How to Decide Between AP and IB Classes

How to Decide Between AP and IB Classes For high-achieving high school students seeking a challenge, there are two abbreviations to become familiar with: AP and IB. AP, or Advanced Placement, classes help prepare high school students for college by providing the opportunity to take one or more college-level courses and earn college credit. IB, or International Baccalaureate, classes are part of a system where high school students can earn an internationally recognized diploma by following a specific course program. Both AP and IB courses offer students a challenging academic experience and the opportunity to earn college credit. Students can choose between AP and IB classes by understanding the goals of each program, researching program availability, and examining the time commitment of each. If youre looking to challenge yourself academically this fall, keep reading to discover how to decide between AP and IB classes. AP vs. IB classes: understand the goals of each program Both AP and IB courses set out to give students an advantage when applying to colleges. That being said, its important to know the specific goals of each program, in an effort to choose the right one for you. The main goal of an AP course is to educate students about very specific content in subjects ranging from biology to U.S. history. Students interested in AP classes should note the following: AP students are tested on what they have learned via a multi-hour exam at the end of the course. The exam includes several question formats, but is primarily multiple-choice. The score students earn, on a scale of one to five, dictates whether or not they receive college credit. Like an AP class, IB courses discuss specific subjects. The International Baccalaureate Organization presents a curriculum that primarily incorporates exams, papers, and projects. Students interested in an IB class should note the following: Tests may be scored by external assessors, who assign a score between one and seven. While IB courses require exams, the focus is on question formats that are not multiple-choice. [RELATED: What High School Students Should Know About IB Courses] AP vs. IB classes: research which courses are available to you AP courses are more widely available in American schools than IB classes. However, there are many American high schools that offer IB courses as well. Students who dont have access to AP courses in school can also take them online, which makes them much more readily available. If youre interested in learning more about whats offered at your school or how to take AP classes online, speak to your guidance counselor. [RELATED: The Ultimate Study Plan for AP Courses] AP vs. IB classes: examine the required time commitments Students can take one or more AP classes of their choosing throughout their high school career, with each course lasting the length of the school year. IB students, alternatively, are required to take a somewhat set program of advanced courses in order to receive a diploma for the program. Certain high schools also offer standalone IB classes. If your schedule is packed with extracurricular activities or personal obligations, it may be wise to take fewer advanced courses so you can devote the appropriate time to each. AP vs. IB classes: note the cost of each program Enrolling in an IB diploma program is more expensive than taking an AP course or courses. Theres a $172 registration fee to enroll in an IB program, plus a $119 fee per exam, according to International Baccalaureate. AP classes, on the other hand, are free to enroll in and only cost $94 per exam, according to the College Board. Students are only required to take the exam if they want potential college credit. The cost of the two programs can be a large factor when deciding between AP and IB classes. It can be helpful to talk to your parents to see which option is the best fit for you and your family. Note that there are fee waivers available for both AP and IB exams. When in doubt, meet with your guidance counselor to gather more insights on choosing between AP and IB classes. [RELATED: Top Tips for AP Exam Week] Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

The Best Apps for Learning Chinese

The Best Apps for Learning Chinese Which Chinese Language Learning Apps are Best? ChaptersHellotalk Anki for Learning as many Chinese Words as Possible Write Chinese Characters Using PlecoSkritter Hello HSKWhile going to the country where the language is spoken is almost always the best way to learn Chinese, your language-learning desire can sometimes be trumped by simply lacking the funds or means to travel and learn through immersion.  However, a problem that often gets overlooked by both students and professionals is finding the time to actually study. It doesn't matter how interested you are in learning a language if you can never actually find the time to learn it!Whether you’re on the bus on the way to work or university, in a doctors waiting room surrounded by old magazines, stuck in traffic while listening to the same 3 pop songs, or just doing some house work or chores, did you know that you could use your free time to learn a language?You've probably already tried typing things like “learn Chinese” into Google. As you'll have seen, there are plenty of resources for those who want to learn Chinese online. Finding them is easy. Choosing the right ones is hard.While technology doesn’t perform the miracles it often promises to, smartphones can be used effectively to learn languages from distant lands like Chinese.Let’s have a look at the apps and resources that can help you to learn Chinese outside of Chinese language courses. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsHellotalkWhether you’re an absolute beginner, inter mediate, or advanced student, this e-learning mobile app, which puts you in contact with native Chinese speakers, is a great addition to your Chinese private tutorials and is incredibly useful if you're hoping to become conversational or steadily working towards fluency.Is there a Swiss Army knife app for teaching Chinese? (Source: Adrianna Calvo)The app is available on both Android and iTunes and requires that its users create a profile including where they live.Whether the user prefers to keep their location hidden or not, they can use the app to find Chinese people near them in order to practise the language they want to learn with them.Once the user’s decided whether or not they want to show that they’re learning Chinese, the app will help them get in contact with native Chinese speakers so that they can get better at the language by.Conveniently, these Chinese native speakers happen to be looking for someone who speaks English natively so that they can practise their Englis h.Once the two have been put in contact with one another, each user can correct their partner’s mistakes in the foreign language in real-time through chat in order to mutually help one another improve their foreign languages. You can also turn text into audio in order to hear the Chinese pronunciation.If you're speaking to a Chinese native speaker who makes a mistake in English, you can immediately correct them in the conversation and they can do the same if you make a mistake in Chinese.This isn’t like other chat clients such as Wechat, Whatsapp, or Facebook Messenger. The functions of this app are geared towards language learningThe goal of this app, which has 4 out of 5 stars on Google Play and has been downloaded 40,000 times, is to improve language skills through conversation, correction, and everyday conversation with native speakers of Mandarin Chinese.Some key points about this app:There are no smileys or emojis in this app since the goal is to express yourself through w riting and speaking rather than “text speak”.This app is “freemium”. This means that although it is free, some functions can only be accessed by paying for them.It features a “feed” like on Facebook where you can keep up to date with your linguistic adventure.If you're an exchange student who's just moved to Beijing, it's a great way to find someone who teaches Chinese or would just like to learn to speak English.You should also check out our books for learning Chinese! Anki for Learning as many Chinese Words as PossibleAnki is the flashcard app par excellence for those taking private Chinese classes!Which apps should you be using to learn Chinese characters, tones, and vocabulary? (Source: kaboompics.com)Highly recommended by almost every Chinese language learner, this app can be installed on both Android and iPhone. Users can use this free app to read, learn, and remember Chinese words and characters.Let me explain how it works: The user can create or import a Chinese vocabulary list and test themselves using text, audio, images, speech synthesis, and spaced repetition in order to improve their Chinese.With an interface that blends simplicity and flexibility, this app is made particularly special by the dedicated community around it.  Thanks to the community, there are so many different vocabulary packets available for beginners, intermediate, and advanced speakers of Chinese.Additionally, since the app is “open source”, there are a huge range of tools and extras being developed for it. This also means that it can’t go bust due to a lack of funding.Did you know you could also learn Chinese by watching videos? NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Di scover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Write Chinese Characters Using PlecoThe Pleco app, which is available on Android and iPhone, is essential for anyone wanting to learn Mandarin Chinese.Some apps can use certain vocabulary, words, and expressions in order gauge a student's level. (Source: pixabay.com)Recommended by Chinese bloggers and professors, this comprehensive app has a number of features that will help Chinese students improve in their foreign language.Chinese-English DictionaryThe really special thing about this mobile dictionary is that you can draw the characters directly into it using your finger or write them out using the Pinyin phonetic transcription system.Optical Character Recognition (OCR)Optical character recognition allows the app to effectively “read” Chinese characters using your phones camera and subsequently give you a translation of these characters in English.Another great feature of the app is that you can save the characters you’ve scanned using the OCR into a deck so that you can go back over them at a later point.This is really useful for students learning to read in Chinese or intermediate students looking to expand their Chinese vocabulary.  Unfortunately, this tool isn’t available unless you pay for the full version and the character recognition works better using the photo function than the live recognition.Flashcard FunctionThis function allows you to practise memorising Chinese characters as well as revising characters that you’ve previously seen like those from your Chinese tutorials, for example.These flashcards, which are quite easy to manage, can be used to create tests. This is particularly useful if you’re studying for a Mandarin Chinese exam, for example.One by one, these Chinese characters will appear before you and you’l l have to prove whether or not you know them. Your final score will tell you whether or not you need to keep studying in order to improve.  This feature, which is available in the free version, is really useful for students that are studying for the official HSK exams since you can choose the word lists for the level you’re studying for.SkritterLearning how to speak a new language is tough and if you're desperate to learn the Chinese language, you're going to need to know more than just a few phrases . Even if you can speak Chinese perfectly and have a fantastic understanding of Chinese grammar, you still need to be able to read it!Learning Mandarin Chinese without being able to read it will leave literature (which is a huge part of Chinese culture) beyond your grasp. Don't worry though! If you're taking Mandarin lessons (where you should be getting a lot of Chinese speaking practice), you should be using the Skritter app in your free time, to help you learn Chinese characters.Thi s app uses Spaced Repetition, a method that can help you learn a Chinese character with a 90% retention rate. While speaking Chinese is only half of your mission, if you want to become fluent, you need to be able to read, write, and speak! You can take Mandarin lessons London, Manchester or anywhere in the World!You might also want to know about the best websites for learning Chinese... Hello HSKThe HSK exam has its own official apps for students wanting to pass the exam with flying colours!The HSK exam uses simplified Chinese characters so you won't need to study traditional characters. (Source: stock.tookapic.com)Since the apps are divided into levels, there are 6 of them and all of them are available on both Android and iPhone. They’re particularly useful for students who need to go back over something they might have missed during their tutorials.The app, which has 4 out of 5 stars, features the following from the exams:ListeningReadingWriting Chinese charactersIt includes a g ood mix of Mandarin Chinese lessons and exercises, making it essential for anyone who’s signed up for the exam. Additionally, it focuses on the key points of Mandarin, vocabulary, and expressions that you’ll see in the exam.It also has HSK practice papers for students to get ready for the big day when they finally sit the most popular official exam amongst those learning Chinese.To get ready for your HSK exam, you can also check out some of the best videos online for learning Chinese or find a tutor for lessons by webcam or in person, including Chinese lessons London.Discover also the best tools for learning Chinese...

5 Fun Italian Games for Learning Numbers

5 Fun Italian Games for Learning Numbers Brooke Neuman Can you count to 10, 20, or 30 in Italian? Below, Italian teacher Nadia B. shares some fun Italian games that will help students learn numbers Learning numbers in Italian is as simple as uno, due, tre. From referencing amounts to sharing phone numbers, learning the Italian numbers will serve you well. Play the following Italian games with your instructor or friends to help you learn and memorize  the numbersand before you know it, youll be using numbers with ease! 1. Bingo An old favorite, bingo can be transformed into an Italian game. Print off a bingo sheet with numbers (there are a ton of websites where you can find blank bingo sheets), then designate someone to call out the numbers in Italian. When someone completes an entire line, he or she yells “bingo” and then recites the numbers he or she has in Italian. If you dont have chips to place on the sheet, try placing a clear sheet over the printout so you can simply erase the xs on the sheet and start over. 2. Catch it! In a circle (or between two people), start tossing a small ball back and forth. Every time a person catches the ball, he or she must say a number in Italian. The next person who catches the ball must say a numeral higher than the previous one. You’ll start to learn more and more as the numbers ascend. Before you know it, you’ll be reciting the number 1,395 or milletrecentonovantacinque. To add extra challenge, you can also recite the numbers in threes, tens, or whatever sequence you wish. 3. Story Time This Italian game is an imaginative way to practice using  numbers in conversation. As a group, create a story by having each person contribute a sentence, one by one, building on the previous sentences. Every third person (or sentence) needs to have at least one number included in it. Here is an example of a story: Mauro è un ragazzo che abita vicino ad un bosco. Un giorno, quando camminava nel bosco, ha visto un lupo. Il lupo gli ha detto, Dopo quattro giorni, vedrai un albero alto e accanto allalbero, due fiori. Questi fiori sono magici. [Mauro is a boy who lives near a forest. One day, when he was walking in the forest, he saw a wolf, and the wolf said to him, After four days, you will see a tall tree and, next to the tree, two flowers. These flowers are magical.] 4.  Solve it In a circle, have someone start by proposing a math question using multiplication, division, addition, or subtraction. For example, tre per tre (three times three), dieci diviso per due (ten divided by two),  or  cinque più tre (five plus three). The next person in the circle has to answer the question, then using their answer  create a new math problem. Keep the equations simpleor else you could end up with complex math to do! If someone gets a problem wrong or mispronounces a number in Italian,  he or she  steps outside the circle. The last person left wins! 5. Number patterns First, have everyone stand in a straight line.  Choose a number pattern to count ( for example, odd numbers, even numbers, multiples of five, etc.). The first person starts off by saying the first number of the sequence and then moves to the back of the line. The next person continues and so on until the number 100  is reached in each sequence. This Italian game is good practice and can also add extra challenge if a quick pace is established. The movement of walking and standing also helps, since learning happens best when the whole body and brain are engaged! These Italian games for learning numbers are playful and fun, so make sure to enjoy yourself. Youll see the benefit of having the numbers on the tip of your tongue when you start to use what youve learned  outside of your Italian lessons, since all sorts of daily activities involve numbers. Post Author: Nadia B. Nadia B. teaches Italian in New York, NY. She graduated summa cum laude from New York University, with a double degree in Italian Language and Literature and Classical Music Performance.  Learn more about Nadia 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

Learn Italian Fast

Learn Italian Fast Learn Italian Quickly at Home ChaptersLearn the Important Italian Words FirstLearning Italian Phonetic CharacteristicsConsolidating Mastered Words and PhrasesLanguage Exchange: English for Italian, via Webcam or at HomeLearning Italian would be a great move, for several reasons.In spite of the recent prosecco debacle, Italy is among the top five destinations for holiday-making Britons.In fact, Veneto â€" the region that produces the bubbly wine we love to drink is the second most popular locale for UK visitors.Italy is an important economic partner to our country, consistently on the top ten list of both import and export destinations.One of the best Italian exports that our country enjoys is people: Italian expatriates have declared Great Britain their  number one destination for relocation.Clearly, that indicates long-term, binding relations in which a romance language will be exchanged, right?Finally: as though these reasons weren't enough, let us mention that adding a second language to your CV will certainly boost your chances at professional success.If you are dreaming of Sardinia's sunny shores or Rome's timeless culture, engaging a tutor to help you learn Italian is the sensible solution: your Italian adventure awaits!Luckily so, because studies have shown that, once a body settles on a course of action, s/he wants results as quickly as possible.Learning from a private Italian language tutor is the way to achieve quality results, fast!Whether your desire to study Italian stems from academic need, professional aspiration or the personal wish to speak the language of Dante Alighieri, we have all the hints, tips and suggestions you need.Superprof has all of the tutors you need, too!Are you ready? Andiamo!In spite of our current spat over sparkling wine, we love to visit Italy Source: Pixabay Credit: Matej Tomasinoquestion your teacher about. It will also boost your confidence and assure your ongoing investment in your language studies.Learning techniques like flashcards and vocabulary lists are   great tools for this proposed nightly review. Another good tool would be verb conjugation charts.Here is a great tip: you could practice your oral Italian skills with a native speaker of la lingua, should you have one handy. If not, why not immerse yourself into the culture by taking a cooking class? Language and culture being intrinsic to each other, any cultural approach you take to learning Italian is bound to pay off!You can use apps to find and chat with native Italian speakers Source: Pixabay Credit: Tero VesalainenLanguage Exchange: English for Italian, via Webcam or at HomeTo develop competent language ability, one must practise... of course, especially at home between lessons. Who will you practise with? Short of taking a trip to Italy â€" and barring the aforementioned handy Italian in your midst, chances to speak Italian in Britain don't linger around every street corner. However, there are people from Italia living in the UK, and quite possibly, they want to learn English from a native speaker. Should that be the case, a language exchange programme would be ideal!An abundance of mutual language learning websites and civic programs have cropped up over the last few years, meaning that all you need is a willingness to learn and dedication to the task in order to succeed â€" both at teaching and at learning.Whether you are taking Italian lessons for the love of languages or because your career will take you down the Appian Way, how well you learn depends on:your daily study habitsyour tutor's competencies assessing your language level as well as your learning strengths and weaknessesregular usage of your spoken Italian skillsimmersing yourself into the culture as well as the language Once you have a firm grasp on how to speak Italian, you can raise your confidence level by taking practice tests online.  Learn how to prepare for your Italian lessons.Fallo e basta, caro!

Basic Needs of Children - Private Tutoring

Basic Needs of Children BobbiM Mar 8, 2013 What are the basic needs of children? And, why should we care as they relate to education and in succeeding in school, or in need of an elementary math  private tutor  (random subject, I know)? I’m not an expert parent. Not even close. I am experienced, however. Being a parent of 9 children has made me age and mature faster than normal. I pretty much look like Im 90 years old, but Im mid 30s. What Im trying to say is that I have gained some wisdom along the way, and that’s what I’d like to share with all of you parents today, keeping in mind, of course, that while Im speaking to you, this lesson is also for me. Again, Im not an expert parent none of us are but I am a parent that has had some experience and one that is happy to enter into a dialogue with other parents so that we can learn from each other. So, here we go. Basic Needs of Children Respected Important Accepted Included Secure My experience tells me that when these needs are met, it leads to an emotionally healthy child. Knowing these critical needs are important because they can serve as a guide during those difficult moments we all have as parents; it can serve as a roadmap to guide our actions. In subsequent articles, I’ll highlight each of these critical needs that children have and how we, as parents, can better and more intentionally meet the needs of our children. This is important, especially as we seek to help our children become successful in school. If we do not meet these basic needs, our efforts on the school front will be influenced negatively. So, stay tuned to learn about each of the critical needs that our children have and how each one will help them be successful in school elementary, middle school, and in college and beyond. Heck, forget school meeting these needs will help them succeed in life, and thats what its really all about.

Primary School Assessment Changes (KS1 and KS2)

Primary School Assessment Changes (KS1 and KS2) Discussion about the changes to the UK’s GCSE system has been all over  the pages of our newspapers for months. However, less is being said about  the similarly significant changes to our primary school education system. To  combat this, we present our myth-busting guide to what's changing for those  who are under 11. KS1 (key stage 1) students are aged 5 to 7, in schools across England and Wales KS1 is normally Year 1 and Year 2. KS2 (key stage 2) students are aged 7 - 11, normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6. So, what are the major primary school assessment reforms? - All schools will give children a baseline assessment in reception, to  allow Ofsted to judge schools on the progress that students make as  well as on their test results. - Assessments before the end of Year 6 will be teacher marked, not  externally marked. - The government will set ‘performance description indicators’, and  schools will use these to assess students instead of the levels (such as  4a or 6c) that they use at the moment. - At the end of Year 6, test results will be in the form of a ‘precise scaled  score’, where 100 is the expected score. These scores will be reported  to parents, who will also be told how their child has performed in  comparison to the average for the school, the local area and students  nationally. - End of Year 6 tests will be more challenging ‘So when will my child be tested, and what in?’ we hear you cry. Your child will  sit the following tests throughout their time at primary school: - A reception baseline test - A phonics check at the end of Year 1 End of Key Stage 1 tests set by the government but marked by  teachers in: - Mathematics - Reading - Writing (including grammar, punctuation and spelling) - Teacher-set assessments at the end of Key Stage 1 in: - Speaking and Listening - Science National tests at the end of Key Stage 2 in: - Mathematics - Reading - Grammar, punctuation and spelling Teacher assessments at the end of Key Stage 2 in: - Mathematics - Reading - Writing - Science Whew! This is all quite a change to primary school assessment, and it comes on top of updates to the National Curriculum. While teachers and students alike wrap their heads around these updates, our tutors will be on hand to help give your child a boost. Browse our website and find a tutor!  We have thousands of specialist 7+ and 11+ tutors, so you can be sure of finding someone who is just the right fit for you. Written by Emma H (English teacher) Still have questions? We’d love to hear from you at support@tutorfair.com Related article: GCSE Exam Reforms

Why Cant I Learn Languages 9 Possible Obstacles to Fluency

Why Cant I Learn Languages 9 Possible Obstacles to Fluency Why Cant I Learn Languages? 9 Possible Obstacles to Fluency I cant.Its impossible.Ill fail.Phrases like that are as diabolical as any youll ever hear, especially if youre saying them to yourself!Not only do they make you feel bad, but theyre sabotaging you from achieving your goals. And if your goal is to  learn a new language, they can keep you from enjoying the fun and benefits of language study.While self-doubt is normal, if it gets out of control, it can slow down your progress or, more tragically, make you quit trying altogether.But the good news is that even if it seems like youre simply incapable of learning a language, your self-doubt is misguided. Anyone can learn a language, and the very fact that youre trying is already a good sign.If you feel like you just cant learn a language, theres a strong chance that youre simply facing an obstacle rather than an insurmountable block. And with the right techniques, you can overcome any number of obstacles.Below are nine of the most common problems language learners face and solutions to help you overcome them.In a few months, you might start asking yourself, Why am I so good at learning languages? Why Is It Important to Identify Why You Feel Like You Cant Learn Languages?Whats with all of this self-awareness, though? Why cant we just skip the thought assessment and tell you what you need to do so you can move on with your life?First of all, identifying your obstacles can take the stigma out of your perceived failures. Failure can sting and make you feel like youre simply incapable. Thats not very motivating. However, if you identify the obstacle youre facing, you wont have to feel bad anymore. Instead, you can recognize that theres no problem with you, theres simply a problem with your learning process. That doesnt seem so bad, right?Additionally, if you can identify why youre struggling to learn languages, you can work to correct your problems. Whether youre stuck on a  language plateau  or are simply using the wrong  language learning style  for you, knowing why yo ure struggling gives you a clearer idea of how to correct your problems. After all, if you cant identify the problem, its nearly impossible to identify a solution.Finally, identifying your challenges can give you the motivation and direction to try again. Theres a reason why the scariest horror movie villains are the ones you dont get a clear look at. When youre uncertain of your foe, theyre scary. The same is true of language learning. Once you can look whats vexing you dead in the face, you can get the extra motivation and direction you need to give it another go. No need to let scary problems hold you back! With the right motivation and direction, even the  hardest languages  can seem like easy languages.Why Cant I Learn Languages? 9 Possible Obstacles to FluencyYoure not making learning fun.When learning feels like a chore, youre likely to put it off, disengage or just stop altogether. No one wants to be bored! But theres a problem: Some language learning tasks are not as inhere ntly exciting as others. Language learning isnt all glamorous trips abroad. Sometimes, youll need to study vocabulary, even if you dont feel like it. Sometimes, youll need to read up on a tricky grammar rule. Sometimes, language learning can seem like a real drag, and that can hold you back from improving your skills like you want to.Solution: Make learning into a game.Luckily, no learning task ever needs to be boring. If you choose to make learning fun, youll be much more driven to continue.One way to make learning more fun is to make it into a game, which will be even more fun with language learning friends.If you dont know anyone else whos studying your target language, find language learning friends online! You can find like-minded friends on the Language Learning subreddit  or a language learning Facebook group, like Language Learners.To make learning a game, challenge your friends. Set a goal, and see who can meet it the fastest. For instance, compile a list of vocabulary word s that you each want to memorize. Whoever has them down pat first wins.If you dont have a friend studying your target language, though, you can still make learning into a game, and FluentU can help you do this. FluentU uses real-world videos, like music videos, movie trailers, news and more, as invaluable learning tools. Each video is captioned, and the captions are annotated. Youll have access to any words definition, example sentences and an associated image.To satisfy your playful streak, FluentU offers quiz mode, which fuses videos, images and example sentences into interactive flashcards and activities.Youre not using the right approach for you.Does learning style really matter? Absolutely! One study  suggests that considering key factors, such as preferred learning style, learning needs, objectives and beliefs is important for learners trying to learn a language independently. So if youve just jumped into learning without careful consideration, it could very well be that youre not using the right approach for you, and thats holding you back.Solution: Try multiple approaches at once.To get an idea of which approach you like best, let them compete among themselves. Try multiple methods at the same time. Now, we dont mean literally. You dont need to have 10 laptops set up to compare and contrast simultaneously. But set aside a few hours to test out various approaches and programs that interest you. Jot down notes on what you like about each program, what you dont like about the program and in what ways it might help you meet your goals.Once you have a firm idea about what each approach has to offer, youll have a clearer idea about what might work for you. At the end, hand your favorite a rose (or subscription, as the case may be).  Consider it like The Bachelor: Language Learning Edition.Youre plateauing at one level.Language plateaus are a real thing, and they can be daunting. Early on in language learning, students tend to learn more quickly. Its new, its exciting and theres so much valuable information out there. But after youve been studying for a while (usually around the intermediate level), learning tends to plateau. You already know all the essential terms and grammar rules, so moving forward can seem tricky. You might feel like you used to be good at learning languages but are suddenly failing.However, students who have plateaued tend to face similar lingering language problems, including limited vocabulary, speaking difficulties, fossilized errors (persistent errors), overly simplistic wording and sounding unnatural.Solution: Interact with native speakers.Interacting with native speakers is one of the few solutions that can address all the major issues that students who have plateaued usually face. For instance, your vocabulary will naturally expand based on what you want to talk about. Similarly, the more often you talk, the more you might start to mirror your conversation partners style, correcting your overly simplistic w ording. Talking to a native speaker can also improve your speaking skills and make you sound more natural. If you find a friend whos comfortable pointing out your faults, they can even help identify fossilized errors that you can work to correct.So while you may have plateaued and it may seem like you cant move forward, theres still plenty to work on, and interacting with native speakers can help.Ready to get chatting? Download a language exchange app, like italki. To break free from your plateau, youll want more than just a short-term or one-time conversation exchange. Instead, try to find someone you can develop a long-term friendship with. To do this, pay careful attention to user profiles. What are they looking for? What are their interests? Selecting a partner whos also seeking a long-term friendship and has shared interests will ensure that you have the motivation necessary to continue your language exchange and therefore continue improving your skills.To get the most out of y our language exchange, select key topics ahead of time. Not only can this help prevent awkward silences, it can also help you practice specific grammar and vocabulary.The language youre learning is exceptionally hard.Some languages are definitely harder to learn than others. If youre learning a language with a significantly different structure than your native language, it might be exceptionally hard. For instance, for an English speaker, learning Chinese is likely to be harder than learning Spanish for the simple reason that the structure is so different.Solution: Consider studying an easier language first.It can be tempting to dive in full force with a particularly challenging language, but instead, you might consider studying an easier language first. This can help you build up the skills you need as a language learner. Youll learn what methods work for you, what you need to do to accomplish your goals and how you stay motivated. Once youve learned an easier language, you can rev isit the more complicated language. With your new learning skills, you might find that it seems a lot easier than it did when you first tried to learn it!You have fewer advantages when it comes to language learning.There are a lot of factors that can put you at a bit of a disadvantage.For instance,  one study suggests a correlation between a strong phonological memory and language learning; however, its unclear whether a strong phonological memory makes it easier to learn languages or if people who speak multiple languages strengthen their phonological memory during the learning process.Another study  suggests that intrinsic functional connectivity within the language network of the brain can be a significant contributing factor in adult language acquisition, which basically means that some brains are better wired for language learning than others.Another scholar  goes so far as to suggest that hyperpolyglots (people who speak more than 11 languages) are members of a neural tribe, w hich is a group bound by a particular undertaking, a base of identity related to that undertaking and different neural hardwiring that helps them succeed in that undertaking. In other words, people who are exceptional at learning languages may have exceptional differences in their brains.In spite of all the research, however, it remains unclear what exactly causes these differences since causation is challenging to pinpoint. It could be life experience, genetics or a huge array of other factors. In other words, theres no telling whether people who have these advantages were born with them or got them.So while the science behind why some people are better at learning languages than others isnt entirely clear, theres no doubt that some people have an easier time than others.Solution: Learn to enjoy challenges and consider solutions to improve retention.  Learning a language may be a challenge, but that doesnt mean you need to let yourself be held back by the fact that you dont have as many learning advantages as some other people.Recognizing that learning might not come as easily for you as some of your friends can be beneficial if it helps you take some pressure off yourself, but that doesnt mean you have to stop. Put in the work and youll reap the rewards, even if it takes a little extra time. No one runs a marathon because its easy sometimes you need a challenge to drive you forward. And theres no reason to feel bad if it takes a little while to succeed.If you need an extra leg up, though, you might try strengthening your short-term memory to prepare it for language learning, and there are plenty of simple ways to do so. Inc. suggests  some unique ideas. For instance, have you tried chewing gum as you study? What about using a better posture? While these tricks may seem a little offbeat, they might actually help you retain information better, thereby making learning a little easier.You dont have the motivation.Motivation is important in all areas of life, but when it comes to learning a language, motivation can be the big difference that separates people who become fluent from people who only learn a couple words.Motivation can impact a huge array of traits that aid in language learning. For instance, motivation can lead students to interact more with native speakers and use learning strategies. Motivation can also correlate with how well students perform on achievement and proficiency tests.So if youre struggling to learn a language, you might want to take another look at why youre doing it.Solution: Keep your motivation right in front of you.  Once youre deep into grammar rules and vocabulary lists, it can be easy to forget the real reason youre learning a language, so keep your motivation right in front of you!One way to do this is keeping a motivation journal. Set aside a couple minutes each day to write about why youre learning your target language and what this new skill means to you. Once your language skills improve, you might e ven write about your motivation in your target language for a little extra practice. Keep your journal handy. The next time you feel demotivated, just read through what you wrote to give yourself the drive you need to press forward.Another way to motivate yourself is to put a poster in your study area. Maybe it will show a travel destination you hope to visit. Maybe it will show something related to your intended career field that you want to use your target language in. Either way, a quick visual reminder of whats motivating you can be helpful.You lack clear goals.If you dont have goals, you dont have direction. If you dont have direction, its really hard to make progress. Without goals, a casual language learner might pick up a few words here and there but is unlikely to make any real, noticeable strides forward, which can create the illusion that they cant learn languages.Solution: Set long- and short-term goals with predetermined rewards.Setting goals for yourself and giving you rself rewards is an easy way to ensure your learning keeps moving forward.To do this, consider both your long- and short-term goals. For instance, if your long-term goal is to be able to interact with native speakers in your target language comfortably in six months, youll need to figure out short-term goals to reach this. You might decide to study and practice 10 vocabulary words per day or use your favorite learning resource for 20 minutes per day. Whatever your goal, be as specific as possible so that you can actually assess whether youve met your goal.Then, keep track of your goals somewhere youll see often so that you remember exactly what they are. You might even add them to your phones calendar and  set reminders to ensure you meet all your goals.The final step is the fun part: Reward yourself for meeting your goals. For your daily goals, consider something relatively small. For instance, a spoonful of Nutella can be a tremendous motivator. For long-term goals, you might set increasingly large rewards, such as a trip abroad once youre able to watch your favorite Netflix show in your target language without subtitles.Youre scared.Foreign language anxiety is real, and it can jeopardize your ability to learn a language. If youre afraid to use your language skills, you miss valuable practice. If you miss valuable practice, you dont progress as quickly. Its a vicious cycle.  One study  suggests that anxiety can lead to anger and frustration, which are hardly beneficial to the learning process.Solution: Be aware of your own feelings and work to build up your confidence.Its okay to be anxious, but try to be mindful of your own feelings and why you feel this way. Not only could this self-awareness reduce your overall stress, it could also help you find ways to work around your anxiety.For instance, to move past your anxiety, you might try building up your confidence in your target language. To do this, consider using an interactive resource that gives you speak ing practice, too. Some programs that incorporate speaking practice include Mondly and Mango Languages. By using them, you can get the practice you need to build up your skills and confidence before you speak with real people.You could also increase you confidence by practicing affirmations to remind yourself of how capable you are. Repeat after me: I am a capable and skilled language learner.Youre just not using it enough.Languages are meant to be used. If youve studied a language extensively but havent used it much, when you finally try, you might feel like all your studies have failed you. Well, thats probably not true you likely just dont have enough practice actually using your skills.Solution: Immerse yourself!Do whatever it takes to get more experience using your target language.If there are native speakers in your community, one great way to overcome this learning obstacle is to frequent the same places as native speakers. Better still, try to get a part-time job at a busine ss where native speakers congregate. This can give you the speaking and listening practice you need to learn the language more fully.Even if there arent native speakers near you, though, there are still plenty of ways you can overcome the obstacle of not having used the language. For instance, think in your language. When your mind drifts at work or school, only allow it to do so if youre thinking exclusively in your target language. You could also enjoy authentic media, like the awesome movie and TV options on Netflix.Regardless of what you choose, using your target language more often will help you prove to yourself that youre capable of learning a language. In fact, its possible that you may already have done so, or at least built up a lot of skills that just need to be warmed up a bit.So if you think you cant learn a language, think again.Once you identify what obstacles youre facing, you can get back on the road to fluency! And One More ThingSo you really want to learn a lang uage? Then its time to check out FluentU!FluentU takes real-world videosâ€"like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.With FluentU, you hear languages in real-world contextsâ€"the way that native speakers actually use them.Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of FluentU videos on offer:FluentU really takes the grunt work out of learning languages, leaving you with nothing but engaging, effective and efficient learning. It’s already hand-picked the best videos for you and organized them by level and topic. All you have to do is choose any video that strikes your fancy to get started!Each word in the interactive captions comes with a definition, audio, image, example sentences and more.Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab, and easily review words and phrases from the video under Vocab.You can use FluentU’s unique adaptive quizzes to learn the vo cabulary and phrases from the video through fun questions and exercises. Just swipe left or right to see more examples of the word youre studying.The program even keeps track of what you’re learning and tells you exactly when it’s time for review, giving you a 100% personalized experience.Start using FluentU on the website  with your computer or tablet  or, better yet,  download the FluentU app from  the  iTunes store  or  Google Play store.