Teaching Russian as a Second Language

Teaching Russian as a Second Language Can You Teach Russian When It Isn’t Your Native Language? ChaptersA Good Teacher Isn’t necessarily a Native SpeakerBritish Russian Tutors: What About Linguistic Insecurity?How Can You Get Over Linguistic Insecurity as a Non-native Russian Teacher?Tips for Teaching Russian Effectively“A kind word is like a spring day.” - Russian ProverbWhen teachers go back to school at the end of the summer holidays, there are feelings of excitement, stress, apprehension, and passion for teaching.  Teaching Russian without being a native speaker could be a source of stress for some.But can you teach Russian without being a native speaker? Can you teach your second language to students?In this article, we're going to look at learning a language and whether or not the teacher needs to be a native speaker of this new language, linguistic insecurity, and how to teach Russian effectively. LavaRussian Teacher 5.00 (8) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LarisaRussian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors InaRussian Teach er 4.88 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors IrynaRussian Teacher 5.00 (8) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvgeniaRussian Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AnastassiaRussian Teacher 5.00 (2) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NikolaRussian Teacher 5.00 (4) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MargaritaRussian Teacher 5.00 (3) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsA Good Teacher Isn’t necessarily a Native SpeakerThose who grew up speaking Russian won’t necessarily be better teachers than us Brits who’ve taken Russian grammar classes, read Russian literature, and studied Russian phonetics.Think about a language teacher that made you want to learn. (Source: werner22brigitte)Of course, a Russian native speaker will know more about Russian culture and will definitely have a better accent when speaking Russian.  However, that doesn’t mean they’re excellent teachers.British and Russian culture are quit e different from one another. When you learn a new language, you'll see that the learning process will involve both the language and culture.To teach a foreign language, you need to understand both cultures, especially the culture of the learners so that you can help them when they encounter certain problems.  By having been a student in a Russian language course, you’ll be able to understand what aspects of the language are difficult for native English speakers including the pronunciation and the alphabet.A lot of students prefer a non-native speaker when it comes to learning how to speak a foreign language:“I think the right teacher isn’t one who speaks the best but one who uses the best teaching approaches. A native mightn’t always understand the difficulties a student encounters. The best approach is to have a non-native teacher working with a native assistant who can help with pronunciation and vocabulary. This assistant shouldn’t be much older than the students thems elves so that they can encourage them to learn more about the culture and the language.” - MurielA Russian teacher will have probably travelled to Russia and have visited places such as Saint Petersburg, Moscow, or even Siberia. Russian teachers need to travel and be in contact with natives so that they’re up-to-date with modern Russian terms and cultural changes.  However, only a native can really master the accent.Charline echoes Muriel’s ideas: “I had a German tutor who wasn’t a native speaker and they made interested in German for 40 years. I read German, I listened to German music, and I spent all my holidays in Germany. My sister shared my passion for the language and we even spoke in German!”First of all, it’s the teaching approaches that affect how well a language can be taught.British Russian Tutors: What About Linguistic Insecurity?Speaking Russian as a non-native speaker can leave tutors feeling insecure linguistically. However, learning a foreign language i s all about making mistakes and even teachers are always listening and improving their language skills.Make sure your lessons are clear! (Source: StarzySpringer)Michel Francard defined linguistic insecurity as an unfulfilled quest for legitimacy.  In the case of a Russian tutor, they may have a complex where they’re concerned their imperfections will be heard and they won’t have the same legitimacy as a native speaker.This can knock their confidence in their ability to teach the language. Linguistic security comes about from the idea of strict educational establishments that demand perfection.These feeling can arise when the teacher has to communicate with a native speaker.  They’ll have to come face-to-face with their fears if they’re in a class with a native language assistant. This can make the teacher scared, ashamed, uncomfortable, and even unable to speak.But being a language teacher isn’t about knowing absolutely everything about English, Spanish, German, or Russian .Your goal is to transfer your knowledge and help students to learn more about the language. You’ve got to help them to improve their own knowledge and give them the tools to learn.The teacher doesn’t need to be scared of not knowing the answer to a question or not knowing the right word. You don’t need to be ashamed...Don't forget to think about where you can teach.How Can You Get Over Linguistic Insecurity as a Non-native Russian Teacher?There are many strategies for getting over a perceived “lack of knowledge”.Adequately prepare your lessonsDon’t draw attention to certain errorsTravel regularly to stay in contact with the target languageWatch TV in RussianRead in RussianDo your research in RussianIn short, your goal is to remain immersed in the Russian language. Of course, you can’t prepare for everything when you’re teaching.Experience will help you deal with difficult moments when it comes to questions on grammar, which can sometimes be quite prickly.  Again, yo u’ll need to find a strategy for dealing with them. However, a teacher doesn’t have to know everything.Just like anyone else, there is always more you can learn. It’s time to stop seeing teachers as being all-powerful in terms of their language abilities and see them more as a guide to help you on your path to learning the Russian language and more about Russian culture.Check the prices of the competition, look up  Russian lessons London.This will help teachers to be surer of themselves. Nobody knows everything when it comes to a language.If you want to teach in British secondary schools, you'll need to do a PGCE or another teaching qualification.Tips for Teaching Russian EffectivelyRussian language classes should be about horizontal learning rather than vertical learning from the teacher to the student.A tutor's worst nightmare is to not know the answer to a student's question. (Source: Pexels)The important thing is to teach students to love the language and want to learn mor e about it. However, there are techniques for improving how you teach a language.So how can you teach Russian as a non-native speaker?The most important thing is that the lessons take place in the target language as much as possible.  Even if you have to say a few words in English, especially with beginners and intermediates, you’ll want Russian to be the main language used in class.  The students’ confidence will improve and they’ll start assimilating more and more Russian vocabulary.Invite native speakers into your class to speak with your students. Language assistants are also a great way to improve your students’ levels in Russian.  Speaking with the teacher and the language assistant is a great way to make lessons more dynamic and spontaneous.Finally, make good use of audio and video resources.  Allow your to be active in class.Your teaching needs to include cultural aspects. (Source: MariaShvedova)Sitting for 8 hours on a chair isn’t a great way to concentrate active ly. Do quizzes and other competitive activities to encourage your students to progress.  Any activity can turn into a competition: word association, looking for hidden words, etc. Students can get really excited about competitions.We think better when we’re active! Running dictations are far more exciting than just reading: One student reads a text before runs to the other side of the room to repeat it to their partner who has to write it down without making mistakes.You can also play games like “Who am I?” where students have to guess the famous person (with Russians, ideally) whose name is stuck to their forehead. Students can only ask yes/no questions in Russian.Teach them phonetics.  Pronunciation is an important part of Russian if you want to speak like a native or become bilingual. When it comes to the Russian language, there’s also the Cyrillic alphabet to tackle.Whether you’re teaching a group class or a private tutorial, grammar is also important. You need to make grammar fun so that students aren’t put off learning the language.  Whether you’re a native speaker or not, the approaches you use are the most important part of your classes!As a private tutor, students will expect you to help them learn a language in a way that works for them. Different languages require different approaches. If you learn Italian or Latin in a class, for example, you're going to have a completely different experience to someone learning Mandarin on Duolingo or with Rosetta Stone.Language learning needs to adapt to each language learner. Being a polyglot won't necessarily make you a good teacher and reciting words and phrases isn't the only way to learn to speak a new language, though repetition does have its place. Students will need to study their new words while also using their language lessons as opportunities for immersion.If you're ready to start tutoring Russian, make your profile on Superprof today!

Improving Work Ethics For Introverts - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Improving Work Ethics For Introverts - Introvert Whisperer Improving Work Ethics For Introverts When you read the words ‘work ethics’ how do you feel? Does it conjure up images of HR workshops and dreaded role plays? Or does it? As an introvert, make you feel instant anxiety when you think about playing an active part in the workplace?   In general terms, workplace ethics covers behaviour based skills such as dedication, teamwork, integrity engagement and behaving appropriately and respectfully. Introverts may not immediately see how their natural common traits can benefit themselves and others in an obvious way in the office, but you would be wrong!   Many introverts have gone on to be great leaders of history.       One of the most famous introverts in history would be Mahatma Gandhi, but some great leaders will surprise you. For example; Rosa Parks, who infamously remained on her seat on the bus, was a very introverted, gentle and quiet woman. Elon Musk whom it would seem loves the stage and taking the mic in huge auditoriums, is a tech-focussed introvert who had to train and change certain behaviours to take that seat at the head of the boardroom table. JK Rowling’s introverted nature allowed her to write and write and write, building beguiling worlds full of wizards and fantastic beasts.   Sure, these guys are a tiny per cent of truly, globally successful people, but it demonstrates that being an introvert should not hold you back and you can contribute and live positive work ethics every day.   Engagement is probably the toughest ‘natural spot’ for those that tend to be a little introverted. The thought of a work party with its loud music and cackling laughter and singing can feel a bit overwhelming, and you may be tempted to hand back at your desk chatting to the office cleaner rather than join the fun. You may also recoil at the thought of presenting to a group of people, but your introversion shouldn’t hold you back when it comes to seeking out friendships, good working relationships and in turn, positively raise your profile in the workplace.     Connect with people in a comfortable way for you.   Have a quiet morning coffee or breakfast one on one with your manager or maybe some colleagues who are collaborating on a project with you. One to one time and small group gatherings are a great forum to get your point across and share ideas. If you are a team leader, share your wins!   You don’t need to get on the mic or take a bow, but you can send a thankful email to the business sharing the successes and how your team has improved the company. Similarly, if a team member has performed well, remember to give them a thank you.   Ditch the headphones! It can be a comfort zone to stick on the headphones and concentrate on your work, but to others, it can be perceived as isolating yourself from the group or disinterested in the team or those around you. Keep the headphones for when you’re working to a tight deadline or need to concentrate on a specific document leaving yourself open to some engagement and conversation.     Introverts have some excellent traits when it comes to promoting good work ethics.   We think before we speak, choose our words carefully, and we tend to steer clear of watercooler gossip.   Because we tend to take our time with responses, we can also navigate office politics pretty well, but it’s good to remember that from time to time you do need to put yourself out there and speak up in meetings, or if you believe strongly in an opinion.     If you don’t know where to start, think about some coaching, or speak to your HR department about some training on speaking publicly and presenting.   It may never be your comfort zone, but you’ll feel a great deal of achievement when you do hit those milestones and feel rewarded when the company you work for gets to recognise your good efforts.       Ultimately, we all need to connect with other people, it’s human nature, and by taking steps to communicate more with others, you may find that you have more in common with some of your colleagues than you think! Author Bio: Lara Blanco: Culture happiness centric individual with the belief that happy teams make happy  customers, which in turn makes everyone happy. I also know a thing or two about cleaning

6 Sided Polygon

6 Sided Polygon A polygon is a geometric shape bounded by more than two straight lines. For example: - Triangle is polygon of three sides, quadrilateral, square, rhombus, rectangle, parallelogram, trapezium all are polygon of four sides similarly pentagon, hexagon are the examples of polygon or simply we can say a polygon consists with a n number of sides where n= 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and so on. Regular polygon is a geometric shape where all sides and interior angles are equal. For example square is a regular polygon of four sides where each interior angle is 90 degrees and all the sides are equal. Similarly equilateral triangle is also a regular polygon of 3 sides where each sides and angles are equal. 6 sided polygon is known as Hexagon. Sum of interior angles of a regular polygon= (n 2) x 180 Example: - Find the sum of interior angles of a 6 sided polygon. Solution: - n= 6 for a 6 sided polygon. Therefore for a 6 sided polygon (i.e., n=6) then Sum of interior angles of 6 sided polygon= (6 2) x 180 = 4 x 180 = 720 degrees. Each interior angle of a polygon = (n 2) 180 / n. Example: - Find each interior angle of a 6 sided polygon. Solution: - Since Each interior angle of a polygon = (n 2) 180 / n. For a 6 sided polygon, n=6 therefore Each interior angle of a polygon = (6 2) 180 / 6 = (4) 180 /6 = (4) 30 = 120.

Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse Henri Matisse and his Many Modes of Art ChaptersEarly Years and Tentative ExplorationsHello, Fauvism!Matisse: Life Beyond the CanvasSunset: Matisse’s Final YearsLegacyMatisse had a name fairly meant for the Parisian art scene, if only because it is a near homophone of the French word ‘artiste’.He stumbled upon painting through an unusual set of circumstances but once he declared himself a creator of art, there was no turning back.Rather little is known of his early life other than he was first-born into a wealthy family. His father was a grain merchant and his mother enjoyed dabbling in painting.Young Henri showed little inclination for art; he studied law in Paris before returning to his hometown in northern France to work as a court clerk and administrator.When he was 20 years old he was stricken with appendicitis that led to a prolonged episode of recovery during which he could not work. To help him pass the time, his mother gifted him a trove of art supplies.  She had no idea that simple act would completely chan ge her son’s life, deeply disappointing her husband in the process.The art world, on the other hand, delighting in having Henri Matisse break new ground in artistic expression and direction.Superprof now looks at the 60-year art career that Henri Matisse enjoyed and how he continuously reinvented himself to remain relevant. FernandoPainting Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaPainting Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidPainting Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPainting Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StefaniaPainting Teacher 5.00 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SakinaPainting Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenPainting Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Off2themoonholliePainting Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsEarly Years and Tentative Exploratio ns As he learned more about colour theory, Matisse soon abandoned his dark portrayals Source: Wikipedia“In painting, I have discovered a kind of paradise” Henri MatisseOnce he was fully recovered from his attack of appendicitis, Matisse returned to Paris for a second round of studies â€" not of the musty subject of Law but of art.He enrolled at Académie Julian, a private art school, where he learned intricate brushwork through landscape painting and still lifes.At the outset, his painting technique was quite traditional but his eyes kept straying to the works of other French artists like Manet and Chardin; in fact, he often spent his free time at the Louvre copying works by other famous artists.Matisse approached his art education intellectually rather than by any drive to create. He sought out the best teachers, even travelling to meet them and learn from them.Such was the case when he set out to meet Australian painter John Russell, who was staying on the island of Belle Isle. Th ere, he was introduced the brightness of van Gogh paintings; an experience that completely changed his palette.Mimicking the Dutch impressionist artist, he abandoned dark colours in favour of more realistically-hued works, such as Blue Pot and Lemon, displayed at the Hermitage museum in St. Petersburg.In a further tribute to Vincent van Gogh, Matisse painted a Vase of Sunflowers; he also executed Study of a Nude, employing elements of pointillism.Matisse, fully realising he was a novice among great painters, always followed advice from those he saw as his betters. So it came to be that, when Camille Pissarro suggested he travel to London to study the works of British painter William Turner, he readily complied.Fully enthused by life in the art world, upon returning to Paris, he nearly bankrupted himself buying up fellow artists’ works: Rodin, Gauguin and Paul Cezanne. The van Gogh that he had been given at Belle Isle also adorned his walls.In spite of showing well at Salon â€" the French government bought two of his oil on canvas paintings, Matisse needed something to advance his carefully-studied career.Hello, Fauvism!“Impressionism is the newspaper of the soul.” Henri MatisseUp to the turn of the century â€" for the first few years of Matisse’s career, he was considered an impressionist painter; whether he disdained that designation or not is in question still today. However, the above quote gives an indication of his feelings about impressionistic art in general.He felt that impressionist paintings are themselves a blank canvas upon which the viewer projects his own emotions and ideas or, conversely, find their ideas and feelings reflected in them, validating them in some way.As the movement's creator, Claude Monet would tell you, impressionism was, in effect, representational. Fauvism, by contrast, called for strong colours and more than a touch of abstraction.The Fauves â€" wild beasts in French, were young painters, themselves seen as unrestraine d in their creation of art, as though they were the beasts in question.Henri Matisse was a leader of the Fauvist art movement, along with André Derain. He  had sojourned in Tahiti, where he had picked up a predilection for bright colours; a bias that served him well as a Fauve.This style of painting advocated for the use of bold colours whether they were representative of the subject matter or not, meaning that artworks of this period, while audacious, did not reflect mainstream sensibilities.In other words, Fauvism was condemned virtually from the start.Naturally, this did not do a good turn for any Fauvist. Each of the three exhibitions of Fauvist works garnered nothing but criticism, with Matisse’s work singled out for special wrath.By this time Henri Matisse was married and had children to feed. His work being consistently panned made it very difficult for him to support his family so, when Gertrude Stein bought his most reviled painting, it not only lightened his mood but fl oated his family along until that most ill-received of art movements came to an end.Yes, that is the same Gertrude Stein who was Spanish painter Pablo Picasso’s patron. And there is another Picasso link: Georges Braque, the co-father of Cubism, was initially a Fauvist.Henri Matisse and that Spanish artist met at the height of the Fauvist period, in 1906. In spite of their age difference, they would become lifelong friends and gentle rivals. Henri Matisse was always looking for greater technical challenges; here he tries his hand at pointillism Source: WikipediaAll of this inventiveness â€" finding new ways of expressing his artistic vision served him well, especially toward the end of his life.Sunset: Matisse’s Final Years“It has bothered me all of my life that I do not paint like everyone else.” MatisseContrary to the frenzied brushstrokes an expressionist painter in full passion for his work, Matisse had always been methodical â€" in learning how to paint and in depicting his subject matter.His diligence, fastidious manner and regimented work schedule earned him equal parts of scorn and admiration in the Paris art community; even as he lingered at the Galette, he wished he could fit in better with the famous painters idling there.Matisse what diagnosed with abdominal cancer in 1941. France was already occupied by that time but, fortunately, the Germans found Matisse’s work pleasant so they helped him secure an operation to remove the cancer.Unfortunately, he suffered serious post-operative complications that left him bedridden for the next few months but, undeterred, he set about creating art differently: decoupage became his new medium.Matisse had cut painted paper into abstract shapes before; first as the stage designer for Igor Stravinsky’s The Nightingale and again for the Paris-based Russian Ballet.He had always seen paper-cutting as separate from his work as a painter but now, seriously incapacitated and unable to paint or sculpt, he relented in his assessment, ultimately increasing the size and his output of cut-outs.Matisse continued to work in whatever capacity he could until the 3rd of November, 1954, when he succumbed to a heart attack. We can see van Gogh's influence in Matisse's early work By Henri Matisse via WikipediaLegacyLike Italian Renaissance painter Leonardo da Vinci, Henri Matisse refused to let illness, injury or old age slow him down.A French impressionist at the outset, he created the most famous paintings of his career after Fauvism but before he relocated to Nice. Still, he was always ready to experiment with another medium or movement... as long as it did not offend his sensibilities.One of the blandest compliments ever paid him was: “Matisse’s art is eminently reasonable.” but, as it turns out, it is true - and the artist himself knew it.Today, Matisse is considered one of the vanguards of modern art; he ranks among the most famous artists of the early 20th CenturyAlthough his are not the most expensive paintings, they can be found in multiple countries, in their museum of art. They are generally appreciated, with little indication of the turmoil or trouble the artist might have endured in pa inting them... possibly because there was not much trouble.Now discover other famous works of art and the most famous painters in art history...

LSAT Tip of the Week Analytical Reasoning Practice Problem #3

LSAT Tip of the Week Analytical Reasoning Practice Problem #3 LSAT Law School Blog This week, we will focus on an example of how to setup an analytical reasoning (logic games) question. Our practice question will be from the June 2007 LSAT. This is Section 1, Question 11. A cruise line is scheduling seven week-long voyages for the ship Freedom. Each voyage will occur in exactly one of the first seven weeks of the season: weeks 1 through 7. Each voyage will be to exactly one of four destinations: Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, or Trinidad. Each destination will be scheduled for at least one of the weeks. The following conditions apply to Freedom’s schedule: Jamaica will not be its destination in week 4. Trinidad will be its destination in week 7. Freedom will make exactly two voyages to Martinique, and at least one voyage to Guadeloupe will occur in some week between those two voyages. Guadeloupe will be its destination in the week preceding any voyage it makes to Jamaica. No destination will be scheduled for consecutive weeks. First, we know there are 7 weeks: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ With 4 possible destinations: G J M T We are also told each one shows at least once: G J M T 1-1-1-1 We can infer that there are 4 weeks of at least one of these, and the 3 extra weeks can be a variety of options (G could be visited 4 times/G could be visited twice and J twice/etc.). Let’s go through the rules now. Rule 1: Jamaica cannot be in week 4 T will be in week 7. _ _ _ _ _ _ T (Note that T can be in another week as well) J =/= 4 Rule 2: M will have exactly two trips at least one G in between the two Ms. M â€" G(1 or more) â€" M Rule 3: Every J will have a G before it. So, we can infer that GJ must be together at least once. We also know that J cannot be first from this rule. Rule 4: No destination will be in consecutive weeks. Let’s try Question 11: Which one of the following is an acceptable schedule of destinations for Freedom, in order from week 1 through week 7? (A) Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Trinidad, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Trinidad (B) Guadeloupe, Martinique, Trinidad, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Trinidad (C) Jamaica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Trinidad (D) Martinique, Trinidad, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Trinidad (E) Martinique, Trinidad, Guadeloupe, Trinidad, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique We are not given any new information or rules, so we will implement what we have already inferred. First, we know each (GMJT) must appear at least one time. So, let’s quickly go through each option and see if any destinations are missing. All of the options seem to clear this test, so let’s continue. Rule 1 states that T must be in week 7, which is broken in option (e), so we can eliminate that. Rule 1 also states that J cannot be in week 4, which is broken in option (d), so we can eliminate that. Rule 2 states that M will have exactly 2 and there will be at least 1 G between. Going through the options we see that this is violated in option (b), so we can eliminate that. Rule 3 states that every J must have G before it (GJ). And this is violated in option (c), so we can eliminate that. This leaves us with option (a) as the correct choice. In order to continue to prepare for the logic games section of the LSAT, BluePrintLSAT makes a list of other games to play to exercise those important brain muscles in the months or weeks leading up to your exam.

Immeasurable Fun At Highland Renaissance Academy

Immeasurable Fun At Highland Renaissance Academy Immeasurable Fun At Highland Renaissance Academy Immeasurable Fun At Highland Renaissance Academy March 27, 2015 HEART tutor Eleanor Funderburg and her student at Highland Renaissance Academy got creative with the cubes recently while working on estimating and measuring with the Counting Notebook. The goal for the student is to know more than just the rote memorization of the list of numbers. He needs to understand one-to-one correspondence, so he practices picking up one cube with each number. He learns that each number is represented by a group of cubes, and he determines what a numeral looks like in writing, on fingers, and in terms real objects. In this activity, he practiced using estimation to guess how many cubes long an object would be. This exercise helps him to practice reasonableness (and basic counting!) as well as to know what a pile (or train) of 15 looks like versus a pile of five. He learns to count to find out how many,” rather than just counting and saying the last number where he “lands”â€" he learns that that numbers represent quantities. Want to try this at home? Ask your child to practice counting out a specific number of objects to see how many (i.e., How many forks are on the table?) and a specific group (i.e., Make me a pile of 10 spoons).

Calling All Webcomic Artists LINE Webtoon Challenge League Seeks New Artists

Calling All Webcomic Artists LINE Webtoon Challenge League Seeks New Artists Photo Via: https://lh4.ggpht.com According to a recent press release, the Challenge League is a “new feature that allows for artists to submit their webcomics for a chance to become an official LINE Webtoon artist.” The best part: this is a completely free chance to show LINE Webtoon what you’ve got. There’s no cost to the Challenge League and, as stated in the press release, it’s a great outlet for “aspiring artists looking to showcase their talents and gain recognition” while at the same time surrounding themselves with the “best comic content available via mobile and desktop.” In officially launching this Challenge League, “LINE Webtoon will host a $50,000 competition globally” in hopes of finding the “best” new webtoon artist. JunKoo Kim, who serves as Director and as the Head of the LINE Webtoon division, said: “We have spent over 10 years discovering and showcasing some of the best webtoon artists and content to our fans, and now we’re giving them the chance to become official LINE Webtoon webtoonists through Challenge League.” So what’s the appeal of competing in Challenge League? Photo Via: http://comicbastards.com For one thing, this opportunity grants artists the ability to meet and communicate with their audiences “through a simple and easy to use interface.” This environment allows artists to reach a higher popularity while simultaneously becoming official webtoonists. Opportunities that usually arise from affiliation with LINE Webtoon include re-creation of the webcomic across “diverse” media including TV series and film. Also, according to the press release, “LINE Webtoon is dedicated to helping artists launch a full time career, with some Webtoon artists earning up to $80,000 a month.” That’s a pretty steep paycheck, so an artist that can get his/her foot in the door with a company such as this is in good hands. As far as eligibility goes for this opportunity, anyone over the age of 14 is eligible to compete in the competition. All you need to do is upload a webcomic (in English) to this website. Content is judged on “audience engagement, such as number of views and shares” as well as “creativity, originality, and the artist’s ability to publish webcomics on a weekly basis.” And what of the prizes? There are two, third place prizes, one, second place prize and one grand prize at $5,000, $10,000 and $30,000 respectively. This contest will run until January 25, 2015 and the winner will be announced five days later. However, the Challenge League service will still be provided on the LINE Webtoon official site after the contest as well. Photo Via: http://31.media.tumblr.com The contest won’t be the extent of LINE Webtoon’s engagement with their audience, as they also wish to work more closely with universities and centers of higher education to “reward student artists that participate in the Challenge League competition.” According to the press release, if a student wins the $30,000 grand prize, there will be an additional $30,000 donation to that student’s institution of higher education. Likewise, they will be offered a contract with LINE Webtoon to produce official webcomics for the company. The opportunities LINE Webtoon is presenting its fans aren’t to be taken lightly, and in the expansion of the site’s audience by global means, prospective artists for the company will be promising individuals of incredible talent. Because LINE Webtoon has a large Korean following, the team looks forward to seeking out new artists on a global level, branching out to discover webcomic artists in new territories. In discussing the global appeal of LINE Webtoon’s Challenge League, Kim said: “Based on Challenge League’s popularity in Korea, where 73.4 percent of LINE Webtoon artists are discovered through Challenge League, we are excited to launch the competition globally and discover the next generation of webcomic artists.” LINE Webtoon itself was launched globally on July 2 of this year, and the site currently offers “multiple genres of webcomics” and “easy access to downloaded content on-the-go” as well as “approximately 53 webcomics.” Photo Via: https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net For anyone interested in more information on the Challenge League, you can visit the site, or to download LINE Webtoon, you can visit the Apple App Store and Google Play. Beginning November 27, fans can get all Challenge League content through these apps. Good luck to all participating!

The Fine Line Between Appreciation And Racism

The Fine Line Between Appreciation And Racism image via http://www.cnn.com I hear you, somewhat politically and culturally aware person. You arent all like that. You arent all belittling other peoples cultures and traditions. I hear ya. What about when you participate in that fun event that has come to be known as the Color Run? Well, thats a bit iffy. People will say that its got nothing to do with Hinduism or traditionally Indian spring festivals, but the thing is that it has been commodified and stripped of all meaning. Religious, cultural and historical significance  were just erased to make it a carefree, palatable event for American tweens. Its even gained popularity in some South American countries. No harm done, right? You might be a little wrong there. When you wash a holiday so important to Hinduism, you rob the people who practice it as well as their history so that you can feel unique and have a laugh. Days of such importance should keep their original intent and origins. Its not Halloween. You cannot steal something from someone else and say you made it up. That is cultural plagiarism. Its called Holi: remember that. image via http://keepingupwiththecyperts.blogspot.com/2013/02/color-run.html Another example of cultural plagiarism is black culture. Their music, slang and manner of dress is passed off as cheap, insulting and just plain vulgar. But when a rich white girl like Miley Cyrus adopts twerking, all of white America wants to do it too. They want to be gh*tto and r*tchet because its in. You know, because before it wasnt, and thanks to Cyrus, its the latest fad. Like it didnt exist before, but it was made trendy by someone who does not understand the history of twerking, or its African roots. Kind of like when Columbus claimed to discover the Americas. In a sense, appropriating cultural traits and stripping them of their history is a form of Columbusing. Claiming that twerking didnt exist before Cyrus, or that rap has only existed since white rappers like Eminem or Macklemore is just plain disrespectful. There is indeed a thin line between homage and racism. By taking only certain elements of a culture that one regards as trendy, one is reducing an entire culture to a fashion statement. Wearing a bindi or a headdress for sheer fun, or getting dreads and forgetting the religious implications of all of the above isnt just having fun. Its taking what you want and making it into a caricature of that group of people. Take a look at some Coachella fashion, and look how this uber-Hipster festival seems to give leeway for just about anyone to sport whatever they see fit.  A headdress is earned, not just bought at a souvenir shop for you and your racist hipster friends.  Coachella is also guilty of renting out tipis to give people the full native experience. How nice of them. image via http://scissor-fingers.com Hold up, you say. They really dont mean anything by it. Theyre just cool and edgy kids who want to look cool and edgy. Yeah, thats the problem. In their attempt at uniqueness, they are mocking and openly belittling something that is very important to some peoplesomething that to some is not only sacred, but to see it used in such a manner is almost akin to sacrilege. When you dress up as a native for Halloween, youre again reducing people to a costume and to a romanticized version of what you think that group of people are. Theres a reason why you dont do blackface or yellow-face anymore without getting called on it, and why many colleges are cracking down on such blatantly racist behavior. But as long as you do it under the guise of Halloween and dressing up for that awesome costume party your friend Mike is throwing, who could say anything about it, right? If they do, theyre being oversensitive and PC and youre just going to laugh at them. Look at how awesome you look. image via http://bossip.com Why, you ask, do people care about how other cultures and minorities are represented and perceived as by the public at large? Because it says a lot about how said group will be treated in societythat their culture is disrespected and they are made into jokes or costumes tells us that they are not being taken seriously. As long as cultural theft and appropriation and ridicule are glossed over, racism and ethnic bias arent likely to end.  When you have Japanese culture reduced to Anime/Manga and people claiming to know the culture as long as they read about a very narrow aspect of it is plain ignorance. And that is where it stems from: ignorance and white entitlement. image via http://funny-pictures.picphotos.net I ask you to understand, then, why non-whites and natives will get upset and demand that others stop turning that which defines their rich history into something to make a profit from: festivals and celebrations that are white-washed, musical and dance genres that are completely and utterly re-made and only pushed into the spotlight by white artists and an entire society reduced to cartoonish depictions of its people and its customs. When they ask that you dont call natives the r-word, they mean it. When Rroma cringe at the sound of the word g*psy its because those are slurs used against them for centuries. They arent asking the impossible. They are simply asking respect and recognition. Not erasure. Not being bought or sold. Cultural appropriation isnt appreciation. If you like a particular culture, group of people or ethnic minority, learn about them, dont just try to pass yourself off as one of them or dress in their traditional clothing for your own amusement. Let actors of that group play roles that require actors from that group. Dont cast Johnny Depp as Tonto, an already cartoonish depiction of natives to begin with. Its not that difficult.