But you aren't picking up - comprehension is difficult - a big difficult. Isn't it?
To complicate things, exam is approaching so fast that you think you’re reading below required, which was actually the case.
"Had I started earlier," you think, "reading would have been a lot easier for me." Put simply, your mind is filled with confused thoughts.
Well, you aren't alone. Thousands of students in Nigeria and from around the world are fighting the same fuss. Even, I was once in such a study and reading treat and till now, I play very cautious of how I live my life so I don't fall back into that shit, not for a second again.
The result? Failure upon failure!
But soon I realized and impressed upon myself the need to develop the right attitude towards learning, to shun laziness; doing what is required of me. That discovery led me to ‘research’ how productive readers do it, the magic, if any, and how they deliver the good intentions.
I’m glad to let you know I scaled through.
Now, though I'm still a reader and a learner, here I am. And, since this is about reading let's pick up the call right from:
1.What book?
What book should I read? I always got asked of this.
A wrong study material will frustrate you and make reading seem a foe instead of a friend (hobby). And by wrong, I mean anything that makes the study material unfit. This may be due to outdated texts, textbooks curbed together with mind-boggling and breath-taking grammars. For instance, "adopting as a reading material," a literature textbook written by an American author may be hard for a Nigerian student to comprehend owning to cultural background differences. This implies that a reading material must be appropriate and of course from the appropriate channel.
Note: I only cited ‘literature’ as an example just to explain what I'm trying to put across. Though some disciplines are different, don't let it veers off your reading course that choosing the wrong study material will frustrate you - dip your head inside the ocean of uncertainty.
Most especially, It's your call, I'll leave it to your discretion.
Now let's talk about study material in general (widely known as textbook). Remember I earlier stressed some things which may make a textbook unfit? Yes, there we are.
Complex or simplest study material?
Why?
Students seek answers to this often and frequent. Many student reason that complex textbook will help them to cover a book in a blink of eyes without much effort, while they think it's lowly for them to adopt basic or fundamental study material.But otherwise is usually the case.
For example: “Can you build a mansion without laying a foundation?”
Friends should be the very first place and source to start FROM. For me I usually ask around of good textbooks they can recommend based on their ‘unbiased’ experience. Some textbooks do much required justice to topics under a specified niche. Did I just use the word ‘niche’? Sorry... I mean discipline (internet marketing has taken over my head). Friends that have passed through the trial and error process of selecting the right study material may be of help. Once again, ask from friends.
Compare recommendations:
You shouldn't be blindly attached to their recommendation. What works for them may not work for you.
Sounds contradicting? No.
We are different learners - some are impulsive while others are holistic and so on. What I'm asking is you making the right call. Analyze and determine what will work for you, test things out and implement what is working and weed out what isn't. Remember, comprehension capabilities are different, make sure you do justice to that. And finally under this section,
Avoid outdated textbooks - for they are just like a decayed fruit. Eat it. Get a blow.
2.When and where to read?
Let's split this in two.
When to read:
There is hot (exaggerating a bit) argument about ‘when’ to read. Some concluded it should be done early in the morning - when your are feeling refreshed and energetic, while some postulated theories of getting better comprehension at night.
Whatever the case may be, I'm telling you there is never a better time to read. Life is messy - should you choose morning, life will try to stop you - not to stick to it. And should you embark on night reading, ehm? Nature will attempt to put a bullet in your brain (lol).
And most especially, our situation and schedules are different. For me, I'm kind of free - always. My business doesn't require too much of my time. But your case might be different. Don't worry, it's a continual process. Keep doing it. You will find the perfect time.
Where to read:
As much as possible, reading should be done sitting at a desk, sofa, chair or other related furniture. However, lying on a bed can easily lulls you to sleeping. Noisy environment should be avoided as well. Do not forget to stay clear of your phone while reading - this reduce your exposure to undue distractions - email notifications, Whats App messages and other social media sites blinging-blinging.
3. A Todo List:
Yes, we want to put everything on our head at a go. For example, some pile up books in front of themselves at a reading session, they assume nature will grant them supernatural comprehension for having fine goals. They never realized that having good intentions isn't enough. How to deliver is what matters.
Although I'm not saying everyone cannot. But if you're just starting out, organize chunks of works into bite-sized tasks all squeezed into appropriate study schedule.
Let's get back to the introduction of this post,
Had I started earlier," you think, "reading would have been a lot easier."
Always remember that taking responsibility for your study is mandatory and should be fit into the integral part of your reading plan.
Do it the right way, get rewarded. Do it wrong way, bear the consequences.
Did I make some sense?
If I so, please use the share button below to share the article with friends if you found it useful.
Leave a comment...