LL! How are you! You need to reply to your VM's (look who's talking
).
That's some neat advice, I've been meaning to ask for tips about this. As you may remember (I hope you remember me
) I'm a philosophy student, and though I love the topic, I find actually focusing and reading really hard. I used to get a few phil buddies from the same class so I have a learning environment suited for extroverts, but that's not really an option anymore. You have any ideas as a fellow ENFP how to externalise the process? So far, all I have is reading out loud and making notes on everything just to keep the process kinesthetic.
TL;DR Version below the long-winded answer!
Hey, Ani, of course I remember you!!!
I answered your VM, but just a bit later
- talking about on topic haha.
If I may digress to answer Ani's question - well, I can only tell you how *I* as an extravert dealt with the situation of learning when I didn't have a cohort of people I could trust to back me up.
Of course everyone's learning style is different, so if you want a really great, tailored answer, I'd have to know your preferred learning methods. However, I can tell you what I did.
I talked a lot. To myself. I know that sounds freaky, but when preparing a presentation, I physically did it out loud, pretending the class was in front of me. When I studied, I imagined I was teaching a class full of pupils or students myself and filled in any blank spots as I went. It also helped to imagine what the teacher/professor wanted to hear, which I was able to figure out more often than not.
With languages, I practiced. Out loud. And I didn't give a fat rat's ass if my roommate thought it was weird (as long as she didn't need quiet for studying and didn't have company over). I wouldn't do it loudly - just loud enough for my ears to pick it up and compare with the listening exercise. I'll never forget my roommate's reaction when I was practicing Russian, "Damn, that sounds like Klingon," to which I retorted, "Well, if you had any questions as what the Klingons represented in RL, there you have it." That shut her up pretty quickly. Anyway, then I went back to practicing. Laugh if you will, but I was the one with the A at the end of the semester. So if it works and brings results, fuck what other people think. They're generally lazy dumb asses anyway. (Woooo hooo for unhealthy Fi judgments yeahhhhhhh).
With regard to groups, I basically stayed in the background, listening to what others were saying. Might sound weird for an extravert, but I need to observe quietly, analyze, make connections, and THEN contribute. I generally throw in ideas, possibilities, or ways to realize the goal. Then I sit and listen, throwing things in when necessary. Or using unhealthy Fi to bitch about how incompetent and a waste of time this stupid-ass group is. But every once in a while, you get an awesome dynamic that energizes you, and when that happens, I am usually the one getting all excited, talking about this possibility and that method, and someone else keeps me on track. It pisses me off and damn well pretty much offends me when *I* have to keep people on track - it's a task I let others manage because I don't enjoy it. I'd rather keep others pumped.
And this may sound a bit schizoid but whatever, it's effective for me. I have a round-table discussion in my head. Especially if I am preparing for a discussion, debate, or untangling a problem or trying to analyze the weaknesses of an argument or whatever. You have different 'perspectives' in your brain. And everyone argues effectively with everyone else. At the end of the discussion, if it was productive, it will generate a cool-ass answer or questions to ask the prof.
A sweet spin off is to act out the discussion that you have in your head (when you're alone). Act it out! Change voices even. Be animated and even get pissed at 'someone else' in the discussion. Make it fun! Laugh at some people's arguments - and guess what - you can because it's just YOU, so you don't have to pay attention to social conventions. Analyze yourself with your own brain. And if you aren't alone, and you cannot drag your roommates into a discussion, just keep it in your brain. Then you look all concentrated and studious and smart and good shit like that, and in reality, you're having a blast!!!!!!
Of course the best is to find a group of insightful, intelligent and fun people to actually REALLY have a discussion with. But if you cannot, well - that's a good alternative!!!!
Okay, okay, my ideas aren't exactly 'normal' or 'conventional' or whatever - well, maybe they are, but I don't see a lot of people doing this stuff - and for us extraverts who have a dearth of test subjects and fellow conversationalists - these work like a charm.
During class, I participate as much as I can. Sounds like ass kissing, but it isn't. You need to keep engaged or you get bored. That means taking copious notes of lectures (I usually turn it into a game - how precise can I take the notes; how fast can I go?; can I keep up with the prof speaking; can I make cooler abbreviations for stuff?) Keep your brain active though - don't go into auto-pilot. Keep thinking, following, making connections - hell it's what you do best, right????
Usually, I never look at the notes again until I study for a test. Why? The act of physically writing it down and keeping my brain active SEALS it in my brain. More effective. Less boring studying. Then when I study, you know what I do? This is really freaking retarded, so I don't know if I recommend it or not - I copy them over again! Type it or write it? Why? Because you're writing - and when I write, I SAY THE WORDS IN MY HEAD. So I am writing, reading, etc. And what other people tell me, although I don't notice it, is in the smallest whisper, I say the words. Weird shit, didn't even notice.
Then do the teaching stuff.
OKAY TL;DR VERSION:
1. Take notes, write, stay active in discussions, copious notes in lectures
2. Give your own lecture. Practice the presentation out loud. Have a round-table discussion, looking at things from different perspectives.
3. If you are in a study group, pull on your strengths by giving new ideas, etc.
4. Everyone learns differently - it would help if I knew your preferred learning style so that I could give a more effective response.
Does the guy have some magically filled default suitcase?
