This post is a Smart Student Secrets members exclusive.

I was studying spanish at the time. Watching television in Spanish seemed like a good idea.

I had read the idea in a few blogs and I was pumped to give it a shot.

I figured I could spend hours watching shows in Spanish and in no time I would be picking up more and more new words. From the things I read online, (silly me) it sounded like a great idea.

Within the first 5 minutes of watching my first spanish television show I noticed the problem.

I couldn’t care less about the television show. I was completely zoning out. When I really forced myself to focus I was able to make some progress but it was a constant struggle. By the end of the first show, something started to click.

I hate watching television!

It’s true… I thought watching television in Spanish would help me learn while I really don’t enjoy watching television in English.

Whenever I do sit down while a television is on my brain zones off to think about more entertaining things like how cool it would be to see a giant kangaroo race a train!

This is a bit of a silly example because it seems so obvious but it’s a problem that a lot of students accidentally step into.

You shouldn’t try to learn in a way that you don’t normally spend your day. If you don’t watch television then you shouldn’t watch it to try and learn for fun. If you don’t read books then you probably shouldn’t try to learn through books for fun.

Notice the words “for fun.”

In general the 15MSS is my goto strategy for stuff I have to learn.

If you’re learning something for fun then you can get creative.

While you’re getting creative, try not to get too creative.

Immersion isn’t about flipping your life upside-down to immerse yourself. It’s about learning to live with more of the subject.

(The valuable part about moving to another country to learn the language isn’t the moving. It’s the fact that you’re using that language to eat and do all the things you normally do. If you’re like me and cooped up on the internet all day, it doesn’t help!)

Watching Television In Spanish

PLEASE STOP!

This is an absolutely essential read for anyone on this blog.

I’m about 4 hours away from something big.

The story began a decade ago when I first started to share my study strategies with other students.

I had figured out the Holy Grail of academic optimization strategies – and every intermediate step to get to it. Using this strategy, I pulled a nearly 4.0 GPA while running a double course load in college – and once I started sharing it.

Students noticed.

Droves of them.

And then teachers noticed.

Most of the teachers that were looking out for their student’s best interest got what I was saying and supported the cause. Others… well… not everyone has the student’s best interest at heart.

Anyway…

Early on (even before Smart Student Secrets,) I started writing for average students.

I knew… I was NEVER one of the “smart kids”. I was mediocre at best. And I knew, if these strategies worked for me then they could work for just about anybody. And that’s who I wanted to connect with.

But… There was a problem…

I built an audience giving these strategies away. Sure…

And I’d get messages from them. And we’d talk. And I’d hear their stories.

I’d hear from A+ students that cut their study time by 90%.

I’d hear from B students that took their grades up to A’s.

I’d hear from teachers that were sharing my strategies with their students.

I’d hear from older students how these strategies changed their life.

I love it. I love introducing these strategies that changed my life to other people.

But there was always this… but…

What about the C students?

What about the D students?

What about the students that are currently failing?

Sure… Some would reach out.. but…

They never followed through… They’d take a small step. They’d sign up. They’d learn some killer strategies. Seeing right there how powerful they were going to be…

And then… life kicks in. They lose sight of their goals.

And it’s gone.

Forever.

Student’s came to this site to improve their life. They see the possibilities. But then… they move on.

In about 4 hours, I’m going to be introducing something – an email subscriber exclusive – that can help change that.

It’s going to make more Smart Students than at any other time in this site’s history.

If you’re ready to take your academic game to the next level – if you want to see it for yourself.

Write your email in the box. Check the confirmation you want emails. Confirm your email. And see for yourself.

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