
Elisabet C. answered 09/29/20
Experienced Tutor, Specialized in Spanish, ESL and Orton-Gillingham
The first thing you need to do to optimize your learning is to find a good study location. Your study location should be comfortable, have good lighting, have study tools readily available and be free of distractions like loud noises or a lot of movement around you. Some people prefer to study with music or background noise and others prefer to study in a completely private place. You should find out what works best for you and stick with it.
The second strategy to boost your efficiency is to build a routine that works for you.The best approach to building a consistent routine is to find a time when studying works best for you and study every day around the same time. Some people find it easier to study for a long period of time once a day, while others feel more comfortable breaking their study time into short intervals taking breaks in between. Whatever works best for you, stick with it.
Another important thing to take into consideration is the diversity of learning styles and preferences that exist. The most efficient strategy will vary from person to person. Some examples of learning styles are:
- kinesthetic - learning through movement (example: playing games that connect an action to a concept or word, building things, going on field trips, doing an experiment, performing a demonstration...)
- musical - learning through music (example creating a song to remember a concept or singing content to the sound of your favorite song, writing a song, playing an instrument...)
- visual - learning through visual images and symbols (using flashcards, watching a demo video, highlighting information in different colors, drawing a visual representation, using graphic organizes...)
- auditory - learning through listening and speaking (example: listening to an audiobook, having a discussion, repeating notes out loud to yourself, explaining the content "playing teacher"...)
- linguistic - making connections between content and language (example: reading, writing, taking notes, story telling...)
- interpersonal - learning with other people (exmaple: study group, debate, discussion, group project...)
- intrapersonal - learning independently (examples: reading, listening to an audiobook, writing an essay, doing an experiment, creating a poster or visual representation, studying through an app...)
It is important to note that nobody has only one learning style. You may have a predominant learning style but most people learn best through a combination of learning styles. Try out different ways to learn and take time to notice which one feels more natural. Then, make sure to use the strategies that work best for you.