The Chemists Guide to Creating Your Own Chemistry Stencils

The Chemist's Guide to Creating Your Own Chemistry StencilsA chemistry stencil is a great way to express your passion for chemistry and a learning environment where your students learn chemistry concepts in the classroom. It can be used as a teaching aid or a fun project for students to have fun and get their hands involved with chemistry. They can also help teachers keep track of their chemistry concepts by creating their own experiments with your students.Chemistry stencils come in many different shapes and sizes, depending on how much information you want to show on the chalkboard. Students can make the chalkboard themselves or they can use an online learning site or writing or drawing software to draw their own chalkboard. Many have the ability to print the material out on to regular letter sized paper and print it out to a really high quality file. This will give the student an extra paper so that they can store their work.They are great for many projects and they can be used to teach students about the relationship between acids and bases and how they are produced. The most important thing to remember is that the chalkboard can not be cleaned up to remove stains or marks. This is why you need to ask the student to clean up their work before you let them back into the lab for their test.The regular chalkboards that students are familiar with still work just fine, but many chalkboards now come with the chemical symbols and the chemical symbol overlay. This makes it easier for them to understand and for their instructors to explain what is going on. There are even chalkboards that have the chemical symbols in all the right places so that they can be easy to read.Online learning sites like EFL or ALEKS offer interactive labs, which many students enjoy. You can make any learning environment more interactive by placing the chemistry stencil on the chalkboard itself, so that the students can see their own creations on the chalkboard. This will help them in the p rocess of learning, since they can draw a picture of what their job is in the lab and how to do it.Some of the chalkboards are made out of rubber to reduce friction so that they are easy to use. This helps students who have trouble gripping the chalkboards with their hands and keeping it steady. There are also back-packs that students can use instead of the chalkboards to bring the labs to them, and this gives them a different way to carry their chemistry materials and supplies in their backpacks.Chemistry stencils are great for giving your students some fun projects to do during science fair projects, during the second or third grade period of the year. When students learn in the classroom, they get better prepared for their science fair projects, and they are more likely to perform well.

4 Ways to Put Your Spanish into Action in Your Community

4 Ways to Put Your Spanish into Action in Your Community Suzy S. Want to take your Spanish beyond the books and classroom? Here, Honolulu tutor Jinan B.  offers some ideas to volunteer in Spanish and other ways to share your skills with your community Spanish has special significance in the United States, as it is widely spoken by people from a variety of Hispanic and Hispanic-American cultures. One of the great things about learning Spanish is that you can practice the language and improve your fluency while actively in your community. The following are suggestions for ways to put your Spanish into action to mutually benefit you and other individuals in your community. 1. Volunteer in Spanish Volunteering is an exceptional way to achieve greater fluency in Spanish, because youre practicing your speaking and comprehension skills while helping others at the same time. There is a great need for bilingual English-Spanish speakers to help non-English-speaking native Spanish speakers with navigating a variety of situations in which English is needed. You can also seek out volunteer opportunities working with disadvantaged children, some of whom may be native Spanish speakers or bilingual English-Spanish speakers. A good resource for finding opportunities to volunteer in Spanish is your local government office or public library. 2. Connect with Fellow Spanish Language Learners Another way to participate more deeply in your local community while speaking Spanish is to meet others interested in improving their language skills. This could take the form of a Spanish language meetup group to get additional practice in the language outside of your lessons. You could also use online forums, such as Craigslist, to find an exchange partner to practice with (for example, an exchange in which you converse with your partner in English part of the time and in Spanish the rest of the time). This is mutually beneficial in helping each of you improve your speaking abilities, and you may make a new friend in the process. In any case, you will gain a deeper understanding of the culture and language through this person. 3. Strike Up a Conversation with a Native Speaker An easy way to incorporate Spanish into your daily routine in a community-oriented way is to make Spanish-speaking connections. Depending on the community you live in, this may be as simple as striking up a friendly conversation with Spanish speakers in a business you frequent. Spanish speakers are usually quite friendly and delighted that you are learning their language. Making friends who speak Spanish can allow for many exceptional interactions, in which you participate in cultural exchange and have fun at the same time! 4. Host an Exchange Student or Traveler If you would like an immersion experience and are unable to travel, how about hosting an exchange student or traveler? In exchange for free or low-cost housing, your visitor can verse you in the intricacies of Spanish as you share some of the wonderful things about your culture and location. It is an excellent way to reinforce what you learn in your Spanish class or tutoring  sessions and will make a difference in someone else’s travel and cultural experiences. These suggestions are just scratching the surface of the possibilities available to you for putting your Spanish into action in your community. The rewards are plentiful, for you and for those with whom you interact. As your Spanish improves, you may find even greater meaning in your engagement with the Spanish language. Jinan B. tutors in Honolulu, HI. She is currently an  Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, teaching various courses including  Community Nutrition, Concepts in Nutrition Education, and Advanced Child and Adolescent Nutrition.  Learn more about Jinan here!   Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Rebecca Demes

A Student Perspective on Cornell University

A Student Perspective on Cornell University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well.Kelly received her Bachelors degree in Biological Engineering and her PhDfrom Cornell University. She is currently a tutor in New York City specializing in GRE Quantitative tutoring, Life Sciences tutoring, SAT Math tutoring, and several other subjects. See what she had to say about her experience at Cornell University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Kelly: I went to college at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Ithaca is a small city in upstate New York, right on the Finger Lakes. The campus is beautiful, with lots of (big) hills overlooking Cayuga Lake. There are also many architecturally diverse buildings. You can get around campus on foot (I did!), but the buildings are pretty spread out. If you are in a rush, or the weather is bad (it gets cold there in the winter), I would definitely recommend taking a bus. Cars are good to have if you want to get away from campus for the weekend or you want to take a day trip to the local gorges, but having a car is not necessary. (To get home for breaks and holidays, I took a Greyhound bus to the New York City area). Bikes are a great alternative, but be prepared to get a great leg workout it is hilly here! Even though the campus is pretty large, it has a small town feel to it, so I always felt extremely safe walking around. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Kelly:I was an Engineering major, and during my first two years, I took a lot of large, lower-level science and math courses. We had recitation sections that met once per week that were led by graduate students whose job it was to review the material covered in class. Both the professors and graduate students held their own office hours and practically begged us to come, even if it was just to say hello they wanted company while sitting in their offices for two hours. The professors were all incredibly intelligent (and therefore, a bit intimidating), but they all encouraged us to get help if we were confused. My academic adviser was great he hired me as a teaching assistant for an upper-level Engineering class and encouraged me to pursue independent study. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Kelly:You always hear horror stories about the food at dining halls, but I can tell you that the food on campus was always very good. There was such a wide variety Mongolian grill, pizza, pasta, salads, soups, etc. And, of course, I always helped myself to some ice cream made right at the Cornell Dairy Bar. There are dining halls near the dormitories, as well as a few on campus for you to grab some food in-between classes. Dorms are both hall-style and suite-style, so there are plenty of opportunities to socialize and meet new people. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Kelly:I was a Biological Engineering major, which meant that I took both basic Biology courses (such as Genetics and Biochemistry) and Engineering courses (such as Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics). The Engineering programs at Cornell University are all very strong, so when signing up for an Engineering course, you know it is going to be challenging. The general attitude with the students was, We are all in this together, so if we work together, it will be much easier. Unlike in other majors (such as Biology), there was almost no competition between students, which helped my grades and helped me make new friends. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Kelly:As a freshman, your first friends are generally those who live near you in the dorm and in your major. Greek life is pretty popular, but you have to wait until second semester of your freshman year to rush. I was not part of Greek life, and I did not feel like I was missing out on anything. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Kelly:To be honest, I did not use the Career Center or go to job fairs because I knew I was going to go to graduate school. I did have friends who went to job fairs and met some great contacts. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Kelly:During finals time, the running joke is that the library is more to socialize than to study. I did a lot of my work in computer labs, in my room, and in the library (during non-finals weeks). During finals week, I went to the Ithaca city library, which is huge and recently remodeled. It also gave me a good change of scenery to break up the monotony of studying on campus. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Kelly:The area immediately surrounding campus is called Collegetown (not terribly creative, I know). It is filled with cafes, coffee shops, and restaurants. A 10-minute drive down the hill takes you to downtown Ithaca, which is a moderately-sized city with some great outdoor activities (hiking, mountain biking, trail running, skiing, etc.), as well as some decent shopping (used book stores, local art, small boutiques). There are a number of malls and strip malls with big stores such as Barnes Noble, Home Depot, Target, Wegmans, etc. Also, the Finger Lakes region is known for its wineries, so if you are of age, you can do wine tasting tours along the lakes. Ithaca is pretty isolated in upstate New York, but there are a lot of activities to do within a 15-minute drive. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Kelly:Cornell University is a fairly large institution, with over 20,000 students. It has over 12,000 students at the Ithaca campus, as well as campuses in New York City and Qatar. Even though it is pretty big, it does not feel that big. I found that you see the same people when you are walking to your classes, you sit next to the same people in class, you see the same faces in the dining halls, etc. Introductory class sizes were admittedly large, with anywhere from 100-300 people in a large lecture hall. However, there are recitation sections that meet at least once per week, and these have about 20 students in them. Also, once you got past the introductory courses, class size shrunk dramatically. It was not uncommon for upper-level classes to have less than 20 students. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Kelly:During my junior year, I took an elective, mostly because I heard it would be an easy A. However, what I did not bargain for was that I would really enjoy the class! It was a class about Native American culture, and it was fascinating. The professor was passionate and an honorary member of a local tribe from upstate New York. To this day, I remember sitting in that auditorium being blown away by the professors lecture. Check out Kellys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

4 Tricks to Learn Vocab for the New SAT

4 Tricks to Learn Vocab for the New SAT The new SAT tests vocabulary in a completely different way from the old format of the test. Instead of focusing on the necessity of memorizing and using less commonly spoken, difficult words, the new SAT concentrates on your ability to recognize the meaning of words in context. The new SAT has ditched those pesky sentence completion tasks for more varied passages with vocab questions that may ask you to discern between multiple, potential definitions of a certain word, or how that word affects a passages meaning. Even though the vocab may seem more intuitive on the new SAT, there are several study tips that may help you snag extra points on test day. Check out these tricks to learn vocab for the new SAT: 1. Ditch the old SAT vocab lists The new SAT is not concerned with obscure vocab words, and you shouldnt be either. Get rid of those stacks of flashcards developed for the old test and forego straight-up memorization of definitions as you approach this new test. Remember that success on this new test does not depend on your rote memorization of information, but rather your understanding of words as they appear in passages. [RELATED: What is an Average SAT Score?] 2. Focus on studying words in context by reading materials from varied disciplines The new SATs Reading section now encompasses comprehension skills from various disciples, and this is reflected in its vocab questions. For example, you might be asked to discern the meaning of a word in a scientific context that would have a different meaning in an art history context. Your task would be to recognize the differing function of that word in its different contexts and to select the proper way that word functions in the context at hand. You can prepare yourself for vocab questions like this by making a habit of reading articles from varying disciplinespolitics, geography, nature, health, economics, history, etc. Try selecting a few unfamiliar words from each article as you read and challenge yourself to figure out the definition of those words, as well as how they function in the article as a whole. 3. Practice understanding what the questions are asking Unlike the old SAT, which had vocab questions that focused on applying definitions, the new SAT questions focus on application, context, and alternate meanings. Practice reading question stems via SAT practice tests and writing out your translation of what the question is asking before you select your answer. Though you wont have time to write out your translations on test day, taking some time to practice this skill now can help you more automatically understand the purpose of a question the first time you read it on the actual test, preventing you from having to re-read the question multiple times. Ask yourself what task you have to complete as you read vocab questions and select an answer that fulfills that task the best. 4. If you must have flashcards, select your words carefully Some students love to study from SAT flashcards, and if youre intent on doing so for the new SAT, do so intelligently. Instead of finding the hardest words from your practice passages to write down on cards, look for words within your readings that have multiple known definitions. When making your flashcards, put the word with which you are concerned on one side and as many definitions for that word as you can find on the reverse. Prep your brain to recognize those multiple meanings available for single words in order to learn vocabfor the new SAT.

Where to take your SAT Test Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

Where to take your SAT Test Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace SAT which stands for Scholastic Assessment Test, is one of the widely popular tests taken by the high school students to gain admissions in the colleges and universities in the United States. SAT scores are preferred and recognized in most of the colleges in the US and is surely one of the factors which help in the selection of the student. SAT test paper consists of multiple choice questions with 5 answer options and students have to pick the right answer from the given options. However it is important to note that wrong answers carry negative penalty. Therefore it is necessary for the students to be careful before randomlyguessing any answer because if its wrong, points are deducted from the already existing score. The fastest method to take the SAT test is by registering on the official website of the College Board by following simple instructions. The registration is free of cost and once registered, students can easily check out the test dates and choose the test date accordingly. Based on the test date, students can choose their test location according to their convenience. SAT is conducted many times a year and the exam is taken by the students residing in the United States and also in different other nations. Hence, they can look into the test dates for the given academic year for national as well as international students and can therefore pick their location for the test.

Organization Tips for High School Students - Private Tutoring

Organization Tips for High School Students BobbiM Mar 9, 2013 Organization Tips for High School Students Okay. So, I asked my daughter, Kameron, who is a Freshman in High School how she stays organized in High School. And, being the awesome daughter that she is, she went ahead and wrote this article. Now, you need to know something about Kameron: she is very organized, is a member of Key Club, is really involved in Church, and help her 8 younger siblings with everything. She pretty much rocks the house. I hope this article helps you as these tips have helped her. Do you ever have trouble staying organized with school? And with school moving so fast, do you ever feel like by Wednesday you practically dont know whats gong on? Here are some tried and true tips to help you stay organized. Tips for Getting Organized for High School Students Go through your binder after receiving every report card. Since youve already gotten your report card you can get rid of old assignments. Go through all your papers and notes and toss what you dont need. If youre not sure about something, just keep it. It wont hurt to carry that around. Clean your room weekly. Have you ever let your room get so dirty, you can hardly see the floor? How did you do that week at school? Likely not very well. If your room is cluttered, your mind will be too. Do a weekly deep clean of your room. The first time it will be rough, but after that it will just become routine. Make your bed, clear your desk, dustnow you are ready to take on the world, let alone school! Make lists. It will help you to stay organized if you make lists. Make a list of homework assignments to do, a list of after school activities, make a list of things you want to do in general. This will help you remember all you need to do at a certain time period. Get enough sleep. This will keep you more awake during the day and aware. You will be ready to do the tasks assigned to you and have a more pleasant day. It will also be easier to wake up in the morning. I know that when I wake up late it starts my day off on the wrong foot. Give yourself plenty of time to get ready in the morning and dont forget to eat breakfast! Plan your weekends during the week. Throughout the week, think about and write down all the things you wish to get done on the weekend. Then you can have that goal in mind and you are less likely to forget all about school the moment the Friday bell rings. Plan your week on the weekends. Sometime during the weekend, plan your week ahead. What do you want to get accomplished this week? What days will you be absolutely swamped with activities? What days will you actually get some time to yourself? By doing this, you can start your week off right and know what to expect. Acting on these suggestions might be difficult at first, but after awhile, these will become habit and much easier to apply to your life. And you can see your life changed as you become more organized!

The Truth about Willy Wonka - English Listening Exercise

The Truth about Willy Wonka - English Listening Exercise As long as a href=http://blankonblank.org/Blank on Blank/a  keeps producing these great videos, well keep making English listening exercises with them. Theyre great!This weeks video features an interview with Gene Wilder, an American actor who has played many roles, perhaps most famously as the original Willy Wonka from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. In the video below he talks about how and why he started acting, and reveals some interesting information about how he influenced the Willy Wonka film. iframe src=//www.youtube.com/embed/8PUW2POEjX4 width=560 height=315 frameborder=0 allowfullscreen=allowfullscreen/iframeListening Questions. Answer the questions below in comments, and well respond.1. He looked ___ in it.2. What does the word above mean?3. What joke does Mel Brooks make?4. Dont ever get angry with your mother, because you might kill her. He was not very _______ _______. 5.  How did Wilder know when hed said something really funny to his mom?6. Why does Wilder act ? (He doesnt actually give the reason, but he implies it.)7. Why did he want to change the beginning of Willy Wonka?nbsp;Thanks! Below youll find the part of Willy Wonka that Gene Wilder references in the interview. iframe src=//www.youtube.com/embed/sz9jc5blzRM width=420 height=315 frameborder=0 allowfullscreen=allowfullscreen/iframe

Tips on How to Weather the Midterm Storm

Tips on How to Weather the Midterm Storm Weathering the StormThe young scholars. The creme of the crop. Know-it-all by nature. The future of the world lingers in the wit of our decisions. Doused in our fearless, yet uncertain, egos, our humanity remains intact. And like all larger than life figures, we have our shortcomings and flaws. With this, we fall victim to the infamous “Midterm Misery”. It is the middle of the semester, and most of us feel the peaking of our breaking points. Assignments are getting lengthier and deadlines are approaching..Collectively, we walk a tightrope of performing our best in class and securing our sanity. Stress builds, sleepless nights, cramming and retaining information to apply it on an exams, we become the mechanical dispensers of knowledge. Here are 5 life hacks and reassurances that everything will be fine. Study to understand, not just to regurgitateInformation is easier to remember if it makes sense. Even though memorization seems to play a key part in learning, it has definitive use unless it can be can be understood and applied. You will find that most information can be memorized naturally if understood. Just try it. Adopt a study habit that allows you to use your comprehensive skills. You will see that the memorization comes more naturally when concepts are understood.Understand that pressure can be beneficialHere is the thing. As humans, we are able to perform our best and tap into autonomic responses on cue when we are under high pressure. Referring to Nixon P. Stress Response Curve (1979), as stress increases, so does performance. So what does this mean? When the pressure is on, we tend to not overthink or overanalyze anything, we naturally act accordingly. When applying this concept to schoolwork, we can began to apply the information we learn in an easier thought process. Let your body and mind do the work for you, Pressure is normal, and our bodies are naturally ready to respond to it. So in a way, we are in control, whether we know it or not. Keep an eye on your bodyWe love Starbucks. Energy drinks give us a jolt. We indulge in anything that will help heighten our senses and keep us energized. And though this is ideal behavior for us as college students. We must be mindful that over consumption could be harmful to our bodies. Remember, our bodies are naturally equipped with the chemicals it needs to help us function naturally. Let us not throw off the functionally by drinking too much caffeine. One cup could suffice. Try balancing your meals and getting plenty of rest at night. Our bodies are like clocks, let us keep them oiled and ticking. Realize your potentialThe only thing keeping you from making the grade you want...is you. Okay, well maybe your instructor can throw in a few twisted challenges, but you can top it! We must understand that we execute tasks at our full capacity IF we are aware of the extent of our capabilities. But wait….what if we are not exactly sure of how much we are capable of? Well, give a stab at it. It is okay to remind yourself every now and again, “I got this”. You are in total control of your situation.It is only a matter of timeLooking at your course syllabus can be quite intimidating. But what is more rewarding than putting an X on those deadlines as the semester progresses? The only thing that separates where you are and where you will be in the semester, is time. And as time suspends, we must perform accordingly. Get a head start on a some readings, or pitch some ideas for an upcoming paper. Surely soon, these things too will be crossed off of your “to do” list. In closing….We are halfway through the semester and in the eye of the storm. Brace yourself. Push through. Do your best. Weather the storm. Cheers!!-Kendra D. Scott

ACT Vocabulary What Do You Really Need To Know

ACT Vocabulary What Do You Really Need To Know If, for you, being tested on vocabulary means answering the exact definition of a word, then you may not necessarily be familiar with how the ACT chooses to test vocabulary. The ACT knows its fairly straightforward to memorize words and their meanings, so they decide to take it a step further by  testing whether or not you understand how the word is being used and in what specific context. I am a professional in the ACT preparation field and a question we tend to hear from students beginning their test prep journey is how, exactly, the ACT tests vocabulary and what students can do in terms of preparation to succeed in this area. I am going to explain how the ACT tests your understanding of words based on context and how you can prepare yourself to do well! What The ACT Vocabulary Tests You On Context What does being tested on context mean for vocabulary? Being able to understand the context of a word involves analyzing the words around the underlined word and coming to a conclusion of how the words being used. You need to look at the word being questioned and how it relates to the surrounding text. Let’s look at a couple examples where you must use context clues to understand the meaning of a word, should you not know their specific meaning beforehand: I get extremely squeamish when Im in a hospital. I count the minutes until I can go home. You’ll find that the word squeamish actually has two meanings. And you’d need to look at the context to know which meaning is being used. Have a look at the Merriam Webster’s definition: Squeamish: 1.  a. easily nauseated 1. b. affected with nausea 2.a. excessively fastidious or scrupulous in conduct or belief 2.b. easily offended or disgusted You’ll quickly notice that the word squeamish in this context doesn’t refer to nausea caused by a hospital but rather an excessive feeling towards being in hospitals, fitting more under 2 A’s definition of squeamish. Let’s try out another new word that has only one basic meaning: Sarah is very morose and quiet today. She says when the weather is cloudy, she gets gloomy. Let’s have a look at the Merriam Webster’s definition: Morose: having a sullen and gloomy disposition marked by or expressive of gloom Based on context clues in the two sentences, we can assume that the definition of morose reflects a similar meaning to gloomy, which is how she feels when the weather is cloudy. Moderately Difficult Vocabulary It’s likely you already know what most of the top words tested on the ACT already mean. Take a look some of the top ACT vocab words and you’ll be relieved that you already know what most of them mean. The verbs anticipate, determine, and engage rank in the top 20 for ACT vocabulary and you can likely put any of these words in a sentence without even studying! So if the ACT vocabulary is not that difficult, what makes the questions hard? The ACT will check that you understand which specific meaning is being used for the word. Idioms Although idioms are not necessarily vocabulary words, the ACT will still test whether or not you understand the meaning of a  popular idiom. Idioms can be difficult for ESL students because they don’t necessarily fall under any specific grammar rule, but rather are learned through exposure speaking with natives. There are many resources out there to review idioms, but if learning all these idioms has you you stressed, just keep in mind that very few questions will be idiom-specific, so it may not be worth worth a great deal of your time to perfect this skill if you can immediately improve in other areas instead. How To Practice The best method of practice for the ACT vocabulary is to begin taking ACT Reading and Science practice tests and build up your skills in looking for contextual clues in the passages. As mentioned, once you know the meaning of the vocabulary words, the biggest advantage you have on test day is to be able to know how the word is being used in the sentence! Kristine Thorndyke works for Quesbook, your go-to for free ACT practice and study resources. Not good enough for you? Well, we also offer ACT scholarships that you’re eligible for simply by studying and taking the ACT. ACT Vocabulary What Do You Really Need To Know If, for you, being tested on vocabulary means answering the exact definition of a word, then you may not necessarily be familiar with how the ACT chooses to test vocabulary. The ACT knows its fairly straightforward to memorize words and their meanings, so they decide to take it a step further by  testing whether or not you understand how the word is being used and in what specific context. I am a professional in the ACT preparation field and a question we tend to hear from students beginning their test prep journey is how, exactly, the ACT tests vocabulary and what students can do in terms of preparation to succeed in this area. I am going to explain how the ACT tests your understanding of words based on context and how you can prepare yourself to do well! What The ACT Vocabulary Tests You On Context What does being tested on context mean for vocabulary? Being able to understand the context of a word involves analyzing the words around the underlined word and coming to a conclusion of how the words being used. You need to look at the word being questioned and how it relates to the surrounding text. Let’s look at a couple examples where you must use context clues to understand the meaning of a word, should you not know their specific meaning beforehand: I get extremely squeamish when Im in a hospital. I count the minutes until I can go home. You’ll find that the word squeamish actually has two meanings. And you’d need to look at the context to know which meaning is being used. Have a look at the Merriam Webster’s definition: Squeamish: 1.  a. easily nauseated 1. b. affected with nausea 2.a. excessively fastidious or scrupulous in conduct or belief 2.b. easily offended or disgusted You’ll quickly notice that the word squeamish in this context doesn’t refer to nausea caused by a hospital but rather an excessive feeling towards being in hospitals, fitting more under 2 A’s definition of squeamish. Let’s try out another new word that has only one basic meaning: Sarah is very morose and quiet today. She says when the weather is cloudy, she gets gloomy. Let’s have a look at the Merriam Webster’s definition: Morose: having a sullen and gloomy disposition marked by or expressive of gloom Based on context clues in the two sentences, we can assume that the definition of morose reflects a similar meaning to gloomy, which is how she feels when the weather is cloudy. Moderately Difficult Vocabulary It’s likely you already know what most of the top words tested on the ACT already mean. Take a look some of the top ACT vocab words and you’ll be relieved that you already know what most of them mean. The verbs anticipate, determine, and engage rank in the top 20 for ACT vocabulary and you can likely put any of these words in a sentence without even studying! So if the ACT vocabulary is not that difficult, what makes the questions hard? The ACT will check that you understand which specific meaning is being used for the word. Idioms Although idioms are not necessarily vocabulary words, the ACT will still test whether or not you understand the meaning of a  popular idiom. Idioms can be difficult for ESL students because they don’t necessarily fall under any specific grammar rule, but rather are learned through exposure speaking with natives. There are many resources out there to review idioms, but if learning all these idioms has you you stressed, just keep in mind that very few questions will be idiom-specific, so it may not be worth worth a great deal of your time to perfect this skill if you can immediately improve in other areas instead. How To Practice The best method of practice for the ACT vocabulary is to begin taking ACT Reading and Science practice tests and build up your skills in looking for contextual clues in the passages. As mentioned, once you know the meaning of the vocabulary words, the biggest advantage you have on test day is to be able to know how the word is being used in the sentence! Kristine Thorndyke works for Quesbook, your go-to for free ACT practice and study resources. Not good enough for you? Well, we also offer ACT scholarships that you’re eligible for simply by studying and taking the ACT.