Have you ever had trouble learning a new skill? If so, then you should become familiar with the “Natural Human Learning Process (NHLP),” which can help you understand how the brain learns through stages and how emotions influence learning. If you take the time to learn and use the NHLP, mastering a new skill will be easy. To use the natural human learning process you must first know what it is. The “Natural Human Learning Process” is a research project by Dr. Rita Smilkstein. He ascertained that all human beings learn by going through the same six stages (called NHLP). The first phase is “motivation”. To learn something new you need to be motivated to put in the effort. The motivation could be anything from money to social status. The second phase is “the beginning of practice”. This is the trial and error phase; you're just getting introduced to your new skill. You're just learning the basics. The third phase is “advanced practice”. At this stage you are not yet good at your skills, but you are on the right path. The fourth phase is “skill”. You're starting to get comfortable with your new skill, starting to see progress, and you're gaining confidence. The fifth phase is “Refinement”. You know the basics of the skill, but are still improving and expanding your capabilities. The sixth stage is “mastery”. At this point you are ready to teach, you did it! (Smilkstein) Now that you know what NHLP is, how do you use it? As I learned to drive, I used NHLP: Phase One “Motivation.” My motivation was freedom; I no longer wanted to depend on my parents for a ride. I wanted to be able to come and go whenever I want. After finding my motivation, I moved on to phase two, “initial practice.” I started by driving through a void…in the middle of a sheet of paper…an essay, not that I had another part to write. I will also use this knowledge at work or whenever I learn something new. If I start to feel distracted or frustrated while learning something new, I will take a break from learning until I calm down, so my body can produce endorphins. The NHLP is like a learning guide. If you know all six parts of the NHLP, the dendrites, and know how emotions influence the learning process, then learning a new skill should be easy, or at least as easy as learning the same skill if you didn't. learn about the NHL. It already has and will make my college homework easier. Works Cited Smilkstein, Rita. We were born to learn: Using the brain's natural learning process to create today's curriculum. Thousand Oaks, Cal. Corwin Press, 2003..