What Are Some Good Ways to Learn During the Summer?
The summer is a wonderful time of year for a lot of things - relaxing in parks, eating ice lollies and getting a good suntan. But learning new things and keeping your brain sharp are not always high on the summer to-do list. How can you avoid the "brain drain" that sets in as the temperature creeps up? Simple - use these five tips to learn during the summer.
Competition!
Turning learning into a quiz show or engaging in trivia-based board games with friends and family adds a fun twist by tapping into your competitive nature. Look for community trivia events or quiz competitions to see how many you can win before heading back to school. If your community lacks these sorts of gatherings, look online for trivia tests and games - you'll be able to challenge a computer or even another user across the globe.
Bring a book
While sourcing required reading titles for the coming year is the best plan, bringing any book to flip through while you're drying out on your towel can help feed your brain. Having a book handy may encourage you to take time for yourself in a crazy social summer schedule, too. Don't want to squint at type while you're catching rays? Go digital and try popping in some earbuds to listen to an audiobook.
Work with a tutor
Just because school is out doesn't mean that scheduled lessons are necessarily off the table. Working with a WELL-ROUNDED TUTOR to brush up on troublesome subjects in your spare time can help you fearlessly re-enter school in the fall. If you work to hone a subject you're already proficient with, you can even aim to be ahead of the class going back to school after the summer holiday. This is an especially important tip for those heading into the higher years of school, when gearing up for selecting and applying to university begins.
Stay informed
Listening to or reading the news has a number of educational benefits. Not only can it help you stay current on world events and politics, just listening to the news keeps your brain active. When your day-to-day plans may involve nothing more mentally engaging than a pool party, this connection to real-time events may help keep you from completely "vegging out." If possible, discuss your thoughts and opinions on different news stories with an avid follower of the news - debate is a great skill to build in your "off" months.
Look into other classes
Even if classes aren't school-based, they can still teach you valuable study skills, problem solving and more. Many community colleges and recreation centres offer programmes for arts and crafts, musical talents and more over the summer. Try one or a few on for size - they may help keep your mind engaged and active (or you may just discover a new talent).