The holiday break is something most, if not all, students dream about and look forward to. For many learners, this is a time to have fun and live life without having to worry about school responsibilities. While the holidays are, indeed, a time to rest and relax, there are actually a lot of ways this period can be spent usefully, without the pressure that usually comes with the regular academic year.
Here are the 5 Rs that learners can do for a productive (but still enjoyable!) holiday break! Doing these will not only make your holidays worthwhile, but it will also help your body and mind keep stimulated as you usher in the new year and, for some, a new semester or programme.
Reflect on your learning experience from the past year.
While this, technically, is not something you can actually count as an ‘activity,’ it is nonetheless a highly effective way to assess and improve yourself as a learner. It takes so little of your time but can do wonders in the learning process! Some of the reflection points you can ponder on are:
- What are the things that I did well at in the past year?
- What aspects do I need to improve on?
- What will I do differently in the coming year/semester/classes?
You may reflect on these questions in your head, but it is more advisable to jot your thoughts down in a journal, so that you have something to read and meditate on in the next coming months.
Record personal goals for the coming year.
Follow up your reflection with some goal-setting, which will help you become a more motivated and focused learner. When you set goals, try to list down things that you intend to do in the next coming year, rather than those that you intend to achieve. This way, you will be more likely to take action and accomplish more things in the process.
For example, if you are an English language learner as our students are at Private English Class and Your Language School, rather than writing down “Get at least 90% in all of my language tests,” try to list down process goals instead that will help you attain that target mark. Take a look at some of these examples:
- Learn ten vocabulary words each day.
- Practice writing by journaling every day before going to bed.
- Read a newspaper article every morning.
Read, read, read!
Needless to say, this is one of the most productive things students can do while on a break. Especially for language learners, reading is a great way to stimulate the mind, acquire vocabulary, and learn writing techniques and proper sentence construction.
If you think you cannot commit to lengthy novels, you can choose to read short materials such as news articles, essays, reports, or even poetry. Leisure reading, regardless of your text of choice, is highly rewarding!
Reconnect with your family and friends.
Many students, especially college/university and graduate students, cancel plans and sacrifice time with family and friends to focus on academic tasks. The holidays are the best time to go out, interact, and reconnect!
Not only will making up and socialising give you the uplift and good cheer that you need, but it also is a great way to practise your speaking and conversational skills. Language learners, most certainly, will benefit a lot in using what they learn in this activity—a real-life application and practical exercise!
Recharge and get some rest!
Yes, taking a break is productive, too! Give your mind and body the rest that they need after finishing all that you were able to in the past year. You did a wonderful job, and a much-deserved break is just the perfect reward.
We at Private English Class and Your Language School wish you a productive yet restful holiday break! Here’s to another year of learning, discovering, and growing.
We are looking forward to being a part of your 2022! To start, check out our available classes here. You may also contact us by sending us an email or filling out this form. Our team will get back to you as immediately as possible.
