As the semester comes to a close, many of us are taking intensive learning to prepare for final examination. We have to remember everything from the classes we slept through, read books we never even bought, and somehow convince (v=meyakinkan) our bodies that sleep just isn’t that important. We usually even reject every incoming call in our mobile phone. That is merely for trying to focus on studying.
According to us, as we’ve mentioned before, most people don’t study effectively by sitting and reading notes over and over (adv=berulang-ulang), hoping that will stick (v=tinggal) in our brain. The human brain doesn’t work that way. It’s a more complex, disordered, and fun-loving being. Memories of things you do and did, and enjoyed, are always more prevalent (adj=lazim) to your brain than to that a bunch of study guide you made for your exam.
It’s actually quite easy to elude (v=menghindar) from the conventional (adj=biasa) ways of studying and make studying more interesting, efficient and effective. There are a ton of ways out there, but we’ll give you four that work for us. (These, of course, aren’t not going to be really that fun but at least they’re all more interesting than sitting and reading notes over and over.)
- Repetition. Take everything you’ve done in the semester such as notes, homework, papers, etc. Now summarize all of that onto one page, front and back. Fill it ONLY with the information you really need to know. This will inform how you study, as well as help you skip the pointless details and get to the heart of the information. This shouldn’t be the only studying to do, but it’s been widely used for any kinds of activities.
- Play Teacher. Find someone who knows nothing about what you’re studying for. Then teach them about it. While figuring out how to make someone else understand the material, you’ll do wonders for your own mastery. It’ll stick in your brain better, as well as give you a clearer view of the subject. If you want, you may also record when you’re teaching someone else and play back your recording after that. You’ll see how fast you learn than used to.
- Fight. Pick a friend and a topic for a class. Pick sides, and have a debate with each other. This is great for essays, papers, and any kind of test requiring you to elaborate (v=menguraikan) on one or a few points. Debating, EVEN A SIDE YOU KNOW IS WRONG, is an incredible useful skill which will help you reason on test. If you can argue both sides, you can argue one side much more effectively.
- Reward Yourself. Give yourself something for studying. When you sit down, decide that if you study hard for 60 minutes, you’re going to eat a bowl of Pisang Ijo. Or, if you study hard for 2 hours, you can go phone your best/close/beloved friend. This helps focus and keep you from being distracted, and also lets you have some fun in your life. If all you do is study, you’ll get bored in a short time. Balance it with friends, fun, and rest, by rewarding yourself for a WELL DONE JOB.
So, how do you study? Do you have any unconventional methods? Share them with us in this discussion.
by pweedisc Team
Great Writing!
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