Advancement of online medium has opened up new windows of possibilities to different segments and in this regard education sector is not an exception. In the modern age, Internet is changing the face of educational segment for making it much smarter and advanced and online learning has been adopting as an effective tool for it.

Within a very short period of commencement of online learning system it has occupied a large number of market shares and now there are millions of students of all levels and from all over the world who prefer this innovative way of education. But, a recent survey has revealed that a large number of students eventually are not getting the satisfaction desired by them. Education experts have studies all these issues a lot and revealed some common mistakes that online learners commit. They have also revealed the possible solutions of those problems to overcome the issues related to online learning and online lessons.

• Choosing the right institution: Selecting the most appropriate institute according to the course requirement is not at all an easy job; and here most of the students make the wrong decision.
• Failing to connect with the faculties: Students often face problems to contact with online tutors and their peers, which ultimately hampers their study.
• Paying too much fees: This is a hard fact that majority of the online schools charge a handful amount of fee and as this type of course involves sophistication and other facilities, people also prefer to go for them without bothering about money.
• Lack of proper study environment: No doubt, e-learning doesn’t have any study environment like the conventional form of education. Students need to be self-motivating to get success in their study.
• Failing to transfer credits: This mistake compels the students to retake the same course in another institution.

Apart from the aforementioned mistakes, there are several other types of mistakes committed by the online learners while going for online courses. That’s why you are suggested to go for an expert consult in this regard before making any decision of online education.

Please click here for complete instruction.

** I would like to thank Beverly’s for the sample beads. Since 1968, Beverly’s has continued to be an industry leader in Crafts, Fabrics, home decor and much more. For further information please visit www.beverlys.com.

Mastering Photoshop elements in 2 hours

Editing and adding effects to your digital photos  is such a fun  if you are using Photoshop Elements.

But actually it’s not that easy to use the Photoshop Elements to the fullest and to use all its abilities.

Here we are introducing a Step-by-Step video tutorials in Photoshop Elements for Newbies that  Reveal shortcut secrets on how to master Adobe Photoshop Elements quickly and easily.

Even if you are an absolute beginner or just don’t have the time or patience to go through boring manuals, just watch these entertaining video tutorials and you too can start editing your photos into stunning ,Gorgeous masterpieces in under 2 hours

You can watch these videos online or download them to your own computer.

This is a list of what the videos introduce and what you are going to master in Adobe Photoshop Elements.

• Find and view all my photos and video clips for quick editing
• Add backgrounds, shadows, and lighting to them
• Fix my common photography problems like red-eye, blurring, and color issues
• Crop and resize my photos without compromising quality
• Make my photos look their best with easy-to-use editing tools
• Easily perform more advanced retouching and enhancing thanks to the easy image-selection tools, and amazing compositing capabilities
• Share my stories in imaginative photo books, scrapbook pages, slide shows, and my own web galleries
• And all the other cool digital editing tricks the pros use.

This is a short video from the “tips and tricks” section of “Photoshop Elements For Newbies!” which shows you how to remove “red-eye” from a photo.

Here’s What You’ll Learn:

By simply sitting back and watching these videos you’ll learn:

• How to navigate the Elements interface like a pilot navigating a cockpit dashboard—you’ll feel in control instantly! It’s easier and more fun than you’ve ever thought.
• How to load photos into your workspace. Once you learn this you’ll search through thousands of pictures in just seconds!
• The difference between Guided, Quick, and Full Edit modes, and how to choose the right one to create the kind of gorgeous photos you’ve always wanted in record time!
• Instant shortcuts for all the major tools and techniques – Zoom, Pan, Brushes, Selection, Red Eye, Colors, Effects, Layers, and much more. These quick shortcuts will save you THOUSANDS of hours.
• How to combine multiple photos into beautiful pieces of art in a few simple and easy steps. Master this and you can create photos just like the ones they use in Hollywood movies, major magazines, and amazing print advertisements!
• How to create and insert high-impact text into your photos—instantly insert headlines, comments, descriptions, announcements or anything else you like!
• How to bring to life dingy and old looking photos so they shine and look like they were taken by a professional photographer—with only a few clicks! Take out your old forgotten photos and re-share them with everyone, because now they’ve been transformed into brand new!
• Take out the red-eye once and for all. Never worry or get frustrated when shooting or changing photos of your friends, family, or anyone else ever again because this fix is quick and simple!
• Resize your images to fit your project, then publish to the web, share with friends, blow up or shrink your photos for printing, distributing, and more!
• Crop images to remove all the excess and showcase just the most import parts you want!
• Remove all the unsightly blemishes, wrinkles, lines, objects, etc.
• How to make a panorama that will blow peoples’ minds. You can magically merge images to create poster size photos and graphics, or tasteful collages. Photograph entire scenic views, and combine the images with this amazing and powerful tool.
• How to instantly enhance and transform your photos with the same special effects that the pros use! Simple, “Push-button” effects for shadows, motion blur, and much more! This is some of the most impressive stuff you can do with Elements, and it’ll take just minutes to master once you learn how to apply it.
• How to never fear making mistakes again. I’ll show you how to manage every edit and change you make to your photos, and how to instantly undo your errors as if they’d never happened! You can finally just play around, and have fun, without worry!
• How to instantly align your images so they’re ready and perfect for printing, collages, and publishing to the web! Use as many photos as you want in your creations. This is so fun and makes organizing multiple images easy!
• How to add “Layers” to your photos. Imagine simply combining multiple images and effects like adding layers to a cake—until you’ve made the perfect photo!
• How to pick which of the 5 most important file types are the best for your images—JPEGs, GIFs, BMPs, TIFFs, PSDs. You’ll learn the distinct advantages of each type, so you can share and use your files in the fastest and easiest way for every situation.
• How to create and save files that are “Web ready”. Learn this and you can now publish your photos to the web with the fastest load times and best quality. Make your websites fly at maximum velocity!
• How to use the brush tools to work over your image like a skilled, professional painter…the power and flexibility of this tool will allow you do anything and everything you can imagine to your photos.
• How to hone and fine-tune your photos with the “Refine Edges” command.  “Smooth” and lightly “feather” your images to reveal just the parts of the photo you want.
• How to convert to B&W with the right effect to make it look how you want – portrait, grayscale, newspaper, and more. With this new version of the B&W tool, you get complete artistic control!
• Remove objects from your pictures with the “Clone Stamp” tool, and make it seem as though they were never there! It’s feels like you can grab right into the picture and pull that extra junk right out.
• Use the “Color Curve” tool to increase the contrast and beauty of your photos without losing any details. How to instantly custom-adjust the colors of any photo to make it more high impact or artistic. This is the “dimmer” switch of Elements, which you can now use to adjust all your colors.

Here are examples of what you will be able to do with your photos :

This is Exactly What You’ll Get On Your Video Tutorials :

• Video #1 – The Photoshop Elements Interface
  - Introduction to Elements workspace
  - The three editing modes – Full, Quick, and Guided
  - About Palletes and the “Projects Bin”
  - Navigating the Toolbar
  - Zooming
  - Choosing Foreground/Background colorsVideo #2 – Opening an Image
  - The 3 convenient ways to open an image
  - Loading multiple images
  - Switching between pictures
  - Opening with the Bridge/Organizer

   

  Video #3 – Guided Edit Mode
  - Cropping
  - Before and after comparisons
  - Zoom shortcuts
  - Shadows, Highlights, and Contrasts
  - Resetting mistakes

  Video #4 – Quick Edit Mode
  - 1-click fixes
  - Rejecting and accepting edits
  - Color correction
  - Working with outdoor photos

  Video #5 – Full Edit Overview
  - Full mode introduction
  - Using menus
  - Color enhancements

  Video #6 – Create Overview
  - Creating Projects and using “Artwork”
  - Photo Collages
  - Playing with themes
  - Rotating, resizing, and panning
  - Inserting text

  Video #7 – Share Overview
  - Emailing pictures and artwork
  - Burning albums to CD/DVD

  Video #8 – Zoom and Pan
  - The hand tool
  - Keyboard shortcuts

  Video #9 – Layers
  - Palette size
  - Creating and renaming layers
  - The “On/Off” switch for layers
  - Changing layer order
  - Undoing mistakes

  Video #10 – Blend Modes
  - Setting layer interaction
  - Selecting blend modes
  - Duplicating layers
  - The 3 most important blend modes
  - Inverting layers shortcut
  - “Screen”, “Overlay”, and “Multiply”

  Video #11 – Undo History
  - Recording “states”
  - Going back to previous states
  - Deselect shortcut
  - Setting history/cache
  - Avoiding speed problems
  - Undoing errors

  Video #12 – Brush tool
  - Brush tool shortcut
  - Standard brush
  - Impressionistic
  - Color replacement
  - Pencil
  - Brush type and size
  - Hard and soft brushes
  - Brush patterns
  - Bracket “size” shortcut
  - Brush Opacity
  - Brush Options
  - Fade, spacing, and hardness

  Video #13 – Selecting Colors
  - Finding color swatches palette
  - Swapping foreground/background
  - Slider tool
  - Hue, saturation, brightness
  - Selecting with the eyedropper

  Video #14 – Gradient Tool
  - Fading Foreground to Background
  - Linear Gradient
  - Transparent Fading
  - Radial Gradient
  - Angle Gradient
  - Gradients with Layers

  Video #15 – Creating Text
  - The Four Text Modes
  - Text Color Control
  - Text Alignment
  - Font & Size Options
  - Changing the Orientation

  Video #16 – General Selection Tools
  - Rectangular Marquee Tool
  - Elliptical Marquee Tool
  - Lasso & Magnetic Lasso Tool
  - Magic Wand Tool
  - Inverting the Selection
  - Selection Brush Tool

  Video #17 – Quick Selection Tool
  - Precise Image Selection
  - Using Various Brush Sizes
  - Shortcuts and Techniques for Precision Selection

  Video #18 – Refine Edges
  - Refine Edge Options
  - Smooth, Feather, and Contract/Expand Options
  - Improving Selections with Fine Tuning
  - Eliminating Jagged Edges

  Video #19 – Effects
  - Effects Filters
  - Layer Styles
  - Mixing Layers for New Effects
  - Motion Filters
  - Using Layers and Opacity Levels for Unique Looks

  Video #20 – Adjustment Layers
  - Hue & Saturation Level Adjustments
  - Create Adjustment Layer
  - Using Masks
  - Changing Colors with Layer Masks

  Video #21 – Resizing Images
  - Changing Zoom Percentages
  - Resizing for Emailing
  - Modifying the Image Size
  - Modifying the Canvas Size
  - Scaling to Maintain the Canvas Size

  Video #22 – Aligning Images
  - Using the Align Tool
  - Distributing the Image
  - Aligning Vertically

  Video #23 – Saving Your Photo
  - Different File Formats (and why)
  - The Official Photoshop File – .PSD
  - Saving Layers
  - Saving as JPEGs, GIFs, and BMPs
  - Saving as PSD or TIFF to preserve Layers

  Video #24 – Saving for the Web
  - Controlling the file size for the web
  - Previewing your image
  - Ideal file sizes and image quality for the web

  Video #25 – Remove Red Eye
  - Full Mode and Quick Mode to Remove Red Eye
  - Red Eye Removal Tool and Shortcuts
  - AutoButton: Automatically & Instantly Remove Red Eye

  Video #26 – Remove Blemishes
  - Removing Crow Eyes, Blemishes, Spots and Pimples
  - Spot Healing Brush
  - Healing Brush Tool
  - Shortcuts for “Cosmetic Surgery!”

  Video #27 – Remove Objects
  - Clone Stamp Tool for Removing Objects
  - Shortcuts and Techniques for Sampling the Image

  Video #28 – Convert to B&W
  - Black and White vs. the old grayscale effect
  - Additional Artistic Effects
  - Adjust Color Sensitivity in the Black and White Image
  - Complete Artistic Control of the B&W image

  Video #29 – Color Curves
  - Adjusting Shadows and Highlights
  - Increasing Contrast
  - Adjusting Mid Tones
  - Manipulating Black and White on the Color Curve
  - Clipping

  Video #30 – Panorama
  - Joining Images
  - The Photomerge(r) Panorma Tool
  - Importing Multiple Images
  - Five Different Layout Options
  - Cropping your Panorama

   

You can get “Photoshop Elements For Newbies“ from Here

Please click here for complete instruction.

** I would like to thank Beverly’s for the sample beads. Since 1968, Beverly’s has continued to be an industry leader in Crafts, Fabrics, home decor and much more. For further information please visit www.beverlys.com.

Sometimes you might see a graphic like the one above on a beading instruction.

Those squiggle lines (red color) represents that there is a section not shown where you repeat the parts on the right or left. Notice that on the left of the squiggle there is a ‘1′ which means the small loop and on the right of the squiggle a loop with the number 8 which means the last full loop. The squiggle represents the exact same loops from 2 to 7, for a total of 8 complete loops.

Please click here for complete instruction.

• * I would like to thank Beverly’s for the sample beads. Since 1968, Beverly’s has continued to be an industry leader in Crafts, Fabrics, home decor and much more. For further information please visit www.beverlys.com.

Please click Here for complete pdf instruction.

** I would like to thank Beverly’s for the sample beads. Since 1968, Beverly’s has continued to be an industry leader in Crafts, Fabrics, home decor and much more. For further information please visit www.beverlys.com.

Let’s get started!  There are many ways we can learn to play the violin/fiddle or any other instrument.  Some of us will find that taking lessons from a local musician works best for our needs.  We could also get together with a group of like minded folk and learn together.  What I’ve found to be a huge detriment is the time it takes to find a group or a teacher, make the time to travel to a location (aren’t our days busy enough?) and then to pay for EACH lesson. 

Another way to learn is to utilize the options and products available to us here online.  Take a look at what is offered at ViolinMasterPro and see how this could save you time and money in learning how to play the violin.  The method is easy to learn, easy to move forward with and the instruction is superb. 

Please click here for complete instruction.

** I would like to thank Beverly’s for the sample beads. Since 1968, Beverly’s has continued to be an industry leader in Crafts, Fabrics, home decor and much more. For further information please visit www.beverlys.com.

This round jump ring is used for connecting other components together. To open or close a round jumpring, using two long nose pliers, gently lift the loop up from above and bottom as shown. Do not pull the loop straight out or the round shape will be distorted.

Maggi Carstairs

<!– –>I am running five English lessons Monday to Friday about Australia. These are free Public lessons as I am learning how to teach Online at Edufire. I will be sharing photos of Australia from my travels and experiences, and you will learn English as you join in the lessons.
Hope to meet you next week on Australia and Australians.

http://edufire.com/forums/4/topics/1935

The Australian Voice

English Conversation and Writing… Group Instruction with Maggi Carstairs. First Class Meets: Monday Jan 12 to Friday January 16 every evening  at 11:00 PM Seoul Time

Lesson 1: Sydney
Lesson 2: Brisbane
Lesson 3: Melbourne
Lesson 4: Perth and the West
Lesson5: Alice Springs and the Red Centre

This is the real basics, and you need to spend a lot of time here, learning, and re-learning, the basics, before moving forward.

From within this Department, See all the Salsa Dance Videos covering Salsa Dance Basics!

Consider investing in the actual Beginner’s Learn to Salsa Dance DVD set, Volumes 1-3, we have special deal on that, just for members (which you can see under products)! It allows you to see the videos a lot larger, and clearer . . .

If this is your FIRST time dancing Salsa, Welcome! You’ll want to visit these THREE pages, in order, to learn all the fundamentals you’ll need:

1) The Salsa Rhythm, Counting, The Basic Step and Practice to Music!

2) The Five Secrets to a Strong Basic Step in Salsa Dance

3) Leading and Following: Basic Step, Right Turn, with a Partner

Start with those, because, there’s so much more, but there’s a few more necessary things to learn, before seeing all the other Beginner videos on this page (and there is A LOT of them).

4) Practice the Right Turn (both Men and Women)

5) Cross Body Lead, Super Important Beginning Move!

To learn more join the students of salsabootcamp and access tons of salsa articles, salsa dance videos and more and become a great salsa dancer.

The road to salsa heaven, is not an overnight process — neither is investing for retirement. But the sooner you start, the sooner you can start reaping the rewards.

So there is no class this Friday. That doesn’t mean you should not practice. Go to the web, find more salsa dance videos — find your favorite style. And again, practice, practice, practice!. If you can, go to a salsa event to practice. If not, Dorothy and Toto from Kansas suggest that “There is no place like home.”

What will makes a person good at salsa really fast and keeps you mediocre is the amount of dedication you put into salsa. If you practice (even if its just the basic step, you should still do it). I know that just doing the basic step is boring — so try some new stuff out, try changing your footwork. Try going forward with the right, and back with the left. Try doing a basic step, followed by double taps. There are an infinite things you can do with your feet, and the more you do it on beat, the much MUCH better and faster you’ll get good at it.

Dedicate every day to listening to at least one song and playing around with basic steps. You can be folding clothes, reading a magazine, or almost anything else. (Of course, salsa at your own risk; don’t salsa while eating). Try to come up with new footwork patterns. This means, that “If you tell yourself you’ll practice later, you’ll only get good later…”, so practice and learn salsa dance now, there is no excuse since you can learn and practice it anywhere take salsa lessons and if you’re still too shy then go to surf the net and watch salsa dance videos and rest assured your on your way to become a great salsa dancer.

Dancing is a fantastic, fun and liberating activity. Regardless of what you’ve been told, everyone can, and should, learn to dance! Don’t let the fact you’ve never done it before stand in your way! Salsa dancing in particular is a vibrant, passionate, fun and social dance, with music that will move you.

Learn to dance online with our learn to dance online videos. You can learn how to dance Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, and Cha Cha Cha, right at our online dance school, all via instantly accessible, step by step, online dance videos.

Learn How To Salsa Dance!Learn to Dance Step by Step with Your Complete Online Latin Dance School…Faster, and Easier than Anyone Else!

If you want to learn to dance quickly and easily, using step by step proven techniques for even the most two left footed of us, you’ll want to learn to dance salsa with our learn to dance videos.

SalsaCrazy.com is dedicated to offering the finest instructional dance videos on the market. By using a tested and proven method of fun, step by step instruction techniques, the videos available on SalsaCrazy.com lead students through a carefully planned series of exercises on their path to becoming accomplished dancers. The library of videos covers an extensive range of dancing styles that allow students to comfortably enjoy a new world of exciting people, vibrant nightlife and incredible music. or an extensive range of instructional dance videos designed to show anyone how to salsa, swing dance, waltz or perform other popular dancing styles.

To any musicians or any want to be musicians, I would like to pass on this knowledge of a great online video lessons website. For those that are interested in learning or improving on Guitar, Bass Guitar, or Drums. All from the comfort of your home, at your own pace, whenever you have time.

As a new drummer, I wanted lessons to quickly learn the basics and be able to get into advanced material a soon as possible. I, like most people, had such a hectic schedule I could not fit in the time to take personal lessons. This website helped me a lot with this problem. With their easy to fallow video lessons, I was able to become confident in all the basics in a short period of time and felt ready for harder material.

I searched around the web for while before I found this site. Out of all the ones I found, this site is by far the best. The lessons were easy to fallow and contain very valuable information that you would get from a personal lesson. I was also surprised to find that the price was a lot better, even lower than the other sites that I found.

For those who are interested, please check it out. Here, I have provided a link for you.

Thank you for listening/reading. Hope it helps all you musicians and up coming musicians.

http://tinyurl.com/musicmasterpro

One of my more popular posts here was a mini-lesson, suitable for all English learners who need to write or speak about solutions for Environmental problems, featuring the work of two inspirational friends of mine, Stella and Tara Joy in India. They have been hard at work recently creating an online exhibition featuring words and images that explain their work. Here is one of their pictures showing Tibetan Monks viewing the live exhibition:

The original post, plus a special edition of Daily Words to go with it can be found here

Stella posted this comment on the original post today but I thought I would give it a bump so that more people notice their terrific work.

For the last 5 years we have been researching
“A Cure For Global Warming”
Here is a flickr connection for a presentation of our findings in an Exhibition format.
Please check send and show to as many others as you can think of and maybe we’ll succeed.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/activeremedy/sets/72157603969301051

Yours Truly
Tara and Stella Joy

Today’s Daily Words are from the Sky News article Tackling Youth Crime – Through Boxing that I posted yesterday

tearaway     philanthropist    funding     debate     initiative    transform     gangster    gang culture

intervene     to tackle head on      mainstream      excluded    disaffected    to turn your life around

law-abiding      crimewave     work ethic   donor    negotiate    

motivate

With these words and the ideas gained from reading the article and watching the videos you will have made a big step towards preparation for a wide variety of typical exam tasks.

For further work on this topic try using the keyword search facility at elllo.org.

I found this one by searching for “gangs”

 http://www.elllo.org/english/0501/546-Jeannie-Gangs.html

You could also try things like ‘crime’ or ’sport’ -  use your imagination with this great resource from Todd at Elllo.

Gaining a powerful vocabulary is an essential task for anyone who hopes to gain an  ESL qualification. If you don’t work at it seriously and steadily day by day you will not be ready to produce the level of work an Advanced exam or gain a top grade in your Intermediate paper. Passing English’s Daily Words lists are carefully successful to help you make the best of the time you spend learning vocabulary and to be sure that you are learning exactly the right words to pass your exams. They are designed to give you a daily task to complete using the following excellent tools:

Pop-up Dictionary is the best translation dictionary for over 60 ancient and modern languages and makes it possible not only to look up a translation for any word you can see on your computer screen but to store it so you can be sure to learn it.

Ultimate Vocabulary software uses 7 key strategies to make your quest for a great vocabulary interesting, fast and effective. It’s packed with features to help you enjoy gaining a true and deep understanding of the words you learn so that you use them confidently and never forget them.

Download Ultimate Vocabulary Success Edition here (Free 90 day trial)

Download a free 21 day trial of Pop-up Dictionary here

Go to Pop-up to find the free dictionary files in your own language. (See the menu tab marked “Dictionaries” on the left hand side.)

All the Daily Words posts are collected together on the Daily Words page.

Here are the words for today:

chart             n.  detailed map used to help navigation at sea, showing coasts, rocks, the depth of the sea, etc

comprise          v. have as parts or members; be made up of

construct         v.  build (sth); put or fit together; form

converse          v. ~ (about sth); ~ (together) (fml ) talk

hypothesis        n. idea or suggestion that is based on known facts and is used as a basis for reasoning or further investigation

link              n.  one ring or loop of a chain

percent           %

attitude          n.  ~ way of thinking or behaving

bulk              n.  size, quantity or volume, esp when great

insert            v. ~ sth put, fit, place sth into sth or between two things

odd               adj.  strange; unusual; peculiar

section           n.  any of the parts into which sth may be or has been divided

As ever here are the links to the best available dictionary and vocabulary learning tools

Pop-up Dictionary and Ultimate Vocabulary

Download Ultimate Vocabulary Success Edition here (Free 90 day trial)

Download a free 21 day trial of Pop-up Dictionary here

Pop-up Dictionary is the best translation dictionary for over 60 ancient and modern languages and makes it possible not only to look up a translation for any word you can see on your computer screen but to store it so you can be sure to learn it.

Ultimate Vocabulary software uses 7 key strategies to make your quest for a great vocabulary interesting, fast and  effective. It’s packed with features to help you enjoy gaining a true and deep understanding of the words you learn so that you use them confidently and never forget them.

Go to Pop-up to find the free dictionary files in your own language. (See the menu tab marked “Dictionaries” on the left hand side.)

All the Daily Words posts are collected together on the Daily Words page.

Here are today’s words. How are you doing? If you are do you go back and test yourself on what you have already learnt? How about writing some sentences – you can post them here in the comments below each Daily Words lesson. Wouldn’t it be great if people from around the world added good examples of the use of words that they had found or made up to share with others? Don’t worry, if your English is not so great and you are shy about leaving a comment just put a note on your comment to ask me to correct it for you!

sphere n. solid figure that is entirely round (ie with every point on the surface at an equal distance from the centre)

adequate adj. ~ satisfactory in quantity or quality; sufficient

facilitate v. (of an object, a process, etc but not of a person) make (sth) easy or less difficult

impact n. hitting of one object against another

precise adj. stated clearly and accurately

preliminary adj. ~ coming before a more important action or event; preparatory

principle n. basic general truth that underlies sth

route n. way taken or planned to get from one place to another

undertake v. (fml ) (start to) make oneself responsible for (sth)

cease v. come or bring (sth) to an end; stop

As ever here are the links to the best available dictionary and vocabulary learning tools

Pop-up Dictionary and Ultimate Vocabulary

Download Ultimate Vocabulary Success Edition here (Free 90 day trial)

Download a free 21 day trial of Pop-up Dictionary here

Pop-up Dictionary is the best translation dictionary for over 60 ancient and modern languages (there are some really unusual ones – maybe you will be inspired to learn Kazakh, Breton or Tupi-Guarani to name but a few) You just download the ones you want for free. There’s a great list including some endangered ones, I’d never heard of some of the languages. I’ll post a full list of the ones available shortly.

Go to Pop-up to find the free dictionary files in your own language. (See the menu tab marked “Dictionaries” on the left hand side.)

All the Daily Words posts are collected together on the Daily Words page.

Oops! Missed a day! Perhaps I had better rename this Almost Daily Words……

I got busy with my artwork yesterday and was too tired to post last night. Probably something to do with the weather. There is a gale blowing here in the Greek Islands and my washing ended up all over the street today.

Anyway, here are the words of the day. You might notice that I am putting them in the post smaller so as not to take up the whole page with these word posts – would you prefer them bigger? Let me know.

trend             n.  general tendency or direction

coordinate        vt. to organize or integrate (diverse elements) in a harmonious operation

exhibit           n.  object or collection of objects displayed for the public, eg in a museum

initial           adj. of or at the beginning; first

minimise          [ minimize: ] to reduce to or estimate at the least possible degree or amount

proportion        n.  comparative part or share of a whole; fraction

adjust            v.  put (sth) into the correct order or position; arrange

confer            v.  ~ (with sb) (on/about sth) have discussions (esp in order to exchange opinions or get advice)

define            v.  ~ sth state precisely the meaning of (eg words)

estimate          n.  judgement or calculation of the approximate size, cost, value, etc of sth

ethnic            adj.  of a national, racial or tribal group that has a common cultural tradition

I don’t want to bang on too much about Pop-up Dictionary and Ultimate Vocabulary every day but they are “the business” (nice idiom that!) for making fast progress in English.

Download Ultimate Vocabulary here (Free 90 day trial) 

Download a free 21 day trial of Pop-up Dictionary here

Go to Pop-up’s home page to find the free dictionary files in your own language.

Because you can customise Pop-up Dictionary to be big and bright I also believe it is very helpful for native English speakers who have problems with spelling (It’s not just a translation dictionary, you can download an English-English file there too. Try it. Don’t forget it is very important for all word learners to say words out loud when learning. Make sure your ears are working for you as much as your eyes! This is also important when you are doing English exercises and helps a lot to correct bad habits and improve your confidence in speaking.

And of course it is also important to do a little bit every day which is what these posts are all about! Keep Going!!

OK. Here are today’s words. The Daily Words lists are specially chosen for students who need to pass advanced English exams or for anyone who wants to work quickly, easily and effectively towards a better vocabulary. Most of them are words that you won’t think of learning for every day speaking or reading for pleasure but ALL of them are words which regularly appear in all the advanced exams. Learning Daily Words is also a great exercise for any native English speaker who needs to improve their spelling.

transform v. ~ sth/sb (into sth) completely change the appearance or character of sth/sb

decline v. say `no’ to (sth); refuse (sth offered), usu politely

inhibit v. ~ sb prevent sb from doing sth that should be natural or easy to do

item n. single article or unit in a list, etc

layer n. thickness of material laid over a surface or forming a horizontal division

occur v. come into being as an event or a process; happen

protocol n. system of rules governing formal occasions, eg meetings between governments, diplomats, etc; official etiquette

recover v. ~ sth find again (sth stolen, lost, etc); regain possession of sth

temporary adj. lasting or meant to last for a limited time only; notpermanent

eliminate v. ~ sb/sth remove (esp sb/sth that is not wanted or needed)

inevitable adj. that cannot be avoided; that is sure to happen

regulate v. control or direct by means of rules and restrictions

You can make increasing your vocabulary much easier and faster by using technology to help you create strong visual images of the words you are learning. You also need a daily routine.

At the homepage of Ultimate Vocabulary you can read about a fantastic strategy to speed up vocab learning and make it more effective as well as enjoyable. This is not “any old” vocabulary software. I looked at dozens when preparing this site and this one is SO much better than the rest. Download a 90-day free trial here. You won’t regret it!

I’ve learned 10 new Greek words this afternoon whilst busy with another job. I have Pop-up Dictionary on my desktop with Greek-English and English-Greek files. You can also choose from 60 other language options all of which are free to download. It’s the fastest way to get an accurate translation of any word you don’t understand into your own language and store it so that you can keep testing yourself. Download a free 21 day trial version here.

Here are the words for today. You know I just had a look at the list and it sure isn’t easy to put pictures to words like this but they are nonetheless the ones you need for advanced exams. I’ve seen quite a few in ECCE and FCE papers too. You have to think about the concept, make up a sentence in your mind that you can actually imagine yourself using. I guess that is one of the definitions of what it means to achieve an advanced level in a language. Your vocabulary has to expand past the point of everyday to a level where you can use the second language to discuss abstract, scientific or intellectual matters. A lot of words in this sort of list are essential for talking about business, political or social matters too. They are not easy to learn. It is said it takes 8 separate experiences of a new word for a person to really remember it to the point where they will comfortably and spontaneously use it which is why I recommend the use of dictionary testing and vocabulary learning tools EVERY DAY at this level – because I know that not much else works! For information about the best dictionaries and links to download free versions go here to Daily Words where you will also find the archives on all the other Daily Words posts.

ongoing adj. continuing to exist or progress

predict v. say in advance that will happen; forecast

anticipate v. expect

commit v. do (sth illegal, wrong or foolish)

confirm v. provide evidence for the truth or correctness of (a report, an opinion, etc); establish the truth of

considerable adj. great in amount or size

evaluate v. find out or form an idea of the amount or value of (sb/sth); assess

reluctance Unwillingness.

rely v. (pt, pp relied) ~ on/upon sb/sth (to do sth) count or depend on sb/sth

sum n. arithmetical calculation

data n. facts or information used in deciding or discussing sth

liberal adj. tolerant and open-minded; free from prejudice

Don’t just try to memorise words. Using each day’s short lists take a bit of time with your dictionary tools and look for synonyms, other forms of the word and ways in which it is used in phrases and idioms. Try and find ways to use them. A little but often – practice makes perfect – slow and steady wins the race – These are all cliches but they are cliches because they are TRUE!!