The 2 Soft Skills You Need for Business School

The 2 Soft Skills You Need for Business School Two soft skills? Only two? Yes, there are countless skills, both hard and soft, that you need for business school. Areas like mathematics, data analysis, spreadsheet construction, and statistics interpretation fall on the hard side. The soft side includes stress management, self-awareness, communication, and collaboration. But which soft skillsare most important? In addition to actually listening to the people around you, the two soft skill areas you must develop for any MBA program fall under two main categories: being a strong colleague and being a strong leader. Learning to master this pair of skills will help you immensely as you navigate the competitive world of business schooland business! [RELATED: 5 Tips to Ease the Transition from Business School to the Business World] Being a strong colleague First, you need to develop friendships with your fellow classmates, particularly those in your study groups, assigned or otherwise. In the long term, you are building connections for the future; but for the short term, making new friends can make school more fun, especially when your group is spending hours together performing research, studying for an exam, or completing a project. Working with people who share an accord and solidarity can help create a more enjoyable MBA experience for all those involved. Second, it is also wise to cultivate positive relationships with members of your business schools faculty and administration. These individuals often have years of real world management experience, so you can learn from their perspectives as people who have truly been there. Furthermore, not everyone makes the effort to talk with their professors outside class, so you may stand out in your instructors mind if they have to make a tough administrative decision. For instance, its harder for someone to keep you out of a full class or give you a failing grade if they have had multiple endearing conversations with you. Finally, convert recruiters and alumni at your target companies from acquaintances to buddies. Dont merely learn a recruiters name, rank, and serial numberfind out about their company culture, what they like about their job, what they dont like about their job, and what they are looking for in a future team member. Ask what they like to do outside of work; discover what you have in common. Knowing you have advocates at the places you would like to work helps you feel more confident as you submit your applications to those companies. Being a strong leader When trying to persuade other individuals to share your point of view, it helps if these people already view you as a strong colleague. Lets start with your fellow classmates, particularly those in your study groups. MBA programs abound with students who have strong personalities. Therefore, it is crucial to master the art of leading others and managing conflict. As in your future career, influencing team dynamics involves working across culturesdifferent departments, ages, companies, viewpoints, and countries. You will need to exert great patience to effectively regulate these situations, and business school provides a valuable setting in which to practice these skills. Onto your business schools faculty and administration. As mentioned above, issues like getting into the classes you want and petitioning for a higher grade are easier to steer in your favor when you have a positive rapport with the people in charge. Additionally, when you want to connect with certain mentors in your field, asking professors who have personal links to these people may be the way to go. Those who can influence others with aplomb will likely have more success in these endeavors. Finally, in your career, you must be able to convince recruiters and alumni at target companies to hire you for positions, sometimes over your equally qualified peers. You are selling yourself both as a potential asset to the company and as a harmonious team member. If an alum or a recruiter selects you, then they may be interacting with you every day. To swing these professionals your way, present yourself as the only solution to their problems, stated or implied. After all, this is one of the main reasons you are attending business school, so make your influence count. [RELATED:Top Questions to Ask Alumni When Exploring Business Schools] As you can see, being both a good colleague and a good leader are inextricably linked. These are not just two of the most important soft skills you need for business school, but they are also two imperative talents to develop as you move from the classroom into your future career. In addition to learning how to gather, analyze, and present facts and figures as an MBA graduate and colleague, you will also need to know how to persuade your peers on how to act on that information, as you later hopefully move into management. Let your time in business school serve as an environment for you to expand both your emotional intelligence and management expertise.

A Guide to Common Test Questions

A Guide to Common Test Questions Whether youre taking a unit test, final exam, or standardized test, youre likely to be faced with a variety of question types. Just as you might have your own study style, you might have your own preferences when it comes to different kinds of test questions, as each one has its own tricks. Here are some clever tip-offs to the following most common test question types: 1. Multiple choice When faced with a multiple choice question, be sure to read the question completely, as well as all the answer choicesdont select one without reading all of them first! Even though you might feel like you know the answer already and want to save time, its best to read all of them because the difference between right and wrong may be in the nuances. Make sure to read for negative or positive signifiers, like none of the above or all of the above, as they could completely change what youre looking for. The process of elimination is an excellent strategy for multiple choice questionsrule out choices that seem obviously wrong, then reread the rest carefully, looking for completeness of answer. If youre still stuck, take an educated guess. Be sure to know how (or if) you will be penalized for wrong answers; if you wont be penalized, guessing can only help you and thus can take up less of your time. 2. Fill in the blank For these questions, youll be asked to fill in a keyword or phrase. Read the question carefully, aloud if youre able to. Look closely at the wording of the sentence/question for grammatical hints, like whether the blank should be a noun or verb (i.e. articles like a or an would signify that the blank is a noun). Like multiple choice questions, try not to leave the answer blank. Even if you dont feel confident in your answer, try to write something down, as partial credit may be awarded even if you describe the concept in a long-winded way. If youre given a word bank, try out different words in the blank and compare to see what sounds best; the sound of the word may help jog your memory. 3. True/false With true/false questions, youll need simply need to decide whether a statement is accurate or not. Be sure to notice qualifiers like all, only, never, and always. Sentences that include these words, because they are extreme, are sometimes false. On the flipside, look out for words like usually, sometimes, generally, and often, which can often signify truth. Make sure you look for negative words like no and not, that can trip up your understanding of the meaning. Also, be sure to read the question in its entirety to make sure all parts are true, or all parts are false, in order to answer the question as such. Watch out for trick questions where a statement may only be partially true, in which case, the answer would typically be false. Lastly, take comfort in the fact that if you guess, you have a 50/50 chance of getting the answer right! 4. Short answer Short answer questions generally require you to answer in a sentence or just a few sentences. Looking at how detailed the question is, as well as how much space youre given to respond, you can likely figure out approximately how long your answer should be. Make sure you answer all parts of the question, and if youre not completely sure, write as much as you know and can think of. Short answers often do receive partial credit and are graded on a scale rather than as completely right or wrong. 5. Essay question Essay questions ask you to write at least a paragraph, and often several paragraphs with an intro, a body, and a conclusion. To answer an essay question successfully, first read the question carefully, marking keywords to make sure you address all required parts. Focus in on the verbs, such as agree/disagree, compare, or persuade, as they inform the tone in which youll write. Be sure to know how much time youre allotted to write the essay and then budget accordingly. Its a great idea to jot down notes and a quick outline so you know where youre headed and can write more efficiently. Save time so you can do a brief edit of your essay at the end, but if you run out of time, consider quickly writing out any final thoughts in list format, as itll at least demonstrate to your teacher where you wanted to go, even if you may not receive full credit for it. Keep in mind the above tips as you encounter different test questions, which can even help you as you study beforehand. Sometimes, if you get stuck during a test, other questions and answers can help you decipher the ones youre not sure aboutthey can give you different information or help jog your memory. Overall, be sure to pace yourself and check your answers!

Linear Equations Graphing

Linear Equations Graphing A pictorial representation which explains the relationship between x and y is called a graph for those variables. In case of a simultaneous linear equation in x and y the graph is a straight line. The set of points whose coordinates satisfy this equation will form the required straight line. There are two methods for graphing Method 1: The equation in the standard form is written as y = m x + b where m is the slope of the line and b is the y intercept which is a point on y axis. Y intercept is placed in the coordinate system Starting from y intercept and using the slope we locate one more point on the coordinate system. We draw a line between the y intercept and the other point. Method 2: We can find the coordinates of any three points on the given line by giving arbitrary values to x and then using the equation to find corresponding y values. Then we plot the set of points on the graph Example 1: The points (3, -1) , (2, -3), ( 0 , -7) , (3.5 ,0 ) all lie on the graph of 2x y = 7 because they satisfy the equation. Example 2:John earns $20 per hour. How much does he earn working 3 hours? Draw a graph showing his wage. Solution:Let x be the number of hours worked ,y be wages The equation is y = 20x X ( hours worked) 0 1 2 3 Y ( wage in $) 0 20 40 60

How to be a Rockstar... On a Budget

How to be a Rockstar... On a Budget Suzy S. If you havent already seen it, the Rolling Stone recently released their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists, and none other than Jimi Hendrix has topped the list.   We thought this was an excellent pick his distinct style continues to inspire and influence musicians to this day.   Hendrix is a true rock legend and if you want to get to that status someday, youd better keep working hard. Yesterday we discussed 7 must-read tips for planning your bands tour as you start organizing and contacting promoters.   If you dont have a lot of cash saved up, though, the idea of a tour may be much more difficult to conceptualize.   Luckily, its still possible to tour while on budget.   Just consider that a part of the adventure!   Heres how to make it work: 1.   Consider how you will be traveling. For most bands this will mean long hours in a van of some type. Before you set out, have the vehicle serviced at your local shop. Have your mechanic change the oil, check the spark plugs and wires, air filters, radiator fluid, washer fluid, tire pressure, A/C operation and anything else that you can afford. This will help to uncover any issues before you find yourself on the side of the road outside Podunk, Iowa. Repairs on the road can be costly and interrupt your schedule. 2. Prior to leaving, determine how many hotel rooms that youll need and any special requirements. Do some homework and know how far you will travel each day and where you plan to spend the night. Check the Internet for hotels in the area and for special deals. Some of the discount websites can offer great savings, but be sure to read the fine print. Sometimes calling the local hotels directly will actually get you a better deal. Ask to speak with the general manager or reservations manager and explain your situation. If they can rent several rooms together, they might offer a lower price.   It never hurts to ask! 3. Food can also be a major expense if not handled correctly. In the van, bring along a large cooler and purchase drinks at the grocery store prior to departure. These are cheaper than at a gas station and will prevent some unnecessary stops.   For breakfast, consider the complimentary breakfast if your hotel offers one.   Also: sometimes before your show, the venue youre at may provide food.   Always ask the venue owner about this possibility and you can even use it as a negotiation point. 4. Payments for gigs should be immediately deposited into a bank account. This can be done via an ATM or bank drive-through. Before you leave, check your bank for locations in the area of your gigs. This will prevent you from spending this money and limit you to the budget that you have prepared before departure. Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. You might also like 4 Things You May Be Doing Wrong at Gigs In a Band? Take a Lesson from Bob Dylan Avoiding 5 Common Rehearsal Mistakes

Promoting a Growth Mindset

Promoting a Growth Mindset My previous post discussed strategies for teaching Growth Mindset principles to your child. And while this is an important first step, the real power comes in reminding your child of these principles and promoting them on a day to day basis. Helping your child develop a Growth Mindset involves first making sure that he or she has the tools and strategies that he or she needs in order to be successful, and then remind your child that when he or she pairs these strategies with hard work and persistence he or she can grow their brains and become better at anything that he or she puts their mind to. When it comes to making sure your child has access to strategies and tools that work for him or her, I recommend setting up a meeting with your childs teacher. Find out which areas they think your child needs to improve in the most, and what suggestions they have for accelerating this improvement. If your childs teacher suggests that your child receive additional help outside the classroom, then seek out additional learning services at school or in an after-school learning or tutoring program. Also, ask for suggestions about what you can do at home each week to help your child improve. When your child is trying out new strategies and working on things that are hard for him or her, encourage a Growth Mindset by taking the following steps: Remind your child that when he or she works hard they are growing their brain. When we lift weights our muscles grow stronger. We know they are stronger because over time it becomes easier to lift heavier weights. Remind your child that when we challenge our brains by working on things that are hard for us, our brains get stronger too. We know theyre getting stronger because math problems, books, and writing assignments that were hard for us become easier over time. And we get more answers correct the first time around. Praise Growth Mindset goals. When your child is working hard, tie your praise to our Growth Mindset goals. Praise your child for stepping up to a challenge, trying out new strategies, working hard, and improving. Overall, youll be most successful at fostering a Growth Mindset when you focus your praise on your childs process rather than on your childs grades and achievement. Counter Fixed Mindset thoughts with Growth Mindset alternatives. When kids are frustrated they are likely to have a whole host of Fixed Mindset thoughts that get in the way. When they voice these thoughts, try to come up with Growth Mindset alternatives that can help your child think differently about his or her situation. Your child may not seem too receptive in the moment, especially if he or she is feeling very frustrated. But over time, your child will hear you and will start to come up with these Growth Mindset alternatives on his or her own. Here are some examples to help you get started: Fixed Mindset: I always make mistakes!Growth Mindset: When we correct our mistakes, we grow our brains. Fixed Mindset: I cantGrowth Mindset: You havent done it yet! Fixed Mindset: This stuff is easy for other kids.Growth Mindset: With new strategies and practice it will become easier for you too. Helping your child develop a Growth Mindset will take time. After all, your child has probably been living with a Fixed Mindset for years. Be persistent and look for small, gradual improvements. Mindsets are fluid, so dont be surprised if sometimes your child is able to maintain Growth Mindset and other times he or she is firmly stuck in a Fixed Mindset. The goal is to help your child spend more time in a Growth Mindset framework than he or she was able to in the past. Over time, his or her motivation and self-esteem will improve, and youll notice that he or she is more willing to take risks and step up to challenges at school and in life. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Alexa for Kids with ADHD

Alexa for Kids with ADHD One of the most popular gifts of this past holiday season, according to CNN Money, was Amazons Echo Dot, featuring their digital assistant, Alexa. If you are one of the millions of people who recently brought Alexa into their home, then you are now learning that Alexa can do all kinds of things, from giving you the weather forecast to turning on the lights in your home or operating any number of Internet of Things connected devices. If you have a child with ADHD, then youll be happy to know that Alexa can also help with many of the challenges that you and your child face every day. Kids with ADHD are typically slow to gain independence in their daily activities, like getting ready in the morning, completing their homework, and getting ready for bed in the evening. Parents often find themselves micromanaging their childs day, making sure that things get done well and on time, even when their child is of an age when they should be managing these activities independently. The need for constant reminders and double-checking frustrates parents, and on the flip side, kids often complain that their parents spend too much time nagging them. This is where Alexa can be helpful. Alexa can essentially serve as an independent third party that provides reminders, alarms, and lists. Kids can easily learn to use these features in Alexa, building independence and confidence, and reducing conflict and negotiations with parents. After all, when a parent says, Youre going to need to leave for soccer practice in 10 minutes, it can feel like nagging to a child, but when Alexa says t he same thing, its not emotionally loaded or the source of immediate conflict. There are many ways to incorporate Alexa into your childs daily routine. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Alarm clock. Help your child set an alarm with Alexa, and customize the alarm with his or her favorite song. For example, Alexa, please wake me up at 7am every weekday with Let it Go from Frozen. If your child is generally slow to wake up, then let him or her know that he or she will need to be out of bed by the time the wake-up song ends. By having your child tell Alexa when to wake him or her up and which song to play, he or she is taking responsibility for his or her morning alarm and gaining independence. Getting out the door on time. Alexas scheduling functions can also help your child keep track of time in the morning. In the Alerts Alarms section of your Alexa app, create custom reminders that are scheduled to repeat at the same time every morning or afternoon. For example, you can create a reminder called Ten Minute Warning and then program Alexa to remind your child at 7:50am every day that its almost time to leave the house, Dylan, I just wanted you to know the bus is coming in 10 minutes. Again, by leveraging Alexa to provide the reminder, youre helping to break the cycle of conflict that may be dominating your mornings. Homework Time. You can also use Alexas scheduling and alarm systems to help manage homework time, either by using the Timer Feature, Alexa, please set a homework timer for one hour or the Alarm Feature, Alexa, please set an alarm for 4pm when homework time is over. Your child can also ask, Alexa, please tell me how much time is left on my homework timer, without involving his or her parents in the discussion. To-Do Lists. To-Do lists may seem like an organization strategy that is geared toward adults, but they can also be very helpful for kids with ADHD. For example, if your child mentions that he or she needs to return a permission slip to school by Thursday and attend a Science Fair on Friday he or she can easily add these items to his or her to-do list. Alexa, please add permission slip to our to-do list for Wednesday or Alexa, please remind me about my science project on Thursday afternoon at 3pm. As Alexa and similar technologies begin to play a more central role in our daily lives, kids with ADHD will gain access tools that can help them gain independence, manage their ADHD symptoms more effectively, and reduce conflict at home. And one of the best features: Alexa is screen-free! These digital tools are all available without a distracting tablet or phone that can derail any childs best intentions. So, help your child get started with Alexa, and see what this technology can do for your family. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Ten Tips from Someone Who Knows Sixteen Languages

Ten Tips from Someone Who Knows Sixteen Languages Kato Lomb was a Hungarian interpreter, translator and one of the first simultaneous interpreters in the world. Originally she graduated in physics and chemistry, but her interest soon led her to languages. A native Hungarian, she was able to interpret fluently nine or ten languages (Bulgarian, Chinese, Danish, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish and Ukrainian), in four of them even without any preparation, and she translated technical literature and read belles-letters in six languages. And it was in her time, no audio CD with the voices of the carrier or Skype or language schools How? In her best-selling book How I learn languages ??, she broke it down to ten rules for learning languages. 1. You need to deal with language every day! Its like the gym if you want impressive muscles train them regularly! Set aside at least 10-15 minutes to read or repeat new phrases. 2. If you wish to learn the language quickly, come up with your own schedule of classes. For example, some study and exercise, then a little music, a little break for a walk. 3. Context all of us! We do not learn the individual words, only in the context! For example, if you remember the expression «strong wind », then one of the words in the memory automatically calls the second! 4. Especially useful to read textbooks on the field and try some phrases and use them to the fullest in the dialogue. 5. Mentally translate in your mind what catches the eye advertising, excerpts of songs, dialogues, names of newspaper articles. Unpretentious and helpful! 6. Learn by heart a useful thing! But you just have to memorize what is absolutely correct! If you need one here is a link: Find me a tutor 7. Already prepared to use phrases, idioms are recorded and saved in memory in the first person. For example: «I am only pulling your leg » (I’m just teasing you.) 8. Any foreign language study cannot be isolated, such as I’ll just quietly do the exercises in your exercise book and listen to the teacher. Watch movies, read books and newspapers in their original form , communicate with English-speaking friends on the internet! Actually, Kato Lomb started learning Russian with Dead Souls by Gogol and an impressive vocabulary! 9. Do not be afraid to make mistakes, fear of uncorrected errors! Never leave anything unchecked. 10. Follow these simple suggestions and you will be speaking fluently very soon. Be sure that no matter what, you will learn the language!

Interpretive Learning 3 In-ear Translator Study Buds

Interpretive Learning 3 In-ear Translator Study Buds Interpretive Learning: 3 In-ear Translator Study Buds Imagine a gathering of the United Nations in New York.All the different countries are representedâ€"Russia, Japan, South Korea, the United States, etc.Chinas representative is giving an important speech in Chinese.So how can Russias representative understand what his colleague is saying?Well, they have interpreters stationed in one of the back rooms, listening to the speech in Chinese and translating it.Thats why, in footage of UN assemblies, we often see old people donning earphones, acting like cool millennials who are  listening to Spotify. Theyre actually following the speech being translated into their language.Thats what an in-ear translator does.But instead of actual human beings listening to the communication and translating it into another language, you can have an app do it for you. What Are In-ear Translators?Make no mistake, this technological marvel is not really in the headphones, but in the apps that you download on your smartphone. The miracle that happens in your e ar is actually just magic piping the translation from your phone.So what happens in the field is, you express something in English to somebody who only speaks, say, Japanese. Theyll hear your English in their Japanese. And, when they talk back to you, you get to hear what they said in English. You dont need to type anything on your phone or open up a dictionary. You simply hear what was said in your own language. Its that seamless.Language barrier, boom! Gone.We have arrived at a point in human history where AI is practically able to break down language walls. Voice recognition technology is at levels where it can understand some of the nuances of human communication.Your phones mic can serve as an ear so your app can listen to what youve said. And hey, it actually understands what you mean. And, knowing what you mean, it can now translate the communication into the languages that you want.And the voice that you hear? It can be so human its like having a personal UN interpreter doin g the job for you.The speed and accuracy with which the whole thing works, compared to what we had just a few years ago, is mind-boggling.I mean, its still not at a point where translations come in real time, but theyre pretty fast and some companies are claiming real time. (There are still delays.)Now, I dont want you to think that in-ear translators are the solution to all your language learning nightmares. The technology, though already amazing, is still in its nascent stage. It doesnt come cheap and it has a long way to go. Theres still a lot of room for improvement.But speaking of improvement, these things are great for use by serious language learnersâ€"people who, instead of totally relying on technology, want to use it to learn a second (or a third) language.How Language Learners Can Use an In-ear Translator to StudyNow, in-ear translators are a godsend for travelers or tourists who need translations fast. They can just walk up to some random stranger in Barcelona and not be deathly afraid that, due to some pressing situation, theyll forget the Dónde está el baño  (Where is the bathroom?) theyve been rehearsing since they got off the plane.The utility of the technology seems obvious enough. But for those who genuinely want to learn the language and not just ride on the coattails of machine translation, how might this magic be used?Remember, its not just an in-ear translator.As mentioned before, the real miracle happens in the app. And many of them can do more than just serve the translating needs of the occasional traveler, though that is the most celebrated functionality.Many in-ear translators are actually multi-modal and can translate text, audio and even images. Language learners can make the most of other featuresâ€"like dictionaries, text-to-speech and speech-to-text functionalities. Dont know the translation of a word? Simply type it in a search box and the app will fetch the translation for you in Spanish, German, Italian, French, etc.In add ition to the translated audio provided, your phone will probably be displaying a written record of the conversation (in two languages) so you can actually track the whole thing.You can deconstruct interactions, learning not only vocabulary but a healthy dose of grammar as well. Smart language learners can milk these apps for all their linguistic worth because the in-ear bells and whistles are actually built on top of some really solid machine translation technology.The main thing that youre missing out on from machine translation is context, but that can easily be solved with a FluentU Plus plan. FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like movie trailers, music videos, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language lessons. With a Plus plan, you can take words from your translation learning and put them in a customized flashcard set that will quiz you and show you accurate definitions, video clips and usage examples.So dont just treat this thing solely as an in-ear translator. Because its so much more!Use your in-ear translator for personal practice.Language learners, in the privacy of their own homes, can put in-ear translators through their pacesâ€"playing both sides of the conversation.They can say something in English or their native language and hear it translated in their target language. This is a cool way of memorizing how phrases and sentences sound in your target language. Its a neat vocabulary exercise as well as ear-training.(For further ear-training, you can find some speech online in your native language, and hear it translated one sentence at a time.)But more importantly, you can go the other way and speak in your target language, and check to see if the app hears you and translates you properly. This is really valuable practice, probably the most productive personal practice you can have. Youre not just learning translations, youre actually speaking in a different tongue. Youre getting your lips, tongue and mouth moving explici tly to the intonations and nuances of the target language. Youre playing the part of a native speaker.You can even look for text in, say, Spanish, German, Italian, etc. and read it aloud. A few minutes of this every day will get your vocal instrument tuned up in no time.Make those earbuds your buddy in the field.Studying up on a new language is one thing when youre in the privacy of your own room, with your milk and cookies. Its a helluva different thing when youre in the field, interacting with strangers.In-ear translators can be a great help in decreasing initial language learning anxiety. They can be an early psychological or emotional support that lets you step up to the interaction knowing youve got a wingman. Youll know somebodys got your back and wont be at a loss for words.Over time, though, as you realize that talking to native speakers is not a life-or-death proposition, that making language mistakes is okay, and, as youre able to build genuine friendships with people who speak the language, youll become more confident in the process of learning the language. This is what in-ear translators really bring to the table for language learners who are in it for the long haul. They give you a kind of confidence to get through the sticking points.Interpretive Learning: 3 In-ear Translator Study BudsThe Dash ProiTranslate  and Munich-based  Bragi team up to bring you The Dash Proâ€"billed as the worlds first translating earphones. (Bragi produces the earphones, and iTranslate provides the translation software.)Using Dash is really easy. You just need to download both the iTranslate app and Bragi app. Open iTranslate and connect it to your earphones. Pick your target language, and youre good to go.Lets say you want to ask a complete stranger where the supermarket is. You simply ask your question in English, or whatever your native language is, and your phone will give out a translation in the appropriate language. Your Good Samaritan can hear the query through your phone and answer it in their own language. Their answer will then be piped to your earbuds (in English/your native language), and before you know it, youre jogging to the nearest supermarket.About 40 languages are supported by The Dash Proâ€"which, in addition to being an in-ear translator, is also a waterproof exercise/activities tracker and claims to have a 30-hour battery life. So, good news for all language learners who want to take The Dash Pro through its paces. Literally.PilotThe Pilot is an Indiegogo crowdfunding project by Waverly Labs.The Pilot is more suitable for sit-down conversations, like in a coffee shop. Its really not for those ask-and-dash-to-the-supermarket scenarios we just mentioned. Maybe youre in a relationship with someone whose first language is not English or your native language, and you want more opportunities to learn their language. Or you have a language buddy or a language exchange partner. In these cases, the Pilot would be perfect for you.For the set-up to work, two phones are required. Both phones need to download the Waverly Labs app. Each of you will have an earbud (left or right) and what comes out of each earbud will depend on the languages that you choose.The Pilot lets you have seamless, sit-down conversations in 15 languages.Pixel BudsThese are  from Google.By pressing and holding on Pixel Buds, you can ask them anythingâ€"from todays weather, to who won the Superbowl. Youll be untethered from your phone, and instead of tinkering around with it, you can talk to it like an assistant.Now, I know Pixel Buds got a bad rap from tech reviewersâ€"from the price, to the design, to the fact that they dont do noise cancellation, etc. But I include them here as a nod to Google Translate.Like I said before, the magic isnt really in the buds, its on the app, and Google Translate does what it does really well. Just considering the sheer number of languages it supports (over 100), the app is really a buddy for todays language learners. There are written translations, voice translations. You can even take a picture of a word and the app will translate it for you. You can do so many things with it. If you want to genuinely learn a language, then this app is a must for you. (Its free!)For sure, the translations provided by these three in-ear gadgets are not perfect. To close this post, let me just say that fluent, technologically facilitated conversations  still look to be some years away. But thats technology for people who dont want to learn the language.For genuine language learners, those who cant wait to actually speak in German, Spanish, Russian for themselvesâ€"the technology is here. You dont have to wait a few more years. Its already a reality. You can, at this very instant, employ available tools to help you learn the language of your dreams.So what are you waiting for? Get started!Good luck.