Ian Gibbs
Student Tip 13: Trick or Treat?
I’m sure you’re already very familiar with prizes and punishments at school—especially the punishments. But the reason why your teachers...
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Ian Gibbs
The Learnability Man
Blog: articles about education, learning and getting better at things. Use the filters to get straight to what interests you.
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Ian Gibbs
Sep 26, 20222 min read
Student Tip 12: The Power Of Habit
We are all creatures of habit, and this includes you, too. By this I mean that you tend to do the same thing in the same way every time...
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Ian Gibbs
Sep 23, 20222 min read
Student Tip 11: Planning
When you were at primary, your time was very much decided by your teachers at school and your parents at home. But as you start thinking...
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Ian Gibbs
Sep 22, 20222 min read
Student Bonus Tip: Don’t Do This
In Tip 9 we looked at not worrying about making mistakes. In Tip 10 we looked at learning from the mistakes we do make. But in this Bonus...
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Ian Gibbs
Sep 21, 20222 min read
Student Tip 10: Don’t Ignore Them
Having said in the previous blog that making mistakes is good, I think we both know that if you keep making a pig’s ear out of your...
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Ian Gibbs
Sep 20, 20222 min read
Student Tip 9: Make Mistakes
Making a mistake is a bad thing, isn’t it? Yes... and no. It depends. If you’re a brain surgeon or a Jumbo Jet pilot or a nuclear...
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Ian Gibbs
Sep 19, 20223 min read
Student Tip 8: Deep Thought
Have you ever been scuba diving? There’s lots of fascinating stuff at the bottom of the sea but it’s not easy to get to. You have to do a...
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Ian Gibbs
Sep 15, 20222 min read
Student Tip 7: Find Your Space
Have you ever had to go to the swimming pool on a blustery winter’s day? You probably didn’t feel like going swimming at all. Outside, it...
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Ian Gibbs
Sep 13, 20222 min read
Student Tip 6: A Little, Often
In 2003 most of Europe suffered a drought. The temperatures were blisteringly high and the rainfall was pitifully low. The following year...
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Ian Gibbs
Sep 12, 20222 min read
Student Tip 5: The Sooner, The Better
If you pick up a soaking-wet towel, the water drains off it quickly. But then after a while, the draining water slows to a steady drip,...
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Ian Gibbs
Sep 7, 20222 min read
Student Tip 4: The Concert Effect
If you’ve ever been to a concert, I bet the songs you enjoyed the most were the songs you already knew. In fact, I also bet you even made...
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Ian Gibbs
Sep 7, 20222 min read
Whatever You Like
If you’re interested in chemistry or geography or English literature, then good for you. Enjoying the subject you have to learn is a big...
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Ian Gibbs
Jul 11, 20223 min read
Language Learning Law 7: Learn The Gender Of Everything - It’s Important
Whoever it was who invented languages where the whole universe is divided up into things that are considered either male or female has...
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Ian Gibbs
Jun 28, 20222 min read
Helping Kids Learn 1: Appreciation
How much interest do you show in what they do? When was the last time you looked at their coursework/homework? Could you explain what...
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Ian Gibbs
Jun 23, 20222 min read
Language Learning Law 6: Forget The Grammar (For The Moment)
If pronunciation is one of the most underestimated key parts to language learning, grammar is one of the most overestimated. Although...
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Ian Gibbs
Jun 23, 202222 min read
The Truth About “Time Out”
This fascinating article was written by Amanda Ruggeri and is part of Family Tree, a series of features that explore the issues and...
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Ian Gibbs
Jun 8, 20223 min read
Language Learning Law 5: Make Pronunciation A Priority
If a native English speaker puts on almost any foreign accent the result is usually considered hilarious (by other native speakers). I...
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Ian Gibbs
Jun 2, 20221 min read
Language Learning Law 4: You Don’t Have To Live There To Learn The Language
Travelling is no longer a prerequisite for successful language learning. Countless poliglots have proved it. Neither does living in your...
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Ian Gibbs
May 31, 20223 min read
Language Learning Law 3: Practice Is More Important Than Theory
I passed my driving test in 1982. Those were the good old days of learning to drive. You found someone with a car who’d accept ready...
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Ian Gibbs
May 30, 20222 min read
Language Learning Law 2: Adults Learn Languages Better Than Children
Common sense tells us only young children can learn languages well. After all, look at how well you learnt to speak English before you...
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