Professors’ lectures are often long and sometimes really boring, but we need to gather, process, and retain the information. How? One way is by listening actively. Sunni Brown, owner of a visual design company, explains how and why “doodling” is a great way to do this. Watch her video HERE, fill in the worksheet, then answer ONE of the questions below in the comments.
1. How do you usually take notes and keep yourself awake during a long, boring lecture?
2. What do you think about Sunni Brown’s idea about doodling?
*Remember: readings and questions are due next week October 27th before 14:20!*
Interactive English: Reception 
I will answer the question 1. When I hear a boring, long lecture, I write a graph or piture which is related to the lecture. That makes me awake. Moreover, if I almost lf I almost fall asleep, I drink water I bring to the university. It helps me wake up. In addition, I research something having a relationship to a content of a lecture. That makes me be interested in the content. Moreover, I try to respond what teachers are saying. For example, nodding whatever teachers speak.
Hi, Matt! I feel better^^
Question 2; I agree with her idea. Because some information cannot be expressed with words.
I also memorize something by using visual sense. It’s OK just to remember the doodle when I take a exam and so on. We don’t have to explain by difficult sentences. Doodle is convenient as a tool of study, work… But, here is one important point. When we take a lecture, if we doodle, I think we had better doodle relating to the lecture. If you think another thing, don’t you need to take the lecture, do you? Oh, but I wonder whether she suggests such a doodle(not relating to the lecture) is also good or not. Possibly it might be a great invention in the future???
Anyway, taking a lecture just seriously is boring, so I think “doodle” is a good way to enjoy it.
Thank you.
I choose the question 1.
When I take a long and boring lecture, I always try to concentrate on the lecture and have interest in it to make me awake. In many cases I fail in doing it, so I always make a plan. When I make a plan, I use my head and my hands. Moving my head and hands keep me awake. Moreover it shows me that I don’t have time, so I can think I should concentrate on the lecture now and save time to review it.
Hi, Matt! I’m Yuki. I feel better^^
Question 2; I agree with her idea. Because some information cannot be expressed with words.
I also memorize something by using visual sense. It’s OK just to remember the doodle when I take a exam and so on. We don’t need difficult explanations. Maybe a picture like a doodle tend to be remained in our brains. Doodle is convenient as a tool of study or work. But here is one important point. It is that when we take a lecture and if we doodle, I think we had better doodle relating to the lecture. If you think another thing, don’t you need to take the lecture, do you? Oh, but I wonder whether she suggests such a doodle (not relating to the lecture) is also good or not. Possibly it might be a great invention in the future???
Anyway, taking a lecture just seriously is boring, so I think “doodle” is a good way to enjoy it.
Thank you.
Question 1
During a boring lecture, I usually try to write down what the teacher is saying, constructing or making a summary of it. An important thing for me is moving my hand to avoid falling asleep.
Also, I concentrate on find as many questions or opinions as I can. I pick up what is difficult to understand or I think of my opinion about the content of the lecture. During that lecture, I try to find or guess the answers for the questions and then, if I can’t, I directly pose those questions to the teacher after the lecture.
These ways help me keep awake, but sometimes, I can’t stand any more and I fall asleep:)
I would like to answer to the question 2.
I think her idea is really convincing. I have talked with a psychological professor in a class when I was a high school student. In that class we asked how to concentrate on something boring, for example reading long and difficult texts. And she said, writing something (doodling) is a good way to concentrate and understand them. So one day I tried, and actually it was much easier to get the meanings than just reading through the sentences. So, as Sunni Brown said, although it is considered to be not good to doodle during class, work and something like that, it’s honestly a very useful for our work. I would also like to recommend it to everyone.
I chose question 1. During a long, boring lecture, I usually try to write characters carefully. By doing so I can concentrate on writing and it makes me awake. And I also draw a picture connected with the lecture. For instance if I take my major language class, I draw a picture near a word which is new one for me.
Except how to take notes I put eye drops in my eyes. Eye drops is indispensable one for me to
keep awake. Putting eye drops makes my eye feel cool and refreshed. Stretching myself is also good way to keep myself awake. However if any method doesn’t work, I give up keeping myself awake and make up my mind to fall in asleep.
I choose question1.
I usually think of happy events or situations to keep myself awake during a long, boring lecture. I can’t keep concentration for a long time, so I often use this way. Many students who lost their concentration write some pictures during boring lecture, but I don’t do it, because I’m not good at writing pictures! I can’t show pictures I wrote…I envy the people who can write wonderful pictures. By the way, I feel a pang of guilt for sleeping, but I don’t feel like this when I’m not listening lecture. However, I know I will have trouble sometime. Therefore, I have to listen lectures more earnestly…
I would like to answer the question No.1.
When I feel sleepy in boring lecture, I do some exercises. For example, stretching arms, moving legs, and pushing around eyes. If I can’t be tolerated, I hear lecture with lying face down on the desk(I have never fallen asleep with doing this, because I have a hard time getting to sleep).
In order not to sleep, I keep taking notes a lot. But, I think most important thing is to be interested in the topic of lecture to keep you awake.
I would like to answer the question No.1.
When I feel sleepy in boring lecture, I do some exercises. For example, stretching arms, moving legs, and pushing around eyes. Some times, if I can’t be tolerated, I hear lecture with lying face down on the desk(I don’t fall asleep).
In order not to sleep, I keep taking notes a lot. But, I think most important thing is to be interested in the topic of lecture to keep you awake.
I would like to answer the question No.1.
When I feel sleepy in boring lecture, I do some exercises. For example, stretching arms, moving legs, and pushing around eyes. Some times, if I can’t be tolerated, I hear lecture with lying face down on the desk(I have never fallen asleep by doing this , because I have a hard time getting to sleep ).
In order not to sleep, I keep taking notes a lot. But, I think most important thing is to be interested in the topic of lecture to keep you awake.
I choose question 1.
During a long and boring lecture, I try to connect the content to some topics I am interested in and take a note using informal and plain language. Sometimes I illustrate it with a figure or a picture. When a lecturer repeats and stress the same word, it must be what he/she wants to tell us most. Therefore I write it using large characters and highlight it.
To keep awake, I usually put some eye drops in my eyes.
Hi, Matt. I’m Yao in T4 class. I’d like to answer the question 1.
During a long and boring class, I usually write down all the words on the blackboard or screen. If I can’t catch what the teacher say, I will refer to the dictionary. After doing this, If I have nothing to do, I will draw manga or doodle on the notebook. I remember that when I was in the high school, I always felt bored in the history class. But the portraits in the textbook were very interesting. So I added hair to Darwin to make him handsome, changed Einstein into a cat monster and etc. It was the most enjoyable thing in the class.
Hi Matt!
I chose question 1.
Actually, it is too difficult to awake during a boring lecture…
I usually fall asleep or take a nap:(
But if the lecture is boring but important, i have to make myself awake.
At the severe situation, i slap my cheek or arms. In other wards, i give my self a pain to make me up.
As you suggest, all students want to know the way to awake during such lectures. I am looking forward to join next class!!
Thanks,
I will answer the question1.
I rerally fell asleep during the class, even if I would not take enought time to sleep. I think I must not sleep and it is a natural thing. And during the class I try to sraighten up. When I have poor posture, I often become sleepy…! So I think passion and poses are important things.
Though I sometimes do not focus on the topic of class. I wake up but think something defferent… My majar language’s teacher told me that during the class you shoud think about what you DO NOT understand, and as soon as teacher says “do you have any questions?” you should ask what you wonder. I think this technique is oposite of “doodring”. I will try both of them, when Icannot focus on the class next time!!
I choose the question 1.
During a long, boring lecture, I try to keep writing down what the teacher is saying. It helps me to keep me awake. When I get tired of writing, I drink something. Sometimes I draw a picture of the teacher although I’m not good at drawing. Occasionally my thoughts turn to a memory of entrance examination. When I remember that I studied hard to pass the exam and study at this University, I can concentrate on a lecture no matter how it is boring…
I’ll answer the question 1. I try to write down the main topic our teacher teaches, no matter how boring the lecture is. So as not to fall asleep during the lecture, I use my i phone and look for more interesting information, related to the lecture. That helps me expand my knowledge more and write a report about the lecture later.
Hi, Matt.
I will write about Q1. During a long, boring lecture, I try to awake myself. First, I put drops in my eyes and I eat xylitol gum or MINTIA. These things help me awake. Second, I look around the classroom and see other students listening to teachers earnestly and pinch me on the cheek. Writing something without stopping is also good way to keep me awake.
Hi,Matt!
Actually, I went back to my hometown this weekend, and unfortunatelly I have a bunch of assignment and tests this week. I must work on them intensely. It makes me incredibly tired because I was busy last week, too!
I managed to have addressed this homework.
I chose Q2.
Her idea was so fun and hopeful especially for me. I often doodle, dally, dawdle doing something. Some always say to me to focus on what others is speaking or doing. But, according to her idea -I focused on what she said, doodling with doing something helps you do better. If it’s true, we ought to change everythinng we did during class. “Find out!”, “Focus on!” These words can be unapropriate.
I hope her way of thinking is true.
I will answer the question number one.The way of taking over a long, boring class is keeping on taking notes what the teacher said however that is not funny jokes. When I was a high school student, I usually got a sleep after having a lunch. But one day, I noticed my friend who was next to me, always kept taking notes during the class.I gave at a glance of her notes, she took the jokes what the teacher said. I had never seen she was sleeping during a class, and she usually had a good grade. From then, I imitated her ways of studying, and I could make a good at school, passing the exam of TUFS.
I answer question 1.
I have two ways.
First, I usually write letters slowly and politely.
If I try to write letters this way, I can concentrate . My attention goes not to teachers boring story but writing letters politely.
So I can concentrate to
Second, sometimes I draw a picture which is related to what teachers says.
That enables me to input and output .So I don’t feel boring.
This is what I do when the teacher’s story is boring.
See you!
Hi,Matt.
I choose question1.
I always use some colored pens when I take note. Each color have the meaning,for example, blue means what I learned for the first time and green means what I’ve heard but don’t memorize certainly and the orange means that it is a name of a person and so on.It changes according to the subjects.
This has been my own rule since I was in a junior high.This visual appealing note helps me memorize and remind the key point of the class.
And this rule also makes me awake during long classes. I think tasks which make us independent and active help us keep ourselves awake and concentrate on the class.
Hi, Matt.
It is exactly serious problem how we can get through with a boring lecture with a bit of pleasure. So I’ll answer the Question1.
I recently had to start taking notes for revitalization of a boring lecture and a certification that I am self-training for. I went through a few different note taking sessions before I fell into a method that works for me. Then I found a good way of note-taking, which is with Evernote.
I have Evernote open on my phone constantly to take notes at lecture. It allows me to travel light without having to bring writing tools, the computer and syncs along. I announce to the other party that I am taking notes so they still know that I am paying attention and not texting or answering emails.
I take the exam this Thursday, lets see how I do.
Thank you very much,
Kenji