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How to focus on learning?

 Language Learning Forum : Learning Techniques, Methods & Strategies Post Reply
prz_
Tetraglot
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Poland
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 Message 1 of 7
02 February 2014 at 2:17pm | IP Logged 
Briefly: I have great problems with concentrating in one thing, especially while learning. Do you have any ideas how to get over it?
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miertje
Diglot
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 Message 2 of 7
02 February 2014 at 3:56pm | IP Logged 
Maybe mindfullness? I'm not sure if this is something you'd be interested in (or maybe you've tried it already), but it is helping me a lot.
Mindfullness is not specific to learning, but I do feel like it is building "focussing-muscle mass" ;-) so to speak, which benefits my learning as well.


Edited by miertje on 02 February 2014 at 4:01pm

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tarvos
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 Message 3 of 7
02 February 2014 at 4:45pm | IP Logged 
prz_ wrote:
Briefly: I have great problems with concentrating in one thing, especially
while learning. Do you have any ideas how to get over it?


Training is the only way... willpower, forcing yourself to. Or taking a 10 minute break,
then returning... I've noticed that when my energy levels die on me, that taxing myself
just doesn't work. I have to break it off, take my brain to clean space and clean air,
and let myself breathe.
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prz_
Tetraglot
Senior Member
Poland
last.fm/user/prz_rul
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Speaks: Polish*, English, Bulgarian, Croatian
Studies: Slovenian, Macedonian, Persian, Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian, Dutch, Swedish, German, Italian, Armenian, Kurdish

 
 Message 4 of 7
02 February 2014 at 5:14pm | IP Logged 
I know it seems to be a naive question, but well. Sometimes someone can come with a surprisingly good advice.
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tarvos
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China
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 Message 5 of 7
02 February 2014 at 5:16pm | IP Logged 
Yeah... it's also worth considering your lack of concentration and energy... are you
eating well, getting exercise? Could be a physical or psychosomatic problem, in my case
when I suffer from chronic intestinal disease that ruins my iron levels, sugar levels and
my energy... it means I need to concentrate on being healthy and not yell at myself for
not being able to perform at 100% (even though I usually do).
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Cavesa
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 Message 6 of 7
02 February 2014 at 6:00pm | IP Logged 
What helped me was moving a large part of my studies to things I find fun. If you have no trouble focusing on fun but it is a trouble when it comes to "serious learning" (which can easily happen when you are overworked, tired, in a bad mood, feeling ill or whatever else), get the most out of extensive massive input, L-R, tools that give you points for completing them and look like fun (old memrise was like that, badluck they changed it) and so on. When it comes to the less fun parts, do only those you know have value and reward yourself.

It may be worth considering where and when do you study. Do you have a comfortable ergonomic chair? Are you catering to your needs for silence or background music? Do you study during the day or after all your work and duties when you're already falling down from fatigue?

Do you prefer longer or shorter study sessions? Some people prefer the short ones because they fit them anywhere and they don't get tired during them. I prefer the long ones. I have trouble "getting hooked" to the material and focus during the first 5-15 minutes. Then it usually breaks and I am able to sit at it for hours. Try what suits you. Perhaps, you might like something like the pomodoro technique (25 minutes of work, 5 minutes of obligatory break, repeat. a longer break after every 3 or 4 pomodoros. It is important to keep the 25 minutes and 5 minutes on a count down, not just guessing :-) )

However, if the trouble concerns more things than just language learning and it is damaging your life in any way, it would be the best to treat it in a more complex way. Depends on whether it is a short-term or longer issue, whether you're really not tired from an illness (Personal experience. If more things have changed, if you have any other troubles like being tired, being ill more often and so on, get yourself checked by your doctor.), whether you don't have any psychological issues going on that would vent through troubles with concentration and so on.

I wish you only the best and an early solution to whatever trouble may be behind this :-)
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patrickwilken
Senior Member
Germany
radiant-flux.net
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 Message 7 of 7
02 February 2014 at 7:14pm | IP Logged 
I am a big believer in the power of habit. Do something at the same time and place everyday and after a few weeks you'll just keep doing it pretty easily.

Also get rid of distractions. If you need to read a certain amount each day, do this first thing in the morning before you turn your computer on. If you have a smart phone turn it off.




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