 |
|
 |
 |
Four Secrets revealed
Learning a language like Chinese can be fun. We can help you,
using the latest teaching methodologies but you still are
expected to do participate actively in class and do some
self-study and revision. In the following article are revealed
four secrets that will help you with your studies.
Secret Number One: Relaxation
The number one factor to getting long-term retention is
relaxation, in other words, "chill out." People who are relaxed
and "de-stressed" remember information well. To get serious
results in learning you can't take it too seriously, and if you
do, you'll have serious learning problems.
Have you ever seen pictures of brain cells under stress? The
brain cells expand and actually make it difficult for the
neurons to pass through your brain. The term "mental block" is
a physical reality.
If I push you, you'll want to push me back. Pressure produces
resistance. If you push your mind too hard, or in the wrong
ways, your mind will rebel, and you'll have trouble remembering
things for any period of time.
I can't overstress (no pun intended!) the importance of a
relaxed mind and environment if you want to learn well. This has
many practical applications and we'll work through several of
them here.
Some of the best learners are people who do deep breathing,
yoga, and meditation on a regular basis. These people have very
fertile minds, as well as do most musicians, artists, and
actors. Most of the time, these types of people have a fairly
carefree view of life, and this keeps their minds in a relaxed
state.
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Here are some great ways to relax your mind...
Be positive about your own ability to learn. I can't tell you
how many people I've talked with who say things like, "I'm too
old to learn," "I don't have a very good memory," "I never was
any good at learning language," "I'm really forgetful," etc.
It is a fact that "you are what you think!" You've certainly
heard the Divine words, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is
he." There is loads of documentation regarding the power of
positive thinking, and the destructiveness of telling yourself
negative things about yourself.
Make it a practice to tell yourself that you do have good
memory, and that you can learn well. Eventually, reality will
catch up with your internal belief system.
Imagine the mental stress involved in trying to do something
that you've already told yourself that you "can't" do, or that
will be "hard." Stop telling yourself things like, "I can't,"
"This is hard," "I'll never get this," or worse yet, "I'm so
stupid." None of those things are true! If you have this kind of
"stink’n think’n," you're only creating a self-fulfilling
prophecy.
There's a wisdom saying in the Bible that says, "the thing you
fear will come upon you." If you fear that you won't learn, you
won't learn. The reason is because you're setting up so much
mental stress that it becomes impossible.
"Do deep abdominal breathing with your eyes closed".
Most people in the Western Hemisphere breathe through their
chests. Unfortunately, this is not the best way to breathe. The
human body is designed to eliminate up to 70% of the toxins in
the body |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
through breathing and this is done through deep
abdominal breathing, not short breathing through the
chest.
Here is a great breathing technique that I learned several years
ago that will help you. It is done in a 4, 6, 8 sequence.
Breathe in through your nose for four seconds. Please make sure
that you put your hand on your abdomen, and that you actually
fill your abdomen with air.
Hold the breath for six seconds. During this time you should let
your mind go blank and let go of any concerns and thoughts that
you have.
Slowly exhale through your mouth for eight seconds. You should
feel like a tire going flat or like a balloon that is slowly
releasing air. When I do this I can feel my shoulders "tingle"
as I release the stress.
Repeat this at least three times each sequence.
I recommend that you do deep breathing at least three times
daily; in the morning, at noon and again in the evening after
work.
I recommend that you also do this before you sit down to have
any extended period of study.
"Exercise at least three times weekly in a peaceful
environment". There has been a lot written about the benefits of exercise to
allow a person to relax. This is true if when you exercise you
allow yourself to have peace and quiet, so that you can
meditate.
This is not true of people who exercise in a busy or loud
environment. I stopped going to a gym because I couldn't relax
there. TV's, Music, People talking. I was mentally better off
sitting at home on my sofa! If you do exercise regularly, and
you should for good memory, you would be well served to get
yourself into a peaceful environment.
read more 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
