NCV 2 Language

Module 3Let’s do some real studying

After completing this module, for Listening and Speaking,you will be able to:• use strategies to deliver messages and reply appropriately to sustain dialogue.

(SO1)• use strategies to listen for information and meaning in order to respond

appropriately. (SO2)• organise and present information and data in a focused and coherent manner

during oral interaction. (SO4)For Reading and Viewing, you will be able to: • read and respond to written, visual and multi-media texts and non-verbal

forms of communication for a variety of purposes. (SO2)For Writing and Presenting, you will be able to: • use strategies to write for a specific audience, purpose and context. (SO1)For Language in Practice, you will be able to:• discover and identify learning strategies to improve learning. (SO2)

Introduction

Remember your roles? Being a student is one of Them. This module will help you to be the best student you can be.

We are going to look at the following:• Time management• Barriers to learning• Teamwork• Note-taking• Study techniques• Instructions• Exam questions

Find out where your time goes

• Think of a typical weekday in your life.

• Think of your “after-college” time until 20h00 each evening.

• Write down how many hours you spend on these or other activities

Find out where your time goes

In the second column marked “code”, classify the activities.N = Necessary for achieving my goalsNt = Neutral to be doneR = Relaxation activities

Find out where your time goes

Add up the total hours in the last

Column. Are you spending most of

your time on necessary, neutral or

relaxation activities?

Use Planners

Using a semester planner, write down dates for tests, exams,

and assignments as they become available. Also fill in

birthdays and other social events you know may be coming

up. If you a sports players, fill in match dates.

Now draw up a weekly schedule.

• Transfer the important dates from the semester planner to the weekly planner.

• Fill in your study times – if there is a test, plan study time accordingly.

• Fill in other activities.

• Put the planner up where you can see it clearly.

Use Planners

Finally you need a diary in which to write your daily “to do”

list. These are your very short-term goals taken from your

weekly planner for that particular day. Carry your diary

with you to remind yourself of what needs to be done. Every

weekend draw up your schedule for the next week. Paste

your weekly planner up where you can see it clearly.

Most importantly – stick to your plan as much as you can!

Use Planners

Finally you need a diary in which to write your daily “to do”

list. These are your very short-term goals taken from your

weekly planner for that particular day. Carry your diary

with you to remind yourself of what needs to be done. Every

weekend draw up your schedule for the next week. Paste

your weekly planner up where you can see it clearly.

Most importantly – stick to your plan as much as you can!

Barriers to learning

Class Discussion:

What are the barriers to your studying after college?

What are the barriers to your learning properly at college?

What can you do to overcome these barriers?

Barriers to learning

Methods to overcome barriers to learning:

• Teamwork. Working in teams can often help to remove some of our barriers to learning. Because we are not taking full responsibility for the whole task, but only for our part of the task, we are less stressed (psychological/emotional barrier).

• Note-taking. It is a good idea to take notes in class. Even though you might have a textbook, taking notes helps you focus your attention. Try it and see!

• Try not to get too stressed out. Stress is a huge barrier to learning. Try to reduce the amount of stress in your life.

Study techniques

• Acronyms for words in a sequence: SQRRR

• Acronyms for words which do not have to be in a sequence

• Acrostics: Use letters or parts of a word to make a sentence to remember, e.g. The first letters of these important South African rivers: Limpopo, Gariep, Vaal, Tugela = LGVT = Limpho Grabs Volleyball Trophy

• Rhymes: Make a rhyme of important information to help you remember, e.g. this spelling rule:

i before e

except after c

and when sounded like “a”

as in neighbour and weigh

• Visualise: Associate a fact with a picture in your mind, e.g. if you have five facts to remember, put them mentally into a picture of a hand – one fact per finger.

SQRRR

When studying your core subjects for a test or exam, use

the following tried and tested system:

SQRRR

Survey (scan and skim)

Flip through your textbook allowing your eye to pass over

the text without focusing on details. You only need to

“catch” keywords here and there. Headings, sub-headings,

drawings, maps, pictures and diagrams will help you to get

the general idea.

Question the text

Thanks to the survey you will now be able to ask questions like:

• What are the 5 reading strategies?

• What does SMART stand for?

• What is the definition of a goal?

SQRRR

Read

Read the text carefully, finding and noting down the

answers to your questions.

Recall

Close the book and try to remember whatever you can about

the topic. Jot down notes.

Review

If you get stuck, open your book again and review the

content by skimming through it again. Also skim through

your summary.

Instructions

Being able to follow instructions is a very important skill for

learners. We must apply it in theory exam papers and in the

practical learning environment. We are going to look at the

skills involved in producing and following accurate

instructions.

• Be specific

• Articulate spoken instructions clearly

• Use illustrations

• Use a logical order

For any further tips refer to the help desk in

your learner guide