I'm one of the top students of my class, and yet my test weeks usually feel more like free time than anything else. How can this be? :) Well, I'm going to let you in on the secret (if I have any readers, that is...).
In reality, I'm actually extremely lazy.
Yes, that's right, the 'nerd' 'geek' or 'Hermione' of the group is actually... lazy?! Oh yes.
You see, I don't like stressing, I don't like wasting time on cramming information during the test week, only to forget it the minute after, or in the worst case scenario a minute before, the exam. So that's where my secret 'weapon' makes its appearance.
I use a 'trick' to prepare for my tests, I would even go as far as to call it 'almost cheating', because it sure feels like that!
I'm using Anki an SRS to prepare for most of my exams. And it's not your ordinary flashcard program, believe me. (There is lots of information to be found online about SRS's - go google it - writing a complete essay on this would be a waste of my (and your) time - and that is the beauty of the SRS - it saves you time!)
But it all comes down to this:
The program is smart enough to organise your cards (the questions, facts etc) so that you're not wasting time on anything you already know. It uses an algorithm ( (c) smart people) to space the reviews in a smart way, enabling you to memorise much more information in less time. It is like... one of those "optimise my PC!" programs, but for your brain! ... I guess.
You see, in spending 5-10 minutes a day on adding new information, and reviewing you can go to an exam, feeling like you 'didn't do anything to prepare for it', and still pass the exam, and not just pass it, no OWN the stupid thing. (Hey, it's how I got 87% in phonetics - it works!)
Give it a try - it might not be your thing, but it's not all that hard.
... I wanted to include a list of articles on 'how to use an SRS for...' but I can't seem to find any good ones right now, the Anki website itself has some good information, and well... google ;)
4/20/10
Re-inventing clichés! - On reading in your target language
What are you reading at the moment? The latest novel about vampires? The manual for the DVD player you just got? A cheesy love story (one of those you wouldn't even tell your best friend about)? Why not read it in your target language?
... Oh, you're not ready yet...
Well, guess what... reading in your target language, yes even before you are ready, can be a lot of fun!
All you need to get started is a very basic vocabulary and a very basic knowledge of the grammar.
One of the books I've recently finished reading was "Der Thron der Libelle" by Wolfgang Hohlbein. Now, German is my... L4 I suppose, but it is one of my target languages... I do intend on being able to use it at a level similar to English at some point in the future. However, I'm not actively studying/learning German at the moment. Does that mean I'm not 'ready' to read books in German? No, in fact, it might make it even more interesting! And I'll tell you why.
Clichés are transformed into something completely new when you're reading in a language you're not yet fluent in!
I read a lot, especially fantasy. A lot of fantasy stories can seem very cliché by now, in English. Yet another average young man who finds himself suddenly endowed with a super special awesome power he needs to use to save the world! Yet another princess roughly dragged out of her castle and into the cruel world, having to re-invent herself completely to be able to survive. ... This probably sounds very familiar...
Try reading this in Japanese, or German, or Spanish... or whichever language you are learning. Especially when you don't feel 'ready' to tackle a novel just yet.
Suddenly this princess seems much more special, and this young man with his magic powers? Well, it's like you've never read a story like that before!
It's like trying to keep up with a movie that is just too fast-paced for your eyes. Yes you're reading it, but what did Gewitter mean again? What is happening? Why is the tower suddenly burning? Oh wait, there was a horrible thunderstorm?!
Sometimes over half of what is happening might be too hard to understand, and it feels like you're completely losing track of the storyline, until you suddenly do understand a few sentences and you realise your dear princess has been kidnapped by some scary-looking guy who was pretending to be a guard.
Even ignoring all the new words you will learn reading a novel (even when you're not trying, and not making any new lists to use in Anki (or your preferred SRS)), it can be such a surprisingly entertaining experience!
Don't wait until you're ready; you already are.
... Oh, you're not ready yet...
Well, guess what... reading in your target language, yes even before you are ready, can be a lot of fun!
All you need to get started is a very basic vocabulary and a very basic knowledge of the grammar.
One of the books I've recently finished reading was "Der Thron der Libelle" by Wolfgang Hohlbein. Now, German is my... L4 I suppose, but it is one of my target languages... I do intend on being able to use it at a level similar to English at some point in the future. However, I'm not actively studying/learning German at the moment. Does that mean I'm not 'ready' to read books in German? No, in fact, it might make it even more interesting! And I'll tell you why.
Clichés are transformed into something completely new when you're reading in a language you're not yet fluent in!
I read a lot, especially fantasy. A lot of fantasy stories can seem very cliché by now, in English. Yet another average young man who finds himself suddenly endowed with a super special awesome power he needs to use to save the world! Yet another princess roughly dragged out of her castle and into the cruel world, having to re-invent herself completely to be able to survive. ... This probably sounds very familiar...
Try reading this in Japanese, or German, or Spanish... or whichever language you are learning. Especially when you don't feel 'ready' to tackle a novel just yet.
Suddenly this princess seems much more special, and this young man with his magic powers? Well, it's like you've never read a story like that before!
It's like trying to keep up with a movie that is just too fast-paced for your eyes. Yes you're reading it, but what did Gewitter mean again? What is happening? Why is the tower suddenly burning? Oh wait, there was a horrible thunderstorm?!
Sometimes over half of what is happening might be too hard to understand, and it feels like you're completely losing track of the storyline, until you suddenly do understand a few sentences and you realise your dear princess has been kidnapped by some scary-looking guy who was pretending to be a guard.
Even ignoring all the new words you will learn reading a novel (even when you're not trying, and not making any new lists to use in Anki (or your preferred SRS)), it can be such a surprisingly entertaining experience!
Don't wait until you're ready; you already are.
4/19/10
On reading and teaching literature
I love reading. Sometimes it can be hard to find the time (although public transport is a blessing when it comes to finding the time to read), but it's definitely worth the effort. Last year I set myself a challenge to read fifty books (because I was volunteering anyway and had enough time to do this), I completed the challenge by reading 51 books I hadn't read before. In doing this I probably doubled the amount of books I've read in my life up until now, and it gave me a very different perspective on reading. I explored different genres and authors I wouldn't have tried to read before this challenge, and I loved it.
While I believe teaching about literature, or reading in general, is very important, we have to take care when we do. It is all too easy to ruin the experience that comes with reading a novel because someone wants to, by forcing them to. Giving learners options seems like a good way to counteract this potential problem. However it would also mean that it might be impossible to discuss a book with the whole class. Book clubs or small groups working on the same book could be a fun and workable in-between solution.
As to the question 'what should be read in secondary school?' ... who knows? I don't think there is an actual 'everyone should have read these books'-list, especially because reading is such an individual activity. You can't, in reality, read a book 'together' (unless you're reading it to someone, but even then it's a personal experience and everyone will hear/read something they experience differently.). And while you can discuss a novel and its literary style - the experience is still your own. Because of this I think it would be most worthwhile to focus on this personal aspect. Making learners aware of the fact that, yes even to them, reading can be fun. And in doing fun activities, they will learn more and learn more efficiently.
This logically leads to the conclusion that what should be read in secondary school, should mostly be decided by the learners themselves. Naturally some guidance is necessary, and learners shouldn't read (too many novels) at a level lower than they are able to read. Being aware of what is popular and what learners are reading outside of the classroom can be a useful pointer in deciding which books to make available as choices for the learners to read. If, for example, Twilight is very popular right now, then it might be a good idea to do some research into other novels about vampires.
Being flexible and enabling learners to be involved in the process of deciding what to read is key to teaching literature.
While I believe teaching about literature, or reading in general, is very important, we have to take care when we do. It is all too easy to ruin the experience that comes with reading a novel because someone wants to, by forcing them to. Giving learners options seems like a good way to counteract this potential problem. However it would also mean that it might be impossible to discuss a book with the whole class. Book clubs or small groups working on the same book could be a fun and workable in-between solution.
As to the question 'what should be read in secondary school?' ... who knows? I don't think there is an actual 'everyone should have read these books'-list, especially because reading is such an individual activity. You can't, in reality, read a book 'together' (unless you're reading it to someone, but even then it's a personal experience and everyone will hear/read something they experience differently.). And while you can discuss a novel and its literary style - the experience is still your own. Because of this I think it would be most worthwhile to focus on this personal aspect. Making learners aware of the fact that, yes even to them, reading can be fun. And in doing fun activities, they will learn more and learn more efficiently.
This logically leads to the conclusion that what should be read in secondary school, should mostly be decided by the learners themselves. Naturally some guidance is necessary, and learners shouldn't read (too many novels) at a level lower than they are able to read. Being aware of what is popular and what learners are reading outside of the classroom can be a useful pointer in deciding which books to make available as choices for the learners to read. If, for example, Twilight is very popular right now, then it might be a good idea to do some research into other novels about vampires.
Being flexible and enabling learners to be involved in the process of deciding what to read is key to teaching literature.
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