Have you ever watched people selecting fruit? Most look at its color and size. Some people smell the fruit, touch it, or even squeeze it. Still others weigh it, putting one piece in each hand to detect which is heavier with juice. What do you think they are doing? They are analyzing details, evaluating the differences, remembering previous selections, and comparing what they see with what they already know.

Studying is the same way. It is more than just reading and moving on with the lesson. Studying involves carefully thinking about any ideas that are new to you. It includes analyzing what you read, comparing it with what you already know, and taking notes. Consider, too, how you might personally apply the knowledge in conversing with others.

Before You Begin

When preparing to study, make sure you have the things you’ll need. Such things as your lesson book, a pencil or pen, and your learning notebook.

Before you begin with your learning, take the time to preview the entire lesson. You’re not learning at this time. Start by reading the title, which will tell you the theme of what you will be studying. Take a minute or two and look at any illustrations, charts, or teaching boxes throughout the lesson. Try to see what you are expected to learn. If you are learning through your Transparent Connect account, look over your notes from previous lessons and see if there’s something you can review to prepare yourself for your current lesson.

Ask yourself: ‘How can I apply this information in reaching my goal? How would I use it with my family, my friends, my job, or in my daily life?’ Try contemplating real situations in which you can put your knowledge to work.

How To Study

Most lessons are separated into sections. As you go through each section, take note of any information that is new to you, and spend a little extra time on it to be sure that you understand it well. Be on the lookout for sentence structures or grammar points that will be useful to you in future lessons or that might be incorporated in a conversation. Write down the points that are important to you in your learning notebook, and review them when you complete your study.

If you come across something that you do not immediately understand or that you would like to research more thoroughly, don’t let it sidetrack you at that moment. Write a note in your learning notebook to come back to this point at a later time. Many times a confusing point is clarified later in the lesson or maybe in a future lesson. So do the research on it after you have finished what you started to study.

Always Review

After completing a lesson, take time for a brief review – it doesn’t have to be immediately afterward, but sometime before the day is over. See if you can recall the main points of the lesson. Look over your notes and maybe write in any additional information you’ve learned to expand your research. Reviewing will always help you retain the information for future use.