Why the "Recommended" Way of Learning Is Not Recommended

A feeling of aversion. That's what I feel when I hear people claim that you can only learn in one specific way, their way, or else your studies will all be in vain!

This mentality is wrong, for a couple of reasons.

1. You are unique

Yes, you are special and unique, and that goes for the way you learn as well. Some students have to study somewhere completely silent, while others feel restrained by that kind of silence.

You have to discover how you learn and then stick to it. Try different techniques until you find what fits you best. For instance, if you like to review your notes right after a lecture has ended, then do that. There is no reason to follow the crowd if you feel you study differently than they do.

2. Your learning style matters

Learning styles are described as different approaches to learning. They are usually divided into three groups:

• Visual learners: Do you prefer sitting at the front of the classroom to avoid visual obstacles (such as other people's heads)? Then you might be a visual learner. Visual learners learn best from pictures, diagrams, illustrated textbooks, slides, flip charts and so on.
• Auditory learners: These people get very little out of reading a textbook unless it's read out loud. They lean toward discussions and debates, and they love to listen to what others have to say.
• Kinesthetic learners: A kinesthetic learner learns by touching and handling objects. They often find it very difficult to sit still and tend to move around a lot while taking in information.

So the next time someone tries to convince you to learn their way, you know what to tell them. To experiment with different approaches, see the best way to learn and study.