11: Study skills

Mary attends Professor Not's study skills workshop but it sounds like she knows more about studying than him! Listen out for the advice she gives the group.

Language focus

Learn phrases used to introduce a suggestion:

Maybe I could offer some suggestions?
From what I understand…
What works for me is…

Here are Mary's tips for studying well:

You must study every day
Choose a place and time to do it
Plan your time and decide what you want to achieve
Don't be afraid to ask for help
Choose a learning style that helps you learn best

Vocabulary

Words and phrases about advice

guidance
let me give you a bit of advice
sage advice

Transcript

Narrator
Hello. It's time for English at University - the series that teaches some English phrases to help you through your first year of study abroad.

There's a lot to learn when you start studying for a degree and especially when you're doing it in another country. Mary's coping very well and is making the most of every opportunity to get guidance or help her with her studies. Today she's attending Professor Not's study skills workshop but it sounds like she knows more about studying than he does!

Prof. Not
…so let's just stand around in a circle… hold hands and say mmmmm.

Daniel
How exactly is this helping? 

Prof. Not
Trust you to spoil the karma. It just helps us think…

Daniel
Think of what to say, you mean.

Prof. Not
Now to study well, you need to be in the right zone.

Mary
Zone?

Prof. Not
In the right place… in your head. Sharon…

Sharon
Yes Robert - I mean, Professor.

Prof. Not
Could you hand out the blindfolds?

Mary
And how are they going to help?

Narrator
A good question Mary. I admire Professor Not's enthusiasm but let me give you a bit of advice – his study skills are a bit 'alternative' - different. Have you got any advice to offer?

Mary
Well, I did read a book about good study skills on the plane. But what do I say?

Narrator
Say 'could I offer some suggestions?' or 'from what I understand…' or maybe, 'something that works for me is…' and give them your tips – that way you won't sound too big-headed – like someone we know!

Daniel
Maybe we could just hold the hand of the person next to us? 

Narrator
Go on Mary.

Mary
No Daniel… maybe I could offer some suggestions? 

Sharon
Oh yes Mary!

Mary
Well… from what I understand… you must study every day… and choose a regular place and time to do it.

Prof. Not
Yes of course, very good Mary. Anything else?

Mary
Well… what works for me is planning my time and deciding what I want to achieve… and not being afraid to ask for help.

Daniel
Yeah, yeah. I was going to say that – and make sure you take lots of breaks – long ones.

Mary
Short ones – and develop a good learning style – choose a method that helps you learn best.

Prof. Not
Excellent Mary. That's exactly right.

Sharon
Oh, I preferred the blindfold method.

Narrator
Excellent indeed Mary. She's on fire! She spoke up and gave some sage advice without showing off. Here's a reminder of how she started the conversation…

Maybe I could offer some suggestions?

From what I understand…

What works for me is… 

And she gave some good advice which the other students – especially Daniel - will no doubt find very useful, such as…

You must study every day

Choose a place and time to do it

Plan your time and decide what you want to achieve

Don't be afraid to ask for help

Choose a learning style that helps you learn best

With that advice you can't go wrong. And now it looks like Mary's study advice has made a real impression on someone…

Tech Student
Wow Mary. I loved what you said in there – really useful – I can see you're a committed student – how about getting together sometime and… comparing study notes?

Mary
Well, errr, ermm…

Daniel
I think she's quite busy at the moment.

Mary
No, I'm not – that would be lovely. Let's meet up in the bar later.

Sharon
Ooooh!   

More

If you're studying abroad and need help with your English, we have lots to offer on our BBC Learning English website.

Look at this BBC guide to studying smartly.
 

Next

In the next episode, Mary gets to work on her assignment but she has some technical problems with her new laptop.