Online Slope Finder Tutors

Online Slope Finder Tutors Slope is found by the change of y axis co-ordinates over the change in x axis co-ordinates. Slope of a straight line gives the orientation of the line with respect to the co-ordinate axes. Slope is defined as rise over run. The slope of a line is the same for all the points on the straight line. The slope of the line is used in different formulas such as slope intercept form, slope point form etc. which help in writing the equation of the straight lines. Example 1: Find the slope of the straight line passing through the two points (5, 2) and (0, - 3)? Solution: Given are the two points (5, 2) and (0, - 3) from a straight line. Slope = change in y coordinates / change in the x coordinates. Here for the given two points slope = (-3 (2)) / (0 (5)) = -5/ -5. Slope = 5/5. Simplifying, slope = 1/1 Hence slope of the straight line passing through the given points = 1. Example 2: Find the slope of the straight line passing through the two points (10, -3) and (6, 4)? Solution: Given are the two points (10, -3) and (6, 4) from a straight line. Slope = change in y coordinates / change in the x coordinates. Here for the given two points slope = (4 (-3)) / (6 (10)) = 4 + 3 / 6 - 10. Slope = 7/-4. Simplifying slope = -7/4. Hence slope of the straight line passing through the given points = -7/4.

Why is Learning Maths so Important for Children

Why is Learning Maths so Important for Children Help your Kids with Maths: An Essential Part of Learning from Day One ChaptersThe Aim of Learning Maths at Nursery School and KindergartenMaths Teaching at Primary SchoolArithmetic for Children: Essential SkillsTools to Help Children Practice MathsMathematics is one of the most important subjects taught in school. From nursery, children learn about numbers, arithmetic and geometry.Throughout primary and secondary school, children are constantly delving deeper with their understanding, learning to break down numbers and do multiplication for the first time with a multiplication table, as well as tracing geometric shapes.Later on, in their academic careers, students are taught about algebra, trigonometry and calculus.The basics must be mastered if students want to increase their chances of academic success in the future. And if they face obstacles along the way, there are solutions available to help.Emphasising maths from kindergarten will provide children with a strong basis for reasoning, estimation and thinking logically in later life. Playing games r elated to maths, completing exercises with them during the holidays and searching for maths tutors together will increase their interest and expertise.Give children the tools to make sense of the world ¦ source: sasintThe first calculations done by a child represent a big step in their learning. Beyond knowing their times tables by heart, this shows that they have taken a logical route to finding a solution.Knowing the sign for 'add' and the one for 'subtract', finding the product and the difference are all steps along the path to a way of thinking that seems obvious to adults but is quite advanced for young students!By using arithmetic to solve a problem, children familiarise themselves with the properties of numbers and how to manipulate them. With practice, this becomes easier and children will be able to do simple sums as a reflex. Children will also employ techniques and develop automatic reactions to mental arithmetic questions.To help them make good progress, it is important that children can see the applications of maths in real life. Visual association will help the child develop an appreciation for operations and their uses as they can see an end goal.And maths mastery is down to practice!Tools to Help Children Practice MathsIs your child struggling with maths? Don’t let problems fester.Before turning to a private maths tutor, think about offering an alternative approach to learning to help your child view maths problems from a different angle.With a fun approach to learning, you child will be able to improve their skills whilst enjoying themselves!Exercises During School HolidaysExercise books help children to stay on the ball and commit information to memory during the time when they are not at school.Self-motivated children will enjoy working through their homework books and may not even see it as work.Even so, if your child sees workbooks in a negative light, they are far less likely to work hard and it and take it seriously, and there will, t herefore, be little benefit.This is why it is important for parents to encourage their children along the way, providing support in their learning.Educational AppsChildren love playing on phones and tables, which is perfect for getting them to play educational games!Apps for learning times tables are particularly easy to find. The child can track their progress, which motivates them to keep improving.Children learn best when they're having fun! ¦ source: Pixabay - StockSnapThese apps are real games with challenges to overcome, levels to pass and a story to follow.CartoonsIt’s easy to find educational cartoons online, which can help explain maths to children.Supporting your child this way will give them the opportunity to learn maths by a different, and maybe more effective method than the ones used at school.Learning about a new topic which is explained visually can completely turn around a child’s understanding.Board GamesDo you enjoy playing games as a family?If your youngste r is struggling with their maths skills, why not suggest playing an educational board game  adapted to their age?Developing logic and reasoning skills, learning calculations and broadening their understanding of graphing are all advantages of family games, which allow the child to make progress without feeling isolated.Having a good time with their parents can mean a boost in self-esteem for children and they learn without any pressure.Beyond helping your child with their maths by incorporating it into games, you can also make maths a part of your day-to-day life.Without pressing them too much for an answer, ask your child questions to help them learn to appreciate the practical uses of math in real life.Baking a cake is a good time to get in some practice:I have a mug of 100g of flour and I need 250g of flour for the recipe. How many mugs of flour should I use?If I put the cake in the oven at 3:50pm for 25 minutes, when will it be ready?There are many ways to get your children to a ppreciate maths and its uses, and this is completely worth the effort as laying a solid foundation will enable learners to build their knowledge with less difficulty later on.Find a local and an online maths tutor for A-level and GCSE maths revision all over the UK on Superprof’s great tutoring platform!

Where To Stay On Your Trip To Portugal

Where To Stay On Your Trip To Portugal Visit Portugal: Finding Your Holiday Accommodation ChaptersChoosing A Hotel In PortugalCheaper Accommodation AlternativesUnusual Accommodation In PortugalCompare Before You Book If You Want The Best PriceIf you visit Portugal, you will find an enchanting country with a long list of attractions, from world heritage sites, White sand beaches, monuments, resorts, Stunning cobblestone towns, wine route villages, awe-inspiring waterfalls and hilltop monastery/pilgrimage sites. No matter where you go it can be the best places to visit. The country has discoveries waiting for all travelers, the foodie who wants to try eating in the café lined streets to the adventurous traveller who wants to put down the travel guide set off exploring the best places to go.From Madeira, Faro, Lisbon (Portugals Largest city), Porto, the Algarve, the Azores islands and everything in between. Portugal is a small country that makes a big impression, the places to visit and to stay will live on in your memory as some of the best Journeys that you have had. You will soon find yourself booking yet another trip back to spectacular Portugal.In Portugal, hotels, houses, apartments and rooms await tourists throughout the year not just in the summer months. If your Itinerary is organised to visit the Valleys, Landscape and beautiful regions of the Algarve, the Azores, Coimbra, Belem, or the bustling capital city of Lisbon. Then after you book your arrival transport, you will need to book somewhere to sleep. We will look at some of the types of accommodation that you can choose to enjoy your holidays. Here are our accommodation Travel tips.Portaguese people are friendly accommodating. Photo Source: UnsplashThe Airbnb option is special since it can be as much an apartment rental as a room rental homestay.By renting an apartment, you can see how it feels to live in the country like a local, and if you rent only one room, it gives you the opportunity to meet your host and talk to about life in Portugal. Airbnb is also an asset for the wallet, as th ey do cost much less than Hotels in almost all areas.Try CampingIn a tent, camper, mobile home, camping accommodations are reserved for holidays in all parts of Portugal. It would be a mistake not to consider camping as a holiday accommodation option abroad. Not only can you save money but you also get to have a little adventure. Portugal is full of campsites, they can enjoy facilities such as a swimming pool, playgrounds, wifi or washing machines.To book a pitch, you only have to pay from around €3, but prices can be seasonal especially in tourist areas. Which mean prices go up in summer and go down in winter. But prices are so low that even summer prices may leave you with plenty of money to spare.Unusual Accommodation In PortugalTepee, Yurt, boat, huts on the beach, Palace, Castle, cabins in the woods, unusual accommodations are becoming more and more popular among holidaymakers. Portugal has plenty of options for you to choose from should you like to try a unique accommodation .Unique AccommodationIf you are happy to sign up for an Airbnb account, you will be able to search and find a long list of unique accommodations. However, you can also search on google for solutions or ask around when you get to your destination.Other unusual accommodations are also available in Portugal such as a windmill redeveloped on the south bank of the Tejo for 80 €, or a tipi by the sea for 71 € per night.Free Accommodation In PortugalIt may seem hard to believe, but you can find free accommodations in Portugal.CouchsurfingOnce registered on the Couchsurfing site, you will search through the profiles of interesting Portuguese people and get in touch with them depending on the place you want to visit. If the person is available on the dates you want, you can sleep on his sofa or in a bed, depending on what space they have available.While this does not always guarantee the best comfort, the benefit is that you get to meet new people who live in the country who are keen to spend time with you in exchange for a bed. This is great for people travelling alone or for people who would like a free guide from the local point of view. Normally in exchange, you may spend some time with your host as friends do, you may also cook for your host or bring them a thank you gift.Work Exchange ProgramsWoofing, Helpx, Workaway are work exchange programs which allow you to stay for free in exchange for helping your host with a project. In exchange for free housing and sometimes even food, you work for a few hours a day to work on a farm, in a house or project of the hosts choice. It is good to agree on everything before arrival and be honest about your experience and interests. These options also can allow you to work in hostels or with travellers, which may come with other freebies like tours, day trips and free entry to attractions.Free ParkingIf you own a campervan or truck, there are many places to park without having to pay. To find the best places for yourself try the app Park4night or other similar apps which share local information for tourists who are driving.If you arrive in Lisbon you can have a tour in the capital city. Photo Source: UnsplashCompare Before You Book If You Want The Best PriceOnline comparison sites are often used by vacationers to find the best prices for accommodation. While many people may use accommodation booking sites to book their accommodation, many people still do not compare booking sites. If you are looking for the best price, you should compare the price offered for your hotel on a few sites. Websites like trivago will search the entire web and provide you with the cheap price offered across website online.This is because the same hotel can offer different prices for the same room even on the same dates. To get the best price, it's worth doing a bit of extra research to find out if you are paying the best price offered for that room. Additionally, sometimes it can be cheaper to book directly with the hotel/ho stel. And if you are able to book in advance, you may receive an early booking discount which could make the price really affordable.While some travellers need to prepare an entire program in advance, others prefer to improvise during their stay. Both can be risky, so reading reviews can help you avoid disappointment. Remember also that if you travel during a special season such as a festival or holiday, you may struggle to find free rooms available. But if you are flexible, there will always be something for you even at the last minute. Enjoy Tourism!

Dont Wait to Act for Kids with ADHD

Don't Wait to Act for Kids with ADHD When parents have concerns about their childs behavior or academic performance, they are often told by friends, family, teachers, and doctors that they should wait and see if things improve before seeking professional help. After all, maybe what is concerning the parents is just a phase or a developmental stage that will pass on its own. Since kids and the expectations placed on them are constantly changing, there are times when a wait-and-see approach makes sense. For example, this can be a good method for when a child is initially adjusting to a new teacher or when there are major changes at home, like the addition of a new sibling. In contrast, when there are persistent behavior challenges at home or at school, like difficulty following basic rules, difficulty getting along with classmates or teachers, oppositional behavior, or difficulties with focus or completing schoolwork, then a wait-and-see approach is not helpful and could even be harmful for kids who may have ADHD. With the start of a new school year, parents are especially attuned to their childs behavior and academic performance. So, its not surprising that this is the time when new or heightened concerns are often raised. Its also a major adjustment period for kids, which means teachers and professionals may be more likely than ever to hand out wait-and-see advice. The problem is that when kids or teens have ADHD, or suspected ADHD, waiting too long can lead to missed opportunities for social, cognitive, and academic development. The longer kids go without help, the more likely they are to experience excessive criticism, miss gaining important academic knowledge or skills, and miss opportunities to foster new friendships. So, how long should you wait to seek professional help or an assessment for a possible ADHD diagnosis when your child or teen is struggling at the start of the school year? And what are the signs that professional help is needed? While there are no hard and fast rules to follow, here are some basic guidelines that can be helpful: If you are considering having your child or teen assessed for ADHD after the start of a new school year, then it is important to give a teacher 4-8 weeks to observe your child in a new classroom. This is generally enough time for your teacher to develop an understanding of how your child or teens behavior and academic skills compare to age- and grade-level expectations. However, it is not necessary or helpful to wait longer than two months (at most) if your child is struggling. Keep in mind that waitlists for assessments can be long, so get on a list right away and expect that it will likely be at least two months before an assessment slot becomes available. If homework time is a battle at the start of the school year, and nothing you do seems to improve the situation, then get additional help as soon as possible. Homework demands will only increase as the school year goes on, and its highly unlikely that things will get better if you take a wait-and-see approach. Talk to your childs teacher, a school counselor, a psychologist, or a learning center, like Huntington Learning Center, about what you can do to take the stress out of homework time. If you and your child are struggling to get out of the house on time in the morning, either because of behavior challenges, school refusal problems, or because your child cannot stay focused long enough to complete a basic morning routine, then get help as soon as possible. Its much easier to establish a morning routine that works early in the school year than it is to change a routine later after bad habits have become entrenched. If your child is struggling socially and is having difficulty making new friends, then it may make sense to wait about a month to see if they settle into their new classroom or school. However, if your child has a long history of social difficulties, and their current social challenges are part of an ongoing pattern, then seek help as soon as possible. There may be things that you, a therapist, their teacher, or a school counselor can do early to set your child up for social success this school year. Finding help for a child who is struggling with behavioral, social, or academic challenges can be difficult. If you suspect your child may have ADHD, then your pediatrician can be a good place to start. School counselors can also be a great resource, especially when it comes to social difficulties. Teachers and learning centers, like Huntington, can help with academic problems in the classroom and during homework time. Lastly, psychologists and therapists in your area who specialize in ADHD or behavior challenges can be very helpful. If the first professional you talk to dismisses your concerns or tells you to wait and see if things improve, then be persistent and find someone who can provide your child with the help they need now before too much time passes by. 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.

English Idioms about Relationships - Learn English with Harry ??

English Idioms about Relationships - Learn English with Harry ?? Here you will learn 12 English idioms about relationships get off on the wrong foot, on the rocks, give someone a hard time, hit it off, and more. 12 English Idioms about Relationships Native speakers of English use idioms a lot in everyday conversation. Idioms not only add variety and spice to your spoken English but also make conversation more interesting. What are idioms? Idioms are phrases that do not mean exactly what the words say. I would recommend you learn and understand the meanings of English idioms before you are confident enough to use them.  In todays lesson we are going to learn 12 English idioms about relationships. English Idioms about Relationships? 1. GET OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT  Meaning: when you meet someone for the first time you do or say something to upset themex.Example: Kathleen brought Richard home to meet her parents. He tripped on the carpet and broke their favourite vase. The relationship got off on the wrong foot.2. GET ON SOMEONES NERVES  Meaning: to irritate someone because you say or do something annoyingex. Example: Trevor always drums his fingers on the table when you are talking to him. It really gets on my nerves.3. TO GIVE SOMEONE THE COLD SHOULDER  Meaning: when you deliberately ignore someone because you are upset with themex. Example: Judy was so annoyed with her boyfriend because he had not called her in 5 days. When she saw him in the office she gave him the cold shoulder and did not speak to him all day.4. ON THE ROCKSMeaning: when something is not going wellExample: John’s marriage was not going well. He constantly argued with his wife. He told his friend he thought their marriage was really on the ro cks. 12 English Idioms about Relationships Facebook Share on telegram Telegram Share on twitter Twitter Share on email Email 5. GO BACK A LONG WAY  Meaning: when you know a close friend for a very long timeExample: Philip and Michael have been best friends since they were 7 years old. Their relationship goes back a long way.6. YOUR OWN FLESH AND BLOOD  Meaning: your children or close relativesExample: Michael was stuck with a problem. He had two applicants for the job, his son Paul and a stranger called Peter. In the end he chose his own flesh and blood and gave the job to Paul.7. HIT IT OFF  Meaning: to get on well with someone you meetExample: Anthony met Miriam at the party and they talked all night. They really hit it off first time.8. GIVE SOMEONE A HARD TIME  Meaning: treat someone badly or unfairly, to make someone sufferExample: Mum always used to give me a hard time for not doing homework properly. 9. MEET SOMEBODY HALFWAY  Meaning: to reach an agreement with somebody by compromiseExample: We agreed to meet halfway  on the price.10. TREAT SOMEONE LIKE DIRTMeaning: to treat someone very badlyExample: Why do bosses think that just because someone does a manual job, for low pay, that its somehow okay to treat them like dirt?11. ON THE SAME WAVELENGTHMeaning: when youre on the same wavelength with someone it means you share the same values, you are interested in the same thingsExample: There was some visual connection there, we were always on the same wavelength.12. FIGHT LIKE CAT AND DOGMeaning: if two people often have angry fights, we say can say that they fight like cat and dogExample: My brothers fight like cat and dog all the time.

Washington`s Birthday

Washington`s Birthday Each year, on the third Monday of February, American people observe Washingtons Birthday, also known as Presidents Day. This federal holiday is not just a day of sales and cleaning house on the threshold of spring. The day is meant to honor the achievements of two of the nations greatest presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  Presidents Day is a day to honor all the American presidents as well. As George Washington was the first president of the United States, he is often considered the most significant figure of the day. Let’s stop for a moment and recall the origins this important day. Washingtons Birthday was originally established in 1885 to recognize accomplishments of George Washington and was celebrated on Washington’s actual day of birth February 22. George Washington was the first president of the United States of America. Before he became president,  Washington was commander  in chief  of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and led it to victory over the British in 1783. Washingtons Farewell Address was one of the most influential primers on republicanism and a powerful statement against sectionalism and involvement in foreign wars. The address  set American values regarding foreign affairs, recommended friendship and commerce with all nations and warned against involvement in European wars and entering into long-term alliances. Washington is remembered as the Father of the United States and the most important figure in American history. The portraits and name of George Washington can be seen in many places in the United States. The capital of the United States, Washington D.C., Washington State and several universities are named after him. The portrait  of Washington  is used on the one-dollar bill and carved, together with three other American presidents, into Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota. In 1968 Congress proposed  the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved Washingtons Birthday, as well as a number of other federal holidays, to Mondays in order to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers. After the bill went into effect in 1971, Presidents’ Day became the commonly accepted name for this holiday, because there were two presidents who had birthdays around this date Washington (February 22) and Lincoln (February 12); and because retailers widely use that name to promote sales. However, some states still have individual holidays to celebrate the birthdays of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other figures. Presidents’ Day is now traditionally  viewed as a day to commemorate life and work of all past presidents of the United States. This day is usually marked by public ceremonies and events in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country. In the days leading up to the holiday, the public schools often organize lessons for students about the presidents of the United States, usually with a focus on the achievements and contributions of Washington and Lincoln.  It is also a popular day for stores to start their sales. We wish all  tutors, parents and students a Happy Presidents Day! The TutorZ.com Team Email: contact@tutorz.com Phone: (805) 288-7338

Four Back-to-School Apps for Students - TutorNerds

Four Back-to-School Apps for Students - TutorNerds Best Back-to-School Apps for Students Best Back-to-School Apps for Students Let’s face it; students spend a lot of time on their phones. Since the invention of cell phones, teachers have been at war with phone use in the class France just banned smartphones in public school. We won’t debate the pitfalls of smartphones in the classroom, but that shouldn’t take away from cellphones use outside of the class. Students make plans, socialize, and create content on their phones, so they are already savvy users. For this reason, we’ve made a list of four back to school apps for students (READ: 5 Awesome SAT Apps). While social media apps take up most of their time, there are apps out there that can be beneficial for schoolwork. From math to time-management, apps are an excellent resource for students to utilize a technology that is too often detrimental to their studies. 1. My Study Life This one is perfect for college students who are expected to manage a busy schedule of courses and classwork. Think of My Study Life as a virtual planner that offers a calendar for classwork as well as reminders of upcoming tests and projects. With many different courses, it’s easy to forget something important. With this app, you won’t need to worry about any unwanted surprises. 2. Quizlet Have a big exam coming up that requires you to memorize a substantial amount of information? Save time making paper flashcards with this digital flashcard app. You can either search through millions of study sets on the app or create your own set. According to its site, “more than 95% of students who learn with Quizlet report improved grades.” We like the sound of that! 3. SimpleMind Don’t misinterpret the name of this app, as it indeed isn’t for simple-minded students. SimpleMind offers a different form of studying for students who prefer mind mapping a course’s material. Check out this example of how to create a mind map of a book summary. 4. SelfControl Sometimes it’s just best to get away from the distractions on your phone and laptop. In this case, it’s smart to block distracting websites instead of telling yourself you won’t check Instagram trust us, you will. Simply type in the sites you want to be blocked and set a timer. For example, if youre going to block Facebook for two hours while you finish your paper, SelfControl is your app. We hope these four back-to-school apps make your transition back to student life a bit smoother. Don’t forget to book your San Diego back-to-school tutor today. Members of the TutorNerds team and our private tutors write every blog post. If you have any questions about our blog, please email us at pr@tutornerds.com.

How to Unleash Your Mind Power 5 Ways to Learn Any Language with a Growth Mindset

How to Unleash Your Mind Power 5 Ways to Learn Any Language with a Growth Mindset You can learn any language.There, I said it.How can I make such a bold claim, without knowing you personally?Because I know you have thoughts.And by using  your thoughts to  develop a growth mindset, you can absolutely  learn a foreign  language.Yes, even  if youve never learned a language before  or if you think your  memory isnt the sharpest.And for those of you who have been learning languages steadily for some time now, if this is the first youve heard of a growth mindset, prepare to be amazed.Ive taken the five main elements of a growth mindset and applied them to language learning, sharing  specific actions you can take today for incredible results. Are you ready to redesign  your mind? What Is a Growth Mindset?You might not have seen the name  Carol Dweck before now, but this world-renowned Stanford University psychology professor is  a bit of a celebrity  in the field of motivation. She has spent decades studying  why people succeed, and that research  is  what led to her r evolutionary discovery of mindsetsâ€"which  well be using to succeed in learning a language.In her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success,  Dweck explains that there are two contrasting mindsets people may have: fixed and growth. While this isnt a black-and-white situationâ€"you probably fall somewhere on a scale between the two, depending on the situationâ€"were going to look at them individually to better understand each.People with a fixed mindset are concerned with judgement, afraid of failure and cannot self-correct. They generally stick to what theyre good at so that others will view them as successful, and they think intelligence is somewhat fixed.People with a growth mindset see value in improving and learning, love challenges, self-correct and believe in effort. Theyre not afraid to make mistakes while trying something new, as they know thats simply whats necessary when you learn by doing. They agree you can significantly change how intelligent you are, at any point in time.Not only will a growth mindset help you learn new skills and overcome setbacks in any area of your life, but its also the key to learning a foreign language, as youll see in the five tips below.How to Unleash Your Mind Power: 5 Ways to Learn Any Language with a Growth Mindset1. Change Your Inner DialogueDepending on where you currently fall on the fixed/growth mindset scale, acquiring a growth mindset can be a big change, and will require development. Youll literally need to change the way you think, and I have some action items below which will help you do this.But bear with me here, because this step is vital  to learning a foreign language. Dweck writes in her book:The view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life.Its equally true that  the view  you adopt for  yourself profoundly affects how well you learn a language. So, how should you  think of yourself  with a growth mindset? First, no more I cant ~ or Im so bad at ~ statements. While it is i mportant to be able to identify your weaknesses (as well see in #5), the language you use to  pinpoint these matters.Then, we need to eliminate fear of failure, and furthermore, the idea of failure altogether. Especially in todays society with pristine profiles, photos, websites and online portfolios plastered all over the Internet, many of us have this false idea that anything less than perfect is failure.What you usually dont see online is the behind the scenesâ€"the grit, effort (and mistakes!) it took to get there. Being imperfect is not failure; its perfectly natural. And when you begin learning a new language, theres a ton you wont know. Thats because youve just started learning!When theres a lot you dont know, youre going to make mistakes, youre going to feel unsure and youre going to have questions. This is how you acquire new knowledge and abilities.People with a growth mindset understand to their core that qualities can be cultivated; youre not born with it. By putting in continual effort and following the four tips to come, you can learn a foreign language. Take your focus away from success/failure, and place it on the learning.Heres an example of how you might change your thoughts:Fixed mindset: Im so bad at Chinese; people never understand me and I can never remember the words for what I want to say!Growth mindset: Today people had some trouble understanding me, so Im going to work on my pronunciation with my language partner. It may be hard for me to remember words right now, but I will study with FluentU to improve over time.I highly recommend reading Mindset to help you develop this type of thinking, but here are three actions you can do which will also set you on the growth mindset path.Actions to change your inner thoughts:Create inspirational quotes: Find some relevant quotes in English (such as any of  these, these or these) and translate them into your target language. If youre not a beginner, go ahead and search for the quotes directly in your target language, skipping the translation process. Write them out by  hand on notecards and post them up in your room. Put one on the bathroom mirror and read it aloud every morning and night, and bring a few more quotes (or copies) to work. Change your phone and computer backgrounds to one of these quotes. Read it again and again, and youll actually begin to change your thinking.Identify worry/fears: To help overcome any fears of failure or leaving your comfort zone (#2), I recommend using Dale Carnegies method to overcome worry from his lovely book How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. For any  situation that makes you uneasy, ask yourself, Whats the worst that could possibly happen? Mentally picture the worst that might happen,  and write it down. Then, accept the worst (pretend thats what has happened), and try to improve on it.Stop comparing: You can gain awesome motivation and tips from polyglot stars, but dont let yourself into the comparing trap (i.e., Ill never be li ke him, But she went to an immersion high school!, etc.) Be on the lookout for comparingâ€"especially when browsing social media or interacting with fellow language learners in your class or at language exchanges. You need to catch yourself in the act, and then change your internal dialogue. The next time you come across someone with a higher skill level in your target language, rather than compare, ask them for advice! Remember, they were once at your exact level.2. Push Outside of Your Comfort ZoneAnother big characteristic of people with a growth mindset is that they push beyond their comfort zone. Pushing beyond this zone will feel, well, uncomfortable!â€"but its necessary to gain new skills, like  speaking a foreign language.If you want something to become easy and familiar, you have to do it over and over; you cant avoid it. Our natural hesitancy, however, is to stick to the comfortable. To remind me to watch out for this tendency, I have a quote up in my room that says:Choose growth over comfort.Any time Im hesitant to make a phone call in French, for example, those four words remind me that being uncomfortable or nervous for the duration of a quick phone call will only help me become more at ease in the long run. The more I do it, the less of a big deal it will seem.If youre just starting out learning a language, youll soon become comfortable with the present tense, or some  basic words when speaking and writing. Its a lot easier to say I went than to learn and use a more accurate description such as I fled, I drove, I set off, I moseyed on over, etc. Our third action item below will help you get past this very language comfort.Another phrase to remember is Start before youre ready.So many people unfortunately take away their own opportunities to learn by thinking they arent ready. Im not good enough for a conversation partner, I couldnt understand a movie or I cant order from an all-Chinese menu are all thoughts that will prevent you from improving.Ag ain, its doing the actions that will make you ready, or rather, allow you to progress. The sooner you jump in and leave your comfort zone, the sooner that zone will expand to where youve gone.Dont forget that you can also push outside of your comfort zone when it comes to learning  methods. Maybe youve been sticking to homework assigned in your language class, or to one favorite language learning app, for example. Expand your learning tools and give some new methods a try.Actions to push your comfort zone:Go to a language exchange:  Go to a language exchange or have a video call with a native speaker before youre ready. If youve never done this before, now is the time. If youre nervous, know that all of the other language learners were once in your exact shoes; they had to start somewhere. Prepare a quick intro and a few questions ahead of time, so that you have somewhere to start. Remind yourself throughout that its all a learning experience.Make calls on G+:  Every two weeks, load up $5  on Google Hangouts,  call a business/hotel/restaurant/university somewhere in the world where your target language is spoken and ask them some basic questions. Even if its your first month of language learning, you can do this!  The distance and triviality of the call should make you much calmer and relaxed.  Make several calls during a single session, and feel free to  choose a target topic/phrases each week to focus  the calls.Eliminate five:  Choose five foreign words that you use most frequently (i.e., good, bad, go, etc.). For the next week, youre not allowed to say or write these words. Instead, look up synonyms before the week begins, and carry them around with you. You could do a week of adjectives, another week of five verbs, etc. If you arent using your target  language that frequently, feel free to extend the ban to several weeks or a monthâ€"though we recommend increasing your frequency too!Block  sites: Use a free site blocker (like this Chrome extension) to blo ck your regular news site and delete any news apps you might have in your native language from your devices. Replace it with a news site in your target language by adding it to your browsers favorites bar and downloading any apps. For the next three weeks, every time you want to check the news, use the site in your target language.Have a weekly hour of attack: Keep a running list of the hardest/scariest/most confusing topics for you right now. If you were an  English learner, for example, topics might include if clauses,  who vs. whom, take vs. bring or  how to ask questions.  Spend one hour each week investigating these topics in-depth. (Feel free to break this into two half-hour sessions, by the way.) Start with the first topic  on your list  and look up various explanations of the concept (blog posts, websites, workbooks, etc.). Ask a tutor or teacher for help if its still unclear after referencing a variety of sources.Then, look for usage examples in various media (podcasts, sho ws, FluentU clips, magazines, etc.). Finally, bring together all youve learned into an ultimate resource on the topic. I make a rough draft on printing paper as I collect information, and then neatly write the final page of notes in a notebook used just for this purpose. You might end up spending several weeks (aka several hours) on a single concept. The goal is to know the topic so well that you could teach someone else, and your final page of notes will be a great tool for reference and review.While Ive personally only used this technique with tricky grammatical topics (after all, those are often the scary topics we want to avoid), you can certainly adapt it for  themes  as well. You might explore  broad themes like  home and  weather, or more specific topics like a current event, ordering food at a restaurant or writing an email.3. Pursue Your CuriositiesPeople with a growth mindset plunge in wholeheartedly, because they have a genuine desire to know more. Perhaps the language it self is a huge curiosity for you, but more likely you can pair another interest with your target language to authentically get pulled in.Julia Childs account of learning to cook French cuisine in her delightful book My Life in France is absolutely  fascinating. At the age of 37, upon moving overseas to Paris for her husbands job, she became so curious about and interested in French cuisine that it ended up shaping the rest of her life.It was speaking with the vendors at the local markets and with chefs at restaurants that helped her French to progress. She wanted to know more about the foods and their preparation, so she needed the language to find answers. Here are two  quotes from the book that show just how strong Julias passion was for French cuisine:One of the things I loved about French cooking was the way that basic themes could be made in a seemingly infinite number of variations I wanted to try them all, and I did. I learned how to do things professionally, like how to fix properly a piece of fish in thirteen different ways, or how to use the specialized vocabulary of the kitchenâ€"petits dés are vegetables diced quite finely; a  douille  is the tin nozzle of a pastry pan that lets you squeeze a cake decoration as the icing blurps out.When I wasnt at school, I was experimenting at home, and became a bit of a Mad Scientist. I did hours of research on mayonnaise, for instance, and although no one else seemed to care about it, I thought it was utterly fascinating.Julia admits  that she made so much mayonnaise during that phase of experimentation  that she and her husband could hardly stand to eat it anymore, so she actually started dumping batches down the toilet! What a shame, writes Julia, But in this way I had finally discovered a foolproof recipe, which was glory!  Clearly Julia was propelled forward by the desire to know more about French cuisine.Some interests may align strongly with a languages culture, but definitely dont limit yourself to cooki ng in French, dancing tango  in Spanish or doing taekwondo in Korean, for example.Actions to pursue your curiosities:Use Google or Wikipedia to look up curiosities: Often, when I have a small curiosity to learn about something, Ill do a quick search on Google or Wikipedia to learn a bit about it. Im assuming you probably do the same. So for one week each month, do every single Google and Wikipedia search in your target language. For that week, you could change your Google location to a country where your target language is spoken (heres how to do that). Or, you can change your home page to the Google domain of a country that speaks your target language (e.g., www.google.co.jp is Japans Google domain).  Heres a list of Google domains. On Wikipedia, the language settings are on the left-side panel.Start a passion project: Start a focused project exploring something youre excited about. This is something youd do in your free time purely out of interest and pleasure. Today, the term pas sion project is often equated with a small side business, but generating income is not what were aiming to do here. For a quick non-language-related example, Sarah Coyne  loves national parks, sending snail mail and painting, so she began a personal project called Post for the Parksâ€"which uniquely combines all three interests.Here are some  ideas for your project: writing a childrens book in your target language, interviewing immigrants (or natives of another countryâ€"dont forget you can do Skype interviews too!) about a topic of your choice, making a calendar in your target language tracking an event (political, historical, current, science, etc.) or composing a song with lyrics in your  target language. For more ideas, consider tweaking one of these school project ideas to involve  your target language and interests.4. Take On Challenges That Will Stretch YouA  fourth quality of people with a growth mindset is that they wont shy away from a hearty challenge. In this instance, I m using the word challenge to signify an undertaking that should be quite difficultâ€"think 48 Hour Film Project,  Tough Mudder  or The Big Moment  (Anyone else remember that 90s TV show?).So ideally there should be a hard deadline, a shorter timeline (from two days to three months), and it should feel like a sprint. Its not something you could do all the time, such as Study 10 minutes every day this month. Rather, this is on top of your regular language practice time.Make sure your challenge lines up with your learning objectives. For example, if youre learning German in order to read  original works of German philosophers, a speaking challenge clearly wont be the best way for you to  get there.Once youve chosen your challenge and start date, begin telling  all of your friends and family about it. This will help hold you accountable. You might even find someone who wants to do the challenge with you, which would be excellent for accountability! Share your progress throughout the ch allenge so you dont lose steam.Like the passion project, your challenges could take on many shapes and sizes (and should be interesting to you), but here are a few ideas to get you started.Possible  challenges to take on:1000 Words Challenge:  If youre a total beginner, try the 1000 Words Challenge, created by  Vocab Express in association with  Oxford University Press. You get a free account with a simple registration (email, username, password), which lasts the duration of the 1000 Words campaign. The current languages offered in this particular platform are French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese and Arabic. Vocab Express has organized the 1000 words by category, and it  teaches you the vocab through various learn modes and tracks how much youve learned. Youll have to give yourself your own deadline, though. How about three months?Add1Challenge:  The Add1Challenge  was designed specifically for language learners. The goal is to hold a 15-minute conversation with a native speaker in 90 daysâ€"even if youre starting  from zero. The challenge is for serious participants only, as you must pay 97 USD to join the community. Whats more, if you dont submit a required video by the deadline, for example, youll be removed from the Facebook groupâ€"no refund. But if youre all in, the support from the community and structure of this challenge can produce incredible results.Ignite presentation:  Igniteâ€"whose tagline is Enlighten us, but make it quickâ€"is a type of presentation where you have 20 slides, which automatically change every 15 seconds. That means you have 5 minutes to give the presentation. For a language challenge,  prepare and give an Ignite presentation in your  target language about something important to you. Due to the automatic advancement of the slides,  youll have to  practice to get your timing rightâ€"so those repetitions will be great for getting comfortable in  your target language. Choose a specific deadline thats honest ly challenging for you. Olivia Mitchell, who prepared her first Ignite presentation  in 3 hours,  shares her tips for speedy preparation here.5. Examine Yourself and Self-correctThe final major  quality of people with a growth mindset is that they regularly examine themselves and confront the truthâ€"good or badâ€"to self-correct.  If you dont know whats not working, how can you fix it?We said earlier that you should  eliminate negative language from your internal dialogue (i.e., I cant ~), but positive, talent-based praise is also a slippery slope. If you  repeatedly tell yourself Im so good at vocabulary, a fixed mindset would  want to prove that statement true, which makes it hard to admit when something needs attention. (A better praise, by the way, would be one that praises effortâ€"not abilityâ€"such as,  Im working so hard to learn this  vocabulary. Gold star for me!)Since people with a growth mindset know its effort that produces results, and arent afraid to be seen as faili ng,  they more accurately assess their progress, strengths and weaknesses. Regularly assessing your language-learning progress from day one will allow you to spend your study time more efficiently, working on what actually needs the most attention. This, in turn, will drastically speed you closer to your goals.Keep in mind that youll want to measure both your language skills and  your language-learning methods. Maybe youve been listening to podcasts for Japanese learners every day  on your way to work, but youre often distracted by the traffic and havent held on to a single phrase that was taught. Taking the time to stop and reflect on your methods will allow you to realize something needs to changeâ€"perhaps you should  listen to Japanese music on the way to work instead, and listen to the podcast in the evening with a transcript in front of you, for example.Actions to examine yourself and self-correct:Set specific goals: In order to examine your progress, the first step is to know where youre headed. Sit down for 15 minutes and write down your language goals.  Use this guide to set effective language-learning goals, and you can download a  free goal planning sheet here  made specifically for language learners by  Lindsay Does Languages. The worksheet is great because in addition to your goals, it has you pinpoint exactly how youll measure your progress. You might end up inventing  some sorts of  tests  so  that you can track hard numbers/documentation, to see change over time. (I record a video of myself speaking unscripted in French for about 5 minutes each month as one of my ways to measure progress, for example.)Have monthly check-ins:  Check in at least monthly. Block off 15 minutes at the end of each month by writing it in your planner or scheduling it on a calendar app. A good time to do this scheduling is right once youve finished your goal setting; go ahead and pencil them  in for the next 6 to 12 months. When you sit down, look at what youve tracked over the previous month. Ask yourself basic questions: What went well? What didnt go well?  Are my methods  effective?  Celebrate your progress  and make a plan of attack that adjusts your methods and hones in  on your weakest skills.  Keep a color calendar:  Last spring, I used four different colored highlighters to track how much time I was spending on the  four skillsâ€"speaking, reading, writing and listeningâ€"in my paper planner. When I went to a language exchange, I colored in that time slot with the color for speaking. When I watched a movie in French, I colored in listening. At the end of each week I would  look back and easily see how  I had  spent my time, and plan for the next week accordingly. I tracked all four skills because I wanted to learn all four, and I used paper because I prefer it, but you might want to track something else or use a slightly different system. Note that time doesnt necessarily equal progress in that skill, but this is  a nice basic way to get you started  self-examining.Ask for feedback:  Tell  your private tutor/classroom teacher/language exchange partner that youd like to know the top three areas where you need the most work. Give them some notice so that your teacher/tutor/partner can pay attention during the next couple of class periods/sessions to give you accurate feedback. This  will help you fix mistakes much quicker because theyll be clearly identified for you!By developing these five qualities of a growth mindset, you can nurture thoughts that will not only help you learn any languageâ€"but change your entire life.Rebecca Thering is a writer, editor and English teacher who has lived abroad in Spain, South Korea and France. Valuing education and things that aren’t things, she inspires and helps others by blogging  about her experiences abroad, cultural insights and self-improvement pursuits at Rebe With a Clause.