-Tulsi B Maharjan
English Teacher
Secondary Level
The English dictionary defines the term ‘Learning’ as ‘the act of acquisition of knowledge through study, practice, experience, or being taught.’ Learning takes place via various modes. When a person reads or observes a topic of his/her interest, there occurs learning via study. Likewise, a continuous repetition of steps or methods of performing an action means learning via practice. When a person performs actions as a routine work and duty/obligation, there is learning via experience. Students/learners are taught at schools, colleges, universities, institutions etc. and this is an act of learning, too. Learning is, in fact, an eternal process. From birth till the moment life ends, human beings get innumerable opportunities to learn.
Basically, in this discourse, I will be focusing on how the youngsters can make learning effective. The steps stated below are applicable in case of all the age groups. Whether it is the thing of one’s interest or the school/college/university courses that are mandatory to complete, if the following steps are borne in mind, there is no doubt that there occurs the most effective learning.
1. Setting a goal: Most of the youngsters today are influenced by many aspects that surround them, such as the internet, movies, glamour and fashion, trends among the youngsters and so forth. Their whims twist-and-turn at a smallest checkpoint and they get lost. They have to set a goal and determine the path clearly so as to achieve it. The hindrances are obvious, but they mustn’t be mired at all. If they move on with their goal set in their head, there is nothing that can obstruct their way. And, I guarantee that there will be 100% effective learning.
2. Setting priority to the most important things now: This is one of the most prevailing deficient factors amongst the youngsters because they are enveloped in such clouds that they forget what the most important thing is right now. They are entangled in the momentary fascinations and misled by appeals of such fascinations. Once they have set a goal, they have to determine the most important thing to be focused at the moment and stick to it which can be a fundamental asset for achieving their goal. The moment they understand what the most important thing for now is, they will start concentrating on what their responsibilities are and their teachers’ lectures. Subsequently, there will be effective learning.
3. Making a commitment to strive for success: As there is a popular saying ‘There is no shortcut to success’, no one should ever dream of achieving success overnight. Only an unprecedented miracle, if occurred, can give us success overnight. However, such success is not considered success, literally. So, youngsters should have a strong flair for success and make a commitment that they will strive to achieve it no matter what it takes. They have got to stick to their commitment, be consistent in their hard labour and be optimistic; and success is on their way. Sooner or later, there is guarantee of their reaching the goal. And once they are committed to working harder, there is always effective learning.
4. Making an optimum utilization of the resources available: Science has made the present-day world accessible from any corner of the world virtually. Even a person living in an inaccessible rural area can stay in contact with any other person in the world using telecommunication media. Urban areas have innumerable technological devices to use and stay well informed. Youngsters nowadays are more familiar and habituated in using them. So, wherever they are or whatever the circumstance is, they have to utilize the resources available around them and their locality to aid in their learning activities. More precisely, they must make an optimum utilization of the resources available in order to make learning more effective.