Preparing your brain for learning might sound like it’ll require more time, but it’ll likely save you time instead, increase your learning speed, and comprehension rate. Depending on what you’re learning and in what ways you’re doing it, your preparation may need to be adapted. There is a difference between learning Japanese from apps, a teacher, watching Anime, or by visiting Japan. There is a difference between learning advanced linear algebra from YouTube, books, or an interactive university course. Some preparation methods are transferable. For example, pre-reading on a subject you have a class on later can benefit your comprehension. Doing some quick research might help you pick a suitable Anime to watch, with lower language complexity.
Learning Preparation Methods
Quick Research
Try gaining a rough grasp of the topic you want to learn something about and what’s most important. For example, when learning Japanese, there are thousands of Kanji (e.g., 日本 = Japan, also “sun origin” or “Land of the Rising Sun”) and 2 syllabaries, Hiragana and Katakana. You probably wouldn’t want to dive in head first and just learn random Kanji. What even are Kanji? Instead, it’d be beneficial to do some research on the topic, gaining an understanding that’s sufficient enough to identify what information is most important to begin with. You’d learn that Kanji are signs with specific meanings that can be combined with other Kanji or context to form words. One Kanji can be used for different words or meanings in different contexts. It’ll even have entirely different pronunciation. Certain Kanji are taught at different school grades, so consider starting with grade 1. There are different levels to the Japanese Language Proficiency Test as well, which could be used as a starting point as well. Just like you’d want to identify the basic, core principles of linear algebra before fooling around with matrix transformation in n-dimensional space. This is a moment where the Pareto Principle comes in handy, helping you identify what subset of the topic gives you the greatest benefit and learning progress.¹
Pre-Reading + Questions
When you’re about to read any kind of text, from a scientific paper to a book, pre-reading can help you prime your brain for the information that’s to come. By quickly skimming through the paragraph, section, or chapter you’re about to read, you’ll get a rough grasp of what it’s about. This can help you create questions you now want to answer when giving the text a regular read. By doing this, when reading normally, there is already some familiarity with what’s to come. Information seems less random and can instead be connected to impressions you collected during the skimming. Pre-Reading and questions form the preparation part of the more elaborate SQ3R concept.¹