Learning involves many activities: managing your time, taking notes, reading books, listening to lectures, memorizing, having discussions, and writing tests. Being a university student can be quite difficult. It involves many hours of studying, taking exams and writing papers. As a university student your daily schedule is likely to be tight, limiting the amount of study time available to you. The following nine tips will help you make the most out of your study time.
ü Make studying a regularly-scheduled part of every day.
ü Study difficult subjects and those you do not find very interesting first, when your energy level is higher.
ü Be aware of your best time of day when you are the most alert, and use this time for studying.
ü Use waiting time to accomplish small tasks.
ü Use a regular study area.
ü Study where you will be alert (not on your bed, for example, where you may be tempted to nap).
ü Agree with roommates about study time.
ü Avoid noise distractions.
ü For difficult courses, set up a study group with other students from your course. Working with others can be a great motivator.
Time Management
Most professors will expect you to spend approximately one to two hours studying for every hour that you are in their class. If you are taking a full course load, that adds up to more than a 40 hour week, the equivalent of a professional job. If you are putting in additional hours for a part-time job, you will need to manage your time very carefully to get everything done and keep your sanity. You may wish to utilize a WEEKLY SCHEDULE to develop your plan of action. To be a success in your study, follow the principles below:
| ü schedule from fixed to flexible using a daily planner; ü set realistic goals; ü plan study time sensibly; ü make the most of your busy schedule. |
Reading Textbooks
Reading assignments at the university level often involve challenging material. There are, however, certain strategies that will make difficult and/or lengthy texts easier for you to read, thus allowing you to understand and better remember the information you are reading:
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| ü Do your reading assignments either before or after they are lectured on or discussed in class, but pick the method that works best for you. |
ü Read actively, highlighting and underlining carefully to simplify later review for exams. Also, make notes or write questions in the margins as you go.
ü Read flexibly, adjusting your speed and intensity to the difficulty of
the material and to your ability.
ü Read critically to identify authors' biases and to distinguish facts from opinions; you don't have to believe everything that you read.
ü Test your understanding of textbook material frequently. To do this, close your book after finishing a section and restate in your own words the general content of that section.
ü Study visual aids like pictures and charts along with the text to increase your understanding of the topics covered.
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ü Talk to other students in your class about the reading to help reinforce what you understood from it.
ü Read with a dictionary on your desk or in your lap and look up words you don't know. This will help you understand the reading more thoroughly, in addition to improving your vocabulary overall.
Note-Taking
One of the best sources for reviewing the material covered in class is your own notes. Therefore, they should be well-organized and contain as much information as possible. It is also important to review your notes on a regular basis, not just the night before quizzes and tests. This will help you learn the material more thoroughly, making reviewing for tests and quizzes ultimately much easier and more productive. These tips will show you how to make your notes as effective as possible.
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| ü Listen and think before you write down any information. ü Save time by eliminating articles and using sentence fragments, abbreviations, symbols, and other shortcuts. |
ü Indent to show subtopics and details, and leave a space to indicate a change of topic, provide some space to insert information later.
ü Leave a margin, and use it for key words and questions that will help you review later.
| Exercise 4. Answer the questions. |
1. What activities are involved in the process of study?
2. Why can being a university student challenging? Is it difficult for you?
3. Do you have enough time for effective learning?
4. What study skills are required for academic study? What is the most essential one for you?
5. What principles from the listed above do you follow in your study?
6. Do you have your own methods of time management / reading textbooks / note-taking?
7. Do you agree that note-taking skills are necessary for effective writing, reading and listening skills?
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