100
STUDY AND WRITING SKILLS
12.4
STUDY SKILLS
TIME MANAGEMENT
1
a
Are you good at time management? How do you
know this?
1
b
Look at these expressions about time. Which
expressions suggest problems with time? Which
describe positive feelings about time?
1
I’ve got all the time in the world.
2
There aren’t enough hours in the day.
3
Time’s running out.
4
I’ve got time on my hands.
5
Time’s on my side.
6
It’s a race against time.
1
c
Why will time management be important for
you if you continue your English studies beyond
Pre-intermediate level?
2
a
Work in small groups. Look at these problems
some students are having with time management.
What advice would you give them?
1
I’m often late for appointments, or sometimes I miss
appointments completely.
2
I spend a lot of time looking for my notes. I can
never find anything.
3
I sometimes study for a long time, but I don’t feel
like I’m learning anything. I read the material, but
nothing’s happening – it’s not going in.
4
I can’t finish all the things I need to do in the day.
2
b
12.6
Listen to some students and their tutor
discuss the problems above. Do they mention any of
your ideas?
2
c
Match this advice (a–h) with the problems (1–4) in
Exercise 2a. Then listen again and check.
a
Find out when you study best.
b
Decide what’s important.
c
Keep a diary – and check it!
d
Take regular breaks.
e
Make lists of things you need to do.
f
Organise your files.
g
Make sure you can concentrate.
h
Be nice to yourself!
2
d
Look at Audio script 12.6 on pages 163–164 and
underline the parts of the script that tell us about the
advice (a–h) above. Which two tips do you think are
most useful for you?
3
a
Critical evaluation
Look at this list of English
language skills and knowledge. Which do you need to
improve urgently? Which are not as urgent? Put them
in order of priority (the most important first).
Listening
Gr
a
mm
a
r
Spe
a
king
Voc
a
bul
a
ry
Re
a
ding
Pronunci
a
tion
Writing
Confidence
3
b
Make sure you spend more time outside class on
your priorities. What can you do to improve the top
two in your own time? With a partner, compare your
list from Exercise 3a and your ideas.
4
Discuss with a partner. Look at this list of activities.
Which can you change to give yourself more time to
work on your priorities?
•
sleeping
•
personal care (e.g. washing, dressing)
•
eating and drinking (including preparation of meals,
snacks, coffee breaks)
•
travelling
•
time at college
•
time at work
•
time with family
•
housework
•
socialising with friends
•
sport/leisure activities
•
(non-work) time on the internet
5
a
How can you use technology (your computer and
your phone) to improve your time management?
Online calendars are good because you can switch
quickly between your daily, weekly and monthly
schedules so it’s easy to see what’s happening in your life.
If I see a useful book, I can take a photo of the cover with
my phone so I don’t have to write down all the details
about the book there and then (author, publisher, etc.).
5
b
How can technology have a negative effect on our
time? Think about things like social networking, long
web searches, etc.
Don’t waste time checking social networking sites too
much. It’s easy to spend more time on them than you think.
