Tips to Get the Most Out of Studying Online During the Covid-19 Pandemic

By Leigh Pearson

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic and the evolving impact it is having on so many aspects of everyday life, MUIC and PC courses are still open but operating completely online for the time being until it is deemed safe enough to return to campus. For many students, the opportunity to study from the comfort of home is a dream come true.

However, it is easy for the mind to wander off over the rainbow even at the best of times, and with no teacher or other students in the room to keep you on track, it is even easier to get distracted and sidetracked by social media and other activities, including your bed right next to you! Therefore, we have put together a list of great ways to make the most of your online classes so that you can continue to obtain a top-quality education even during difficult times such as these.

01.

Forget about the camera!

Many students are put off right from the start by having to show themselves on camera. However, after a few weeks, most students eventually come to realise that no one really cares what they look like, and they become more comfortable asking questions and speaking directly into the camera. After all, we are in full view of each other in a normal classroom, so please treat your online classes the same and be comfortable and confident as you are.

02.

Actively participate in class and focus on what you need to be doing.

Communication is part of learning. Passively staring at your screen does not help you to learn as much as actively participating in your classes, and being distracted by social media actually holds you back from learning and achieving your goals in life, so please remember what your goals are in life and concentrate! Your teachers and course materials are there to facilitate your learning, but we cannot learn for you. You must consider your strengths and weaknesses, plan ahead, consider what you need to learn, ask questions, do your homework, and try to do all that in a spirit of friendship that will help you and everyone else in class to learn more and possibly even form lifelong friendships.

03.

Get a good night’s sleep (but not too much!).

This might sound counterintuitive as many students are getting more sleep now, during the Covid-19 situation, than they ever have. However, teenagers need eight hours of sleep a night in order to be refreshed and ready to absorb significant amounts of information throughout the day. This is especially true before a test, so do not be tempted to stay up all night studying either as this can actually be counterproductive. A good night’s sleep improves memory and makes you more alert – exactly what you need in order to learn and prepare for important exams.

04.

Have a designated study area.

Whether it’s the desk in your bedroom or the kitchen table downstairs, create an area that is yours and an area that is equipped and comfortable for learning. No, that does not include your bed! Keep your study space clean and organised and tell anyone else living with you not to touch anything. Having a designated work area should help you to more easily separate free time and study time as well, which makes it easier to relax and unwind when time allows.

05.

Manage your schedule.

Every class is an opportunity to learn something new and improve your skills, so try to arrange all your personal activities and chores so as to avoid missing classes. Also, be especially careful with the first class of the day as this is always the one that causes the most problems with attendance. Plan ahead. Set your alarm 5 minutes earlier. Do what you have to do. Remember that your goal is to succeed in your education and create great opportunities for yourself in the future!

Although it might seem convenient, studying from the comfort of home can actually be difficult. However, with a bit of self-awareness, planning, and determination, it can also be an extremely effective and enjoyable way to study. Indeed, thanks in part to the Herculean effort put in by management, faculty, and staff, the response from students has been largely positive, with many reporting that they actually prefer this mode of learning and feel that they are still developing their English ability and gaining valuable knowledge in spite of the circumstances.

Therefore, contrary to what many might expect given the situation, at MUIC, we have managed to maintain our high standards and great value for money. PC students, for example, pay an average of 183 Baht per hour to study academic English to a level at which they have the skills to deal with life in our international college, equivalent to IELTS 6 overall and 6 in writing. 

We will continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly as things change, but education is still the foundation of a happy and successful future, and we remain committed to delivering the highest quality of learning and some of the best value for money in the country. We hope to see many of you in the months ahead, and we wish you and your families all the best during these difficult times.

Mr. Leigh Pearson is an instructor at the Preparation Center for Languages and Mathematics. He obtained his MBA degree in MUIC.