How To: Survive a Class When You Don't Understand Anything

We all could relate to this. 

You walk into the classroom, not knowing what's about to crash on your shoulders. You lay down your heavy bags and swiftly occupy the seat. The teacher rushes into the classroom and glances at all the innocent faces. We smile till the moment your teacher begins to rap. One thing is certain - you absolutely do not understand nor understood anything.

Earlier today, I had a Chemistry class in my school. I went into the lab like a braveheart and came out in despair like a Batman with a broken back. Such was the pain of trying to survive a class in which you do not understand anything. Deep from my heart, this sucks! Because ninety percent of the time, every teacher expects her students to know and understand contexts of her teaching before she even teaches.

What teachers do not understand is that the difference in definitions between the word knowing and understanding is huge. You can know a lot of things and in contrast, you might understand nothing at all. It exceptionally synonymous to memorising the topic's title and brief details rather than understanding it. However, fear nothing my dear Earthlings. Why? Because here's your guide to How to Survive a Class When You Don't Understand Anything,

• Never Sleep on It

Sleeping. Easy, yes. Dangerous, definitely yes. Sleeping could possibly be the worst idea in trying to survive such class. Not understanding the bone of contentions, you could be feel migraines and headaches hitting hard. Avoid sleeping or risk getting caught.

• Read it Yourself

If you don't understand anything your teacher is saying - or worse, it makes you fall asleep - read the books, handouts or notes by yourself. Best thing that could happen is that you might actually understand what's happening. 

• Sit beside people who understand

Sitting in a group of people who are plainly giggling or sleeping and trying hard to understand the words that your teacher is uttering - it may sound like Pitbul's rap but trust me, it's the lesson - is simply subtracting one from one - zero. Sitting beside people who actually understand your teachers' raps can help you understand better.

• Ask your teacher

Last resort perhaps. If all else fails, ask your teacher. Don't be afraid. Certain teachers might degrade you for asking. I always sum up all necessary questions till the end of lesson or breaks in between. Never interrupt a teacher's lesson in between.

• Revise after such horrid class

The most important step to avoid another horrid class is just to revise.

PS. - This only works if you are actually willing to care for the subject you are learning. If you don't understand any shit because you hate or dislike the subject, cancel the subject. It's simple. Say no, lol.

TJ.