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Cafetalk Tutor's Column

Tutor Sarah Nam 's Column

How I Excelled Studying Three Masters Degrees

Weekly Topic: Your Recommended Study Method

2021-09-24

Studying anything can be challenging. For me, studying Law,  learning French and Korean languages were huge decisions. 

I don't know what you want to learn, but I think there are a few steps to keep in mind before you begin your study journey. These are methods that I had adopted in all my one Bachelor's degree and three Master's programs in Cameroon and abroad.


Method 1: Consistency and repetition

I find understanding any content I read more than once to be easier. Because of this, I invest a lot of time in rereading my notes after the lesson. So typically, during lessons, I try to write as much as possible.

When I return home, I spend time studying the notes in comparison with the textbook or the teacher's handout. Most times, I will still make extra summaries as jottings on a different piece of paper. It enables me to dissect every section into the simplest form.

Method 2: Engage in discussions

Maybe because I am a tutor and have the personality of enjoying to communicate, but I think discussing anything I have studied makes me understand faster.

Most times when my friends are available or during a one-on-one lesson, I try to ask more questions and make efforts to explain what I understood. I do not hesitate to give my opinions and ask for clarity.

I find it is easier for me to remember when I speak about something more than once. Sometimes, my friends and I during our college days used to make jokes about our law school cases when we chatted casually. We used the names of the cases and connected them to real-life situations that might be similar or the same. It was always easier to respond to examination questions sometimes when I recalled the joking comments my friends made.

Method 3: Watching videos or listening to audios

I strongly believe in audio-visual studies. I find it extremely easy to understand when I watch something on a video. Though listening to audios is a thing I do from time to time, I think it helps more to improve on language studies. However, if you can keep your concentration, these tools will be very helpful to excel.

Call me old school, I will accept: I jot down when I am watching a video. This helps me to connect with the speaker. 

In conclusion, whether it is repeatedly reading the material, discussing with my teacher and friends again about the subject, or watching a video/audio, I think everyone has a different capacity to learn. 

I had friends who needed to listen only once and they retained what the teacher said. So I suggest finding what suits you best and do it every time. Happy Studies 

This column was published by the author in their personal capacity.
The opinions expressed in this column are the author's own and do not reflect the view of Cafetalk.

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