Learning Tips 1

So if you’re learning a new language, it is important to keep practicing the language in order to maintain the gains you have achieved. This “use-it-or-lose-it” phenomenon involves a brain process known as “pruning.” Certain pathways in the brain are maintained, while other are eliminated. If you want the new information you just learned to stay put, keep practicing and rehearsing it.

Learning Tip 2.

Learn in Multiple Ways

Focus on learning in more than one way. Instead of just listening to a podcast, which involves auditory learning, find a way to rehearse the information both verbally and visually. This might involve describing what you learned to a friend, taking notes or drawing a mind map. By learning in more than one way, you’re further cementing the knowledge in your mind. According to Judy Willis, “The more regions of the brain that store data about a subject, the more interconnection there is. This redundancy means students will have more opportunities to pull up all of those related bits of data from their multiple storage areas in response to a single cue. This cross-referencing of data means we have learned, rather than just memorized.”

.Learning tip 3

Teach What You’ve Learned to Another Person


Teaching can improve your learning. By teaching to the rest of the class, your teacher hoped you would gain even more from the assignment. You can apply the same principle today by sharing your newly learned skills and knowledge with others.

Learning tip 4

Start by translating the information into your own words.

This process alone helps solidify new knowledge in your brain. Next, find some way to share what you’ve learned. Some ideas include writing a blog post, creating a podcast or participating in a group discussion.

Learning Tip5.

Utilize Previous Learning to Promote New Learning

Another great way to become a more effective learner is to use relational learning, which involves relating new information to things that you already know. For example, if you are learning about Romeo and Juliet, you might associate what you learn about the play with prior knowledge you have about Shakespeare, the historical period in which the author lived and other relevant information.

Learning tip 6.

Gain Practical Experience

For many of us, learning typically involves reading textbooks, attending lectures or doing research in the library or on the Web. While seeing information and then writing it down is important, actually putting new knowledge and skills into practice can be one of the best ways to improve learning. If you are trying to acquire a new skill or ability, focus on gaining practical experience. If it is a sport or athletic skill, perform the activity on a regular basis. If you are learning a new language, practice speaking with another person and surround yourself with immersive experiences.

Learning tip 7 .

Look Up Answers Rather Than Struggle to Remember

Of course, learning isn’t a perfect process. Sometimes, we forget the details of things that we have already learned. If you find yourself struggling to recall some tidbit of information, research suggests that you are better offer simply looking up the correct answer. One study found that the longer you spend trying to remember the answer, the more likely you will be to forget the answer again in the future. Why? Because these attempts to recall previously learned information actually results in learning the “error state” instead of the correct response.

Learning tip 8

Understand How You Learn Best

Another great strategy for improving your learning efficiency is to recognize your learning habits and styles. There are a number of different theories about learning styles, which can all help you gain a better understanding of how you learn best. Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences describes eight different types of intelligence that can help reveal your individual strengths. Looking at Carl Jung’s learning style dimensions can also help you better see which learning strategies might work best for you.

Learning Tips 9

Use Testing to Boost Learning

Testing can be more beneficial than studying alone. Image by Clinton Cardozo.While it may seem that spending more time studying is one of the best ways to maximize learning, research has demonstrated that taking tests actually helps you better remember what you’ve learned, even if it wasn’t covered on the test.3 The study revealed that students who studied and were then tested had better long-term recall of the materials, even on information that was not covered by the tests. Students who had extra time to study but were not tested had significantly lower recall of the materials.

Learning tip 10

Stop Multitasking

Multitasking can hurt learning effectiveness. It was thought that people who multitask, or perform more than one activity at once, had an edge over those who did not. However, research now suggests that multitasking can actually make learning less effective. In the study, participants lost significant amounts of time as they switched between multiple tasks and lost even more time as the tasks became increasingly complex.4 By switching from one activity to another, you will learn more slowly, become less efficient and make more errors. How can you avoid the dangers of multitasking? Start by focusing your attention on the task at hand and continue working for a predetermined amount of time."

Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Bad breath is more serious than you think. Not only can it make it difficult to talk to people daily, but it can also put havoc in your work and love life. Learn what the causes are concerning bad breath and how to take care of the serious problem.

According to the British Dental Health Foundation “one in four adults suffer from bad breath on a regular basis”. But without somebody actually telling you your breath smells bad how are you supposed to know? Characteristics of bad breath are-

• A white tongue


• Thick saliva


• A dry mouth


• A constant sour, bitter or metallic taste in the mouth


• A bad taste after drinking beer, milk, coffee or mouthwash.

These are all likely signs your breath smells but bad breath can still occur without any of these characteristics being present. Your dentist can measure bad breath with a Halimeter, an instrument that detects the levels of volatile sulfur compounds when you breathe into the tube attached.

Why People Get Bad Breath

The reason we can’t smell our own bad breath is because the source of our breath is in the soft palate at the back of the mouth which is connected to the nose. The nose blocks out most background smells including the odour in the mouth commonly refered to as bad breath.

The main cause of bad breath is oral bacteria. The waste that the bacteria in our mouths create are full of sulfur compounds which smell. The many different compounds produced by the bacteria are referred to as Volatile Sulfur Compounds – VSCs, the fact that they are volatile, meaning they evaporate quickly even at room temperature is why other people can smell them.

The majority of sulfur compounds that produce bad breath are…

• Hydrogen Sulfide – the smell of rotten eggs.


• Methyl Mercaptan – the smell associated with farms and feed lots.


• Skatole – the smell of human faeces.


• Putrescine – contributes to the smell of decaying meat.


• Cadervine – the smell associated with corpses.

These compounds are the waste of “anaerobic” bacteria which means they thrive in an environment which lacks oxygen. So contray to common belief these bacteria do not live on the direct surface of the tongue but inbetween the fibres of the tongue. They also thrive under the coating at the back of the tongue, known as “white tongue”. Bad breath bacteria particularly like this area as it is completely deprived of oxygen. They can also survive in between teeth and underneath the gum.

Preventing or eliminating halitosis requires that you know what is causing the problem in the first place. Most of the time, the main cause of bad breath comes from the mouth. This is likely to happen when you are suffering from gum disease or your mouth has not been properly cleaned or if there are spaces in your mouth that trap bacteria. Other possible causes of bad breath include sinus or respiratory infections, gastrointestinal problems, or tonsils. In most cases, these situations need you to seek help from medical professionals, who can give you advice on how to cure such bad breath.

There are many reasons why people get bad breath. Here are a few of the most common and what to do about it.

TIPS:

• 1.First off, you need help in the hygiene department. The mouth is one of the dirtiest places that harbors bacteria that if left unclean can create some of the foulest smells known to man. So, keep it clean. . A clean mouth is less likely to smell. Brush twice a day, thoroughly, and floss daily. Flossing is particularly important, since food can get trapped between teeth and at the gum line. Decaying food is a great haven or bacteria, which release smelly gases that will make your breath smell bad
  
  So make sure to brush after after every meal or snack particularly meals high in protein as the oral bacteria digest protein and then excrete it in the form of volatile sulfar compounds

. But, brushing alone isn’t the answer. Use mouthwash too, which can really clear out the food debris, plaque and dead cells, which cause bad breath. Flossing is huge. It gets in between teeth, where brushing and mouthwash miss. Also, invest in a tongue scraper. Bacteria tend to gather on the tongue, especially the back of the tongue, which can be major grounds for unpleasant scents.

2 . The tongue is another big source of mouth odor. At the back of your tongue, bacteria can live for a long time without being seriously disturbed. To eliminate this source of bad breath, scrape your tongue gently with a scraper or other device designed for this purpose. Usually, you will need to do this twice a day. Be sure not to press too hard and injure your tongue, and avoid toothbrushes, because they can make you gag.

3. Gargle at night with either an effective, non alcohol based mouthwash, or a 1.5% dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide. Be sure to wait a little while after brushing, as the detergents in toothpaste can prevent these gargles from working as well as they should. This method may help to reduce bacteria growth in the mouth while you are sleeping.

4Use a Chlorine Dioxide or Sodium Chlorite mouthwash – These both release oxygen in the mouth which the anaerobic bacteria don’t like and they neutralise volatile sulfuric compounds eliminating bad breath.

5.Replace your toothbrush every three to four months. A new toothbrush is most effective for removing plaque and food particles, and for eliminating bad breath. Choose a soft-bristled brush

6.Some foods such as fish, tuna, onions and garlic can produce bad breath. If you breath tends to have awful output, avoid the foods that can cause worse breath. Add vegetables and fruits to your diet

People on diets can also change how their breath smells. This is sometimes known as hunger breath. You can actually change how your breath smells, by cutting out things like carbs. The best advice is to do everything in moderation.

7.. Avoid foods that you have noticed to cause your breath to get worse, and aim for ones that clean your mouth and the back of your tongue of plaque. Celery, carrots and other abrasive foods can act as good mouth cleaners and help you avoid halitosis.

8.Another well-known cause for bad breath is smoking and a bad cigarette habit. Make a goal to stop smoking and switch that coffee break for a Green Tea break, which is known for fighting cavities. Not only will it help fight cavities (which come from bacteria), it can also help fight cancer and make you lose weight..

9. . Chew parsley or mint leaves to quickly freshen your breath. Parsley and mint are both effective for short-term elimination of bad breath

Parsley is a great natural breath freshener. You can also get parsley capsules to help curb bad breath.

10.Try an Anticavity fluoride rinse. Fluoride is a great component for fighting awful smelling breath.

Water (which contains fluoride) is another great tip for combating the problem. Drink lots.

11.Always clean things like cups, silverware or anything else you put in your mouth. These are the perfect places for bacteria to harbor. And, if not thoroughly cleaned with hot water, the bacteria can easily go from a cup to your mouth.

Visit your dentist twice a year. With a dentists’ know how, tools and treatments, your dentist can help you for all of your dental needs, including better breath.

12.Cut out sugary sweets – they can increase bacteria in your mouth. If you do slip up, brush your teeth or use mouthwash right away.

13.Always go that extra mile for your dental hygiene, not only will you have fantastic smelling breath, but you’ll keep your pearly whites beautiful for a lifetime.

14.Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth hydrated: Dry mouth can cause mouth odor. For the same reason, limit your intake of caffeinated beverages like coffee that can dry out your mouth.

15.Chew gum or suck candy to stimulate your mouth to produce more saliva. Saliva helps clean and refresh your mouth, removing odor-causing bacteria. Choose sugar-free gum and candy for the best results. . Chewing can help you cure bad breath. Whether you choose sugarless gum, fennel seeds, or fresh parsley Chew sugarless gum – chewing gum increases saliva which contains oxygen, which the anaerobic bacteria dislike, the action of chewing gets saliva going and provides a pleasant scent that can help or cover up bad smells.. Saliva actually dissolves those volatile sulfur compounds.

16.Don’t smoke. Smoking dries out your mouth and contributes to bad breath.

Warnings

Keep in mind that mouthwash may temporarily mask bad breath, but it doesn’t correct the problem that’s causing bad breath. If your bad breath persists, see a dentist to make sure an underlying dental health issue isn’t causing your breath problem. If your dentist approves your dental health, see a doctor.

It is a common experience of my teaching that more than 60 per cent of students suffer from an examinations phobia.It doesn’t matter whether the student is intelligent or not. They all worry about forgetting or overlooking something or the other while appearing in an exam, not being able to recall important facts at the appropriate time and, most importantly, ending up with a low score or failing. And these fears become barriers in their performance, especially during exam time.I want to share through this piece some of the major reasons leading to exam phobia along with some ways that can come in handy in helping students beat the fear and enjoy the learning process.Most teachers as a general practice in schools target their teaching either directly or indirectly towards the exams. Being focused on that, they highlight the same for the students as well like emphasiszing the need to complete much of the syllabus before the exams, working on important topics that may come in the exams, revise the lessons before the exams, etc.The students too, as a result of this, feel that exams are the most important thing. With that settled, they too start focusing on exams while living with a feeling of dread instead of enjoying their classes.But before discussing ways to help students beat this fear, it would also be helpful to examine the facet of fear.Sometimes fear is related to a specific subject as a result of which your confidence may rise or fall only when tested in that subject.Students might also fear the punishment that would be awarded to them by their parents or teachers on getting low marks. Because if God forbid, they measure less on their expectations, they are not just punished for it by the teachers in the form of having to write the correct answer 10 times or sometimes even 100 but the parents too show their disappointment by ignoring them for several days.Another aspect is being retained in the same class on failing the finals. In addition to all this, the students know that the teachers always appreciate those who get the highest marks in class so simply getting good or average grades is not good enough.At this stage, when the students find themselves disinterested in their studies due to exam phobia, the role of the teachers in encouraging them to just do their best becomes even more important.So how can a teacher help the agonising young minds to lose their fear of exams? The following tips may come in handy: • Make your students aware of the fact that their getting less marks in the exams will not result in any kind of punishment. Help them realise that examinations are merely a segment of the learning process used to explore one’s skills. Give the same message to the parents as well.• Do make the students understand that the process of learning is far more important than giving exams. If a student takes an active interest in his or her studies while not thinking about being tested on it later on, he or she would automatically gain good marks.• Appreciate even the slightest improvement in performances. It will enhance self esteem, making the child want to learn more and work hard to acquire more good grades. Also share the improvement in students with the parents which will also do away with the notion that teachers only call the parents when the child is failing in class.• Help them believe in their strengths. All children have their own sets of hidden potential. Help them realise their good points. For example, some students may have good handwriting, some might have good presentation skills and so on. Ask them to use the best of their already existing skills and abilities during the exam to get better results instead of thinking and worrying about self-created fears.• Help the students search out their own areas of weakness. Self assessment helps in finding out the area within oneself that needs improvement

For instance, I secured less marks in the exam because:

(a) I made careless mistakes,

(b) My presentation was not attractive,

(c) My time management needs improvement,

(d) I need to go through the concept with the teacher again and so on.

After making them go through a process of self assessment, facilitate them to practically work on the weak areas either through tasks given in the classroom or through home work.