4 Alternate Guitar Tunings for Beginners

4 Alternate Guitar Tunings for Beginners Maile Proctor Whether you just started guitar lessons or youve been playing for a while, you may be itching to learn some new songs and take on some new challenges. You might be wondering: where can I go from here? Thats where alternate guitar tunings come in! With this guide from Michael L., youll learn how alternate guitar tunings can take your playing to the next level One of the amazing things about the guitar is its versatility. Not only can you play rhythm and/or melody in different genres, but you can also change the tuning (or the key) to create different atmospheres. Heres the deal: Not all songs are written to be played in standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning, so if you want to expand your range as a guitarist, you need to learn play some alternate guitar tunings. Alternate guitar tunings, or open tunings, allow you to play new songs and explore new music styles. Essentially, alternate guitar tunings will expand your range and skill set. If the only alternate tuning you know is  Drop D tuning, then this tutorial will introduce you to some new concepts. We will focus on  three open  tunings: Open G, DADGAD, and Open D. Alternate Guitar Tunings for Beginners Drop D Tuning You may already be familiar with  drop D tuning:  Take your low E string and tune it down a whole step to D. In this tuning, you can play power chords by barring the low three strings. Drop D tuning is usually  associated with metal music, but you can also play other songs like  the Foo Fighters Everlong and I Might Be Wrong by Radiohead. Open G Tuning Open G tuning requires three strings to change notes. Tune the E strings down a whole step to D, and the A string down a whole step to G. Now when you strum the guitar, youll  play a G chord. This tuning makes the guitar resemble a banjo, except with  a banjo, the low G string is a high G string and the low D is not there. You can play some banjo songs in this tuning, substituting the high G with the low G offers a new sound on some traditional banjo songs. I primarily use this tuning for blues, folk, bluegrass, and rock, but Im sure you can find other genres to play in this tuning. A couple of songs that use this tuning are Poor Black Mattie by R.L Burnside and Death Letter by Son House (or covered by White Stripes). The beauty of open G tuning  is that you can strum the bottom five strings together and play a melody with any of the strings as long as the note is in the key G. You can also get any major chord you like if you barre the fretboard on the corresponding right fret (the chord is based off the notes on the G strings). If you want a minor chord, barre the fret but play a half-step lower, on the B string. Alternating between the low G and D strings gives you fun bass lines, too. If you would like to learn more chord shapes simply look online for banjo chord chart and apply those shapes to the guitar in this tuning. DAGAD Tuning DADGAD is very similar to open G.  For this tuning, just tune the fifth  string back up to A and the B string to A. This tuning opens the door for some really neat sounding modal music. You can play folk music, like Paul Simons version of Scarborough Fair and Armistice Day, some rock music like Led Zeppelins Kashmir, or even nu-metal like Slipknots Circle. Open D Tuning Open D tuning requires four strings to change notes. Tune the E strings down to D, the G string to F#, and the B string to A. Now, when you strum the guitar, youll get a D chord. Again, I mostly use this tuning for rural music (blues, country, bluegrass, ragtime, etc.) This tuning is also my favorite to  play the slide guitar. Go ahead and  strum steadily on the low D string while playing melody notes on the high D and A strings, and tell me thats not one of the most sultry sounds youve heard! A couple of my favorite songs in open D are Blind Willie McTell by Statesboro Blues and Bob Dylans Corina, Corina. As with open G, you can find any major chord by barring the corresponding fret (the chord is based off the note on the D strings). If you want a minor chord, play a half-step down on the F# string. Here are a couple of open D chords, besides barre chords, to get you started. G7 A7 3 2 2 0 1 1 0 2 2 0 0 2 I hope this gives you some new ideas on how to approach the guitar. Have fun with these alternate guitar tunings. They changed the way I think of guitar and I hope they do  the same for  you, especially if youre a fan of delta blues and folk music! If you need help with any of  these alternate guitar tunings, ask your guitar teacher to go over them during your next lesson! Want to ramp up your guitar skills at home? Try one of our free online group classes!   Post Author:  Michael  L. Michael teaches ukulele, guitar, drums, and music theory in Austin, TX. He studied music theory and vocal performance at the Florence University of the Arts in Italy. In addition to private lessons, Michael teaches music to special education students in Austin public schools and foster children with Kids in a New Groove.  Learn more about Michael here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Ambitious Introverts 7 Simple Insider Tips to Get You Promoted - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Ambitious Introverts 7 Simple Insider Tips to Get You Promoted - Introvert Whisperer Ambitious Introverts: 7 Simple Insider Tips to Get You Promoted Introvert or not, most of us are ambitious even if we don’t openly admit it. Certainly, the majority of us are always looking for more pay and growth. However, sometimes a promotion seems elusive for us Ambitious Introverts, and we’re left not knowing exactly what to do next. Does that sound like you? If you’re pondering what your next move is to get promoted, consider following these tips. Just so you know, I’ve had hundreds of people reporting to me over the years, which mean evaluating them for possible promotion was ongoing. Tip #1: Know Your Performance Expectations All too many people are clueless about what is expected of them and how they will be measured. Rest assured that you are being measured even if it is only in the mind of your management. If you are barely meeting their expectations, you can’t expect a promotion until you get this basic in place for a while. Tip #2: Know What It Takes to Get Promoted Again, a simple task but overlooked by most. Go ask your management specific skills they would like to see from you to get you to that next level. Tip #3: Take On More Take on a task or project typically performed at the next level. This will not only show you have initiative but it will show you can perform at the next level. Tip #4: Get Visibility to Your Accomplishments It’s not enough to simply work hard and get great results. You need to ensure that your results are visible to the decision makers. Consider doing a status report or presentation if appropriate. If not those things, at least stop by their office and give them an update. Tip #5: Take Responsibility As you go up the food chain, you usually take on more responsibility. Demonstrate you are responsible for yourself and others by asking to lead a project or train someone. Tip #6: Speak Up A tough one for introverts many times is contributing to discussions. You can gain visibility by simply speaking up, but also it shows you’re engaged. No one likes to promote someone that doesn’t show interest or engagement in the work. Tip #7: Get a Mentor We aren’t always objective about what or how well we do things. It may not be any easier to hear improvement input from the boss. A well-chosen mentor should be able to tell you how you are doing in such a way that you will “hear” it and do something with it. Your mentor should be at a higher level than you and have enough experience and insight that they can help guide you toward your goals. A third party is seriously helpful to your career. Make sure your expectations of a promotion are realistic to the business situation you are in. If the business is struggling or just had a layoff, it may be a while before anyone feels inclined to pay you more. If you do a few simple things on a consistent basis and keep the lines of communication open with your management, you are well on your way to a bigger paycheck. Go to top Bonus Tip: Let me emphasize that Self-Promotion doesn’t have to be obnoxious to be effective.  But, if you don’t Self-Promote you, who will?  If you ever want to get ahead, you have to learn how to Self-Promote. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that shows you simple, yet effective ways to Self-Promote.    Start watching now! What one thing will you do next to reach for your next promotion? Image: Photobucket

To or For English Prepositions - Video and Exercise

To or For English Prepositions - Video and Exercise This weeks video exercise is about using the prepositions to and for. All languages seem to use their prepositions a little differently, and the rules can be hard to understand at first. Try some of the exercises below to see how you do with to and for, then watch the video for the answers.1. Im going (to/for) New York in March.2. It is a quarter (to/for) 5 pm.3. I work from 10 am (to/for) 7 pm every day.4. The ship left (to/for) England.5. I lived in Argentina (to/for) two years.6. I made the appointment (to/for) Thursday.7. I gave the present (to/for) my grandmother.8. The cake is (to/for) Paul because it is his birthday. Ok, we hope that helped you! If you have any questions or comments, or suggestions for our next video, please write us in comments. Thanks!

Whats The Craic, Bhoy A Guide to the English Spoken in Cork, Ireland

What’s The Craic, Bhoy A Guide to the English Spoken in Cork, Ireland The province of Cork in the south of Ireland is known for its beautiful scenery, castles and the famous Blarney Stone, which, when kissed, is said to endow the person kissing it with the gift of the gab or eloquence. However, it is also known for its particular vocabulary which is unlike that spoken in the rest of the country or indeed anywhere else.Here is a guide to the English spoken in Cork.Social  Bhoy is a random term of endearment like mate.If someone says what’s the craic they are asking you how you are.If someone is brassed off, it means they are annoyed.If someone has no intention of doing something they will say, in an ironic fashion I will ya.  Comere timmy boi means come here.  If you do something very stupid, a Cork person will say nicewanbiy.To meet someone means to kiss them on a night out.If someone wants to tell you to go away they will say whistle on.Food and drinkIf someone has had too much to drink they are said to be langers.RandomAn attractive woman is called a bure.Policemen are called shades.  Money is called moolah.An idiot is called a muppet.An egocentric person is said to be septic.If something/someone is dirty, it/he/she is said to be manky.If someone thinks you are stupid they will call you an eejit.I was panned out means I was relaxing.If someone thinks you are particularly stupid they will say if you had two brains you’d be twice as stupid.If an event is very enjoyable it is said to be savage.You’re as useless as a Kerryman with a hurley means you’re pretty useless as typically Cork people believe that those from the neighboring province of Kerry can’t play hurling, the Irish national sport.While we are talking about the English spoken in Cork, let’s enjoy one of its most interesting musical exports, The Sultans of Ping with their classic Where’s Me Jumper.Did you find this blog helpful? Feel free to share it on Facebook and Twitter.

8 Easy Meals to Make in the Dorms

8 Easy Meals to Make in the Dorms pixabay.com 2. French Toast Pretty simple concept here as well: all you need is eggs and bread. A classic breakfast dish that is super simple to make? You got it. I personally used thicker bread to give it more of a hearty feel along with sprinkling in some cinnamon and nutmeg to the egg mixture. It will add a nice spice to pair great with the hearty French toast drizzled in syrup. My mouth is watering already! 3. Microwave Mac and Cheese Luckily this can be made in about five minutes! All you’ll need is some elbow macaroni, water, milk, cheese, and access to a microwave. Use about a third of a cup of macaroni, add in three-fourths of a cup of water, and cook for about three and a half minutes. Dump out any excess water and then pour in a few tablespoons of milk and a few tablespoons of shredded cheddar cheese. Microwave for a minute and then you have yourself a warm and cheesy microwave cup of mac. Sprinkle some breadcrumbs on top as well for some added flare. 4. Cream of Chicken Soup with Rice One of my personal favorites. A quick can of cream of chicken soup combined with some leftover rice made previously can create a deliciously hearty meal that will warm you up in an instant. Follow the directions on the can to make the soup and then sprinkle in a couple spoonfuls of rice at your discretion to create the perfect bowl of soup. pixabay.com 5. Salmon Now you might be thinking, “I do not know how to cook salmon and I don’t really want to risk it.” Do not worry! You are a college student with access to a microwave so you will be just fine! This recipe is as simple as 1-2-3 and can be done in under five minutes. Mix a teaspoon each of olive oil and lime juice with quarter teaspoons of salt and pepper, then with two teaspoons of honey. Drizzle it over the salmon, cover, and cook on medium power and in three minutes you’ll have wonderfully tasty salmon. 6. Tuna Salad Sandwich Another great sandwich that is chock full of protein is a tuna salad sandwich. Simply combine a can of tuna, mayonnaise, some lettuce, and slather it on some bread and have yourself a tasty tuna treat. Toast the bread to add some texture to your sandwich and include celery as well if available. 7. Oatmeal Whether for breakfast or on the go, oatmeal is a great meal that will keep you full of energy throughout the day. The great thing about oatmeal prep is that it is quick, easy, and fast. While instant oatmeal might seem a bit dull, spice it up by adding some spice. Add some brown sugar or cinnamon to add some sweetness. In addition, chop up your favorite fruit for a fresh, healthy option. From apples to blueberries and bananas to cherries, oatmeal is a fresh, healthy dish that can be whipped up in a flash. pexels.com 8. Popcorn Grab a jar of kernels, pop them in the microwave and in no time you can have a delicious air-popped snack. Try and stay away from the prepackaged products that contain too much butter, salt, or fat. Instead, opt for air-popping kernels that you can season yourself to make a much healthier, tastier snack.

Lexies Language Challenge Review (and a chance to win even more ITC!)

Lexies Language Challenge Review (and a chance to win even more ITC!) I did it!  I finished the Challenge! 20 hours of French in 6 weeks! It wasnt easy!  But I did it!  After my very last lesson, I wanted to sit back and reflect upon what I had actually accomplished.  20 hours is no small feat but  like I mentioned in my Week 5 post, as long as you stick to your plan (3 to 4 lessons per week), finishing 20 sessions in 6 weeks actually is not difficult at all! One thing that I wanted to do was actually confirm whether my French had actually improved or not.  I felt it did because I no longer felt nervous or afraid of speaking French but I really didnt have any conclusive proof that it had.  Then I remembered, I made a Public Video Pledge where I spoke some French at the beginning if the Challenge.  As I was making my final video, I decided to edit in my before video of my attempts to speak French and found out that the difference was remarkable. Watch below and judge for yourself! Create a Challenge Review Video and win 300ITC! So if you won the Challenge and are would like to show off your Challenge achievements in a video, well be awarding an additional 300ITC to the top 3 Challenge Review Videos (our staff will be judging).   Its like winning another Challenge! To do this: Speak in your native language (Below are questions to help guide your video but it can be done any way you want!  Be creative!) Introduce yourself and what language(s) were your learning in the Challenge? Tell us about your italki teacher(s)? What was good about your teacher(s)? What did you learn about learning a new language after completing the Challenge? Do you have any advice for people who are thinking of taking the Challenge in the future? Include some BEFORE footage from your Public Video Pledge (for those of you who made a Public Video Pledge) Repeat the above in the language learned in the Challenge Label the video: “(italki username) completed the 2014 italki New Year’s Language Challenge!” Write a Notebook Entry “I completed the 2014 italki New Years Language Challenge and paste the YouTube/Youku URL. Send the link to your notebook entry to support @ italki.com and youll be entered in a content where you can win 300ITC!  The real reward is the fact that you finished the Challenge after 6 weeks of hard work!  This video simply commemorates that achievement! ** Please note that we would like to use these stories and videos to help  motivate others and let them know it’s not that hard to improve a language in just 6 weeks! I personally just wanted to thank each and every one of you for helping us create a wonderful language learning community.  I dont know about you, but Im actually looking forward to the next language challenge!  If you are, you can sign up here to be notified when that begins. Thank you for participating and hope you found it just as fun as I did! Keep on pushing, Lexie italki Marketing and Customer Experience P.S.  I was so proud of myself and wrote a story about this as well.   Read it here. Lexies Language Challenge Review (and a chance to win even more ITC!) I did it!  I finished the Challenge! 20 hours of French in 6 weeks! It wasnt easy!  But I did it!  After my very last lesson, I wanted to sit back and reflect upon what I had actually accomplished.  20 hours is no small feat but  like I mentioned in my Week 5 post, as long as you stick to your plan (3 to 4 lessons per week), finishing 20 sessions in 6 weeks actually is not difficult at all! One thing that I wanted to do was actually confirm whether my French had actually improved or not.  I felt it did because I no longer felt nervous or afraid of speaking French but I really didnt have any conclusive proof that it had.  Then I remembered, I made a Public Video Pledge where I spoke some French at the beginning if the Challenge.  As I was making my final video, I decided to edit in my before video of my attempts to speak French and found out that the difference was remarkable. Watch below and judge for yourself! Create a Challenge Review Video and win 300ITC! So if you won the Challenge and are would like to show off your Challenge achievements in a video, well be awarding an additional 300ITC to the top 3 Challenge Review Videos (our staff will be judging).   Its like winning another Challenge! To do this: Speak in your native language (Below are questions to help guide your video but it can be done any way you want!  Be creative!) Introduce yourself and what language(s) were your learning in the Challenge? Tell us about your italki teacher(s)? What was good about your teacher(s)? What did you learn about learning a new language after completing the Challenge? Do you have any advice for people who are thinking of taking the Challenge in the future? Include some BEFORE footage from your Public Video Pledge (for those of you who made a Public Video Pledge) Repeat the above in the language learned in the Challenge Label the video: “(italki username) completed the 2014 italki New Year’s Language Challenge!” Write a Notebook Entry “I completed the 2014 italki New Years Language Challenge and paste the YouTube/Youku URL. Send the link to your notebook entry to support @ italki.com and youll be entered in a content where you can win 300ITC!  The real reward is the fact that you finished the Challenge after 6 weeks of hard work!  This video simply commemorates that achievement! ** Please note that we would like to use these stories and videos to help  motivate others and let them know it’s not that hard to improve a language in just 6 weeks! I personally just wanted to thank each and every one of you for helping us create a wonderful language learning community.  I dont know about you, but Im actually looking forward to the next language challenge!  If you are, you can sign up here to be notified when that begins. Thank you for participating and hope you found it just as fun as I did! Keep on pushing, Lexie italki Marketing and Customer Experience P.S.  I was so proud of myself and wrote a story about this as well.   Read it here. Lexies Language Challenge Review (and a chance to win even more ITC!) I did it!  I finished the Challenge! 20 hours of French in 6 weeks! It wasnt easy!  But I did it!  After my very last lesson, I wanted to sit back and reflect upon what I had actually accomplished.  20 hours is no small feat but  like I mentioned in my Week 5 post, as long as you stick to your plan (3 to 4 lessons per week), finishing 20 sessions in 6 weeks actually is not difficult at all! One thing that I wanted to do was actually confirm whether my French had actually improved or not.  I felt it did because I no longer felt nervous or afraid of speaking French but I really didnt have any conclusive proof that it had.  Then I remembered, I made a Public Video Pledge where I spoke some French at the beginning if the Challenge.  As I was making my final video, I decided to edit in my before video of my attempts to speak French and found out that the difference was remarkable. Watch below and judge for yourself! Create a Challenge Review Video and win 300ITC! So if you won the Challenge and are would like to show off your Challenge achievements in a video, well be awarding an additional 300ITC to the top 3 Challenge Review Videos (our staff will be judging).   Its like winning another Challenge! To do this: Speak in your native language (Below are questions to help guide your video but it can be done any way you want!  Be creative!) Introduce yourself and what language(s) were your learning in the Challenge? Tell us about your italki teacher(s)? What was good about your teacher(s)? What did you learn about learning a new language after completing the Challenge? Do you have any advice for people who are thinking of taking the Challenge in the future? Include some BEFORE footage from your Public Video Pledge (for those of you who made a Public Video Pledge) Repeat the above in the language learned in the Challenge Label the video: “(italki username) completed the 2014 italki New Year’s Language Challenge!” Write a Notebook Entry “I completed the 2014 italki New Years Language Challenge and paste the YouTube/Youku URL. Send the link to your notebook entry to support @ italki.com and youll be entered in a content where you can win 300ITC!  The real reward is the fact that you finished the Challenge after 6 weeks of hard work!  This video simply commemorates that achievement! ** Please note that we would like to use these stories and videos to help  motivate others and let them know it’s not that hard to improve a language in just 6 weeks! I personally just wanted to thank each and every one of you for helping us create a wonderful language learning community.  I dont know about you, but Im actually looking forward to the next language challenge!  If you are, you can sign up here to be notified when that begins. Thank you for participating and hope you found it just as fun as I did! Keep on pushing, Lexie italki Marketing and Customer Experience P.S.  I was so proud of myself and wrote a story about this as well.   Read it here.

How to Be a Good Language Learner Weve Finally Discovered the Secret Formula!

How to Be a Good Language Learner Weve Finally Discovered the Secret Formula! How to Be a Good Language Learner: Weve Finally Discovered the Secret Formula! The year was 1975. One simple question launched dozens of studies: What makes a good language learner? That’s right, scientists Joan Rubin and David Stern sought the answer to this question long before you got fed up with trying to learn Spanish for the third time.The good news is that they found some answers! They and subsequent researchers found key commonalities among successful language learners. The goal was to study good language learners to see if their methods could be taught to not-so-good language learners or used to help teachers reach language learning students.The most important takeaway of their research was this: Anybody can become good at learning languages. Gasp!Thats great, but how do you do it? Well, you need to observe and copy the secrets and techniques of the most successful language learners.Start by thinking of a good language learner that you already know.We often marvel at good language learners, wondering how they pick up languages so fast. Unfortunately, thats often where doubt starts to sink in, and we ask ourselves questions like, How’d that guy learn German in a year when I’ve been studying it for the past seven years and can still hardly introduce myself? What is this sorcery?Less-successful language learners are sometimes even in awe of good language learners, almost like they think they’re mystical gurus, possessors of some rare and special knowledge. Give us the keys to your exceptional skill, oh Enlightened One, we want to say.But what if everyone knew the qualities of a good language learner? By studying what makes the best language learners tick, we can all understand how certain attributes prime you for successful language learning, which ultimately demystifies the process.Behold: Those coveted characteristics are a mystery no more! I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of qualities that make good language learners successful and, more importantly, ways you can translate those qualities to success in your own langua ge learning. How to Be a Good Language Learner: Weve Finally Discovered the Secret Formula!You’d be hard-pressed to find a good language learner lacking in these qualities. Read on to see which ones you demonstrate well, and which you could be better at.1. Good Language Learners Have Plenty of CourageGood language learners have no room for inhibitions.When you see these learners happily chatting away, they appear to be confident and unafraid of looking like a fool when speaking.For example, when they don’t know the word for “telephone,” good language learners place an imaginary telephone to their ears. When they don’t know how to conjugate a verb correctly, they say it anyway.Fear doesnt stop good language learners because they know that practicing, even if done imperfectly, is the only way they’ll get better.They also have tough skin. They don’t quit the first time they get laughed at for committing a language faux pas.Sure, they might get embarrassed because a nat ive speaker doesn’t understand them, but they just dust their shoulders off and work to improve their pronunciation. They dont run from their mistakes, they learn from them, and they have the courage to keep on going like a boss.They’re not afraid to guess. Good language learners use context clues to guess at the meaning of unfamiliar words and phrases.If they hear the sentence He lives in a big mansion, but dont know the word mansion, they can guess it means a really big house! They also create new words if they have to.For example, they’ll guess that a newly-learned English verb ends with -ed in the simple past tenseâ€"even if they know there are many exceptions to that “ruleâ€"and they understand that people will likely understand what theyre talking about, even if its not grammatically correct.They accept the fact that nobodys perfect, so they take these risks on a regular basis. They realize that in most cases, communication is more important than correctness.2. Good La nguage Learners Use Their Keen Observation SkillsGood language learners recognize and learn from their own mistakes and the mistakes of others.Here good listening and self-awareness come into play. You can’t correct mistakes you don’t know you’re making, so good language learners pay attention and adjust accordingly. If they conjugate a word incorrectly, theyll note that its something they need to work on. They listen and learn from native speakers as well, copying them as closely as possible.They pick up on nonverbal clues. If there’s one thing you’ll learn about learning a new language, it’s that there’s a lot more to communication than the words we say.Good language learners take note of facial expressions, body language and tone of voice to understand how someone’s saying something when they don’t know what they’re saying. With a combination of verbal and nonverbal clues, they can take educated guesses at the meaning.They identify patterns in the target langu age. They work to understand the language as a system, identifying key patterns that make learning the language easier and more like the way native speakers learned it.For example, good learners of Spanish pick up on the fact that, unlike English, the definite articles  el and la  are commonly used in front of nouns in a sentence. And good learners of English will learn that we really like to use the word it.3. Good Language Learners Are Curious and Creative When Processing New InformationGood language learners ask a lot of questions.  How do you use present continuous in the third person? Whats the meaning of this slang word? Why do you say this word in one situation, and that other word in a different situation?These questions are how they learn more of the target language almost every day. They’re naturally curious and always strive to take in more vocabulary and grammar.They have a unique way of learning that’s tailored to themselves. There are different kinds of good langua ge learners just like there are different kinds of general learners (for example, there are auditory, visual and kinesthetic learners, among others).Over time, good language learners learn the methods  that work best for them  to remember new vocabulary and grammar structures. Depending on the learner, they might use flashcards, videos or audio recordings to learn, to name just a few techniques. This helps them process new information quickly.Good language learners are good at improvisation. They creatively use words, phrases and structures they already know to say what they need to say. Instead of pulling out the translation app, they’ll use “circumlocution,” or the roundabout way of saying things.For example, if you dont know the word for a watch, you can say “the thing that shows the time.” This promotes fluency as well as self-expression.4. Good Language Learners Are Abundantly PatientGood language learners become comfortable with ambiguity.They don’t need to know th e meaning of a new word right away, and they don’t worry when they don’t understand 100% of what a speaker is saying. There won’t be much learning going on if you tune out (or freak out) as soon as you hear an unfamiliar word. Good language learners are patient enough to understand that one day they’ll be able to have conversations in which they know all the words.Theyre also patient with themselves. They know it takes time to learn a language, so they don’t get frustrated easily. Good language learners accept the language for what it is, forgiving and being kind to themselves if they don’t progress as quickly as they’d like. They don’t put a lot of pressure on themselves because they see learning the language as a journey. They go with the flow, understanding that things like grammar are not the be-all and end-all.5. Good Language Learners Are Largely Self-motivatedGood language learners understand their why.Whether they need the target language to get a better job, to get into grad school overseas, to survive in a foreign country or simply to connect with their family or roots, good language learners are deeply motivated. Their reason for learning a language often goes beyond getting a good grade in a class. They take language learning very, very seriously.That motivation leads them to learn independently and practice consistently. Teachers don’t have to force them to conjugate verbs each night or to practice with a language partner on the weekends.Good language learners actively seek out opportunities to practice the language outside the classroom. They practice as much as possible.Whats more, they genuinely enjoy learning the target language. It’s fun, even!That’s why it’s important to choose the right language. You won’t stick with a language that makes you yawn. And in case you were wondering, that also explains why you’re probably not fluent in the language they forced you to take back in high school.Learning from the Good La nguage LearnerI hope you can  now  see how learning a new language isn’t so mystical. Theres no sorcery or witchcraft involved, but there is a secret formula. And now you have it, too!It’s a unique process for everyone, but emulating these qualities is a good first step. It’s important to internalize these qualities to reach our language learning goals just like the good language learners of the world. But remember: All of this information is futile if you don’t apply it. So take action, Newly Enlightened One, and start  practicing right now!Layla A. Reaves is a freelance writer based in Maryland. She spends her spare time working on the next Great American Novel and actively plans her upcoming trips each day. Her motto is keep going imperfectly.