Duolingo is a website and social project aimed at free language learning and certification of the level of English.
The site offers courses in English, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Catalan, Esperanto and Jopara for Spanish-speaking users as well as Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Turkish, Esperanto, Russian, Hebrew, New courses are being created thanks to "The language incubator".
In addition to its desktop web version, it has an application for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and Chrome.
The main didactic feature is practicality, it is not necessary to read grammar texts to complete the course in any language, one can understand the meaning of the largest number of sentences in the course intuitively, only with the images, the tab Translation and errors that the program corrects you. The prayers that are complicated for someone are answered by the community, thus facilitating learning through doubt. No word is learned without being heard. Duolingo follows the computational model 1 to 1, that is to say, that the machine constantly teaches the student and is adapted to this, a method that is perfected day by day with the data collected by the learning of each user who has already taken the course.The progress in each unit is visualized by means of "full memory" graphs that indicate the degree of mastery of the different lessons. It is possible to compare one's progress with that of other participants, by means of an invitation to follow or to be followed. Discipline and perseverance are critical to achieving further progress, and it takes 30-60 minutes of practice per day to gain a mastery in a relatively short time. Of course Romance languages will be learned faster for Spanish speakers on the platform. Duolingo alone is not enough to develop verbal communication skills in another language. To improve the users, they recommend using Memrise, reading children's books with Audiolibro and watching films subtitled in Closed Caption. It is also important to have backup material, physical or electronic manuals, as well as bilingual dictionaries such as wordreference. Age is not a limitation, but it can be the mastery of the grammar rules of the mother tongue. In duolingo in addition to acquiring notions about a foreign language the user can improve spelling and other small mistakes in their mother tongue.
Vitutor is a platform of teletraining designed for online learning of different subjects. The project began with the specialization in Mathematics contents of diverse courses with a great variety of interactive exercises, but it has extended its offer to other subjects like English.
HOW CAN I STUDY MORE EFFECTIVELY?
TAKING NOTES All good study techniques Start with good note taking
Habits. Knowing how to take good notes will improve your ability to
study more effectively.
The
Three Stages of Good
Note taking
1. Get ready to take notes (before class)
–Review your notes from previous
lessons
–Complete all assignments and
readings before class
–Bring all needed materials to
take notes
2. Taking notes (during class)
–Keep your focus on the teacher
–Listen for signal statements
like:
•Most importantly
•Remember that…
•Be sure to include….
–Write quickly
•Use abbreviation
•Place a “?” by things you are not
sure about
3. Rewrite your notes
–After class rewrite your notes
•Change abbreviations to complete
words
•Change symbols into words
•Change shorter sentences to more
complete sentences
–Answer any “?” you had in your
notes
10 STUDY HABITS OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS
•Try not to do too much studying
at one time
•Plan specific times for studying
•Try to study at the same times
each day
•Set specific goals for your study
time
•Start studying when planned
•Work on the assignments or
materials that are the most difficult first
•Review notes before beginning an
assignment
•Eliminate distractions during
study time
•Call another student for
assistance when needed
•Review schoolwork over the
weekends
PREPARING AN EFFECTIVE PLACE TO STUDY
The
“Study Place” should always be available to you
•The
“Study Place” should be free from
interruptions
•The
“Study Place” should be free from
distractions
•The
“Study Place” should have all of the
materials on hand that are needed to study
•The
“Study Place” should have a large enough desk or table
•The
“Study Place” should have a large
storage area available
•The
“Study Place” should have a comfortable
chair
•The
“Study Place” should have enough light
•The
“Study Place” should be kept at a
comfortable temperature
USING ACRONYMIC SENTENCES
Creating an Acronymic Sentence
–Write each piece of information
that needs to be learn in order
–Underline the first letter of
each word
–Write a sentence using the words
that begin with the underlined letters
USING PEGWORDS
.Think of the fist piece of
information to be remembered
•Think of a pegword
for the number one (the pegword
should
rhyme with one)
•Create a picture in your mind to
associate with that pegword
•Repeat points 1-3 with each piece
of information you are to remember
|
Number Word
|
Pegword
|
|
One
|
Run
|
|
Two
|
Shoe
|
|
Three
|
Tree
|
|
Four
|
Door
|
|
Five
|
Dive
|
|
Six
|
Fix
|
|
Seven
|
Heaven
|
|
Eight
|
Gate
|
|
Nine
|
Sign
|
|
Ten
|
Hen
|
USING FLASHCARDS
Flashcards are a very useful tool
in learning or remembering information such
as: Vocabulary Words and
Meanings, Math Formulas, History Facts, and Correct
Spellings or Words.
•Make Flashcards as you learn to
study
–Carry blank cards with you
–Organize your cards in decks by
topic or subject
•Use both sides of a Card when
appropriate
–Write words on one side and
definitions on the other side
–Flip the cards and learn the
information both ways
•Use flashcards in several
different colors
–Different colors can cue your
answers
•Illustrate the cards
–Draw or cut pictures to place on
cards
–The more interesting looking the
cards, the less bored one becomes using them
USING THE LOCI METHOD
•Imagine yourself walking through
a very familiar location or area (Your Kitchen)
•Associate specific locations and
activities with the items you want to remember
The Loci Method is difficult for some people are
not Kinesthetic Learners. See if you can apply the Kinesthetic Learning Method
to remembering these famous inventors: Thomas Edison Alexander G. Bell George W. Carver Benjamin Franklin
USING THE ASPIRE SYSTEM
•A
– Approach/Attitude/Arrange
–Approach your studies with a
positive attitude
–Arrange your schedule to
eliminate distractions
•S
– Select/Survey/Study
–Select a reasonable chunk of
material to study
–Survey the headings, graphics,
pre and post- questions
–Study marking any information you
do not understand
•P
– Put aside/Piece together
–Put aside your books and notes
–Piece together what you have
study and try to summarize that information yourself
•I
– Inspect/Investigate/Inquire
–Inspect what you did not
understand
–Investigate all available sources
of information (textbooks, online, dictionary…)
–Inquire from support
professionals (Librarians, tutors, teachers, …)
•R
– Reconsider/reflect/Relay
–Reconsider the content; what
questions would you ask the author
–Reflect on the material; how can
I apply this material
–Relay understanding; how would I
make this information more interesting or easier to understand to other
students
•E
– Evaluate/Examine/Explore
–Evaluate your grades on tests and
assignments and look for patterns or weaknesses
–Examine you progress on improving
weak areas
–Explore options for you with
teachers, tutors, other students
USING STUDY GROUP
Study Groups can be very
beneficial in some situations.
There are Several things to
consider when thinking about
using Study Groups:
1.Benefits
of a Study Group
2.Starting
a Study Group
3.Characteristics
of a Good Study Group
4.Pitfalls
of Study Groups
BENEFITS OF A STUDY GROUP
•A support group can be a
motivator
•Easier to ask classmates
questions
•Your commitment might be stronger
because the group depends on all members
•Study groups add a strong
auditory aspect to your learning experience
•One or more group member is
likely to understand something that you do not
•You can learn new study
techniques or habit from other members
•You can compare your notes with
other students
•Teaching or explaining concepts
to other group members will reinforce your learning
•Face it! Studying can be boring.
Study with others can make the studying more enjoyable
CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUCCESSFUL STUDY GROUP
•Each group member contributes
•Group members actively listen
without interrupting each other
•Group members work together to
resolve any problems arising without the group
•Members are prompt and come ready
to work
•The group stay on task according
to the agenda
•Members always show each other
respect
•Members should feel comfortable
with constructive
criticisms
•Members should feel free to ask
questions
•At the end of each meeting, an
agenda is set with assignments for the next meeting
•Above all, a positive attitude
that “we can do this together” is maintained.
POSSIBLE PITFALLS OF A STUDY GROUP
•Do
not let the Study Group get distraction from the agenda
•Do
not let the Study Group become a social group
•Do
not allow members to attend unprepared
•Do
not let negativity slip into the group
•Do
not let one or two members dominate the group
