Acrylic Painting Techniques for Beginners

Acrylic Painting Techniques for Beginners Acrylic Painting Techniques for Beginners ChaptersVersatility of AcrylicEssential Equipment for ExperimentationAcrylic Paint Techniques for BeginnersHow to Find Acrylic Painting TuitionAcrylic painting is an exciting hobby to pick up for the first time. Not only because of the incredible feeling associated with having a creative outlet, but also because of how versatile acrylic paint can be, and how wide a range of techniques you can apply to make your art stand out.If you’ve ever been curious about dipping your toes in the world of acrylic painting or simply finding a new way to express yourself, then this guide should help you find your feet and make the most of the fascinating substance. FernandoPainting Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaPainting Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidPainting Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPainting Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StefaniaPainting Teach er 5.00 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SakinaPainting Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenPainting Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Off2themoonholliePainting Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsVersatility of AcrylicFirst and foremost, what makes acrylic paint such a great option for creating art is its versatility and quick-drying nature.Despite the fact that oil painting continues to be the number one choice for many professional artists, the time it takes to dry can prove frustrating, and limit them somewhat in the scope of what they can pull off. Even as an amateur or beginner, choosing acrylic over oil can prove to be a great decision, since you will have a wide variety of techniques at your disposal to really unlock and unleash your creative side.What’s more, if you choose acrylic paint as your medium, you will be able to recreate many different painting styles. You’ll be a ble to apply the paint thinly, like you would with watercolour painting, or thicker, as in oil painting. Plus, it has the additional benefits over its counterparts of being impervious to cracking and fading.You can also use acrylic paint on a variety of surfaces. From the orthodox canvas or art paper, to rougher surfaces like wood or stone, you will be able to create some truly interesting art with a number of unique textures and aesthetics, defying the traditional image of painting on a canvas.The main downside to acrylic paint is the fact that it can produce a shiny aesthetic which can alter the look of the end product, and perhaps make it look less polished than say an oil painting would. Aside from that, all the signs point to acrylic paint being a great place to start out as a beginner looking to brush up on their painting skills or take steps towards a career in the arts.Essential Equipment for Experimentation Essential acrylic painting equipment to get you started.Now, before we get into the individual techniques associated with acrylic painting, it’s worth first taking a look at the essential equipment for such experimentation.Depending on the technique, you will need different supplies, but there are also some essentials that you’ll need before thinking about specifics.The top 3 supplies on your list should be a good brush, some paint of course, and a work surface.BrushFirst up, the brush. Of course, one option for getting your hands on a brush is to buy a beginner’s kit with everything included, which would be the most convenient way to go about it.However, things can get a bit tricky depending on what you are looking to achieve, since brushes come in all shapes and sizes. Just to give you an idea of what you’re working with, there are 8 different types of brushes commonly used in painting.Now that it’s sunk in, let’s see how we can make the process of buying your first bru sh a little easier.Your best bet when it comes to picking out a brush suitable for a beginner is to go for one that’s middle of the range, which means one which is anything from a size 6 to a size 8. From there you can go either way depending on what you feel your limitations are.The two main types of brushes are natural, and synthetic. Due to how hard acrylic paint can be on bristles, it’s typically better to go with a brush with synthetic bristles, to ensure you’ll get more use out of it. They are also easier to clean off with water, so you won’t spend half the time you want to be painting trying to get stubborn paint off the bristles.Lastly, make sure to invest in a decent paint brush holder or organiser. Depending on how many brushes you buy, you’ll want a nice way to store them all, so they avoid unnecessary wear and tear. From toothbrush style holders, to display stands which will give you easy access to your whole repertoire, decide which best suits your needs and k eep them on your workstation to make it easier to get started.Paint typeStudent grade vs Artist-gradeNext, once you’ve got your brush, it’s a good idea to consider the types of acrylic paint available to see which is best for you. The main difference in acrylic paints is whether they fall into the category of student grade or artist grade. As a general rule of thumb, student grade paints are more affordable but of a lower quality, while the artist grade paints, as the name suggests, are more suitable for professionals with a larger budget and a desire for the best quality paint.So starting out, since you likely don’t know whether you will continue with the hobby, you’d probably be best served opting for the more cost-effective option in student grade acrylic paint.Best Colours for BeginnersIf you’re very new to acrylic painting, it can be helpful to start off with some basic colours first, since you’ll be able to paint almost anything with just a few different staple col ours.White and black are essential, since they can combine with any of the other colours to produce a lighter or darker end result. Then, it’s worth investing in a series of warmer and colder colours. So that would be everything from yellow, red, and orange, to green, blue, and purple. This will cover most bases, and give you plenty of flexibility in what you can do on the canvas.I know it’s very tempting to want to buy obscure acrylic paint colours with fancy names, but if you’re just trying out the hobby for the first time, you’re better off experimenting with the basics to begin with.Work Surface The classic paintbrush and paper is always reliable.The last important supply you’ll need as a beginner, is a work surface to paint.While you may think a canvas is the best option, and it certainly is up there with the best, there are other options that will serve you just as well when starting out.Hardwood panels for example can prove to be excellent surfaces to get creative with. The main benefits of hardwood panels - which can be made of oak, or walnut for example - are that they last an age, and look fantastic. As a result, they make a great choice if you’re looking to gift your art to a loved one, or proudly stick it on display somewhere in the house.Paper is also a good option. Any type of paper will suffice, but you will probably experience better results with acrylic paper or watercolour paper. The heavy-duty acrylic paper will be a robust surface which will cater for many different techniques, while watercolour paper gives you a great variety of options for different eff ects and textures.Choosing a work surface essentially boils down to personal preference, but if you’re coming into the world of acrylic painting on a budget, a canvas or paper will likely be your best bets.Acrylic Paint Techniques for Beginners You’re only limited by your imagination with acrylic paint.When you have all your supplies together, you’re ready to begin experimenting with some of the many acrylic painting techniques out there. So as not to get too far ahead of ourselves we’re going to provide a brief overview of 10 of the most important, and most basic, techniques to get you started.DrybrushingThe simplest technique you’ll find in acrylic painting is without a doubt the drybrush. This technique consists of applying the paint directly to the canvas, which will give you a solid block of colour to manipulate with your brush. This technique is great for framing a painting, or for adding larger elements to your work.SplatteringA fun sounding technique, splattering is concerned with flicking paint from your brush onto the canvas to create a splattering effect. This technique requires a wet brush, and some paper towels nearby as it can get messy. This one is great for getting creative and making abstract scenes .DetailingUsing a brush with fine bristles, detailing is the technique which will allow you to create finer details for your work. Especially useful for faces, and other small details you’re looking to add to your art.GlazingA nice technique to add some shine and sparkle to your painting, glazing will help set your art out from the rest, while adding an interesting aesthetic element.LayeringLayering is the process of adding additional layers to your painting, to create a sense of depth. After the paint has dried (which shouldn’t take long with acrylic paint), you’ll be able to add extra layers to create the desired effect.BlockingThis technique requires minimal effort, so it's great for beginners. Tracing a picture, you will then choose different colours or shades for each part of the image in order to create an interesting visual. This one is fun for surreal paintings and for making something that looks great without needing plenty of experience in acrylic painting.MixingTher e is plenty of scope for mixing when it comes to acrylic painting. As well as the more traditional means of mixing to create new colours, like yellow and red to make orange, you can also get creative with different shades of the same colour. If you mix lighter and darker blues for example you can get some interesting shades which fall between the two, without needing to splash out extra cash for that specific shade of paint.DabbingAnother fun sounding technique like splattering, dabbing involves delicately or not so delicately tapping the top of the brush while holding it over the canvas. This will give you some interesting results and dotted patterns.StipplingStippling is a technique of painting on a number of small dots to the canvas to create interesting visual effects.WashingFinally, washing is a technique in acrylic painting that will create a similar effect to watercolour painting. This one is fun to experiment with drybrushing, as it can produce some outstanding end products. How to Find Acrylic Painting TuitionThere are a number of resources you can take advantage of to get ahead in acrylic painting.One of the best places to find acrylic painting classes is through the online course website: Udemy. Udemy has courses in a wide variety of subjects, including acrylic painting. You can work through the online course at your own pace and end up feeling confident expressing yourself through your new hobby.Here at Superprof, we have a team of qualified tutors on hand to help you get your acrylic painting up to speed in no time! Using the find a tutor near you search function on the website, you can see if there are some acrylic painting tutors in your area, but if not, you can always opt for online classes and reap the benefits.

Social Media And College Admissions

Social Media And College Admissions Admission officials are trying to shed their old, stuffy, always buttoned-up image and trying to appear more cool and approachable to prospective college students, according to an article in the Washington Post. They are doing so to respond to many high school students who decided against the traditional essay and paper application, the students who got creative with their applications, producing YouTube videos and other materials. Many officials, across the nation, representing various different colleges that followed their prospective students, are diving into popular social mediums and creating their own YouTube videos, blogs, Twitter/Facebook accounts, etc. These officials are trying to be more relevant to the high school age group. Some officials have posted materials on what they are looking for in applications, while others have published information on the daily routine of admission officials, giving high school students valuable insights into what their jobs are really like. Recently an admission staff at Centre College in Kentucky uploaded an entertaining YouTube video, trying to show viewers how their entry process works. The group called it a, tongue-in-cheek look at a super duper serious process. Admissions counselor Avi Amon at the University of Delaware created a YouTube musical called Reading Season, detailing the tedious process of reading hundreds or even thousands of college applications. Most colleges that have used social media to reach out to students have simply posted informational blogs. See John Hopkins here, the University of Chicagos here and the University of Virginias here, which also contains YouTube videos. These are not the only schools that have used social media outlets for application processes; many other colleges have similar ones as well. Before you submit your final application to a college, try to find their blog or YouTube application process videos (if they have them). This could give you some major tips and ideas about what exactly they are looking for, helping your application stand out and be more relevant.

Transitive Property Tutors

Transitive Property Tutors Transitive property represents logic statements between variables where conditions are put based on the equality and the inequality of the three variables. If A, B, and C are any three variables and if A is equal to B and B is equal to C, then according to Transitive property of equality even A is equal to C. Similarly, if A is greater than B and B is greater than C, then according to Transitive property of inequalities A is greater than C (it works the same for lesser than as well). Example 1: Given ABC is a triangle, and measure of angle A is equal to the measure of angle B. If the measure of angle B is equal to the measure of angle C, then what is the relation between angle A and angle C? Given: measure of angle A= measure of angle B And measure of angle B= measure of angle C Now in order to find the relationship between angle A and angle C, we can use the Transitive property of equality. Hence, according to the property: measure of angle A= measure of angle C Example 2: In a birthday party, Ben has more number of candies than Jack and Jack has more number of candies than Katie. Between Ben and Katie, who has more number of candies? Given: candies of Ben candies of Jack And candies of Jack candies of Katie Now in order to the number of candies in between Ben and Katie, we can use the Transitive property of inequality. Hence, according to the property: candies of Ben candies of Katie

What are the Calming Benefits of Yoga

What are the Calming Benefits of Yoga What Are The Health Benefits of Yoga? ChaptersTaking a Yoga Course Can Help You Remain Calm and Reduce StressCan Yoga Help with Weight Loss and Body ToningWhy Taking Yoga Courses Can Help You Sleep BetterCan Learning Yoga Help you to Get Pregnant?Yoga Classes are a Great way to RelaxThough there are no reliable statistics for the UK, estimates say that between half a million to two million people practice yoga in the UK. This number can be further divided into the various branches of yoga: Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Nidra Yoga, Sutra Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Bikram Yoga etc.“The purpose of yoga is to create strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body,” explains Natalie Nevins, a certified Kundalini Yoga instructor in Hollywood, California.Although there are more than 100 different types of yoga, most yoga sessions include the same elements: breathing exercises, meditation and poses (often called asanas) to stretch and relax various muscle groups.Taking yoga courses can bring you many benefits, both physical and mental. Practicing yoga can improve your physical condition, better your mindfulness, bolster your self-confidence and bring tranquility and vitality to your day!Need to learn to manage your stress levels? Yoga is there for you!Want to lose a few pounds? Yoga lessons will help!Insomnia? Yoga will help you centre yourself and fall asleep more quickly!Having trouble conceiving? Hormone Yoga is meant for you!Here are some tips and poses associated with various “problems” that yoga can help you overcome.There are many reasons you might decide to learn yoga.Find yoga classes near me wherever you are in the UK.Maintain the pose for three full breaths and relax while exhalingYou can end your yoga session with the Corpse Pose (savasana) to completely relax all the muscles in your body.Yoga Classes are a Great way to RelaxYou don’t need to practice yoga intensively or master it completely to use it to help you relax, fall asleep quickly, increase your fertility or lose weight. A simple introduction to beginner yoga poses are enough to start on.A yoga teacher is obviously helpful, especially private yoga classes, to teach you to hold the poses correctly so you don’t hurt yourself. Don’t hesitate to consult our Superprof database and search for yoga near me.Here you can read 40 tips from yoga teachers on how to relax and de-stress.Want to discover the benefits of yoga? Find a good teacher for yoga London - or elsewhere.

Five Signs Your Child Needs Tutoring

Five Signs Your Child Needs Tutoring Its easy to tell that a child needs tutoring when he or she continues to receive one poor report card after the next, but there are a number of other less obvious signs that parents shouldnt ignore. Eileen Huntington of Huntington Learning Center says that parents can look for clues in a number of places. Stressful study sessions and bad grades are the tangible evidence of a childs school struggles, but there are several other indicators to watch for, says Huntington. The sooner you recognize school problems, the faster you can help your child overcome any issues and boost his or her confidence. Huntington shares these five warning signs that your child may need tutoring helpand questions to answer about your childs behavior: Difficulty getting started. Does your child seem unexcited and unmotivated about anything to do with schoolespecially working on assignments? Does he or she put off homework time every night and frequently spin his or her wheels when working? Sloppy homework and overall disorganization. Is your child disorganized in most areas of his or her life? Does your child consistently hand in unfinished or messy homework? Does it seem that your child used to care about doing quality work and does not anymore? Personality change. Have you noticed a dramatic change in your childs disposition in recent months? Is your child more angry or volatile than ever before? Does he or she seem unhappyabout school and other areas of his or her life such as friends? Diminished self-esteem. Does your child get down on him or herself easily during homework? Is your child pessimistic about school, his or her abilities, and more? On a day to day basis, does your child appear frustrated with him or herself? Lack of interest in learning. Is your child totally apathetic about school and anything associated with school? Was your child interested in learning previously and now is not? Does that indifference translate to other areas, such as socializing or being involved in extracurricular activities? School can be a bumpy road for students who are struggling, so it is important to take action if you notice your child showing any of these signs, Huntington says. Experience has showed us that early tutoring intervention is key to getting students back to where they need to be as quickly as possible. For questions about how a customized tutoring program could help your child, call the Huntington Learning Center at (201) 261-8400.

English Conversation Classes with TED Conflicts of Interest

English Conversation Classes with TED Conflicts of Interest I dont think Ive met a student yet who is happy with the politicians in his or her country. In the United States, we complain a lot about how special interest groups corporations, foundations, organizations and anyone else with a lot of money, influence politics. By donating to election campaigns, we believe these groups create situations where the politicians have a conflict of interest.On the one hand, the politicians are supposed to be representing their voters, on the other, theyve got these groups who have given them a lot of money to help them get elected, and will be happy to give the money to someone else if the politicians dont do what the special interest group wants.Politics are perhaps the easiest place to spot people with conflicts of interest, but in this TED talk, Dan Ariely shows how the effect much more personal decisions, in others and in himself, and he talks about how we can be aware of them.Why you should listen do Dan:Despite our best efforts, bad or inexplicabl e decisions are as inevitable as death and taxes and the grocery store running out of your favorite flavor of ice cream. Theyre also just as predictable. Why, for instance, are we convinced that sizing up at our favorite burger joint is a good idea, even when were not that hungry? Why are our phone lists cluttered with numbers we never call? Dan Ariely, behavioral economist, has based his career on figuring out the answers to these questions, and in his bestselling book Predictably Irrational (re-released in expanded form in May 2009), he describes many unorthodox and often downright odd experiments used in the quest to answer this question.  Below is the video, and some listening and conversation classes. Contact us to take English conversation classes via Skype.  What was his doctors brilliant idea?Why would it fix his face?What were his concerns?And then came one of the biggest _____ _____ of my life.Why did the doctor want him to use the treatment?What was wrong with the test Da n did?Why did they redo the experiment?What do incentives do to people?Why is he positive at the end?Have you ever allowed a conflict of interest to change your decisions? Have you seen other people do this? How do you think this affects society?

How to Take an Active Role in Your Pre-Med School Experience

How to Take an Active Role in Your Pre-Med School Experience Image via Pexels Each year, thousands of students enter their first year of college determined to become successful doctors. They’re dubbed pre-med students (not as a major but as a direction for their studies). While many colleges don’t offer pre-med degrees, you could be deemed a pre-med student if your program is heavy with biology and chemistry courses. Many students declare for med school each year because they are passionate about medicine and making a difference in people’s health. And it’s a bit easier if you have the learning chops and stamina. A pre-med degree program is difficult enough just by having so much to study usually within short spaces of time. Knowing how to take an active role in your pre-med experience can help you to learn more and immensely prepare you for taking the MCAT and applying to medical school after you graduate. Here are some ways you can take an active role in your pre-med school experience. 1. Take inventory of your classes As a pre-med student, you will be expected to complete a certain number of courses in math, biology, chemistry, health sciences, and English, among others. The coursework can be tedious and time-consuming, but with good time management, you can do it. Don’t allow the coursework to go in one ear and out the other. In other words, don’t go through your classes passively. Think about the material even after class is over. Find something that interests you if you can and make sure you know what you’re getting into. It would be a waste of time to go through nearly 10 years of schooling only to find out you’re not that passionate or interested in medicine to begin with. Outline your classes and make sure you know what you’re getting into. 2. Get involved in pre-med or non-pre-med student organizations and extracurricular activities While it is true that pre-med school is very demanding, it does not have to take away from your social life or from being involved in useful out-of-the-classroom experiences. Such involvement will help to improve your communication and leadership skills. You will be able to learn from professionals in the field and seek support from students who are traveling the same path. In addition to that, there is the very high possibility of networking and developing lifelong friendships. Not to mention that you may also meet your future spouse at one of these organizations. Beyond that, medical schools do look at your extracurricular activities and use it as a factor in determining admittance. So these opportunities are not to be underestimated. 3. Volunteer at a hospital or medical facility at which you would one day like to work Medical schools want to see that you have the aptitude for the field through your GPA and courses. They also want to see that you’re an empathic person who is willing to listen to people’s needs and take care of them in the best possible way. One way to show this is to volunteer in the medical field before committing to medical school. Volunteering at a hospital or in a surgeon’s office is a  great experience, and at some schools, it is required. However, don’t pick a place just because you think it will look good on your resume. Pick a place where you will feel fulfilled and be able to make a difference. All experience is good but an experience just for the sake of an experience is less useful. You’ll get more out of it  if you enjoy it and are passionate about it. This will also shine through in your medical school applications and accompanying essays. 4. Shadow physicians in a variety of specialties Similar to doing volunteer work is an experience called shadowing. Some pre-med students will shadow physicians to get as close to a hands-on experience as they can in different medical careers. Shadowing is basically following and observing someone closely. Due to rules regarding privacy and confidentiality, some doctors will not allow shadowing. However, many will especially if you’re planning on going into the same field (e.g., a  student planning to be a neurologist shadowing a neurologist). A good place to begin is with your family or personal doctor. Some colleges  have matching programs in which the college has connections with local doctors and hospitals and will help match student to doctor. If nothing else, take it upon yourself to email, call, or visit hospitals and doctors whom you have researched and ask about shadowing policies. 5. Start working on MCAT prep now The MCAT is a cumulative test that covers much of the topics you studied in pre-med school including biology, chemistry, physics, and so forth. By the time most students begin even thinking about the MCAT in earnest, they’ve forgotten or vaguely remember introductory concepts from their freshman and sophomore classes. So, to steer clear of that, start as soon as you can to study the MCAT. Get a MCAT prep book, flashcards, or even a tutor that you meet with for an hour a week. This will keep you in the mindset of taking the MCAT even if it is two years away. College is an incredible time to learn and take advantage of so many opportunities. As you engage with other students and teachers, remember to prioritize your studies. Turn everything into a learning experience and grow, grow, grow. Learn more about Kaplan’s test prep options and start building the confidence you need for Test Day.

Its Showtime Learn a Language by Watching TV in 8 Simple Steps

Its Showtime Learn a Language by Watching TV in 8 Simple Steps Learn a Language by Watching TV in 8 Simple Steps Its one of your best friends.Its always there when you need it.But can it really help you learn a language?Well, if your TV is your best friend, it might as well also become your best learning buddy. With the right approach, you can totally learn a language by watching TV.While its a fun way to learn a language, it can also be super useful. Thats because it offers great listening practice, provides a good way to learn new vocabulary and creates an immersive learning experience.If you cant resist a good TV show, just read on to find out how TV can become your new favorite language-learning tool! Can You Really Learn a Language by Watching TV Shows?You sure can! Here are some reasons why learning a language by watching TV is an effective method for internalizing the language.TV shows feature authentic language. Since TV shows are intended to entertain native speakers, they use the sort of real-life, everyday language that native speakers use.This makes them more authentic than most r esources designed specifically for language students.They  provide valuable context. Since the words and phrases are always presented in relevant situations, you can get a clear idea of how certain vocabulary might be used.Plus, since TV shows offer context, you might even be able to deduce the meaning of unfamiliar words and phrases based on what you see happening.They frequently use common vocabulary. Many TV shows are intended to appeal to broad audiences, so they usually feature common vocabulary that most native speakers will know.This focus on common vocabulary can help reinforce some of the most important words youll need to know in your target language.They provide you with more learning content than movies. If you find a great movie to learn with, you might get two to three hours of content. However, with TV shows, you can enjoy hour after hour of language learning!Now that you know why you should learn a language by watching TV, lets talk about how to do it.Get ready to wa tch and learn!Learn a Language by Watching TV in 8 Simple Steps1. Interact with What You WatchWatching a TV show is good language practice. Interacting with that TV show is great language practice.While watching a TV show can help you practice your listening skills, interacting with it will improve multiple skills at once. Plus, if you interact with the show youre watching, youll be more actively engaged with it, which can aid in learning.Try This:Recreate the scene youve just watched.Once youve finished watching a key scene, rewind to the beginning of the scene and mute the sound. Watch whats happening on the screen and try to recreate the dialogue in your target language. You dont have to match it word for word, just aim to get a general idea.Thisll give you valuable speaking practice while reinforcing what you just watched.Give characters advice.  Characters in TV shows live complicated lives. They could use a little advice, and youre just the person to give it to them.Whenever t heres a moment without dialogue, tell your favorite characters what they should do next.Not only can this give you speaking practice, but its also a good way to engage more actively in the program youre watching.Write episode summaries.After you finish an episode, write a summary of that episode in your target language.This is excellent writing practice, but it can also provide you with reference material for the future. If you ever want to rewatch something, you can just use your episode summaries to figure out which episode you need to go back to.2. Choose Materials at an Appropriate LevelTo optimize your learning with TV shows, you need to find the sweet spot with a perfectly level-appropriate show. Too advanced of a show may make you feel overwhelmed. Too easy of a show may not lead to the quick progress youre hoping for.Its a real Goldilocks situation and you need to choose an option thats just right for you.Try This:Pay attention to genre.Genre can play a big role in how diffi cult the language used is. For example, childrens shows usually use basic vocabulary. On the other hand, police procedurals and courtroom dramas will generally use more advanced vocabulary.Paying attention to the genre of a TV show can give you a hint about its language difficulty level.Watch a show for three minutes to test out the level.For most shows, three minutes should be more than enough time to determine whether that show is level appropriate.Ignore any subtitles and focus on the audio. How much did you understand? If you understood nearly all of what you heard, that show is probably too easy. If you understood almost nothing, its too hard.However, if you got the overall idea of what happened in the first three minutes but didnt quite understand all the words, thats pretty close to a perfect level of difficulty.3. Use Subtitles JudiciouslySubtitles can help you understand TV shows you might not otherwise be able to follow. However, they can also be a crutch that prevents you from using your language skills as much as you could.Thats why you need to be careful when using subtitles with your TV viewing. You can have them on for when you need them, but try not to look at them unless you absolutely must.Try This:Use FluentU.FluentU offers captions that can help you learn from TV commercials, news, inspirational talks and other great videos. Thats because FluentU offers real-world content captioned in the language used, allowing you to read along as you listen.These captions are annotated, giving you easy access to any words definition, example sentences and an associated image. If you want to see a word in a different context, FluentU can even show you other videos on the site that use it. Want to study a word at a later time? Just add it to your vocabulary list!FluentU will even help you learn new vocabulary through the uses of quizzes,  which fuse example sentences, images and videos into engaging activities and interactive exercises.You can use FluentU however its convenient for you: Access FluentU in your browser, download the iOS app or try the Android app.Watch the same show repeatedly, changing the subtitling options.If youre using a resource like Netflix that allows you to change your subtitling options, watch the same show a few times while varying what kinds of subtitles you use.For example, the first time you watch, you might use subtitles in your native language to get a clear idea of whats happening. The second time, you might use subtitles in your target language so that you can read along and focus on the language. Finally, you could remove the subtitles altogether to focus exclusively on the spoken language.Varying your approach can help you use the subtitling options to their maximum advantage.4. Break Down Episodes into Shorter ChunksBinge-watching TV is certainly fun, but it isnt great for language learners. After all, watching in your target language is a lot of work! Trying to binge-watch all at once is likely to be overwhelming.Especially if youre a beginning student, breaking down episodes into small chunks can make them much easier to process. This can give you the time you need to fully process each section before you move on.Try This:Rewatch the same five minutes a few times.Just set a timer and watch until your time is up. Five minutes isnt too daunting and its short enough that you should be able to maintain your focus on the language.Once the five minutes is up, rewind and watch the same five minutes again, trying to understand more than you did the first time.While it can take a while to finish a TV episode by using this method, itll allow you to maintain your focus on the language while understanding more of the show than you might if you try to watch an episode straight through.Spread out your viewings.  Rather than trying to watch an entire episode in one sitting, watch a little bit at a time.Sitting down and listening to your target language for one hour may seem like a lot. Ho wever, watching for 10 minutes six times is much more approachable and will allow you to focus more fully on the language.5. Dont Try to Translate EverythingTrying to translate every word into your native language takes a lot of time and brainpower.Plus, it could put your focus on individual words rather than general comprehension. Its great to learn new words, but its also important to see the new picture, or you wont know whats going on in your show!Try This:Think in your target language.Instead of trying to translate everything you hear, think about it in the target language. Thisll shift your thinking from the meanings of the individual words to the overall meaning of what youre watching.Its not easy to do initially and itll take some practice before you can pull it off, but keep at it and youll see some great results. You can start simple, even by just thinking I wonder what that word means in your target language.This is a practice you can continue when youre not watching TV. Cooking dinner? Driving to work? Looking for the remote? Try to shift your thoughts into your target language. The more you do this, the more natural itll become and the less translating youll have to do.6. Look Up Unfamiliar Commonly Used WordsWhile you certainly shouldnt bother looking up every word you hear, looking up a few key words can help you expand your vocabulary.TV shows often use the same words repeatedly. If you hear a certain word over and over again and you dont know what it means, its probably time to look it up.Try This:Keep a notebook nearby to jot down occasional vocabulary words.  It may seem simple and old school, but a notebook can be super handy.Try not to have it out the whole time. Instead, just write the word you want to look up later, then jump back into watching.This notebook can become a wonderful source of vocabulary words that you might not have otherwise encountered in your regular language study.7. Get Your Friends in on ItWatching as a group is much more fun! Watching with fellow language learners can make your TV show viewing more enjoyable and give you someone to discuss the show with.Plus, if you talk about the show in your target language, youll be getting some valuable speaking practice, too.Try This:Host a weekly viewing party.  Since TV shows have multiple episodes, you can host a weekly viewing party of your favorite show until you run out of episodes.To learn together, just watch an episode with your friends, then discuss it in your target language afterward.For even more fun, consider making it a potluck. Everyone can bring a dish from a region where your target language is spoken, broadening your cultural understanding as you practice your language skills.8. Use the Right ResourcesTo watch TV in your target language, youll need to find the right resource, first.Luckily, theres a wide variety of resources available. Some offer a lot of different language options, while others focus on specific regions. Similarly, som e resources offer different subtitle options, while some have no subtitles at all.You can watch already-aired TV, or you might select to watch live depending on the resource. But regardless of what you choose, its important to find the right option for your learning level and language goals.Beginning students may require a resource with more subtitling options so that they can better understand what theyre watching. They should also probably steer clear of live TV, which rarely offers subtitles and can be much less predictable when it comes to the difficulty level.Advanced students have even more options available to them. Ideally, you should avoid using subtitles if possible, so watching live TV can prove a terrific challenge that tests your abilities.Try These:NetflixNetflix offers a wide array of languages and some of the most flexible subtitling options available. You can find TV series in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish a nd so many more.You can always select whether or not to include English subtitles. For some programs, you can also select captions in the target language.SlingSling offers live international television options in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and more. Each package costs extra, but you can try a free trial to see if you like it.DishIf you already subscribe to Dish, you might consider adding international TV to your package. Dish offers live TV in 28 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and more.StreemaStreema can help you find TV stations you can stream for free online.Browse by region, country or genre to find appropriate options for you. Since you can find channels all over the world, there are many options for students.YouTubeYou can find TV shows in a huge array of languages on YouTube. To see your options, try searching for the name of your language and TV in your target language. You might find TV s hows, clips or live-streams from international TV channels.wwiTV.comIf youre looking for another way to find live TV broadcasts online, wwiTV.com can help. This site features hundreds of channels from around the world, so you can find options in countless languages.JadooTVJadooTV offers both live and on-demand TV in Arabic, Persian, Punjabi and other languages common in South Asia and the Middle East.Asian CrushAsian Crush offers popular TV shows from Asia, including options in Chinese, Japanese and Korean and more.Roku appsTheres a variety of apps available on Roku devices that can help you access TV programs in foreign languages. Some of those options are even on this list already.However, there are some other great language-specific options we havent included here, so if you have a Roku, you might want to look through the channel offerings to see if theres a good app for you.Learning a language with TV shows is a fun and easy way to improve your skills. With the right TV series a nd some good strategies, language learning may become your new favorite binge-worthy activity.