Say JA to German (Say YES to German)

Although German may seem slightly intimidating at first, its definitely an amazing language to learn. There are various reasons why you should learn German, some of these are:

1) German is the most widely spoken language in Europe:

More people speak German as their native language than any other language in Europe. It's no wonder, since Germany's 83 million inhabitants make it the most populous European nation. But not only the residents of Germany speak German. It is also an official language of Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. And it is the native language of a significant portion of the population in northern Italy, eastern Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, eastern France, parts of Poland, the Czech Republic, Russia, and Romania, as well as in other parts of Europe. 

2) Germany has the 3rd Strongest Economy and is the Number 1 Export country in the world:

Germany has the third largest economy in the world and is the economic powerhouse of the European Union. In 2007 -- for the 5th year in a row and depite the strength of the euro currency -- the Germans were world champions in exports. The country exported 940 billion US dollars worth of goods, just ahead of the US exports. From cars to machinery and industrial equipment, from pharmaceuticals to household goods, German businesses earn 1 in 3 euros through export, and 1 in 4 jobs depends on exports. The competetiveness and desirability of German products on the market are indicated by the country's substantial trade surplus, which reached 162 billion euros (209 billion dollars) in 2006 and continues to grow every year.

3) Business Opportunities:

Germany's economic strength equals business opportunities. Multinational business opportunities exist throughout the European Union and in the Eastern European countries, where German is the second most spoken language after Russian. Companies like BMW, Daimler, Siemens, Lufthansa, SAP, Bosch, Infineon, BASF, and many others need international partners. The Japanese, who have the 2nd most powerful economy in the world, understand the business advantages that a knowledge of German will bring them: 68% of Japanese students study German.

4) 1 in 10 books in the world is published in German:

German is not only a language of the past. As prolific researchers and scholars, German speakers produce nearly 80,000 new book titles each year. The only language markets that produce more books annually are the Chinese and English publishing industries. In number of books published, Munich is second in the world only to New York. Since only a small percentage of German books are translated into other languages (for instance, approximately 10% into Korean and Chinese, just over 5% into English), only a knowledge of German will give you access to a vast majority of these titles.

Also, you can check out our Facebook page for videos, pictures and really
cool articles at www.facebook.com/SkoolShop  and follow us on twitter at @Myskoolshop

Brought to you by : www.skoolshop.com/

Come back again tomorrow!

Say Oui to French!! (Say YES to French)

Learning any foreign language is awesome for your career as well as in the understanding of different cultures, but there are several advantages if you choose French as the language you want to learn. After English, French is the most taught second language in the world, and it is useful throughout the world. French will give you the most scope for a career/study in the future. It should also be noted that in huge organizations like the United Nations, UNESCO, NATO etc., only French and English are the official languages. 

Here are a few reasons why you should learn French:

1) World-Wide Language:

More than 200 million people speak French. The Francophonie, the international organisation of French-speaking countries, comprises 68 states and governments. French is the second most widely learned foreign language after English, and the ninth most widely spoken language in the world. 

2) Employment Opportunities

An ability to speak French and English is an advantage on the international job market. A knowledge of French opens the doors of French companies in France and other French-speaking parts of the world (Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, and North and sub-Saharan Africa).

3) Rich in Culture

French is the international language of cooking, fashion, theatre, the visual arts, dance and architecture. A knowledge of French offers access to great works of literature, as well as films and songs, in the original French. French is the language of Victor Hugo, Molière, Léopold Sendar Senghor, Edith Piaf, Jean-Paul Sartre, Alain Delon and Zinedine Zidane.

4) It's FUN!!

French is easy to learn, and you can have a lot of fun while learning it. Its an enjoyable and full of love language, which will definitely not bore you!

For more check out: http://www.consulfrance-houston.org/spip.php?article1426

Also, you can check out our Facebook page for videos, pictures and really
cool articles at www.facebook.com/SkoolShop  and follow us on twitter at @Myskoolshop

Brought to you by : www.skoolshop.com/

Come back again tomorrow!

Why YOU should learn different Languages?

Although English maybe one of the most important languages to learn, there are tremendous advantages of learning different foreign languages that can give you a competitive advantage over others. To remain monolingual or knowing only one language stunts your educational development, restricts your communication and thinking abilities, and denies you the ability to fully appreciate and understand the world in which you live. Here are some of the advantages:

1) Makes you more Globally Aware:

"A different language, is a different vision of life." 

- Federico Fellini

Learning another language, helps you get insight into that particular culture and helps you learn about the intricate details and facts which you would generally not know without the help of that language. It helps you further understand cultures, and in a world where we are all striving for peace between nations, understanding different people, their customs and their cultures is what will make it happen. 

2) Employment Opportunities:

Large-scale industries and huge multinational corporations which carry out their operations globally require people who are skilled at various languages for several purposes, and people who are skilled in different languages have a potential to earn a lot of money, as there are always requirements of people with multi-lingual skills. 

3) Enhance Cognitive and Life Skills

Because learning a language involves a variety of learning skills, studying a foreign language can enhance one's ability to learn and function in several other areas. Children who have studied a language at the elementary level score higher on tests in reading, language arts, and math. People who have learned foreign languages show greater cognitive development in areas such as mental flexibility, creativity, and higher order thinking skills, such as problem-solving, conceptualizing, and reasoning. 

4) Improve your chances for Universities and Colleges

Knowing an additional foreign language is really respected by colleges and universities as it is their aim to provide global and learned citizens. Knowing a foreign language is definitely a plus point when universities look at your applications. 

5) Travel Easy!

On a lighter note, if you actually know the local language of the place where you are travelling, it can tremendously help you get around the place without getting lost, networking with different people and even getting better prices and rates, making your trip a much more memorable experience. 

These are just a few of the advantages of learning a foreign language, and apart from these points, learning a language is a lot of fun and we hope you start learning a foreign language of your choice. This week we'll be speaking about different foreign languages, so keep reading our blog!!

Also, you can check out our Facebook page for videos, pictures and really
cool articles at www.facebook.com/SkoolShop  and follow us on twitter at @Myskoolshop

Brought to you by : www.skoolshop.com/

Come back again tomorrow!

Why Books are better than E-Books for School Kids

Believe it or not, when parents read to their children from an E-Book and an actual book, there are major differences when it comes to the child's understanding and mental development. Even though this may sound slightly weird, Lisa Guernsey of the New America Foundation’s Early Education Initiative, believes that when we read with a child on an e-reader, we may actually impede our child’s ability to learn. Ms. Guernsey interpreted recent research on childhood literacy for Time magazine, and found that parents interact differently with children over an e-reader than over a physical book. That difference may make children slower to read and comprehend a story.

Children sitting with a parent while an e-reader reads to them understand significantly less of what’s read than those hearing a parent read. Researchers at Temple University, where the study was done, noted that parents reading books aloud regularly asked children questions about the book: “What do you think will happen next?” Parents sitting with the child while a device read to them (like a LeapPad or some iPad apps) didn’t ask these questions, or relate images or incidents in the book to the child’s real life. Instead, their conversation was focused on how to use the device: “Careful! Push here. Hold it this way.”

Ms. Guernsey, observing videos of parents reading to their children from iPads, found a tendency to do the same, even when the device wasn’t doing the reading. Readers with an e-reader were focused on the device, not the story. Children whose parents talk to them about what they’re reading gain reading skills faster, but children reading with parents from digital rather than physical books aren’t getting as much of that kind of interaction.

This doesn't mean you should not use devices at all, instead of substituting real books with E-Books, you should make the E-Books an addition to real books. Maybe if your child wants to play on the iPad, you could make it a rule to read a book on it before that. Also, if you are reading to your child from an E-Book focus on the story and your child rather than the device. 

Via: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/28/why-books-are-better-than-e-books-for-children/

Also, you can check out our Facebook page for videos, pictures and really
cool articles at www.facebook.com/SkoolShop  and follow us on twitter at @Myskoolshop

Brought to you by : www.skoolshop.com/

Come back again tomorrow!

Best Children's Books of 2012

For the Younger Children: 

All the Water in the World. 

By George Ella Lyon, Illus. by Katherine Tillotson, Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

From deserts to the kitchen sink, the water cycle is lyrically yet economically described in Lyon’s poem emphasizing the importance of water conservation. Katherine Tillotson’s digital paintings splash, surge and drip off the page.

A Ball for Daisy. 

By Chris Raschka, Illus. by the author, Schwartz & Wade Books,

A wordless tale of an irrepressible little dog whose most prized possession is accidently destroyed. A buoyant tale of loss, recovery, and friendship. (2012 Caldecott Medal Book)

Blackout. 

By John Rocco, Illus. by the author. Disney/Hyperion Books.

A summer power outage draws an urban family up to their building’s roof and then down to the street for an impromptu block party. (A 2012 Caldecott Honor Book)

Bring on the Birds. 

By Susan Stockdale, Illus. by the author. Peachtree.

Rhyming couplets and clear, identifiable illustrations remind readers that birds vary in many ways, but all have feathers and are hatched from eggs. Colorful acrylics help provide just the right of information for preschool ornithologists.

The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred. 

By Samantha R. Vamos, Illus. by Rafael López. Charlesbridge.

Nothing is better than a delicious bowl of arroz con leche unless, of course, a host of farm animals have a hand in the preparation! (A 2012 Belpré Illustrator Honor Book)

Chirchir Is Singing. 

By Kelly Cunnane, Illus. by Jude Daly. Schwartz & Wade Books.

In this cumulative story set in Kenya, Chirchir sings as she tries to help with family chores.  Acrylic folk art highlights the activities of daily life in this rural setting. 

Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow? 

By Susan A. Shea, Illus. by Tom Slaughter. Blue Apple Books.

This book playfully challenges children’s concepts of the growth capacity of living vs. non-living things in a fun and engaging way.

For the Older Children: 

Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade. 

By Melissa Sweet, Illus. by the author. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.

This story of Tony Sarg, the artistic inventor who conceived the huge balloons that float through New York City each Thanksgiving, joyously celebrates his life’s creative process. (2012 Sibert Medal Book)

Breaking Stalin's Nose. 

By Eugene Yelchin, Illus. by the author, Henry Holt.

On the eve of his induction into the Young Pioneers, Sasha’s world is overturned when his father is arrested by Stalin’s guard. (A 2012 Newbery Honor Book)

The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale. 

By Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright, Illus. by Barry Moser. Peachtree Publishers.

Alley-cat Skilley finds a perfect home, gets help from a friend to return an injured raven to the Tower of London and saves all the Cheshire Cheese Inn mice from the evil Pinch.

Diego Rivera: His World and Ours. 

By Duncan Tonatiuh , Illus. by the author, Abrams Books for Young Readers

The accomplishments of Mexican painter, activist, and muralist Diego Rivera are highlighted in stylized illustrations. (2012 Belpré Illustrator Medal Book)

Dream Something Big: The Story of the Watts Towers. 

By Dianna Hutts Aston, Illus. by Susan L. Roth. Dial Books for Young Readers.

The human desire to make a mark is celebrated in this fictionalized account of Simon Rodia’s process in building the Watts Towers – a singular, eccentric, artistic creation now recognized as a National Landmark.

Emergency! 

By Tom Lichtenheld, Illus. by Ezra Fields-Meyer. Chronicle Books.

When the letter ‘E’ falls down the stairs and hurts her leg, the rest of the alphabet must do the best it can to limp along without its most-used letter.  Puns aplenty pack every page.

Emma Dilemma: Big Sister Poems. 

By Kristine O'Connell George, Illus. by Nancy Carpenter. Clarion Books.

Sisterhood is complicated: partly embarrassing, partly affectionate, partly competitive, partly supportive, partly confining, partly empowering.  The many facets of the relationship are deftly described by George’s poems and Carpenter’s pen and ink drawings.

Also, you can check out our Facebook page for videos, pictures and really
cool articles at www.facebook.com/SkoolShop  and follow us on twitter at @Myskoolshop

Brought to you by : www.skoolshop.com/

Come back again tomorrow!

Enid Blyton: One of the best authors for School Children

Whether its the magic of the enchanted forests and trees, or the mysteries with the famous five, Enid Blyton has written some of the most amazing books for children and teenagers alike. Once you begin reading one of these books, you don't feel like letting them go, and this is why she has been one of the most successful authors for children of all time. It doesn't matter if you're in the 1st grade, or the 10th, her books are a must read for all, and today we'll give you a list of some of her best books and series, so you can start reading them and add some joy to your life. 

For the little ones:

Noddy

Did you know that the character Noddy was created by Enid Blyton and originally published between 1949 and 1963?? Television shows of this character continue to run till today!

Noddy is a little wooden boy who lives in Toyland, with his friends, Big Ears, Tessie Bear, Bumpy Dog and Tubby Bears. Explore all his adventures and stories with the Noddy series written by Enid Blyton. 

For School Children:

Five Find-Outers and the Dog

Join Fatty, Larry, Daisy, Pip, Bets and Buster as they encounter numerous mysteries on almost all of their school holidays. Read about how they chance upon such amazing and weird happenings in the fictitious village of Peterwood, and how they solve the case faster than Mr Goon, the annoying village policeman. 

One of the best children's series I read as a child, these are some of the most amazing books, which you never feel like letting go without completion. 

The Famous Five

The most commercially successful of the mystery series written by Enid Blyton, to this date over 2 Million copies are sold every year, and there have been sales of more than 100 Million Copies overall, with a total of 21 books in the series. Join the five characters Juilan, Dick, Georgina, Anne and Timmy as they take part in numerous adventures, and  unravel some amazing mysteries. Another one of Enid Blyton's most amazing books. 

The Faraway Tree

These stories take place in the midst of an enchanted forest, where there grows a magical tree, known as "The Faraway Tree", which reaches into the clouds, and supports homes and gnomes and pixies and all kinds of different things and creatures. One of Enid's most imaginative series, these books are just plain awesome! 

These are some of the amazing series of books written by Enid Blyton, and there are several others as well, such as, The Secret Seven, The Barney Mystery Series, The Circus series and many more. Enid Blyton is surely one of the best children's authors till date and once you have read books written by her, they form a treasured part of your childhood. 

Also, you can check out our Facebook page for videos, pictures and really
cool articles at www.facebook.com/SkoolShop  and follow us on twitter at @Myskoolshop

Brought to you by : www.skoolshop.com/

Come back again tomorrow!

Benefits of Reading Books

There are various benefits of reading books, today, we'll highlight some of these benefits, so that you can start developing a hobby for reading books and making the most of them:

1. Reading is an active mental process - Unlike TV, books make you to use your brain. By reading, you think more and become smarter.

2. It is a fundamental skill builder - Every good course on the planet has a matching book to go with it. Why? Because books help clarify difficult subjects. Books provide information that goes deeper than just classroom discussion.

3. Improves your vocabulary – Remember in elementary school when you learned how to infer the meaning of one word by reading the context of the other words in the sentence? You get the same benefit from book reading. While reading books, especially challenging ones, you will find yourself exposed to many new words you wouldn’t be otherwise.

4. Gives you a glimpse into other cultures and places – What is your favorite vacation spot? I would bet you read a lot about that destination. The more information the better. Books can expand your horizons by letting you see what other cities and countries have to offer before you visit them.

5. Improves concentration and focus – Like I pointed out before, reading books takes brain power. It requires you to focus on what you are reading for long periods. Unlike magazines, Internet posts or e-Mails that might contain small chunks of information. Books tell the whole story. Since you must concentrate in order to read, like a muscle, you will get better at concentration.

6. Builds self-esteem – By reading more books, you become better informed and more of an expert on the topics you read about. This expertise translates into higher self esteem. Since you are so well read, people look to you for answers. Your feelings about yourself can only get better.

7. Improves memory – Many studies show if you don’t use your memory, you lose it. Crossword puzzles are an example of a word game that staves off Alzheimer’s. Reading, although not a game, helps you stretch your memory muscles in a similar way. Reading requires remembering details, facts and figures and in literature, plot lines, themes and characters.

8. Improves your discipline – Obviously, if 1 in 4 people don’t read one book per year, then there is a discipline issue. There may be many causes for people not reading books such as the “quips” of information you can get on the Internet. TV is also a major distracter. Making time to read is something we all know we should do, but who schedules book reading time every day? Very few… That’s why adding book reading to your daily schedule and sticking to it, improves discipline.

9. Learn anywhere – Books are portable. You can take them almost anywhere. As such, you can learn almost anywhere too.

10. Improves creativity – by reading more books and exposing yourself to new and more complete information, you will also be able to come up with more creative ideas. As a personal example, I read many, many books on IT Networking. So often, when IT Admins are stumped with a problem, I can come up with a creative (smack your head simple) solution that isn’t written anywhere. But the reason I can do that is because I have read so many books on the subject, I can combine lessons from all of them into new solutions.

11. Gives you something to talk about – Have you ever run out of stuff to talk about with your best friend, wife or husband? This can be uncomfortable. It might even make married couples wonder if their marriage is in trouble. However, if you read a lot of books, you’ll always have something to talk about. You can discuss various plots in the novels you read, you can discuss the stuff you are learning in the business books you are reading as well. The possibilities of sharing are endless.

12. Books are inexpensive entertainment – What’s the average price of a movie ticket these days? $8 – $10? You can buy a paperback for that price and be entertained for many hours more. If you have a used bookstore nearby, you can get them even cheaper.

Tip: Once you make reading a habit, you’ll enjoy reading the books in your chosen career as well.

13. You can learn at your own pace – Where formal education requires time commitments, books have no late-bells or hourly commitments. So you can learn at your own pace when you read books.

14. New mental associations – I touched on this above. As you read more books the depth and breadth of your knowledge expands and your ability to form new associations increases. In reading a book to discover the solution to one problem, you find the solution to others you may not have considered.

15. Improves your reasoning skills – Books for professionals contain arguments for or against the actions within. A book on cooking argues that Chili powder goes well with beef and goes poorly with ice-cream. A book on building a business argues that testing an idea for profitability before setting up is a smart strategy and argues against just barreling forward with the idea without testing.

You too will be able to reason better with the knowledge you gain. Some of the arguments will rub off on you. Others you will argue against. Regardless, you’ll be reasoning better.

16. Builds your expertise – Brian Tracy has said one way to become an expert in your chosen field is to read 100 books on the subject. He also said by continuing the same for 5 years you’ll become an international expert. With the Internet and blogs, you could hone that time down to 2-3 years if you follow through.

17. Saves money – Apart from saving money on entertainment expenses. Reading books that help you develop your skills saves money. Reading books on how someone went bankrupt will be a warning to you against repeating their mistakes. Reading a book on how to build your own backyard deck saves the expense of hiring a contractor.

18. Decreases mistakes – Although I would never suggest putting off an important goal because you fear making mistakes, it is still important to sharpen the saw (link to A.L. post). When you gather the deep and widewisdom that books can provide, you are less apt to make mistakes.

19. You’ll discover surprises - As you read more books as a source of information, you’ll learn stuff you weren’t looking for. I’ve read many great quotes on life and love by reading books on marketing. I’ve learned facts about biology from reading about chemistry. Heck, I’ve picked up some facts about history while reading about programming. Since so many subjects intertwine it’s almost impossible not to learn something other than the book’s subject.

20. Decreased boredom – One of the rules I have is if I am feeling bored, I will pick up a book and start reading. What I’ve found by sticking to this is that I become interested in the book’s subject and stop being bored. I mean, if you’re bored anyway, you might as well be reading a good book, right?

21. Can change your life – How many times have you heard of a book changing someone’s life? For me, it was Your Erroneous Zones (link) by Wayne Dyer – which is the first self-development book I read. It opened my eyes to a whole new way of thinking that was not depressing and dull. It was the first step in my path of choosing my own life and being free of old habitual thought patterns.

There are many, many other books out there that have a reputation for changing lives including Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, Handbook to Higher Consciousness, Atlas Shrugged , A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Lord of the Rings and Black Boy to name a few. But you can start in your chosen field and work your way outward.

22. Can help break a slump – Being in a slump is uncomfortable. If you are a writer, you call it writer’s block. If you are a salesperson, it’s called – not making a sale in 23 days. But a slump can be a crossroads. It might be you are wavering on your commitment to a particular project or (with marriage) person. Or a slump can be simply a lack of new ideas. Books are a great source of ideas, big and small. So if you find yourself in a slump, pick a book on the portion of your life you are slump-ing and get to reading!

23. Reduces stress - Many avid readers (including me) unwind by reading. Compared with the person who gets home from work and immediately turns on the TV news, you are going from work stress to crime stress. But it’s not just news. TV as a source of relaxation is too full of loud commercials and fast moving (often violent) images. If relaxation is something you want, turn off the TV or computer and pick up a book.

24. Gets you away from digital distractions – If you, like many others, feel overwhelmed with the flashing lights, beeps, boops and ring-a-dings that burn up our computing lives, then give books a chance. When you find some good books, you’ll find yourself drawn into the subject matter. You’ll want to spend more time reading. By spending more time reading books, you’ll have less time for the plethora of the digital gadgets begging for our attention.

25. You’ll make more money - If you make a serious effort to read in your chosen career, your expertise in that specialty will increase. As you become more specialized and learned, you join a smaller group of more qualified people. By being part of the small few with the highest level knowledge your pay will increase. It’s simple supply and demand.

26. The book is always better than the movie – except for perhaps No Country for Old Men. 

Via : http://www.persistenceunlimited.com/2007/12/the-26-major-advantages-to-reading-more-books-and-why-3-in-4-people-are-being-shut-out-of-success/

Also, you can check out our Facebook page for videos, pictures and really
cool articles at www.facebook.com/SkoolShop  and follow us on twitter at @Myskoolshop

Brought to you by : www.skoolshop.com/

Come back again tomorrow!