WATTMAG: June 2015 UNVEILING THE NEW GENERATION

How to Fight your Study Kryptonite

Topic:Estudyante Problems: Harapin ang iyong takot (sa Math o kung anong subject pa man 'yan)

Title:How to Fight your Study Kryptonite

Username: shekinahnahnahXD

Conquer your school fears with these easy-to-follow tips!

Reading Vocabulary

Your reading vocabulary is composed of words you're familiar with. The more words you know, the better you understand the text. Widen your vocabulary by:

*Reading up!

Bury yourself in books and magazines and say hello to new words.

*Studying ahead!

Get a head start by studying in advance. This way, you'll be familiar with new terms by the time your class tackles the lesson.

*Using the dictionary

Egregi-what? Learn a new word's meaning, pronunciation and spelling by looking it up in the dictionary.

Public Speaking Shakes

Reciting in class (especially in front of a "terror" teacher) can be a nerve-wrecking experience. Prevent a meltdown by:

*Studying your materials

Make sure you memorize and understand the poem or essay you're about to recite. This will allow you to improvise if you forget a line. Ask sensible questions backed curiosity. Asking for the sake of asking will only make you look pretentious.

*Relaxing

Loosen up those tense shoulders and take a few deep breaths before speaking. Pause if needed. You're certainly allowed to collect and organize your thoughts before speaking.

*Refraining from saying sorry

People have a tendency to apologize for their nervousness or for any hitch in their speech. Don't say sorry-no one probably noticed your mistake, anyway. Keep going and act like nothing happened.

Nasty Numbers

Math has a nasty reputation as a subject, but that doesn't mean it's tough to beat. Math can be easy when you:

*Practice with the examples in your book

Check if you've really mastered a lesson by answering the samples and coming up with your own solutions (no peeking!). Then, compare your equations to the ones found in the book.

*Use math in everyday life

You'll be surprised at how math can come in handy when you're cooking. Practice your fractions by measuring ingredients. Be as accurate as possible or else Dad's soup will be too salty!

*Find a study buddy

Make each other mock exams. Mix up the items from different chapters so the test won't be too predictable, then swap papers for checking.

Maddening Memorization

Amp up your skills by committing these tips to memory:

*Focus and take notes

Pay attention to the discussion in class and jot down important details. These two go hand in hand. If you only listen, but don't take down notes, there's a big chance you'll forget a few important points. If you try to write EVERYTHING you hear, your notes will only confuse you since you didn't process anything your teacher discussed.

*Use mnemonics

These are memory devices that help you remember information. To make a word mnemonic, get the first letter to each item in the list, arrange them into a word or phrase. For example, the first letter of every word in "My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nectarines" stands for Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune-the eight planets in the solar system!

Word Trouble

Been reading for hours, but you still don't understand a word? Looks like you've got a problem with reading comprehension!

*Read when you're well rested

You can't really focus when you're tired, so make it a point to rest or take a short nap before studying.

*Take short breaks

Divide reading time in portions of 35 to 45 minutes with mini breaks in between so that everything sinks in.

*Ask yourself from time to time, "What have I learned so far?"

If you can't give a good answer, read the text again until you come up with a satisfactory answer.