Our Cambridge Exam Preparation Program commences at our Brisbane and Gold Coast campuses tomorrow therefore this week we bring to you our final Top Tip #9 and #10.
Tip #9: The amount of work you put in determines how well you do in the tests.
It’s simple Newtonian physics, really. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means, the harder you work on improving and mastering your skills, the better you will do in the tests. It’s that simple! Sure, some people might have an innate ability to learn faster than others. Some people are just born to be language learners. However, natural talent can only get you so far in a Cambridge course. Each day you will study a different lesson, and if you do not commit to studying, revising, and applying what you have been taught, then you won’t progress as much as you need to pass the tests, or even see a significant improvement in your language proficiency. Intelligence is not an excuse for sloth-like behaviour. That’s why hard work beats talent every time talent decides to become lazy. So, if you want to realise your full potential, you have to put in the hours of hard work and purge your lazy habits from your system completely. It’s not rocket science; it’s just basic 18th Century physics.
Tip #10: Use it or lose it.
When you purchase a brand new phone, do you keep using your old phone and wait, OR do you play with your new phone as soon as possible and use it as often as you can? If the latter is your answer, then the same principle applies to learning a new language. Think about it. You spent a lot of money in order to come to Australia and pay for a language course so that you can learn English. This means that you are, in fact, PAYING FOR the English language. You have to use it as often as possible in as many different situations as you can. Additionally, being in an English speaking country such as Australia provides you with the perfect environment to learn English. You are constantly immersed in the English language and it’s simply illogical for you not to keep using it as much as humanly possible. Most students make the mistake of hanging out with other students and speaking their native language with them. This is utterly counter-productive. Not only will it hinder you from mastering the English language (you know, the language you have spent a lot of money on to learn), but it is also detrimental to your language development. Just like learning any new skill, mastering it requires a lot of practice. Do you think great football players just woke up one day and became amazing at what they do? No. They worked hard to achieve their goals. By using the lessons you’ve learnt on a daily basis, you are training your brain to internalise the language more effectively. Hence, every minute you spend speaking in your native language while studying English is a wasted opportunity to master the language. It’s just like paying a lot of money for an expensive phone and not using it. It doesn’t make sense. So, it’s either you use the language that you want to learn, or don’t bother learning it at all. Do you take the red pill or the blue pill? The choice is yours…
Written by Victor Corpuz
(BROWNS FCE teacher)
For our new students commencing tomorrow, we look forward to welcoming you to BROWNS.
If you weren’t able to join us for this intake, contact us now to find out how you can join in our March, June or September program.
Related posts:
Tip #1: Don’t be nervous + Tip #2: Don’t be shy
Tip #3: Answer the question + Tip #4: Difficult is good. Easy is boring
Tip #5: Be prepared to feel frustrated + Tip #6: Be prepared to sacrifice several weekends
Tip #7: Learn to study independently outside the class + Tip #8: Be responsible and organised.