Why Mastery Requires More Than Last-Minute Effort
I’m going to let you in on something perhaps other tutors prefer not to admit- that within a limited time of 6-8 weeks, we can do a phenomenal amount but it will never compare to having the entire year stretched out luxuriously before us as we do at the moment in January.
The 10,000-Hour Rule
12 degrees celsius and blue skies abound on this early January day in Tokyo. At the English publications section of Books Kinokuniya at Times Square, Shinjuku, I am browsing through a collection of self-help books as I recall one that I had read some time back. You might be familiar with it. It’s called "Outliers: The Story of Success” by Malcolm Gladwell.
This book explores the idea that sustained effort, deliberate practice, and the accumulation of experience over time are key to achieving excellence in any field. The famous “10,000-hour rule” Gladwell discussed emphasizes that mastery is not about cramming but about consistent and patient effort, which is directly applicable to academic English preparation. This brings me to why I am burning to write now sans café…not yet!
Reflections on O-Level Results: The Power of sustained and Consistent effort
Just last week in Singapore, the 2024 O level results were released. As I write and reflect on how students fared over the years, I cannot help but notice a trend. Those who started conscientiously to accumulate content, address major and minor structural, grammatical and tactical approaches in their English, consistently fared much better than those who put in last minute efforts.
By last minute, I mean the last two months to the exam proper each year around November. These final 6-8 weeks of students scrambling to improve their grades are worthy attempts and often, they still count for something. Perhaps all a student who failed, or scored a C or even a D wants is a pass, but more often than not, he expects much more. Given the little time left to prepare for the final papers, that can sometimes surprise us teachers, but okay, challenge accepted.
Mastering English for Exams: A Parent-Tutor’s Honest Plea
Yet, and I’m going to let you in on something perhaps other tutors prefer not to admit- that within a limited time of 6-8 weeks, we can do a phenomenal amount but it will never compare to having the entire year stretched out luxuriously before us as we do at the moment in January. Hence, the risk of not getting your ideal grade cannot be discounted. The question is why bother to leave it to chance?
This is not a blog borne out of fearmongering to get parents to commit their children to English tuition. However, for those who want help, it is an almost exasperated plea from a parent-tutor, to stop thinking that mastering English in order to score an A for the O level or likewise, the General Paper, is something we can consider as an afterthought.
Why Last-Minute Cramming for English Exams Rarely Delivers Desired Results
In "Learner-Centered English Language Education: The Selected Works of David Nunan”, the renowned expert in language education discusses how meaningful and sustained engagement with the language leads to long-term success. His insights emphasize the importance of time, effort, and learner-centered strategies in mastering English for academic purposes, particularly for students preparing for exams. Part of the strategy involves giving the process time to be integrated and to stick, for want of a better word.
I also feel strongly that we are so accustomed to reaching for quick fixes and seductive promises of progress in the form of short courses or a digital solution that we think the same “efficiency” can be applied to making that final push to get the A grade everyone desires. Because we live in such a highly automated, productivity driven society, we are falsely led to believe that the time it takes for a deeper, embodied understanding and expression of the English language, can be reduced to a convenient few months. There is a reason why the O level takes at least 4 years for our students to prepare!
From Exams to Scholarships: How Thorough Prep Shapes Your Future
I love all things tech as much as probably you do, and while apps can support language learning, achieving true proficiency demands a significant investment of time and consistent effort. Remember Gladwell’s 10,000-hour rule to mastery? The value of thorough preparation also means you take the communication skills with you; into your next interview for a life-changing scholarship, to gain access to a coveted course or university, and in time, your jobs.
Starting with the end in mind is the very first thing I talk to my students about when we meet for the first time. How do you want to feel, walking away from the examination hall at year’s end? Do you want to feel you did your absolute best and be at peace with the year round dedication or do you want to feel like there was more that could have been done but there was no time, cue the could haves and the should haves which by then will mean little?