Learning is a Pleasure

Learning is a Pleasure Dr. J.A.L. Theron Why This Book On Study Methods? A massive amount of scientific and other knowledge is currently being stored in libraries and computers in countries all over the world. While education is obligatory in many countries, very few state education departments attach sufficient priority to students’ access to this information as well as the accumulation and retention thereof. It is thus untenable to expect from students to attain required standards of successful learning while they are not efficiently equipped to achieve these standards. The stress and strain that students experience in this situation not only lead to poor academic results but also to a concomitant lack of pressure in the study process. The book, Learning is a Pleasure, is thus aimed at rectifying this widely prevalent unfair self-defeating situation endemic to study procedures. I believe that the contents of this book and the application of the relevant information will assist students, parents and teachers to not only achieve success in the study process but also make study a joyful experience because of the rewards that accompany success. The book covers the following elements involved in the process of successful, rewarding and enjoying learning: • What happens when you are studying • What factors influence the learning process? • Types of students • How to get organized/prepared for study • How to improve your motivation • How to improve your concentration • How to improve your memory • How to improve your reading skills and reading speed • How to improve your note-taking • How to study systematically • How to deal with examinations • What can parents do to make learning a pleasure for their children? • What can teachers/lecturers do to make learning a pleasure to their students? • Basic guidelines for daily study program planning

Learning is a Pleasure Dr. J.A.L. Theron Why This Book On Study Methods? A massive amount of scientific and other knowledge is currently being stored in libraries and computers in countries all over the world. While education is obligatory in many countries, very few state education departments attach sufficient priority to students’ access to this information as well as the accumulation and retention thereof. It is thus untenable to expect from students to attain required standards of successful learning while they are not efficiently equipped to achieve these standards. The stress and strain that students experience in this situation not only lead to poor academic results but also to a concomitant lack of pressure in the study process. The book, Learning is a Pleasure, is thus aimed at rectifying this widely prevalent unfair self-defeating situation endemic to study procedures. I believe that the contents of this book and the application of the relevant information will assist students, parents and teachers to not only achieve success in the study process but also make study a joyful experience because of the rewards that accompany success. The book covers the following elements involved in the process of successful, rewarding and enjoying learning: • What happens when you are studying • What factors influence the learning process? • Types of students • How to get organized/prepared for study • How to improve your motivation • How to improve your concentration • How to improve your memory • How to improve your reading skills and reading speed • How to improve your note-taking • How to study systematically • How to deal with examinations • What can parents do to make learning a pleasure for their children? • What can teachers/lecturers do to make learning a pleasure to their students? • Basic guidelines for daily study program planning

CURRICULUM VITAE NAME Jacques Augustinus Lemuel Theron ID: 380104 5030 08 5 QUALIFICATIONS B.A. University of Stellenbosch 1959 South. Africa B.A. Hons. Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education 1961 S.A. M.A. P.U. for C.H.E. 1963 S.A. Ph.D. University of the Orange Free State 1967 S.A. Title: “George Elton Mayo– ’n Kritiese ontleding van sy werk en sy bydrae tot die Industriële Sosiologie”. Translated: ‘George Elton Mayo – A critical analysis of his work and his contribution to Industrial Sociology” PROFESSIONAL ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE • Lecturer/Senior Lecturer from 1961 – 1976 at several Universities in S.A. • Director of the Student Advisory Service at the Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA) 1977 - 1988. Name of SAS changed in due course to Bureau for Student Development and Advice for research purposes • Retired 1988 PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT/ACHIEVEMENTS RELEVANT TO STUDENT DEVELOPMENT • Member of the Society for Student Counseling in Southern Africa 1979 - 1988 • President of the SSCSA 1983 – 1985 PUBLICATIONS • Published 23 articles on Industrial Sociology, Medical Sociology and Student Counselling in various Journals 1960 – 1985. Most relevant article: ‘Guidance given by the Student Advisory Service at the Medical University of Southern Africa’. S.A. Medical Journal Part 64, 22/10/1983 • Published three books: Dis Lekker om te Leer, 1986 . Translated into ‘Learning is a Pleasure in 1987. Prescribed by the National Department for Education and Training for schools in Transvaal Province S.A. 28/10/1989 Huweliksgeluk - ʼn Wenresep, 1987. Translation: ‘Happy Marriage – a Winning Recipe’ RELEVANT KEY-NOTE ADDRESSES • ”Mediese Sosiologie – Perspektief op enkele vraagstukke binne Suid-Afrikaanse verband”, Annual National Congress, S.A. Sociological Society, Bloemfontein, 1978 • ”The Student Advisory Service in Medical Training”, Conference for Technical and Occupational Education in Southern Africa, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 30 – 31 March 1981 • ”The Facilitation and Optimization of Academic Success in Career Development”, Presidential Address, Society for Student Counseling in Southern Africa, Bellville, September 1983 • ”Student Development in Tertiary Education Systems”, Presidential Address, Society for Student Counseling in Southern Africa, Bloemfontein, September1984 • ”The Importance of correct study methods for successful Secondary Education”, Swaziland Education Department, Mbabane, Swaziland, August 1987 LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATIONAL CONTEXT • Member Control Board Brits High School 1989 – 1995 and Chairman 1993 • Ministerial Appointee Technical College Control Board Brits 1990 – 1995 • Member School Board Brits 1990 – 1995 INVOLVEMENT IN STUDENT ORGANIZATION, LEARNING PROCEDURES, CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND RELEVANT RESEARCH At University of Port Elizabeth 1979 - 1976 • Convener Student Merit Bursary Committee • Chairman Orientation Committee for the integration of first year students • Compile a report on the success of an integration program for first year students 1984 At MEDUNSA 1977 - 1988 Project leader of an intensive longitudinal research program on student development and career development conducted respectively by Dr. H.M. de Vetta (Student development) and Mr. H. Palm (career development) • Research on student development was done by means of biographical questionnaires, personality tests, information obtained re study habits, analysis individual academic records and cross cultural research • In order to foster career development I assisted Mr. Palm in the establishment of an Academic Support Program (ASP) based on specialist research done by C. Frankenstein and R. Feuerstein in order to equip our students for the role of medical doctor in their future careers Follow a course in Conflictology at the Vrye Universiteit Amsterdam and in Group Dynamics at the North Western Polytechnic, London in Oct