Studying English as a Second Language is difficult. Whether you are doing homework, going over notes, or studying for a test, good study skills will help you get the most out of your time and effort. The best students are usually the ones who have mastered the best study skills, such as these:
1. Make a study plan. Decide in advance which areas you want to study, or what topics you need to review. If you have a plan, you won't feel as overwhelmed. The act of writing out what needs to be done so you can check it off later lets your brain stop worrying about remembering those to do items, and frees your mind so you can focus on your work.
2. Set goals. When writing that study plan, set small goals that are easily achieved, and reward yourself. Studying for 20-30 minutes, then taking a 5-10 minute break and studying for another 20-30 minutes is more effective than studying for an hour without the break. It's much easier to stay focused when you know that a break and a treat are coming up!
3. Keep your body well fueled. Your mind will wander and you will have more trouble concentrating if you are hungry or tired. Eat regular meals and get enough sleep, even when studying for an exam - while it can feel like drinking coffee and staying up all night will help you master the material, it doesn't. Your brain needs rest to function properly.
4. Choose your study location carefully. Some people study best in the library, some prefer a table in a coffee shop, others like to be alone in their rooms, and still others find that studying with a partner or a small group helps them learn. However, no one will be focused on the material trying to study if their roommate is playing loud music or their child is throwing a tantrum. Find a spot where you have as few distractions as possible, and are comfortable but not so comfortable you're likely to take a nap!
5. Turn off the technology. Texting, IMing, chatting on your phone, and tweeting are not
things you should be doing when studying! Use the break discussed in Tip #2 to text, talk, or tweet, and turn off your phone during the study periods. If you are using a computer, don't turn on your IM program during a study period - your friends can wait until your break to hear from you!
6. Play games. When you are studying alone, try to use mnemonic devices to remember things - My Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas can help students remember the order of the planets. Similarly rhymes can help - "when two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking" helps you remember that a word like fear has a long e. If you're studying with others, playing word games, with flash cards, or creating your own game can help the lesson stay in your head.
7. Don't give up. English is a language filled with exceptions, and ESL classes aren't easy. It's tempting to give up when the work becomes difficult and the workload becomes overwhelming. However, you can do it! Divide up the work into more manageable sections, and be persistent. Go through the sections one at a time, with regular breaks and rewards, and you'll figure it out faster than you thought you could!
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Plants are shaped by cultivation and men by education. .. We are born weak, we need strength; we are born totally unprovided, we need aid; we are born stupid, we need judgment. Everything we do not have at our birth and which we need when we are grown is given us by education.
(Jean Jacques Rousseau, Emile, On Philosophy of Education)
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