Hi, it's Andie. I just wanted to say that I definitely agree with Sonner's article with study points AND I wanted to add a few things.
Okay, you know how Sonner said don't be afraid to ask questions just because other people might think they're dumb? Well, I wanted to tell you something from my own experience... here it is:
When I first started French immersion (half the day all the subjects are in French only and the other half is English), I was really shy because I started it later than everyone else. I felt out of place because other people knew at list a BIT of French.
I didn't understand lots of things, but since I was new and all I decided not ask questions because I was afraid to ruin a reputation that I hadn't even started. ANYWAY, later on we had a test on the topic I didn't understand, so instead of understanding it, I memorized these long pages of French that totally made no sense to me.
Well, then what happened was, naturally, I mixed up all the answers and got a really bad mark! So if you plan on memorizing instead of actually understanding, you are wrong wrong WRONG! I don't want others to make the same mistakes I did.
Oh, and now I'm not nervous or whatever to ask questions at all, because there's really nothing to it. Looking back, I was kind of stupid to ever even be a BIT scared to ask a question!
Sonner also talked about studying late. Well, for some people it just COMES to them. All they have to do is look over the notes once and they'll understand and remember half of it or maybe all of it. But others have to study for HOURS and still can't really get it through their heads. So, I suggest that you study a bit each day so you don't forget it, because if you study too much in one sitting, say you'll forget half of it. Well, that's MY theory, but listen to it anyway, it's a smart one!
Ok, I hope this gets into the Times. BYE!!!
babyandie
Editor's Note: It's a good theory, babyandie! Did you know, psychologists have done tons of experiments on learning? In one big experiment, they tested postal workers on the new zip codes they were going to have to work with. Some people took just a few big classes, and some people went to a short class every few days for a few weeks. After the classes, they were given an exam. The people who did the best were those who had taken a little bit of time every other day to learn, rather than cramming it all in at once! And later, when they were tested again, they did MUCH better at remembering everything!
Not everybody learns this way, but it sure seems like a good theory! What do you think?
