Skills of good readers

6 Reading Comprehension Skills | Understood

Some people think of the act of reading as a straightforward task that’s easy to master. In reality, reading is a complex process that draws on many different skills. Together, these skills lead to the ultimate goal of reading: reading comprehension, or understanding what’s been read.

Reading comprehension can be challenging for lots of reasons. Whatever the cause, knowing the skills involved, and which ones your child struggles with, can help you get the right support.

Here are six essential skills needed for , and tips on what can help kids improve this skill.

1. Decoding

Decoding is a vital step in the reading process. Kids use this skill to sound out words they’ve heard before but haven’t seen written out. The ability to do that is the foundation for other reading skills.

Decoding relies on an early language skill called phonemic awareness. (This skill is part of an even broader skill called phonological awareness. ) Phonemic awareness lets kids hear individual sounds in words (known as phonemes). It also allows them to “play” with sounds at the word and syllable level.

Decoding also relies on connecting individual sounds to letters. For instance, to read the word sun, kids must know that the letter s makes the /s/ sound. Grasping the connection between a letter (or group of letters) and the sounds they typically make is an important step toward “sounding out” words.

What can help: Most kids pick up the broad skill of phonological awareness naturally, by being exposed to books, songs, and rhymes. But some kids don’t. In fact, one of the early signs of reading difficulties is trouble with rhyming, counting syllables, or identifying the first sound in a word.

The best way to help kids with these skills is through specific instruction and practice. Kids have to be taught how to identify and work with sounds. You can also build phonological awareness at home through activities like word games and reading to your child.

2. Fluency

To read fluently, kids need to instantly recognize words, including words they can’t sound out. Fluency speeds up the rate at which they can read and understand text. It’s also important when kids encounter irregular words, like of and the, which can’t be sounded out.

Sounding out or decoding every word can take a lot of effort. Word recognition is the ability to recognize whole words instantly by sight, without sounding them out.

When kids can read quickly and without making too many errors, they are “fluent” readers.

Fluent readers read smoothly at a good pace. They group words together to help with meaning, and they use the proper tone in their voice when reading aloud. Reading fluency is essential for good reading comprehension.

What can help: Word recognition can be a big obstacle for struggling readers. Average readers need to see a word four to 14 times before it becomes a “sight word” they automatically recognize. Kids with dyslexia, for instance, may need to see it up to 40 times.

Lots of kids struggle with reading fluency. As with other reading skills, kids need lots of specific instruction and practice to improve word recognition.

The main way to help build fluency is through practice reading books. It’s important to pick out books that are at the right level of difficulty for kids.

3. Vocabulary

To understand what you’re reading, you need to understand most of the words in the text. Having a strong vocabulary is a key component of reading comprehension. Students can learn vocabulary through instruction. But they typically learn the meaning of words through everyday experience and also by reading.

What can help: The more words kids are exposed to, the richer their vocabulary becomes. You can help build your child’s vocabulary by having frequent conversations on a variety of topics. Try to include new words and ideas. Telling jokes and playing word games is a fun way to build this skill.

Reading together every day also helps improve vocabulary. When reading aloud, stop at new words and define them. But also encourage your child to read alone. Even without hearing a definition of a new word, your child can use context to help figure it out.

Teachers can help, too. They can carefully choose interesting words to teach and then give explicit instruction (instruction that is specialized and direct). They can engage students in conversation. And they can make learning vocabulary fun by playing word games in class.

For more ideas, watch as an expert explains how to help struggling readers build their vocabulary.

4. Sentence construction and cohesion

Understanding how sentences are built might seem like a writing skill. So might connecting ideas within and between sentences, which is called cohesion. But these skills are important for reading comprehension as well.

Knowing how ideas link up at the sentence level helps kids get meaning from passages and entire texts. It also leads to something called coherence, or the ability to connect ideas to other ideas in an overall piece of writing.

What can help: Explicit instruction can teach kids the basics of sentence construction. For example, teachers can work with students on connecting two or more thoughts, through both writing and reading.

5. Reasoning and background knowledge

Most readers relate what they’ve read to what they know. So it’s important for kids to have background or prior knowledge about the world when they read. They also need to be able to “read between the lines” and pull out meaning even when it’s not literally spelled out.

Take this example: A child is reading a story about a poor family in the 1930s. Having knowledge about the Great Depression can provide insight into what’s happening in the story. The child can use that background knowledge to make inferences and draw conclusions.

What can help: Your child can build knowledge through reading, conversations, movies and TV shows, and art. Life experience and hands-on activities also build knowledge.

Expose your child to as much as possible, and talk about what you’ve learned from experiences you’ve had together and separately. Help your child make connections between new knowledge and existing knowledge. And ask open-ended questions that require thinking and explanations.

You can also read a teacher tip on using animated videos to help your child make inferences.

6. Working memory and attention

These two skills are both part of a group of abilities known as executive function. They’re different but closely related.

When kids read, attention allows them to take in information from the text. Working memory allows them to hold on to that information and use it to gain meaning and build knowledge from what they’re reading.

The ability to self-monitor while reading is also tied to that. Kids need to be able to recognize when they don’t understand something. Then they need to stop, go back, and re-read to clear up any confusion they may have.

What can help: There are many ways you can help improve your child’s working memory. Skillbuilders don’t have to feel like work, either. There are a number of games and everyday activities that can build working memory without kids even knowing it.

To help increase your child’s attention, look for reading material that’s interesting or motivating. For example, some kids may like graphic novels. Encourage your child to stop and re-read when something isn’t clear. And demonstrate how you “think aloud” when you read to make sure what you’re reading makes sense.

More ways to help with reading comprehension

When kids struggle with one or more of these skills, they can have trouble fully understanding what they read. Find out how to tell if your child has difficulty with reading comprehension.

Learn about what can cause trouble with reading in kids. Keep in mind that having reading difficulties doesn’t mean a child isn’t smart. But some kids need extra support and encouragement to make progress.

Key takeaways

• Decoding, fluency, and vocabulary skills are key to reading comprehension.

• Being able to connect ideas within and between sentences helps kids understand the whole text.

• Reading aloud and talking about experiences can help kids build reading skills.

Related topics

• Reading and writing

What Makes a Good Reader — Skills and Attributes to Look Out For

What makes a good reader good is that they read with ease. A child’s ability to quickly, accurately, and effortlessly identify words must develop from a stage of individual word decoding to one of automaticity. 

The ultimate goal of reading for a youngster is to be able to focus on comprehension rather than speed reading. Eventually, rather than focusing on individual words, a young reader will comprehend the book as a whole.  

When a child has difficulty identifying words, his focus shifts from the written text to the word itself. Repetition and modeled reading (hearing how it should sound) are two excellent techniques to increase fluency in reading.

Photo by Ryan Wallace on Unsplash

Who Is a Good Reader?

An excellent reader is a combination of a lot of distinct traits. Speed, comprehension, and depth of understanding all play a role in becoming a proficient reader.

A good reader can understand a writing and recognize what the author is attempting to convey. What’s more, such individual can take in as much information as they can to learn and develop.

A good reader comprehends the author’s goals, derives as much information as possible from the text, and can remember what they have read. And finally, the most important quality of a good reader is that they never stop reading!

Reading may not seem like a talent we need to perfect. After all, we started doing it while we were in preschool and have continued.

But would you consider yourself a good reader?

Reading comprehension is difficult for the majority of us. It’s simple to skim through an entire magazine, but can you recall the article’s precise title?

According to a poll conducted in the United States, 38% of independent readers have higher achievement levels than the average student.

Learning the meanings of words is necessary to improve one’s reading skills. A competent reader alert when going through the literature. More importantly, readers pays attention to the minor nuances that a mediocre reader typically overlooks.

Reading well is also an important component of the educational process. To constantly discover new things as a reader, you must sort through large amounts of data and information.

Skills and Attributes: What Makes a Good Reader?

Good readers have certain attributes. How can you tell which readers are good ones? The following characteristics are common to all great readers:

1.

Considers the Content of the Text

A good reader does more than just read; they can decipher the phrases’ underlying meaning, intention, and message. To understand the words, he takes some time to decipher their meaning.

2. Learns When Reading

A brilliant reader is always eager to gain new knowledge. In reality, 42% of French people believe reading leads to discoveries and expertise. For instance, you can read a self-help book, a new recipe, or a fashion magazine.

3. Boosts Their Vocabulary

An effective method to expand your vocabulary is to read a lot. According to research, new words are added to one’s knowledge base with each focused reading session.

Second language learners are typically advised to read books to improve their language skills. Learn how to become fluent in a language by reading this post.

4. Sharpens Their Intellect

Reading can be an excellent way to strengthen your brain’s muscles when done correctly. New words can be deciphered by referring to the context in which they are used. Another option is to read a book and then try to recollect specific passages from it later on as a fun memory game.

Brain cells multiply, and existing ones get stronger when you read something new. It improves your memory and ability to concentrate. As a result, reading is good for the brain.

5. Makes It Through Complex Texts

You’re an accomplished and gifted reader if you can keep your interest and persevere through even the most difficult chapters. Focus on the language, take your time to understand the meaning, and jot down any important details.

6. Reads Quickly

Reading and comprehending at the same time should not slow down a reader. Reading is a skill that may be honed fast.

Nowadays, it is essential to be able to read quickly. Regarding reading, speed and comprehension are imperative, no matter what type of person one is or what type of task one is undertaking.

You can use this speed reading tool to improve your reading ability quickly and efficiently.

7. Puts Diverse Reading Abilities to Use

Several methods can help you read quickly and efficiently. Go through the book’s table of contents first if you’re reading a book. You’ll better know what to expect when you see it. Also, instead of flipping through the pages randomly, you’ll know exactly where to get the information you’re looking for.

Before writing a blog post, read over the introduction and the headings. The next step is to determine the overall structure of the piece. The most important features are often highlighted first by using bolds, italics, and various typefaces and sizes. To get the most out of the article, continue reading afterward.

8. Keeps Track of Things

Taking notes is a proven method for better comprehension of any subject matter. Taking notes, whether in a scientific journal or your favorite passages from a book, can improve your ability to digest information.

9. Makes the Text Come to Life in Their Mind’s Eye

Visualizing the words might also help you better understand the content. What is the author trying to convey through these sentences?

Illustrations have been scientifically demonstrated to have a greater effect on the human mind than words.

However, this may be a problem for certain books that do not have illustrations.

Make a mental picture of what you’re reading by using your brain. This method can help you obtain as much knowledge as possible from writing and provide a good workout for your brain. Win-win!

10. Predicts What Will Happen Next in the Story

The best way to anticipate the future is to use what you’ve already learned from the narrative or opinion piece you’re currently reading.

To make an educated guess, consider all the possible outcomes under various circumstances. Then, continue reading to see if your theory is correct or incorrect. As a result, you’ll be able to make better predictions in the future.

11. Relates to Their Reading

One of the best habits of avid readers is that they always connect their readings to real-world events and experiences. Depending on what you’re reading, you might be able to conjure up a memorable scene from a movie or song.

12. Increases Research Efforts

If you’re a good reader, you’re not satisfied with finishing one book or article and moving on; you keep reading and learning more. When reading, they pay close attention to the questions that pop into their heads and are eager to find the answers.

The Internet is a utopia for ardent readers in this regard. You can continue to search numerous topics until you have found answers to all of your questions. Then, generate another subject and continue!

The level of an individual’s anxiety tends to be lower if they have prior knowledge of the language and subject matter. Also, being able to multi-task can save a lot of time if they are juggling multiple novels at a time. These are just a few of the qualities that make readers great.

To Wrap Up

A student’s inability to grasp a text could indicate that they are reading the improper material or just lacking the necessary reading resources.

To help children improve as readers, the goal should be to provide them with the chance to engage with literature. If your pupils are struggling, it is not always a sign that they do not understand the material. There may be other elements at play. 

Frequently asked questions

What are the 7 strategies of reading skills?

Seven strategies of highly skilled readers include activating, summarizing, monitoring and clarifying, visualizing and organizing, searching and selecting, questioning, and relating.

Why are reading skills important?

All levels of learning are based on reading, be it language arts or even math, regardless of subject. Reading things such as street signs or prescriptions keeps people reading at their desks. Reading is also a valuable life skill. 2. Reading strengthens the brain and improves memory.

What are the attributes of a good reader?

• Note the structure of the text before reading.
• Revision, structure, and ask questions as readers read.
• Text is important, so evaluate it.
• Make predictions
• Interact with text
• They should be watching their understanding as they read.
• Read with goals in mind.
• We read different types of text differently.

What makes a good reader and writer?

An author who is good readers will be good. Only those who read a lot and have extensive knowledge can write well. Writing requires a good listener and the ability to take feedback and criticism from readers. For writers, feedback is important as well as interaction with fellow readers and contributors.

How do you become a good reader?

1. Schedule some time to read. For many, reading is a hassle because there isn’t an exact date.
2. Start your success journey. Choose a reading location that is conducive.
3. Use a particular reading strategy.
4. Monitor your comprehension
5. You should take notes as you read.

What are 4 types of reading skills?

These skills can be classified into four categories: decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Reading skills make up the bulk of a child’s reading ability. Overall, they aim to equip children with the skills necessary to understand what they read.

What are 3 things good readers do?

Readers monitor their own comprehension. Reading ahead, asking questions, paraphrasing, seeking help, and visualizing to help them understand what they are reading is important to them.

What are the five characteristics of reading?

Reading is divided into five components: phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency. Together, these five elements contribute to creating the reading experience. Children learn to read in order to become successful readers. They need to learn all five of these areas.

15 useful skills to learn at a young age - key skills for personal growth

The founder and director of Youth Consulting, who has worked with Coca-Cola, Pepsico and Microsoft, and the editor-in-chief of the personal growth blog Zero To Skill, Zdravko Cvijetic, wrote an article highlighting the key skills that each of us should acquire the sooner the better. We have translated the material and selected key points, preserving the unusual author's style.

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Super Mario. A little mustachioed plumber, without whom my childhood would not have been so happy. I was ready to spend hours helping this good fellow save the princess from the company of bad guys. If you also played Mario, then, of course, you could not help but notice how difficult it was to move from level to level without a sufficient amount of mushrooms - those that helped to become bigger and endowed the hero with useful skills like throwing fireballs. So, our life is like a game. Playing Mario Plumber. In real life, you are Mario. And you need to find your "mushrooms" that will help you grow, improve, move from level to level, develop as a person and as a professional. When I ask my readers to name the reason that prevents them from learning new skills, I get a lot of different answers. One of them especially well shows what, perhaps, each of us goes through: “There are too many things around that can be studied. Too many choices… And time is limited.” This thought prompted me to create this article. Talking to people and analyzing my own experience, I did a little research, and this is what happened. 15 valuable skills that will help you step into a new stage of personal development. You need to start building these skills as early as possible.

1. Finding your own philosophy

The internal compass tells us whether everything is going according to plan or if something has gone wrong. But it is not enough to feel it - you need to soberly assess the situation in accordance with your own system of values. To identify this value system, ask yourself, “What do I value about _______ (work, relationships, friendships, life, etc.)?” The listed set will be the system of your value coordinates. Then ask yourself, “What good and bad things do I see in this world?” Once you focus on the good, “Oh shit, it’s Monday again…” miraculously turns into “Oh yes, Monday! Let's start?" Feel the difference?

2. Finding your calling

No, I do not believe that we all came to this earth with some great purpose. But I am sure that life gives us the opportunity to find out what we are strong in and what we like to do. Your calling is your talents (what are you especially good at?), your passion (what do you really love to do?), and the opportunities around you. Look around and you will definitely find what you are looking for.

3. Goal setting

At 19In 1979, in one of the lectures of the Harvard MBA program, students were asked the question: “Do you have clearly defined goals for the future and plans to achieve them?” Only 3% of students answered that they had written goals and plans. Another 13% admitted that they have goals, but not in writing. The vast majority, 84%, had no clear goals at all. Ten years later, the graduates were brought together again. They were asked how much they earn, and found the incredible. The 13% of graduates who had goals earned, on average, twice as much as the 84% who had no goals. And the 3% whose goals were clearly articulated ten years ago were earning ten times more than the other 97% combined! Targets work like a camera lens. If you focus correctly, you get a clear picture. If the focus is not set, the image will be blurry.

4. Visualization

Goal setting is something you can do consciously. Your brain is great at generating ideas and thinking about them, but it is powerless when it comes to putting them into action because it is constantly distracted by various external events. The subconscious mind works differently: it is able to see the whole picture. When the conscious and unconscious go hand in hand, they help you achieve your goals. Visualization works best right after waking up and a few minutes before bedtime. By imagining the smallest details, sensations and emotions as if you have already achieved your goal, you make yourself believe that it is possible in principle to achieve the goal. But be careful! This is not the law of attraction, which says that it is enough to imagine a Ferrari, and the next day a brand new car will be waiting for you under the window. It doesn't work like that. Visualization is only one side of the coin. Hard work and dedication is the other side of it.

5. Forming habits

By habits we often mean something negative, so I prefer to call good habits personal rituals. When I think that I MUST go to the gym, it's hard for me. But when I think about the fact that I am a healthy person, and going to the gym is an important part of the life of any healthy person, it becomes easier. Try it!

6. Healthy lifestyle

Everyone wants to be healthy. Correctly? For me, for example, the goal is not just to be healthy, but also to have enough energy. Plus look good.

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Example. For 11 years I played football, and then I abandoned this business. My weight went from 65 to 86 kilos in less than 9 months. I became fat. For anyone who once boasted excellent abs, this is frustrating. So I decided to do two things:

• find the right diet to help me get back to my normal weight and stick to it;
• in addition to nutrition, exercise regularly.

It took me about a couple of years to find the right diet and sports activities to my liking. But now I am satisfied with my body, healthy and energetic during the day.

7. The art of learning

I'm sure it's one of the key skills on the list. Everything we are and everything we have achieved is made possible by our ability to learn. People who have reached the heights are just people who can quickly and effectively learn new skills and apply them where it is required.

8. Searching and filtering information

We are all overloaded with information. Wherever you go, you will stumble upon streams of information that will constantly distract you from your goals. Spend your time online wisely.

9. Time management and productivity

I constantly think about time, because this is the only resource that we will never renew. Where to get more time? Optimize your sleep time. Perhaps, instead of the standard nine hours, seven or eight is enough for you to feel healthy. Check it out! How to use time more efficiently?

• Make good use of your so-called "dead" time (at the computer or in front of the TV).
• Focus on high-impact activities (remember the 80/20 rule: 20% of the tasks produce 80% of the results).
• Focus on what will help you grow (reading, talking to inspiring people, working on goals).​

10. The art of meditation

We are constantly working, interacting with people, spending a fair amount of time on the Internet. Sometimes you need to stop, relax and enjoy the time spent alone with yourself. There are no rules here. Meditate the way you feel comfortable. Two minutes, fifteen minutes, sitting, lying, thinking or, on the contrary, moving away from thoughts ... Find what suits you and constantly practice it.

11. Recording with pleasure

You don't have to become a writer. Just make it a habit to write down your thoughts on paper. Lots of incredible ideas are just waiting to be brought to life through ink.

12. Public speaking

This is perhaps one of the most useful skills that I have been able to acquire and develop. Again, you don't need to be a professional speaker. But it is worth learning how to express your ideas. There are a lot of techniques and advice, but there is a golden rule: "People don't know what you're talking about." So go ahead! Tell a story or share an idea. Both can change someone's life.

13. Saying NO

Sometimes we need to say NO. Look at this situation from an unusual angle: “You don't say NO to others. You say YES to yourself and to what is important to you.” Of the two options, always try to choose what you like.

14. How to create your own brand

Personal growth is one of the main goals in my life. It is curious: everything I did, in one way or another, turned out to be connected with this topic. My degree in adult education, my work at the Mindvalley Academy as director of learning, my blog (Zero to Skill) is all about helping people learn faster and gain useful skills. People often talk about me like I'm a learning freak. This just goes to show how values ​​(in this case, personal growth) can influence your life and point the way. It takes very little to create your brand: just focus on developing your strengths and let them go on a big swim.

15. How to manage personal finances

Everything is simple here. Rule #1: Spend less than you earn.
Rule #2: Find an additional source of income (passive if possible).
Rule #3: Invest in assets (things that generate income).

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Recommended:

• 7 Skills Required to Work in Consulting
• Why strong motivation can ruin everything

Tags

Hard Skills Soft Skills Compilation

Top 10 Skills People Want to Learn in 2022 according to SkillUp your Life

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and How to Learn Them. Translated by: Olga Zholudova and Rinat Shaikhutdinov. In this article, I'm going to talk about the top skills that most people want to learn according to the SkillUp your Life survey. Bookmark this article so you can come back to it in the future.0003

Interested in the latest articles on product design (UX/UI)? 🚀

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In Appendices A and B, I've put together unique tips for any of these 10 skills.

#10. Draw Photo credit: rawpixel on Unsplash

My definition: Be able to illustrate an idea.

Drawing is an art that takes many years to master in order to achieve perfection. Fortunately, this is a very broad skill that can be easily broken down into “sub-skills”. Each small sub-skill can be mastered fairly quickly.

Subskills:

• sketching techniques (paper or software)
• line drawing (paper or software)
• color matching techniques (paper or software)
• using tools (Photoshop, Illustrator)
• how to hold a pencil correctly
• how to control line weight
• faces, people, creatures, objects, landscapes
• shadow techniques
• realistic, cartoonish, caricature style
• architecture, electrical engineering, engineering, scientific fields, etc. )
• and more!

My story about drawing

Drawing was the first skill I decided to learn using the SkillUp method. And I was always sure that it was drawing that I could not master, so I wanted to prove to myself that this was not so. And I proved.

I practiced for 30 minutes every day for a month, mostly on YouTube. I learned sketching, hatching and color matching in Photoshop.

The results exceeded my expectations.

How to learn to draw?

Since drawing is a very broad skill, I recommend learning the basics of any sub-skill (from the list) to start with 5 hours of practice (30 minutes a day). You'll be surprised how quickly you can master most sub-skills if you don't skip classes and have good learning materials.

Resources

Freebies

• Youtube.com
• Search engine: “how to ” or “how to learn quickly”

because everything changes very quickly and, besides, it's a matter of taste.

#9. Be more productive

My definition: Make the most of 24 hours of each day.

This is a rather ambiguous skill, since productivity itself is a rather abstract concept. The key progress metric here is time saved, as well as the quality and quantity of results achieved.

Being more productive is not about work. This is about activities that are important to you: time with family, meeting friends, work, entertainment.

Subskills

• clearly state your passion/purpose
• clearly state your values ​​
• Make a personal height installation
• Develop introspection
• concentrate
• to enter the stream
• Achieve the “Infinity effect”
• Create SMART goals
• really understand the principle of pareto (rule 80/20)
Use the matrix of the EISENERUER
• plan a career
• master time management
• learn to learn
• have KPIs
• master maximum mouse/trackpad speed
• faster typing on a computer or phone
• and more!

My Productivity Story

After 13 years of professional software development, I have acquired a number of skills that have made me more productive on a computer than most people.

Years later, when I immersed myself in introspection, I realized that I possessed these skills and began to use them even more actively. That's when I decided to start writing on Medium. My first article was dedicated specifically to productivity tips.

How to learn to be productive?

I suggest starting with those sub-skills that will help develop introspection. Learn to identify your values ​​/ passions / goals, take a course on personal growth, master the Eisenhower matrix. Why is it important? Peter Drucker has an excellent answer to this:

“There is nothing more useless than doing things effectively that shouldn't be done at all” - Peter Drucker

Looking back, this is the best advice.

Next, make sure you understand the Pareto principle and start applying it in all areas of your life. Also, learn to set SMART goals.

Now that you have the basic skills to speed up your productivity, you can get down to specifics.

If you use your computer often:

• Learn how to use your mouse/trackpad at maximum speed
• Learn how to touch-type quickly
• Learn the key hotkeys in your operating system, as well as in programs that you often use.

At first it will seem that you work even more slowly, but in just a week you will get into the rhythm. Thanks to these skills alone, I work on a computer 2-3 times faster than 90% of people. It is worth investing time and effort into this.

Resources

Free

• Article: 34 Quick Tips for a More Productive 2019
• Article: Completely and Consistently Smash Your Goals with The Limitless Effect
9003 Calendar5 Tool: Limitless Calendar
• Article: Smart Goals
• Article: Eisenhower Matrix
• Course: Learning to Learn (free)
• Book: How we Learn (referral link)
• Article: Pareto Principle
• Article: How To Move Around Your Mac At The Speed ​​Of Light

#8. Play guitar Photo by Jefferson Santos on Unsplash

My definition: Learn to play a musical instrument.

The most popular instrument that SkillUp your Life members want to learn to play is the guitar. You can sing so many songs with the guitar! And isn't it cool to take and play at family gatherings or in the company of friends? And there is such a variety of guitars that finding the right instrument is not difficult.

In addition, once you learn to play the guitar, you can quickly master most stringed instruments.

Cunning

• Terminology
• Types of guitars
• Styles of the game on guitar
• How to read notes
• How to keep guitar
• How to put fingers
• The main types of guitar combat
4 Play one song
• Play one style
• And much more!

My guitar story

Oh my god, it's too embarrassing to tell...

I've wanted to learn the guitar for years. To be honest, I've had two guitars in my life. One even still lies somewhere in Colombia. I never had the patience to learn how to play. When I was younger, I tried to learn guitar on my own, but back then there weren't as many learning resources as there are now. I had to either hire a teacher or work hard on my own by downloading chords over a super slow internet connection.

When I met my future wife at the age of 17, it seemed to me that the guitar made me cooler. Of course, I couldn't play, but she didn't know that - so I was still "cool" 🙂

How to learn to play the guitar?

Since I never learned to play the guitar, I wrote this section based on research and my observations. If there are pros among the readers, please correct me in the comments!

Actually, I would start by mastering the basic sub-skills that I listed above, in order.

I would spend a maximum of a week on theory (the first 4 sub-skills): this is enough to remember everything you need (apps like Anki help a lot). At the same time, I would easily go over the basics of guitar handling: how to hold the instrument and how to move the fingers.

In the next week, I would be working on these skills and also learning the 4 most popular chords and basic fighting techniques.

Next, I would try to hone what I learned earlier as well as possible. I would start looking for songs under 4 chords I know. Most likely, I would not immerse myself in the notes yet - I would just watch the video and use the tablature.

After that, I would gradually start learning different songs. Video: Reading music sheet for guitar : 5 Essential Strumming Patterns

Article: Guitar terminology for beginners

Article: 9 Types of Guitars Every Guitarist Should Know

Macro photography

Long exposure photography

Camera Raw photo processing

Photoshop photo processing

Lightroom photo processing

and much more!

My story about photography

Before, I wasn't interested in photography at all. A more or less high-quality camera first appeared to me when I bought the iPhone 6. I started shooting and experimenting with processing through different applications. The process captured me.

Going on a trip to Iceland, I decided to upgrade my skills in order to bring worthy pictures from the trip. I spent quite a bit of time researching the issue - and the result was not long in coming: I started shooting quite well.

Then I traveled the world for a year. On that trip, I took about 15,000 photographs. I was already doing great - people even thought that I was a photographer. Therefore, in India, I decided to buy my first DSLR and continued my journey with it. Learned a lot of new things!

I later commissioned several Sundara events and the opening of a new WeWork branch in Bangalore, India.

I am currently learning portrait photography and will be training with these beautiful models: Carla Diaz, Diana Jabba, and Kevin Nguyen.

How to learn to photograph?

To begin with, I advise you to master the rule of thirds: these will be the very 20% of efforts that will give 80% of the result. The rule of thirds can be mastered in 5 minutes, and the pictures will immediately become at least twice as good.

The rule of thirds is one of many framing techniques. By the way, the rest are also worth exploring. Amateur photos are often successful, but due to poor framing, they do not look very good. This can be corrected by cropping the photo during processing.

Another important aspect is exposure. Learn what ideal exposure looks like and what underexposure/overexposure is. Learn to read a histogram. Learn how to use these techniques to create the effect you want.

Framing and exposure make beautiful pictures even with inexpensive equipment. Yes, the SLR camera “helps” with the exposure, but the phone can also correctly expose the picture.

Practice taking photos in a certain style for a month. I started with landscape photography. Now I understand that it is in landscape photography that, perhaps, the most difficult thing is to learn how to take really cool pictures.

When you're ready to buy a camera, choose a lens for the style you want to shoot. With experience, you will realize that in most cases, the quality of photos is determined by the lens, and not by the "body" of the camera.

• Video: If You're Serious About Taking Better Portraits, Watch This
• Article: 14 portrait photography tips you'll never want to forget
• Article: Lightroom Crash Course: Ultimate Beginner's Guide To Lightroom

Paid

• Book: Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Boxed Set, Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (Most of what I know comes from Scott Kelby's books).
• Book: Mastering Exposure in Digital Photography

My definition: Learning to control the “quality” of the mind.

Many successful people in the world practice meditation daily. This is perhaps the best way to clear your mind.

Meditation helps you fall asleep faster, stress less, make better decisions, and more.

Subskills

• Understand the 7 Basic Types of Meditation
• Breathing Techniques
• Compassion and Love
• Awareness of your body
• Relaxation
• The ability not to judge
• Mantras (include many sub-skills)
• and much more!

My meditation story

I thought I would never learn to meditate.

My mistake was that I didn't see meditation as a skill that could be developed.

It seemed to me that meditation is when you don't think about anything. Therefore, as soon as a thought appeared in my head, I got upset.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who was so deluded. But this is fundamentally wrong.

In September I tried to meditate with a friend in Cambodia and failed miserably. It wasn't until 4 months later that I got up the courage to try meditation again. As soon as I got the right attitude and began to devote time to constant practice, it started to work.

How to learn to meditate?

I myself am new to this business, so I strongly advise you to start by meditating with an instructor. Links to resources that were useful to me, I will leave below.

The benefit of guided meditation is that it teaches you not to get frustrated by the thoughts in your head and helps you move towards clearing your mind—which is what meditation is all about.

You learn to be aware of how your body and your mind feel. You learn to relax even in situations where it seems impossible.

Many people do not understand that meditation takes time to master. Don't quit after the first failed attempt. Meditate at least once a day for 10 minutes.

You will experience different emotions. For example, I really wanted to laugh when I was told to count my inhalations and exhalations. And sometimes frustration strikes. But whatever feelings you have, don't take them into your head. You can control it. And the more you practice, the easier it will be to do it.

And another important point: no one should distract you during meditation. I advise beginners to meditate in a quiet place. Some people advise sitting down to meditate, but I started lying down - otherwise I simply could not relax enough to concentrate on the process. My definition: Learn to use the Spanish language in different forms.

Did you know that Spanish is the 4th most spoken language in the world (after Mandarin, English and Hindustani)?

Even more interesting, for most speakers, Spanish is their first language: according to this indicator, Spanish is the second largest language in the world after Mandarin. In fact, according to these statistics, the universal world languages ​​should be Mandarin and Spanish.

Spanish is an official language in 22 countries, so it makes sense to learn it.

Subtings

• Grammar
• Vocabulary (includes many submarines)
• Pronunciation
• Verbs times (includes many submarines)
• Reading
900 I studied Spanish remotely. From this video it is clear that I learned especially well:

It is clear that this was of little use.

A few years later, I switched my phone to Spanish and started studying at Duolingo. I learned a lot. Literally 2 years later, I spoke Spanish at work. It pushed me to master tenses and learn a lot of technical terms.

Then I moved to Spain and spoke the language every day with my friends. I trained well. Three months later, I was already able to carry on a conversation quite well.

I now live in Colombia and speak Spanish every day.

How to learn it?

The best way to learn a language is to practice all of the above sub-skills in combination: listening, reading, writing and speaking. And by the way, about “talking”: many people are embarrassed to talk because they don't want to make a mistake, but that's when we learn.

1. Switch your phone to Spanish. You know the phone interface by heart, so you can easily learn a dozen other words.
2. Stick stickers with Spanish words on things around you. For example, stick "mesa" on the kitchen table.
3. Daily 15-minute Duolingo lessons are a great way to expand your vocabulary and practice all 4 sub-skills. Spaced repetition principles are also built into the app's algorithm, so you'll be constantly refreshing what you've learned so far.
4. To improve your speaking skills, communicate with foreigners or go to language courses. There are plenty of resources on the Internet for this (see below). The essence of this practice is that you are not afraid to make mistakes.
5. Try to learn at least one new phrase every day, ideally from the list of most used phrases (see below).

Doing these five things, I started talking in just a couple of weeks. Of course, these were not the most intense conversations, but I practiced and every day I spoke better and better.

Pimsleur was recommended to me by many, but I haven't tried it (again, see below).

Resources

Free

• App: Duolingo
• Appendix: Memrise
• Article: Top 100 short phrases
• Video: 100 phrases to know (more complete list)
• Video: 100 phrases to know (fun list)
900 Language35 Website: freespanishtutorials.net Website
• Exchange (I used to have great results)

Paid

• Course: Pimsleur for Castilian
• Course: Pimsleur for Latin American
• Spanish Schools
• Spanish Teachers
#4. Programming Photo by Dlanor S on Unsplash

My definition: Learn to write code to create software and hardware.

Programming is among the most popular skills for a reason. Many people want to learn how to create something from scratch, and programming provides such an opportunity. Programming is useful both in creating software and in developing computer equipment.

If you are not at all familiar with programming, this is the art of writing commands so that the “machine” does what we need. Without programming, there would be no computers.

• variables
• loops
• functions
• object-oriented programming (OOP)
• universal modeling language (UML)
• filesystems

My story about programming

For those who don't know me: I am a programmer by profession. Now I am developing video games.

Since childhood, I have been interested in programming - I started playing video games before I could walk. This is no surprise today, but back then it was rare.

When I got my first computer at the age of 13, I started developing video games in RPG Maker 1995. There was no programming involved, but I learned the concepts of logic and variables.

A few years later, I started using the BYOND (Build Your Own Dream) program and created the MMO game Final Fantasy Arena. Everything was written in code, which I did not really know then. The game became popular because people thought it was from the creators of Final Fantasy. Shortly after that, I was thrown out of the portal…damn.

You know the rest.

How to learn to program?

Programming may seem difficult at first. Many beginners give up quickly.

If you want to learn programming, you need to do it consciously. What do you want to create? Answer this question and everything will make sense. It will be difficult, but you will have strong motivation. When you create a working product, you will be so proud of yourself that your motivation will skyrocket.

Take my story. If it wasn't for my passion for making games, I probably would have given up. Learning subskills and their components is very boring (and difficult). But when there is a dream, everything seems easier.

I suggest you just do what you want to do. Look for tutorials online and implement immediately. In the field of game development, the Unity tutorials (see below) are very helpful.

And to be honest, now is the best time to learn programming. You have access to so many cool resources - and it's completely free! But it's not even about resources, but about the fact that you can go to your goal and learn everything you need right along the way.

Resources

Free

• Website: Code Academy
• Website: Khan Academy
• Website: Free Code Camp
• Website: Unity Learn
• Article: 71 of the Best Places to To Code For Free
• Website: StackOverflow (a programmer's best friend) )

Paid

• Site/Course: Lambda School
#3. Performing in front of an audience Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash

My definition: Learning how to perform in front of a crowd of people with ease.p

Public speaking involves a lot of skills! No wonder so many people struggle with public speaking! To some extent, this requires an ideal command of speech.

In addition, public speaking is associated with many fears: for example, fear of crowds or fear of failure.

Subskills:

• Pitch
• Tone
• Loudness
• Vocabulary
• Clarity
• Intro
• Conclusions
• Storytelling
• Speech rate
• Self-presentation
• Body language
• Audience engagement
• Creating visual support
• Controlling fear and nerves
• and more!

My public speaking story

I'm an introvert and have never been eager to speak in public. At school, in an attempt to get rid of my shyness, I pretended to be confident in myself - and it worked!

In fact, I still use this technique. When I have to speak in front of a large audience, I pretend to be Tony Robbins.

Really, is there anyone more relaxed in front of a large audience than Tony Robbins?

Before I started writing, I took two courses: storytelling and public speaking. Then I did not suspect that both skills would be useful to me when writing texts.

How to learn to speak in front of an audience?

Take every opportunity to speak to a group of people.

First, speak to your loved ones: family members and friends. Talk about what you are very passionate about. When you talk about your favorite things in the circle of your favorite people, fears will not get to you.

Accept that your first story will not be perfect. Notice people's non-verbal reactions. Watch how the level of interest changes from offer to offer.

Public speaking is all about constantly improving your stories.

My definition: Find out how learning happens in our brain.

Many people think they know how to learn, and most of them are wrong. We have never been taught how to study properly, and as a result, mastering some complex skills is given to us with great difficulty.

Before I started using the SkillUp method, I was terribly disorganized and had no motivation to learn new things. I always felt like I was moving slower than I should. But I did not give up - and soon learned that there are ways to learn faster and better.

Duties

• STUDITION
9003A many sub-skills)
• Fighting procrastination
• Visualization techniques (includes many sub-skills)
• Spaced repetition
• Principles of testing
• Understanding how it all manifests itself in the brain
• and much more!

My story about how to learn to learn

When I first started learning to learn, I had no idea where I was going. Over time, I realized how important it is to know the principles of how the brain works. Today I can learn something new much easier than before.

It may seem like it takes me 100% of my time to learn a new skill, but in reality I only practice 30 minutes every day. Usually 15 hours of deliberate practice is enough for me to master the necessary skill and feel quite confident in it

How to learn it?

It would take a whole book to teach you how to learn. To fit into the format of the article, I will give you a link to one of my stories. There, I detailed the key aspects of learning to learn:

The 3 Most Important Skills to Learn Now to Thrive in 2019

First 8 hours:

Watch 30 minutes of the Learn to Learn course at 2x speed - that's enough for you for 16 days.

Resources

Free

• Article: The 30-Second Habit
• Article: The 5-Hour Rule
• Course: Learning to LEARN

Paid

• Book: How We Learn 9012. Write Photographed by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

  My definition: Learn to put ideas into text.

  For centuries, writing has been one of the most important skills. It is believed that this is the most effective way to transfer ideas from person to person.

  Communicating your thoughts through text is not as easy as it seems. The thing is that “on paper” there is no context (which complements and reveals our thoughts in the physical world). The author must be able to convey not only the idea, but also the accompanying details. Is the character sad, happy, or angry? It takes years of practice to learn how to convey all this in the text clearly and concisely.

  Sub-skills

  • Grammar
  • Vocabulary
  • Conciseness
  • Organization (how to structure ideas intelligibly)
  • Formatting
  • Compilation of headlines
  • Using illustrations for the best transmission of ideas
  • Storitelling
  • Reading (yes)
  • Notes
  • Fiction (many submarines are included)
  • Documentary literature (included many lectures) 9003 blog
  • Novels
  • Emails
  • and more!

  My writing story

  I never intended to write. If you had asked me a year ago what I thought about writing, I would have said: “This is not for me.” I am a computer programmer. I only write code and I love it.

  But then, in January 2018, I decided that it was time to improve my writing skills - after all, this is such a powerful way to communicate both in life and in business.

  I started writing, and literally on the fifth day I was published on The Startup. After another 23 days, I hit the top 7 categories. I got a bunch of comments from readers and started to enjoy the process.

  I was going to pee for 30 days and stop the practice, but things went so well that I decided to keep going. And now it's been 12 months since my first publication on Medium, and I'm writing this article.

  How to learn to write?

  As with any other skill, we learn through action. But here's my advice: write publicly.

  Learning is more effective when people see your work. This encourages you to dig deeper and try harder. There is responsibility. You get feedback from readers and improve your skills.

  Create a blog and post regularly. Publish posts at least once a day, even if you are unhappy with the result. You don't force anyone to read.

  First 8 hours:

  Write 300 words a day for 30-45 minutes a day for 12-16 days. Publish what you have written.

  Resources

  Freeware

  • Article: The Ultimate Regurgitation of Epic Info About Writing on Medium.com
  • Tool: Headline Ninja

  Paid

  • Course: 30 Expert Medium Writing Tips Course, Ebook, Audiobook, and Bonus Video Lectures

  A lot of what I know about blogging on Medium I learned from these cool authors:

  Dave Schools and Anthony Moore.

  More to read about developing skills

  In the book, the author offers a pragmatic view of what people in the machine age need to do in order to be indispensable. An interesting study of the secrets of people and companies successfully coping with technological change, as well as a set of tips on what to look for when developing skills.

  Resilient for the future | 9 rules for people in the age of machines. Read more →
  Conclusion

  I hope this article will help you master the skills that are popular in 2019. Any of these skills can be turned into a profession, but they are useful in related fields. In addition, the learning process itself is very exciting if you have the right mindset.

  Below I have put together some universal tips to help you master any of the skills. Start learning each skill by mastering the sub-skill that you find most useful. Use resources from the list or find them yourself.

  I also want to emphasize that learning new skills does not have to be boring and time-consuming. And you will be surprised how much you can learn in literally 15-20 hours of conscious practice!

  Here I am dancing salsa after 18 hours of practice:

  Learning all these skills has completely changed my life. I am no longer shy. I became more open and interesting. I communicate on a deeper level. I earn more. I became healthier and happier.

  And I wish you the same. So start your journey now. Be who you want to be. It all starts with learning one simple skill. Welcome to our club!

  You will definitely succeed!

  Appendix A: 14 Universal Tips for Mastering Most Skills
  1. When watching a video, take advantage of the rewind: you can go back or skip an uninteresting part. Skip through the introductions and conclusions if you like. Skip off-topic content.
  2. If your teacher is unclear, find another teacher. Nothing personal. This is your time and your money.
  3. Don't forget to adjust the playback speed and use subtitles.
  4. Never forget the Pareto principle (the 80/20 rule).
  5. Always break down skills into smaller sub-skills.
  6. Always keep track of your progress and save the resources you used for learning - this will come in handy in the future.
  7. Keep notes of what you have learned and what you have done.
  8. Be consistent. Practice a little every day.
  9. Diversify your practice. Don't do the same exercise over and over again.
  10. Use spaced repetition techniques. In a sense, do not repeat randomly - systematize.
  11. Practice as much as possible with the other person. First, it increases responsibility. Secondly, learning benefits both of you.
  12. Share your success with others or online. This also adds responsibility, plus this is how we strive for great results.
  13. The most effective learning is with the help of a mentor. Find someone who is willing to teach you one on one.
  14. Try to study what you are really interested in. This is how you stay motivated.
  Appendix B: Resources to help you master any skill
  • Course: Learning to Learn (free)
  • Book: How we Learn (referral link)
  • Community: S MagkillUp your Life
  • Mentors.

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