What to Eat When Studying | Best Brain Food Snacks for Studying

What To Eat When Studying

The food that one puts into their body can have a significant impact on their brain and how it works. If you are a student and are trying to memorize, process and understand a lot of new information, it is necessary to keep your health in check. Be mindful of what you put into your body.

Choosing to stay healthy can help you in promoting your academic performance, helping you reach your educational goal. Even though it is essential to maintain an overall healthy diet that will keep your body and brain nourished, allowing you to be ready to take on various challenging tasks, researches have shown that certain foods may be necessary especially for the brain health and promoting mental performance.

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Before we know about what we should eat, let’s learn about why it is necessary to eat well. It is always better to learn about how the food you eat affects one’s body and brain. Making healthy food choices will help one in improving their memory, fuel their brain and help them in excelling your study schedule.

How Does Food Affect Your Brain?

The brain is the most complex and complicated part of one’s body. The brain is like a computer, and it runs millions of processes every day at every moment. The brain never stops working, so it continually needs to be fuelled by glucose, a type of sugar, which operates the brain.

The body obtains glucose from the food that we consume, and it is delivered to the brain through the bloodstream. However, the problem is, the brain is unable to store glucose, so the levels of glucose need to be topped every day.
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If the brain is not adequately fuelled, one is most likely to feel irritated and sad. One might also face trouble in sleeping, concentrating, has low memory and difficulty in problem-solving. This is one of the leading reasons why it is necessary to eat well for studying to have a better level of concentration and focus.

How Does Food Affect Your Brain

Which Foods are The Best Fuels For The Brain?

There are numerous types of foods. However, not all types of foods are beneficial and healthy for the brain. Healthy food for your brain that will help you in studying includes:

  • Protein –meat, eggs, fish, poultry, legumes, nuts and seeds dairy products, dried beans and lentils and soy products. Protein helps the brain in sending messages to the rest of the body. It helps in creating brain chemicals that will help one in improving their mood.
  • Water –our brain is 73% water and water is essential for keeping the body and brain in a tip-top shape, stimulating proper brain functioning.
  • Antioxidants –fruits and vegetables, including berries and pomegranate juice, is high on antioxidants. Antioxidants can help in delaying or even prevent specific effects of ageing on the brain.
  • Caffeine –Coffee, tea, and dark chocolate are high in protein. Caffeine, when consumed in small amounts, can help one feel refreshed and more focused.
  • Dietary Cholesterol –Egg yolks and dairy contains dietary cholesterol. Our brain relies on cholesterol to create the cells that are needed for sending messages to the rest of the body.
  • Omega-3 –Omega-3 is contained in chicken, beef, oilfish, flax seeds and flax oil and eggs. Omega-3s have been found to help the brain is working harder and also helping in improve one’s mental health.
  • Monounsaturated fats –olive oil, nuts, avocado, peanut oil and canola oil. Foods containing monounsaturated fats can help in improving your memory and help the brain is working harder, faster, stronger and better.

Top Food Items for The Brain for Studying and Exams

The following food items have been linked to improving brain health and serve as excellent choices when one is cramming for an exam.

Here are the top foods for the brain that help in studying.

  • Citrus fruits 

Citrus fruits are extremely nutritious, and their consumption has been associated with a variety of health benefits, along with the promotion of brain health. Citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit are rich in flavonoids – including naringin, hesperidin, rutin and quercetin, among others.

These compounds not only have the ability to promote memory and learning but also protect nerve cells from injury – hence warding off mental decline. Studies have shown that drinking citrus fruits may also help in promoting mental performance.

A study performed in 40 young adults showed that drinking 500 ml of 100% orange and grapefruit juice helped in enhancing blood flow to the brain and significantly improving performance on a test that involved matching symbols to numbers in comparison to a control drink.

Even though fruit juices are more concentrated sources of these potential brain-health-promoting compounds, the whole citrus fruits are also rich sources of flavonoids which can also be used as a snack when studying or even preparing for an exam.

  • Berries 

Berries are filled with a variety of compounds which may help you in promoting academic performance and also protect that health of your brain. Berries including strawberries, blueberries and blackberries are exceptionally high in flavonoids compounds known as anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins are believed to help in improving mental performance by increasing the flow of blood to the brain, protecting against inflammation, as well as improving specific signalling pathways that help in promoting nerve cell production and cellular processes that are involved in memory and learning.

A number of human studies have shown that berry intake positively affects brain functioning. One study done in 40 people examined the effects of consumption of 400 ml smoothie containing equal amounts of strawberry, blueberry, raspberry and blackberry.

It showed that smoothie led to the quicker response times on attention and task-taking tests and helped the participants in maintaining accuracy on these tests for over 6 hours compared to in a placebo group.

Furthermore, a review including 12 studies done in children, young adults and older adults showed that 8 of the studies reported an improved mental performance – including short-term, long-term, and spatial memory tests, after the consumption of blueberry and blueberry supplements.

However, the researchers have concluded that full well-designed studies are required and essential to confirm this possible benefit.

There are several other studies, including anthocyanin-rich berries which have also reported improvements in mental performance.

  • Beets 

Beet products and beet itself is rich in nitrates, which our body converts into a molecule known as nitric oxide. Nitric oxide plays many essential roles in one’s health, including proper blood flow, proper nerve cell communication, and brain function.

Consumption of nitrate-rich beets and beet products has been associated with the improvement in brain functioning in some studies.

A study with 40 adults found that drinking 450 ml of beet juice improved blood flow to the brain and enhanced the performance in a subtraction test, in comparison to a placebo.

Another study in 24 younger and older adults showed that drinking 10 ml of beet juice significantly increased the concentration of blood nitrate and improved reaction time on a mental test in both the age groups, in comparison to a placebo.

One can increase their dietary intake of nitrates by enjoying roasted beets with a meal before any exam or sipping on fresh beet juice when studying.

  • Eggs 

Eggs are often known as to as nature’s multivitamin because of the variety of nutrients that they contain. Eggs are particularly rich in nutrients that are necessary for the proper functioning of the brain, including choline, vitamin B12, and selenium.

For instance, selenium is involved in coordination, cognition, memory and motor performance. In contrast, choline is needed for the brain development and production of neurotransmitter acetylcholine that is necessary for memory storage and muscle function.

Vitamin B12 plays a vital role in neurological health and having low levels of this vitamin that impairs brain functioning. However, one must eat the whole egg and not just the egg white. This will help in reaping their potential brain-function-promoting benefits.

  • Dark chocolate & cocoa products 

Cocoa contains the highest flavonoid content by weight compared to any other food, which is why products of cocoa-like chocolate significantly contribute to dietary flavonoid intake. Consumption of flavonoid-rich cocoa products may favourably affect your brain health.

A study done with 90 adults having mild mental impairment were asked to drink a cocoa beverage that contained either 45 mg, 520 mg or 990 mg of cocoa flavonoids at per serving once a day for 8 weeks.

At the end of the study, people who consumed the high flavonoid beverage performed significantly better in mental tests than others who had been assigned low flavonoid beverages.

Also, the high and intermediate flavonoid groups had improved insulin sensitivity. This was suggested to be the primary cause for the improved functioning of the brain. Insulin is the hormone that helps in moving sugar from the blood into the cells, where it is used as an energy source.

Other studies have also shown that cocoa intake may help in reducing mental fatigue, improve blood flow to the brain and also boost memory and reaction time taken in mental tasks. Interestingly, flavonoids are able to cross the blood-brain barrier, which is a semipermeable membrane that protects the brain. It directly acts on the areas of the brain that controls attention and memory.

  • Fish 

As mentioned earlier in the article, Omega-3s are essential fats that play a vital role in brain health. They are concentrated in fatty fish which are also excellent sources for other brain-health-promoting nutrients such as vitamin B12 and selenium.

It is of no surprise that several studies have linked the consumption of fish to the enhancement of brain function. One study done in 76 Japanese adults showed that higher fish intake is linked with better memory performance and brain health.

Another study done in more than 17000 school students found that an intake of 8 grams of fish each day was significantly associated with better grades in mathematics and German, compared to limited or no fish intake.

However, it was also seen in the study that this association declined in the highest category of fish intake. The researchers have suggested that this may be due to the higher intake of mercury and other harmful pollutants that are found in seafood.

There are many other studies that have linked fish intake to better mental performance and a slower rate of mental decline. This has been attributed to the concentration of essential nutrients – including omega 3 fats present in fish.

  • Nuts 

Nuts are filled with nutrients that are vital for brain health, such as vitamin E and zinc. They are also versatile and portable, making them an excellent choice a snack for study time.

Nuts are concentrated sources of protein, fibre and healthy fats. They can help in keeping you fuelled throughout your marathon study sessions. Also, some research has shown that snacking on nuts can even help in improving certain aspects of brain function.

A study done on 64 college students found that adding walnuts to their diet for 8 weeks led to a significant improvement of 11.2% in their ability to interpret verbal information in comparison with a placebo.

A population-based study of 15467 women showed that consuming at least 5 servings of nuts each week was associated with better overall mental status.

Furthermore, another study on 317 children found that intake of nuts was related to the improved reaction time and performance on brain test.

  • Red, orange and green vegetables 

Consumption of vegetables is generally associated with the better function of the brain and also promotes the overall health of a person. Red, orange and green vegetables including carrots, peppers and broccoli, contain a variety of beneficial plant compounds such as carotenoid pigments which have been shown to benefit one’s mental performance.

The carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin that is present in them accumulates in the retina of the eye. This accumulation is referred to as the macular pigment optical density (MPOD).

A study done in 51 children between the ages of 7 to 13 showed that MPOD was significantly related to the functioning of the brain and intellectual ability.

Another study with 56 children between the ages of 9 to 9 also found that MPOD was positively associated with academic performance.

On the other hand, lower MPOD has been associated with reducing mental performance. A study done in 4453 adults showed that lower MPOD was associated with more unsatisfactory performance on more insufficient memory, mental tests and slower reaction time.

The vegetable that is richest in lutein and zeaxanthin are parsley, kale, peas, basil, spinach, leeks, carrots, lettuce, broccoli and green and red peppers. Pistachios and eggs are also good sources of zeaxanthin and lutein.

For a satisfying and filling pre-study-session meal that is rich in brain-health-promoting carotenoids, have large spinach and herb salad with chopped red pepper, hard-boiled eggs and sliced carrots. You can also dress the salad with vinegar and drizzle of olive oil along with some handful of chopped pistachios for the extra protein and healthy fats.

Following a healthy diet plan is essential, especially when you are studying or preparing for exams. Your brain and body are working more during your exams, and you need to give it the correct amount of nutrition that it needs.

Although an overall healthy diet and lifestyle is necessary, researches have shown that certain food items may help in enhancing mental performance, making it an excellent option for students.

If you are looking to enhancing your mental performance and improving your overall health, try adding any of the food items that have been listed above in your diet.

Snacks for Study Time

Often students run low on funds and don’t like to spend on nutritious foods as sometimes the foods that are good for one’s nutrition might not necessarily be good for their pocket.

Just because one has limited funds doesdoesn’tn they should be sacrificing on their health. Keep in mind that portion control is vital. There are many go-to and affordable snacks for students that will even meet their budget.

Here is a list of healthy foods and snacks that one can afford on any budget.

1.Bananas

Bananas are filled with vitamins, fibre and potassium and are a perfect on-the-go snack.

2. Carrots

Carrots are cheap, easy and packed with nutrition like natural carbohydrates, protein, calcium, fibre and potassium. A mini packet of carrots on the go is ideal for snacking between classes.

3. String cheese

Cheese is everyone’s favourite. It is easily transportable and is a combination of salt and sugar; it can curb both your salty and sweet cravings. One stick of cheese is only 80 calories filled with calcium and protein.

4. Oatmeal

High in protein and fibre along with being low in fat and calories is not easy to find; which is why oatmeal is a gem of easy and quick foods. It also tastes good and comes in an instant an option which makes it convenient for on students who are on the go.

5. Green tea

Green tea is an excellent alternative to any of the high-caffeinated options, as it not helps in boosting your energy but also provide antioxidants.

6. Apples

If you are looking for a healthy alternative for your chips and dips, slice up an apple and dip the wedges in some almond butter for a delicious and filling anytime snack. For variety, you can also use any organic sugar-free butter as a great-tasting protein-packed dip.

7. Green vegetables

All of us know about is well aware that we should eat our greens but have you ever thought of taking a bag of raw string beans, pea pods or broccoli on the go as a snack. It would be best if you did it as they have the benefits of antioxidants, Vitamin C and more. When looking for vegetable, always go for the greener ones. The greener and leafier the vegetable is, the better it is.

8. Greek yoghurt

As Greek yoghurt is high on protein but low in sugar, it is a snack will keep you sustained and satisfied. Greek yoghurt is available in various flavours, or you can always add some honey, fruits or granola to jazz up the plain flavour.

9. Peanuts

Peanuts are not nuts but a legume. They are cheap and are filled with protein. Peanuts are high in suitable types of fat and are able to keep you full for a longer time than any snacks that are made with an artificial preservative.

If you consume them in 2-ounce portions, peanuts are nearly 300 calories, but they are a good alternative when you are craving a salty snack when studying.

10. Oranges

Other than the benefit of vitamin C, oranges also give you calcium, potassium, healthy carbohydrates and more vitamins. They are high in sugar but are not as bad as a candy bar.

11. Coffee

Coffee in moderate amounts can help in improving the brain function, attention span and focus time due to the caffeine contained in it. However, it should be consumed in moderation; overconsumption can have adverse results.

12. Peanut butter

Peanut butter is an excellent option as a snack. You can always fix yourself some snack that has peanut butter. Peanut butter is nutritious and also a great purchase.

13. Almonds

A handful of almonds can sustain you for an extended period of time. They are made from healthy fats and are also a good source of protein (in moderation). One ounce of almonds holds 14 grams of fat. It is an excellent option as long as one does not over indulges in it, or one might be finding them with some unwanted weight gain.

14. Hummus

Protein-rich hummus is good on almost anything – especially if one is trying to spice up some vegetables.

15. Whole wheat crackers or Pretzels

Pair it either with peanut butter or hummus and you are good to go. Whole wheat is the crucial element here because you are consuming grains which you lose in white crackers or a regular variety of pretzels.

16. Avocado

Avocado is technically a fruit. It has mono-saturated fats, which help in improving blood flow and can also lower blood pressure. Avocados are also an excellent source for vitamin E. However, make sure that you don’t over-consume them as these are fatty fruits – a quarter or half is more than enough for one serving.

17. Roasted Chickpeas

These are the perfect yet healthy alternative for anyone craving a crunchy snack. Chickpeas are an excellent source of fibre and protein. When roasted in the oven with a bit of salt and chilli powder, they taste delicious.

18. Trail Mix

This might be a tricky one as some unhealthy snacks are disguised ass trail mix. It is suggested to make your own or look for a healthier version with dried fruits and nuts. Portion control is also essential to make sure that you are not consuming a ton of trans-fats.

Foods to Avoid During Studying and Exams

Now that we have talked about what foods items to eat when studying let’s discuss about what food items to avoid during exams. It is essential for students to eat healthily and take care of their mental and physical health.

Unfortunately, most of the traditional student diet is not suitable for the brain during exam time. Below we have provided a list of food items and ingredients that can hinder in your brain and body. Avoid the following food items, and you might have a better chance of concentrating on your studies during your exams.

1.Fried food 

Everyone is aware that fried food is bad for you because of the high levels of cholesterol and high levels of saturated fats. When one is studying and don’t have much time to cook, people prefer ordering some takeout or snacking or any chips can be appealing.

Unfortunately, junk foods, especially fried foods, have an adverse effect on the brain. Dr Martha Clare Morris said that saturated fats and cholesterol could block the blood from entering your brain, reducing its power.

The build-up of these compounds, over a long time period, can lead to dementia and even Alzheimer’s diesease. Especially during your exam sessions, you should avoid fried foods to keep your brain healthy.

Rather have: A long-time diet that is high in folic acid and folate can help in improving memory and promotes slow ageing of the brain. Some food item which is ‘folic-y’ such as beans, citrus fruits, avocado, and lentils are some options you can try.

2. Caffeine 

Coffee is the glorious, well-known energy-producing staple beverage for almost every student. Unfortunately, when you consume coffee or any other drink that has caffeine such as soda or any other energy drink, it has an adverse effect on the brain overdone.

As mentioned earlier in the article, coffee, or any other caffeinated drink should only be consumed at a minimal amount. Caffeine creates energy by blocking the sleep-producing chemical adenosine from entering one’s nerves.

Even though this works for providing a short-term energy boost, the long term effect of this can be harmful. The lack of sleep that is caused by caffeine may cause the body to undergo symptoms related to anxiety-like insomnia, heart palpitation and shaking.

Rather have: Sometimes, all we need is a little hydration. Hydration helps in boosting one’s energy and making us feel awake. When you feel like you cannot continue concentrating anymore, sometimes a little hydration is all you need. Don’t hesitate in chugging back a glass of water or two helping your cells to hydrate and energize.

3. Trans-fats 

One thing one must avoid to keep their brain healthy is foods that are high in trans-fat. A study done in 2012 in Neurology showed that eating large amounts of trans-fat has led to brain shrinkage and less processing power.

According to another study, a diet that is high in trans-fat can increase the risk of depression by up to 48%.

Food items those are high in trans-fat including frozen pizza, microwaved popcorn and coffee creamer. Try are and avoid them, especially if are trying to study and concentrate. If you need something to munch on, you can have any one of the snacks that have been mentioned earlier.

Rather have Food items that are rich in vitamin K, which helps in increasing brain power and cognitive functioning. Green vegetables like broccoli and kale are high on these brain-boosting vitamins.

4. Tuna 

Fish is good for brain functioning, and that has been mentioned earlier. After all, the DHA fatty acid that is found in many fish has been linked to improving memory.

However, since a fresh salmon doesn’t exactly fit in the budget of every student hence tuna is often considered as a viable alternative. This is because it is much cheaper. However, in reality, tuna can severely damage your brain.

Years of industrial pollution have severely polluted and tainted the oceans. As a result of which the higher concentration of mercury has also polluted the tuna that lives in the ocean. A high level of mercury in one’s body negatively affects cognitive functioning and can also damage other major organs like the heart.

Rather have: Other fishes like salmon, mackerel and sardines offer higher levels of fatty acid without as much mercury, giving your brain the required amount of DHA for the brainpower.

5. Sugar 

Sugar even though sometimes stimulates, also hits the brainpower pretty hard. A study done in 2015 proved that mice on a higher sugar and higher fat diet suffered cognitively. Not only was their short-term and long-term memory reduced, but also their ability to solve problems also suffered.

What makes sugar even more unremarkable harmful is how seemingly healthy foods – such as whole-wheat bread, yoghurt, canned tomato sauce, juice and dried fruits ins loaded with these kinds of stuff. So be careful with your food selection.

Rather have: A study showed that blueberries help in improving short-term memory by repairing the damaged nerve cells. This study also showed that spinach and strawberries give the same effect to a lesser effect.

Eating meals that are versatile or maintaining a balanced diet most of the time will help you in studying and concentrating better. This will lead to better results both in long-term and short-term. Even though many brain foods may show immediate results, the best results are the ones that show over time.

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5 Ways Reading Improves English | How Reading Improves Your English

Reading Improves English

Reading is almost like an exercise for the brain. It can help in improving your memory and focus. English reading helps in improving grammar, accelerates vocabulary and lets you have a better grip over the language. Reading can help you in learning new words and teaches you things that you didn’t know about.

Reading is a fun activity for many. Some people read to learn, and others just read to relax and have fun. It is always better to read materials that suit your level of understanding. Even though reading only partially impacts your spoken English, it can help you in learning new words, strengthening your passive vocabulary and better your knowledge of English.

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Always Take Out Suitable Time To Read

Here we have listed down a few ways in which reading can help you in improving your English.

Reading as a fun activity can be done anywhere. You can take a book of your interest and read it when you’re travelling to your destination, in the office, in bed or even in a coffee shop when you’re waiting for a friend. Reading can be enjoyed anywhere and everywhere.

However, if you are reading anything, that will help you in improving your knowledge and comprehension, you must focus in order to study. For this kind of reading, you need to set aside special time. Dedicating time for your reading will allow you to focus without the risk of being interrupted. This time should quiet, and you should be in a place where you can avoid being distracted.

One should try and spend at least 30 minutes every day on focused reading. This will be beneficial in improving your reading skills seriously and successfully. The more you read, the more will you improve.

Try these following steps:

Make your reading procedure a ritual – something that you repeat every time you sit down to focus on reading English. Make the following steps a part of your reading process for you to be able to focus better on your reading.

  • Find a place that is quiet, cosy, comfortable and has proper lighting.
  • Prepare everything that you might need before you sit down to study. Avoid getting up often, which will make you lose your concentration.
  • Put away all your electronics and make sure you don’t touch them before you finish studying. Technology is the worst distracter, and once you lose your concentration because of electronics, it becomes very difficult to focus again.
  • Decide how long you want to read for. It is always better to set a goal that allows you to be mentally prepared.
  • If one has a specific process of preparing to read, then their brain will know when they are about to read, and they will more be focused even before they start.
  • Read The Right Books 

Choosing the correct book to read is one of the most important steps that you must undertake. When choosing a book, you should keep in mind two things – what interests you and what is your level of reading. Sometimes choosing books also depends on what you feel like reading. You can choose from various genres of books such as mystery, thriller, romance, comedy, tragedy, or anything that interests you.

Whenever you can, you should take out time to read things that you enjoy. You must always keep in mind to choose books which suit your level of English – this will make you comfortable to read it. Otherwise, if you choose a book which is not of your level, you might feel boring while reading it or not resonate with what the book is about.

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Try these following steps: 

  • If you are not sure what to read and where to start from, there are a number of websites online where you can find recommendations – this will help you choose your book.
  • If you are a beginner to the language, try and choose books which have an easy language. This will make it easier to understand and keep you hooked to the book.
  • Discover what your areas of interests are. Learn about the genres that you can resonate with the most. This will make the process of reading interesting for you and will make you fall in love with the practice of it.
  • Ask Lots Of Questions 

Asking questions when reading plays a crucial role in understanding the texts for the readers. Asking questions allows one to understand as to why they are reading the text. This practice gives them readers the chance to make predictions about the texts and then, later on, change their thinking.

Asking questions will allow the readers to make connections based on things that they already know about, and it also allows the reader to decide whether the content for good or not. Asking questions gives readers the opportunity to review important information about the text and gives them the chance to clarify their doubts.

Try these following steps: 

One can ask the questions in three different times – before they read when they are reading and after they are done reading. Questions before one start reading require them to take a look at the title of the book, the author and the cover art.

  • The title might give the readers some clue as to what the book might be about – maybe the name of a character, the setting of the text or the genre.
  • If the reader is familiar with the author, it may be helpful for them. Having knowledge about the author’s style may give the reader some prior knowledge or idea as to what the book might hold.
  • The cover often helps readers to have a visual about the text as to about the setting of the text, the characters, the feelings or even a problem.
  • Often the title and the cover art of the book will help the reader in identifying the author’s purpose of writing the text.

Asking questions when a reading helps the reader in focusing their thinking on what the story is about. Is this practise they have a better understanding of the content. One will discover, wonder or question things like the following:

  • The main idea of the text.
  • Plot or theme of the story.
  • Problem and its solution.
  • Characters and how the writer portrays their moods and how their feelings change.
  • What might happen next?

All these questions help in keeping the reader focused on the story, which, in turn, helps their comprehension of the story. These questions are the ones that will keep you hooked on to a book.

After reading a text, you might have a few questions in your mind, such as:

  • Why was the plot of the story the way it was?
  • What inspired the writer to write something like this?
  • Why a certain character did something.
  • Why the author decided to put an end the story in that manner.
  • Which was your favourite part?
  • Which was the part that took you by surprise?
  • Was there any part that made you emotional?

This is also the time to reflect upon the questions asked before and during the reading.

  • Were your questions answered in the book?
  • Can there be a continuation of the book to give an explanation for the unanswered questions?
  • Were they able to reach to an answer when they completed the text?
  • Are there any questions that cannot be answered and don’t need to be answered because it will not help with the understanding of the story?

One might always have various other questions depending on the text that they read; these are a few good ones to start with.

Stay Curious and Follow a Certain Pattern of Reading

The proper way of learning how to read and improve English is more than just reading the words. It is also about processing the information and understanding it. There are a few things one can do before, during and after reading, which will help them to understand the text better.

Before you start to read, browse through the text. Take a quick look over the text without actually reading every word. After you are done reading, take some time to browse again and try to summarise what you read and what you remember. This especially is helpful when you are reading a text, and you need to concentrate. Setting a pattern that suits you will help you in concentrating.

Try these following steps: 

  • Before you start reading, here are a few things that you can look for when browsing through the text.
  • Are there any words in bold or italics?
  • Are there a lot of dialogues?
  • Is there any title or subtitles?
  • What is the size of the paragraphs?
  • After you are done reading, here are a few things that you might want to think about which will help you understand and make you think about what you did or what you did not understand.
  • What was the book about?
  • Are there any parts that confused you?
  • Is there any part of the text that you failed to understand?
  • Did the text interest you?
  • Take time to think about what you read in the text. This will allow you to comprehend and realise how much of it you understood.
  • Try and quickly write or say a few sentences that describe what the text was about.
  • Look for the meaning of words that you did not understand in the text. This will help you in learning a new word and using it in the future.

Following a pattern, every time you read helps your brain to be more prepared and become more alert. In this manner, you become more observant of the text and might have a better understanding of any text that you read.

  • Improve Fluency First

Fluency is how smoothly one can read. When you are reading, in your head, there should be a certain rhythm to words. The words should be flowing together naturally, just like when someone is talking.

Reading fluency is the ability of one to able to read accurately, smoothly and with expression. Fluent readers are able to recognise words automatically, without struggling with any decoding issues – they sound natural as if they are speaking. Whereas, not-fluent readers read slowly and sometimes sound choppy.

Fluency is necessary because it helps in bridging between word recognition and comprehension. On the other hand, non-fluent readers spend more time on decoding, which leaves less time for the comprehension of the text. Often they have to read the same passage several times to attain comprehension.

Improving fluency can be a simple process of choosing slightly easier texts for reading. If one takes time to improve how fluently they read, it will be beneficial for the future. One will be able to improve not only their reading but also their speaking. This will also make your reading process more fun and natural.

Try the following steps: 

Many words that you find when reading are actually ‘sight words’. These are words that one must know about by sight. One should not have to think about how to read these words. Reading sight words can be practised really quickly. You just need to find a list of sight words and take about a minute or two each day to read the words as fast as you can.

If you are unfamiliar with the words, it’s a good idea to look them up beforehand. However, remember that this exercise is about being able to read fluently not understand more. Once you are able to read at a comfortable speed, you can start focusing on the understanding.

Once You’ve Learned To Speed Up, Now Slow Down!

Once you have reached the stage of reading where you are now confident in your English fluency, you can stop worrying about your speed. You can now take time to think about the text and its meaning.

Now that you can read fast, it’s time to read slowly. Take time to really get into the text that you are reading, instead of speeding through it. Reading slowly will give you more time to comprehend what you read and have a better understanding of the text. Reading is not fulfilled until you accomplish the fluency and understand the meaning of the text.

Try these following steps:

One great way in which you will be able to slow yourself down when reading, is to read out loud. Not only will this practice help your reading and understanding skills but also your speaking, listening and pronunciation—the focus of speaking every word loudly, carefully and pronouncing it well.

If you are unable to read out loud, or you don’t want to, you can try pausing after every few paragraphs. This will help you in making sure that you are paying attention. Another very effective way of pacing yourself well is making notes. Write down as you read, this practice will help you in remembering pieces of stuff better.

  • Read It Again 

Sometimes reading a text only once is not enough to be able to understand it wholly. This is always true when one is reading something difficult – or even if you are not. Reading something more than once can help you in understanding it much more.

Re-reading is a beneficial practice for those times when you read the words but get them to make sense. There have been times when re-reading a text, and one finds a completely different meaning of a situation or a dialogue. Sometimes even people are able to understand something that they couldn’t earlier.

This practice is also an excellent way of finding out the thing that you missed for the first time. If the text has any new words, you will notice them again every time you read; this will help you in remembering them.

Try these following steps:

Choose a small area that you want to read, not more than a few paragraphs. This could be a news article or a story, anything that you want – as long as you are interested in the text.

Read the article at the pace which is suitable for you. Then write down everything that you can remember from the article that you just read. Write down every single detail that you can remember. Even write down parts of sentences if you can remember them.

Now, repeat the process.

Read that article again. Write down everything that you remember again. You will notice for yourself that how much you can remember the second time around. Every time you some time, you have a better understanding of it. If you are looking forward to getting the most out of your reading, try and read three or more times.

The first time you read, focus on understanding the words. The second time around, focus on the meaning, make sure that the second you go slower in your reading process. Start asking yourself deeper questions such as ‘what inspired the writer to write this?’ or ‘has this text impacted the lives and mind-sets of people?’

Read Various Kinds Of Texts

In today’s world, we don’t just read books or newspapers. We also read emails, blogs, Tweets and even texts. The more you spend time reading anything in English, the more understand you will have of the language.

Don’t just read books or newspapers to try and read anything and everything. Find anything that interests you like a magazine that you might enjoy, visit a blog that like reading, or follow people or websites of your interest on various social media platforms. Whatever you choose to read, remember the more you practise, the better you’ll get.

Try these following steps:

  • If you have trouble in discovering new things to read, there are a number of websites that take news and other interesting articles and put them together for you to look through. These websites are a great place to be able to find things that suit your areas of interest.
  • Explore new texts that are out of your comfort zone. If you have a particular kind of genre that you enjoy reading or a particular writer that you always stick to try and explore more types of genres and writers. You can always start with similar ones and slowly move to new types.

Follow these steps in your process of improving English. You might suddenly discover that you are reading and understanding better not only this language but also your native language.

Here are A Few Tips For Reading: 

  1. Often people find reading original novels in English intimidating to read. If you have the same feeling, then you must try and watch the movie first. Often popular books have been adapted into a film version. Watching the movie will give you a basic understanding of the storyline. It also a great practise in improving your pronunciations and vocabulary.
  1. Most novels are available in the form of an audiobook. If you feel like reading takes too much time, then you can try to listen to an audiobook when driving, or cooking or relaxing.
  1. Try to read a book that has dual language. Dual language books have the original English text on one page and the translation into the language of your choice on the other. This will give you a chance at quickly referring to your language if you fail to understand the English text.
  1. Take time in analysing the language of the book. Always keep an eye on how the writer uses words and constructions in English. Novels use both formal as well as informal languages. These languages are often used in everyday life.
  1. When you have taken time to finish your novel, it’s time for you to choose the next one. If you feel confident with where you stand, try and choose a more advanced book. Reading books that have been written by the same author can make your life easier. However, trying new authors will help you in learning about yourself and your interests.
  1. If you are reading a fairly old book, you may find words or phrases that might not be in use today. Try to look for the phrase on the web to see if it is still popular and in use in modern English.

How Can Literature Help You In Improving Your English?

If one is looking forward to becoming more fluent in English, they must keep pushing themselves. Reading original English books is an excellent way of doing it. Even if you are an intermediate English reader, by using simple novels and books, you can make good progress.

Let’s take a look as to how reading can help in improving English:

  • Real English – Modern novels and books showcase real examples of how English is used today. Textbooks, however, do not always do this as they are written in a simpler manner for non-narratives. Novels can also teach you how to express ideas, show emotions, and tell a story in English. Literature can also be used to find examples of realistic conversations between native people.
  • Accuracy –There a great authors who are masters of the language English. They use the perfect style and form in their writing. For you to improve your grammar and written English, there is no better teacher compared to a good book. When you start reading books regularly, you begin to understand English more through passive learning.
  • Vocabulary –Even if you are someone who speaks English well, there is always more than you can learn. A good novel will not only be simple and easy to understand but also will introduce you to new words. Reading books and novels will give you the chance to learn vocabulary in the context of a story. This implies you will have a better understanding of how words and phrases are used in everyday conversations.
  • Interaction –When you read a novel or a book in English, you are spending time interacting with the language. Many books have several layers of meanings which can be understood in different ways. When you are able to start developing your thoughts and opinions on a story, you are able to create a personal relationship with the language.
  • Reward –Reading a novel might seem like a lot of work. However, it is one of the most rewarding ways in which you can improve your English. When you read a novel, you use English to achieve your goal. In other words, you are reading and at the same time translating in order to be able to understand and enjoy the story. If you use English as a practical tool in this way, you are one step closer to fluency.

10 Simple Novels in English for You To Read

As mentioned earlier in the article, choosing the right kind of book that suits your area of interest and matches your level of English is one of the most vital steps. Here we have listed five novels for you to choose from which will give you a head start in your reading journey.

1. Harry Potter – JK Rowling 

Harry Potter is a book that everyone has heard about even if they have not read it. or at least seen the films. These books are a must-read for every English student who enjoys reading fantasy novels. The series has seven books, and these books get progressively longer and more advanced in its English. It is always better, to begin with, the first.

2. The Wind in the Willows 

The Wind in the Willows, authored by Kenneth Grahame, is a classic tale that takes place in the English countryside sharing the adventures of the animals that live by the river. The author’s imaginative stories with the use of simple language make this book a pleasurable read for both children as well as adults.

3. The Old Man and the Sea 

The Old Man and the Sea, authored by Ernest Hemingway, is the story of an old Cuban fisherman trying to chase the biggest catch of his life. All on his own, and miles out to sea, he fights a battle with the fish for several days.

The book throws light over many themes, such as ‘man vs. nature’ as well as the idea of masculinity. The way that this book deals with these themes is what makes it one of the most famous and successful novels that have been written in English.

4. Empty World – John Christopher 

In the novel, when Nick’s parents die in a car crash, he moves to live with his grandparents. Shortly after his move, a deadly virus spreads across the world, killing most of the population. Nick is left alone, and he has to survive in a lonely and empty world.

The language used in the novel Empty World is simple as it has been written for a teenage audience. However, the novel is disturbing, dark and thought-provoking as any adult book. Although the book might be easy to read, it is also one of those books which will keep you thinking.

5. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

The Lord of the Flies, written by author William Goulding, is a modern classic novel. It is also a popular one to be read at school. Lord of the Flies begins with a plane crash that leaves a group of boys marooned on an island. On being left alone on that island, they elect their leader and create a society.

Things start going downhill, and war for leadership begins. The boys turn rebellious and for two rival tribes. This results in panic fear, and death. This book will make you think about the nature of humans and question yourself.

6. About a Boy – Nick Hornby 

Nick Hornby, the writer of the book, is one of the most popular modern English authors. Many of his books have made it as the bestsellers that have also been adapted into popular movies. About a Boy is also one of them.

It is a funny story about an immature man who behaves like a boy and a serious young boy who behaves like a man. They are opposites in a number of ways; but, they become friends and help each other in understanding their hearts.

The most amazing thing about this novel is that it teaches both formal as well as informal English. Hornby writes his novels with a lot of energy. This makes his books exciting to read. In this extract, he has shown the cynical way the main character sees the world – which implies he does not trust people’s intentions.

7. High Fidelity – Nick Hornby 

A must-read for any music lover, High Fidelity is another book by Nick Hornby. It is a modern story in which a casual style of language has been used, and it has been written from the point of view of the main character, Rob. Rob is a heartbroken vinyl record store owner who lives in north London. The story has a quick-pace fell along with short and funny conversations between characters that keep the story moving.

8. 1984 – George Orwell 

George Orwell holds a special place in the hearts of many British people. There is even a prize that has been named after him – the Orwell Prize. It is awarded to the best political writing across the world.

1984 is a novel that is based on an imaginary and unpleasant world. It is the opposite of a ‘utopia’, which is an imaginary perfect society. It was released in the year 1948 and looked forward towards a future where dictators are running the world, and everyone is constantly being monitored.

9. To Kill a Mockingbird 

To Kill a Mockingbird, by author Harper Lee, is a classic American novel that many students have used in the US in middle schools and high school. The novel was published in 1960 and was an instant success.

The book has been set in the United States and is based on a crime in a small, rural town and its repercussions. The plot of the book and the characters have loosely been based on Lee’s observation of her family, her neighbours and an event that occurs near her hometown Monroeville, Alabama in the year 1936 when she was ten. The novel became a classic of modern American literature and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize.

10. The Great Gatsby 

The writer of the book, F. Scott Fitzgerald, is an example of how poetic you can be with the English language. Set in the 1920s of America, this novel looks at the idea of love and the American Dream. This book is one of the best-selling books ever written in English.

Even though this book is comparatively harder than the books mentioned, you can learn many new words from this book. Fitzgerald uses images and a wide range of vocabulary to bring out the beauty of the language. This book may be a little complicated in places, and beginners are suggested not to start with this book. For the people who have a better understanding of the language, this book will keep you turning pages.

Disaster nursing exam questions

Conversation Between Shopkeeper/ Salesman and Customer [Simple Four Scenarios]

Conversations Between Salesman and Customer about Clothes

Introduction: When you think about sales, what are you thinking about?

You’re imagining some people talking.

One person is a customer speaking about buying something, and they’re probably having lots of queries.

Another man is selling that same thing, answering questions and explaining why it’s worth the value.

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Simple Conversations Between Salesman and Customer about Shoes, Clothes, Grocery, and Vegetables

The truth is that sales are likely about interacting with people. To work in a sales job, you’ll need to get to know your customers’ needs and wants, as well as how to give them exactly what they want to pay for.

So, if you plan to shine in sales, you should start with learning how to make conversation.

Once you get that potential buyer to talk to you, the final moment when you “close the deal” (sell something) isn’t very far away.

The whole article is about the conversation between a shopkeeper/ salesman and a customer at the time buying the following three items:

  • Shoes,
  • Clothes,
  • Grocery, and
  • Vegetables and fruits (this one involves the mediation of price)

The following are the examples or sample conversations on these three items.

Conversations Between Salesman and Customer

1. Conversation while Buying Shoes

Salesman: Mam, how may I help you?

Customer: I’m exploring your branch for a pair of sports shoes.

Salesman: May I know the foot size that you do wear usually?

Customer: Nine.

Salesman: Eight for which brand?

Customer: Does the same size mean a distinctive thing for diverse brands? It should be standard across all brands.

Salesman: For a few brands, the same size can mean slightly distinguished fitting.

Customer: Is it? I thought differently. Anyhow, I wear a size Eight of Clarks, and as I need to buy the same brand, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Salesman: Yes, it doesn’t make any change in that scenario. Take a look at this section, which has some incredible new arrivals in shoes on sale.

(The customer first glimpses through the shoes on sale.)

Customer: The variety of shoes is more limited here. Because I’m purchasing shoes for at least several years, I would like to purchase something I want. I’ll go with new arrivals.

Salesman: The majority of the shoes on sale were sold out to customers within a day of the opening of the sale. That’s why you find far less collection there.

Salesman: Why don’t you try this model of shoes?

Customer: Not these. I’m looking for a more formal look, the ones with borders and predominantly decent form.

Customer: I like to give it a try with this one.

(The customer puts on the pair of shoes and walks few yards.)

Customer: This goes perfectly. I’ll buy this one in black—size eight.

Salesman: Anything else, Mam?

Customer: No, thanks.

Salesman: Then, may I get the billing done.

Customer: Sure.

2. Conversation while Buying Grocery

Customer: I need a dozen eggs, one pouch of buttermilk, two liters of double-toned milk, a liter of soybean cooking oil, a half kg of raw grounded coconut, two kilograms of Mung dal, and three flavoured yogurts.

(Once the shop assistant collected all these items from the shelves in the store, the shopkeeper makes the bill.)

Customer: How much will all these items cost?

Shopkeeper: 10 Dollars

Customer: What’s the cost of dozen eggs?

Shopkeeper: 1 dollar a dozen.

Customer: That’s a lot more than what you sold the last time.

Shopkeeper: Rates are increased compared to the previous week.

Customer: OK. Please give me a discount as I’m purchasing quite a few items in a row.

Shopkeeper: We rarely make any margins of profit on these particular items.

Customer: I know how much you make.

Shopkeeper: OK, give me rupees 9$

Customer: Please use this Jute bag to carry the items.

3. Conversation During the Clothes Purchase

Salesman: Mam, how may I help you?

Customer: I’m looking for casual and formal T-shirts and trousers.

Salesman: You can find a T-shirt for casual wear on that side of the showroom. Yet, formal wear is on the second floor.

Customer: All right, I’ll start with formal wear.

(The customer and the salesman proceed to the formal wear section which is on the second floor.)

Salesman: What size T-shirt do you prefer mam?

Customer: I wear 32″.

Salesman: You’ll find 32″ T-shirts on this particular shelf.

Customer: Can you please take out these three T-shirts? I want T-shirts without sleeves.

Salesman: None of these is with sleeves.

(The salesman takes the chosen three shirts out and unleashes them on the waist-high table, placed in between him and the customer.)

Customer: I like the plain, light colors in white and blue.

Salesman: These are nice and comfortable T-shirts. They would go well with dark-shaded trousers, especially those in shades of grey and black. You can take a look at the trouser section as well before you try all of them together.

(They then proceed to check on trousers on the same floor.)

Customer: Can you please show me the trousers in 28″ waist size?

Salesman: These shelves are for waist size 28″.

Customer: Can you please take this and this out?

(The salesman pulls the two trousers out and lines them on the table. The customer killed a few minutes deciding between them and then, ultimately selects one.)

Customer: Where can I try them? Is there any trial room on this floor?

Salesman: Right side of the staircase.

(The customer tries the selected T-shirts and the trousers and comes back.)

Customer: I’ll buy two T-shirts and black trousers.

Salesman: OK, mam. We can now proceed to the ground floor for casual wear.

(They move down to the ground floor and proceed to the section for casual wear.)

Customer: Show me the new arrivals for the summer collection.

Salesman: You’ll really like this. You can wear these casuals for office, shopping, etc. with much comfort in the summer as the color contrast is light in shades and the pattern is simple and elegant.

Customer: I like this one. Let me try this one out.

(The customer tries the selected casual wear and comes back.)

Customer: OK. Please pack this one as well. Now, I’ve two formal T-shirts, one pair of trousers, and one casual dress.

Salesman: Would you want to see anything matching for these selected clothes mam?

Customer: Not now. Thanks.

Salesman: No problem, mam. Our tailor can measure the length of your trousers and would stitch the bottom accordingly and trim off the excess. Meanwhile, I’ll make your billing done.

Customer: When can I collect the trousers?

Salesman: In one hour.

Customer: OK, Thanks.

4. Conversation while Buying Electronics

Salesman: Hello sir, welcome to our store.

Customer: Thank you.

Salesman: How can I help you, sir.

Customer: Actually, I am planning to buy an air conditioner, so could you please help me with that.

Salesman: Sure, sir. Could you please specify me the brand so that I can be more transparent with the details?

Customer: I am using Panasonic AC these days but I am not that satisfied with its services.

Salesman: You should try the LG air conditioner. It is already in high demand.

Customer: What kind of service does it offer?

Salesman: In LG air conditioner, you will get a two-year warranty. It also has five free services. The installation is free. The maintenance is also taken care by the company.

Customer: That’s perfect.

Salesman: Sir, where do you want to install the air conditioner?

Customer: In the living hall.

Salesman: How much Tonne is required?

Customer: 1.0 Tonne would be better.

Salesman: Okay sir.

Customer: Could you please tell me the price of this air conditioner and the mode of payment?

Salesman: It will cost you around 20000/- INR including service tax. And you can pay by card, cash or cheque.

Customer: Perfect, I would like to pay by card.

Salesman: Sure, sir. Let’s complete the formalities and proceed further.

Customer: Okay!

Top 15 Best Online Dictionaries

Best Online Dictionaries

An Online Dictionary is a lexicon that is available via the internet using a web browser. With the whole World preferring to get the job done via the online mode due to demanding situations, online dictionaries are coming off as a massive help to English Language learners. It is the quickest way to refer to the details of a particular term. The use of dictionaries is widespread all over the World and in all fields of work. It is essential to know how to use a dictionary to make learning more effective appropriately.

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How to use a Dictionary?

  • Firstly, one needs to choose the right dictionary according to the level of learning they are undergoing. If one is not an advanced English Language learner, they should go for the standard dictionaries like the Oxford dictionary, Longmans Dictionary, Google Dictionary, Reverso etc. When a user has good English language proficiency, they should approach the advanced English Language dictionaries.
  • At first, one needs to look up the word meaning and understand it. Then they can refer to the translation to have a better understanding.
  • The user should examine the spelling of the word, along with the forms available.
  • Grammatically right applications should be referred and understood to be familiar with the word’s usage in all its forms.
  • Following the step mentioned above, learners should check out synonyms, collocations and pronunciations of the word.
  • User can then lookup for related words and follow the same steps for further learning.

Requirements of Online Dictionaries:

Every dictionary has specific requirements that it should fulfil to be of the best use to the learner. The following are the basic requirements that should be present in any dictionary:

  • Meaning: A specific term could have several implications for it. Hence, it is important to know whatever purpose exists for that particular to make it is easier to apply the meanings at different places. When the dictionary explains meanings using simple terms, it is easier for the learners.
  • Examples: Along with the meaning, it is vital to provide example sentences. When a dictionary provides with example sentences, the application of the word becomes clearer. For English Language learners, the example sentences are the most necessary attribute of dictionaries.
  • Tenses: Some dictionaries provide the different forms of tenses that the word looked out for can be presented. It is essential to know the tenses of a word to place it in a grammatically correct sentence. The concept of English Language becomes more transparent with learning the tenses.
  • Synonyms: Synonym has a massive role in expanding the vocabulary of the English Language. Sometimes we cannot express ourselves due to lack of speech, but once we start adapting to the several (at least two) synonym for the same word, our expression becomes more diverse. The presence of stalk of words in the head is necessary to become proficient in the English Language.
  • Pronunciation: Pronunciation is key to spoken English. Dictionaries often provide with the British or American English pronunciation. The audio pronunciation feature helps us get a clear idea about how the word is supposed to be said in our speech and how it sounds from a native speaker’s mouth.
  • Parts of speech: An ideal dictionary should have the parts of speech to which the word belongs. It could be a noun, pronoun, adjective adverb and more. Sometimes a single word can fall into the category of more than one part of speech. Thus, it is vital to have an idea about it while learning about the term.
  • Antonyms: Some dictionaries also provide with the antonym of the word searched for more clarity in knowledge.

The following are the list of Online English Language Dictionaries:

1. Oxford Dictionary

The Oxford Dictionary is one of the oldest and most trusted online dictionaries with the wordfinder feature, which helps find related words and build vocabulary in the English Language.

Oxford Dictionary is regarded as the best tool for learning English for students and learners. It is an online platform that helps define words both in British as well as American English.

Oxford Dictionary provides the meaning of words with clarity and provides with the related picture for the visual impact. Use of the words in sentences, the pronunciation of the term, and synonyms are also available to make the learning more compact.

According to records, the Oxford English Dictionary provides an unsurpassed guide to English language documenting 600,000 words and 3.5million illustrated quotations from over 1000 years of history across the English-speaking World.

Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary: The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary is the ideal dictionary for advanced English language learners. The updated version of 2020 of the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary has made some addition to its already existing words to keep itself updated with the changing World. Example: Words related to the pandemic such as self-isolate, contact tracing, Covid-19, words related to social issues such as gender fluid, unconscious bias, generation Z, and terms that have become common with passing the time like an ultramarathon, plant-based etc.

Thus, the oxford dictionary has well updated with today’s word usage in the English Language.

2. Google Dictionary

Google Dictionary is one of the most comprehensive online dictionaries and has its attribute that it boasts the meaning of almost every English word. The feature of translation is present in Google Dictionary that allows one to translate their word choice to English as required, however not all translations are available. Along with word meanings, it provides synonyms, case-examples, the origin of the word and antonyms. It has audio pronunciation tools and autosuggest features that enhance our knowledge. It displays the searched word in the present tense, past tense, present and past participle tense forms to give us an idea about applying the particular word during the construction of sentences using different tenses.

3. Macmillan Online Dictionary

Macmillan Dictionary is one of the best dictionaries for English speaking users from all corners of the World. Its unique feature includes incorporating stars and colours to mark how frequently the word is used in English. Every word defined in this dictionary links to Thesaurus entry and uses commonly occurring and easy to understand English words to explain the terms searched. Although it has limited features compared to other dictionaries, it provides users with new words every day to improve English grammar. Collocations and metaphor boxes are present along with language awareness pages that contain idioms, discourse, cultural values, word formation etc. Macmillan dictionary also provides a complete package of researched materials based on the details of learner’s writing.

The Open Dictionary in Macmillan Dictionary’s crowdsource dictionary is where user can suggest words and expressions that get added to it. Thousands of words and phrases have been appended since 2009, from when the feature was started.

4. Cambridge Online Dictionary

One of the most respected online dictionaries for official and academic purposes is the Cambridge Online Dictionary. The Cambridge English Dictionary is based on original research on unique Cambridge English Corpus and includes all that vocabulary learners need to know from English Vocabulary profile. It is known for its outstanding dictionary, grammar and translator. It presents more than 18,000 simple definitions with usual words we know. Translation for over 20 languages is present in the Cambridge Online Dictionary. The dictionary also has audio pronunciation features, idioms, phrasal verbs and thesaurus. Words having a lot of applied examples to go with are present. Autosuggest is a well working feature for the Cambridge Online Dictionaries.

5. The Free Dictionary

The Free Dictionary is a comprehensive, free online dictionary, thesaurus with definitions, synonyms, abbreviations, idioms, and terminologies used in medical and financial fields. The Free Dictionary is a very user interactive platform. The user can create their homepage and personalize it accordingly. The Free Dictionary provides multiple definitions for a particular language, and the translation feature works for a few languages like German, French etc. It is one of the most popularly adopted online dictionaries over the decades.

6. com

Dictionary.com has been helping people improve their English Language skills through extensive online service for over twenty years. Dictionary.com is the World’s leading source for English definitions, synonyms and word origins. It also includes idioms, slang words, audio pronunciations, word games, legal and medical terms. This site incorporates the ‘Word of The Day’ feature as well to expand vocabulary. The browsing helps us view words alphabetically and makes the searching process more manageable. The user can also view the trending words or the new words added to the list.

7. Wordnik

Wordnik is an online English glossary and language resources from a non-profit organization. Wordnik provides both dictionary and Thesaurus content. Its contents are based on the print dictionaries like Century Dictionary and American Heritage Dictionary. Billions of words exist to express example sentences allowing it to provide information on a much larger set of words by exploring it in sentences, rather than what a typical dictionary would do. It is more useful for advanced English Language learners who are familiar with basics. Wordnik uses realistic examples to the most extent.

8. Webster

Webster-dictionary.net is an online dictionary that is the easiest to use. It presents more than 13,000 definitions and words from various dictionaries, including Webster’s dictionary. Any word put into the search box and browsed for is provided with its proper meaning using easy English Language. Multiple definitions and applied examples are provided along with the part of speech of the word. The ‘Related Word’ section offers the concepts that connect with the term inputted by the user.

The dictionary by Merriam Webster is America’s most trusted online English dictionary

9. Wiktionary

Wiktionary follows a similar approach as is done to Wikipedia. Wiktionary is an excellent dictionary for both primary and advanced English Language as it provides detailed explanations for the word required using definitions and illustrations, unlike other dictionaries. Some of the features present in Wiktionary are autosuggest, well-versed pronunciations, synonyms, etymology and related terms. A unique part of Wiktionary is “anagrams” that helps learn new terms by regauging a word’s letters. This feature allows to expand vocabulary in English Language and is exciting and fun to discover the new expressions. Language statistics, thesaurus, phrasebooks and extensive appendices tag along in Wiktionary. Wiktionary supports multiple languages besides the English Language.

10. Reverso

Reverso is a convenient, incredibly powerful dictionary. The user needs to explore the site to become thoroughly familiar with the interface. Several definitions and examples of English words and phrases are available on the Reverso dictionary. It also is provided with the translation feature to make the English Language learning easier by seeing the meaning of the word in the user’s native language and English Language simultaneously. It currently translates between Dutch, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic, Japanese and Hebrew. Looking up for random words and phrases to be incorporated in your text is easier using Reverso. Reverso provides with the ‘context’ page, where when the user enters a word or phrase; the site offers many example sentences with it in context. The examples are also translated sometimes, making Reverso one of the most user-friendly online English Dictionary sites for use.

11. American Heritage English Dictionary

The American Heritage Dictionary about the English Language is an English Dictionary published by Boston publisher Houghton Mifflin first in 1969. It broke ground among dictionaries using corpus linguistics for compiling word frequencies and other information. It has a unique way of combining prescriptive information: how language should be used to descriptive information: how language is used. The American Heritage Dictionary uses photographic illustrations, and it also has a large number of biographical entries for notable persons, unlike any other dictionaries. It is an excellent reference dictionary for advanced English Language learners. It provides word meanings, example sentences, the origin of the word, information about the word form and a vast number of synonyms. The auto-suggests option also works well.

12. Collins Online Dictionary

Published by Harper Collins in Glasgow, Collins English Dictionary is a printed and online dictionary of English Language that is one of the best dictionaries that can be referred to by both basic and advanced English Language learners. Besides providing the word meaning in simple English, Collins Online Dictionary also gives the different parts of speech with example sentences. Video pronunciation is available both in British and American English in this dictionary which is a unique feature. The dictionary provides Cobuild collocations and a statistical representation of usage in the searched word trends over the years. List of related or nearby words are provided, and even the translation in different languages. Collins English Dictionary is extremely easy to use and is highly recommended for everyone who needs a handy online English Language Dictionary. Besides, it also provides a quick word challenge feature that is a fun quiz to take and strengthen the grip on the English Language.

13. The Word Reference English dictionary

The English Word Reference dictionary offers two dictionaries simultaneously, which are the WordReference Random House Learner’s Dictionary of American English as well as the Collins Concise English Dictionary. The user can find more than 125,000 words and phrases here. The filtering offered by Word Reference English dictionary is very convenient. After typing in our word, we can input our choice if we want the meaning, definition, synonym or want it translated to any other language. The interface filters the user’s selection accordingly and provides the exact requirement. English collocations, thesaurus, usage and conjugations are available alongside the translation and everyday word meanings. It uses comfortable and proper examples with the implications for convenient English Language learning.

14. Urban Dictionary

Urban Dictionary is a crowdsourced online English dictionary created by Aaron Peckham. It mainly consists of online English slangs and phrases. It is not ideal for learning the English Language; however, it is useful to refer to the Urban Dictionary to know about any trending internet words in English. The Urban Dictionary will not provide the word meaning that can be used for official English Language learning. It will only give the everyday use of the term specifying its maximum usage in the slang context. It is not an ideal dictionary for English Language learners, but it is a convenient and useful English dictionary for today’s online World.

15. Longman dictionary for contemporary English

Longman Dictionary for Contemporary English was first published in 1978 by Longman. Aforementioned is one of the most general dictionaries and has 230,000 words, phrases and meanings more than any other advanced learner’s dictionary. It provides more than 165,000 real examples. Longman Dictionary is a useful resource for online vocabulary and grammar in the English Language for students and teachers. The dictionary also provides collocations and examples from Corpus. If the term appears in the business field, the meaning from the Longman Business Dictionary is given. Longman Dictionary displays related topic and words to the searched word. The interface displays word of the day, picture of the day, hot issues, vocabulary exercises and quizzes to enhance the learning process.

You’re Not Too Old to Speak English Fluently

Not Too Old to Speak English Fluently

English is a global language. Every one in six people use English to communicate. Today, with the emerging digital platform around the world, learning English is the only way to communicate and work.

Online meetings and global conferences have made fluent English a mandate for young entrepreneurs and start-ups. Communication is a complex procedure, especially when you are traveling.

The global pandemic has made people realize the importance of verbal communication. If you are looking for ways to improve your communication skills, don’t worry, you are not too old to speak English fluently.

There are various simple ways to improve your speaking skills in a short period.

Gather Information Regarding Basic English Skills and become proficient in the language and speak fluently with confidence. Try the Tips over here and Improve your English Writing and Speaking Skills.

7 Tips to Learn Fluent English Quickly

No matter what your reason is, when it comes to learning a language, everyone wants it quick and easy. Speaking a language fluently requires confidence and knowledge.

There are various strategies that you can apply to learn English quickly. Here, we have assembled seven different ways that will help you to speak English fluently.

  • Set Your Goal- It is important to set a goal before you start anything. You can set a period by which you would like to speak fluently. You can also make a schedule to give time to learn the language aside from your daily work and classes.
  • Make A Strategy- It is important to make strategies when you plan to learn new things. Before you make plans, you need to know the level of English that you are. Focus on the time you spend every day on the subject and the things that you do to learn the language.
  • Make It Your Daily Routine- You must stay in touch with a language every day. This will help you to remember grammar, figures of speech, and other essential techniques to speak correct English. Speaking with your family and friends in English is a good start to practice spoken English.
  •  English Environment Is Important- Learning a new language becomes easy when you surround yourself with it. If you cannot involve your family, you can always use applications and TV shows to do so.

For example, start with news channels that are English. News channels help you to understand the language easily. Other than that, reading English newspapers are of great help. It will help you to learn new words and increase your vocabulary.

  • Look For Methods That Will Help You To Learn English Effectively- As a student, it takes a toll to focus on learning a new language amidst all the classes and work. Learning new sounds and words can be hard when you don’t get help.

Therefore, the best way is to take classes from a professional. This way you can take tests and know about your development easily. Most people take up periodic online classes which helps them to learn the language within a certain period.

  • Listen- One of the most powerful tools for learning is to listen. When you listen to people or communicate, you can easily learn new words. Many applications help you to listen to a sentence and learn the language. You can repeat sentences and record yourself to know how you sound.

When you start recording yourself, you will get an idea of how different your accent is from the original audio. This will help you to compare and spot the differences easily.

Although some people do not like the sound of their voice, it is best to not overthink and work on fluency. Daily practice of using new phrases in your sentences will help you to learn a lot within a short period.

  • Practice Speaking English- There is a saying “Practice makes a man perfect”. Any new hobby you start needs daily practice for quick learning and perfection. The same goes for speaking fluent English. There are various ways through which you can start to practice on an everyday basis.

You can either hire a professional to learn about the language and use correct grammar in your sentences. You can use online applications or classes to perfect your speech. Lastly, you can take help from your friends and make a group to practice speaking English every day.

If you can manage to hire a professional, you will likely learn way more quickly. You can also get honest feedback and learn from your mistakes. Weekly tests will also help you to assess your progress which makes it a reliable option.

  • Join Language Exchange- Language exchange can be really fun. Now you might be wondering, what is a language exchange? It is to communicate and learn the language from a person who knows the language well while the other learns the language that you excel at. This is a fun way to learn a language and it is proven to work well among students.

You must learn the type of English you want to speak. Once you surround yourself with the topics you talk about, you will know the type of language and accent you want to use. This helps to learn the language quickly. According to BBC, learning around 800 English words that are frequently used will help you to speak around 70% of the language fluently. If you are a bookworm, it can be a great advantage for you to learn the language quickly.

The Advantages of Learning Fluent English

Irrespective of your age and purpose, learning a language can be fun and effective in your everyday life.

There are around six thousand languages that people speak. English is the most widely used language, it is the key to communicate with people from other countries while you travel overseas for work, education, and travel.

We have already discussed how to learn the language. Here, we have discussed the advantages of speaking fluent English.

Connect and Communicate– The pandemic and the lockdown and led people to sit back home and work in solitude. However, the digital platform has allowed us to connect and work with people all over the world. Fluent English will help you understand other people and their culture.

Use It to Grow Your Business– No matter where you stay or what business you are associated with, English is a must when it comes to expand and sell your services. It is also considered to be the international language of business.

English communication skills are a must when you seek a job in corporate sectors or other fortune companies.

According to CNN business, speaking fluent English is mandatory for every employee working in a company. Negotiating with clients, presenting new products, conducting events require speaking English.

A Must for Travellers– Learning English is an undue advantage for travel lovers. No matter where you travel, speaking English will benefit you in great ways.

Although there is no harm in learning a few local phrases English will help you survive with any kind of things you need like paying bills, ordering food, and look for off-beat places.

Increases Your Earning Potential– There is a section in your curriculum vitae asking for the la gauges that you know. When you know a lot of languages, it automatically increases your chance of earning a lot more than you would initially earn.

According to a study conducted by LECG Europe and Wharton, learning a new language automatically increases the annual income by 2%. Although it might seem less, however, in the long run, it is quite high and with higher returns.

If you are a foreigner and taking up English as your second language, it can be highly beneficial. It will instantly increase your earning potential in your home country.

Great for Your Academics– Learning English can be highly beneficial for any student. It automatically increases their potential for higher studies in foreign universities.

Most of the prestigious universities require the students to know fluent English and even conduct several exams to understand the depth of their knowledge. Therefore, career-wise, every student should learn English.

Empowers Your Brain– Several studies confirm that learning a new language can give power to your brain. Problem-solving skills, creativity, enhanced brain activities are some of the benefits of learning English.

Enjoy Amazing Movies and Classical Literature- Most of the world-renowned novels, poems, and dramas are written in English. You never know what can interest you in learning about classical poets and novelists.

Many great movies were made in the English language which can influence and inspire you to change your way of life. Although there are many translated copies available, can there be anything better than experiencing the original movies?

Beneficial for Immigrants– When you are planning to move to a new place or new country, it is mandatory to speak the common language even if you cannot speak the native language. This will help you to communicate with the locals.

How Do I Improve My Fluency In English?

There are various ways to improve your English and speak more fluently. We have assembled some activities that will help you to do so.

  • Speak in English often.
  • Listen to English podcasts and Ted talks.
  • Listen to audiobooks and read them often.
  • Try practicing a book conversation and record to listen.
  • Use English as a language to communicate with your friends.
  • Try to frame sentences from single phrases and use them in your daily life.
  • Watch English movies with English subtitles to learn the language quickly.

What Time Does It Take to Become Fluent in English?

The period to learn a new language differs a lot between an adult and a child. For adults who are absolute beginners might take up to one year to learn English with minima um of five hours of study every day. However, if you already know the language it might take a few months to become fluent in the language.

How to Improve English Fluency at Home?

Since the pandemic has led to lockdowns, most of us are spending time indoors. Therefore, learning English at home is the only option. You can hire a teacher or a friend who is fluent in English to communicate with over your mobile phone or zoom.

You can frame new sentences with different words you select from the dictionary and use them in your conversation. You can also record your conversation to have a better understanding of what went wrong. Other than these, you can also record yourself and repeat the lines you read in books.

Are There Any Apps That Will Help to Speak English Fluently?

There are various apps available in the play store that helps to learn English fluently. Here are some of them-

  • Zoom– It is a perfect platform to communicate with your friends and other language exchange partners. You can easily practice by conversing in English and recording it for better learning.
  • PromptSmart– Reading from notecards and communicating can be confusing for students. Prompting app is one of the best apps for apple phones. Teleprompter in the application helps them to adjust the speed of speaking.
  • Speakerclock– As a student or a debater, it’s important to speak English fluently and on time. Either it is an event or classroom, students are often limited to a particular period. Speakerclock helps to keep track of time and increase your speed accordingly.
  • Ummo– Ummo helps to bring up the filler words of students by listening to their speech. Thus, helping them to prepare their speech without recording it. Filler words can affect even the best of speakers.
  • Bookwidgets– Bookwidgets is one of the popular English learning tools among students which lets you practice with more than fifty exercises like games and quizzes.

It is one of the best apps for students to improve their public speaking skills.

Conclusion

If you are looking for high academics and education in prestigious universities, then learning fluent English is a must. What are you waiting for? Start practicing today to kick-start your career.

How To Effectively Study Without Getting Distracted | Reasons Why Students Get Distracted While Studying

Focus on Studies without Getting Distracted

Distractions are Everywhere. Be it your phone, or your favorite series calling out to you, distractions are everywhere. We know it is straightforward to get distracted while studying. Distracted studies are terrible for you. They can lead to a poor understanding of the concepts you are learning, or sometimes not understanding anything at all!

Nod if you are a victim of this scenario: you follow a sentence with your eyes repeatedly while simultaneously thinking about something exciting. Until after half an hour, you realize you have just wasted limited time being distracted.

Gather Information Regarding Basic English Skills and become proficient in the language and speak fluently with confidence. Try the Tips over here and Improve your English Writing and Speaking Skills.

You might think you have spent hours and hours studying, but in reality, it comes down to mere minutes. And it is not enough. Instead of wasting any time, sitting in front of your desk daydreaming, we are going to tell you how to study with your full concentration comprehensively.

First, let us talk about the reasons why people are so easily distracted while studying. Understanding your flaws will let you decide on the best way to solve the problem.

Reasons Why Students Get Distracted While Studying

1.Lack Of Interest

You might feel that you will complete all your work today and sit down to study with great enthusiasm. Then, gradually after ten minutes of concentrated studying, your mind begins to trail off to the wonderlands of Narnia.

Where did you go wrong? You had the intent, so what was off? Your interest. You might be more interested in what is going on in the 3rd season of such and such show, or who was talking about what.

2. Unclear Goals

You go to your room to study and think that you will complete as much syllabus as possible in one sitting. Sound familiar? Many of us do this, and this leads to trailing off into your thoughts. It is best not to take too much into your plate at once. It makes you overwhelmed, and you tend to get distracted easily.

3. Do not study in specifically designated areas.

Students think that they can study while their sibling is busy playing in the same room or studying in front of the television. Studying in unsuitable areas ruin your concentration, and make you submit to your distraction.

4. Fail to Strategically block out distractions

You know what your distractions are. You are cautious and aware of them. But you find yourself acting out on one.

5. Focus on getting long term goals instead of the task beforehand

You sit down to study and imagine yourself becoming a successful person in your field. You think about what your speech will be when you win the Nobel Prize. In the meantime, your exams are drawing nearer, and you are no further than you were when you began.

6. Have no tracking system

You look up the question answers for your syllabus and become indulgent in working out the questions. Suddenly you realize that you have been working out the answers you already know, and are avoiding the ones of which you are unsure. Hence, instead of moving forward, you are circling the portions you have already completed.

7. Relying on smartphones instead of traditional study materials

You believe that the current generation should ditch the traditional note-taking and practising, and can effectively substitute hours of studying with your book for a quick video on YouTube about the topic. You open the app with positive intent and end up watching hours and hours of cute dog videos.

To sum all the points, you get trapped in endless loops of mind wandering. According to scientists from the journal NeuroImage, most learners have no strategy to help them focus on the task.

Not only do people have multiple tabs open on their browsers to allow themselves to endlessly distracted by notifications on their phones, but they cannot enter into the ‘flow’ of studying.

Many simple tricks can effectively help you to focus on your studies. You can calm your thoughts with simple breathing techniques during studies to help you concentrate.

Avoiding Distraction

The distractions that keep you from studying maybe both internal or external. Internal distractions are bodily or physiological needs. External needs are things like technology, people, etc.

1.Keeping Distractions To A Minimum

Sometimes study time can overlap with other family activities. You might need to participate in other tasks while you wish to study. But, you can make sure that you concentrate by making sure the room is quiet. Play some classical music, and ensure you have proper, bright lighting.

2. Eat Something Beforehand

Sometimes you may feel hungry after getting into the flow of studying. Instead of getting out of your flow, eat something before sitting down to study. But make sure not to overeat, since overeating will make you sleepy.

  • Just like eating, make sure you have an empty bladder beforehand so that you don’t need to worry about it for at least an hour.

3. Put Your Phone On Do Not Disturb

For obvious reasons, students need to put their phone away, or at least put them on Do Not Disturb mode. Your phones have all the tempting applications possible. With games, social media, and a selfie camera, the possibilities of getting distracted are endless.

  • The easiest way to avoid your phone is to put is out of reach, in another room. Then, you can study with lesser temptation.

4. Installing Ad Blocker

Many students need to use the internet for studies. While using the computer, there are a variety of ads and notifications that may pop up, trying to grab your attention. Avoid these by installing the free chrome extension, the Ad Blocker.

5. Maintain A Distraction Sheet

Professionals believe in doing only one thing at a time. When they are writing, they only write. They do not stop to look for missing information. It is because if they do stop for a few minutes to look up any information, their focus is broken. They will destroy their flow. It is much more challenging to build momentum than to stay in momentum and continue.

  • Every time you stop to look at your phone, you are breaking your momentum. When you start to study again, you will waste several minutes just to go back to the flow.
  • If you are getting distracted continuously, maintain a distraction sheet. Write down all that is bothering you during a particular session.
  • After you finish your task at hand, look over at the distraction list and see what bothers you the most.
  • Since you know what distracts you, you can much easily avoid those the next time.

6. How To Focus On Studying

Believe it or not, there are hoards of reasons why people are distracted apart from the reasons above. Surrounded by the sea of distractions, let us discuss how not to drown in it.

7. Set Clear And Achievable Goals

You already know that getting too much on your plate can become a disaster. It never works. You get overwhelmed and boycott the task altogether. What you can do is that you can create goals you can achieve within a fixed time. Fanciful overreaching does not work, and it needs to change.

  • If you look at your studying pattern, you will notice that you are probably trying to mug up the entire page instead of focusing on the most relevant information.
  • Rule Of Redundancy is a fancy name which means that most of the words in the book have nothing to do with the core points. They are needed for context.
  • Hence, instead of trying to memorize everything, try to extract only the critical information from the book. If you try this technique out, you will notice how efficient you have become, and how quickly you are going through a chapter.

8. Make Learning Fun

Studying can be plain and boring. To make it fun to study, you can incorporate what you learn in real life. For example, you can find apps to input answers to questions from the subject you studied.

9. Create a Routine

You might often have trouble keeping all your notes and printouts organized. For such a situation, you can maintain a strict routine.

  • Make a list of what tasks you need to be complete for the week.
  • Make a routine where you write the due dates in your free time. Try to stick to it, and you can check off a task once completed. Trust us. It is gratifying.

10. Stay Organized

Another thing you can work on is organizing your study material. If you have different pieces of information scattered throughout the computer, it becomes difficult to go through them. Make it a point to store information according to the chapter, book, etc.

  • You can make a folder about the respective topic and store the information there.

11. Consistency

It is not difficult to create a routine. It is much more challenging to maintain it. Try not to deviate from it. You can ease yourself into the process by keeping easy tasks in the beginning and putting plenty of breaks. You can later modify it to as required. Either way, it is best not to put too much at once in the beginning but make sure to follow the routine strictly until it becomes second nature to you.

12. Work In A Space That Works For Everyone

When you are with your family, they can be a significant source of distraction. Whether it is by being distracted by children or your relatives, they cannot always appreciate your study time. Hence, find the perfect time when your family is least likely to disturb you. You could move to your room and study, or you can be more productive when you are near your mom and dad while they are busy working. Select the ideal environment to make the most out of your study time.

13. Use A Calendar

You can use a calendar and write down your routine in it. Suppose you have a deadline for a project coming, or have an upcoming exam. Mark it in the calendar. You will find it much easier to organize your materials and complete your work on time. This way, work won’t pile up, and you will not be overwhelmed by it.

  • Leaving homework, projects, etc., to the last minute, can mean disaster.
  • Use a calendar, and divide up your project into manageable pieces.
  • Mark them in the calendar and complete the assigned pieces on time.

14. Space Out After A Study Period

It is important to space your studies, and have time to zone out after studies. Experts say that if you let your mind wander after studying something, it is incredibly beneficial.

  • Your brain percolates the information at a neurochemical level when you are taking a break.
  • For example, if you go for a short walk after studying, your understanding of the matter becomes deeper.
  • Walking is not an intellectual activity. Hence your mind gets the chance to think better, while it is left to wander.

15. A Fixed Studying Place Or Places

Your brain is used to match the information you learn with your surroundings. For example, you might have heard about the Memory Palace technique. It is based on this very fact. If you use a fixed set of locations to study, your mind will have a change of scenery, while still being able to connect to space and the information.

  • Scientists have proven that having a few locations where you can study can help to improve memory.
  • You will find you can remember more by combining walking in between sessions to a new place of study. Try it.

16. Studying With Books Instead Of A Device

If possible, you can try and study mostly from real books instead of digital ones. There are plenty of reasons. Firstly, physical books do not vibrate or pop up with a notification. Secondly, you can use the pages of your books to remember small, useful information.

  • Your brain can also track the space of physical books, that is impossible with digital ones.
  • Space is an essential aspect of learning and memory.

17. Train Your Attention Span

Try out brain exercises. They help to train your brain to focus on a subject for a more extended period. Use techniques like the memory palace to connect random images from your life with something you just learnt. This exercise is excellent to increase your attention span while memorizing information.

  • Learning to play an instrument also trains your attention span, since you are required to practice it for a significant duration.

18. Try To Focus On Your Vision When You Feel Frustrated

When you feel demotivated, try to think of the bigger picture. Think about what you want to achieve. Understand that the only way to get it is by overcoming the present by studying. If you focus only on the short term goals, you will feel frustrated and empty.

  • Remind yourself of why you are doing it before beginning a session storm past the reason why you are studying.
  • You might be studying to become financially independent, or to go to your dream college, get your dream job, or make your parents proud.
  • Whatever the reason may be, take a few seconds to remind yourself of the ‘why’ and contrast it with the consequences that will be inevitable if you don’t study now.

19. Enjoy The Journey

In addition to being efficient, try and enjoy the process because ultimately that is what truly matters. To spice up your studies, you can try a rapid brainstorming session with a friend. Go through the study materials then sit together with them, or over the phone and see how many points you can remember.

  • Share points one by one, and allow things to become a little competitive.
  • The rush of remembering more than your partner will make you want to study better, and with more efficiency.

20. Pay For Coaching Classes

If you are just not motivated enough or don’t understand the matter, it is best to rely on the expert. With coaching classes, you will be motivated. You will need to pay some money. Hence, you will tend to get the sessions and have fantastic attendance. Even if it is a group session, it is practical too.

21. Participate In Study Groups

Study groups are when you meet up with your friends, over the phone or physically, and discuss the matter in your syllabus.

  • You can give your brain a hard workout session with these groups.
  • It also becomes easy to assess your position or expertise in the subject, if you discuss them.

22. Split Up The Work Into Sections

It is not easy for students to stay focused on their big assignments or homework. Just the thought of finishing a fifty-page assignment makes them want to cry. Hence, never let your work pile up. Dividing the work created these finish lines, which are a fantastic motivation. If you divide the fifty pages to ten pages per day, you can finish it much quicker. Think about how you can section your work calmly. Try not to freak out. You have got this.

23. Track Your Progress

Sometimes, the biggest motivation is how far you have come. When you find your tasks unmanageable and frustrating, try to look back into how much work you have already finished. You might have to study the remaining one hundred pages, but look at the nine hundred pages you have already gone through! Tell yourself that it is not worth quitting after coming this far.

  • Tracking your progress becomes more manageable and fun if you translate all of your reading obligations onto a physical calendar.
  • Include the titles of all the book and articles in it. You can print out your syllabi and paste them into different notebooks for each course.
  • Make a fun scrapbook with colours.
  • Schedule your reading and check off or cross out all the sections you have completed. You can use different colours for different levels of achievement too!

24. Reward Yourself

When you complete the section of work assigned for the day, give yourself small rewards. Do something that you like. Go out for a brisk walk, listen to music, play with your dog, and eat snacks, whatever keeps you going.

  • You can also arrange a movie night. If you are rewarding yourself after hard work, it trains your brain.
  • Studying becomes a part of a positive feedback chain with gradual practice. Reward yourself small for reaching small finish lines (for example, have a bar of chocolate), and give yourself something indulgent for a significant achievement.
  • With time, you will look forward to studying to reach the next reward.

25. Use A Simple White Notebook

Never underestimate the power of a white notebook. Get a nice pen and a notebook. Make it your forever companion.

  • Whenever you are studying, make it a point to take down points, if you are learning via a YouTube video, pause and take down what seems essential.
  • Not only for studying, but writing is also a great habit.
  • Some might even dare say that writing is better than reading. But not everything works for everyone.
  • So try out writing down little points now and then, make flowcharts, use colours, and make it fun. It might just work out for you!

26. Do Not Multitask

You may think that your mind can handle some studying with some texting and social media surfing. Well, it is difficult for your mind to concentrate on one thing when it keeps getting interrupted with another. Hence, try to focus on one thing: studying.

  • Keep your phone at bay.
  • If you are using your laptop to study, avoid the temptation of keeping multiple tabs open- one of the study material and the other of social media.
  • You will have a lot less digital clutter with only the bare minimum tabs open.
  • Furthermore, when there are multiple sources of information, your mind is not able to efficiently filter out what is relevant to you.
  • Hence, you will inevitably be slowed down with digital clutter.
  • Keep your life clutter-free.

27. Take Care Of Your Body

You cannot focus on studying if you are unwell.

  • Make it a point to go out of your house at least once each day.
  • You can do some exercising every day to keep your mind fit.
  • Believe it or not, your mind is much more likely to absorb new information if you do some physical activity.
  • An idle body makes your mind sluggish and unwilling to take up new information.
  • Eat healthy before you sit down to study.
  • You can take cheat days now and then, but make sure everything is in moderation.

28. Sleep

Sleep is a vital factor in every aspect of your life. If you have a good night’s sleep, and your mind is well-rested, you will feel much more active. On the other hand, a restless night of sleep will hamper your studies since you will be too tired to process any new matter.

  • Sometimes students are too stressed out about their exams to fall asleep.
  • It is terrible for you. You can avoid tossing and turning all night if you engage in some physical activities during the day.
  • You can also opt for small naps in between the day to keep you energized.

29. Meditate

All know the benefits of meditation. Cannot concentrate on your studies? Try out a short five minutes meditation session before sitting down.

  • Sit down in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and follow your breath.
  • If you are new to this, you can try out a guided meditation session.
  • You can find plenty of options from YouTube. You can select the most manageable level to begin.

Conclusion

We have already shared a ton of information above. But there is an easy way to ease your way: Pick out any one of the above tips then put it to action. Then incorporate another one. Very soon, you will have a nice pile of habits to create a wonderful sense of really getting involved with your studies.

Surely there are going to be times when you have to make changes. Something may come up. But the more you use these tips to help you study, the better and more comfortable you will find to get back on course.

Studying is a part of your life. There is no means by which you can avoid it. So why not do it the easy and fun way instead of the frustrating and challenging way?

  • If you get lost in daydreaming during studies, become aware of them. Acknowledge them for what they are: fleeting thoughts, and they go. You can also put them down on the distraction sheet, as we mentioned earlier. You can deal with them later.
  • If you are severely upset over something or you are going through something, you might want to visit a professional. Keeping your mental health in its optimum condition is crucial for a healthy life.
  • Worry and anxiety will not help you reach your goal. The challenge is with training your mind to block out the problems.
  • Do the difficult tasks earlier in the day. Don’t leave the demanding tasks like learning for the end of the day. That is the time when you have the least energy mentally and physically. Just get the difficult tasks over with, in the beginning, and you will notice that you are not stressed about completing your task in time. No stress means better learning. It is a whole new positive cycle.

It is not humanly possible and necessary to give up the worldly pleasures of watching YouTube, or online series. Make it a point to do what you like after you have finished an assigned session of studies and work. Create a schedule for when you can watch videos and entertain yourself. Avoid the temptation to do so in the middle of tasks.

  • Take a break now and then not to overwork yourself. Take short ten-minute breaks where you can go freshen up, and hoard some positive energy for the next session.
  • Stick to the routine you have created. You know yourself best. Create one that works for you.

Remember to have fun with your studies. Learning can be tedious, but it is what is best for you. Remember, successful people are not unique; they work hard enough to succeed.