Category Archives: Language learning

3 Myths About the Book Publishing Process You Should Know

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If there’s one thing authors have to know more about before expecting to succeed in the print industry, it’s the book publishing process. Some authors may underestimate its demands while others may be too intimidated by some concepts of it that they become too afraid to even try. Don’t be either of them and be aware of the most common myths surrounding the book publishing processes.

1. Once you have completed writing your book, it is up to the publisher to market it.

You, as the author, write your book. The publishers reproduce and distribute your book. Now, who is responsible for marketing your book? Still you.

As the author your work does not end in putting the last punctuation mark in your manuscript and handing it to the publishers for printing. Many authors have gone after big names in publishing thinking it would be enough to bring the book to the top of the bestseller lists, but ending up disappointed. The reality is that getting a large publishing house to publish your book does not guarantee massive sales. Neither will your book self itself once it gets on the shelves. Ultimately, the success of your book still lies in your hands, and you have to take marketing seriously if you are to make your book a smash hit among readers. Therefore, learn the most effective book marketing strategies, create a blueprint outlining your marketing plan, and put that plan into action. Among all the people involved in the book publishing process, you are the key person. You know the exact reason why you wrote your book and how it will fill a need in the target market, so you are the primary person who can best promote your book.

2. After you have completed your manuscript, it will take years before your book gets finally published.

How many times have you heard the story of a now famous author who has been turned down by numerous publishing companies for years before getting a big break and finally getting a book on print with a happy ever after? Indeed, traditional publishing can make finding a publisher a very long and difficult task considering the rejection and challenges you have to go through in trying to convince publishing houses your book is worth the investment. But nowadays traditional publishing is not the only option. Authors now have the choice to self-publish or publish a book with a print-on-demand (POD) publisher. In self-publishing, the amount of time it will take to publish a book will depend on how prompt the author can learn the process and get the financial resources required. In publishing with a POD publisher, your book can usually be published in 30, 60, or 90 days after you have finished your manuscript. With more options for the modern day author, there is no reason why you should get stuck for years trying to get a publishing house to print your book.

3. The publisher knows what’s best and therefore controls all aspects of the book.

In the book publishing processes, authors have traditionally let the publishers decide on the look, editing and other aspects of the book because of the idea that publishers know more about those aspects than they do. But though publishers may have more experience with regard to it, you as the author still have the most in-depth understanding about what your book is all about. The trends the publishers know can only serve as your guide, so check to see that the publishing contract gives you your desired amount of control when it comes to the layout and editing of your book.

About the Pimsleur Japanese Language Learning Program

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While the Rosetta Stone Japanese learning system is the largest selling language software program, the Pimsleur language system is one of the longest selling systems. Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone share some common elements, but Pimleur also includes elements that appear to be at least theoretically opposed to their competitor’s system.

Both Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone take a scientific approach to teaching foreign languages. They are both based on well-tested linguistic and psychological learning models. In particular, they share the belief that languages are best learned from the ground up in the same way that children learn their native language. Neither system wastes time with a lot of translation or grammar lessons. They both jump in and teach the student the spoken language.

Where the Pimsleur method differs from the Rosetta Stone method is that while Rosetta Stone, theoretically at least, opposes the behaviorist (or behavioralist) approach to teaching, Pimsleur actively employs it and has historically used it as part of their marketing strategy. Dr. Paul Pimsleur introduced his language teaching technique over forty years ago, at the height of behaviorism’s popularity.

At its most fundamental level, behaviorism takes a mechanistic view of human behavior. We are basically automatons who respond to stimuli and lack any unique and meaningful human qualities. The strict behaviorist believes, for example, that free will is an illusion.

While a more humanistic approach to both learning and psychology has been adopted in more recent years, nobody denies the effectiveness of many behaviorist-based models, including Dr. Pimsleur’s. Two of the Pimsleur system’s techniques for memorization and retention are particularly noteworthy.

The first of these methods is derived from the “Principle of Anticipation.” What this means is that the learner must anticipate the answer to a question rather than have the answer given to them time and time again until it “sticks.” Dr. Paul Pimsleur, creator of the Pimsleur language learning technique, called this type of interactive learning an “input/output” versus a passive learning technique. While they don’t exactly like to give Dr. Pimsleur credit for it, most if not all modern language learning programs also employ this technique.

Another one of Dr. Pimsleur’s contributions to language teaching is called “graduated recall.” When we learn a new word for the first time, we will only remember it for a minute or two, no matter how many times it is repeated to us. If the word is repeated to us at graduated intervals, more frequently at first and then at longer intervals, we will memorize the word more quickly and retain it longer than if it is repeatedly “drummed into our heads.”

The Pimsleur Japanese learning series of CD’s will appeal to those learners who like a thoroughly comprehensive audio teaching system that can quickly teach students how to speak and comprehend spoken Japanese. This method is used by the CIA and the FBI – hence the Pimsleur slogan: “Learn like a spy! Pass for a native!” At $274 per 30 lesson (30 minutes per lesson) unit, the entire suite of lessons costs over $800, so it is for “true believers” only. It does come with a money back guarantee, but you may want to try their short starter kit first. At just under $20, it contains the first 8 lessons and is designed for people who just want to understand some fundamental Japanese.

If you are interested in learning to read and write Japanese, you will have to look elsewhere. The Pimsleur Japanese learning system is entirely devoted to conversational Japanese. While the approach may be considered limited, Dr. Pimsleur believed that a language can be more thoroughly grasped if it is learned in this way, just as children master their spoken language long before they learn their alphabet.

Teaching students to quickly speak and comprehend conversational Japanese is where Pimsleur excels. While it may not appeal to all, it is a very effective system and has been used by businesses and government agencies for decades simply because it does its job so well.

Pros and Cons of Food Delivery Services

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Are you wondering whether you should try one of the countless meal delivery services in your area? After all, the temptation can be great. There’s a great variety of cuisines that would become available to you by ordering: Chinese, German, Spanish, Japanese cuisine, etc… Even Thai food delivery services exist. On the other hand, many people don’t trust these services and advice against using them.

Although the question is not as black and white as some people would like to believe, it’s not too difficult to decide whether these services are right for you. Here are the pros and cons you should consider before taking a side.

Pros of Food Delivery Services

Variety

If you start researching this topic, you’ll be amazed at how many different meal delivery services exist. You can order everything from cakes, cookies, vegetables, yogurts, fruits to main dishes like BBQ, lasagna, pork chops, steaks, soups and so on. With the addition of exotic foods like Chinese food, Indian food or Thai food, the list becomes almost a hundred percent complete. This wide variety can become very satisfying, especially if your own cooking skills are not the best.

Free time

This is one of the biggest reasons that meal delivery services are popular. By not having to waste your time in the kitchen you can easily save yourself hours of boring work every day. I’m sure you could spend your time a lot better than struggling to cook something in the kitchen.

Health Benefits

Believe it or not, many of the available food delivery options can be good for your health. You can order delicious, healthy meals that fit your lifestyle perfectly. These fresh, low-fat and calorie managed feasts can help you live healthier or even lose some weight.

Cons of Food Delivery Services

Price

It’s one of the biggest issues related to delivery services. Most of these businesses are going to be costly, whether you need Chinese, European or Thai food delivery. While the costs are quite reasonable, there are some people who simply cannot afford them.

Artificial Flavors

While it doesn’t hold true in all cases, it must be noted that there are many restaurants that will bring you stale meals prepared with food additives like MSG, trans-fats or artificial sweeteners.

The above mentioned guidelines can point everyone in the right direction. There isn’t a “one size fits all” solution to this question, everyone has to decide for themselves whether they want to take advantage of these services or not (e.g. Italian food delivery, Chinese food delivery, Thai food delivery, etc).

Although food delivery services weren’t invented with everyone in mind, there are some people who can hugely benefit from them. If you’re a busy man or woman you must be familiar with the time it takes to prepare something edible for yourself. It can take hours of hard work even if you don’t reach the desired results. So if you’re pressed for time and would love to relax sometimes a bit, definitely go ahead and try out one of the numerous food delivery services in your area.