A Beginners Guide to Free English Language Learning Resources

A Beginner's Guide to Free English Language Learning ResourcesIf you are ready to learn a new language and you have already made the decision to go with a free English language learning resources, then you should start studying now. It will help if you know how to get started in order to help you with all the obstacles you will have to face. Of course, it is very important that you get a good start in this endeavor because it can be very frustrating when you are first starting out and it will not be fun if you do not know what you are doing.Free is usually associated with not having to pay anything. It is often times important to remember that there are many different free resources available online.Some of these are for free to use while others are bought but are only limited to use within a particular time frame before the purchase date or at the time of purchase. Other than those available for free, you will need to get a computer to do the work for you. There are even some that h ave to be hooked up to the internet in order to help you with your new language.The other resource available are websites that offer study guides for various languages. These help you when you start to get confused on what to say next. They are very important because there are times when you might not know where to turn.When you start to start learning a new language, you will want to learn as much as you can and be comfortable with the basics so that you are prepared for more advanced vocabulary later on. You should also find a course that matches the level of your language ability. If you are unsure about where to start, then you can always take the language learning courses that are offered online through a variety of mediums.In addition to the free English language learning resources, there are websites that provide you with a lot of information. In fact, there are many sites that offer free website content, web content, articles, tutorials, and tips to help you with learning ne w languages. You will not have to worry about finding out what the most effective resource is going to be because they are all available to you.In addition to that, you can also get other types of materials such as audio CDs and books so that you can use them at your own pace. These materials are available for use at any time and they can be used on any computer. The nice thing about these materials is that they can be printed out or saved on a USB drive so that you have the flexibility of using them at any time of the day.Free resources can be a great help when you are beginning your language learning journey. They can get you started and keep you motivated. Once you have been able to get comfortable with the basic, you can move on to more advanced vocabulary and other tools that can help you with grammar and practice.

Flexible Tutoring Jobs - Great Opportunities For Students

Flexible Tutoring Jobs - Great Opportunities For StudentsWhen a student is not equipped with the necessary skills, it can prove to be very difficult for them to deal with their courses and other issues in the classroom. They could even be punished by their teacher or fellow students if they are not able to answer a question correctly. If they find it too much for them to bear, there are many flexible tutoring jobs out there that they can apply for. Here are some examples of such jobs.As a tutor, one can take on different roles during the day. It could be helping students with their studies or helping them get prepared for a test. A tutor can also provide feedback to students on how to handle certain situations in class. Tutors who are excellent at this field could even be the subject matter experts for their students.If a student finds that they have difficulty focusing on their studies, they can always turn to a tutor to get help in doing so. They can also ask for help when they are having problems in their classes or in getting their work done. Another example of this job is that of a tutor who is hired by their employer as a consultant.Flexibility has many benefits when it comes to getting into such a job. The ability to work flexible hours, be able to work at home or in the comfort of their own place or even in a different city are just a few of the benefits. Students can also enjoy flexible pay because of the flexible schedules that come with the position.Flexible jobs offer the student a lot of advantages as far as how much they can earn per week is concerned. It also makes them feel secure about their future by offering them more opportunities as far as opportunities are concerned.Flexible tutoring jobs are very much a requirement these days because of the rise in the number of students who arenot so good in dealing with their studies. In fact, it is a common scenario these days for students to drop out of college due to lack of time or lack of motivatio n. A tutor can actually help a student succeed in life by being of great help in their study and they can also provide valuable feedback to the students.When it comes to finding good flexible jobs, a student can choose from many different avenues. They can visit the websites of different tutoring agencies in the internet and make sure that they are among the companies that are legitimate and reliable. Then, they can go to the job boards and do a bit of research about the companies that are hiring.

Why Start With a Basic Chemistry Set?

Why Start With a Basic Chemistry Set?What is the best way to learn about the elementary concepts of chemistry? The best way to start is with a basic chemistry set. Even if you have never considered that the earth is basically made up of two elements, namely carbon and hydrogen, a basic chemistry set can get you started on a journey that will lead you to understanding how different things work. It is like taking a step towards becoming an engineer or a scientist.There are several advantages to starting with a basic chemistry set. The first is that a chemistry set can give you a chance to experiment with different things. You can experiment with a chemical and see if it changes color, or whether it scatters light, or whether it flows in the correct way or not.Another advantage of starting with a basic chemistry set is that it gets you used to the motions and cycles that occur in chemical reactions. Chemicals take many different forms. One form may be a liquid, one form may be a gas, an d another form may be solid. Some chemicals may have other chemicals mixed in, such as metal ions, and this is where the chemistry set comes in handy.The real world can be very confusing at times. Chemicals can react in different ways, at different rates, and sometimes they don't even act in the same way that they were meant to. A chemistry set can help you to understand the different processes involved in chemical reactions and make them a little more predictable.Also, it is easier to learn complex chemistry from the basics, than to try to figure out the details of complicated things. When you are learning the mathematics of calculus, it is easy to see why learning the mathematics of chemistry can be a challenge. However, you can learn how things like molecules work, and what the various elements that make up the different molecules of life are, from basic chemistry. The more you learn about chemistry, the better your understanding of the world around you.Starting with a basic chem istry set is also beneficial because it can help you develop an interest in the real world of chemistry. You can become an amateur chemist, or a professional chemist, and this will help you to keep a closer eye on any new developments that happen in the field. This is helpful for both adults and children, because you can really learn from a simple chemistry set. You can get excited about the world of chemicals, as long as you start off with a basic chemistry set.Basic chemistry is a great place to start if you are interested in learning the real science of chemistry. It can get you familiar with the field and help you enjoy your science hobby.

5 Reasons to Plan Your Career Goals (Right Now) - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 5 Reasons to Plan Your Career Goals (Right Now) - Introvert Whisperer 5 Reasons to Plan Your Career Goals (Right Now) “If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” ? Albert Einstein As a long-time goal setter, I hear, like everyone else, those naysayers who poo-poo goals and ambitions and even New Year resolutions. Don’t let that be you. But in case you’re tottering on the edge of ignoring some career-oriented goal-setting this year, let me offer up some good reasons to plan your career goals  right now: 1. You will go nowhere or head to an undesirable place if you don’t know where you’re going. There are countless sayings about a ship with no rudder, a trip with no map and that sort of thing. It’s also true for your career. If you haven’t thought through the direction you want to take, you will most likely be one of millions who hate their job. You will simply drift from one thing you dislike to another until one day when you wake up to what you have (or haven’t) done and you realize you wasted a lot of your time. 2. Your daily actions will have greater meaning if you know their purpose. Let me put this another way: Other than drawing a paycheck, do you know why you’re doing what you’re doing? When you’re doing something that’s part of a bigger plan, it gives purpose and meaning to each thing you do. 3. You will create your own motivation and excitement when you see yourself making strides towards a bigger goal. Some people think the motivation to do something simply falls out of the sky. It doesn’t work that way. You can create your own motivation when you have a vision of your own “big picture.” That can help drive and sustain you even on the worst days. 4. People who are clear about where they’re headed are happier and are more successful. Do you think the U.S. President is a happy person with his career choices? Do you think he got there by accident? You can say the same of all happily successful people. They set a goal that excited them and they’re happier than a dirty pig to have achieved it. 5. Goals help focus your attention on an end result. When you have a goal, you know what to focus your time and attention on. It helps you prioritize things and make better decisions. You know where you’re headed, why you’re headed there and what you have to do to get there. Nothing’s better than razor sharp focus to make you feel empowered. I hope any or all of these 5 reasons for planning your career help you move forward in figuring out your goals. You’ll be glad that you did and even happier when you can start checking off those things you accomplished. Go to top What’s your most ambitious career goal? Share your thoughts in the comments! Image: Flickr Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Online Algebra Tutoring - Enforcing Good Life Skills in Student Minds

Online Algebra Tutoring - Enforcing Good Life Skills in Student Minds 0SHARESShare Algebra is the base for other Math subjects and a good mastery of the subject helps you garner the essential life skills to lead a successful life. Online Algebra tutoring enables you to shape these skills with its effective tutoring strategies What an online Algebra tutor does to sow the seeds of good life skills in you? He teaches the basic principles of Algebra well to make you feel comfortable with Algebra doing. You realize the value of Algebra when you start doing it with ease. This penchant for the subject makes you understand how you can develop good life skills through learning Algebra like problem solving skills, rational thinking, adaptive reasoning, lateral thinking and logical coherence in making out things. No wonder, you acquire the essential life skills to go along a set pattern of life where everything becomes easy, fool proof and error free for you. When you go deep into the concepts of Algebra, it is not that every time you could solve the equations and formulas without help. Better you seek help with Algebra homework from the hands of expert online tutors who, with their short movies, practice worksheets and Algebra solvers, pick out suitable solutions for your tasks. Tutor Pace excels in improvising suitable solutions for your homework tasks to enable you gather maximum essential life skills learnt through Algebra. Get  Algebra Tutor Online  Now! [starbox id=admin]

Ancient Greeks

Ancient Greeks What Was Life Like in Ancient Greece? ChaptersTimeline of the Ancient Greek CivilisationComing Together After the Dark AgesLife in the Archaic PeriodReligious BeliefsBringing the Archaic Period to a CloseIf we should take an informal poll, it would be a good bet that everyone responding would know of at least one Greek philosopher and at least one mythological tale from Ancient Greece.If we were to stretch the point, surely everyone could name at least one Olympic event from that time: discus throwing, chariot racing... even marathon running has its roots in Ancient Greece.What about Greek architecture?The Parthenon is one of the world’s most recognised structures. So renowned and admired is it that you can visit duplicate Parthenons in Regensburg, Germany, where it is known as the Walhalla Memorial and in the US state of Tennessee, in their capital city.In fact, Tennesseeans must be great admirers of Ancient Greece; they have a host of cities with Greek names: Athens, Antioch, Smyrna, Sparta...And it’s not just Tenn esseeans who commemorate the Greek: the National Monument of Scotland, nicknamed Edinburgh’s Folly, was modelled on Athena’s temple!Much is known about this civilisation that flourished in Antiquity â€" indeed that defined Classical Antiquity!Archaeologists have been hard at work for centuries, uncovering the treasures of Ancient Greece: their poetry and artistry, philosophers and deities.Even if we condensed their findings, this article would be prohibitively long!Instead, let us stipulate that you are familiar with the greatest accomplishment of Greek civilization: that Greek culture became the foundation of western culture overall.Let us further stipulate that you are aware philosophy, politics, language and science, education systems and the arts â€" literature, visual and performing arts, all have their roots in Ancient Greece.If you already know all of that, Superprof undertakes the Homeric task of bringing you a rendering of life for the ancient Greeks. MarkHistory Teache r 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JohnHistory Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MarjotteHistory Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErinHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChantelleHistory Teacher 5.00 (2) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyHistory Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterHistory Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SerenaHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsTimeline of the Ancient Greek Civilisation The Acropolis is an excellent example of Greek law and philosophy Image by Jo-B from PixabayIt goes without saying that the region we identify as Greece has been inhabited for a long time, but just how long was it until they established themselves into cities and developed a culture?In other words: what exactly is meant by the designation ‘Ancient Greece’?More importantly: what prompted the dramatic social evolutions that underpin our societies still today?In the very beginning, the people inhabiting that region were hunters. Archaeological finds date human activity to 6,000 BC; in the Neolithic period.While much was accomplished during that time â€" establishing a tradition of pottery and animal husbandry, it still predates the period indicated by the term ‘ancient’, which lasted from 800-500 BC.By then, Minoan art had established its legacy and the Greek Dark Ages (1100-750 BC) were just coming to an end.These Dark Ages cover the time between the fall of the Mycenean civili zation and the resurgence of the Greek written language.While many advances had been made by Myceneans in engineering, military infrastructure and architecture, they could not withstand the attacks of the Dorian, who fought with iron weaponry.The Dorian were a people from the mountainous region of southwest Macedonia. They fought their way through central Greece, effectively bringing about the first decline of Greek civilization.Mycenea’s rigid social hierarchies, strict political systems and regimented economical ventures, driven by a palace-centred leadership fell into chaos, propelling Greece into their Dark Age period.During this time, people lived in small farming villages scattered throughout the region.Although no records have been found of this period, it is estimated that substantial shifts away from palace rule and toward a more decentralised form of socio-economic government permitted the people to regroup and reorganise.Archaeological evidence of emerging nation-states after 800 BC has been found, indicating that Greek civilisation was indeed rebuilding herself.This is the era, sandwiched between the Grecian Dark Ages and the Classical Period (500-336 BC) that is referred to as Archaic, or Ancient.How well-developed was the Egyptian culture by this time?These roughly 300 years saw the foundations of democracy laid, an explosion of intellectual and academic growth and unparalleled artistic expression.Now we look at the living conditions that permitted this growth.Coming Together After the Dark AgesThe phrase ‘the fall of the palaces’ indicates the end of the Mycenaean civilisation, the time when people fled the cities they had built.While some established themselves in small farming communes, others banded together and wandered the land as nomads for a time.The agricultural tribes soon established themselves as city-states or ‘poleis’, built fortifications â€" city walls and defence units, and established trade relations with nearby poleis .Greek poleis gave us our root word for ‘politics’.Indeed, these settlements had to be quite diplomatic: they traded with one another regularly and lived in relatively close proximity but established their own cultures, laws and political structures.Throughout these Greek colonies, the wealthiest citizens were chosen (or elected themselves) as leaders, forming an oligarchy that had the power of a king â€" a rather strange turn of events, seeing that most colonies had recently overthrown their monarchs.The trend continued: the oligarchs were also soon overthrown, this time by tyrants who played on political or economic crises to seize and hold power. Once the crisis situation was resolved, citizens would accuse their tyrant of having illegally taken the reins of power and promptly oust them.This ongoing cycle of oligarchic and tyrannical rule followed by eviction continued for some time and it even spread throughout the land and into Italy.During the 6th Century BC, a new body of government arose: democracy â€" rule by the people.Of course, you have to understand that, at the time, only free men were considered ‘people’. Women, slaves and foreigners had no say in government proceedings which means that, essentially, the oligarchical system simply expanded to include all ‘legal’ males.This new era of politics required a massive system of laws. Arguing them, formulating them and drafting them into the lawbooks was a monumental work, meaning that men once again had a measure of economic stability.With economic stability came population growth. Greek city-states were on their way to becoming metropoli again but small, isolated patches of farmland wouldn’t do.All across the Mediterranean and into Anatolia, a frantic period of colonization ensued.Discover another colonization effort on the other side of the world: the Mayans. MarkHistory Teacher 5.00 (3) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JohnHistory Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!D iscover all our tutors MarjotteHistory Teacher 5.00 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErinHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChantelleHistory Teacher 5.00 (2) £17/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyHistory Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PeterHistory Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SerenaHistory Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsLife in the Archaic PeriodFor all of these societies’ political and philosophical advances, they were still largely agrarian. That meant that leisure time was often in short supply â€" especially around sowing and reaping times.The olive harvest brought long hours of heavy labour.Such work included beating the olives out of the trees with sticks, gathering them, processing them either into oil for cooking or lighting, into beauty products or preserving them for later consumption.Likewise with the grain harvest: first the grain must be cu t with a sickle, threshed and then pounded with a pestle to remove husks. And again, the work of storing it.Once all the work was done, if there was a spare moment or if it was a religious observance, Greeks enjoyed certain pastimes. Going to the theatre was a popular pastime in Ancient Greece Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from PixabayLeisure TimeIn times of high celebration or for special occasions, one might catch a play at the theatre.  Even today, Greek tragedies and comedies resonate; in fact, it was the Greek poet Thespis who gave us our first tragedy.Credited as being the world’s first actor, he also gave us the word ‘thespian’.If nothing at the theatre appealed, one might join in discourse with fellows, discussing either politics or philosophy.Other than that, sedentary games â€" dice, checkers and bones attracted a fair share of players. If one wanted a bit of movement, a brisk game of marbles might do.If one was too young to sit through a theatre production or to participate in oration â€" in other words, one was a young lad, he might enjoy playing marbles or, if he is particularly energetic, a game similar to hockey.Such games were usually played in the nude so, naturally, girls were not allowed to join in the fun.What types of games did the Mesopotamian civilization engage in?Life for Women in Ancient GreeceWhile life for females was not exactly one of penury and desperation, it certainly was unequal to being a man in Ancient Greece.For one, women did not have a voice in politics; in fact, they were not considered Greek citizens â€" that title came with the privilege of being male.Women had few economic opportunities â€" selling olive oil or pottery in the market remained forbidden to them although the males in their family could take the oil and pottery the women had made or the cloths they’d woven and turn a profit.Women were not allowed to enjoy the theatre â€" not to act in plays or be in the audience.  To be sure, Greek tragedies certainly had roles for females but they were played by men in costume.Females of all ages were not expected to crave physical exertion as a pastime so, even if the female in question were a young girl who would have loved to run alongside her brother and his friends, that would not have been permitted.Overall, women’s social position worsened during the Archaic period.Records show that, until that time, women in cities like Delphi, Megara and Gortin owned property â€" an indication of wealth and independence.However, in Classical Greece, the period immediately following the Archaic age, records show that women were property; a part of the household which belonged to males.Still, there was one avenue that women could follow to maintain an independence of sorts: she could become a priestess.Read about another ancient society that welcomed women as priestesses...Religious BeliefsIt is important to remember that, even though Greek mythology invokes many of their deities, Greek religion is a completely separate institution from storytelling, although they are closely intertwined.Like many civilisations, the Greek pondered their origins and the meaning of their life. Their existence was given depth and a purpose by the gods they entertained.What we know today as Greek mythology came about through the practice of the ancient Greeks honoring their gods.One way that religion was practised in those times was the telling of stories and seeing those stories recorded in writings. One such narrative, Hercules, is an excellent example of how a human must travail to earn a place among the gods even though he was descended from gods.In Ancient Greece, religion and gods were a part of everyday life.The Incans also believed their gods shadowed their lives...At the dinner table, people would set a place for Hestia, the household goddess and worship at the altar they had set up for her. Religious observances didn’t stop there...In this article’s introduction, we mentioned that the Parthenon was built to worship Athena. Other temples, such as the one on the Attic peninsula, were built in honour of other gods:Zeus: ruler of the gods and god of the skyHera: wife of Zeus; patron city was ArgosPoseidon: god of the se a, second to Zeus in power; father of TritonDemeter: goddess of the harvest whose daughter, Persephone, was abducted by HadesAthena: goddess of war, wisdom, art, industry and justice. Zeus’ favourite childApollo: god of prophecy; twin brother of ArtemisArtemis: goddess of the moon, hunting and animalsAres: god of war; mostly worshipped in ThraciaAphrodite: goddess of love and beauty; wife of HephaestusHephaestus: initially cast down from Mount Olympus, he regained their good graces by forging thrones of gold for all of the gods.Hermes: messenger of the gods, he had winged shoes and hatHestia: the aforementioned household goddessDionysius: god of grapes and wine-making; he was revered everywhere that grapes grewThe more powerful Olympian gods were worshipped everywhere but, in the case of Dionysus, for example, only the people living in the wine regions of Greece would actively and routinely worship him.Besides obeisance to all of the Olympian gods, each city-state had their own de ity to protect them and sometimes the city individual gods favored was named after them â€" Athens being a good example of such.Finally, the ancient Olympic games were conducted as a tribute to Olympian gods.Archaeology finds that the Olympic games got their start around 700 BC, during the Archaic period, apparently as a tribute to Zeus. The games were well-attended but, in spite of a large Macedonian population, only Greek citizens could be present at the games.Women couldn’t attend because they weren’t considered citizens, if you’ll remember.How were women treated in aboriginal Australia? The Archaic Period was when the Greeks started carving human statues to scale Image by Ionas Nicolae from PixabayBringing the Archaic Period to a CloseThis relatively peaceful time in Greek history was all too short-lived; it only lasted for about 300 years, of which only about 160 were truly progressive.The onslaught of Dorians that brought about the end of King Mycenae’s munificence left Greek citizens in the ignoble role of slaving for their Dorian masters.Fleeing the cities that their occupiers now called home, Greeks established themselves initially as small clans, eventually returning to their previous way of life by building up city-states.Even though at that time, the Greek economy was agrarian-based, they nevertheless set the stage for greater academic and civic establishment.Emerging from the Greek Dark Ages, Greece saw unparalleled advances in medicine, art, philosophy and politics, and they were uniquely placed to spread these disciplines throughout the Mediterranean te rritories.It helped quite a bit that they had allies in Rome who would incorporate Greek wisdom and knowledge into their own culture and propagate it throughout their empire.It was during this time that Greek scientists and mathematicians made great advances; you might not know of Anaximandros, who devised an early theory of gravity but surely you would recognise the name ‘Pythagoras’.This was the time that Homer wrote his Illiad and Odyssey and sculptors carved proportionate human figures â€" rather than towering figures of gods.This time of relative peace and productivity that was soon eclipsed by a series of wars: the Ionian Revolt, the Persian Wars, the Peloponnesian War and others all took their toll on the population and resources of Greece.Isn’t it remarkable that, for such a brief period, Ancient Greece had such an amazing impact on the rest of the world?And isn’t it even crazier that, though long-past, it still shapes our societies and beliefs?Now discover other anc ient civilisations that laid the foundation of today’s societies.

10 French Poets to Fall in Love With This National Poetry Month

10 French Poets to Fall in Love With This National Poetry Month Sign up successful 2. Francois Villon Francois Villon (1431 â€" 1474?), born the same year that Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, was little known during his lifetime, but became one of the most popular medieval French poets in the years after his death. He was never rich, and seems to have been involved in criminal activity that led to troublesome legal problems following his graduation from university. Even as a student, despite his later recognition as a poet, he was not very serious, and his pranks, albeit with the help of friends, led to some trouble as well. Following a brawl in 1462, he was sentenced to death in early 1463, and then banished from Paris instead. Little can be found of him afterwards; sources are divided on whether he is thought to have died later in 1463 or some eleven years later 1474. Probably his most well-known work is Le Testament, a collection of twenty-some poems in octosyllabic verse. 3. Louise Labe Photo by Wikimedia Commons Louise Labe (1524 â€" 1566) was born in the early 1520s (1522 or 1524) of a rope-maker and member of the bourgeoisie who educated her in letters and music. She lived in Lyon for most of her life, publishing a collection of works,  Euvres de Louïze Labé Lionnoize  in 1556. She moved to the countryside some time later and died several years after her husband in 1566. She is the most celebrated non-noble  female  French poet of the Renaissance. 4. Jean de la Fontaine Jean de la Fontaine (1621 â€" 1695), born in Chateau-Thiery, lived largely during the reign of Louis IV. He is best-known for his fables in verse, bound first into five volumes and later a complete volume titled Contes Choisies. In some ways like Aesops fables, many of his fables taught or demonstrated practical life lessons. Many of them also indirectly criticized the excesses of the nobility. Later in life, de la Fontaine had trouble with censorship, and one of his later collections of fables was banned. De la Fontaine also wrote a number of plays (which also used poetic verse). He was also elected to the Académie Française in 1683. He turned to religion in 1692 after becoming sick and died three years later. 5. Theophile Gautier Theophile Gautier (1811 â€" 1872) was an art and literary critic, dramatist, journalist, editor, and poet. His travel also influenced his work. He began philosophically and stylistically as a Romantic, but later focused more on “art for arts sake” (lart pour lart). In 1856, he became librarian to Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, the niece of Napoleon Bonaparte. One of Gautiers poems, Le Printemps (Springtime) is especially appropriate for our current spring season. 6. Charles Baudelaire Photo by Ron Rothbart Charles Baudelaire (1821 â€" 1867) is a well-known symbolist and surrealist Parisian poet best known for his collection Les Fleurs du Mal  (The Flowers of Evil). After spending several years in India at his reform-minded familys insistence, Baudelaire spent much of his time in Paris living off his inheritance as a dandy, absorbing the artistic culture and developing his eye as a critic, the latter of which helped him earn some supplementary income. However, his family later went to court to appoint someone to manage his inherited and quickly disappearing fortune. Baudelaire is also known for translating the works of Edgar Allen Poe into French. 7. Paul Verlaine Paul Verlaine (1844 â€" 1896) was a symbolist poet of the 19th century, and is perhaps one of the best-known and most influential French poets of all time. Romances sans Paroles (Songs without Words) (1874) was written while he was in prison, and it was based on his travels with the younger French poet Arthur Rimbaud. Sagesse  (1881) compiles some of his confessional religious poetry, and Amour (1888) focuses on his adopted son Lucien. His works are notably difficult to translate due to their focus on sound rather than meaning. 8. Arthur Rimbaud Arthur Rimbaud (1854 â€" 1891), the younger colleague and traveling partner who helped inspire Verlaines Romances sans Paroles, is recognized as one of the founders of the symbolist movement in France. He wrote most of his works during his teenage years. One of his most well-known works from this time period is an extended prose poem called Une Saison en Enfer (A Season in Hell). By the end of his teens, he was forced to search for more stable work to support his family. Verlaine later published many of Rimbauds works that were not published during his lifetime. 9. Guillaume Appolinaire Photo by Wikimedia Commons Guillaume Appolinaire (1880 â€" 1918) was one of the more influential French poets of the early 20th century, influencing Surrealism, Dadaism, Cubism, and Futurism. After finishing school, he worked as a bank clerk, but  simultaneously  associated himself with many of the Paris-based artists and writers of the day, such as Picasso and George Braques. He died in 1918 of a head wound that he had received two years previously on the front lines during World War I. His two major poetry collections are Alcools: Poemes 1898-1913  and Calligrammes: Poemes de la Paix de la Guerre. 10.  Paul Eluard Early in his life, Paul Eluard (1895 â€" 1952), a Parisian, excelled in English and became familiar with poets such as Rimbaud, Baudelaire, and Appolinaire, in addition to many of the Russian classics. He also served in World War I as a medic. This background and experience would shape his writing. He wrote a number of books during his life, including a poetry collection, Le Livre Ouvert (The Open Book), which was published while France was occupied by the Nazis. During World War II, his poem Liberté was dropped into Europe by the British Air Force as anti-Nazi propoganda. If you love poetry, want to practice or improve your French, or hope to explore some new literature, look up these poets and their works. Poetry can be both more and less difficult than ordinary prose, so be prepared for a new challenge! Carol Beth L. teaches  French lessons in San Francisco, CA. She has her Masters in French language education from the Sorbonne University in Paris and has been teaching since 2009.  Learn more about Carol Beth here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Feature photo by  G Morel