument in their life but they have this burning desire to jump right into writing and recording an awesome guitar solo, just like the ones they hear in their favorite songs, or they may not have any drawing and writing experience at all but the first thing they wanna do is start working on an entire webcomic series drawn in a highly detailed art style because they came up with an idea for a story that would be amazing. Whatever the skill is, it happens often that someone sees a work of art that is so inspiring that they want to make something just like it themselves.

Of course, when people try a new art form for the first time the results don't tend to be very good, when you've never done a thing before it's unrealistic to expect yourself to be able to replicate the stuff that people with a few years of experience and practice can make.

And that can be a pretty frustrating experience because if someone tries their hardest to create that dream project of theirs with no experience it'll inevitably end up taking a huge amount of effort (due to the person not knowing how to do things in a more efficient way) and then it won't even be as good as they envisioned anyway, and some can walk away from these experiences with the impression that music is simply too hard or they're just not made to be artists or writers or game designers or whatever the craft is.

I think this is why when you take a class on the subject or you hear advice online people often try to get you to lower the scope of your first projects, they emphasize the importance of practicing your fundamentals first, because you may be super excited to jump right into painting hyper-realistic portraits, but if you don't build any familiarity with your tools and you don't train those basic skills you're never going to be able to turn the awesome idea in your head into a reality, and your expectations are going to be too high for you to enjoy the process because you just won't be able to meet those expectations.

Starting with a scope that is far too big ends up just being a frustrating experience that doesn't actually teach you a whole lot, you gotta work on a bunch of smaller, simpler stuff first before you move on to making more advanced things. In other words, you gotta build up to the higher levels, you don't start at level 100, you start at level 1 and then you slowly go up from there.

You may see where I'm going with this: we don't tend to do that in the conlang community.

People who become interested in making languages may be familiar with the concept of conlangs from hearing about Klingon, High Valyrian, Sindarin or similar works, and so they get excited to jump right into making a naturalistic artlang as their first conlang, or they may not even know what the term "naturalistic artlang" even means but they try to make a detailed, fully speakable language for a fictional setting, which is kind of the same thing, or at least it's in the same spirit.

I think tons of conlangers start that way (myself included), it's super common, but I had the realization earlier that starting with a naturalistic artlang is actually kind of crazy, that's a project with a huge scope, it requires you to have so much knowledge beforehand that I'd argue it's the equivalent of trying to play a Paganini piece live in front of an audience on your first time playing the violin ever, of course it's gonna be seen as an impossibly difficult or complex hobby, you're jumping into level 100 right off the bat, no wonder lots of conlangers end up hating their first conlang.

I legit had a moment earlier today when I was thinking "conlanging is not that hard, you just gotta learn the basics of IPA, then learn about syllable structure and phonotactics, then become acquainted with the different mechanisms of how sounds can change over time, then learn what a romanization is and how to make one based on your phonology, then learn how words get grammaticalized.. then learn about all the different types of writing systems... then... huh wait a minute..."

I had this realization that the amount of knowledge you're expected to learn on your first conlang project is kind of ridiculous, it's easy to lose track of how advanced the stuff you're doing is when you've grown so used to it, it's like that xkcd comic.

Yeah this one. Like, the diachronic method of conlanging might not seem that complicated if you're using it for the 47th time, but for a newcomer there are a ton of things they need to learn first in order to even start using the diachronic method.

And even if you don't evolve your conlang from a proto-language there's still a ton of details and moving parts in a naturalistic language: the syntax, the morphology, the phonology, the different levels of formality and social aspects, writing systems, etc.

I feel like trying to capture all of the different nuances of a natural language on your first attempt at a conlang is just too big of a scope in the same way that making your first videogame an open-world RPG with multiple endings tends to result in people quitting game development because they get overwhelmed with the amount of new information that they need to learn and so they lose all their motivation.

All of this came to my mind because I was having a conversation with someone who doesn't have a background in linguistics and I was trying to help them figure out how to make their first conlang, and as the conversation went on I realized that even the posts aimed at beginners I write on my wordpress site are actually way too detailed and complex, like, my post that teaches you to read IPA- let me stop right there, the fact that I have a single post where I expect people to be able to learn IPA just so that they can start conlanging says it all.

And ok, you may be thinking that's just a me issue, but honestly I started to re-watch various youtube videos on how to conlang aimed at beginners and I feel like if I had zero knowledge of linguistics I'd struggle to follow along with the majority of them, in each video there's usually multiple new concepts being introduced at a very rapid pace and a number of things that you're already assumed to be familiar with.

No shade at people like biblaridion and artifexian, I personally find their content helpful, my point is that most learning resources for beginner conlangers (including the stuff I make on my website) do this thing where they infodump a ton of technical information and introduce a lot of new jargon fairly quickly and while that can work for some people I'm starting to think that that's not the best way to go about things.

This may seem kind of random, but I remember this very old video by extra credits where they explained how a good tutorial in a videogame doesn't front-load all of the information you'll ever need, they segment it into smaller chunks so you only learn the few bits of information that are immediately relevant, you get to immediately apply that knowledge, familiarize yourself with the concept at your own pace, and then once you've had some time to play with it you are introduced to a new small bit of information. I know learning an artistic skill is not identical to learning how to play a game, but I find that I learn better this way in general, the knowledge just sticks more, I think that introducing concepts in more bite-size, applicable chunks would probably go a long way to make this hobby more accessible to more people.

Maybe we should be recommending newcomers to practice with naming langs, minimal conlangs, personal conlangs, relexes, ciphers, codes, or idk something else to let people become acquainted with the dozens of concepts that show up in languages in a way that doesn't immediately become overwhelming.

Like, maybe this is a hot take, but I feel like in order to make your first conlang you probably shouldn't even worry about what a place or manner of articulation is, you probably don't need to evolve it or add any irregularity or allophones or any of the stuff we're so used to including as conlangers, you can slowly learn those later.

Think about it, in order to learn how to draw realism you practice the most basic fundamentals first; drawing circles and cubes in perspective over and over again, trying to break down complex images into simple abstract shapes, etc. I think we could do the same in conlanging and teach the necessary skills with projects of a smaller scope.

I just remembered about quothalinguist's choose your own adventure type book for teaching beginner conlangers and I think that's awesome, I haven't read it but I definitely will, we should probably get more introductory material like that, stuff that's more manageable and doesn't require a huge time investment in order to teach you a lot, I think that's a really good approach.

And for that matter I've been curious about the conlang year thing, maybe that'd also be a more manageable way to introduce someone to conlanging.

Just spitballing a few ideas here but imagine teaching about basic morphology by encouraging people to make a sketchlang where they only use sounds present in their native language. Without needing them to know any IPA or anything about phonology you can get them started on experimenting with certain things, like putting words together, compounding, affixing, etc. Remember that the results don't have to be naturalistic, that's not the point, the point is to avoid the situation where people need to learn a thousand concepts before they can even set pen to paper, they get to start experimenting and playing with different concepts in a more manageable way.

Maybe as a way to slowly introduce people to the idea of phonological evolution someone could make a small set of proto-words using a very basic inventory like /p t k m n s j w a i u/ and then you give people a set of pre-designed sound changes to pick from, and they can mix and match which changes to apply and in what order, so this could be an exercise to get acquainted with the way that sound changes work and the way the order in which they happen matters.

Y'all can let me know if I'm not making any sense or if my ideas sound weird or bad, the main point that I want to make is that the way we approach teaching beginner conlangers seems to require a lot of front-loading of information, which is not great.

I honestly forgot how long it took me to learn everything that I currently know about conlanging, I only stuck with it because I had actually consumed a lot of pop-linguistics content before getting into conlanging, so I already had a lot of the knowledge you're expected to learn as a beginner, meaning that the infodumps weren't as much of a brickwall for me as they can be for other people.

I feel like with the way things currently are there's probably a subset of people who have tried to get into conlanging at some point but then gave up and left with the impression that it's simply too complicated and nerdy for them when that may not be the case, I don't think making a naturalistic conlang is that much harder than learning how to draw realistic portraits of people; sure it's hard and time-consuming but it's definitely doable if you practice all the fundamentals first.

In the art community there's people who try to keep their sketchbooks all pristine and perfect looking, but that's not actually super helpful for learning, sketchbooks are meant to be where you practice and get to experiment, it's ok if it's messy or ugly or disorganized, it's not meant to be where your masterpieces come from, it's generally understood within the art community that in order to make drawings that are very well made you have to go through a loooot of crappy, low quality drawings first.

I think that essentially what I'm saying is that there should be a way to encourage beginner conlangers to do the same, make the equivalent of little sketches and practice basic doodles instead of jumping into a highly detailed complex naturalistic artlang right off the bat, that could demystify the wonderful art that is language creation for newcomers.

[maluceh]

how long have u been drawing? i scrolled ur blog (great stuff btw) and your art has improved sooo much over the past like year or so it motivated me a lot hehe so im just asking out of curiosity as someone who's been thinking about picking up the hobby! and maybe if u could share what exactly made u improve thar would be fantastic <3

hi! I have been drawing since i was a toddler, but my art stayed pretty much the same cause i made the same drawings over and over. Even when I picked up digital art, I did it on my phone and with my finger so it wasn’t… great. (to anyone seeing this i beg you to let my 2017-18 art DIE).

I started to get serious about it like four years ago, i stopped doing just profiles and hiding hands and I started looking at different references and art videos which helped a lot. I also started studying graphic design and they had a class on traditional drawing and human anatomy and it helped me A LOT. not saying you have to join a class or anything, there’s a lot of online free classes or videos that can help you, what I did in those classes you can do it for free for sure. But having a routine, or an specific time where you set to just learn and take the time can help you (the class was 4 hours a week and all we did was draw and draw and draw, but with direction)

i don’t like to say “don’t do this, do that”, because every artist chooses their own path and they end up using things that others don’t and it works for them. so this is what i did:

doing the basics, studying the human figure (if that’s what you want to draw), studying scale and contrasts, etc. This is for traditional art

applying that knowledge and drawing A LOT of dynamic poses

it gets repetitive having to draw different poses again and again but it helps a lot

timing it to do 20 or 30 second drawings so you find the quickest way to recreate a pose or to at least get the basics of the subject (how long the arm goes, how the leg bends, how the hand sits on different poses etc) it doesn’t have to be great, it’s practice :)

then learning about color theory and how colors works and combinations, etc.

applying that to digital art, learning more things from other artists online.

finding new things about the program i use and taking advantage of them.

never stop learning, there’s always something else you haven’t tried, something you didn’t know, a new hack another artists teaches you, a new discovery you make yourself that changes the way you did things…

a lot of artists will tell you “oh you need to draw and draw a lot” but i find that advice unhelpful. You do need to draw a lot, but you need to work your way up and KNOW what you draw.

this is for later but, for coming up with your own style:

looking at and taking from other artists helps too! (i recommend this FOR PRACTICE not for posting and claiming it’s yours after copying one artist)

if there are more experienced artists you like, you can learn a lot from them and take little things from their art but it has to be multiple artists you shouldn’t take from just one. Try to resemble the way one of them draws bodies, the way that other one does hair, this one has a fun palette, the line art on this one, etc. Even if it’s things from other artists, you will end up with your own style, and it will help you find things that you like or don’t like and discard them (maybe cause they don’t work for you, maybe cause you want your style to look different).

and that’s basically what i did, i hope it helps you!! and i’m honored my art journey inspired you :)

[leapdayowo]

this^^^

If you want to improve your artwork, it’s going to take so much time! I’m sorry, there is no ‘get good in a week’ miracle. There is only lots of practice and experimenting and ‘messing up.’ If anyone wants some advice on what practice looks like, because telling someone to practice is vague and thus unhelpful, stick around I have a few pointers :) scroll all the way to the bottom for bullet points because I like to over explain

First off, almost always draw! Whenever, wherever, and with whatever is available to you. If you’re still in school, keep doing the doodles in your notes! Same can probably go for when you’re at work and things are slow. Keep a scrap piece of paper or sticky notes with you and a cheap pen or pencil and draw what’s around you, what piques your interest, even the cliche things

Here are some of my more recent doodles, but I have note books and scrap paper full of these doodles. Within the last year I’ve been very focused on the human form, so a lot of my doodles are break downs of different poses. I have no expectations for these pieces other than to keep myself entertained in class and play around with my art. So just mess around with low expectations!

Now, as a traditional artist I have a stack of sketchbooks that is getting close to being as tall as I am. Materials can get expensive or not easy to access depending on where you live. If you’re getting serious about your art and its quality, I do recommend finding nicer materials to work with (though this does depend on what effect you’re going for with your art). However, using expensive materials does not always mean better quality or automatically mean your art will be better, often the quality of the art comes from how well you know how to use the materials and your understanding of art (look up elements and principles of art). I myself still use crayola colored pencils and the same mechanical pencil from 5 years ago taped together. I have invested in some nicer paints such as Winsor and Newton watercolors and Canson sketchbooks work fine for me. Finding the right materials will come with time, trial and error, research, and maybe some self reflection. I HIGHLY recommend not investing right away with the more expensive materials unless you have 1) learned the basics of art and feel ready to take on a new medium 2) financially can afford to experiment with more expensive options. Even if you can afford the materials let me say this one last time, the price of the paint or paper does not automatically equate to better art, it��s how you use those materials that matter. Now, that being said, cheaper materials often have their limits, and if you begin to notice these limitations I congratulate you on realizing this and recommend upgrading your stuff :)

Also, if you use cheaper materials it’s less of a big deal if you ‘mess up’ because it wasn’t very costly (maybe 50¢ or so)

good art materials to start with (not an exclusive list):

-colored pencils or crayons

-regular pencils

-ball point pens

-charcoal

-recycled materials (more in line with collage work)

-markers or sharpies

Now where was I… Oh! Going off of the OPs post, ask yourself why your art isn’t good enough. Are you comparing to people who are at a different level of experience than you? Then that isn’t a fair comparison. Being online makes it very difficult not to compare, but how do you know the person you’re comparing yourself to hasn’t had professional teaching for years? Consistent critiques and guidance from peers or other experienced artist? Some people learn concepts faster than others, so if you learn at a slower pace acknowledge that and try gesture drawings or maybe a new art style entirely if you’re really feeling frustrated. Often the expectations we place on ourselves hold us back. Another thing to ask yourself is are you able to handle constructive feedback? I remember when I was about 10 years old I had an art teacher encourage me to put green in the ocean of my drawing of a sunset. I was offended she would consider such a thing! It felt like a personal offense and I refused to put green in the ocean because obviously water is blue! Well… a few years later I decided to follow her advice as I grew more frustrated with how flat and unexciting my art was, and what would you know? There was green in the ocean! There’s lots of colors in water! I still struggle with lighting and reflections, but that was a very important memory for me. I urge you to be more open minded than I was with feedback on your art as it can save you years of art block!

Now, if you are one of those people who created an art account on social media in the hopes of getting famous, I hope you do, but know that is likely not a realistic expectation for a few reasons. There a thousands, if not millions of people with that same idea as you and many of the people with a large following got lucky or had a lot of time to build up that following. Don’t expect to be lucky, and desperately trying to get follows tends to put people off. Are you making art because you even enjoy it at that point? It absolutely feels great to get recognition for your work I won’t deny that, but once you rely on validation from others you will never be satisfied and always need more validation. Try finding fulfillment from the art you are making without relying on others to give you that feeling. What others say about your work is icing on the cake. You have to protect that passion and love for creation fiercely, especially in a day and age where art is being commodified and devalued more and more by others who only care about monetary value. Alright, moving on from the self reflection aspect of making art, take your studies seriously! If you truly wish to improve your art, observe the world around you! Draw it! Draw it terribly or draw it so well you wish you had brought nicer paper than an old receipt! Draw people, buildings, animals, food, reflections in a puddle or the texture of a fuzzy jacket. You like that person’s hair? Draw it! That tree looks cool? Draw it! Draw the folds of fabric and shadows at sunrise. The other part of your studies will be looking at what other artists do that you like or don’t like. Look at a variety of time periods, styles, cultures, and mediums. If an artist is on social media, comment on their work and really try and figure out why you like this particular piece and tell them! Explains your vocabulary and ability to talk about art. This will be something that will eventually become second nature after years of practice. I can’t do anything or go anywhere without thinking ‘oh wow those windows reflect the sky really cool’ or ‘the colors of my meal today work really well.’ I’ve filled my camera roll with stuff that inspired me and drawing references. Also, you will find inspiration in the places you might least expect. I have gone down rabbit holes of online content in the pursuit of a drawing reference (I now know more than the average person about western historical dress construction as one example). Soak it all in! Also, being an artist will likely require you to learn about physics and definitely anatomy. Learn how to draw and paint realistically. Learn all the proper rules of art so that you can turn around and meticulously or explosively proceed to break every single rule in your art. And have fun with it! Play with art styles and mediums you wouldn’t usually associate your work with, you may be surprised what you learn!

Edit: one last thing to add is try learning how to work around or with your mistakes! If you draw with a permanent marker or pen, learn how to get creative with making your mistakes look intentional or as an opportunity to learn. Learn methods of covering those mistakes and starting over or make the mistake the shining focal point of the piece. It’s not the end of the world I promise! The more you learn to work with mistakes, the more you might realize starting a new painting or drawing is less daunting

And the last thing is, know that for thousands of years humans have been making art. No matter who, where, and when we have always been trying to create. What humanity has taken thousands of years to learn, you are trying to speed run in your life time. I don’t mean for that to be stressful, I say that so that you will remember truly how incredibly it is that we can make art. That we want to create. Be patient, let your passion and curiosity flourish, and practice :)

Now here are the cliff notes as promised:

-doodle with cheap materials at every opportunity you can get (try not to let the rest of your life suffer for this though)

-expensive materials ≠ automatically good art

-start with cheap materials, learn basics of art, then slowly upgrade your supplies (your wallet will thank me)

-ask yourself why you think your art is bad. Everyone is at different levels of experience and learn at different rates, comparing yourself negatively is unfair

-don’t expect to get famous online with your art in a matter of weeks. You either need to get lucky or take a while to build up a following. Also, be careful seeking validation only from others

-also online art connections need to be complimented with getting involved in person with the art community. Networking involves face to face communication

-study the world around you and draw it! Draw as much as you can! Learn as much as you can about anything and everything! Study artist of lots of varieties

-learn how to talk about art (you can practice by commenting about the things you like about online artists’ works. Be specific. Things you don’t like can be kept in a private journal unless an artist specifically asks for feedback. Learn how to critic without being mean about it)

-lastly, know that it’s incredibly that you are carrying on the human tradition, which is thousands of years old, of drawing! It’s amazing we seek to create :D

Also, I have kept all of my old art on my instagram account as a testament to the gradual growth I’ve gone through as an artist. I too had the absurdly long anime legs phase of art. We all have unique journeys of making art and sometimes it’s going to feel like you’re getting worse, try something completely new when this happens, but just keep creating or thinking about creating stuff :D I believe in you!

btw with art when people say 'youve got to do it scared' 'youve got to draw bad' 'youre not gonna know how to do it until you do it' it sounds like bullshit but its true. 90% of art is just getting over the fear that it's not going to be good enough to deserve to be made in the first place. but you're here. you're alive and, with no need to justify that, you're going to make art. it's just part of being alive. you'll spend so long worrying you aren't doing it good enough that you'll look back and realized you didn't live a single day of it.

[parentmed]

Expert-Led Infant Care: Online Classes Covering Essential Parenting Skills

Introduction: The Learning Curve of New Parenthood

Becoming a parent is a life-changing milestone filled with joy, wonder, and—let's be honest—a fair bit of uncertainty. You suddenly find yourself responsible for a tiny human, and the stakes have never felt higher. From feeding schedules to sleep routines, every decision feels monumental.

While instinct plays a role, most new parents crave reassurance that they’re doing things right. That’s where expert-led infant care classes come in. These online courses provide vital support, helping you develop confidence in your ability to care for your baby. Whether you're searching for a parent class near me or comprehensive childcare courses in the UK, there are flexible, accessible options to guide you every step of the way.

Understanding What Infant Care Classes Really Teach

Infant care classes have evolved beyond the basics of diapering and feeding. Today’s expert-led programs offer a holistic approach to parenting, blending emotional readiness with practical skills.

What you can expect to learn:

Newborn care essentials: Bathing, soothing, burping, and diaper changing

Infant feeding: Breastfeeding support, bottle feeding tips, and recognizing hunger cues

Sleep routines: Creating healthy sleep habits and safe sleep environments

Baby safety: Infant CPR, baby-proofing your home, and understanding emergency signs

Parental wellness: Managing stress, sleep deprivation, and postpartum recovery

These courses are designed to equip you with skills you’ll use daily—making parenting less overwhelming and more intuitive.

Finding the Right “Parent Class Near Me” Without Leaving Home

With online learning platforms booming, you no longer need to attend in-person workshops or classes at community centers. Modern parenting classes are available at your fingertips.

Why online classes are ideal:

No need for childcare or commuting

Learn from the comfort of your own home

Revisit recorded lessons at any time

Online platforms offering infant care classes often include:

Live video sessions with professionals

On-demand modules for self-paced learning

Downloadable resources and checklists

Opportunities to ask real-time questions

These features bring the "parent class near me" directly to your living room, offering convenience without compromising quality.

What to Expect from Infant Care Classes Taught by Professionals

When your class is led by paediatric nurses, midwives, or certified childcare educators, you can be sure the information is evidence-based and up-to-date.

Topics usually covered include:

Newborn Hygiene and Skincare

Bathing techniques

Umbilical cord care

Preventing and treating common rashes

Sleep Guidance

SIDS awareness and prevention

Safe swaddling methods

Building sleep routines

Feeding Your Infant

Proper latching and breastfeeding positions

Formula preparation and sterilisation

When and how to introduce solids

Infant Safety and First Aid

Basic infant CPR and choking response

Identifying allergic reactions and illnesses

Creating a safe home environment

Parental Well-Being

Mental health support for new parents

Managing relationships and family dynamics

Setting realistic expectations for early parenthood

Having a professional on hand ensures that all your concerns are addressed by someone with real expertise and practical insight.

The Role of Childcare Courses in the UK for Long-Term Development

While infant care classes are excellent for immediate support, enrolling in broader childcare courses in the UK offers long-term benefits—especially for those looking after children professionally.

Who benefits from these courses?

New parents wanting structured, in-depth learning

Grandparents or secondary caregivers brushing up on modern care techniques

Nannies or au pairs needing certification

Topics may include:

Child development milestones

Behaviour management strategies

Nutrition and meal planning for growing children

Understanding emotional and psychological needs

These courses often come with formal certification, enhancing credibility and expanding career opportunities in childcare.

Building Community and Confidence Through Shared Learning

One of the biggest surprises for new parents is how isolating the experience can be. Online infant care classes often include built-in community features that foster connection and shared understanding.

Benefits of peer interaction in online classes:

Shared stories that normalise your struggles

Peer-to-peer tips and real-world solutions

Emotional support and encouragement

Some platforms even create parent groups by birth month or baby age, so you can navigate each stage alongside others in the same boat.

Testimonial: "Joining a virtual class was the best decision we made as new parents. We learned a lot from the instructor, but we also gained friends who helped us laugh through the hard days." — Ellie, Birmingham

Flexible Learning for Busy Families

Parents are busy. That’s a fact. Online infant care classes are designed with that in mind.

Why flexible learning matters:

You can log in during nap times or after bedtime

Spouses or partners can participate from different locations

Missed a session? Just rewatch it later

Pro tips for making the most of your class:

Take notes during live sessions

Practice skills in real-time with your baby

Don’t be afraid to ask questions—there are no silly ones

Many platforms offer mobile access, so you can review lessons from your phone while feeding or rocking your baby.

How to Choose the Right Course

With so many options available, it’s important to find a course that fits your needs.

Checklist for choosing an online infant care class:

Led by qualified professionals (check credentials)

Includes interactive components (Q&A, assignments, discussion boards)

Offers flexible access to recordings

Affordable and well-reviewed by other parents

Covers a broad range of topics, not just one area

Search terms like "parent class near me", "infant care classes", or "childcare courses in the UK" will bring up a range of trusted providers, from NHS-linked organizations to independent platforms.

Conclusion: Preparing Today for Tomorrow’s Parenting Challenges

Parenting is full of surprises—but the right guidance makes all the difference. Whether you’re looking to master swaddling, understand feeding cues, or simply build confidence, expert-led online classes are an invaluable resource.

Instead of scrambling for answers at 2 a.m., imagine calmly applying what you learned from your infant care class—because you’ve prepared for this.

At Parentmed, we believe informed parents are confident parents. That’s why our online infant care classes combine professional instruction, community support, and flexible access to empower you at every step of your parenting journey.

So the next time you search for a parent class near me, know that the best guidance might be just a click away. Join a class, build your confidence, and give your baby the best start possible—from the comfort of home.

[lifeofaunigirl]

full days at uni, unconventional classes and professors and devided friend groups

11.02.2025

I know that those of us that study careers that involve lab work, for example, our double degrees, may find ourselves spending both morning and afternoon at university. So, after over a semester of doing this here are my tips and tricks to be able to handle these long days:

Make sure to save energy. Maybe it's not the best idea to wake up extra early, or use public transportation time to squeeze in some extra work. Try to plan your day taking into account you'll be to tired or fed up to complete any extra uni work on those extremely full days.

Make your own lunches at home. I know it can seem tedious, but meal prepping will save you so much money and it can also help you be more in control of your nutritional goals, whichever those may be. What I would recommend is to make your lunch for the next day while you are making dinner for the night before. You can even recicle menus, and eat the same thing for dinner and lunch the next day if that is something that does not bother you.

Take snacks! So many snacks! Listen, spending full days at uni can be exhausting, irritating and even overstimulating. In order to keep your brain functioning you have to keep it nourished. Our brains basically run on glucose (which means YES, glucose is important and essential in our diet, so don't shy away from sugars, they are good for you!). My favorite way to get that dose of sugar is with fruit. Make sure to take fruit that is easy to handle and not messy such as grapes or bananas, if not you can also cut fruit up in advance and put it in a container. You can also keep some hard candy, or bite size pieces of chocolate in your bag if you need something quick to keep you energized. You could also include some healthy fats inside your snacks, my favorite example is any kind of nuts, or even some cheese. I find the combo of apples and cheese to be delicious.

Drink so much water! Keep yourself hydrated to avoid feeling dizzy, tired, and major headaches, try to drink regularely and set up a schedule, such as once every hour, or at the start or the beginning of every class. Also, make sure to invest some money in a reusable water bottle (no need for it to be expensive) to save money from constantly buying disposable ones and in order to be more environmentaly friendly.

We all have our personal favorite way of learning. Some of us love organized and structural classes, and some of us might enjoy more practical, to the point classes, that don't necessarily take much time to explain context or unimportant concepts.

Despite being more fond of one or the other, we will inebitaly encounter ourselves with a professer whose teaching style we don't like at all. The lack of structure, or too much structure and unecessary explenations, can throw us off, and make said classes be unproductive.

What I would recommend doing is, first of all, accept the idea that this is just how things are going to be. It was already near impossible in high school to get teachers to actually adapt to the students needs, here at uni (where things are a lot less personal) it's just not going to happen.

While it may not be fair, it is up to us, the students, to make these classes work for us, and make sure we have learned the material by the time the exams come by.

For example, I am talking about this because my statistics professor is by far the most unorganized professor I have ever had, he likes to improvise and doesn't present any visual material to acompany his explenations during lectures.

Even though he doesn't bring any material to class, he has a bunch of material online for us to check out for additional explenations, examples and exercises. Because it is on me to understand the material, I make sure to look through the material online and complete my notes with the information that was not said, and with the examples and exercises I have abailable.

If it is the other way around, if you have a professor that shares an overwhelming amount of information, I recommend to read throught it and create your own document with only the key information you need to study. Taking out all of the unecessary stuff might seem like too big of a task at first, but future you will be thankful to not have to read through useless material during exam season.

Lastly, some of us have been in the situation of us being in a relatively large friend group, and have some sort of subgroup formed where some people become more close to one another, and maybe they even go as far as meeting without the rest of you, or having their own group chat. Don't panic, while it might not be nice (and I totally think it is not nice) some people do that, and we cannot control their actions, but we can control what we do when faced with them.

First of all, just because someone is closer to someone else, doesn't mean they stopped liking you. You are not a burden, or annoying, or any of those ugly workd we may call ourselves in these situations. You are beautiful, interesting human being, but some people may not vibe at the same wave as you, or have more in common with other people and that is okay. They still enjoy your company, your relationship is not dependant on their relationship with other people. Friendships with another person are independent relationships that are not conditioned by other existing friendships, does that make sense? I hope it does.

Secondly, explore other friendships in the same group. Don't cling onto people or force yourself to be part of a group that has been formed without you. It is time to get close to other people in your friendgroup, chat with them, and create stronger bonds. Maintain all of the friends in the group, don't get me wrong, but if they have the right to explore other options and become closer with just a few people so do you.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed <3

[engrammonline]

Is a Grammar Master Course Right for You? Here’s What You Need to Know

Grammar is the foundation of clear and effective communication. Whether you’re preparing for a language proficiency exam, writing professional emails, or simply looking to improve your writing skills, mastering grammar can make a huge difference. But how do you know if a Grammar Master Course is right for you? Here’s what you need to consider.

1. Your Current Skill Level If you find yourself struggling with basic sentence structures or making frequent grammar mistakes, a Grammar Master Course could be highly beneficial. These courses are designed to cover everything from the basics to advanced grammar concepts. On the other hand, if you already have a solid grasp of grammar rules, you may want to opt for a more advanced or specialized course.

2. Specific Goals Consider why you’re looking to improve your grammar. If you’re preparing for exams like IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL, a grammar-focused course can help sharpen your skills and boost your score. Additionally, if you’re aiming for a career that requires strong writing abilities, such as content writing, editing, or teaching, mastering grammar is essential.

3. Time Commitment Grammar Master Courses often require consistent practice and commitment. Think about whether you have the time to dedicate to daily exercises, assignments, and study materials. If you’re ready to put in the effort, a structured course can provide significant improvement over time.

4. Learning Style Some people prefer learning at their own pace with self-study materials, while others thrive in a more interactive classroom setting. Grammar Master Courses come in various formats, including online classes, workshops, and textbooks. Choose one that aligns with your preferred learning style.

Ultimately, a Grammar Master Course can be a game-changer for anyone serious about refining their language skills. If you’re ready to make a commitment and elevate your grammar, this course might be exactly what you need.

[rupasriymts]

Top IT & Software Courses in Tirupati

IT and software courses are perfect for anyone who wants to learn about computers and technology. These courses cover many topics, from basic computer skills to advanced programming. In Takeoff upskill, there are courses that teach you how to use software like Microsoft Office, which includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. These programs are useful for everyday tasks like writing documents, making spreadsheets, and creating presentations.

If you want to learn more technical skills, there are courses on coding languages like Python, Java, and C++. These languages are used to make websites, apps, and software programs. Learning to code can lead to many job opportunities in different fields, such as web development, data analysis, and game design.

IT courses also cover topics like cyber security, which is about keeping computers and networks safe from attacks. This is becoming more important as we do more activities online. Cyber security courses teach you how to protect information and stop hackers from getting sensitive data.

Another important area is network management. These courses teach you how to set up and manage computer networks, making sure all devices can communicate with each other well. This is very important for businesses that need a stable and secure network to run smoothly.

Overall, IT and software courses teach important skills that many employers want. Whether you want to improve your job skills, start a new career, or just learn something new, these courses offer many options to match your interests and goals.

In short, at Takeoff upskill, we have many IT and Software Courses to help you move up in your job. Our classes are easy to understand, taught by teachers who know their stuff and want you to do well. Whether you're just starting out or want to get better at what you already know, we've got you covered. When you pick Takeoff upskill, you're making a smart choice for your future. You'll learn lots of useful stuff and get hands-on practice. So, why wait? Begin your learning journey with us now and see your career take off! Come join us at Takeoff upskill and see yourself succeed.

[brisbanefirstaid]

How a CPR Course Can Make you a Life-Saving Champion?

Whether you're a caregiver, an athlete, or just someone who wants to know how to save a life, learning basic first aid skills are something that can benefit everyone. First aid courses are the best way to learn how to treat a variety of injuries and illnesses. But did you know that CPR course Brisbane could also save your life?

Here's why getting CPR certified is essential for anyone looking for ways to help others in their time of need:

Acquiring Vital Life-Saving Skills

Learning CPR course Brisbane is a great way to become a life-saving champion.

CPR is vital, it can save lives, and it's easy to learn. You don't need any special equipment or training--just the ability to follow instructions and perform chest compressions on an adult or child until help arrives.

CPR training classes are offered at community centres around the country by local fire departments, hospitals, medical schools and other organizations that teach first aid skills as part of their mission statement (or because they're just nice people).

Increasing Confidence in Emergency Situations

The confidence you build by taking a CPR course can help you to take the right action in an emergency. Confidence is built by experience and training, so if you have never done this before, it's normal to feel nervous.

But with practice and repetition, your confidence will grow. You will be able to calmly assess the situation as well as perform CPR in a way that will maximize your chances of saving someone's life.

With practice, you'll also learn how to keep yourself safe when performing rescue breathing or chest compressions on an unconscious person who may have vomit or blood coming out of their mouth or nose--which means staying clear of their airway!

Rapid Response

CPR is a life-saving skill that can be learned and applied in a short time. It can be used by anyone, even those who do not know how to swim.

They were able to revive patients who were clinically dead after suffering cardiac arrest or respiratory failure using chest compressions alone without mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or electric shock treatment that was commonly practiced at that time.

Making a Life-Saving Difference

The most important thing to remember is that a CPR course will teach you how to save someone's life. With this knowledge, you can help others in need and make the world a better place by giving them another chance at life.

You might be thinking: "But what if I'm not around when someone has an emergency?" That's understandable! But even if you aren't able to administer first aid immediately after an accident or medical emergency occurs, your efforts could still make all the difference between life and death.

By learning how to perform CPR correctly through online training programs such as those offered by professionals, you'll be prepared for whatever comes your way--whether it happens right now or later down the road!

The bottom line is that you can't predict when an emergency will happen, but you can be prepared for it. A CPR course Brisbane gives you the tools and confidence to respond in any situation, so don't wait any longer--register today! Source: https://brisbaneremotefirstaidcourse.blogspot.com/2023/06/how-cpr-course-can-make-you-life-saving.html

[moeenali5423]

Smart Ways To Learn Arabic In Non-Arabic Countries

If you're not living in an Arabic-speaking country, it can be difficult to find ways to learn the language. However, there are several smart ways to learn Arabic even if you're not living in an Arabic-speaking country. In this blog post, we will explore some of the best ways to learn Arabic even if you're not living in an Arabic-speaking country. From online resources to immersion programs, there are several ways to get started with learning this important language.

Reasons for learning Arabic

There are many reasons for learning Arabic, whether you are living in an Arabic-speaking country or not. Here are some of the most common reasons:

1. For work or business: With the growing international economy, many businesses are looking for employees who can communicate in Arabic. This is especially true in fields such as finance, oil and gas, and diplomacy.

2. To study Islam: Many people who are interested in Islam want to learn Arabic to be able to read the Quran in its original language. Others want to study Islamic theology or history, both of which require a good understanding of Arabic.

3. To visit or live in an Arabic-speaking country: If you travel frequently to Arab countries or plan on living in one, it will be much easier if you can speak the local language. Even if you don't plan on using Arabic outside of your travels, being able to say a few words and phrases will go a long way in making your trip more enjoyable.

4. For personal interest: Learning a new language is always a rewarding experience, and Arabic is no exception. It can be challenging at times, but ultimately very gratifying. Additionally, knowing Arabic will give you a better understanding of Arab culture and society.

Different types of learners

There are different types of learners when it comes to learning Arabic. Some people can learn the language quickly, while others may take a bit longer. However, there are some things that all learners can do to make the process easier.

One way to become a better Arabic learner is to find a tutor or class that fits your learning style. If you're someone who learns best by listening and speaking, then look for classes that offer conversation-based learning. On the other hand, if you're more of a visual learner, then consider classes that use pictures and videos to teach Arabic vocabulary and grammar.

Another way to improve your Arabic skills is to immerse yourself in the language as much as possible. This means watching Arabic movies and TV shows, listening to Arabic music, and reading Arabic books and articles. By exposing yourself to as much authentic Arabic content as possible, you'll be able to pick up on the nuances of the language and learn at a faster pace.

Finally, don't be afraid to make mistakes when speaking Arabic. The more you practice, the better you'll become at using proper grammar and vocabulary. So go ahead and start practicing today!

The best place to learn

There are many reasons why you might want to learn Arabic. Maybe you have always been fascinated by the language and culture, or perhaps you need it for work or travel. Non-Arabic speaking countries now have more options than ever for Arabic learning.

One of the best ways to learn Arabic is through immersion. This can be done by taking a trip to an Arab country, or by living in an Arab community in your own country. There are also online communities where you can practice your Arabic skills with native speakers.

Another great way to learn Arabic is through courses and classes. Many universities and colleges offer Arabic courses, as well as online programs. You can also find private tutors who can help you learn the language.

Of course, a self-study is also an option. There are many resources available online and in libraries that can help you learn Arabic on your own. With a little dedication and effort, you can learn the basics of this fascinating language.

How to learn

There are many ways to learn Arabic, but some methods may be more effective than others depending on your learning style. If you're looking to learn Arabic in a non-Arabic country, consider using one or more of the following methods:

1. Use an online course: There are many great online courses available that can teach you the basics of Arabic. These courses can be a great way to get started if you're not sure where to begin.

2. Find a tutor: If you want to learn at a faster pace or dive deeper into the language, finding a tutor can be a great option. A tutor can help you with grammar, vocabulary, and conversation practice.

3. Join an Arabic meetup group: There are often groups that meet up regularly to practice conversational Arabic. This can be a great way to make friends and improve your skills at the same time.

4. Watch Arabic TV and movies: By immersing yourself in the language, you'll pick up words and phrases more quickly. Look for shows and movies with subtitles so you can follow along as you watch.

5. Read Arabic books and newspapers: Reading is a great way to learn new vocabulary and improve your understanding of grammar rules. Start with simple books and gradually move on to more challenging material as your skills improve.

Online Arabic learning tools

There are several online learning tools available to help you learn Arabic in a non-Arabic country. These tools can be used to supplement your regular studies or as a standalone course.

One popular online Arabic learning tool is Mango Languages. Mango offers a comprehensive Arabic course that covers all the basics, from grammar and vocabulary to pronunciation and cultural tips. The course is designed for both beginners and more advanced learners, and it can be accessed on any device with an internet connection.

Another great option for Arabic learning online is Live Mocha. Live Mocha offers a variety of language, Arabic learning courses. The courses are interactive and engaging, and they’re taught by native speakers. You can also connect with other learners from around the world, which makes Live Mocha a great option for those who want to learn in a social setting.

If you’re looking for a more affordable option, there are plenty of free online resources available as well. One such resource is Duolingo, which offers a comprehensive Arabic course that covers all the basics, from grammar and vocabulary to pronunciation and cultural tips. Duolingo is completely free to use, and it’s available on both web and mobile devices.

Finally, don’t forget about YouTube! There are thousands of helpful videos available on YouTube that can teach you anything from basic phrases to more advanced concepts. And since you can watch them at your own pace.

In-person classes

In-person classes are one of the best ways to learn Arabic in a non-Arabic country. There are many reasons for this, but the main one is that you can get immediate feedback from a native speaker on your pronunciation and understanding.

Another great reason to take in-person classes is that you can develop a rapport with your instructor and classmates. This can make Arabic learning more enjoyable and effective, as you'll feel more comfortable asking questions and participating in discussions.

Of course, in-person classes aren't always possible or convenient for everyone. But if you have the opportunity to take them, we highly recommend doing so!

The importance of speaking practice

If you want to learn Arabic in a non-Arabic-speaking country, it is essential to find ways to practice your speaking skills. There are many ways to do this, both online and offline.

One way to practice your Arabic speaking skills is to join an online community of Arabic learners. This can be done through forums, chat rooms, or even social media groups. Many online resources can help you improve your Arabic speaking skills.

Another way to practice your Arabic speaking skills is to find a native speaker of the language who is willing to help you practice. This could be a friend, co-worker, or even a tutor. If you live in an area with a large Arab population, there may also be community groups or classes that you can join.

Finally, don't forget that practicing your Arabic speaking skills doesn't have to be all work and no play. Watching Arabic movies and TV shows, listening to Arabic music, and reading Arabic books are all great ways to improve your fluency while enjoying yourself.

Conclusion

There are many different ways to learn Arabic, but not all of them are suitable for everyone. If you want to learn Arabic in a non-Arabic country, it's important to find a method that suits your learning style and needs. The good news is that there are plenty of smart ways to learn Arabic even if you're not in an Arab country. With the right approach, you can be well on your way to becoming fluent in this beautiful language. Thanks for reading!

[thatgoblin]

Chris Redfield and Leon Kennedy x Rookie Reader Headcannons

Leon

At first you were in awe of your lead. THE Leon S. Kennedy was showing you the ropes and helping train you for the job you'd dreamed of. Hero worship was common in this line of work, but you did your best to keep it to a minimum. You didn't want to embarrass yourself after all.

In place of that hero worship came this insatiable need to make Leon proud. Whether it was memorizing and nailing every written exam or physical test, you wanted to earn his praise.

You worked hard, harder than almost everyone it seemed. Leon never saw you slacking and saw how serious you were about the job. Protecting people was what you had always wanted to do with your life.

So when the grades came back that you weren't doing so hot, you were mortified. How could you let this happen? You didn't slack off, you studied everything you could get your hands on, hell you watched instructional videos on YouTube before bed! But you still weren't making a passing grade.

You thought you would be okay with the physical part, but no matter how hard you trained, no matter the extra hours you put in, you just couldn't seem to get what everyone else did. The moves were simple, why couldn't you just grasp them?

The only thing you thought you had going for you was the firing range, but even that was less than acceptable. Every time you tried to do something the pressure got to you and you messed up. You were so busy trying to make sure you didn't fail Leon that you were failing yourself.

It was when you were called into your commanding officer's office to speak about your grades that you were sure you were done. You were given two weeks that were used for break to study and practice and retest. But you'd already had nearly four months and the best you could do was subpar.

You were in your room, packing your bags because you knew you were going to be kicked out of the program when Leon showed up.

"Hey, Kid, you leaving for break?" He asked as he leaned against the door frame of your dorm.

"Uh. . . No," you said, hanging your head in shame. "I'm flunking out. Figured that it would just be easier to pack my bag now than wait later till I was officially asked to leave."

"What? How are you flunking?" Leon asked, straightening up. "I watch you every day and you're one of the hardest working cadets I've seen."

"Hard work doesn't mean much when you can't apply it correctly," you said. "I can't get the fighting technique right, the written exams are all a bust, and I can't even shoot a gun right. I don't deserve to be here."

"Have you asked for help or for someone to tutor you? That's what I'm here for, you know," he said, moving into the room to sit on the bed next to you.

You stared at the floor as you took a deep breath, feeling all the insecurities come rushing through to the surface.

"I didn't want to disappoint you," you said. "I mean, I wanted to do it all myself without help. I wanted to make you proud that you were my lead. If I was always asking for help, what good does that do? It shows that I can't do something on my own and need my hand held like some baby."

Leon sighed as he folded his hands together between his knees.

"I get it. I do. Wanting to make your leader proud and show how good you are, but we're a team here. No one is by themselves. You're only so good as your team is and if you're not doing well then that's a reflection on us," he said.

"Oh god, are you guys getting in trouble because of me?" You asked, looking at him horrified that you were possibly making things hard for your team.

"No, no, I mean. . . We're a team for a reason. You have to lean on us and trust us so when we need to, we can lean on you and trust you. If you need help studying or practicing outside of classes, I'll help you. That's why I'm here. It can be hard to ask for help in any situation cause it means you're admitting to a weakness, but that's okay. That's how we get stronger as individuals and as a team," Leon said.

You nod with a sigh. "I have two weeks to get better before I officially am asked to leave. I don't know if I can do it on my own," you said. "Can you help me?"

"Of course. I've got your back, Kid," Leon said, giving you a soft smile.

Chris

The B.S.A.A. was not for rookies, but they needed recruits so here you were. They provided training on weapons, protocol, how to work the gear, basically everything. Because they wanted everyone to be a well oiled machine out in the field, they made sure if you couldn't cut it that you didn't make it out of training. It was life and death and while they needed the hands, they weren't sending people out to die.

The trainers rotated to take classes of trainees. You were lucky enough to get the legendary Chris Redfield for your class leader. He would be teaching everything and making sure that everyone was ready. You had heard of him before, knowing that he was a weathered agent and could almost do anything was daunting.

Which was probably why you tried to avoid him at all costs in one on one situations. He wasn't mean or an ass, but he was intimidating. His stature and history were more than enough to show he knew exactly what he was talking about. You didn't want to feel stupid or embarrass yourself, so you kept him at a distance as you worked almost on your own.

Sure there were classes and work that you were trained in, but just the fear of being the weak link in front of others was hindering you. All of your tests and physical training was mediocre at best. Sure there were people that weren't going to cut it obviously, but you were much closer to their end of the spectrum than the other end that was running circles around you.

It wasn't that you couldn't do it. You could, but sometimes you froze up because your hands did something your mind didn't want to do or nerves made you stutter and stumble over your words. Everyone in the class at least had a background in the military or the police force or FBI or CIA or some other group that was similar to this.

You on the other hand did not. You came from a more technical background rather than a physical one. While you were miles ahead on the written tests, the physical ones were going to kill your career.

So when the notice went out that you were on the chopping block to be let go unless you could prove you were capable of being in the field, you weren't surprised.

Half of you wanted to keep trying, but the other half was telling you to pack up and go. You weren't unique or special, so why bother to continue to try?

It was when you were were working with one of the large guns by the shooting range, that Chris approached you. Before then, you two hadn't said a word to each other outside of the classes or even directly to each other.

So when his large frame took a seat across from you, folding his hands on the table after setting a file next to him, watching you with the gun, you weren't sure what to think.

"Hi," you said, freezing as you looked from the gun to him.

"Y/N, right?" He asked. You nodded as you set the pieces of gun on the table. "Why are you here?"

Oh Jesus, no. Why now? Why here?

"Uh," you said, blinking rapidly as your brain tried to come up with an answer. "Because I wanna help people."

"That's usually the answer I get," he said, sitting back to let his hands drop into his lap. "That or 'to kill bio weapons.' That's also a popular one."

"Yeah?" You said, unsure of what he was getting at.

"But I don't think it's why you're here," Chris said. "Because I think you don't know why you're here." Opening the file, you could see it was all information about you. Your background, schooling, family, credit score, even online usernames. They had everything. "When I was looking through the potential trainee's info, you struck me as odd. It's not exactly an every day thing that we get people who are more tech inclined rather than have a police or military background, but it happens. Usually they wash out though and end up in our research department."

"But I don't want to be in the research department," you said, frowning. Was he going to push you over to that section of the organization? You didn't want to be there though, otherwise you would have applied there.

"Every time I talk to someone and they have the chance to go to research after speaking to them about it, they take it," Chris said. "They figured out they can't cut doing the ground work so they move to a different field, but not you. I see you everyday in training, working your ass off to keep up with everyone and you almost make it. Not quite, but almost. Almost isn't going to cut it out on a mission."

"I know, I just. . . I'm working on it," you said, trying not to sound hateful or rude as your hands started to move on autopilot, putting your gun back together. "I'm really trying and I just can't get over this stupid hump that's holding me back."

"What's that? What's holding you back?" Chris asked.

"Me. I'm holding myself back," you said with a sigh. "I second guess everything because everyone around me has the experience that I don't, but I know I can do it. I just choke when it's time to act."

"I know you have some experience that they don't," Chris said. You nodded, understanding what he was talking about.

"I was a kid when it happened, I could barely call it working experience," you said, pushing the empty magazine into the gun.

"It was for Sherry Birkin," Chris said. "Raccoon City for a 9 year old isn't something to sniff at. From what the reports said, you were by yourself for three days before you made it out."

"Yeah," you said, nodding as you moved to the handgun next, disassembling it easily. "Hid in my apartment till I saw military trucks driving by then ran out."

"You lost your whole family to what we're training you to fight," Chris said, keeping his eyes on your hands as your fingers moved without faltering as you put the gun back together. "You were a kid when that happened. I say it still counts for experience that no one else really has. You know what you're doing with the infected and you know what it's like in the aftermath. We need people who know what it's like so that we can stop it from happening again."

"So what do you propose?" You asked, looking up as you finished putting the handgun back together. "After school training? Tutoring? Or do you want me to be counselor for survivors or shove me off to R and D?"

Chris chuckled as he closed the folder to look up at your face.

"I'm not gonna cut you," he said. "You know what you're doing and you're right. You're hang up is yourself. I'm gonna work with you to get over it. It's probably one the easiest things to work through really."

"You mean I can stay?" You asked, relaxing back into the chair, not even realizing you had grown so tense.

"Yeah. I just watched you take those weapons apart and put them back together in record time without even pausing," he said, pointing to the guns in front of you. "I want to work with you, Y/N. This isn't going to be an easy fight, but I really believe you have what it takes to be a good B.S.A.A. agent."

"Thank you, Sir," you said, smiling softly. "I appreciate that."

"You're welcome. We'll start some one on one combat training tomorrow before class. You're going to be working double what the others are, but it'll be for the best in the long run," he said.

"Whatever it takes, I'll do what I need to," you said.

"Glad to here it. Now, while we're here in the shooting range, let's test your aim."

[mwagneto]

i'm in the process of learning hungarian, and i was wondering if you had any resources you usually recommend or tips? i've been using duolingo for the very basics and making vocabulary lists for memorization but i know that won't be enough for a full grasp of the language, especially with, gestures at hungarian conjugation vaguely. i'm dating a native hungarian speaker so i'll be able to practice it fairly regularly but i'd like to have a grasp of the basics so that i can understand a bit before i start immersing. thank you so much! :D

OH SHIT THAT'S GREAT!!! well first of all. christ. good luck. we literally have to take intense grammar classes for 12 years just to get it and some people still don't it is. a LOT lmao

second of all uhhh I usually recommed people watch dubbed cartoons like peppa pig for the very very basics but that's rly more helping out, i dont really know any good online programs tbh, my main recommendation is to combine sources so duolingo (which. isnt that good for hungarian ngl coz it just teaches you phrases but absolutely Nothing abt the grammar such as the four different versions of "you" etc) + youtube videos + online tutorials + the main thing which is LANGUAGE BOOKS. preferably ones that start at the verrrry basics. like ik everything is online nowadays and I've only ever learned languages by like. orbiting around them until i was fluent so I don't habe much experience Actually studying but language books are sooo useful and usually very well put together, we have a thing called the Library of foreign books in budapest that has a shit ton of them, so maybe try looking around your area to see if you can find anything like that, or just buy a few for yourself?

the main thing I'd start with is the alphabet and how each letter is pronounced (which is where stuff like youtube comes in) tbh like. we have wayyyy more letters than english but we're phonetically consistent so getting the hang of oóöő and shit like gy and ty and dzs etc will make your life a dozen times easier

as for the grammar it's. really really really complicated BUT !! the good news is that it's Very organised and once you get the hang of the rules (which. again we need 12 yrs of grammar classes to do) it'll be way easier

another thing is don't be afraid to mess up!! it's better to say stuff even if you're wrong than to not say anything. hungarians will literally give you all the money they have amd a big fat kiss if you even just say kurva, noone minds grammar mistakes, we love anyone who even attempts this language

also uhmmm if you ever have any questions feel free to ask me i fucking love grammar lol

ps you'll want books that detail grammar rules and have little charts like these

[iaal]

Hi there, this is probably quite an odd request but how about Adultrio + Pariston with a S/O who is horrible in bed? Like, the S/O in question makes tons of dick deflating comments & jokes. Can’t give a blowjob to save their life, touches like they are patting a dog or horse etc?

Thanks for the ask that was fun to write!The hc takes place after the first night with the reader, not a crush anymore but not a s/o yet because for most of them I don’t imagine them letting the situation last. It’s a tad crackish, except for Pariston, I always end up writing him darker than what I had planned.

Hisoka:

*Cracks knuckles*

Looks like there’s a lot of work awaiting him.

He would only put up with it with someone he was interested for others reasons, mostly fighting, and he’d think it would be a waste to just walk out of the door and never come back.

He just can’t believe how someone can be THAT bad at something supposedly instinctual.

That in itself would amaze him, to be this atrocious it’d almost be an art form.

Bluntly, after your first night together he would tell you that for the first time in his life he was genuinely unsure if he could finish.

Of course he did, it’s Hisoka, but the admission coupled with his dumbfounded expression would make a point of how arduous it was because of you.

But worry not, his ego just can’t let him pass on the opportunity to show his worth as a teacher so it’s not game over yet.

Sure, he could just gag and bind you and do all the work but it wouldn’t fix the core of the problem.

Besides, it’d get old fast if that was the only option.

He’d be surprisingly diligent in his lesson.

Sex, even the fun kind he likes, is serious business.

Hisoka would start from the very start, not even the touching part yet.

The first lesson would be how to not absolutely murder the mood with your remarks.

For that he’d put his hand between your legs, caressing you very slowly to work you up and building up a rhythm, encouraging you to be vocal.

If you make any comments that break the mood he would stop for a bit and resume from the beginning, going back to his sluggish pace and gradually increasing the movements of his hand again.

For the next part he’d not shy away to show you directly how he wants to be touched, explaining his favorite spots and the right way to handle him.

The only thing left would be to put your newfound knowledge in practice.

After a few days and many trials and errors he’d at least make a decent lay out of you.

Now that you’ve got a grasp on the basics the real fun would begin.

He stills has a lot more to teach you until you’re ready to pass his class.

Chrollo:

He’d try, really try, to not say anything at first.

After all, a first time with a new partner is rarely great, maybe you were nervous and it’ll get better after a few try.

But as you didn’t show any sign of improving he’d have to face reality: you have no idea what you’re doing –  worst, you seem to unintentionally sabotage his own effort to show you the right way.

That would pretty much kill his libido for a while and Chrollo would weight the pros and the cons to just end it here and there.

The choice wouldn’t be easy, he wouldn’t have wanted you to begin with if you didn’t interest him and you had no value outside of the bedroom.

And when the balance tilts more towards the pros than the cons he’d decide that it’s time to put some efforts in the relationship.

Without saying that you’re awful, he’d tell you that the sex isn’t great for him and if you’d be okay with letting him try some different things.

Namely absolute obedience in bed.

Normally Chrollo already tends to be dominant but he’d still be flexible and wouldn’t have a problem giving up control, or at least as much control as he’d allow.

Not with you. You can’t have nice things.

He’d direct your every moves and the only words authorized out of your mouth would be the ones he asked you to repeat.

Once he sets a goal for himself he invest himself a hundred percent in it and he’d be a strict instructor.

Of course he’d make it enjoyable for you too, not wanting you to end up disliking sex with him but going halfhearted would lead to punishment.

The problem would be that Chrollo can easily deal with someone who’d fight for dominance, he can deal with brats, he can deal with a shy inexperienced partner… but you… you’re just bad.

Even when you try your earnest to follow his instruction the result would somehow still be terrible.

As if you were tone deaf, but for sex, like sex deaf.

He’d still intend to finish what he had started and he’d have faith in himself, he know that with enough time and dedication he’d get the results he wants.

If you have to spend 3 hours a day with his cock in your mouth until you suck him right so be it.

Illumi:

The least bothered of the lots.

He doesn’t really need you to be an active participant and he’s selfish enough in bed to get his own pleasure as long as your legs are open for him.

Your comments and jokes would met his deadpan gaze and an order to shut up if it’s too distracting but he himself would be well versed in the art of awkward remarks.

Illumi only really shines in bed when he’s a bit pushed to make effort.

If you don’t challenge him out of his comfort zone he’d do the absolute minimum as foreplay and piston inside you to finish.

So it would be a match made in heaven but not a very enjoyable one.

Sure you could ask him to get you off but he wouldn’t put much effort into it.

You’d have to get better in bed by yourself if you want to be satisfied and that means finding the words that would work on him and how to get him really worked up.

Enough for him to really get in the mood and not use you as a glorified fleshlight.

Without guidance the road would be strenuous to say the least, not only you but you’d have to make Illumi follow suits.

With both of you being the bottom of the barrel in term of sexual prowess, and Illumi being fine with that, you’d have to carry the both of you.

Porn and online forum would be your only help with various degree of success, it’s not like you still had friends to call and you’d be too mortified to ask the butlers.

You’d want to give up more than once, to just lie on the bed and take it but after a few weeks you’d start to see changes.

Illumi would let you suck him off for more than a couple of minutes, he would insist a bit longer on the zone that just earned him a sweet sound from you…

A few month in and your hard work would really start to pay off.

You’d start to know some of Illumi’s button to push and he’d pay enough attention to get you off without you asking.

There would still be a long road ahead but you did it, you can finally stop counting the cracks on the ceiling.

Pariston:

He would be delight with the fact that you’re a disaster in bed.

Never in a million year he’d have imagine that you, the target of all of his attention and affection, would be that big of a disappointment.

And that alone would make it even more worth it.

Pariston would be torn between the need to humiliate you immediately or playing the long game to be sure to make maximal damage.

Eventually he’d want to play with you longer.

He’d put all this heart on making you feel good, making you cum as long as your body can take it, not stopping for your cringy lines, even encouraging you to do as you please.

He’ll be sure to be prepare for all the next times.

Without you knowing he’d start to film you.

Even if the sex was lacking, the thought of the shame you’d feel when he’ll reveal that you had an extensive bad porn filmography and had no idea would be enough to make him hard.

In your everyday life he’d already start to show subtle signs of abuse and would solidify his control on you.

In bed he’d make no effort to guide you, you’d be as bad as your first time.

When he’s sure that you’re irremediably hooked he’d show you his videos collection and you’d have no choice but watch it all.

Not only it would be mortifying to know he has immortalized all of your intimate moments on tape you’d be horrified to see by yourself how bad you are.

The worst being the Pariston in the videos.

In all the positions where you couldn’t see his face he’d be stifling a laughter or biting his hand to not let you hear his hilarity.

You’d be completely floored to notice that more that once he’d use his phone to look at porn to finish, that would explain why he loved doggy-style and blind folding you so much.

It would be shattering and you’d spent all night watching, with Pariston beside you making comment on the funniest part, this time laughing openly.

He’d fuck you at the end of the last video.

You’d be silent and motionless, the perfect broken doll.