BanDocHow to read lecture handouts in a second language
A step-by-step way to get through a dense handout when the course language is not your first, and to remember the terms the exam will use.
A handout in a language you are still learning is slow to read for two reasons. You do not know some of the words, and you do not yet know which words matter. The method below deals with both.
Start with the structure, not the sentences
Spend five minutes before you read anything closely.
- Read every heading and subheading in the original language.
- Mark the terms in bold, in a box or in a definition. These are the words a teacher expects you to know.
- Look at every figure, table and formula. They usually carry the main idea of the page.
After this you know what the handout is about, and you can read the sentences around the terms with a purpose.
Translate only what blocks you
Read the paragraph first. If you can follow it, move on. If one sentence stops you, translate that sentence, not the page.
- Find the term or phrase that blocks you.
- Look up its meaning in your own language.
- Read the sentence again in the original language.
Reading the original again at step 3 matters. The exam will be written in the course language, so your memory has to attach the meaning to the original words.
Keep one list of terms per course
Terms repeat. A word you meet in week two will come back in week eight, often with a small change in meaning. Keep one list for the whole course instead of a new list for each handout.
For each term, write three things:
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| The term in the course language | The exact wording used in the handout |
| The meaning in your language | One short line, in your own words |
| Where you met it | Handout name and page number |
The page number is the part most students skip. It lets you go back and read the sentence where the term lived, which is much easier to remember than a bare word.
Review a little every day
Reviewing short and often beats reviewing long and once. A simple plan for the two weeks before an exam:
- Pick the number of terms per day by dividing the total by the days left.
- Say the meaning before you check the answer.
- Put the terms you missed into tomorrow's group.
Where BanDoc fits
BanDoc keeps the translation on the page in the place of the original, shows the original with one tap, and gathers the terms of each course into one list that you review each day. You can read more about it on the pricing page or try it with a handout.
