What Can You Learn From Crash Course Biology Energy?

What Can You Learn From Crash Course Biology Energy?My hope is that my Crash Course Biology Energy is helpful to you and will give you something to think about. I'm a big fan of reading, watching, and re-watching things to educate myself. I've been into the world of science and medicine for many years, so I know a lot about some of the most interesting things in the world of health care.I believe everyone should learn at least one thing or another and one of those things is biology. Why? It's something that can be fun and educational; I enjoy teaching biology, but there's just something about seeing the world through the eyes of a biologist that really intrigues me.So, I decided to write a Crash Course Biology Energy that I could read and pass on to you, which is why I'm writing this article. The Crash Course Biology Energy is about biology and how we got to where we are today. I'm sure that's something you can relate to. I believe it can help you understand the many different things going on in our bodies, how they affect us, and how they're related to each other.Now, for example, let's look at Crash Course Biology Energy number four, where we're going to talk about diabetes. Diabetes is a great example of an ailment, we're going to talk about here. There are a lot of different types of diabetes, but for the sake of the article we're going to focus on Type II diabetes. This type is one of the most common today, but what is its cause?Yes, there are many different things that contribute to this type of diabetes. They include being overweight, being sedentary, dieting, smoking, and exercising too much. Sometimes these things seem to 'attract' each other and put one into effect and vice versa. For those who exercise a lot, getting back to more of a healthy weight can help prevent Type II diabetes.Now, for Crash Course Biology Energy number five, I'm going to talk about cancer. This is another type of ailment that have many different causes, and sometimes one of th e most common causes can lead to a great many complications. This is why it's important to exercise regularly, get lots of sleep, and eat a healthy diet.With a Crash Course Biology Energy, you'll learn all about the cause of many different diseases that affect humans today. If you're like me, you're more interested in what you can do to prevent these conditions, and that's why I wrote this Crash Course Biology Energy, so you can find out.

Help with GCSE Maths Questions!

Help with GCSE Maths Questions! The current Maths 9-1 GCSE includes new material and different grading system. This means there is little information about how to answer many of the new GCSE Maths questions. So we asked experienced teacher Adam S to give us his top tips on how to answer the more challenging questions. If you are struggling with these exam style questions this is the perfect resource for you as Adam gives some useful top tips on how to improve your grade. Adam also walks us through a grade 9 targeted question (grade 9 equates to an A*) for the new Maths GCSE 9-1. This resource is relevant for any student sitting Edexcel, OCR or AQA Maths GCSE papers. It can also be useful for students studying the foundation paper, as similar steps should be taken in answering those GCSE Maths questions. Adam’s number one tip is to always: Read the question twice and make a plan This may seem simple but you’d be amazed by the amount of people who don’t do this. So, these are the steps you should be following when faced with a challenging question: RTQ (read the question) at least twice! Figure out what information you have Figure out what you are being asked to do Make a plan that takes you from what you have, to what you are being asked to do. If you do these 4 things, you will find it much easier to solve grade 9 questions. Here is some expansion on each point and advice on how to do it, with a sample grade 9 question and solution. Read the question from start to finish. Take your time doing this. Then read it again even more carefully from start to finish underlining anything in the question that may give you some information. Do this before you even begin calculating! ‘RTQ’(Read The Question)is most commonly heard uttered in mathematics classrooms near exam time for good reason. Students who are very capable and keen to show off their mathematical skills jump straight into a question before reading it carefully, thinking about what information is provided, and what they are required to figure out. You see a triangle and think ‘Ah! I can use the sine rule here… let me work out the size of the missing angle…, but it doesn’t give me two sides and an angle so I can’t do it… ahhhhhhh I give up’. If this how you find yourself tackling the question then you should try instead to follow Adam’s words of advice. If you had carefully read the question, it may have told you that the triangle is an isosceles triangle. This information can then be used to help make the question easier to solve. There may be a diagram that has two sets of parallel lines indicating you can calculate an interior angle using other information provided on the diagram. So give yourself time to read each question through slowly from start to finish twice before attempting it. May be even a third and fourth time might required before that inspiration hits you . When it does though, it's an amazing feeling! 2. Figure out what information you have (A) 3. Figure out what you are being asked to do (B) 4. Make a plan to get from A to B There is always enough information in the question for you to work out a solution for what you are asked to find. Examiners are nice like that. Although it may not always be obvious, it’s your job to put on a Sherlock hat, grab a magnifying glass and figure out what information is useful. It’s a shame you can’t bring an assistant like Watson into the exam hall to help trigger moments of inspiration… This is especially important for grade 9 questions that often involve multiple areas of mathematics that overlap. The question may appear to be about probability, but the information they give you can be modelled algebraically. You may have to manipulate that algebraic information by using fraction operations, while considering what it means in the context of probability. This question was on a GCSE exam a couple of years ago and it will almost certainly be considered as a grade 7, 8, or 9 question on future papers. Students found it so baffling that the question trended on twitter (not common for maths to trend on a social network!) and a student made a petition about it that had some coverage from popular news outlets: I believe this question appears hard because there are missing links. It’s all about reading the question carefully, working out what information there is and finally working out how to get from the information given (point A) to the destination of a solution (point B). Task: Try this question out for before finding the solution below. Information given: 1) 6 sweets are orange 2) 6 less than n are yellow (this can be written as n-6) 3) a first sweet is removed 4) a second sweet is removed 5) the chance of both the removed sweets being orange is 1 time in every 3 Destination: Plan to get there: 1) Represent every bit of information given algebraically in terms of ‘n’. 2) Make an equation with ‘n’ 3) Rearrange the equation. So, hard maths exam questions are like puzzles. They provide a small amount of information, and ask a question that is sometimes seemingly unrelated. It’s your job to create a plan of action to get there. For those of you that tried out the question, here’s the solution for you: Looking for more blogs on the new 9-1 GCSE? In this blog, New Maths 9-1 GCSE, Adam S outlines explains all you need to know about the new maths 9-1 GCSE providing sample papers   for all exam boards as well as insight into the exam itself.   If you have any questions for Adam S or would like him as a tutor for your child, please send him a message through his profile. Alternatively, on the Tutorfair website enter your postcode and Tutorfair will show you GCSE Maths tutors in your area, with the top rated tutors! Checkout out more  Tutorfair blogs  here: 1.Maths GCSE Syllabus: What's new? 2.Edexcel Maths  GCSE Grade Boundaries

Six Tips for Polishing Up the College Application Essay Over Winter Break

Six Tips for Polishing Up the College Application Essay Over Winter Break With many colleges regular decision applications due between January 1 and February 1, holiday break for high school seniors is a good time to put any finishing touches on the college application packageincluding the essay. CEO and Co-Founder Eileen Huntington of Huntington Learning Center reminds parents that whether the colleges to which their teens are applying require an essay or strongly encourage oneor their teens have chosen to write essays to strengthen their overall applicationit is best to take a methodical approach to the writing process. The application essay gives admissions officers a glimpse of your teen as a student and person and tells them a lot about his or her goals, work ethic, character and more, Huntington says. A well-planned, well-thought-out essay can have a tremendously positive impact. She offers these six tips for teens working on creating a strong essay over winter break: Read the directions (more than once). Its critical that teens pay careful attention to any guidelines provided for their application essays, including a suggested word count and a precise essay prompt. Disregarding these instructions can make applicants seem lazy. At worst, it might immediately discredit their application and hurt their chances of acceptance. Brainstorm and compare possible topics. The essay is an opportunity for teens to share who they really are. Its a good idea to give sufficient time to the brainstorming process to ensure that whatever the prompt, the topic a teen selects does the best possible job addressing it. Outline first. The application essay is not the place to wing it. Teens should create a detailed outline to keep them focused and make sure the essay flows easily from beginning to end. The outline should clearly tie back to the essay prompt and make clear how the essay will fully answer it. Create a schedule. It takes time to craft a great essay. A schedule can keep things on track. Heres an example schedule for a student starting their essay over winter break with an application deadline of February 1 (note: obviously the earlier teens can start their essays the better, and students applying to colleges with regular application deadlines of December 1 will not be able to work on their essays over winter break): Outline essay according to directions December 16 Complete first draft December 18 Set essay aside December 19 Edit December 20-22 Complete second draft December 23 Set essay aside December 24-26 Edit December 27-28 Complete third draft December 29 Set essay aside December 30 Share essay with parent or trusted mentor December 31-January 7 Share draft with a teacher or counselor January 7 Get suggestions back from teacher/counselor January 11 Make final revisions January 12-14 Proof and read through January 19 Essay due to college January 30 Write from the heart. When it comes to the application essay, theres nothing more frustrating to an admissions officer than reading words that dont ring true. Colleges are looking for applicants who are passionate and articulate when sharing something that has changed or impacted them in a significant way. Bottom line: teens should be real and authentic in their essays and forget about trying to impress anyone. Plan on rewriting. Yes, proofreading for grammatical errors and typos is an important step, but it should be the very last step. First, teens must allow themselves time to revisit drafts with fresh eyes and take a hard, honest look at their essays when editing. This means making sure the essay is clear not confusing, not too long or short, and achieves the desired tone and message. It also means making sure the essay is poignant, interesting from the very first sentence, and articulate, and that it sounds like the person writing it. Practice makes better. Teens should write, revise, and repeat as much as needed. Putting the effort into the application essay is certain to be time well spentand it could mean the difference between a college acceptance and rejection. Parents and teens need to remember that admissions officers want to get to know the person behind the name on an application, Huntington says. Teens should give the essay the careful attention it deserves. About Huntington Huntington 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 succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntingtons mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps.com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. 2018 Huntington Mark, LLC. Huntington Learning Center, the three-leaf logo, and 1 800 CAN LEARN are registered trademarks of Huntington Mark, LLC. Each franchised Huntington Learning Center is operated under a franchise agreement with Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

Four reasons to get an Irvine back-to-school tutor - TutorNerds

Four reasons to get an Irvine back-to-school tutor - TutorNerds Four Reasons to get a Private Irvine Back-to-School Tutor Kids are going back to school this week and discovering all of the interesting things they will get to learn about throughout the academic year. Many subjects will pique a student’s interest while others may simply be a review. Every student will have at least one subject thats a little more challenging than the rest, and it can be tough to get organized after having two months in the fresh air and sunshine. A great way to help students get ready for the semester ahead is to hire an Irvine tutor to help treat the back-to-school blues. 1. Organization Everyone, regardless of age, needs help organizing from time to time. But, younger students need more help staying on track because theyre still figuring out what type of organizational system works for them as an individual. Tutors are great at helping students figure out what tools they need to remember all of their assignments, avoid getting overwhelmed, and staying on top of their GPA. Having just a few sessions at the beginning of the school year can save students from an entire semester of late night study sessions and last-minute assignments (READ: Help Your Teen Adjust to Fall Semester). 2. A study group Many high school students now hire a tutor to lead their study group for advanced placement classes or test prep. Small group tutors can get to know each member of the study group and work with them on their strengths and weaknesses while, at the same time, helping the group move in the right direction. It can be difficult for any student to figure out what they need to focus on in an AP course or when studying for college entrance exams thus working with a tutor is a great way to be encouraged and supported by peers while also getting the expert advice of an educator. 3. Work on a challenging subject Most students have one or two topics that give them some trouble from time to time. For the majority of students, the difficult subject is either math or English, but they might need help with any particular subject. When students tackle these difficult topics early on, they have a better chance of staying at grade level and feeling confident about their ability. When it comes to challenging subject matter, its better to work with a tutor early on rather than wait for the student to fall far behind and be stressed out for the rest of the school year. Working with a tutor even one hour a week can easily make the difference between success and stress. 4. College prep Students in 10th through 12th grade have the extra challenge of getting ready to apply to college. These days it seems like college prep is so time-consuming that’s it essentially becomes its subject but students have to learn about it outside of the classroom. Its a very good idea for students to work with a college counselor to figure out what stuff they need to go through to successfully apply to college and a tutor can help keep them on track. Students may need help brainstorming to come up with ideas for a personal statement, they may need general organizational help, they might need help studying for SAT or ACT exams, or they might need assistance juggling college prep with other academic subjects. Tutors are a great help when it comes to working on these applications but still doing well in the classroom environment. Book your private Irvine back-to-school tutor today! Our experienced tutors are here to help you have a successful school year. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

5 questions we all have about Xbox One

5 questions we all have about Xbox One Microsofts Xbox One will it live up to expectations or will it disappoint? f gamers disappointed, I was left with more questions than answers. Microsoft took a entertainment-focused approach to the reveal, showcasing all the cool new features the Xbox One is equipped with for TV and sports and Halo live-action series, yada-yada, but as a gamer looking to jump into the next generation of gaming, I wanted more. Here are five questions that the reveal left me, and Im sure many other gamers, asking. What 15 exclusive games are there? You cant have a console release without console exclusives. It just simply isnt done. What we got during the reveal was everything except games. While racing game Forza Motorsport 5 and quizzically ambiguous Quantum Break seem decent enough, Xbox One is going to need a lot more oomph to get gamers to need to buy it.  Microsoft has stated that there are 15 Xbox One exclusive games, all of which will be announced at E3. But the question is, which ones? Its inevitable that there will be a Halo 5 on Xbox One, but is it going to be one of the launch exclusives? This question will be answered, but its leaving a lot of gamers frustrated to have a console announced with no great games to back that announcement up. Used games whats the deal? One of the most heatedly-contested points about the new Xbox has been the ability to play used games. The Xbox FAQ states  We are designing Xbox One to enable customers to trade in and resell games. We’ll have more details to share later. So we will in fact be able to play used games, but theres still so many questions.  Is Microsoft going to take a cut from each used game sale? Will there be activation fees for used games? Will gamers be unable to swap games with friends?    If playing used games becomes too difficult or expensive, that could be a dealbreaker for a lot of gamers -  Microsoft needs to clarify once and for all what the snickerdoodle is going on with used games. Will the Kinect 2 invade my privacy? The reveal showed us that the Kinect 2 will be fully integrated into the Xbox One, and that the device has remarkable capabilities, including the ability to show you your own heartbeat. However, there have been some concerns voiced about the device being used as a means to restrict the number of users viewing, say, Netflix. Add that to the fact that the Kinect 2s microphone is always on and you have some very interesting privacy dilemmas that Microsoft definitely needs to address before the radical conspiracy theorists come a-ranting. Is it always online or isnt it? Another huge point of worry across the interwebs has been the possibility that the new Xbox would require an always-online connection to play games. Okay, so Xbox Ones FAQ does say, it does not have to be always connected, but Xbox One does require a connection to the Internet. Vague, are we? However,  Microsoft vice president Phil Harrison said in a Kotaku  interview  that the Xbox One will need to connect to the internet at least once every 24 hours. What will happen if the console does not do so is still a secret to everyone. What if I want to take my Xbox to a developing country with no internet? What if my Internet flits out for more than 24 hours? Does the Xbox One just turn into a block of useless tech then? How much will it cost?  The Xbox 360 launched at $399 in 2005. Playstation 3 launched at $399, $499, and $599 (varied memory capacities). With the specs listed for the Xbox One, I cant help but wonder how much this behemoth of a machine will cost. All the cool new functions we saw advertised in the reveal including DVR, apparently are those exclusive to Xbox Live Gold subscribers? If so, then the hidden cost of a Xbox Live Gold subscription will be added to that price tag. How much will games cost? Gamers pockets only run so deep. By the way, when will the Xbox One even release? Microsoft, this is why we cant have nice things. Hopefully, Microsoft is going to answer all of these questions and more in June at E3, the annual video game industry trade show in Los Angeles. Until then, we can only wait with bated breath.

Its Critical! What Each of the 14 Critical Languages Offers Learners

Its Critical! What Each of the 14 Critical Languages Offers Learners Its Critical! What Each of the 14 Critical Languages Offers Learners Is anyone on this plane a polyglot?!Thats not a sentence you expect to hear in a Hollywood disaster film, is it?However much you may love the idea of learning languages, you probably wouldnt call it critical.When youre learning to conjugate verbs, you dont imagine lives hanging in the balance.When you practice speaking with an exchange partner, you dont fantasize about being the hero who saves the day.As you work on honing your listening, you dont think about how this skill could put you in control of a situation where others depend on you.Unless of course you do, in which case youre totally in the right place.Because in the post, were going to talk about how some languages are literally categorized as critical.By their nature, these are languages that will open up the window to a world of unique opportunities for travel, employment and moreâ€"if you learn them.And dont worry, well look at how to do that, too! What Are Critical Languages?A critical language is one which the United States government has deemed not only strategically important for the country, but also with demand outstripping supply of speakers. Basically, there arent enough Americans who speak these languages!Often these languages are considered important for reasons of diplomacy, trade and national security. Theyre not set in stone: Theyve changed many times over the years, and at the moment there are 14 of them.Were going to look at each one in turn shortly, but first its worth noting thatâ€"while the term is a U.S. designationâ€"its easy for anyone in the English-speaking world to see why these might be important in an international sense. Due to their status as critical, anyone who attains proficiency in these tongues has improved career prospects, whether in government, international companies, NGOs or security services.How Can You Learn Them?First, lets get this out there: By their very nature, these languages are often more challenging than others, at least for native English speakers. The reason theres a shortage of speakers is not only due to them being less mainstream than languages like Spanish and French in schools and everyday society, but also because its often much harder to reach a good level. Thats not to say its impossible, thoughâ€"and if you are able to commit, the rewards are significant.If youre  really interested and youre in the U.S., lucky you. Take a look at the Critical Language Scholarship or the National Security Education Program. Both of these are government-funded programs to get bright and committed students of the language up to a level where they can use it in professional settings. They recognize that its not usually something you took in high school, so there isnt a need to be fluent already; however, you should expect a college-level education and an immersive experience living in a country that speaks your target language. Basically, this is not for the casual learner!If youre not quite ready to pack your bags or youre not an Ameri can citizen, its time to find a different route. Obviously, in an ideal world youd be able to interact with members of your community who are native speakers, but given the nature of the languages these opportunities may be fewer and further between. A  staffer at the State Department compiled  this list  of suggestionsâ€"one of the keys for him was taking hard classes with grammar.No matter what your level of interest, online resources are a great option for exploring, learning and supplementing any official training for these languages.Having said that, since by nature some of these languages are less mainstream, they might be trickier to find online. Here are some tips for where to start:While theyre less likely to be present than others, some of the languages below can be found on popular online resources that offer complete learning programs. For example, you can start learning Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Japanese or Russian right here on FluentU. FluentU is perfect for learning languages for real-world application, as it takes real-world videosâ€"like movie trailers, news, music videos and inspiring talksâ€"and turns them into personalized language lessons.If you have your heart set on learning Azerbaijani or Bengali, you might have to look a little deeper. Some enthusiastic amateurs are up on YouTube to teach you the basics of less popular languagesâ€"for example, have a look at  this Azerbaijani lesson.Meanwhile, there are free websites out there like ilanguages.org  that will teach you the basics of grammar and vocab in a variety of languages to help you get started. Even if you have to use multiple resources to tackle different parts of one language, it all adds up.Once you have beginner elements down, the best next step is to find a language partner. If you dont happen to have a Bangla or Punjabi community on your doorstep, italki allows you to find the perfect exchange partner whos looking to learn a language you speakâ€"all online!Guys, nobody said this was going to be easy! But once youve taken the first steps into learning a critical language, I know youre going to see the pay-off.Its Critical! What Each of the 14 Critical Languages Offers LearnersOkay, lets get down to businessâ€"what are these 14 tongues that are so highly prized? Were going to go through each of them, tell you a little about them, then raise a warning about what makes them tough but also give you a great reason why theyre worth studying.Keep in mind that these descriptions dont even come close to covering everything about each language and that theyre intended mostly for the perspective of an English-speaking (and particularly American) audienceâ€"so if one of these languages interests you, dig in and find out more about what it can do for you!Ill leave it to you to decide which one (or few!) to go forArabicI think you could have guessed this one was going to pop up hereAccording to the CLS website, almost 300 million people speak Arabic. Aside from the s heer volume of speakers, Arabic makes the list due to being the primary language of the Middle East and North Africa, regions with which the U.S. has had a troubled political history. That makes it all the more important to have proficient Arabic speakers in a variety of roles and situations, from immigration to intelligence.What to watch out for:  As Arabic is so widely spoken, there are numerous dialectic variations. What you might hear in Morocco is very different from Lebanon, and both are different from Modern Standard Arabic. Even when youve got the basics down, theres a whole world out there.Why to study it:  The size of the Arabic-speaking world is also its primary attraction, even if government work doesnt float your boat. Lots of big companies need people who speak the languageâ€"and it offers travel prospects galore!AzerbaijaniWe go from a language you definitely would have guessed to one you probably wouldnt have. Azerbaijan is not usually at the top of peoples travel it ineraries (although there are plenty of reasons why it should be), but the U.S. government considers the Azeri language to be vital. With groups like Al-Qaeda having a history of operating in Azerbaijan, as well as Azerbaijani being spoken in parts of old adversary Iran, this is considered an important language for national security.What to watch out for:  For English speakers living in English-speaking countries, this is a language that might not come quite so much in handy in everyday life.Why to study it:  Despite it being quite a unique language, it has a lot of crossover with Turkishâ€"another language on this listâ€"meaning itll put you in a position to be even better equipped with critical languages.Bangla/BengaliBengali is the official language of Bangladesh as well as the second most spoken language in India and the seventh most spoken in the world. Youd be keeping good company if you picked this one up!What to watch out for:  Bangla is not so much one consistent language a s a series of many dialectsâ€"not all of which are mutually intelligible.Why to study it: As the economy and global standing of South Asia grows, this language is beneficial not only for careers in government but also in business, research and non-profits. It also has a rich and beautiful literature to explore, making this far more than just a purely practical addition to your linguistic arsenal.Chinese (Mandarin)Another of the more predictable entries on this list: China is a super-power and very competitive with the U.S. on the global stage. In fact, its currently predicted that it will overtake the States as the worlds dominant economy before 2030. No wonder the Americans want people who can communicate with them!What to watch out for:  With thousands of characters in use, Chinese presents some memorization challenges. Meanwhile, it is one of the more popular languages on this list, so it might not be the one to choose if you want to set yourself apart from the crowd.Why to study it:  Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language on the planet and its speakers are not only confined to the most populous country in the world but spread all over. A few words of Mandarin can go a long way in Beijing, Brooklyn, Brisbane or BelfastHindiAnother of the behemoths of the language world. Along with Chinese, English and Spanish, Hindi is one of the most spoken languages in the world. Around 40% of the population of India has Hindi as a mother tongue. With Indians being among the worlds most emigrant populations, youll find Hindi speakers in all corners of the world.What to watch out for:  The sounds in Hindi can seem quite alien to English speakers, and it requires a more flexible tongue.Why to study it:  This is a personal one, but Ive always found the curling, dangling Devanagari scriptâ€"which is used to write Hindiâ€"beautiful. How wonderful would it be to master that?Indonesian (Bahasa)Would you have put this one on the list? I wouldnt have, but actually its easy t o see why  its here. Indonesia is the worlds most populous Islamic country. At the same time, only hundreds of Americans a year enroll in collegiate Indonesian courses. Pretty exclusive club, eh?What to watch out for:  Unlike some of the other languages on this list, Indonesian tends to be more focused in a single country, making this a skill thats difficult to transfer.Why to study it:  If you get a chance to travel to Indonesia, it really is stunningâ€"and we all know that traveling with the native language under your belt is always better. This also tends to be one of the easier non-European languages for an English speaker to master.JapaneseAnother language more focused in an individual country is Japanese. However, Japan is an economic and cultural powerhouse of East Asia, and speakers of this language are much sought after. Youd also be able to access a literary tradition that includes the famous  haiku style of poetry and contemporary novelists like Haruki Murakami, while oth er forms of Japanese culture like anime have impressive reach around the world.What to watch out for:  Japanese may be more commonly seen in international media, but the Foreign Service Institute considers it to be one of the very hardest languages to learn.Why to study it: Lots of reasons! Whether its being able to wander the streets of the busiest metropolitan area in the world, order like a native in your favorite noodle bar or relate to more than a million people who are Japanese or of Japanese descent around the worldâ€"Japan has given a great deal to the world and it can only be enriched by getting a grasp of the language.KoreanStaying in East Asia, Korean also makes it onto our list. The unstable relationship between Pyongyang and Washington stretching back through a history of U.S. involvement in Korea, along with the importance of North-South Korean relations on the world stage, makes this a crucial language.What to watch out for: Korean is considered a language isolate, me aning no other languages are properly connected to it. This makes it difficult to learn and difficult to transfer.Why to study it:  While North Korea is inaccessible to most, South Korea is one of the most fascinating countries on the planet. Pay a visit to bustling Seoul,  share a soju with some locals and get insight into its unique work-hard-play-hard culture.Persian (Farsi)Again, this is a language considered important primarily due to the country its spoken in, in this case Iran. For decades, Iran and the U.S. have been at loggerheads culturally, economically, militarilyâ€"you name it. Despite this, Farsi isnt very widely spoken in America.What to watch out for:  As relations are strained, the U.S. Government advises against travel to Iran  due to the risk of arbitrary arrest and detention of U.S. citizens.Why to study it:  In addition to the job prospects that put it on this list, Persia is one of the most historically important regions on earth. As the language remained relat ively unchanged for centuries, its fairly easy for newer students to delve into epic poets like Hafez, writer of numerous proverbs.PunjabiLike Hindi and Bengali, Punjabi is a language widely spoken in India. But it might be its status as the most spoken language in Pakistanâ€"a country that American intelligence services keep a close eye onâ€"that puts it on this list.What to watch out for:  Punjabi is written in two different scripts: Arabic and Gurmukhi. These can be difficult for foreigners to get the hang of.Why to study it:  Punjabi speakers are all over the globe, meaning youd have plenty of people to chat with. In fact, Punjabi is one of the most spoken languages in the United Kingdom!RussianAlong with the U.S. and China, Russia is normally mentioned as the third big superpower. Its relationship with the U.S. has been fraught, and particularly recently. You can see, then, why its important to have Americans who can speak Russian!What to watch out for:  Russian grammar include s some grammatical concepts that are more foreign to English speakers, like cases.Why to study it:  One of the most enduring languages on this list, Russian is spoken in the largest country on earth. Its also widely spoken in other parts of Eastern Europe and particularly ex-Soviet states, where its often the normal second language studied in schools.SwahiliOne of the most well known African languages, Swahili is spoken across a number of countries in Eastern and Southeastern Africa. Its origins are very different from all others in this list as it stems from Bantu roots.What to watch out for:  Given that origin, if youre primarily familiar with English and European languages, theres less crossover, meaning a lot more study of vocabulary.Why to study it:  With many international businesses looking to expand their presence in East Africa, Swahili offers a plethora of job opportunities. It also shares some vocabulary with Arabic, giving you greater access to another critical language. TurkishIf youve ever seen photos of Istanbulâ€"stunning mosques atop crowded hills overlooking the Bosphorusâ€"youll know some of the attraction of Turkey. Its a bridge between continents, an amazing travel location with a fascinating language. That said, it has had a turbulent time recently, with border regions suffering fighting and a government accused of human rights abuses, meaning the world watches it closely.What to watch out for:  Like some other languages on the list, Turkish is challenging as it doesnt share as many cognates with other languages you may be familiar with.Why to study it:  Turkey spans regions, and appropriately its language will give you access to a significant area of the world. On the one hand, it opens up other Turkic languages like Turkmen, Kazakh and Uzbek; culturally and politically, meanwhile, Turkey has strong links with Arab countriesâ€"this language may be of great interest to Arabic speakers looking to deepen their understanding of the region.Urd uUrdu is another tongue from Northern India and Pakistan. We spoke earlier about the importance of Pakistan to U.S. interests; while Punjabi is the most spoken language in the country, Urdu is an  official language, giving it significant value.What to watch out for:  Like in English, pronunciation can be tricky in Urdu. Its important to memorize vocabulary with the accurate way of saying each word.Why to study it:  As well as the advantages it gives you for speaking to Pakistanis, Urdu is very similar to Hindi. So a whole swathe of South Asiaâ€"and two critical languagesâ€"is opened up to you.Convinced?Learning a critical language is quite an undertaking, but the payoff is undeniable.Happy studying!

12-Year-Old Nonprofit Owner Ignites a Passion for Learning in Others

12-Year-Old Nonprofit Owner Ignites a Passion for Learning in Others 12-Year-Old Nonprofit Owner Ignites a Passion for Learning in Others Vidhi, 12-years-old, Math Level K, Reading Level L 8th grader Vidhi is on a mission. Her goal, although still a child herself, is to foster a love for learning, particularly within science in those younger than her within her community. As the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Web Development Officer of a nonprofit, she is achieving that goal time and time again. The organization, Vision4Science, is designed to ignite a passion for science in younger generations.  Through unique workshops, free school presentations, and STEM symposiums, Vidhi speaks to dozens of hungry minds, encouraging them to take a closer look at the world around them and dive deeper into how science may affect their everyday life. Vidhi’s extracurricular commitments don’t stop there. She has taught herself how to play the piano, participates in debate, and plays competitive basketball during the school year. In addition, Vidhi has been enrolled in the Kumon Math and Reading Program for nine years, which has propelled her to studying advanced high school level math and reading, even though she is still in middle school. “Kumon has gotten me ahead of my grade level and has made school so much easier for me” said Vidhi. “Since I can get my school homework done quicker as I have already learned the concepts in Kumon, I can spend more time on other things, such as planning projects for my nonprofit organization, Vision4Science.” Its not surprising that when Vidhi grows up, she hopes to pursue a career either as a neuropsychiatrist or a biomedical engineer â€" both paths that require a love and deep understanding of science. Her love for science combined with unwavering dedication resulted in winning first place at a regional science and engineering fair, where Vidhi built an artificial pancreas as part of her project. She’s not afraid to take risks or to challenge herself, and attributes those traits to her time spent in Kumon. “Kumon has taught me how to persevere when things get difficult, how to manage my time, and how to teach myself new materials,” said Vidhi. “Whenever there is a subject in school that is hard for me, I’ve learned not to give up and instead to look at it in a different light in order to solve it â€" there is no sense in running away from something I can’t do.” Vidhi was one of 56 students selected to attend Kumon’s 3rd Annual Student Conference in Chicago, Illinois this year. The conference was designed to bring some of the brightest young minds across North America to inspire one another through a series of group activities and projects. What do you enjoy most about Kumon? I enjoy Kumon’s level of repetition the most. Kumon doesn’t repeat too much to where I get bored of the subject, but it repeats enough so that I understand the concepts. It leaves me with a solid understanding of a subject while moving quickly through them. What is the most beneficial thing you’ve learned in Kumon thus far? The most beneficial thing I’ve learned in Kumon is to self-motivate myself, which has helped me persevere through difficult tasks. What achievements are you most proud of? The achievements I am most proud of are the science fair competitions I’ve placed in, the level that my non-profit organization has reached, and the Most Valuable Player Awards that I’ve won in basketball. I am also very proud of the first place awards I’ve won in debate even though I’ve only done it for a year. Vidhi shakes hands with Kumon North America president Mino Tanabe If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? If I could sum up my Kumon experience in one word, I would say unique. The program is something that I’ve never seen or experienced before. It helps me academically while teaching me many life lessons and I’ve never seen a program that does both of those things so well. What advice would you give to kids just starting Kumon? To students just starting Kumon, never give up. Always think of the long-term goals that you have and remember that Kumon will help you reach them. If it weren’t for Kumon, I wouldn’t be as ahead in school, and I wouldn’t be able to self-teach myself how to do things. As I’m applying to high school this year, I know that Kumon has boosted my chances of getting into to the school I’ve dreamed of going to. Remember your long term goals and what you want to do in the future and put forth your best effort at completing Kumon with that goal in mind. How did you feel when you found out you were selected to attend the 2019 Kumon Student Conference? When I heard I was selected to attend the Student Conference, I was extremely excited knowing that it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity. I finally felt like all the work I had been doing for the past nine years at Kumon was paying off. Hearing that I had made it this far, I was motivated from that moment to continue and finish the program. What was your experience like at the 2019 Kumon Student Conference, and what was your favorite part? Even before attending the conference, I knew that it would be a once in a lifetime chance, and it definitely was. The speakers were so inspirational, and inspired me to continue to finish the program. I met so many new people that I still talk to, people who share similar goals with me. I saw the reality of what Kumon does and how it helps in the future. Ever since the conference, I’ve worked so much harder and have put so much more effort into Kumon. Who is your biggest inspiration and why? My biggest inspiration is and has always been my dad. From the start, he’s always motivated me to do what I love to do and to work hard. Throughout my experience with Kumon, he has never stopped encouraging me and reminding me of my end goals. He is someone who puts all his effort into everything he does, and that has inspired me to do the same. He is someone I want to be like one day. He has taught me to never give up, and to put all my effort into what I do. Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: With a Passion for Astronomy, this Kumon Student Wants to Become an Astrophysicist A Love for Learning Fueled this Students Passion for Protecting the Environment Finding the motivation to continue learning during the summer can be a challenge. 13-year-old Kumon dual program completer shares advice on perseverance. Meet Michael, a 12-year-old Studying Advanced Algebra after One Year in Kumon 12-Year-Old Nonprofit Owner Ignites a Passion for Learning in Others 12-Year-Old Nonprofit Owner Ignites a Passion for Learning in Others Vidhi, 12-years-old, Math Level K, Reading Level L 8th grader Vidhi is on a mission. Her goal, although still a child herself, is to foster a love for learning, particularly within science in those younger than her within her community. As the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Web Development Officer of a nonprofit, she is achieving that goal time and time again. The organization, Vision4Science, is designed to ignite a passion for science in younger generations.  Through unique workshops, free school presentations, and STEM symposiums, Vidhi speaks to dozens of hungry minds, encouraging them to take a closer look at the world around them and dive deeper into how science may affect their everyday life. Vidhi’s extracurricular commitments don’t stop there. She has taught herself how to play the piano, participates in debate, and plays competitive basketball during the school year. In addition, Vidhi has been enrolled in the Kumon Math and Reading Program for nine years, which has propelled her to studying advanced high school level math and reading, even though she is still in middle school. “Kumon has gotten me ahead of my grade level and has made school so much easier for me” said Vidhi. “Since I can get my school homework done quicker as I have already learned the concepts in Kumon, I can spend more time on other things, such as planning projects for my nonprofit organization, Vision4Science.” Its not surprising that when Vidhi grows up, she hopes to pursue a career either as a neuropsychiatrist or a biomedical engineer â€" both paths that require a love and deep understanding of science. Her love for science combined with unwavering dedication resulted in winning first place at a regional science and engineering fair, where Vidhi built an artificial pancreas as part of her project. She’s not afraid to take risks or to challenge herself, and attributes those traits to her time spent in Kumon. “Kumon has taught me how to persevere when things get difficult, how to manage my time, and how to teach myself new materials,” said Vidhi. “Whenever there is a subject in school that is hard for me, I’ve learned not to give up and instead to look at it in a different light in order to solve it â€" there is no sense in running away from something I can’t do.” Vidhi was one of 56 students selected to attend Kumon’s 3rd Annual Student Conference in Chicago, Illinois this year. The conference was designed to bring some of the brightest young minds across North America to inspire one another through a series of group activities and projects. What do you enjoy most about Kumon? I enjoy Kumon’s level of repetition the most. Kumon doesn’t repeat too much to where I get bored of the subject, but it repeats enough so that I understand the concepts. It leaves me with a solid understanding of a subject while moving quickly through them. What is the most beneficial thing you’ve learned in Kumon thus far? The most beneficial thing I’ve learned in Kumon is to self-motivate myself, which has helped me persevere through difficult tasks. What achievements are you most proud of? The achievements I am most proud of are the science fair competitions I’ve placed in, the level that my non-profit organization has reached, and the Most Valuable Player Awards that I’ve won in basketball. I am also very proud of the first place awards I’ve won in debate even though I’ve only done it for a year. Vidhi shakes hands with Kumon North America president Mino Tanabe If you could sum up your Kumon experience in one word, what would it be? If I could sum up my Kumon experience in one word, I would say unique. The program is something that I’ve never seen or experienced before. It helps me academically while teaching me many life lessons and I’ve never seen a program that does both of those things so well. What advice would you give to kids just starting Kumon? To students just starting Kumon, never give up. Always think of the long-term goals that you have and remember that Kumon will help you reach them. If it weren’t for Kumon, I wouldn’t be as ahead in school, and I wouldn’t be able to self-teach myself how to do things. As I’m applying to high school this year, I know that Kumon has boosted my chances of getting into to the school I’ve dreamed of going to. Remember your long term goals and what you want to do in the future and put forth your best effort at completing Kumon with that goal in mind. How did you feel when you found out you were selected to attend the 2019 Kumon Student Conference? When I heard I was selected to attend the Student Conference, I was extremely excited knowing that it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity. I finally felt like all the work I had been doing for the past nine years at Kumon was paying off. Hearing that I had made it this far, I was motivated from that moment to continue and finish the program. What was your experience like at the 2019 Kumon Student Conference, and what was your favorite part? Even before attending the conference, I knew that it would be a once in a lifetime chance, and it definitely was. The speakers were so inspirational, and inspired me to continue to finish the program. I met so many new people that I still talk to, people who share similar goals with me. I saw the reality of what Kumon does and how it helps in the future. Ever since the conference, I’ve worked so much harder and have put so much more effort into Kumon. Who is your biggest inspiration and why? My biggest inspiration is and has always been my dad. From the start, he’s always motivated me to do what I love to do and to work hard. Throughout my experience with Kumon, he has never stopped encouraging me and reminding me of my end goals. He is someone who puts all his effort into everything he does, and that has inspired me to do the same. He is someone I want to be like one day. He has taught me to never give up, and to put all my effort into what I do. Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: With a Passion for Astronomy, this Kumon Student Wants to Become an Astrophysicist A Love for Learning Fueled this Students Passion for Protecting the Environment Finding the motivation to continue learning during the summer can be a challenge. 13-year-old Kumon dual program completer shares advice on perseverance. Meet Michael, a 12-year-old Studying Advanced Algebra after One Year in Kumon