Effective Habits for Effective Study

My apologies, fellow club members =),
I am still not convinced otherwise, and I still haven''t found the other translation anywhere, but I now take this alternative translation into account and make my long overdue exit.
^^;; Sorry again. And hope you guys keep up the good work.

Doi la bien kho..

Take it ez Sil. I also take your translation into account. And I don''t mean "mine" is better. What I really mean is that in this context, it would be more understandable.
As a non-native speaker, I''m never sure I can grab the complete sense of meaning of a certain word, even this win-win. Even worse, for similar words like win-lose, lose-win, lose-lose, and even win-win-win, I''d be at a total loss for a complete and accurate definition. We are trying to learn from each other, so nobody is to be sorry here.

AHAH!
I had a talk with my Lit teacher today, and as it turns out, you guys were right all along. =)
*hugs Ly Trung Binh*
Thanks for the heartwarming comments. =)
And ahaha! I learn something new everyday! You can never know enough of English.

Doi la bien kho..

Thinking critically

Critical Thinking is "the careful, deliberate determination of whether we should accept, reject, or suspend judgment about a claim, and the degree of confidence with which we accept or reject it."
(From Critical Thinking by Moore and Parker.)​

Strategies for Critical Reading
Ask yourself the following questions:
+ What is the issue?
+ What conclusion does the author reach about the issue?
+ What are the author''s reasons for believing as he does?
+ Be alert to bad reasoning (i.e. pity, fear, misuse of statistics etc.) that can fool you.
+ Has the author used facts or opinions?
(Facts can be proven.
Opinions cannot be proven and may or may not be based on sound reasoning. )
+ Has the author used neutral words or emotional words?
Critical readers look beyond the language to see if the reasons are clear.
Characteristics of Critical Thinkers
They are honest with themselves
They resist manipulation
They overcome confusion
They ask questions
They base judgments on evidence
They look for connections between subjects
They are intellectually independent
Source: http://www.iss.stthomas.edu/studyguides/index.htm
So close no matter how far... I have you in my heart and nothing else matters...

Concentrating when studying
Concentration is the eternal secret of every mortal achievement
(Stefan Zweig --1881 - 1942 Austrian)​

Concentration: the ability to direct your thinking
The art or practice of concentration, no matter if studying biology or playing pool, is to focus on the task at hand and eliminate distraction
We all have the ability to concentrate -- sometimes. Think of the times when you were "lost" in something you enjoy: a sport, playing music, a good game, a movie. Total concentration
But at other times,
+ Your mind wanders from one thing to another
+ Your worries distract you
+ Outside distractions take you away before you know it
+ The material is boring, difficult, and/or not interesting to you.
These tips may help: They involve
+ What you can control in your studies
+ Best practices
+ What you can control in your studies:
"Here I study"
- Get a dedicated space, chair, table, lighting and environment
- Avoid your cellphone or telephone
- Put up a sign to avoid being disturbed or interrupted.
- If you like music in the background, OK, but don''t let it be a distraction. (Research on productivity with music versus without music is inconclusive)
Stick to a routine, efficient study schedule
- Accommodate your day/nighttime energy levels
- See our Guide on Setting goals and making a scheduling (will be posted later)
Focus
- Before you begin studying, take a few minutes *****mmarize a few objectives, gather what you will need, and think of a general strategy of accomplishment.
Incentives
- Create an incentive if necessary for successfully completing a task, such as calling a friend, a food treat, a walk, etc.
- For special projects such as term papers, design projects, long book reviews, set up a special incentive
Change topics
- Changing the subject you study every one to two hours for variety
- Vary your study activities
- Alternate reading with more active learning exercises
- If you have a lot of reading, try the SQ3R method (this method was posted by @bluetears84. You''re likely to find this topic in [topic]167131[/topic], To Improve your English section)
- Ask yourself how you could increase your activity level while studying? Perhaps a group will be best? Creating study questions?
- Ask your teacher for alternative strategies for learning. The more active your learning, the better.
- Take regular, scheduled breaks that fit you
- Do something different from what you''ve been doing (e.g., walk around if you''ve been sitting), and in a different area
Rewards
Give yourself a reward when you''ve completed a task
(to be continued)
So close no matter how far... I have you in my heart and nothing else matters...

Best Practices:
You should notice improvement in a few days. But like any practice, there will be ups, levels, and downs:
It will benefit other activities you do!
Be Here Now
This deceptively simple strategy is probably the most effective.
When you notice your thoughts wandering astray, say to yourself
"Be here now"
and gently bring your attention back to where you want it.
For example:
You''''re studying and your attention strays to all the other homework you have , to a date , to the fact that you''''re hungry . Say to yourself
"Be here now"
Focus back on subject with questions, summarizing, outlining, mapping, etc. and maintain your attention there as long as possible.
When it wanders again, repeat
"Be here now"
and gently bring your attention back, and continue this practise, repeatedly. It will work!
Do not try to keep particular thoughts out of your mind. For example, as you sit there, close your eyes and think about anything you want to for the next three minutes except cookies. Try not to think about cookies...When you try not to think about something, it keeps coming back . ("I''''m not going to think about cookies. I''''m not going to think about cookies.")
You might do this hundreds of times a week. Gradually, you''''ll find that the period of time between your straying thoughts gets a little longer every few days. So be patient and keep at it. You''''ll see some improvement!
Do not constantly judge your progress. Take it easy on yourself. Good practice is enough to say that you did it, and that you are on the road. The mind is always different and the practice unfolds over time with many ups and downs.

Worry or Think Time
Research has proven that people who use a worry time find themselves worrying 35 percent less of the time within four weeks. (is it me?! )
Set aside a specific time each day to think about the things that keep entering your mind and interfering with your concentration.
When you become aware of a distracting thought, remind yourself that you have a special time to think about them .
Let the thought go, perhaps with "Be here now,"
Keep your appointment to worry or think about those distracting issues.

For example, set 4:30 to 5 p.m. as your worry/think time. When your mind is side-tracked into worrying during the day, remind yourself that you have a special time for worrying . Then, let the thought go for the present, and return your focus to your immediate activity
Maximize your energy level
When is your energy level at its highest? When are your low energy times? Study your most difficult courses at your high energy times. Sharpest early in the evening? Study your most difficult course then. Later in the evening? Work on your easier courses or the ones you enjoy the most.
Most students put off the tough studies until later in the evening when they become tired, and it is more difficult to concentrate. Reverse that. Study hard subjects at peak energy times; easier ones later. This alone can help to improve your concentration
Được britneybritney sửa chữa / chuyển vào 21:36 ngày 23/01/2004

Superb topic, Brit! Way to go!
Keep posting more on this topic so people can learn a lot from you. You''re doing great!
Take care,
neomentor

Using Memory Effectively[/font=Comic Sans MS]​

He who has seen muchwill have remembered much
Jean de la Fontaine
1709 French​

1. Acronyms and Acrostics: (for information involving key words)
- Acronyms: Bạn có thể dùng nhớ một từ nào đó bằng cách gắn mỗi chữ cái trong từ đó với một từ nào đó dễ hiểu, dễ nhớ
VD: FAMILY = Father And Mother, I Love You
Acrostic: bạn hãy sáng tạo ra một câu gì đó mà chữ cái đầu tiên của mỗi từ trong câu có thể khiến bạn nhớ đến điều cần phải nhớ .
VD: EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FUN có thể khiến bạn nhớ đến các nốt trong bản nhạc - E, G, B, D, F.
Hay là cái câu Khi bạn cần gì gì đó trong Hoá học ý , cũng là theo cách này.
2. Rhyme-Keys: (for ordered or unordered lists)
- First, memorize key words that can be associated with numbers. For instance, bun with one; shoe with two, tree with three, door with four, hive with five, etc.
- Next create an image of the items you need to remember with key words. For example, if you had to remember the four basic food groups-- diary products; meat, fish, and poultry; grains; and fruit and vegetables-- imagine cheese on a bun, livestock with shoes on, a sack of grain suspended in a tree, and opening a door to a room stocked with fruits and vegetables.
3. The Method of Loci: (for approximately twenty items)
Select any location that you have spent a lot of time in and have easily memorized. Imagine yourself putting objects that you need to remember into each of these places by walking through this location in a direct path.
For example if you had to remember George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Richard Nixon, you could imagine walking up to the door of your location and seeing a dollar bill stuck in the door ; when you open the door Jefferson is reclining on the sofa and Nixon is eating out of the refrigerator .
4. The Keyword Method: (for foreign language vocabulary)
-First, after considering the foreign word you need to remember, select a key word in your mother tounge that sounds like the foreign word.
- Next, imagine an image which involves the key word with the English meaning of the foreign word.
For example, consider the Spanish word "cabina" which means "phone booth." For the English keyword, you might think of "cab in a ... ." You could then invent an image of a cab trying to fit in a phone booth. When you see the word "cabina" on the test, you should be able to recall the image of the cab and you should be able to retrieve the definition "phone booth."
5. The Image-Name Technique: (for remembering names)
Simply invent any relationship between the name and the physical characteristics of the person. For example, if you had to remember Shirley Temple''s name, you might ingrain the name in memory by noticing that she has "curly" (rhymes with Shirley) hair around her temples.
6. Chaining: (for ordered or unordered lists)
Create a story where each word or idea you have to remember cues the next idea you need to recall. If you had to remember the words Napoleon, ear, door, and Germany, you could invent a story of Napoleon with his ear to a door listening to people speak in German .
Adapted by Bob Nelson from The Complete Problem Solver by J.R. Hayes, 1989.

Now that I've found you, I won't let you go away...

An extraordinary way of learning English of Heinrich Schliemann, one of the most astounding not only among archaologist but also among all men to whom any science has ever been indbted :
"when only twenty-two years old, Schliemann began to learn Russian. But no one in the city, he found, could speak this most difficult of European languages. The only teaching aids he could pick up were an old grammar, a dictionary, and a poor translation of Telemachus.
He carried on imaginary conversations so loudly that he disturbed his neighbors. The walls shook when he declaimed pieces he had learned by heart from Telemachus. Other tenants complained, and twice he was forced to seek new lodgings. Finally he hit on the idea of providing himself with a critical audience and for this purpose hired a poor man, whom he paid four francs a week. This unfortunate fellow war required to sit on a chair and hear out long passages from Telemachus, not a word of which he understood. After six hectic weeks Schliemann was conversing fluently with Russian merchants come to Amsterdam to attend the indigo auction."
By this unusual method of self-teaching, he had mastered English, French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. Six weeks spent on any one of these language and He could speak and write it fluently
Any comment on this way of learning a foreign language?