When you are a Lower Secondary English student, you may feel as if you have all the time in the world.
Time will swiftly pass and you will wind up in Secondary 4 in just 2 to 3 years.
Make hay while the sun shines. You need to wake up to a few tips and use them well while you still have time.
Build up your base and vocabulary skills now and it will serve you well in your final year.
I have outlined 6 useful tips for learning which will guide you well from Lower Secondary English to O levels.
Tip #1 – Expand Your Content Base
Your content base is the Holy Grail of the Secondary English paper. Am I being extrapolative? Not really. 😊
Let us face facts. The Holy Grail is the most important part, the journey to reach ultimate freedom and knowledge. And the content will take you through the most gruelling of exams.
Paper 1 is made up of a content-based essay. You will be asked to choose from a diverse range of topics ranging from narrative to world topics.
You will need some knowledge of the happenings in the world to approach this paper with confidence.
Not only current affairs but a sprinkling of knowledge from other genres such as Ethics, Philosophy, Arts, History, Leadership struggles, Mysticism and others.
You do not really need to know everything but you could have some core favourites.
I know. It is not part of your syllabus but to know more means you can tackle your essays with ease and finesse.
Stabilise yourself by building your content base and you won’t look back.
Tip #2 – Notetaking Habit
I especially became fond of this habit as it grew on me. I took down what I heard or even whatever intrigued me while I was watching a show.
It becomes a habit that can be really useful when you are attendingSecondary English lectures or tutorials. Or you could be at a forum. It doesn’t matter as you will be sifting information through your fingers deciding what to take down and what shouldn’t.
Information is everywhere. It is up to you to decide which is worth taking down for further use.
Gradually, you will have a small stash of notes which can be used for writing or they may be simply committed to memory for recalling when you need them.
Tip #3 – Write Down Instead Of Taking Photos
Really? Yes, really. This is an irritating habit that is worthy of protest.
MostSecondary English students would rather fish into their pockets and snap at the board full of handwritten notes rather than write it down.
The words will look tiny on the phone but that is not all. When you write it down, you will be memorising and understanding it but when you snap a picture, you will simply forget all about it.
Do you see my point? Photos are for beaches and friends. Notetaking, the traditional recourse of students will always encourage active learning while you are on that subject.
Tip #4 – Start A Vocabulary Notebook
I know that you can buy one of these but having your own means that it is an assortment of your very own choice words that caught your eye.
When you start having a vocabulary notebook or e-book forSecondary English, it becomes a sort of handy manual that you flip on when you need it.
This fosters an invaluable habit and you will soon be on your way to becoming an amateur connoisseur of words. Sounds good?
Tip #5 – Enter Writing Competitions
This can be a really good way of practising for yourSecondary English exams. Oh, and did I mention the prizes? They could range to a few hundred dollars and even include air tickets depending on the organisers.
Competitions are great and even if you do not win them, just applying yourself to topics set by international dons can set you light years ahead.
Get the competitive spirit up and going!
Tip #6 – Read Blogs
Blogs are fun to read and they are free. Look out for those with relevant topics that match your needs.
There are blogs of all kinds and they are written by well-meaning pros who just want to give a helping hand.
Who knows? You may even start writing one yourself. 😊
Get yourself a kickstart and start using these tips in yourSecondary English. You may reap results sooner than you think!