Learn to read and learn - A discussion on learning methods

Author: Li Guixian
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Publish Date: 2006-05-01
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In middle and primary schools, many students fail to achieve success due to insufficient effort, poor time management, and weak foundational knowledge, leading to learning difficulties. These students, while regretting their wasted youth, believe they are not cut out for studies and thus drift through school or even drop out. This phenomenon of lamenting one's inadequacy in academics is known as the learned helplessness effect in psychology. The learned helplessness effect was derived from experiments conducted on dogs by psychologists. If a dog is placed at one end of a laboratory divided by a low barrier, and the experimenter raises an electric shock device, the dog will jump over the barrier to the other side, which is out of reach, to avoid being shocked. However, if the dog is restrained during the shock, it will initially struggle wildly but later lie down and submit to the shocks. When released, the dog no longer flees but endures the shocks, even though it could easily escape by simply getting up. Psychologists attribute this to the dog's belief that it cannot control its fate, with its destiny in the hands of others, thus developing "learned helplessness." It is precisely this effect that makes students feel they are not suited for academics. The fundamental way to overcome the learned helplessness effect is to build self-confidence and prove one's capabilities through success. The major obstacle to overcoming this effect is low self-esteem. Students with learned helplessness often feel a strong sense of "a defeated army's general dare not speak of bravery," believing their poor academic performance and age make it impossible to start over, summing up their perceived inadequacy as unsuitability for studies. In reality, it is never too late for everyone, and especially for middle and primary school students. The Three-Character Classic contains the lines: "Su Laquan, at twenty-seven, began to study diligently, reading books." Su Laquan was Su Xun, a Song Dynasty litterateur, the father of Su Shi and Su Zhe, and one of the Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song dynasties. He only started studying at the age of 27, not only achieving success himself but also enabling his two sons to do the same, with the trio known as the "Three Su's," representing three of the Eight Great Masters in Chinese literary history. You are only half the age of Su Laquan when he began his studies—how can you claim to be unsuited for academics?
In organic synthesis, almost all reactions involve a substance called Grignard reagent, invented by the French chemist Victor Grignard. What was Grignard like in his youth? To say the least, before the age of 21, he was a profligate, indulgent playboy. Grignard was the son of a shipowner in France. His family was wealthy, and as the eldest son, he was spoiled by his parents, leading him to dislike studying and spend his days in taverns and dance halls. At 20, he was still an ignorant, empty-headed idler. One day at the age of 21, he was invited to a grand banquet, followed by a dance. This well-dressed, self-assured young man spotted a stunning blonde and eagerly invited her to dance. To his dismay, she dismissed him with contempt, coldly saying, "Get away! I hate men like you!" Humiliated, Grignard realized that knowledge was more valuable than money and that respect could not be bought with wealth alone—it required knowledge. Determined to change, he devoted himself to studying with intense dedication. He became a brilliant chemist, inventing ethyl magnesium chloride in ether, which solved a major problem in organic synthesis. The solution was named "Grignard reagent," abbreviated as "Grignard reagent," and earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1912. He was appointed a lifetime professor at Lyon University, elected as a member of the French Academy of Sciences, and published numerous papers, transforming from a despised playboy into a respected scientific giant.
Similar to Grignard was the British physiologist Sir Charles Sherrington. Born in London's slums, Sherrington lost his parents at a young age and lacked proper upbringing, picking up bad habits and becoming a street tough, earning him the reputation of being "not a good seed." One day, he proposed to a milkmaid, who replied, "I'd rather jump into the Thames and drown than marry you." This rejection snapped him out of his ways, and he abandoned his past vices, focusing on his studies. Later, he dedicated himself to researching the physiology of the central nervous system, achieving significant accomplishments and winning the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1932.
Fufu Mi was a famous writer and physician during the Wei and Jin periods. He was not initially bright and spent his days associating with idle youths, picking up many bad habits. Later, under the guidance of his aunt, he turned his focus to studying. Once he realized the wisdom and knowledge in books, he regretted his past actions and resolved to leave his old life behind and start anew. He broke ties with his unruly friends, became a disciple of the renowned scholar Xi Tan, and studied diligently, eventually becoming a celebrated writer and physician. It is said that the preface to the "Three Capitals Rhapsodies," a work that caused "paper to become expensive in Luoyang" due to its popularity, was written by Fufu Mi for the talented writer Zuo Si. The fact that Fufu Mi could write a preface for Zuo Si’s brilliant work speaks volumes about his own erudition. This truly proves that "a wayward youth who turns back is worth more than gold."
Zu Jiti, a famous patriotic figure during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, was known for his unrestrained nature and lack of discipline in his youth. At the age of 14, he was still illiterate but later devoted himself to studying, earning the nickname "a genius of the times." Chen Zi'ang of the early Tang Dynasty, though unknown in literature at 18, was a wealthy and spirited youth who later realized the importance of learning and became a towering poet who pioneered the Tang Dynasty's golden age. Kou Zun, a famous minister of the Song Dynasty, was known for his lack of refinement and love of hunting and dog racing in his youth. Under his mother's strict discipline, he not only passed the imperial examinations but also became a just and incorruptible statesman, serving as prime minister twice and being ennobled as the Duke of Lai.
No one is perfect, and mistakes are inevitable. For students who believe they are not cut out for studies, have bad friends, and have developed bad habits, the examples above teach us much. Let us remember the old saying: "Repairing the fence after the sheep have escaped is not too late." Of course, students who claim they are unsuited for studies generally perform poorly academically, and the reasons are multifaceted, primarily falling into two categories: excessive playtime leading to declining grades, or ineffective study methods causing poor results. Regardless of the cause, there is a common thread: fear of studying. Even if some students force themselves to memorize and study, their hearts still harbor fear: fear of studying. To transform fear into love for studying, several key points should be noted.
First, one must have motivation to study. In ancient times, many were driven by the desire to avoid the regret of "worrying about not studying early enough when young and regretting it when old," aiming to rise above the rest. At that time, studying was the fastest path to becoming an official: "The emperor values the brilliant, teaching you to write so you may rise above the rest. All other pursuits are inferior, only studying is noble." This line from a poem for child prodigies reveals why ancient scholars tied their hair to beams and pricked their legs with needles, studying with extreme diligence. Today, studying is not just for becoming officials, but for becoming useful to society and living a high-quality life, so you must still strive to study: a Ph.D. is far more employable and commands higher pay and respect than a high school diploma.
Second, one must cultivate the habit of studying. To develop this habit, it may help to "pretend" to love studying. Many dedicated people initially disliked their jobs but grew to love them over time. If you "pretend" to study—actually forcing yourself to endure it and gradually discovering insights and solving problems—you will find yourself growing to love it more. Fufu Mi is a prime example. To cultivate this habit, you might consider making more friends who love studying. Many students who enjoy playing but dislike studying have "play friends," and those who frequent internet cafes after class have "net friends." If your friends are all book lovers, surrounded by "scholarly company," you too will gradually develop a love for studying. This explains why the ancients placed great importance on friendships, believing that "to be a good person, seek good friends, for as vinegar ferments, so does sweet wine." It also explains why Mencius's mother moved three times to provide a better learning environment for her son.
Third, one must improve study methods. Many students who believe they are unsuited for studies are not lazy but have ineffective methods, leading to academic struggles and declining grades, resulting in the phenomenon of being a top student in elementary school, a mediocre student in middle school, and a slacker in high school. This requires improving one's study methods. How? Seek help from teachers, parents, and peers to analyze the reasons, identify problems, and make improvements. This book introduces various study methods—take the time to read it and find what works for you, striving for a breakthrough. P19-23