Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Studying Economic History

Studying Economic History The History of Economics: What Are You Studying? ChaptersBarter EconomiesMonetary EconomiesCapitalism and Economic HistoryCommunist EconomiesSome Origins of Common Economic InstitutionsWhen you decide to study social science, you will probably need to decide what to specialise in. If you want to become a historian, you will need to decide what aspect of history you want to study. You can focus on a specific era, or you can decide to focus on a special aspect of cultural history.Economic history is one interesting aspect - how past societies assigned value to the world around them and found ways to trade and increase their perception of wealth.Here on Superprof is a little overview of the types of historical economies you might come to know as an undergraduate of Economic History.country’s true wealth can be seen in trade.BanksThe first concept of banking emerged when merchants would give grain loans to farmers. In Renaissance Italy, the rise of the merchant empires meant that people needed loans on risky enterprises and ready acc ess to money far from home.Moneylenders invented interest rates - and were some of the first bankers. Photo credit: jean louis mazieres on Foter.comIn the seventeenth and eighteenth century, many merchants stored their gold with the goldsmiths of London - they would store the gold in their private vaults for a fee and issue receipts that could only be redeemed by the person they were issued to. Eventually, they would issue loans on the money with the permission of the owner (for interest) and issue promissory notes on loan capital that could be passed on to others - an early form of paper money.Britain was a pioneer in banking reform, including the first banknotes from the Bank of England; with the first overdraft facility at the Royal Bank of Scotland. The Rothschilds for their part first brought international finance into large-scale projects by helping to finance the Suez Canal.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Making a better you How to change your bad habits - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Making a better you How to change your bad habits - Introvert Whisperer Making a better you: How to change your bad habits Every person is like a fingerprint; one entirely different from the other, and so are our habits. Each one of us has at least one bad habit we become so committed to, that we hardly bother to try to get rid of the same. It might be eating unhealthy food, laughing at the wrong moment, biting nails, chewing the gum too loudly, or not to practice your last New Year’s resolution. There is just no limit to acquire these habits. If you will ever speak to a smoker, about 70% of them will say they would like to give up on smoking. Drug and alcohol abusers struggle to give up on addictions once they are into it. Many of us have an unhealthy excess weight that we could lose if only we would eat right and exercise more often. So why don’t we do it? “Habits play an important role in our health,” says Dr. Nora Volkow, director of NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Understanding the biology of how we develop routines that may be harmful to us, and how to break those routines and embrace new ones, could help us change our lifestyles and adopt healthier behaviors.” Habits are a result of repetition. Ohh, wait! I am not saying that repetition is bad, repetition is completely normal, in fact, it is often helpful. We wake up in the morning, brush our teeth, shower, comb, and all this without really being mindful of it. We can even drive on familiar routes without really thinking of the directions and all this only because we have been repeatedly doing the same over the years. So if repetition is completely normal then what is the real problem? Habits are hard to break once they get deeply wired by constant repetition in our brains. For example, feelings you experience after consuming drugs or watching porn. You will hardly think of bathing, but your mind will constantly keep triggering the enjoyable moments, which are different from your day-to-day routine. What can you do to change your bad habits? Just like you need to lift heavy weights to build strong muscles, but you need strong muscles to lift heavy weight. Similarly, you need to practice good habits to get rid of bad ones. Try Replacing rather than Eliminating Habits that you have right now are in your life are for a reason and in some way or the other, they provide a benefit for you. For example, many of us are habitual to biting our nails or tapping our feet when we are stressed. Similarly, many find drinking as a solution to come over an emotional trauma. Because every bad habit provides some kind of benefit in your life, it is very difficult to eliminate them. Thus, we should rather try replacing a bad habit with a good one that provides a similar benefit. For example, if you are habitual to smoking when you are stressed, then it is a bad idea to plan to stop smoking. Instead, you should come up with a different plan to deal with stress and try to insert that into your routine. Bad habits address certain needs in our life, and when fulfilling a need cost just a few bucks (buying a cigarette) then people hardly think of the bad side. Thus, it is very hard to cut out a bad habit without replacing them.   Focus on one habit at a time Just like, you cannot work the whole day or even continuously for 8 hours, similarly, you cannot focus on more than one habit at a time. Our willpower has a limited amount of energy every day, and when it is pushed beyond its limit, it becomes hard to control. If you will try to focus on getting rid of more than one habit at a time, you will more likely get stressed as you will try to control your emotions, practices, and thinking in multiple ways. How does this affect habit development? It is simple.   You will not succeed if you try to change multiple habits at the same time. Each one requires a significant amount of willpower to resist, which leaves you in a glucose-depleted state. Most people do not have the willpower energy to focus on multiple habits.   So when they are in a depleted state, it becomes too easy to give up on all that you started, instead of just one. Thus, try baby steps, which is focusing on one habit at a time. Go into it with a plan To start developing good habits, you have to stick to a plan. The habits you develop while you are young will impact not only your productivity but also health, financial security, happiness, and comfort. How much money you make, how well your body functions years from now, how much time you spend with your friends and family â€" all of these is directly linked with healthy habits you practice today. Thus planning will help you make your today better. Here is what you can do: As simple as that â€" a plan that is neither too easy nor too complicated works the best. Write down your plan â€" writing your plan is a simple way to remind yourself what needs to be done at that moment. What is the Substitute?   invest some time in finding a substitute for your bad habits Give yourself a month or two â€" Changing a habit is not simple. The conventional wisdom is that it takes 28 days to get free of a bad habit thus make sure your plan gives you enough time to change your bad habits for good. Tracking your achievement motivates you The habit of tracking your achievements or downfalls is very helpful in long-term as it encourages you in many ways. For example, if you decide to restrict yourself by a few cigarettes, you need to track their number, like how many, right? It is a great idea to keep track of what is working and what is not. Tracking comes down to checking if you did not engage in your bad habit that day and even if you did they how much more or how much less. Just as if most of us has a habit of counting the number of pushups, we did in the gym each day, similarly, counting days without your addiction helps you build a streak that motivates you to grind further without bowing down. When you are clean for one day, and you have not been in years, that is a bliss. The second day added to a chain feels like an event worth celebrating. Then comes the first week, first month, 100 days in a row, the first year and still counting. Achieving this feat of not embracing a bad habit for over a year is enough to give you a sense of accomplishment. In addition, it also provides priceless data, helping you to identify your pitfalls or how often you avoid triggers of your negative behaviors. Get rid of tempting situations When you are home alone with no friends or family members around, do not take it as an opportunity to have your favorite cookies or donuts left in the jar. Habits are often performed with barely any conscious thought that could be ignored but not stopped. Thus, try to divert your mind by keeping it busy with something else like watching TV or listening to music. If you always stop for a donut on your way to work, try a different route.   If you are trying to avoid checking your cell phone all the time, shut down your cell phone or put it in airplane mode. Try to get rid of tempting situations as much as possible. Outsiders can help Do not feel shy of announcing it to your friends that you are trying to make a change by giving up on this or that habit. Just tell everyone about your new mission. Put it up on your wall or computer desktop with #anewme. Just like I did when I used to work with Thanksforthehelp. How is this beneficial? There are two advantages: In my experience, once we let our friends know that we are trying to give up on a bad habit they work as a reminder. If we try to practice the habit we declared to quit, they will surely poke us, reminding us of our promise to yourself. Thus, you will think twice before practicing the same habit as you may wonder what your friends or family will think of you. Moreover, try finding someone you can call, or an online forum you can tap into when any of your cravings start to kick in, and you are struggling. Let your allies hold you accountable, and that will help you give up on a habit. Love your life No matter what happens, let your life know that you love it. Learn to embrace every situation life throws at you with a positive attitude. Remind yourself that you were born with the ability to make a change in your life. Every moment is an experience and those moments have to have quality. The habits, which you decide to follow need not always, be the one which contributes to your career or health. It can be as simple as start worrying less, drinking more water, etc. When you know that you love something your life in this case it becomes very easy to make efforts for it and efforts will surely bring a change.     Author bio Himanshi Goel has been associated as a Social Media Expert with CDR-Report.comsince its start. She really loves to pen down her thoughts on mental constructs, habits, personal development and anything that pleases her eyes. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Regulating Unpaid Internships

Regulating Unpaid Internships Federal and state regulators are becoming increasingly concerned with employers exploiting college students through unpaid internships, as a means for free labor, according to a New York Times article. There has been a sharp increase in unpaid internships because of the recent economic recession. Many employers have been forced to make cuts. They have been picking up the slack and cutting costs by hiring unpaid interns. Also, there is a strong desire for many college students to pursue unpaid internships to enhance their rsums and gain valuable experience in their field. In 2008, 83% of college graduates held an internship, an increase from 9% in 1992. The federal Labor Department and other regulators are increasing their enforcement by investigating many businesses to determine if their unpaid internships violate a states minimum wage laws or other workforce laws. Some employers have already been fined for having unpaid interns in Oregon and California. Many regulators believe that firms and other companies commit violations across the nation. However, these firms continue to get away with exploiting interns because many college students are very reluctant to report wrongdoings. Students are afraid they will quickly be labeled as a problematic, unprofessional employee, which could deter their chances of landing a job after graduation. If youre a for-profit employer or you want to pursue an internship with a for-profit employer, there arent going to be many circumstances where you can have an internship and not be paid and still be in compliance with the law, Nancy J. Leppink, the acting director of the Labor Departments wage and hour division told The New York Times. Leppink also said that there are several criteria that internships must meet if they are going to be unpaid. Some of these regulations are that an unpaid internships training should be similar to what a student would receive at a college or vocational school, the interns job cannot take the place of another paid position and that the employer derives no immediate advantage from the intern. Also, an unpaid internship is likely to be illegal if it involves only mindless, unskilled, menial work like making copies or stuffing envelopes. Essentially, if an internship is going to be unpaid, the intern must benefit from the experience more than the employer. This will not immediately affect high school students. Nevertheless, it is a positive trend that is likely to benefit them once their college careers begin. Regulators are likely to continue cracking down on employers, forcing them to pay their interns, or change the interns tasks and responsibilities. This will work to many college students advantage. However, there could be a decrease in available internships. Some companies and firms are likely to cut their internship programs entirely, rather than making them paid.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Dublado versus legendado

Dublado versus legendado Quando comecei a me aprofundar no estudo do Inglês, percebi que a minha maior dificuldade não estava na compreensão escrita da língua, mas sim na minha capacidade de falar e compreender o Inglês oral. Eu era perfeitamente capaz de entender um texto escrito, porém, não tinha capacidade (ou treino) para ver um filme em Inglês sem que ele estivesse dublado ou legendado em Português. Image courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.netNo Brasil, infelizmente, somos habituados a ver filmes dublados. Quando somos crianças, e ainda não temos a nossa capacidade de leitura desenvolvida, fica claro que a dublagem é necessária. Contudo, conforme crescemos, o paradigma não muda. Os filmes continuam a ser dublados, muito embora haja um movimento que luta pelo fim dessa imposição da dublagem.Claro que, se pensarmos nos níveis de analfabetismo, a dublagem continua sendo uma forma barata de trazer o que é internacional para o Brasil, sem fazer com que uma parcela da população se sinta excluída. De acordo com dados divulgados em 2012, referentes à pesquisa efetuada pelo IBGE em 2011,  8,6% da população brasileira, com 15 anos ou mais, é analfabeta. Verifica-se uma queda de 1,1% em relação a 2009, quando a taxa era de 9,7%. Contudo, ainda existem 12,9 milhões de brasileiros que não sabem ler e escrever. Por isso, faz sentido colocar a hipótese de que um dos motivos pelo qual o império da dublagem se perpetua é o número de analfabetos, ainda que países com índices de alfabetização superiores aos do Brasil também apostem na dublagem.É engraçado pensar nisso hoje em dia, mas apenas quando já era adolescente é que tomei consciência do quão prejudicial é essa cultura da dublagem. Estava tão habituada a ver os filmes assim que, quando comecei a ver filmes legendados, senti dificuldades em acompanhar a história e ler ao mesmo tempo. Até parece ridículo dizer isto, mas vivemos em um país onde as pessoas se tornam fãs de determinados atores e atrizes, muitas vezes, sem sequer ter ouvido a voz dessas pessoas! Como é óbvio, isso não acontece apenas no Brasil. Espanha e França são ótimos exemplos de países onde a dublagem de filmes e séries também é comum, mas não é porque eles fazem que a gente tem que continuar fazendo, né?Embora isso seja pouco divulgado, vários estudos (como este) apontam para os benefícios da exposição de pessoas que estão aprendendo Inglês à filmes e séries legendados, preferencialmente em Inglês, para que o aluno tenha acesso aos diálogos tanto por áudio como por texto, facilitando o desenvolvimento do seu nível de compreensão oral e escrita daquela língua estrangeira. Daí que seja fundamental, quando o objetivo é realmente aprender Inglês, que o indivíduo experimente começar a ver filmes com legendas, sejam elas em Português ou Inglês.No começo, ver filmes com legendas em Português ajuda a que você relacione o que está sendo dito com a tradução que foi feita, mesmo que, em alguns casos, as traduções possam ser enganadoras. Mais para frente, quando você já se sente à vontade com o Inglês escrito, ter acesso a filmes com legendas em Inglês permite que você associe o que está escrito com a pronúncia e treine o ouvido para construções que podem induzir a erros de compreensão, como acontece frequentemente com músicas.Tendo isso em mente, se você ainda está preso aos filmes e séries dublados, mas quer mesmo aprender Inglês, comece o seu ritual de libertação e abrace o mundo das legendas, porque, se você se aplicar no aprendizado da língua, até elas serão desnecessárias.

GCSE Poem analysis - My Last Duchess by Robert Browning

GCSE Poem analysis - My Last Duchess by Robert Browning My Last Duchess - By Robert Browning That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive. I call That piece a wonder, now; Fra Pandolf’s hands Worked busily a day, and there she stands. Will’t please you sit and look at her? I said “Fra Pandolf” by design, for never read Strangers like you that pictured countenance, The depth and passion of its earnest glance, But to myself they turned (since none puts by The curtain I have drawn for you, but I) And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst, How such a glance came there; so, not the first Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, ’twas not Her husband’s presence only, called that spot Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek; perhaps Fra Pandolf chanced to say, “Her mantle laps Over my lady’s wrist too much,” or “Paint Must never hope to reproduce the faint Half-flush that dies along her throat.” Such stuff Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough For calling up that spot of joy. She had A heartâ€"how shall I say?â€" too soon made glad, Too easily impressed; she liked whate’er She looked on, and her looks went everywhere. Sir, ’twas all one! My favour at her breast, The dropping of the daylight in the West, The bough of cherries some officious fool Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule She rode with round the terraceâ€"all and each Would draw from her alike the approving speech, Or blush, at least. She thanked menâ€"good! but thanked Somehowâ€"I know not howâ€"as if she ranked My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name With anybody’s gift. Who’d stoop to blame This sort of trifling? Even had you skill In speechâ€"which I have notâ€"to make your will Quite clear to such an one, and say, “Just this Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss, Or there exceed the mark”â€"and if she let Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuseâ€" E’en then would be some stooping; and I choose Never to stoop. Oh, sir, she smiled, no doubt, Whene’er I passed her; but who passed without Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands As if alive. Will’t please you rise? We’ll meet The company below, then. I repeat, The Count your master’s known munificence Is ample warrant that no just pretense Of mine for dowry will be disallowed; Though his fair daughter’s self, as I avowed At starting, is my object. Nay, we’ll go Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though, Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me! This poem is set in 1564 and is based on the real-life Duke Alfonso II who ruled Ferrara, Italy in the latter half of the 16th century. In the poem, he’s talking about his first wife Lucrezia de’ Medici, 3 years after she died under suspicious circumstances shortly after marrying the Duke. Summary This poem is set in 1564 and is based on the real-life Duke Alfonso II who ruled Ferrara, Italy in the latter half of the 16th century. In the poem, he’s talking about his first wife Lucrezia de’ Medici, who died under suspicious circumstances shortly after marrying the Duke. In the poem the Duke is speaking to an emissary who is negotiating the Duke’s next marriage to the daughter of another powerful family. He is showing his visitor around his palace and stops in front of a painting of his late wife. The Duke then begins to reminisce about his late wife’s portrait sessions with the painter, and then about the Duchess herself. His reminiscing soon turns into a verbal onslaught of his late wife’s behaviour, where he abjectly accuses her of being overly flirtatious with everyone, and not appreciating his “gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name”. As his speech continues, the reader realises with ever more terrifying certainty that the Duke was responsible for the Duchess’s early demise, due to her worsening behaviour: “I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together”. After making this declaration, the Duke returns back to the discussion of arranging his next marriage. As the Duke and emissary leave to return to the other guests, the Duke calls attention to his bronze statue of Neptune taming a seahorse. Structure and Language This poem is a dramatic monologue which means it’s one person speaking through the whole poem. It’s written in iambic pentameter (same rhythm as much of Shakespeare’s work) and rhyming couplets. This means each pair of lines ends with rhyming words, for example: “ That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall,/Looking as if she were alive. I call” Because it’s a dramatic monologue, this poem is structured as a long speech, which is evident in its use of varied punctuation. All of the colons  (:), dashes (-), commas (,) and full stops (.) are used to create the feeling of regular speech. This poem is loaded with rhyme because of the rhyming couplets. However, it is also loaded with enjambment which can often mask the rhymes. Enjambment is when a line of poetry ends in the middle of a thought without any punctuation. When you read the poem, you generally read straight through to the next line and so you would not pause to emphasise the rhyming words at the ends of the lines. For example, “My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name/With anybody’s gift. Who’d stoop to blame” you would read straight through name to finish the thought which ends at the full stop in the next line: “nine-hundred-years-old name with anybody’s gift.” Thus the rhyme of “name” and “blame” is masked. The imagery in this poem is rather limited, reflecting the Duke’s admission that he is not “skilled in speech”. There is a lot of imagery about possessing objects, as well as an abundance of personal pronouns. This suggests the Duke’s selfish and self-important character. Themes of this poem reflect on wealth, status, and pride. The Duke, though a wealthy and proud character, is not seen in a good light. Despite thinking very highly of himself, the Duke comes across to the readers as arrogant and unlikable. The reader also sees that money cannot buy happiness; although the Duke is wealthy, he is insecure and paranoid about his late wife’s behavior. Overall, the author wittily shows that sometimes a person’s commentary on a subject tells you more about the person than the subject. In this case, the Duke’s repugnant personality is revealed through his commentary on his wife. For More GCSE poem analyses: Praise Song for My Mother, Nettles, The Yellow Palm, and Medusa Or for other  great GCSE resources New Maths 9-1 GCSE Five Strategies to improve Academic Performance Need anymore help with English? Find professional GCSE English tutors near you by following the link. Written by Madeleine K

Activity based fun with Math - Aloha Mind Math - ALOHA Mind Math

Activity based fun with Math Here is a greatposton fun activities for kids. It is so great to be able to have some activity based fun with kids, and if you can add math to the picture, it can have some added advantage of helping them with the subject too. Here are some great activities that can help connect kids to math by making it fun for them: Puzzles:Math based puzzles are a great way to ignite your child’s curiosity, and you can easily make or find ones that are appropriate for kids of all ages. This can also be a great indoor activity for those rainy or cold days that the kids can’t play out of doors. You can find a lot of puzzle sites online, or even make your own that will also be an interesting craft project with your child. Food can be fun:Take your kids along to the supermarket and ask them to guess how many tomatoes make a kilo. Then move to the onions â€" you get the idea. Weighing each vegetable or fruit, and assessing numbers, then seeing the result on the scale will help your child get a clear idea on weights and balances at an early age. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rightee/4309558/ Algebra through play:The Montessori method has some great learning materials such as thebinomialand trinomial cubes, which help to improve motor skills in young children, as well as teach them the basics of the algebraic equations that they’ll find much easier to understand once they have understood the pictorial representation. Visual approach:Boards are now available in a variety of choices â€" from the old school blackboards which are still so much fun, to magnetic or those meant for sanded letters. Use any one you want to draw or stick objects when you want to explain to your kid what basic concepts like addition or subtraction are about. Starting with visual understanding, and then moving to the mental calculation will imprint the concept very well in your child. I hope these will make a good start to having fun with math, for you and your kids. When they are 4-5 years of age, they are also ready for concepts like learning math through Abacus, which can also help them with the subject at school. Do check out more details about our classes at:http://www.aloha-usa.com

What You Need to Know About Office Etiquette

What You Need to Know About Office Etiquette via Pixabay Be On Time Nobody likes waiting for someone to start a meeting. Nobody likes walking in late to a meeting after it has already started. So, to avoid both of these situations, try your best to be on time to meetings and into the office in the morning. Time management can be difficult for some people, especially during an especially busy day. Set reminders on your phone before meetings so you don’t lose track of time and can prepare to leave. If you are in charge of scheduling meetings, make sure you have enough time to travel from meeting to meeting instead of scheduling them back-to-back. Punctuality is one of the biggest forms of office etiquette. Be Conscious While on the Phone If you work in an open office or with cubicles, be conscious of how loudly you are speaking on the phone. While you may be on a work call, someone near you may be trying to concentrate on a project distracted by your conversation. Keep your voice at a lower level so you don’t disturb any of your coworkers. When it comes to personal calls, keep them short or take them away from your desk. Go into the break room, lounge or lobby, or outside if you really have to talk. You don’t want to lay your personal life out for everyone in the office. Clean Up After Yourself This one may seem pretty obvious, but how many times have you seen a dirty dish in the communal kitchen or trash in the bathroom? In order to keep a clean workplace, you have to clean up after yourself. If you heat up your lunch in the microwave and it splatters, make sure to wipe it down with a paper towel so it’s clean for the next person. Throw out your trash instead of leaving it on the break room tables or on the floor in the bathroom. Your coworkers will definitely appreciate it. via Pixabay Pay Attention in Meetings Remember back in high school when you weren’t allowed to use your cell phone during class because it was rude and you should pay attention to what your teacher had to say? Take that mentality into office meetings as well. Part of office etiquette is paying attention during a meeting and actively listening to whoever is leading the meeting. That means taking notes, asking questions, and making eye contact. If you have to answer a text or call that is work-related, quietly excuse yourself from the meeting. Stay Home When You’re Sick It may be tempting to go into the office if you are sick because you have deadlines, important meetings, or don’t feel like using one of your sick days. However, keep in mind that your healthy coworkers do not want to catch your sickness. When you go into the office when you are sick, you put everyone at risk. The best thing to do is to stay home and rest so you can get better as quickly as possible. That way you can go back to work and catch up on missed work. Use Punctuation in Your Emails The emotion and meaning of texts and emails can be hard to gauge without proper punctuation. While it may seem childish to use exclamation points at the end of sentences, it may be necessary when sending emails. “Nice job on this project! Thanks, Michelle,” sounds a lot better than “Thanks. -Michelle.” Don’t be afraid to be friendly towards your coworkers. Don’t overdo it on the emojis or exclamation points though. Be Respectful The number one rule of office etiquette is to always be respectful of everyone you work with. While you may not necessarily like everyone you work with, you still have to be respectful and kind. That means holding the door open for someone, greeting your coworkers, and working together as a team when necessary. When you show others respect, you will receive respect. Learn Office Etiquette If you are unsure of what office etiquette means, start with these simple tasks. Overall, just be respectful and considerate of your coworkers. You all share the same space, so why not make an effort to keep it clean and comfortable for everyone? With these office etiquette practices, you’ll be extremely pleasant to work with in the office.

Study Soulmates! The Best Language Learning App(s) for You

Study Soulmates! The Best Language Learning App(s) for You Study Soulmates! The Best Language Learning App(s) for You Finding your soulmate is a challenge that can take a lifetime.Sometimes, someone seems great on the surface, but some unknown factor just doesnt click.You might try adjusting yourself to make things work.You can change your hair. You can learn to eat pineapple on your pizza. You can start listening to Nickelback.But at some point, youll reach your breaking point. One can only pretend to like Nickelback for so long.While finding the right language learning app might not be quite as harrowing as finding a life partner, it can be nearly as challenging. The struggle is real.It can be frustrating for anyone, whether youre looking for an iPhone app  or an Android app.Popular language apps  enjoy a huge fan base, but will you be among the adoring masses?Addictive language apps can get users hooked on learning, but what if youre just not the addictive type?While theres no foolproof method for finding your perfect mate or perfect app, knowing yourself better can give you an edge. Thats where personality tests come in handy.Yep, personality tests.You may have heard of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Its one of the most popular personality assessments. Through a simple questionnaire, it can be used to categorize people based on four sets of opposing traits.This gives you data to speculate on everything from career goals to big life decisions to, of course, romance.So what if you could also be matched with your perfect language app according to whether youre an ENFJ, an INTP or any of the other MBTI personality types?Well, now you can!In this post, well tell you which of the best language learning apps you match with based on your personality. Why Choose Apps Based on Your Personality Traits?Choosing an app based on your personality traits can help you play to your strengths. Everyone has different things that really work for them. So if, for instance, your personality indicates that you respond well to structure, why not focus on using a structured app?Plus, cho osing the right app for your personality can help you compensate for your weaknesses. Language learning requires a wide array of skills. However, based on your personality type, some of these skills could be challenging to acquire. After all, if youre an introvert, getting conversational practice can be exhausting. Luckily, there are apps that can help you compensate for any potential weakness.Finally, basing your app choices on your personality traits can help you accommodate multiple facets of your personality. There are different apps that play to each aspect of your personality. Mix and match apps to take into account your personality as a whole.Plus, lets be honest. Its just fun!Study Soulmates! The Best Language Learning App(s) for YouTo see which apps you match with in the categories below, youll need to first take a personality test to see which traits apply to you. The apps below are sorted into the eight personality aspects in MBTI that show up in your given type: Extrover sion, Introversion, Sensing, Intuiting, Thinking, Feeling, Judging and Perceiving.There are plenty of formal, spendy MBTI assessments. However, if youre looking for a simple, free version, check out  16Personalities. While a few trait names are listed differently (most notably, perceiving is called prospecting), the basic concepts remain the same.Any PersonalityFluentURegardless of your personality type, FluentU is here for you through thick and thin. Heres where the love match analogy briefly breaks down, because FluentU gives you what you cant (and honestly probably shouldnt) have in a soulmate: customization and flexibility with little to no effort on your part.You pick your pace. You choose what you learn. Meanwhile, FluentU uses real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and moreâ€"to give you an in-context learning experience.Each video is captioned and the captions are annotated, giving you plenty of additional information to access whenever you need itâ€"lik e definitions, example sentences and associated images.If you want to change up your learning experience, try learn mode. In learn mode, videos, images and example sentences are combined into flashcards and exercises for more engaging study.Regardless of your skill level, FluentU can help you improve your language skills, and whats more, it takes the time to really get to know you. FluentUs algorithm takes learner history into account when presenting you with questions, ensuring that youre building on what youve already learned.ExtraversionExtraversion often manifests as the degree to which someone is outgoing. People who score high in this area usually get energy from being around other people and enjoy working and interacting with others. If you score high on this trait, the apps below may be just what youve been longing for.HelloTalkAvailable: iOS | AndroidIf you get your energy from interacting with others, HelloTalk will give you all the energy you need! HelloTalk helps you con nect with native speakers for free, giving you valuable language practice. You can use voice, text or video chat, which allows you to connect however youre most comfortable.Additionally, HelloTalk offers tools to make chatting easier. Built-in aids supply you with translation or pronunciation help so you can focus more on the good stuff: a fun conversation!HelloTalk also allows you to make public posts for native speakers of your target language to see, making it easy to ask questions or find your next conversation partner.TandemAvailable: iOS | AndroidReady to get your chat on? Tandem can help connect you to native speakers you can practice your skills with.With over 3 million people enjoying Tandem, youll probably be able to find someone you hit it off with. To find partners, all you need to do is list select what language or languages you want to learn during registration. Then, youll automatically get matched with potential partners. Once you find someone you like, follow them s o that you can connect with them again in the future.You can chat via video or text and send pictures or audio messages.IntroversionIntroversion is the opposite of extraversion. If youre introverted, being around others can drain your energy, and introverts usually prefer to work alone. The apps below can be great companions for solitary study.MondlyAvailable: iOS | AndroidIf youre an introvert, getting speaking practice can be daunting. And ironically, if you dont practice speaking, when you have to interact in your target language down the road, it can seem that much more intimidating.But to practice speaking, you have to talk to people. Or do you?With Mondlys Android app, you can practice your language skills using their virtual reality feature. The app uses realistic scenarios like eating at a restaurant, getting a taxi and more. A character speaks to you, and you respond verbally from a list of options. Youll even get immediate feedback on your pronunciation.Beyond virtual real ity, though, a lot of the learning on this app revolves around listening to and participating in conversations perfect for getting in some speaking practice on your own!Mango LanguagesAvailable: iOS | AndroidMango Languages focuses on building up your language knowledge to give you the conversation skills you need.To get you conversation-ready, Mango Languages teaches you the basic building blocks before advancing on to conversational skills. Since Mango Languages will give you some conversation practice, though, interacting with real people down the road should be a breeze!Mango Languages also includes some cultural information, so youll have what you need to avoid any possible faux pas. No need to draw any unnecessary attention to yourself!SensingIf you scored high in the sensing category, chances are that you lean heavily on your five senses. You focus on whats concrete and what youve experienced. Because of this, theres a strong chance that you like logic and order. Here are a c ouple apps that feel exactly the same way.busuuAvailable: iOS | AndroidIf you need logic and order, busuu might be just what you need to keep yourself on course. Thats because busuu aims to teach you a language in just 10 minutes a dayâ€"perfect if youre already booked for the other 23 hours and 50 minutes of the day.Plus, busuu breaks content down into organized, numbered lessons, so the path ahead of you will be clear.And dont worry, there are plenty of opportunities to use your senses. Activities like flashcards and quizzes can appeal to your sight, while conversations with native speakers can exercise your hearing.Rocket LanguagesAvailable: iOS | AndroidNeed concrete details to really feel comfortable with a language? Try Rocket Languages.Since people who score high in sensing often want the hard facts, you might like Rocket Languages focus on details. For instance, in-depth cultural lessons and audio lessons provide you with the specifics you need to understand the language.Plu s, a variety of different activities will give your senses a workout. You can get the experience you need through writing lessons, speaking practice, quizzes, listening activities and more.Download the app, or get the hard facts about what they offer for the language youre learning right on their website:ArabicChineseFrenchGermanItalianJapaneseKoreanPortugueseRussianSpanishIntuitingIf you score high in intuiting, you probably trust your gut. Youre probably less interested in detail than a broad overview. However, you may have exceptional skill in spotting patterns. The apps below are right on the same wavelength.BeelinguappAvailable: iOS | AndroidSince youre good at spotting patterns, you might prefer language learning opportunities that allow you to learn by using the language rather than studying the underlying structure. Beelinguapp is a great tool for that.Beelinguapp provides side-by-side texts in your target language and your native language. You can read in your target langua ge and simply glance at the translation if you need a little assistance. Beelinguapp also offers karaoke-style audio, highlighting the excerpt as its spoken. This way, you can improve your language skills by recognizing patterns in either spoken or written language.DuolingoAvailable: iOS | AndroidThrough repetition, Duolingo might be able to help you understand the structure of a language intuitively.Duolingos main focus is repetition-based activities to teach you grammar and vocabulary. While there are brief written lessons before these activities, the main method of learning is using the language rather than studying. So while you might not be able to explain a certain verb conjugation after using Duolingo, it may turn out you can use it correctly.ThinkingPeople who score high in thinking usually lean heavily on logic. They tend to like clear rules and are often task-oriented. These apps understand you perfectly.BabbelAvailable: iOS | AndroidBabbel focuses on practical skills you can use in real conversations that youre likely to encounter. Covering common themes like shopping, dining and transportation will help you practice the vocabulary youre most likely to use.When youre an independent learner, it can be hard to know if youre pronouncing something correctly. But as a thinker, you probably want to know youre right, so you might like that Babbels speech recognition technology will check your pronunciation for you.Plus, Babbels 10-15 minute lessons are short enough that you can make sure you meet your learning goal each day.LingvistAvailable: iOS | AndroidAs a thinker, you appreciate logic, and Lingvist has a lot of it to offer.Thats because Lingvist focuses on the most relevant vocabulary. With over 4000 words, theres plenty to learn, but the focus is on the material youre most likely to use in the real world.Plus, Lingvist offers a focused approach, teaching you based on what you already know. No need to waste time restudying over and over again!Lingvist is the product of combined efforts of linguists, scientists and developers, so thinkers may also appreciate the thought and research behind the app.FeelingThose who score high in feeling often prioritize the feelings of others over hard facts. These apps care about your feelings, too.MemriseAvailable: iOS | AndroidSince feelers care about people, you might connect better with an app thats more people-focused. Memrise might be just what youre looking for.Thats because Memrise features over 30,000 videos featuring native speakers. Rather than just focusing on the words themselves, you can see and hear the emotions of the speakers.Plus, chatbots can help you simulate real interactions with people, giving you helpful, interactive practice.LinguaTVAvailable: iOS | AndroidWish you could see how language is used in real situations? LinguaTV will show you.LinguaTV offers videos of native speakers using their languages in common situations you may encounter, like eating out, traveling or wo rking.Not only will this help students learn relevant, useful vocabulary, its also likely to engage feelers, who might be able to connect with the scenarios on a more emotional level.JudgingIf you scored high in the judging category, you might like order and structure. You probably also enjoy making decisions and taking control of a situation. But you may not mind letting these apps take control of your language learning.Rosetta StoneAvailable: iOS | AndroidSince judgers like order and structure, theyre likely to respond to apps that act more like conventional courses, and this makes Rosetta Stone a great option.Rosetta Stone is broken down into convenient lessons and units to teach you all the finer points of the language.However, just because the material is broken down into lessons doesnt mean youre not in the drivers seat. In fact, you can still make plenty of key choices, like using extended learning featuresâ€"such as a phrasebook, downloadable lessons and more.Be proactive by checking out whats available for your target language on their site:ArabicChineseFrenchGermanItalianJapaneseKoreanPortugueseSpanishDaily Dose of LanguageAvailable: iOS | AndroidBecause judgers like order and structure, they often prefer a set timetable. Schedules can be tight, but judgers prefer things stay on schedule.And do you know whats easy to fit into even the busiest schedule? A one-minute daily dose of language learning. Yes, each day, Daily Dose of Language from Innovative Language provides free one-minute mini lessons on topics like vocabulary, slang and culture. You can even get a daily reminder to let you know that your lesson is ready.PerceivingPerceiving types tend to value flexibility. Because of their natural curiosity, perceiving types usually enjoy new ideas and opportunities. These apps will stay flexible with you, and give you the sense of adventure you crave.LingQAvailable: iOS | AndroidAs a perceiver, you probably like trying new methods and following your own path, so LingQ might be right up your alley.LingQ aims to teach you a language through content. While there are thousands of hours of audio and plenty of written material already available, you can also import other web content to turn it into a learning tool. Then, the app allows you to look up and save any new words or phrases you might encounter for easy studying.Not only is this a new and innovative approach to learning, its also fully flexible since you choose your own content.DropsAvailable: iOS | AndroidIf you cant resist trying something new, Drops can quench your thirst for adventure.From its minimalist design to its  fast-paced micro games, you wont find anything else quite like Drops.Rather than encouraging you to connect words in your target language to words in your native language, Drops uses illustrations to help you link a word to its actual meaning. All in all, Drops aims to make learning fun and addictive.If you need any more proof that Drops is unique and innovat ive, though, we offer you this tidbit: Drops has a five-minute session limit. You probably wont get overwhelmed or intimidated if you know your learning activity will only be five minutes!Dont spend your whole life searching for the best language learning app for you.Base your choice on your personality traits, and you just might find your language learning soulmate!