Naar de les (ENG)

Do I have to take notes in class?

Should I go to class?

Can I ask the teacher questions?

Do I need to prepare for the class?

How do I listen attentively?

GO BACK

TAKING NOTES IN CLASS

Taking notes during class helps you listen actively and stay engaged. You organize the information as you hear it, adding structure to what you learn. By writing down key points yourself, you begin to process the material—even before you start studying. This makes it much easier to remember and review everything later.

Don't copy literally what is said, but summarize it as you understand it.

Use highlighters to distinguish important words and ideas.

Ask questions, summarize things, and write along. This way, you'll remember it better.

Try methods like headings, mind maps, or lists to keep your notes organized.

Use a clear system

Write in your own words

Work with colours

Stay active in class

Write down key ideas, not every word said.

Take quick notes on paper and save them digitally in, for example, OneNote or Notion.

Symbols and abbreviations save you time and make your notes easier to read.

Repetition helps you remember the material better.

Combine paper and digital tools

Use symbols and abbreviations

Write down only the important things

Review your notes regurarly

GO BACK

LISTENING ATTENTIVELY

Listening to a lecture requires a lot of concentration, as a lot of complex information is presented in a short time. How do you best approach this?

Make connections

Focus on main issues

Explore in advance

Strategic listening

Reflect afterwards

Stay attentive

Focus on main issues

You don't have to remember everything that is said right away. During the lesson, focus on what is really important.

• Try to understand what the central idea is and how the explanation is structured.
• Recognize when something is an example or underlines a key point.

This way you get a grip on the content without getting lost in the details. You can look up additional explanations or less important information later in your course materials.

Make connections

When listening, it helps to connect new information to things you already know.

For example, think of situations from your own life, other subjects or experiences during an internship.

This way, what you learn isn't just isolated knowledge, but something that fits into a larger whole. Your brain stores information more easily if it can connect to something. Ask yourself: Have I heard or experienced this before? Or: How could I use this in my job later?

Reflect afterwards

After the lesson, it's helpful to take a moment to reflect on how it went.

• Did you fully understand the explanation, and if not, what did you do?
• Are your notes clear and do they capture the point?

By regularly reflecting on this, you'll improve your listening comprehension and get more out of each lesson.

Do I need to prepare for class?

Good preparation for the lesson is definitely worthwhile. If you briefly review the material or read the assignment beforehand, you'll get more out of the explanation and can ask more targeted questions. You don't have to understand everything yet, but a first introduction makes it easier to follow along and actively participate.

Explore in advance

Before you go to class, it's a good idea to wake up your brain. Prepare yourself for what you're about to hear by briefly exploring the lesson content:

• Look at the title of the lesson, some slides, or the beginning of the chapter in your course.
• Then, review your notes from the previous class and see what you remember.

By doing so, you'll bring your prior knowledge to the surface and make room for new information. This will make listening during the class go more smoothly.

Should I go to class?

That's not a bad idea, because it gives you a first look at the material, you notice where the emphasis is, and you can ask questions. Attendance is especially important in the first few weeks, because you learn to assess what you need and how a subject works. Although your attendance is not always checked, skipping a class is rarely a good idea - unless you are ill or have really mastered the material. Do you skip it anyway? Then make sure you have notes from a fellow student and look at them quickly. This way you stay up to date and avoid falling behind.

Can I ask the teacher questions?

Asking questions in class isn't just allowed; it's even encouraged. If you don't understand something, chances are others have the same question. By asking questions, you make the class more interactive and help yourself (and often your fellow students) better understand the material.

Aandachtig blijven

Vind je het lastig om te luisteren tijdens de les? Kijk dan kritisch naar wat je afleidt en pak dat aan.

• Geluiden, jouw gsm of andere prikkels kun je vaak eenvoudig beperken.
• Notities maken kan helpen om je aandacht beter te richten.

Wat de oorzaak ook is, neem zelf actie om je concentratie te verbeteren. Zo haal je het meeste uit de les.

Strategic listening

Please pay extra attention:

• If a teacher asks core questions that you have to answer afterwards
• If the teacher says it is something important for the exam,
• If the teacher indicates that you 'really' need to know this part