introduction

Learning is a very serious business, and it takes a serious minded person to learn very well. This article you are about to read is borne out of my over 20 years experience in the classroom as a teacher.
Indeed, I have gathered a lot of experiences from my teaching career over the years, and I want to share some of the experiences as is it relates to learning, you, see, we have loads of text books that treat teaching methodologies, but what we rarely have, or should I say almost don't even have are books that talk about learning methodologies.
Consequently, it is common knowledge in Nigeria for instance, that students` performances in all the certificate examinations namely: JSSCE, SSCE , WASSCE, NECO, NABTEB, etc, and even the UTME, have not been encouraging to say the least, it has almost always been, yearly mass failures, most especially in the core subjects like English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and literature.
Basically, it is not as if the teachers have not been teaching well enough per se, no, not quite that. Essentially, most of the teachers are trying their best, and the teaching methodologies are there to assist them enhance effective teaching service delivery, but the missing point actually is the learning methodology on the part of the students, this is because it takes two to tangle, by this I want to mean that as much as we have effective teaching methodologies we should also have effective learning methodologies in order to balance the teaching and learning equation adequately.
And so, it is in the light of the above, notion that I have come up with this article, “Discover how to learn, so that you can learn well “And this article is borne out of my unrelenting worry about the recurring yearly mass failures of students in the relevant examinations, and I feel very strongly that drastic measures should be taken to checkmate the trend. And indeed, this work is a sure bet for academic success, as well as success in every sphere of learning.
Understanding your learning type
Indeed, one of the major things that will help you to succeed as a learner is your ability to discover yourself, discover how your are wired in terms of learning.
There are different types of learners namely:
Visual learners
Auditory learners
Reading learners (ReaderLearners )
Kinesthetic learners (Psychomotor learners )

1. Visual learner

This is a learner that needs to see whatever it is that he is learning, before he would be able to learn effectively. In this case if the learner does not have access to what he is learning---having a look at it and watching it, learning becomes difficult to achieve.
This type of learners requires something like watching a real life display, or even electronic video display of the concept being taught, in other to acquire the learning.

2. Auditory learner

This type of learner just requires to listen to what is being taught in order to learn it. This type of learner usually has sharp auditory acuity with which he quickly grabs the concept or the lesson being taught.
To this learner, the radio is a veritable medium for learner, as well as any other auditory means of information dissemination.

3. Reading learner (Readerlearning )

This type of learner requires books in order to learn, if he has no access to books his learning is not yet complete. Indeed, after the teacher has finished teaching, this reader goes to the library or to the bookshop to get books that will help him know more about the lesson; he is not satisfied, until he reads for himself what has been taught to him. He is usually an avid reader, and he takes pleasure in buying books, and having a massive collection of books for himself. This type of reader cannot do without books, to him it is, no books no learning.

4. Kinesthetic learner (Psychomotor learner )

This type of learner wants to see what is learning being practicalized, by the teacher, and he too, must have to practise by himself, and until that is done he will find it difficult to learn effectively.
Note :
However, it is important to state that a good learner may be able to combine two to three or even all of the four types of learning.
What type of learner are you?
And so, from what has been stated so far, it is safe to say that discovering the type of learner one is, is a very fundamental prerequisite for effective, functional learning to take place, little wonder then why Socrates one of the greatest teacher on earth once said,” Man know thyself “ And so self discovery is a prerequisite to learning. And of course, it is apt to assert that for you to learn effectively, you must first of all learn how to learn.

Keys to effective learning

1. First of all, effective learning must begin with a determination to learn, so you must determine to learn, for you to learn.
2. Discover your type of learning. (Understand your learning style)
3. Believe in yourself, that you have the ability, and capacity to learn.
4. Be motivated and keep positive attitude, tell yourself you are a good learner, and that you can make it.
5. Always make notes.
6. Discuss or teach what you learnt to others.
7. You must have a need for what you are learning.
8. You must have a burning, unquenchable desire to learn.
9. Make punctuality and regularity your motto in the place of learning.
10. You must be meticulous in your learning, pay careful attention to everything no matter how minute.
11. You must be very diligent in your learning, don`t brook any kind of laziness.
12. Always ask questions concerning whatever you do not understand.
    !3. You must be teachable, and controllable.
13. Avoid pride; learn with absolute humility, no teacher likes to teach
    an arrogant person.
14. Be interacting with other students as well.
15. Be ready to learn from anybody, and anything at any time.
16. Always focus your attention on the teacher; a serious student has only two places to focus his attention on, during teaching, and learning namely:
    i. The teacher.
    Ii. The chalkboard.
17. Your must focus your eyes, your ears, your mind on the teacher, because a student learns with three things:
    i. Eyes.
    ii. Ears
    iii. Mind.
    And all three must work in synergy.
18. You must always, love, respect and honour your teachers---sometimes buy him,( them) gifts that you can afford ; to make him, ( them ) happy.
19. Don`t ever shy away from doing assignments, and avoid malpractices, and plagiarism.
    Follow all these steps, you will become a good learner, and pass your exams very well.
    Thanks.