1. Timing
Important with timing is that you develop an organized learning schedule for every day and allow yourself short yet enough breaks to keep fresh and focused.
After having returned home from school, spend half an hour to an hour on a relaxed, non-school activity (such as sports, hobbies, music, etc., but not reading) and have a snack and some fluid. Both your body and mind need a little break and change of pace. This will help to prepare you for the second part of your learning day. It will give you the so-called “second wind”.
Now go to your room or study and begin with vocabulary (if you take more than one language, start with one language vocabulary first) for about 20 minutes. Take a short break (3 to 5 minutes). Now proceed to the written assignments in the same subject. Then again a 3 to 5 minutes break. Now it is time to begin with your other homework, such as Math, Science, English etc. – Make sure you take a short break of about 5 minutes every 45 minutes or so, since this will refresh you and help you get less worn out or brain tired. Take a longer break now, about 10 to 15 minutes.
If you take a second language, now start again with vocabulary first, then with written assignments according to the pace and method described above.
If you don’t get finished by suppertime with your studies, so be it. Enjoy your supper. Then take at least an hour break. Plenus venter non studet libenter.
Finish up your homework and studies after that. Smart students know that this is a good time also to review some of the vocabulary and other important material. Repetitio est mater studiorum.
2. Environment
Important in this area is that you create an environment that is conducive to learning and will aid you in accomplishing your tasks efficiently and without hindrances.
Serious studies require a completely quiet surrounding without interruptions or other disturbances. That means, no background music or TV. Turn your cellular phone off.
Study in your room. Put everything on or near your desk, so you will not have to waste time getting up in order to retrieve study items, such as books, pens, note pads, etc. – Also, dictionaries and resource books should be handy on your desk. Move your bookshelf next to your desk! Everything you need for your studies should be reachable while you sit at your desk.
If wanted or appropriate, use study aids, such as a tape player or computer nearby, in order to support or entice your learning.
Ensure that your room has the right temperature, yet enough fresh air. Studying while being hot or cold will impair your concentration. Bad air circulation will make you tired. From time to time, open your window for a minute or so to let some fresh air in.
Any table lighting should not beam into your eyes, but only shine on the desk.
3. The Know-how
In this section, pay attention that you learn effectively without wasting time and unnecessary energy.
Vocabulary: In order to master any foreign language, learning vocabulary is indispensable. Since this requires a relatively fresh mind, begin your daily study time with vocabulary. The best method is to cover one side and to quiz yourself. The words you do not know should immediately be written down on a separate sheet of paper, so they can be quizzed next. Continue on by writing out the words not known until all vocabulary assigned is studied. Finally, go back to your book and quiz yourself on the entire vocabulary section again. Make vocabulary flash cards.
Translations: The best way to start is to first translate without writing. Once this is completed, write down the translation as assigned. Remember also to record every word you needed to look up for further vocabulary practice. For this purpose, start a small vocabulary booklet. This will also help you to master those “tough words”. You should periodically review the vocabulary in this booklet as well.
Grammar: When learning new Grammar, it is easier to start with simply writing out the entire new material first. Then you can either use the vocabulary learning method (as described above) or “play with the grammar”; i.e. to compose sentences and phrases using the new grammar items. For declensions and conjugations it is highly recommended that you say these out loud numerous times.
Other subjects: Read the material thoroughly once or twice, if possible out loud. This helps to retain the contents better. Speaking your text into a tape recorder and then listening to it also enhances greatly the retention. Design your own quizzes and answer the questions. Do this with the Text book closed. Check your answers by opening the book. Repeat as necessary. Remember that we learn my making errors as well.
4. Concentration
Concentration is one of the most important elements of any real study. Without the above covered areas of attention, it would be difficult to concentrate and thus jeopardize success.
Three things are crucial to concentration:
Develop a positive attitude towards the subject or learning in general:
Avoid “programming” yourself to failure. You can do it. Many before you have mastered it, so will you. Quit feeling sorry for yourself. It does not get you anywhere.
Focus on one subject at a time and to finish the task at hand:
Jumping from one subject to another or leaving work unfinished to be completed “later” will take more time and effort from you than necessary. It will create confusion and inconsistencies potentially harmful to a sound mind.
Dispel all unrelated thoughts, pleasures and worries for the time being: These are distractions which will make it harder and more time consuming for you learn. Therefore, keep that ice cream in the fridge and that chocolate out of sight! And stop thinking about your friends or what you’ll do over the weekend. This is not the time to worry about your affairs.
If you get too tired while studying, in spite of having followed all these guidelines, take a quick nap. A 15-minute snooze can do wonders!
5. Before Tests and Exams
Above all remember: If you practiced your subject every day and learned the material, there is nothing to worry about.
Therefore, get enough rest before the day of the exam. Smart students know that plenty of sleep and a relaxed mindset will help avoiding mistakes. Study in the same way on the day before, but make sure you set enough time aside to go over the subject matters once more.
z Go to bed in good time to get well rested and ready to go in the morning! To rush over material over breakfast or right before the test is a waste of time and will only contribute to nervousness.
Studying on weekends and during vacation
It is important to give yourself extra sleep and rest on Saturdays and during the first days of vacation. Attend to fun activities, hobbies and the like. However, spend at least one hour during vacation days practicing those subjects you have difficulties with. On weekends you will also need to set aside blocks of time in order to finish homework and other assignments. This time should also be used for additional studies in subject areas with difficulties and/or for projects due in the near future.
It is my hope that the beauty of foreign languages and cultures, in particular classical languages, will entice every student to enjoy its intrinsic quality and value in life.