The Education Technology Revolution in K 12 Education

The Education Technology Revolution in K 12 Education 0SHARESShare The lack of strong evidences leads some educators to doubt the efficacy of incorporating educational technology and discard the urgency of investing in unproven strategies. In contrast, proponents of technology investments do not want to wait for any concrete research showing the progress and future commitment of educational technology. Here are the major benefits of educational technology when it is deliberately used in teaching and learning: Besides learning core academic subjects, integrating technology in instruction build the skills of 21st century. Educational technology engages students to create and publish their content in front of worldwide audience making school academics more relevant showcasing the high level of achievements. With no use of educational technology, school fails to provide sufficient access to extra study material, guidance from domain experts and absence of virtual communities like social media. Technology is used to provide solutions that help K-12, college/graduate level students under comprehensive learning environment that engage students regardless of intellectual ability, physical disability, social and economical background. Educational technology is one of the most effective strategies to decrease dropout rates especially among high school students. Technology helps online tutors to provide personalized just-in time support and help which is crucial service for under performing or physically disabled students. Use of technological tools, computer labs and visualization tools are essential for demand based learning in subjects like mathematics, science, engineering, technology and lots more. Online tutoring using internet accessible personal computers, laptops and mobile devices offers learning beyond traditional school hours and physical classrooms. Use of technology enables online tutoring services to access quality tutors who offer on-the-go, job-embedded professional development. Technology helps better communications with students and parents giving real-time guidance and feedback on the performance. Technology leveraged by online tutor gives the opportunity to prepare students with new kinds of skill sets that are in-demand in the growth of emerging industries. [starbox id=admin]

Should I Go To University of Pennsylvania

Should I Go To University of Pennsylvania The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Brittany is a Miami tutor specializing in Algebra tutoring, MCAT prep tutoring, Chemistry tutoring, and more. She is a 2013 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. Check out what she had to say about her alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Brittany: Penn is like a bubble in the middle of an urban setting. Its only 15 blocks or so from Center City (downtown) but has its own small collection of shops and restaurants, as well as a movie theater. West of campus isnt the safest of places but Penn is known to have one of the biggest private police forces in the country and theres security literally on each block. Theres unbelievable amounts of public transportation (buses, metro, free Penn shuttles) so you dont need a car or bike. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Brittany: Professors and TAs usually hold their own office hours that one can attend for in-person one-on-one explanations, but if you have a quick question, most professors and TAs are able to tend to your needs via email. I suggest contacting the TA first, though, because theyre usually lightening fast at responding. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Brittany: In terms of dorm life, I suggest living in a dorm that has its own dining hall like English House/Kings Court or Hill because walking to dining halls in the harsh winter isnt much fun. I liked my dorm in English House because each room had its own sink, the rooms were spacious, and it was just small enough to get acquainted with basically everyone in my hall and in the House. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Brittany: Id say a lot of majors/programs are well supported at Penn. I studied Psychology because I enjoy learning about why people think and behave the way they do. The Psychology department has its own building with really nice advisors that will keep you on the right track toward fulfilling the Psychology curriculum. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Brittany: I made friends quickly with the people in my dorm hall, and continued to make new friends by joining extracurricular activities. There are plenty of activities a freshman can join, and he or she can learn about the activities via the fall and spring Activities Fairs and the fall Freshman Performing Arts Night. Freshmen interested in Greek life can rush in the spring semester. Greek life plays a big role in campus, but there are definitely many other opportunities to make friends and establish yourself on campus if Greek life isnt for you. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Brittany: The Career Center is extremely helpful. They revise resumes for you, coach you through your graduate paths, and send you emails of job opportunities and internships all the time. Many reputable firms come to campus to recruit third-year students studying marketing or economics who want to pursue a career as an analyst, trader, or consultant. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Brittany: There are tons of libraries, all of which get pretty crowded around finals, but there are tons of lounges and computer labs all around campus that make great study spots. Also, some dining halls open up after hours as extra study space; you just have to avoid main libraries like VP and explore a little to find a good studying spot. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Brittany: Students go downtown to go to shopping, check out historical buildings and monuments, attend late-night fraternity events, have formals at restaurants, attend concerts and sporting events (to see the Phillies, Eagles, and 76ers!), and even to go grocery shopping at Trader Joes. Its really simple to go downtown as there are a couple of metro stops on campus, and there are a few buses that go directly downtown. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Brittany: Penn has a fairly large student body (10,000 undergraduate and 10,000 graduates). Introductory Science classes are huge (~300 students), so if you come late, its hard to find a seat. Once you get past the Intro classes, most classes are a nice size, and seminar courses are more intimate (~15 students max) and usually more relaxed in terms of exams and assignments. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Brittany: My most memorable experience was my Sleep and Psychopathology class. It was my first small seminar class and my lecturer treated us students as adults. He told us the first day that if we came to class prepared by doing the assigned readings the night before that he wouldnt have to make any graded assignments besides the midterm and final exam. As a mutual agreement, everyone did their part by reading beforehand, and we engaged in riveting discussion during each class. It was honestly one of the best learning experiences Ive ever had at Penn. Check out Brittanys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Learning How to Sing Getting Rid of the Culture of Fear

Learning How to Sing Getting Rid of the Culture of Fear Sign up successful In fact, we all know how to play music. We all know how to sing. Just as we all know how to express how we feel to those we love, or what to eat when we are hungry. In India, I heard that the first thing any music student learns, whether he or she is an instrumentalist or not, is how to sing. It is believed that the voice is the most basic and primary of all the instruments. Another concept they have there is that of “sadhana,” or “a practice that brings one joy and happiness.” In certain Indian musical traditions, the success of a performance or concert is judged not by technical execution, but by the state of mind that is reached while playing and singing. The happier everyone gets while singing and playing, the more successful the concert. I’d like to see this approach become more common here in North America. Singing and the Culture of Fear I often think about where exactly we learned to be fearful of making sound. I wonder if it was from other kids in school making fun of us when we talked or used our voice, or maybe it was a music teacher we had that made us feel like we were “not doing it correctly,” or maybe the fear just got passed down from our parents, who learned it from their parents, and so on down the line all the way back to some guy in Germany who decided that music should only be played by the professionals on stage, while everyone else listens.  Whatever it is, I think it is safe to reverse the progression now. I am not against performance and the development of technical skill. This is a beautiful and wonderful thing, and something that I hope continues forever into the future. But what I would like to see is this fear of expression being transmuted into joy and excitement, the natural by-products of practicing music. So here are some questions that I would like to ask you: Would you like to sing? Would you like to play your instrument before an audience? Would you like to share your music with your friends, your community, and the folks you know? Do you feel afraid at the thought of doing this? And more importantly, do you think that this fear you feel is a signal that you shouldn’t go ahead and do it anyway or that you should? I encourage all you music students out there (that’s everyone on the planet and beyond) to go ahead and share the music inside you with everyone. Even if your voice shakes. Even if your palms sweat. Even if it feels like you are walking to your funeral. In the end, it’s not about whether you were out of tune or not. It’s not about the feedback you receive from others. It’s not really about what you sound like at all. But it’s about the fact that you had the courage to do what you felt inspired to do, no matter the result, and the connections, growth, and fun you had while doing it. Daniel has performed, studied, and taught music for many years across the country. He plays mostly strings, the bass, cello, and guitar, but loves all sorts of instruments, including the voice. He loves helping his students see past the fears that often hold us back, to the light beyond. He currently lives and teaches music lessons in Grass Valley, Northern California.  Learn more about Daniel  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 Photo  by Thomas Beck

A Review of GRE Test Prep Options

A Review of GRE Test Prep Options GRE/MAT Graduate School Blog With so many GRE test prep options available, it can be hard to know where to start looking. Hopefully this outline of the types of options available will help you get an idea of what would work best for you. Option # 1: Self-study If you prefer to learn on your own from books or online study materials, then you may be fine preparing yourself without any help. This allows you to set your own schedule and pace and focus on the areas that you most need to improve, and the prices of test-prep books and programs are fairly reasonable. If you make this decision, though, you should definitely start well in advance of taking the test, and be realistic with yourself about whether you have the ability to follow through. Set a definite date to start your study program, and give yourself one or two weeks to evaluate your progress. If you find yourself procrastinating or not making satisfactory progress, then you should consider a guided option. Option #1.5: Online Study Courses We call this option 1.5 because it’s really a subset of option #1 â€" using an online GRE prep course to supplement, or perhaps to define, your process of self-studying. There are a variety of interesting online GRE prep courses to consider, such as theGRE prep course offered byBenchPrepor theGRE course offered byMagoosh. These courses provide structure, convenience, and because they are online, typically far more practice than can fit into a physical test prep book. Option # 2: Group classes Group classes provide the benefit of both guidance and accountability, but provide limited availability. You will probably pay more for this option than you would to study on your own, but you will potentially get more value. You should try this if you think working along with a group will help you. Another way to think about group classes is that they provide the basics, and perhaps most of the content that you might describe as medium difficulty. So, if you’re looking to get an average or above average GRE score, a prep class is a good tool. However, a group class has to be conducted at a speed that works for everyone in the class. So, it’s probably too fast for the below average student who’s struggling, and too slow for the high scoring student. In other words, the experience isn’t personalized or customized. You can ask questions here and there, but not too many, because the class has to keep moving forward for everyone else. Option # 3: Private tutoring This is likely to be the most expensive option overall, but will also provide the most value in terms of flexibility and personal guidance. This is also the most realistic option if you are feeling particularly stuck or are short on time. Or, if you’re actually a really good test taker and need help mastering the most advanced concepts, a private GRE tutor is probably a good investment. You can meet with a tutor either in person or online, and wherever you are you will find a wide range to choose from. MyGuruprides itself on providing the best quality GRE test prep tutors available, so if you would like our help, get in touch with us today. However, we only want to work with students who seem well suited to working with a GRE tutor. Nobody wins if a student is convinced to work with a tutor when a prep class would have worked better for him or her. --DaneDormiois an online tutor and academic coach who helps students get the most out of school and life. You can find more articles and resources on his blog atwww.synergy-tutoring.com. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(215486, '6baac2ae-05a3-4610-9d1f-265c8cbd809f', {});

Ways to Give News in English - Secrets of a Good Conversation

Ways to Give News in English - Secrets of a Good Conversation Learn different ways to give news in English and improve your speaking skills.News is something most of us can not live without. Whether it is the local, national or  international news we crave it (really want it). However, not all news, as we well know, is  good news and often we receive bad news. So here are some ways for talking about the news in English. These expressions will help you in English conversation when you either have to deliver  (give)  good and bad news or receive it.There are many different ways to give news in English whether it is good or bad. Some people are better than others at delivering bad news and normally most people do not have a problem giving good news. Enjoyed this infographic? Here’s what you can do next: Ways to Give News in English I have listed below the expressions we can use to give both  good and bad news followed by a quick situation that may give rise to such a statement.  Then I have followed that with typical responses we use for both bad and good news with  some appropriate words. In many situations where the news is not seriously bad or so  excitingly good then more reserved or calmer responses are more appropriate (like too  bad, how awful or that’s unfortunate) but where the news is extreme then the response is  usually similar:wow, that’s wonderfulamazingoh poor youI am really really sorry… Giving Good News in English I’M REALLY PLEASED TO TELL YOU…you have been awarded a bonus by the  management in recognition of your achievements this year.I’VE GOT A BIT OF GOOD NEWS TO TELL YOU…  we are going to have a baby! Isn’t  that wonderful. I am so excited.I’VE GOT SOME GOOD / BRILLIANT / GREAT / WONDERFUL / SPLENDID NEWS FOR  YOU…depending how big the news is you can use a number of adjectives  and their superlative form to pass on (give) your good news.YOU KNOW WHAT! I’VE GOT A BIT OF GREAT NEWS FOR YOU…you know that old car in the garage that we have been trying to sell for months? Well someone at last has seen the advert came around earlier today and offered us the price we were asking!!GREAT NEWS FOR YOU…you are in the team for the next match.You played  well last week and you deserve your place. Ways to Give News in English Giving Bad News in English I’M AFRAID I’VE GOT SOME BAD NEWS FOR YOU…you are not being considered for  the vacancy in the accounts department. I am really sorry but another  candidate with more experience has been offered the job.I’M SORRY I’VE GOT A BIT OF BAD NEWS TO TELL YOU..I had an accident in the car  on the way to work today. It wasn’t really my fault and there was nothing I  could do. The car in front of me stopped suddenly .I braked and the car  behind me ran in to the back of me and has damaged the bumperI REALLY DON’T KNOW HOW TO SAY IT, BUT …I am sorry I don’t think we can be  together anymore. I have met someone else and I think our relationship has  gone as far as it could go..I’M SORRY TO HAVE TO SAY THIS, BUT …your work is just not good enough. You  work hard but there Are too many mistakes and we constantly have to  correct it. We feel it would be better for you and us if you moved on and  found another job.I REALLY FEEL BAD TO HAVE TO SAY THIS, BUT …its either me or t he cat! The cat  does not like me and I am constantly cleaning hair off my clothes. It is old  and smells and I am not comfortable with the way it looks at me. I know you  have had it a long time but.. Ways to Reply to News in English Responding to Good News in English WOW, THAT’S SOUNDS EXCITING!When do you move? What are you going to do  with your apartment and car? Have you told your parents yet?THAT’S GREAT!I’ll book the hotel now and the flights and we can look on  line to see what we can do when we get there. It will be great to have a  break.HOW FANTASTIC!Wow, a baby. After all this time.  I cannot wait to tell my  friends.WHAT FANTASTIC / GOOD / BRILLIANT / GREAT / WONDERFUL / SPLENDID NEWS!I am  sure you are thrilled. When did you hear? How did you react when you  heard?THAT’S GOOD / BRILLIANT / GREAT / WONDERFUL / SPLENDID NEWS!Same as above.THAT SOUNDS LIKE GREAT NEWS!you must be over the moon. It’s a great  opportunity for you and your family.CONGRATULATIONS!It could not have happened to a nicer person. Well  deserved.THAT’S WONDERFUL / FANTASTIC!We must go out and have a few beers to  celebrate. You are buying!I’M GLAD TO HEAR THAT!I needed some good news to start the week. Let’s  hope this continues for the rest of the year!Great news!Incredible!Superb!Sounds great!Lucky you!Oh, how wonderful!I can’t believe that!All of these single word responses can be used in any good news situation no matter what the occasion is. How to Respond to Good News in English Enjoyed this infographic? Here’s what you can do next: Responding to Bad News in English I’M AWFULLY SORRY THAT…it had to be you that had to tell me.  I know it cannot  be easy. What happened exactly?I’M SORRY TO HEAR THATWhen are you leaving? Where will you go? Will you  write to me and keep in touch?I’M SORRY TO HEAR SUCH TERRIBLE NEWSIt must be very upsetting for you. Is  there anything I can do to help? If you need anything all you need to do is  ask and I will be happy to help if I can.MY GOODNESS!I was not expecting that. Don’t you think you are over  reacting a little? It’s only a cat!I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!Your work was always good and your boss always seemed  happy with you. Are you sure there was no other reasonPOOR YOU!you must me devastated. But you know you will get another job  quickly. You are too good at what you do.I DO SYMPATHIZE WITH YOUIt’s not easy to hear bad news like that but you  seem to be taking it as well as could be expected under the circumstances.PLEASE, ACCEPT MY DEEPEST SYMPATHYLosing a parent is never easy even at  such a gre at age. At least it was pain free in the end.I KNOW HOW YOU MUST BE FEELINGI lost my father a few years ago and I still  think of him a lot.THAT MUST BE AWFULHow did it happen?  Did they break in when you were  asleep or when you were out. My god at least you were not injured.OH, DEAR!That’s too bad and we were looking forward to meeting up with you. Never mind we can re arrange it when you are feeling better.TOO BAD!We would all have enjoyed meeting you. But look we are going to  meet up more regularly now and so there will be another chance to catch  up next month.THAT’S AWFUL / A PITY / UNFORTUNATEBut if there is not too much damage  perhaps it won’t cost so much and the insurance will pay for most of the  repairs.

How To Build Up The Skills Employers Think Students Lack

How To Build Up The Skills Employers Think Students Lack Image via blog.shepell.com Relax before you speak and make sure you clarify whatever is being said. Miscommunication often leads to problems in the workplace. Lastly, empathize and always be positive. Talk to all your coworkers in a constructive tone and you will receive the same back. Remember, everyone has different points of view so always keep that in the back of your mind when conversing. Understand where the other person is coming from. If you follow these small tips, your interpersonal skills will greatly improve and have a positive impact in your work environment. In addition, problem-solving was another skill employers mentioned that they found college graduates lacking. This is not just doing math problems; this refers to analytical thinking. The first step in improving your problem-solving skills is to fully understand the problem. According to wikihow.com: “If you don’t properly understand the problem, your solutions may be ineffective or fail entirely. To define the problem you will have to ask questions and look at different angles. For example, is there one problem or actually several? Can you restate the problem in your own words?” This means you will probably also have to gather more information. In order to get a clear picture of everything, you need to know everything. Once that is done is when you can begin the second step making a plan. When you start formulating a plan, look at your gathered information as a whole and order its importance. Following that, you can start drafting multiple solutions. It is important to have choices; it gives you more options to solve the problem. That way you are not stuck trying to make one solution work. According to wikihow.com: “Use analogies and similarities. Try to find a resemblance with a previously solved or common problem. If you can find commonalities between your situation and one youve dealt with before, you may be able to adapt some of the solutions for use now.” Once you have planned out a couple solutions, evaluate them and pick one. Now you have to implement it. When you put your plan into practice, do a trial-run first (if you can). See how it works for a few days or weeks, depending on what the original problem was. Review the results and if nothing has changed, you go back to the drawing board, or try out one of your other options. Make adjustments as you go along; new problems always arise. There are other ways to work on your problem-solving skills as well. According to wikihow.com: “Play video games. Video games have been portrayed as intellectually lazy for a long time. However, new research shows that playing video games can improve parts of thinking like spatial perception, reasoning and memory.” Choose the game wisely, as obviously not all video games are suitable for training your problem-solving skills. Try a puzzle game or a role-playing game, something that makes you think. In addition, try taking up a hobby that forces you to do some strategic thinking. This includes chess, learning a foreign language, Sudoku, or web design. Tackling interpersonal problem-solving skills, the most answered in the said survey, will improve your meaning in the work place. Therefore, your employers will be happy and the transition from college to the working world will be smoother.

Stay Safe With myLAB Box, First Nationwide At-Home STD Testing Service

Stay Safe With myLAB Box, First Nationwide At-Home STD Testing Service Photo Via: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com It’s an uncomfortable topic for many, but it’s one that needs to be discussed regardless. Safe sex is a huge concern, largely due to the high risk of transmittable diseases and the larger chance of sexual encounters in college. According to the CDC, those aged 15-24 are at higher, risk, as about two-thirds of reported cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea in the U.S. were reported by younger individuals within that age group. This is even riskier when you consider the increased chances of contracting life-threatening diseases such as HIV. And, even more shocking, is the fact that many individuals havent been tested for HIV (a total of one-third of sexually active young adults) which means that there is an abundance of undiagnosed individuals unwittingly spreading the disease. So, how do you protect yourself? MyLAB Box has some ideas, which they published in a recent press release. MyLAB Box is the first at-home STD testing service, and it’s working nationwide. The service utilizes a FDA-approved kit that utilizes technology that has been validated with affiliates with decades of experience in testing for such diseases. This is beneficial not only because tests can be conducted in the privacy of your own home, but also because these tests are at half the cost of conventional lab tests, providing affordable screening to those that wouldn’t have such screening otherwise. In this way, myLAB Box is spearheading this war against STDs, simply by providing individuals with knowledge about their own bodies. Of course, this is only half the battle. The other half, as we all know, is to practice safe sex and to talk about it. When learning more about how you can be safe, utilize the tips provided by myLAB Box for all college students. 1. Condoms Keep in mind, these are not perfect, but latex condoms actually offer a 98 percent chance of preventing pregnancy (when used properly). In addition, it’s a great line of defense against infection. So how do you use them correctly? a. Make sure they are latex b. Use a new condom for every act (vaginal, anal, and oral sex) c. Check expiration dates (yes, this matters if it’s expired, it’s more likely to break) d. If you feel it break, stop and replace it e. Do not use more than one at a time 2. Use other methods of protection There are plenty more modes of protecting yourself where that comes from, including birth control pills, the patch, and the ring. Of course, keep in mind that these methods of birth control leave you vulnerable to STIs. 3. Test yourself Know your own body. These are huge health risks and there’s no way to know your status without first getting tested. HPV is common, and it’s responsible for 91 percent of cervical cancers, 75 percent of vaginal cancers, 69 percent of vulvar cancers, 63 percent of penile cancers, and 91 percent of anal cancers. So yes, getting tested is a big, life altering deal. So stay on top of it. Again, if you can’t afford to go to a clinic or you’re too embarrassed, order a home kit to test yourself.  The more you know, the more likely you are to be safe. 4. Safe sex isn’t always safe STIs are passed through more than just intercourse, which means that oral sex and kissing still put you at risk. So, know the signs and be careful who you partner with while in school. MyLAB Box also lists an FAQ page with more information on such risks: -  Look Out for These Common STD Signs and Symptoms -  What To Do If There Isn’t an STD Testing Clinic Near Me -  Safe is Sexy: Understanding PrEP and HIV Prevention -  STDs Are Gross! Myth vs. Reality -  Safe Is Sexy: A Woman’s Guide to Sexual Health -  Why is Gonorrhea called “The Clap” and Why You Should Care 5. Test, Test, Test Whether in the clinic or at home, you need to test yourself for such infections, as they can seriously impact your life and/or someone else’s. The myLAB Box tests are quick and private with discreet packaging and can be done anywhere, anytime (it only takes about 5 minutes). So there really is no reason not to take it. According to Lora Ivanova, Co-Founder of myLAB Box: “When we’re talking about sex, the risk of a surprise pregnancy is what most people worry about. That said, you absolutely need to keep an eye out for sexually transmitted diseases and infections, too. Even though you may know your bedroom partners from class, that’s not the same thing as knowing their STI status. College is often a time when students experiment with their sexual activity, have multiple partners and dates, and play it a little loose with the rules. With as many as 80% of infections showing little to no symptoms, you’ll never know if someone is free and clear of STIs unless they’ve been tested. We hope these tips will be a good reminder to college students to practice safe sex.” Plus, to help further promote this initiative, college students are being offered a 20 percent discount for the entire month of September with this discount code: backtoschool2017. Plus, myLAB Box accepts HAS and FSA accounts as payment options. So be sure that you’re getting tested and utilizing all of the above-discussed steps in order to ensure that you’re being safe at school this year. Also, for more information, visit mylabbox.com.

32 Cool Foreign Names You Wish Your Parents Gave You

32 Cool Foreign Names You Wish Your Parents Gave You 32 Cool Foreign Names You Wish Your Parents Gave You Imagine if we were all named Bob or Sue.From  Bangkok to Montreal, say every man and every woman had the exact same name.Bob and Sue.Feeling a little uncomfortable about the idea of global name homogeneity? Yeah, me too.Of course, theres  nothing wrong with Bob and Sue. Theyre great names that are surely attached to some great people. Still, the idea of everyone being labeled with these two  designations  sounds  like something out of a young adult dystopian novel.Thats because we value diversity. We seek out what weve never seen or heard before. We want to experience something different. We yearn to be enriched by the foreign and new.Luckily were not all named Bob or Sueâ€"that would be boring. Were fortunate in that we can actually taste the rainbow. You wont find a pot of gold at the end of it,  but youll get to satisfy your  craving for  foreign culture (which is worth way more!).All it  takes is one simple question: Hey, whats your name?Here youll find 32 awesome foreign names, plus why they  should matter to  you, a  dedicated language learner. Why Youll  Be Extra  Interested in  Cool Foreign Names as a Language LearnerWe dont think about it too often, but names are a major part of our being.When it comes to naming babies, expectant parents spend countless hours poring over  baby-naming websites,  making up lists and receiving adviceâ€"whether  invited or notâ€"from pretty much anyone who feels bold enough to offer up their opinion on such a personal matter (at least in some cultures, more on that in a second).The reason that this process  becomes so involved is  because theres a general awareness of how important names are. They are deeply tied to our identities. Everyone wants to make sure that they get it right, since, really, you  only get one shot. Therefore, choosing  a name  that the parents, the child and even society can live with can turn quite stressful.This is especially true in the Western  cultures where parents have the freedom to name th eir child almost anything that they want. From the biblical to the bizarre, when your options range from James to Jermajesty, things can get a bit overwhelming.In other cultures, names are chosen more ceremoniously.  Parents  pick from the family tree, they look to events that occurred during or after pregnancy, they perform  rituals, magic and incantation, and a whole host of other processes to decide the perfect name for their person-to-be.Its clear that no matter the avenue chosen for naming a baby, every culture takes this process very seriously.So what does this have to do with learning a language?Lots.  In addition to  personal significance, names bear huge cultural significance as well. They dont just represent you, they represent where you come from, where your parents came from, entire ethnic groups and nationalities. Its tribal.There are names that we instantly associate with a culture or region just by seeing or hearing them.  Take a  look at the  name John  in alternate forms: Juan, Jean, Giovanni. No doubt you automatically made the associations with Latin America/Spain, France  and Italy.This is intentional.  Theres a reason  why we dont know a  ton of French Giovannis. Were hard-wired to preserve our cultural identities, and, generally, the first place people start is with the name.Keep that in mind  when youre learning a new language. You arent  just learning nouns, adjectives and verbs. Youre learning a new culture. Youre getting a taste of how people in that culture think, what they believe and how they express themselves. Names are an important part of that.Therefore, taking the time to appreciate the significance of foreign names is going to set you on the right path, and that path continues right on to authentic language learningâ€"i.e., learning with materials where characters names in dialogues arent exactly the same in every language. So find out whats really behind the interesting-sounding names in the language you want to learn by sta rting with the real-world videos on FluentUâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, interesting talks and moreâ€"which double as personalized language learning lessons.There is, however, another aspect that we shouldnt overlook. Foreign names are just  freakin cool.Yes, sometimes they can be shocking to our ears, and maybe they can be a little hard to pronounce.  Ill give you that.  However, putting pronunciation aside, there are many that just have an awesome sound, or  an interesting meaning or are attached to some pretty significant people.Its okay if youve felt a little bit of foreign name envy on more than one occasion. Weve all been there. You may  feel your simple  English  name is dull and uninteresting, but just remember  two things: (1)  Its your name. Celebrate that everyone else in the world doesnt have  it (even if you have to share it with a couple thousand others), and (2)  You may come across a list, just like this, written by someone thousands and thousands of miles aw ay, and your name might just be on it.Lets dive in.32 Cool Foreign Names You Wish Your Parents Gave YouChinese1. Ai (f)Pronunciation:  EyeShort and sweet. The meaning of this name changes depending on the accent. When spelled  Ã i, the name means love, affection. However,  ai means friendly. All around, its a pleasant name no matter how you say it.2. Tao (m)Pronunciation:  TaoThe Chinese dont need too many syllables or characters for a name to make a huge splash. Brief, yet bold, Tao translates to large waves.French3. Apolline (f)Pronunciation:  App-oh-LEENWho says only boys can be named after the son of Zeus? Certainly not the French. Theyve taken the god of musics name and given  it a feminine and melodic twist. Move over Apollo. Girls rule.4. Rapier (m)Pronunciation:  Rah-pee-AYThis name is about as badass as it gets.  Rapier is the term used for slim, pointy swords.  Ladies with bad-boy fever will be swooning for sure.German5. Leisl (f)Pronunciation:  LEE-slLiesl has been cool s ince the Von Trapps sang their way into Americas  hearts  all those years ago. It almost sounds like the name Lisa, but that extra sl sound at the end gives it a fun twist that we dont get to hear often in names that have more Anglo-Saxon based origins.6. Peppi (m)Pronunciation:  PEH-peeWhen you say this out loud doesnt it just make you want to skip? Or, dare I say, make you want to add some  pep to your step?Greek7. Cathenna (f)Pronunciation:  Cath-EN-naThis strong, bold, beautiful name  is a variant of the name Athena. If youre unsure of  who Athena is, she just so happens to be the strong, bold and beautiful goddess of wisdom and war in Greek mythology.8. Hrisovalantis (m)Pronunciation:  Hri-soh-vuh-LAN-tisI know exactly what youre thinking. Gosh, this name sounds a lot like the name Chris.  Well, youre on the right track. Thats because, in English, thats exactly what this name translates to. Upon first glance it looks impossible to pronounce, but its phonetic, so its a lot  easi er than it looks.Hawaiian9. Malia (f)Pronunciation: Muh-LI-yuhIt should be of no surprise that Barack Obama gifted his daughter with  a name from his home state. Its a sweet variant of the  name Mary.10. Ahe (m)Pronunciation:  Ah-HEHThe only onomatopoeic name on the list. Ahe nearly sounds like what it means, which is soft breeze.Hungarian11. Katoka (f)Pronunciation:  Ka-TO-kaJust as its meaning is pure, the name Katoka is also a pure delight to say. It easily rolls off the tongue, but also has a warrior princess feel to it.12. Arpad (m)Pronunciation:  AHR-padSpeaking of warriors,  if someone were to tell me that an Arpad is leading a  charge against my  enemies, Id feel like I were  in safe hands. Its just as well, Arpad is also the name of  a 9th-century Hungarian war hero.Indian13. Bhavika (f)Pronunciation: BAH-vih-kahIndian names always have the coolest sound, and this one is no different. Who wouldnt want to introduce her to every passerby just for the sheer pleasure of getting to say her name over and over again?14. Dev  (m)Pronunciation: DaivAlternate Pronunciation: swag. Just kidding.  Dev oozes cool.  While we may typically think of Indian names as being longer, this one is short and hip. And if it looks familiar to you, thats because it belongs to a popular actor of the same name. Ever heard of Slumdog Millionaire?Irish15. Radha (f)Pronunciation:  ROH-aIn the English language were all for the silent consonant. This is next level though. These letters  dont correspond to the sounds that were familiar with. All the fun in Irish names lies in getting the pronunciation downâ€"which tends to be quite simple in the end.16. Seamus (m)Pronunciation: SHAY-musDid your hearts skip a beat, Harry Potter fans? Youre welcome. There will always be great affection for the beloved, Gryffindor, Seamus.  So go ahead, flutter away hearts, flutter away.Israeli17. Elanie (f)Pronunciation:  Eh-LAN-eeFor a name that means oak tree, its one of the lighter sounding names on th is list. Elanie  is rooted (sorry, had to) in strength and fortitude.  Its an airy feminine name with the strength of  a forest to back it up.18.  Moshe (m)Pronunciation:  MOH-shehYou might not recognize this name in its Hebrew form, but youre probably familiar with the guy attached to it. He did this whole thing with the Red Sea, the Ten Commandments,  and  saved a whole race of people.  Some would say that hes  kind of a big deal.Italian19. Marielia (f)Pronunciation:  Ma-ri-EL-ee-ahLike the Italian language itself, this name is very melodic. Its a combination of both a female and a male name: Maria and Elia (Mary and Elijah). Whats not to love?20. Drago (m)Pronunciation:  DRA-gohIf the French Rapier is as close to tough  as a name can get, Drago  goes even further still. It means dragon. Enough said. With a name like this, any little boy  can conquer the world.Japanese21. Chiyo (f)Pronunciation:  CHEE-ohIn Japanese it means a thousand generations, which is both haunting and beauti ful.  It also might ring a bell for many, as its the name of the protagonist in the popular book and movie Memoirs of a Geisha.22. Fumio (m)Pronunciation: FOO-mee-ohDoesnt it have a bit of an Italian ring to it?  Did you just imagine pasta and wine?  The name is actually quite Japanese. It belonged to  several notable people in  Japan  such as writers, musicians, politicians, artists and athletes.Middle Eastern (Arabic)23.  Zahra (f)Pronunciation:  ZAH-raThis name is appealing to many native English speakers, perhaps because its both simple  and exotic. Ive come across  several people whove mentioned their admiration of the name Zahra. It has two meanings. In Arabic it means white and in  Egyptian it means flower.24. Driss (m)Pronunciation:  DrissThe name alone evokes the image of a dude on a  motorcycle, wearing aviator sunglasses and smoking a cigarette. Ironically though, Driss comes from the Arabic verb darassa which means to study. But studying is cool too, right? Yeah, you kno w what,  scratch the irony.  Lets go with studying is cool.Nigerian25. Uchenna (f)Pronunciation: Oo-CHEN-aThis euphonic bit of Nigerian goodness is perfect for the modern monotheist. It means gods will. Shes got some big shoes to fill, but at least shes got a great name she can flaunt while filling them.26. Ajulo (m)Pronunciation:  Ah-JOO-lohMost of us probably would not want to be labeled by our birth order, unless that label was Ajulo. The name means second born, and the Ajulos of the world surely revel in it because of the awesome name that comes with it.Scottish27. Ailsa (f)Pronunciation: ALE-sahAilsa Craig is a tiny island off the coast of Scotland. The name Ailsa means Island of Alfisigr. Alfsigr means elf victory, so really, the name is quite enchanted on all fronts.28. Coinneach (m)Pronunciation: CON-akWith a name that means handsome and sounds like the name of a popular brandy, this Scottish moniker  screams masculinity.Spanish29. Adelina (f)Pronunciation:  A-deh-LEE-nahSpa nish names tend to always have a melodic sound that rolls off the tongue. This one is no different. Its both sweet and grandiose, two traits anyone would want in a name.30. Lucero (m)Pronunciation:  Loo-SER-ohLatinos love light. For example, in Spanish when you say to give birth, you say dar a luz which  literally means to give light. Also, Luz is a very popular name for girls in Spanish-speaking countries.  So, there  was no way the boys were being left out of this light show. Lucero is sure to shine with a name meaning bright light or bright star.Vietnamese31. Tuyet-Hanh (f)Pronunciation: DWIT-hahnHeres another combo name. Tuyet means snow or snow white and Hanh means apricot tree (lucky its not an apple tree!). Lame joke aside, youll find that this exotic name is quite fun to say, and youll be wishing that you had a friend named  Tuyet-Hanh so you could shout her name incessantly, like I do with my own Tuyet.32. Vinh (m)Pronunciation:  VinWho doesnt love a Vinny? Anytime American s hear the name Vin or Vinny, were thinking of the actor Vin Diesel or a slick-talking Brooklynite. Its unlikely that they make the same associations in Vietnam, but that  doesnt make the name any less exquisite.So, maybe youve heard some of these names before, and maybe theyre all brand new. Either way, your world has expanded and it can keep expanding. Go out and meet new people. Introduce yourself. Have a conversation. Embrace the similarities and differences between you and the people you meet. Most importantly, have fun.Now get out there and start making some foreign friends. And One More ThingIf you dont just want to talk the talk, but well, actually talk the talk, youll love learning foreign languages that can help you meet new people with FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that real people speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instantly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.