The Future of Organic Chemistry

The Future of Organic ChemistryWhen you're looking for a major in the natural sciences, natural physical organic chemistry could be just the thing for you. Chemistry is concerned with how matter and energy interact and combine to create life forms and structures. It has been a science that has proven to be a very accurate one that many people are quite familiar with.The natural sciences are huge in number and there are several different fields that you can choose from when it comes to studying chemistry. There is chemistry for students interested in biology, there is chemistry for those looking for information on crystals that break and crystallize, and there is chemistry for chemistry enthusiasts who love the unique bond that certain materials can have with one another. However, if you're looking for something that is focused more towards the entire chemical process of how chemicals come together and interact with one another, natural physical organic chemistry could be right up you r alley.This type of chemistry takes a closer look at the interactions between the different chemical bonds that make up the compounds that we use everyday. Chemists in this area of study are looking to figure out what happens to different chemical components in nature. They are focusing more on the chemical reaction that takes place during this process. The more popular use of this area of chemistry today is in the area of synthetic compounds, such as plastics and lubricants.With this chemical reaction in mind, you can actually make your own compounds in the lab. The chemical properties of these compounds will have no way of being known by nature, because everything has been mutated by man. You can make all sorts of interesting compounds using natural chemical reactions and so can a number of other people who are interested in this field.Like any other major in the natural sciences, you will be required to take courses that are specific to your chosen field of study, which include material that is related to molecules, reactions, and the properties of chemical bonds. If you're interested in working with different types of materials, you may also want to consider taking some chemistry courses that focus on modeling the properties of materials. This is a process that looks at ways to model molecules based on their size, shape, and other properties.Interested in becoming a veterinarian? Maybe you've always wanted to try to be an environmentalist or even a dentist, and you're willing to get a degree in both. Chemistry majors are a huge part of the natural sciences and one that is well worth your time.Natural physical organic chemistry could be just the thing for you. You can choose a concentration within the major, which can be of particular interest to you, or choose to specialize in a particular area of chemistry.

Video Tutorials 4 Songs About School

Video Tutorials 4 Songs About School Suzy S. For many, Labor Day marks the last day of summer vacation tomorrow its back to the grind with new classes, new schedules and new subjects to learn. To get you into the spirit, weve scoured YouTube and compiled a list of 3 video tutorials and 1 awesome cover of songs about school. Enjoy! ABC Jackson 5 (bass line) I Can Tell That We Are Gonna Be Friends the White Stripes No Such Thing John Mayer Campus Vampire Weekend (not a tutorial, but a great acoustic cover nonetheless, plus a link to the guitar tabs) Looking for guitar lessons in your area? Use our search tool to find a teacher near you, and book your lessons today! Like this post? Join the TakeLessons community and receive exclusive updates, expert advice, tips and more!  Sign up for email updates here! You might also like Get Creative and Get Inspired: Fingerstyle Guitar Video Watch Now: How to Play Pumped Up Kicks Watch Now: How to Tune a Guitar

Shoes for Ballet

Shoes for Ballet Ballet: The Best Pointe and Demi-pointe Shoes ChaptersWhich Type of Shoe Should You Get?Which Slippers Should You Choose?The Best Pointe Shoes for BalletWhich Pointe Shoes Should You Choose?How to Choose Your Ballet Slippers or Pointe Shoes“We dance to seduce ourselves. To fall in love with ourselves. When we dance with another, we manifest the very thing we love about ourselves so that they may see it and love us too.” - Kamand KojouriWhile the number of students opting for arts A-Levels, there are still plenty of places where you can do an A Level in Dance. Over 1,000 students did an A Level in Dance in 2018 and 84.8% got a C or above.That said, regardless of your grade, you’re going to need suitable footwear. Here’s our advice on choosing the right shoes for both beginners and experts. SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDanc e Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhich Type of Shoe Should You Get?If you’re doing ballet, you’ll need some ballet slippers. There are different types in terms of the sole and the material they’re made from. There are different types of ballet slipper. (Source: indy0333)Demi-Pointe SolesYou can either get a split sole or a full sole which are usually made from leather or suede.A full sole will cover the entire bottom of the slipper and is recommended for beginners regardless of their age. This is useful as it’ll help steady you when you first start dancing. Your foot will be more stable and you’ll be less likely to roll over onto your ankle as you’re building strength in your heel and your feet.With a split sole, there’s a sole at the heel and the ball of your foot. There’s no sole under your arches. This allows for greater flexibility and to perfectly align your instep. However, you’ll need to learn some technique before you give it a go. You’ll need to reach an intermediate level and strengthen your heels before you try them.The MaterialThere are three main types of material for ballet slippers:Leather: your slippers will last longer as this material is more solid. Opt fo r a comfortable size as they won’t soften much over time. As they’re harder, it takes more effort to move your feet around.Canvas: this material is softer and you’re more likely to put holes in them. They’re also more flexible and cheaper than leather slippers but they do tend to deform over time. Some dancers find them more comfortable than leather slippers as they also let your feet breathe more.Satin: the material for pointe shoes. These are quite uncommon but some dancers love them.Some slippers have an elastic triangular band under the feet to bring flexibility and a better line when you’re pointing your feet. Even leather slippers can include this elastic band or canvas under your arches to help you move. To hold the slippers on your feet, there’s often elastic sewn onto the top of the foot.Find out more about ballet clothes.Which Slippers Should You Choose?There are plenty of different models of ballet slipper and you’ll need to choose the one that works best fo r you. To ensure a quality item, you might want to opt for a popular brand: Repetto, Bloch, Capezio, Merlet, Sansha, etc. However, even some of the lesser-known brands can offer quality slippers. You need to consider your level when choosing ballet slippers. If in doubt, ask your tutor. (Source: Jabore)When buying demi-pointes, the quality is important but not as much as when buying pointes. You’re unlikely to cause an injury by choosing the wrong ones unless you pick the wrong size.  Here are three different shoes that we recommend for different levels, budgets, and preferences.Dancez Vous - Vanie: These are elasticated canvas split sole ballet slippers that you can get for around £15. Crossed elastic straps. The size tends to be on the smaller size so you might need to get one or two sizes up from what you regularly get.Capezio - Satin Daisy: This model has a full suede sole, an elastic strap, and is available for £15.50. There are two width options when buying.Bloch - Ladies Proflex Leather: You can get these ballet slippers for £29 from the manufacturer. There’s on the arch so that the ballet shoe follows your instep more easily. They’re available in two widths. SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Best Pointe Shoes for BalletTo move up a level in ballet, you may want to invest in some pointe shoes. However, never do this without your dance teacher’s blessing. They’ll tell you when you’re ready to move onto pointe shoes. Pointe technique is much more difficult with pointe shoes so it shouldn’t be taken lightly.Much like with ballet shoes and slippers, there are several criteria to ta ke into account. Most of the time, there’ll be a full leather sole. However, there are split sole models available. In terms of material, pointe shoes are made of satin and so are the ankle straps.Find out more about the cost of ballet clothing.The WidthWhile the width won’t be too important when it comes to ballet slippers and dance shoes, when it comes to pointe shoes, it’s essential. You’ll have a choice of three widths:NarrowMediumWideIf it’s too tight around your joints when you put a pair of pointe shoes on, you’ll need to go up a width. On the other hand, if you feel your foot sliding to the bottom of the pointe shoe, it’s too wide.The Strength of the ShankPointe shoes are reinforced at the shank which supports the sole. There are different levels available from soft to extra strong. Beginners, who tend to lack strength, will opt for a soft shank. Strong experienced dancers will tend to go for a strong shank.The shank needs to bend slightly and follow the arch o f your foot. If it bends too much, your shank is too soft, but if it doesn’t bend at all, your shank is too hard. In the first example, you’ll ruin your pointe shoes in 3 or 4 lessons and the second example, you’ll hurt your toes.  Each time you buy some pointe shoes, you need to think about the hardness of your shank.Learn more about makeup for dance performances.The Length of the UpperThis is how much of the shoe covers the top of your toes and foot. It needs to be long enough to cover your toes up to the joint on the pointe. However, if it’s too long, it’ll cover the pointe. which you don’t want.The Shape of the InsideYou also need to choose pointe shoes whose insides match the shape of your foot. Generally, these shapes are either square or conical.There are three types of feet: Greek feet where the second toe is longer than the big toe, Egyptian feet where the big toe is the longest and each subsequent toe is smaller, and Peasant foot where the toes are all the same size.If you’re in the third category, things will be easier for you.If you feel all your weight on your big toe, the inside of your pointe shoe is too square. If your toes feel crushed, then the inside is too triangular.Which Pointe Shoes Should You Choose?Don’t hesitate to ask your dance teacher for recommendations on pointe shoes. Here are three models that are great for beginners:Repetto - Julietta: Flexible sole, low upper, high heel. Different widths are available: narrow, medium, large. They tend to be on the smaller size so you may need a size or two bigger than what you usually get.Bloch - Amelie: Medium strength shank, shallow box, medium sides. Three widths are available.Wear Moi - La Pointe Beginners: A square box for those with Peasant Feet. There are six widths and six hardnesses available. It can be difficult to work out which are the right pointe shoes. (Source: MichelleHaswell)How to Choose Your Ballet Slippers or Pointe ShoesBudding ballerinas, in addition to choosing their tights and leotards, should probably try their shoes in-store. We wouldn’t recommend buying your shoes online unless you know your exact size for a particular model. The best ballet slippers for you mightn't be the best on the market. (Source: indy0333)For Ballet SlippersYour toes shouldn’t slide around but they also shouldn’t be squashed together. When you try them, don’t hesitate to test the flexibility and make sure that the shoes don’t move around too much.For Pointe ShoesTake your time when choosing pointe shoes. It doesn’t matter if all your friends if your friends have Repettos if they don’t work for you. Don’t hesitate to try different brands and models. You must try your shoes first so that you know they won’t cause an injury.Don’t buy used pointe shoes! Pointe shoes will adjust to a dancer’s foot. After you buy your pointe shoes, you need to break them in before you can do anything with them.In terms of colour, you’ll usually have a choice between pink or black. There are other colours available but you might want to check with your teacher if there’s going to be an end-of-year show where you need to wear a parti cular colour. The rest is up to you!Whether you're in the market for jazz shoes, tap shoes, ballet flats, or any kind of dance shoe, you should consider asking your teacher or instructor for advice.

Wake Up to Justin Bieber Baby A Lesson on Positivity - Private Tutoring

Wake Up to Justin Bieber Baby A Lesson on Positivity BobbiM May 6, 2013 Something dawned on me recently: how you begin your day can (and usually does) impact the rest of your day. Then I thought to myself how do I wake up? and the answer was sobering: I wake up to a loud and irritating beep, beep, beep from my alarm. Thats not good because the sound of that alarm and the feelings it creates can already set the mood and tone for the rest of my day. So, what did I do? I turned to Justin Bieber for the answer. Justin Bieber Baby I programmed my iPhone (which is my alarm clock now) to go off at 6 AM, but instead of an irritating alarm, I have the alarm set to Justin Biebers Baby song. And, I have to say, after a while, Justin Bieber has made a big difference. So, here are the lessons learned: How you begin your day can determine the rest of your day. Start strong and positive. Drink water and eat well. Wake up with Gusto. Consider the small habits you have, such as the alarm you use. Make small changes tiny changes can make a big difference. Yes, Im talking to you Tutor, Parent, and Student. This article is for all of you. Take it as a good advice from someone who learned the hard way and who has missed out on the joy of Justin Biebers Baby for years.

Who Won E3 2013 - A Students Perspective

Who Won E3 2013 - A Student's Perspective Sony at E3. Photo via Flickr user tarciltarcil At E3 2013, June 11-13 this year, gamers everywhere got a glimpse of the near future in video game tech and software. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo, the big three gaming companies, all strutted their soon-to-come line up of new games and consoles. When it comes down to it, who won? Cost/Value: Nintendo For a student, one of the biggest things we worry about is money. As students, many of us dont have time to work to put moolah in the bank and many of us are just learning how to get a grip on our finances. We look for value per dollar in a gaming console since we have relatively few to spend. Nintendo wins here. Their Wii U is $100 or more cheaper than Sonys PS4 launch price of $399. Sony almost won here, but we have yet to see the Vita really build itself a reputable library and $399 is still a steep price for a college students wallet. Convenience/Size: Sony and Nintendo tie PS4 controller, photo by Flickr user technomcr Having had to move all my worldly possessions twice a year since I began college and having had to live in small dorm rooms, I can safely say that size is a big concern for college students. Consoles require a TV, which in of itself is a huge hassle to have, but the build of the consoles themselves should also be considered. While it is true that the Wii U is smaller than the other next-gen consoles, it also comes with a tablet controller that is roughly twice the size of a normal gaming controller. Sonys PS4, while somewhat boxier, is still considerably slim for a gaming console and the controllers are smaller and therefore easier to store in small spaces such as a dorm room. Microsofts Xbox One came in last for convenience, with considerably larger dimensions and assumingly heavier build since the Kinect One is built into the Xbox One. Games: Microsoft When it comes down to it, E3 is about the games, and on that front, all of the Big Three came out swinging. New Halo? New Halo. Commence the fangirling. Photo via Flickr user BrickUltra Microsoft had a very strong conference of games, having come under fire for the hardware and entertainment focused Xbox One reveal. Appealing to its fanbase of first-person shooters and action games, Microsoft revealed trailers and gameplay for an exclusive Killer Instinct reboot, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, a gorgeous Forza Motorsport for racing game fans, Dead Rising 3 and Quantum Break (both exclusives), and Witcher 3 and more. And who could forget that astonishing Battlefield 4 and Titanfall trailer. and new Halo teaser? Microsofts conference was jam-packed every which way with games that (while not my favorite genre of games) would appeal to a lot of college gamers looking to blow some steam after class. While Microsoft came out strong, thats not to say that the other two big gaming companies didnt have amazing game line-ups as well. Nintendo went for its niche of dedicated first-party games, announcing new installments in fan-favorite franchises such as Pikmin 3, a new Super Smash Bros., Pokemon X/Y, and Mario games. While Nintendo did bring out the inner fangamer in everyone with its clips of Megaman, the WiiFit Trainer, and Animal Crossing Villager entering the Smash arena and had an overall strong conference at E3, those less interested in Nintendos first-party games walked away less satisfied. Sony sent some gamers squealing with their announcements of the long-awaited Final Fantasy XV and longer-awaited Kingdom Hearts 3, and announced Infamous: Second Son, showed Destiny gameplay, announced new games The Order and Transistor, and showcased the work of many indie developers bringing their games to PS4, supporting their dedication to the independent game developers. However, when it was announced that FFXV and Kingdom Hearts 3 would not be PS4 exclusives, those big announcements were somewhat lost. Microsoft won this round by bringing out plenty of enticing One-exclusives that will definitely help sell the console. Policy: Sony Policy-wise, Sony wiped the floor with Microsoft When it comes down to the features that the college gamer wants, Sony was the clear cut winner, and they knew they were. At the end of their E3 conference, Sony had some not-so-subtle jabs at the Xbox-One, which has endured weeks of criticism for its many restrictive policies, including a necessary online connection at least every 24 hours, always-on Kinect, necessary Xbox Live Gold subscription to access many of the advertised features of the console, and extremely restrictive policies on used games and trading with friends. On top of all this, Microsoft slapped at $499 price tag on the package, sealing the deal as a no for many gamers. Sony directly addressed these concerns in their E3 conference and a seriously hilarious if somewhat gloating Youtube video  by announcing no online connection required for the PS4, no restrictions on used games which alone earned a standing ovation from the E3 crowd, a whopping $399 price tag (and another standing ovation), and PSN+ subscriptions and games announced as carrying over to the PS4 as well. For college gamers, swapping games with friends is almost a fact of life. To have that taken away makes Xbox One extremely unappealing to a lot of students. Also, the always-on Kinect is plain creepy. With all of these policies in place, it seems clear that Sony won by a landslide. Xbox One might be needing some ice for that burn. Conclusion While in the end, it will be up to each gamer to decide which console to go with for next-gen gaming, I think that Sony won E3 just with its unrestrictive used-game policies and solid lineup, though its games were not on the exclusive level that Nintendo or Microsoft had. Sony created the largest ripples in the gaming community, in my college community, and on the interwebs. I, and probably a great majority of college gamers, will be leaning towards the PS4 for my next-gen console. Though I may consider getting a Wii U just for that Super Smash Bros. because of all the glorious memes that have surfaced. No. No, it does not.

How to Stand Out During In-Person Interviews

How to Stand Out During In-Person Interviews pixabay.com Give off good energy   While interviewers can certainly pick-up your personality over the phone or over a Skype interview, in-person interviews allow them to study you very closely. The tone of your voice and tone, movement, and facial expressions all tie in together to make the interviewers impression of you. That being said, you need to be aware of how you are reacting to the interviewer and what your body language could possibly say about you. If you know that your natural facial expression tends to come off as bored or annoyed, make an effort to look more engaged throughout the interview. Show that you are interested by nodding along and smiling when its applicable and wont seem forced. At the same time, you do not want to come off as overly excited or happy and appear as if you are trying too hard to kiss up or fake a personality that you really dont have. Dont slouch in your chair or lean your head on your hand as you would if you were bored in class, as these are signs that can tell your interviewer that you are disinterested or not taking the interview seriously. Prepare yourself for some hard or strange questions With interviews conducted over the phone, you can get by with notes on the company or your experience by your side, referring to them when you start drawing up blanks when asking questions. However, in in-person interviews, taking out a piece of paper when asked a question you cant answer isnt exactly acceptable. Instead, try to prepare yourself before going into the interview. This preparation can be going through your application and resume again or doing research on the company and position you are applying for. They can ask you why you wanted to apply with this specific company or why you think you would fit this company specifically. If youre improvising, youll most likely answer with something general like you wanted to take the opportunity to improve your skills or you wanted a job in that particular field. Do your research beforehand, learn the company values and their mission statement, their current projects, etc. Bringing these up in the interviews as points of interest shows the interviewer that you are interested in the company, even before you are properly involved with them. Employers will want employees that take a  genuine interest in the company and it will make you stand out among other applicants that just want a job, rather than a place in the company. Many interviews also include one or two strange questions. These questions are designed to test your creativity when it comes to problem-solving and planning. They can range from listing out uses for a pencil other than as a writing instrument or trying to advertise a common object on the spot. They are meant to be curveballs, and when you are asked you may find yourself stumbling through an answer. First, know that its okay to take time to process the question and articulate your answer. Let the interviewer know you need a few moments by saying something along the lines of Is it okay if I take a minute to articulate my answer? By taking that moment to think over your answer, youre saving both you and the interviewers time that would be wasted from you thinking out your answer out loud and getting both of you confused.

Your Complete Guide to Visual Dictionaries in Foreign Languages

Your Complete Guide to Visual Dictionaries in Foreign Languages Your Complete Guide to Visual Dictionaries in Foreign LanguagesA foreign language visual dictionary will not give you a definition of “ball.” Why? Because you already know what it means! You need to know what the word is in your target language in order to look that word up. While that may sound tricky, there are some clear benefits to working with this kind of dictionary when learning a foreign language.You just need to see the picture and pair it with the translation so your brain can save it more efficiently.The visual dictionary goes an extra step to give you more context for memory-boosting power. Unlike ordinary dictionaries, a visual dictionary is usually not arranged alphabetically. They are rather grouped thematically. So, for example, a spread in a visual dictionary might deal with “Fruits” and show you memorable pictures of fruits of all kinds. For a foreign language edition, the labels would be in the target language.Consider again the language learning opportunit ies. A single picture neednt have just one label. You can find multilingual visual dictionaries with multiple words for  the same picture. For “Ball” you would see “Balle” (French), “Bola” (Spanish) and “Palla” (Italian) on the page, so you’re not just learning French, youre also  learning Spanish and Italian at the same time.Another thing that’s special with a visual dictionary is that, with one picture, it can teach you a whole lot. One picture of a person can teach you all of the parts of the face in German, for example. You look at one image and you see where the kopf,  (head) augen  (eye) and mund  (mouth) are all located.A picture of a table setting could tell you where the French assiette  (plate), fourchette  (fork) and couteau  (knife) are. A picture of a house can point you to where the Spanish cocina  (kitchen), comedor  (dining room) and  cuarto  (bedroom) are.That’s how elegant a visual dictionary is.  This tool works in perfect consonance with how the human brain works. Here’s why.The Virtues of the Visual DictionaryPictures! Period.When you hear the word apple, you don’t see the word or imagine the letters one by one. Nope, you see a glistening red fruit you can almost bite into. You imagine the taste, smell, texture and color.That’s because our minds think in pictures. In our minds, we see  cows, cars and cats, not four-letter words. We visualize and see the big picture.The images we see become so real we can almost touch them with bare hands. We even dream in pictures, and the visual cortex comprises a significant part of the human brain.This is why a dry list of vocabulary  words, translating  foreign vocabulary words right into  English words, is often hard to work with. Void of any visual stimulation, the brain finds it hard to embed anything into the long-term memory.On the other hand, visual dictionaries exploit how the mind works, serving it just what it needs: Pictures that the brain can work with. Pictures t hat the brain can file into the long-term memory. Pictures that the brain can remember.Visual dictionaries make it easier for us to memorize foreign vocabulary. They’re like flashcards, but in book form. And if I were you, I’d be hunting for foreign language visual dictionaries, like, right now.Thematic Approach to LearningOur brain links information with other information. The thing is, we don’t remember things in a vacuum or out of thin air. We remember things in relation to other things. We remember new information by connecting it to old, established information. And the more links there are for a certain piece of information, the stronger our memory is for that information.Visual dictionaries, because theyre thematically arranged, help the brain to easily make the said connections.Ordinary dictionaries, aside from being textually focused, are arranged in an alphabetical order. So theres little rhyme or reason for the arrangement except that they come in alphabetical order . So you might find words like “banish,” “banal” and “banana” on the same page. The purpose of this order is clear: theyre arranged like this so that you can find them easily. But what relations do these have with each other?Practically nada. The brain will have to get very creative to make anchor these words and make them stick in memory.With a visual dictionary, in addition to visual stimulation, the entries are thematically/topically presented so you have sets of information instead of individualized entries. For example, a page might deal with “Fruits,” another might be about “Modes of Transportation” and another may be about “Different Parts of a Classroom.”The presented images have an intuitive and natural relationship so that the brain will readily be able to make those connections.And with those two reasons, the visually stunning images and the thematic presentation, the foreign language learner is that closer to mastering the vocabulary  of his or he r target language.So, can’t wait to get your hands on those visual dictionaries? Here are some of the best resources.The Best Sources of Foreign  Language Visual Dictionaries A visual dictionary is a dictionary with a twist.The twist? Youd never guess, but it actually provides the most natural way to learn vocabulary.Think of a baby learning their native languageâ€"they point at an apple and mom or dad says, Thats an  apple!  While your usual reference tools are full of words, words and more words, a visual dictionary is full of pictures (and words). For example, looking up for the word “ball” in an ordinary dictionary, you’ll be greeted with a definition that goes something along the lines of: a spherical object often used in sports.A visual dictionary on the other hand will present you with just a pictureâ€"no phonetic symbols, no parts of speech, classifications, etc. It’s just a picture of a baseball, soccer ball  or maybe a basketball, plus the word “ball” underneath the image.Simple, huh?Now, consider the language learning possibilities. Your Complete Guide to Visual Dictionaries in Foreign LanguagesA foreign language visual dictionary will not give you a definition of “ball.” Why? Because you already know what it means! You need to know what the word is in your target language in order to look that word up. While that may sound tricky, there are some clear benefits to working with this kind of dictionary when learning a foreign language.You just need to see the picture and pair it with the translation so your brain can save it more efficiently.The visual dictionary goes an extra step to give you more context for memory-boosting power. Unlike ordinary dictionaries, a visual dictionary is usually not arranged alphabetically. They are rather grouped thematically. So, for example, a spread in a visual dictionary might deal with “Fruits” and show you memorable pictures of fruits of all kinds. For a foreign language edition, the labels would be in the target language.Consider again the language learning opportunities. A single picture neednt have just one label. You can find multilingual visual dictionaries wi th multiple words for  the same picture. For “Ball” you would see “Balle” (French), “Bola” (Spanish) and “Palla” (Italian) on the page, so you’re not just learning French, youre also  learning Spanish and Italian at the same time.Another thing that’s special with a visual dictionary is that, with one picture, it can teach you a whole lot. One picture of a person can teach you all of the parts of the face in German, for example. You look at one image and you see where the kopf,  (head) augen  (eye) and mund  (mouth) are all located.A picture of a table setting could tell you where the French assiette  (plate), fourchette  (fork) and couteau  (knife) are. A picture of a house can point you to where the Spanish cocina  (kitchen), comedor  (dining room) and  cuarto  (bedroom) are.That’s how elegant a visual dictionary is.  This tool works in perfect consonance with how the human brain works. Here’s why.The Virtues of the Visual DictionaryPictures! Period.When you hear the word apple, you don’t see the word or imagine the letters one by one. Nope, you see a glistening red fruit you can almost bite into. You imagine the taste, smell, texture and color.That’s because our minds think in pictures. In our minds, we see  cows, cars and cats, not four-letter words. We visualize and see the big picture.The images we see become so real we can almost touch them with bare hands. We even dream in pictures, and the visual cortex comprises a significant part of the human brain.This is why a dry list of vocabulary  words, translating  foreign vocabulary words right into  English words, is often hard to work with. Void of any visual stimulation, the brain finds it hard to embed anything into the long-term memory.On the other hand, visual dictionaries exploit how the mind works, serving it just what it needs: Pictures that the brain can work with. Pictures that the brain can file into the long-term memory. Pictures that the brain can remember.Visual dict ionaries make it easier for us to memorize foreign vocabulary. They’re like flashcards, but in book form. And if I were you, I’d be hunting for foreign language visual dictionaries, like, right now.Thematic Approach to LearningOur brain links information with other information. The thing is, we don’t remember things in a vacuum or out of thin air. We remember things in relation to other things. We remember new information by connecting it to old, established information. And the more links there are for a certain piece of information, the stronger our memory is for that information.Visual dictionaries, because theyre thematically arranged, help the brain to easily make the said connections.Ordinary dictionaries, aside from being textually focused, are arranged in an alphabetical order. So theres little rhyme or reason for the arrangement except that they come in alphabetical order. So you might find words like “banish,” “banal” and “banana” on the same page. The pu rpose of this order is clear: theyre arranged like this so that you can find them easily. But what relations do these have with each other?Practically nada. The brain will have to get very creative to make anchor these words and make them stick in memory.With a visual dictionary, in addition to visual stimulation, the entries are thematically/topically presented so you have sets of information instead of individualized entries. For example, a page might deal with “Fruits,” another might be about “Modes of Transportation” and another may be about “Different Parts of a Classroom.”The presented images have an intuitive and natural relationship so that the brain will readily be able to make those connections.And with those two reasons, the visually stunning images and the thematic presentation, the foreign language learner is that closer to mastering the vocabulary  of his or her target language.So, can’t wait to get your hands on those visual dictionaries? Here are some o f the best resources.The Best Sources of Foreign  Language Visual DictionariesDorling KindersleyDK publishes illustrated reference books that are celebrated the world over. This British publishing company deals with a wide range of topics from history, science and health to movies and musicals. DK also has a series of bilingual visual dictionaries to make things that much easier.Spanish-English Bilingual Visual DictionaryThis visual feast features over 6,000 Spanish terms that take language students into a world where the curtains are las cortinas  and the coffee table is la mesa de café.  In this bilingual visual dictionary, you’ll be learning Spanish starting from the book cover.French-English Bilingual Visual DictionaryElements of daily life get a French translation in this bilingual visual dictionary. The book features words depicted at home, in the office and even in the streets. With 360 pages of full color, your French will quickly get up to speed and trudging the streets of Paris will be like a walk in the park.German-English Bilingual Visual DictionaryWould you like to know what die Gabel  is? Or better yet, would you like to see how it looks? Take a bite of this German bilingual visual dictionary and also discover what a “keyboard” and “external hard drive” are in German.Chinese-English Bilingual Visual DictionaryThe Chinese have a saying: Learning is as high as the mountains and as wide as the seas. But with this bilingual visual dictionary in hand, you can climb the mountains, sail the seas and, ultimately, tame the Chinese language. In this book, you’ll not only have awesome pictures, but also both the Chinese character and the pinyin transliteration for each word.Japanese-English Bilingual Visual DictionaryLooking at pictures is the most intuitive way to learn Japanese vocabulary, and in this highly visual presentation youll most definitely learn words that are hard to explain in any other way. With pages featuring life’s events, s pecial celebrations, types of trains and more, learning Japanese vocabulary is many times more fun.Barron’sBarron’s is the leading name in the test prep arena. Founded in 1941 to help students prepare for college entrance examinations, Barron’s also offers foreign language instruction for language learners all over the world. The titles in this niche are:Barrons Visual Dictionary: Spanish: For Home, Business, and TravelThere are 3,000 images in this book helping flesh out 15,000 Spanish terms. The words are divided into 13 categories that range from food, education, leisure and sports. So if you’re an absolute Spanish beginner, this book is an absolute must.Barrons Visual Dictionary: French: For Home, Business, and TravelWhether you’re a French language enthusiast or a serious learner, youll find Barron’s French visual dictionary an enchanting trip to the language. Experience immersion right when you open its pages and get ready to learn more than you bargained for.Barro ns Visual Dictionary: Italian: For Home, Business, and TravelA visual dictionary has awesome pictures, that’s a given. Barron’s has more than that. It has text boxes that expand and extend the translation of words and abstract concepts. So for the Italian language lover, hold this one close to your heart.5-Language Visual DictionariesRemember I told you earlier that there are even multiple language visual dictionaries? Well, they can go as many as five! Here are three great resources you could choose from:Dorling Kindersley’s 5 Language Visual DictionaryIf you want to learn English, French, German, Spanish and Italian at the same time, then DK’s offering is worthy of serious time. All 400 pages have that DK signatureâ€"awesome pics and clean, streamlined formatting. This is an impressive volume that will give you hours upon hours of productive study.Merriam-Websters Compact 5-Language Visual DictionaryMerriam-Webster is one of the most trusted source for reference works. Thi s edition covers the same 5 languages (English, French, German, Spanish and Italian) and is more compactâ€"which is a good thing because once you start flipping through the pages, you’ll be so engrossed that you’ll find it hard to put down.The Firefly Five Language Visual DictionaryThis edition includes 35,000 words grouped into 17 categories. The pages are color-coded so you can easily find the category you’re interested in. Beyond being visually stunning, the book goes into specifics. It specifies, for example, the different types of sitting implements like bar stool, bench, love seat, ottoman and sofa. All in all, the title is an enriching and educational experience for the lucky language learner.If this post has taught you anything, I hope it’s the realization that learning a language need not be serious and dry.It can be colorful, playful and, God forbid, fun.This is the kind of immersive  experience offered by visual dictionaries. So don’t hold back, go get one for y ourself now.