US Trailing In Higher Education

US Trailing In Higher Education The United States is no longer the global leader in postsecondary degrees, according to an article in the The Washington Post. A postsecondary degree is any degree that one attains after high school. It could be an Associates Degree, Bachelors Degree or Masters Degree. This trend is consistent with other findings that k-12 students in the United States are lagging behind many other foreign students. The Washington Post cited a recent report from the College Board, stating that the United States has fallen from first to 12th in the number of adults aged 25-34 with a postsecondary degree. Only 40.4 percent of adults in the aforementioned age range hold degrees, as of 2007. The report stated that Canada is now the global leader in adults with postsecondary degrees. 55.8 percent of Canadian adults have a postsecondary degree, also as of 2007. This report was presented to Capitol Hill on Thursday, July 22nd. Politicians and upper-echelon educators have posted a goal of becoming the global leader in education by 2025, with 55 percent of the adult population holding a postsecondary degree. President Barack Obama, however, has slightly different goals. His American Graduation Initiative aims at reclaiming global leadership for adults with postsecondary degrees by 2020. This report only considered young adults aged 25-34. The United States ranks sixth, globally when older adults are considered. The College Boards report is creating concern among politicians and educators because Generation Y (age group 18-34) is speculated to be the first generation in the modern era to be less-educated than their parents. However, the percentage of young adults with postsecondary degrees has actually risen from 38.1 percent in 2000 to 41.6 in 2008, according to The Washington Posts citation of census data. The report also ranked the most educated states. The District of Columbia was considered a state, and it is the most educated with 62.2 percent of adults aged 25-34 holding a postsecondary degree. Many policy-makers and education administrators are implementing programs to foster stronger education in the United States. They are recommending that state and national leaders implement universal pre-kindergarten education programs, even for low-income students. Policy-makers are pushing for more efficient college counseling programs that significantly reduce dropout rates and more streamlined college admission programs. It is believed that some of these programs could produce more college graduates.

Chemistry For Kids Every Child Is Capable

Chemistry For Kids Every Child Is Capable Why Is Chemistry Considered A Difficult Subject? ChaptersMaking Science Topics For Kids InterestingGive Children Fun Chemistry Experiments To TryEncouraging Children To Learn About Chemistry Can Be BeneficialThere are a variety of different reasons why chemistry is seen as a particularly difficult subject to master.Whether it’s down to the fact that there are a lot of different chemical compounds and chemical reactions that you should be aware of, or that it can sometimes feel as though there aren’t enough good quality science teachers out there that encourage learning more about chemistry, there’s no denying that chemistry is often considered difficult to learn.This perception isn’t new either. Even back in 2005, the BBC reported on the findings of a survey that found around “51% of teenagers think science lessons are boring, confusing or difficult.” Clearly, the issue of how to make science more engaging for all children, and most importantly all ability levels, has been around for a number of years.Thankfully, this i ssue doesn’t have to hang around for another decade. Although chemistry, along with the other sciences such as physics and biology, is often perceived as a subject that only smart pupils and budding chemists and scientists are good at, the fact is that it is possible to engage children of all ability levels when it comes to learning about chemistry.This article considers how chemistry can be made more fun for all pupils and children. Even if just a few of these approaches are used, it may well help shift students’ perceptions of chemistry. For example, pupils may learn that:You don’t have to be the most academically gifted pupil to do well in chemistry;Chemistry can be fun and interesting as a subject; andBeing interested in a science subject at school doesn’t make someone “geeky” or “nerdy.”Podcasts can be a wonderful way of learning more about science topics for kids. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, Pexels, Pixabay)The class has too many disruptive students, making it diff icult for the rest of the class to concentrate on what the teacher is saying; orThe way the subject matter is taught in a particular way that pupils might consider boring or bland.However, children or older pupils don’t have to endure “boring” lessons, regardless of whether those lessons are in chemistry or another subject entirely. For instance, if you find that it’s difficult to learn due to a disruptive class, don’t be afraid to ask your teacher questions about the subject materials after class.Equally, if you know you have an interest in a particular area of chemistry such as materials chemistry, physical chemistry, or atomic structures, then you could also ask your teacher for some suggestions on how you can learn more about those particular areas.Finally, don’t underestimate the power of technology. In today’s digital era, there are lots of different ways to learn about chemistry, even outside of the classroom.So if you want to learn more about chemistry, you can easily do so in your spare time, for example by:Reading a chemistry  book;Watching an educational programme about chemistry, physics, or biology; orListening to a podcast such as the Royal Society of Chemistry’s podcasts on the periodic table.Although the type of resources that you use will depend on your age and existing knowledge of chemistry, it can be reassuring to know there are lots of different ways you can learn more about chemistry, regardless of how old you are.What's more, you could even make your own chemistry set to help you with any home science experiments. Although having a beaker, a flask, a few test tubes, and maybe even a microscope might help with some science experiments, chances are you can create a relatively simple chemistry set at home and still be able to conduct experiments.After all, blowing up a balloon and rubbing it against someone's hair or against a wall to see how static electricity works, or looking at how a magnet functions, doesn't require you to have a fully-fledged science laboratory at home!Even if you don't have a chemistry kit, you can still learn more about chemical processes at home, for example by baking, which involves mixing a lot of ingredients together, which when combined produce various chemical reactions.You can get chemistry tutors near me here now.Fun chemistry experiments can help encourage children to learn more about chemistry. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, jarmoluk, Pixabay)Give Children Fun Chemistry Experiments To TrySometimes pupils aren’t particularly drawn to the sciences because they’re seen as “dull” subjects, or subjects that require you to memorise long lists of facts.However, one way to challenge this perception is to try and make science subjects, including chemistry, more fun and engaging, which should pique any pupil's curiosity. This could easily be achieved by introducing chemistry experiments into school lessons.Using chemistry experiments in classes â€" whether just by showing pupi ls basic chemical reactions or doing a larger experiment â€" can be a great way to bring chemistry to life by highlighting the effects of how elements or compounds react with one another.Other reasons why basic chemistry experiments are a wonderful teaching tool to use in classes are that:It engages students of all ability levels as there's a lot that students can observe;Experiments are a very visual way of teaching, which can make a nice break from looking through textbooks and workbooks; andSometimes it’s easier to show students a science experiment through demonstration rather than tell them about it.Even if you don’t get to see as many experiments at school as you’d like, there’s no reason why you can’t undertake science or chemistry experiments at home (providing, of course, that the experiments and the materials used within the experiments are safe).There are lots of different resources that you can use to find an experiment, and steps on how to try out common exper iments such as the chemical volcano are relatively easy to find through a quick search on a search engine.Often, such home-made experiments are cheap to buy the ingredients for and aren’t particularly time intensive, even when it comes to measuring out ingredients, making them a great way to learn more about chemistry outside of the classroom.So whether you fancy making your own slime, want to observe invisible ink in action, or would like to make a volcano and see some bubbles erupt, either using the baking soda and vinegar method or with Diet Coke and Mentos, it's not too hard to get hold of the household ingredients you need to make these fun science experiments come alive.Just make sure that any science experiment you do conduct is safe, and if necessary you have adequate supervision in place before starting any experiment.Get A level chemistry tuition here.Learning about different chemistry topics for children might be easier if that child has at least a basic understanding o f mathematics. (Image Source: CC0 1.0, geralt, Pixabay)Encouraging Children To Learn About Chemistry Can Be BeneficialAnother reason why there may be a perception that chemistry is a difficult subject to master, and so, therefore, is only a subject worth studying in depth if you are a particularly gifted or intelligent student, is the fact that some students simply aren’t equipped with the basic knowledge needed to do well in subjects related to the sciences.Often, the main culprit is a lack of understanding in maths. Maths is a fundamental skill that’s needed across almost any science discipline. Whether you need to:Use algebra or geometry to solve a formula in physics; orUse mathematics to balance a chemical equation during a chemistry class,There are so many ways that maths can creep into a scientific subject such as chemistry.As a result, if a pupil isn’t particularly confident in their mathematical abilities, or has struggled in the past with particular areas such as calc ulus or geometry, then they may not show much desire to take subjects that feature such similar problem areas seriously.While not every child will be naturally gifted in maths, it’s important to recognise that, regardless of ability level, a pupil could improve their understanding of a subject such as chemistry if their knowledge of maths is improved, even in a small way.This may mean more exercises and homework to consolidate existing knowledge, or even revisiting areas of maths that may have been forgotten or underused in the past.Equally, another reason why a pupil may struggle to excel in chemistry is due to the fact that the pupil is not sufficiently comfortable with the basic chemistry principles.After all, it would be difficult for anyone to be able to get their head around chemical compounds and chemical reactions if they don’t know at least some of the basic elements, such as hydrogen, helium, oxygen, potassium etc.If you know that you’re currently struggling with the basics of chemistry, or having other issues such as the mathematical elements of the subject, then the good news is that there are ways to improve your understanding and knowledge.Even if you're not sure of the difference between an atom and a molecule, or what makes acids different from alkalis, you can try to improve your knowledge by revising previous chemistry lessons to make sure that you’ve understood all of the materials within each lesson. Equally, you can also reach out to a third party for support.Superprof, for instance, has a wide network of science tutors, including chemistry tutors, who would be happy to work alongside you to fill in any gaps in knowledge you may have on the subject. Whether you’d like to learn:How to solve chemical equations;How to memorise the periodic table; orMore about different chemistry experiments and what they can teach you.A Superprof tutor could point you in the right direction. You can either search for a local tutor by entering your p ostcode, or you could decide to have online, remote tuition with an experienced chemistry tutor â€" the choice is yours!

5 Common Mistakes of Beginner Guitarists

5 Common Mistakes of Beginner Guitarists Suzy S. Buying your first guitar and strumming your very first note can be an exciting feeling and thats only the beginning!   Pretty soon, youll be mastering major and minor chords, impressing your friends and family with full songs and spouting off music theory.   And of course, next comes venturing on stage, sold-out shows and hearing the roar of the crowd, right? Before you get too far ahead of yourself, its important to evaluate your playing style and make sure you have good practice habits.   No matter where youre at in your guitar studies, bad habits have a funny way of getting engrained in our minds.   If youre not working closely with a private guitar teacher, those habits can be detrimental to your success.   Here are 5 common mistakes that beginners tend to make, as originally posted on The Punch-In Blog from TrueFire.com: 1. Not practicing correctly. When you pick up your guitar to practice, do you just play what you already know â€"  or do you work on new riffs and techniques? Often the best way to progress it to find a balance between playing what you already know and working on something new. Divide up your practice time between mastering the techniques you already know and challenging yourself with new learning material. 2. Trying to play beyond one’s ability. You cannot expect to be able to shred out Steve Vai licks if you haven’t mastered Mary Had A Little Lamb yet (the nursery version, not the Stevie Ray Vaughan song). Trying to play far outside of your current ability will only bring frustration. You have the entire rest of your life to build your guitar playing up to a level of mastery â€"  take your time and find your own path. 3. Choosing the wrong gear. When you’re first starting out, it is easy to get caught up in what a guitar looks like or how much it costs. These days, well-made instruments are available at virtually every price point. The best thing to do when going shopping for that first guitar is to bring someone who knows the ins and outs of guitar shopping. Let them help you choose the best guitar for your budget and the playing style you’d like to learn. 4. Playing an out of tune instrument. Learning to tune is your first job as a budding guitarist, and you should tune your instrument every time you pick it up. If you are always playing a guitar that is out of tune, your ear never really gets to learn what each of the notes and chords should sound like. Plus, an out-of-tune instrument will always sound bad no matter how well you’re playing. 5. Learning in a vacuum. These days there’s an abundance of online guitar lessons, videos, guitar books, DVD’s and other materials that allow you to learn at your own leisure. Given all the available tools, you could gain a ton of chops and know-how. But someone who spends all his time learning in isolation can be at a total loss when it comes to performing or to playing with other people.   Everyone can benefit from constructive feedback, so taking private guitar lessons is a great way to ensure your success from all angles. Do you make any of these mistakes, or have you made them in the past?   If so, how did you correct the bad habits?   Share your own tips and thoughts with the TakeLessons community on Facebook! Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. 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 You might also like Do You Have the Right Strings on Your Guitar? 5 Ways to Practice Without Your Guitar 10 Easy Tips for the Beginning Guitar Photo by jeet_sen.

English Food Adjectives ?? - English Vocabulary related to Food

English Food Adjectives ?? - English Vocabulary related to Food Let’s face it we all love ?? our food. Cooking is a pleasure but eating it is even more pleasurable. Here are some English food adjectives you might need to describe how you like your food or how you might described what is served to you in a restaurant. Enjoyed this infographic? Here’s what you can do next: English Food Adjectives When we are talking about MEAT we can use the following English food adjectives:Chewy a bit difficult to eat and requires a lot of chewing Tough like eating leather impossible to bite Tender perfectly cooked and very delicateJuicy nicely cooked that melted in your mouthUsually, in a restaurant you will get asked how youd  like your  meat (or steak) cooked. So next time you could answer:blue completely red on the insiderare 75% red on the insidemedium-rare 50% red on the insidemedium a little bit pinkmedium to well done nearly cookedwell done very well cooked and often chewyFor vegetables we can use the following English food adjectives:over cooked soft and watery or mushyal dente perfectly cooked; a little bit of bite when you chewed themMUSHY is usually used to refer to food that has been over cooked particularly vegetables. They absorb a lot of water and become very soft and mushy when pressed. However, a very favourite English way to eat peas is known as mushy peas and are often served with the traditional fish and chips. English Food Adjectives The potato chips/fries/french fries were: crispy a little overdone, firm, and usually make noise when you bite them crunchy   a nice bite, perfectly cookedgreasy and fat too much oil or fat used in the cookingSTALE is used to describe food that is no longer fresh. More often we refer to old bread as stale when it becomes dry and hard. But many foods can become stale when they are past their sell by date. Milk that is old and not drinkable, however, is called sour milk not stale milk.REMEMBER: We say  STALE breadSOUR milkROTTEN fruit, vegetables or meatRANCID butterWe all like sweet things, biscuits and cakes. However, when referring to certain fruits like lemons and limes we use the word bitter which is the opposite of sweet. The lemon adds a bitter taste .Most recipes now include several references to teaspoons of herbs and spices. This is to add some much need colour or flavour particularly if you are cooking middle eastern or Asian foods.Spicy, however, usually means the food i s quite hot and likely to make your eyes water if there is too much spice added such as chili or ginger. They make a big difference in the taste when the right amount is added but for me it spoils the experience if over used.One of my favourite words to describe food is gooey. It reminds me of a chocolate brownie. Yummy. ??Gooey  stands for food  that is kind of hard on the outside but  inside its sticky and soft.  There are many ways to prepare food. In relation to most meat dishes we can:boil cook in in water that is boiling (100 C)steam cook vegetables, fish or chicken over boiling water roast meat in the oven fry cook in a pan on the stovestew slow cook in a pot for several hoursbake to cook bread, cakes, biscuits in an ovento grill to cook under a grillto heat up to make something hot that is already cookedto microwave to cook something in a microwaveto steam to cook with steam produced by boiling water Cooking Verbs in English Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter Share on linkedin LinkedIn Phrases to Describe Your Meal in English When the food is cooked just the way you like it we can describe the meal as TASTY. When you were not so happy with the meal you might say    ah it was alrightit will do!Enjoy the cooking and the eating!!!

Helpful Apps for ADHD

Helpful Apps for ADHD There are an abundance of apps targeting kids and adults with ADHD. But how do you know which ones will be most helpful for your child? The apps that have been most helpful for the kids and families that I work with tend to focus on specific challenges that kids with ADHD face. Theyre focused on problems like following routines, keeping track of time, making friends, and staying calm. These challenges arent unique to ADHD; in fact theyre things that many kids struggle with. So when youre in the app store, look for programs targeting specific problems, rather than apps that simply have ADHD in their name. Following Routines. Kids with ADHD need extra help turning everyday tasks and activities into routines and habits that they can do consistently. Brili Routines allows parents to create routines that can be followed anytime and anywhere. Kids view the routines in a game-like format with a picture for each task. The game challenges them to complete each task, stay on time, and earn points along the way. Habit Tracker for Teens and Parents. Teens and parents with ADHD also need help scheduling routines will eventually develop into good habits. The Productive Habit Tracker allows you or your teen to schedule activities and tasks that repeat on a daily basis, or occur only on select days of the week. This tracker uses a colorful interface with visual prompts, and allows you to track your progress. Progress can be paired with rewards for extra motivation. Activity Breaks. Research shows that brief activity breaks during homework time helps kids recharge and stay focused while they are working. Brief structured activities that are under 5 minutes work best for kids with ADHD. GoNoodle is a program that was originally designed for teachers who needed classroom activity breaks. But parents can also use it at home. Kids chose from dance- and sing-alongs, Zumba for kids, track and field activities, and more. Most activities are under 5 minutes! Social Skills. Learning and practicing good social skills can be hard for kids and teens with ADHD. There are quite a few social skills apps and programs out there, but my personal favorites are The Social Express for elementary school kids and Middle School Confidential for pre-teens and teens. The Social Express contains 81 webisodes that teach conversation skills, attentive listening, conflict resolution, and self-management. The Social Express was originally designed for use in schools, but as parents you can access the curriculum and one-on-one activities to use at home. The Social Express can be accessed through any web browser or an iPad app. Middle School Confidential is a graphic novel series about common social challenges faced by pre-teens and teens. The first three books are available as apps and focus on being confident, making real friends, and dealing with family conflicts. The engaging graphic novel format resonates with teens, and keeps them interested and engaged. Staying Calm. ADHD can make it hard for kids and teens to calm down when they feel anxious or frustrated. As a parent, youve probably noticed that simply telling your child or teen to calm down rarely helps, and may even make the situation worse. Providing strategies and tools to help kids regulate their emotions can help. For kids I recommend Breathing Bubbles and Calm Counter. For teens I recommend the Take a Chill. Breathing Bubbles is a colorful calming app that helps kids identify their worries and stress, place their worries inside of virtual bubbles and take deep breaths while they float away. Calm Counter includes social stories designed to teach kids that we all get angry sometimes, and I need a break exercise that help kids identify their emotions and cool down. Take a Chill is a wonderful app designed especially for teens. It contains calming exercises, progress trackers, reminders, and assessments that help kids identify their stress and work through it in a healthy way. These any many other mobile apps and websites provide great support for the lessons that you and your childs teachers, social workers, and after school tutors are working hard to teach and reinforce. The engaging nature of this technology is sometimes just the thing to really bring that lesson home in a fun, memorable way. And it creates positive screen time for kids with ADHD, fostering a more healthy relationship between your child and technology. Have a favorite app or program youd like to share? Comment here Id love to hear from you. Im always interested to hear about new apps and websites and to check them out! ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Easy Tips for Acing the NCLEX RN Exam - Private Tutoring

Easy Tips for Acing the NCLEX RN Exam BobbiM May 11, 2015 Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and stockimage Being a nursing student is already tough but being a registered nurse is an even a tougher battle to conquer. What makes the licensing exam a lot more difficult is the fact that it incorporates four years of nursing education into a set of test questions. Plus, passing or acing this test requires achieving an exceptionally high score. Check Out Our Top Rated Nursing Tutors to Help with Exams and Courses! If your goal is to pass the NCLEX, you need more than the textbook basics. In fact, it is recommended that you cover several subjects in depth and with a variety of resource aids if you really want to get the score you need. To help you out, here are some simple, yet effective, ways you can get great help for passing the NCLEX. Enroll in a Review Course There are actually many review courses available today. Aspiring nurses get to choose between online courses or classroom review courses. These classes provide the exam taker with various educational resources that can be useful for him or her. Such resources include sample questions and guidebooks. Additionally, they also provide classroom teaching for those that choose that option which helps students to determine the rationale behind the answers to the tests questions. If you have the time and interest, this might be a great starting place! Hire A Private NCLEX Tutor One of the best ways to prepare for this kind of exam is to seek help from the professionals. This is the reason why NCLEX tutoring has become quite popular nowadays. The best thing about working with a tutor is the fact that they can determine your weaknesses and help you turn those into your strengths. Finding an NCLEX tutor is recommended for those people who would prefer receiving individualized instruction.  In addition to the focused individualized attention, private NCLEX tutors also work on your timeframe and schedule which is really helpful if you are cramming last minute or have just identified an area that needs extra attention. You can opt for in home tutorial services, online or at learning centers.    Choose which of these options would be most effective for you.  For ease of use and less stress, having your own private tutor can make a world of difference! Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and hywards Find A Study Buddy Studying alone can be quite boring. Plus, it can get really tedious as well. To combat such issues, the best thing that you can do is to find a study buddy. This is an inexpensive and a convenient way of preparing for the big test. If you have any friends who will be taking the exam too, study with them. You can help encourage and keep each other motivated throughout your review season.  Having someone else that is in the same boat is a way of being held accountable which can be a pretty strong motivator. Make Sure to Have the Right  Study and Training Resources In exams like these, the more resources that you have, the better. Any and all study guides, books or training material that you have collected over the years can come in handy. Check with others that know this test and subject and ask for insight into tools they used to prepare for this exam. Everyone learns differently and making sure that you have what you need to prepare is critical for success. As mentioned above, passing and acing the NCLEX is a tough job to tackle but it is not at all impossible.  Try a couple of the suggestions mentioned above and prepare to spend the time required and you may well be surprised at how well you do on this exam! Good luck on this last step in becoming a nurse! If you enjoyed this post, please pin it to Pinterest, share it on Twitter or Facebook or stumble it on Stumbleupon!  Share buttons are below!  Thanks ~ You Might Also Enjoy: 4 Basic Principles of Problem Solving

5 Doggone Easy Tips to Help with Foreign Language Acquisition

5 Doggone Easy Tips to Help with Foreign Language Acquisition 5 Doggone Easy Tips to Help with Foreign Language Acquisition Learning a foreign language is like learning how to drive.And no, its not because it involves a parent or driving instructor yelling at you because they fear for their livesâ€"although that can also sometimes happen when youre learning a foreign language.Instead, foreign language acquisition is like learning to drive a car because nobody is a pro straight out of the driveway.Its a process that everyone masters in their own time.The challenge of learning a foreign language is part of what makes going through the difficulties worth it. Theres a feeling of empowerment once you master a language. Of course, it can be quite frustrating at times while youre in the learning process. Still, each challenge helps propel you forward to fluency.No one becomes an expert at anything overnight, so you shouldn’t pressure yourself to master a foreign language so quickly, either. Its normal to slow down at some point during the learning process.There are also things you can do to help combat frustra tion when it comes, and thats what this post is about.Heres a list of five simple yet smart tips to help you along the way as you embark on your foreign language journey. 5 Doggone Easy Tips to Help with Foreign Language Acquisition1. Know Your Own Level, and Understand That Not All Skills Are Learned EquallyA beginner isnt going to have the vocabulary of a native speaker. Just like children learn their native tongue, absorbing new words and grammar takes time.To learn anything new, we build up new vocabulary as we learn. Someone learning to become a geologist or a doctor doesn’t have all the tools and vocabulary they need in the beginningâ€"but they pick it up along the way. Similarly, vocabulary is a key element to language fluency, but there are ways around having a smaller word bank at the beginning.If youre struggling to describe something, your pet for example, and you don’t know a particular adjective, think of another way to say it. Think around the new word and use wh at you do know.Grammar is a little different. Languages have grammar rules in order to maintain the way they operate. In some cases, grammar is trickier to memorize. You have to give yourself the patience to absorb each new skill and incorporate it into your knowledge of the language.Being aware of what stage youre at with a foreign language is one of the best things you can do. Yes, its important to push yourself, to keep challenging what you can do. But you should also be conscious of your current skill level. Itll help you feel more comfortable with where you are.Language is a process, just like any new skill. Acknowledge where you are, but keep going forward.2. Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Upâ€"Even If You Make Mistakes!For most of us, our goal when learning a foreign language is to fluently speak it in a real-life context. Writing and reading are often priorities too, but the main aim is usually to do things like carry on a conversation, ask for directions or order at a restauran t. Speaking aloud is crucial to mastering a language.It doesn’t matter if at first you stumble or can’t get your mouth to make the right sounds. It happens to everyone, and you may even feel nervous and shy. But that embarrassment is going to hold you back.A big part of learning a language is gaining confidence. Youll never progress if you don’t try. Fake it till you make it, or so they say, and thats good advice. Youve already stepped outside your comfort zone by challenging yourself to learn a new language. Now you have to continue that and talk. An instructor or a native speaker is going to appreciate you trying and struggling more than you not trying at all.3. Utilize Any Resource That Enhances Your LearningThere are a plethora of resources out there to help you acquire a new language. When you feel stuck, here are some things you can try out.Read online articles and newspapersIf you struggle to gain the confidence to speak in the language youre learning, try reading aloud . Anything from a newspaper article to a poem to a children’s book is going to help you practice pronunciation and transition from one word to the next. Itll also help improve your vocabulary. Break out your dictionary and dedicate time to reading something new each day.Still, don’t try to read a whole book in another language right away. Start small and build your way up. Beginning with magazines, articles and short writings will prep you for bigger and bigger pieces.Watch movies (with subtitles)Films and TV shows are great resources for two big reasons. First, theyre a different medium to learn from. Varying what you use to learn not only mixes it up and makes things interesting, it also allows you to figure out what works best for you.Second, they provide a cultural aspect to your learning. Seeing what another culture consumes in terms of entertainment, jokes, style and history adds another layer to your knowledge of the culture. Language and culture go hand in hand. Its very difficult to master a foreign language if you dont have much knowledge of the culture.Many foreign shows and movies  have English subtitles available. These are great for helping you follow the plot and discern meaning from new words.Listen to musicListening to music in a foreign language is beneficial in a similar way to watching foreign films. It adds variety, provides a cultural experience and challenges you.Don’t expect to understand everything right away. You may only pick out a few words you know at first but as you build up your vocabulary, understanding music, movies and books will all become easier.Some music providers like  Spotify offer playlists of popular music in different countries. Try searching for one to discover different foreign artists that way.Use apps and play gamesWith the internet and smartphones, there are so many apps and other online tools you can use to learn and practice your new language. Try out a few so you can determine what works best for you an d your lifestyle. And remember to play some games, tooâ€"lifes too short to be bored while youre learning!4. Change or Adapt Methods That Aren’t Working for YouA learning tool that works for one person may not work for you. You may find that listening to foreign songs doesnt really enhance your learning, or that a particular app just frustrates you more. Thats OK. Simply ditch what isnt helping you and try something new.Play around with different methods of learning to find out what you like. Learning a language can be fun if you figure out the right learning style for you. Old-school flashcards may work better for you than games on a phone. Theres no single correct way to learn a language.5. Acknowledge That Learning a Language Is Not an Overnight ExperienceYoull never be fluent in a language if youre constantly frustrated with your progress. So remember: this isnt a quick process. Fluency takes time, practice and consistency.Make time every day to work with the language. The bes t way to keep improving is to use the language. Take advantage of the resources out there and mix things up when you can. Congratulate yourself and even celebrate when you master a new skill and incorporate it into your practice.Finally, you can avoid running into a wall of frustration by remembering that everyone who learns a foreign language has been in your shoes. Frustration is normal, but ultimately it will hold you back from making progress.Learning a language isn’t a race. If you work with it every day, you’ll find that you’ll get there faster.As weve seen, foreign language acquisition can at times be tricky and frustrating, but you can make it easierâ€"and even fun!â€"by following these tips. Good luck!Kendall Hurley is a writer from Anchorage, AK specializing in history and language. She is currently studying Norwegian, with a background in Spanish and French.