Something many people would think is that learning needs a teacher, a school, or a university. This is not true, because anyone can teach themselves anything they want to learn if they have the will, a solid plan, and put in the sustained effort. There are a lot of benefits to self-learning, including freedom, learning at your own pace, and being able to study exactly what you want to learn.
In this article, I will share some practical tips that can assist you with teaching yourself without needing a classroom or teacher.
1. Start by Identifying What You Want to Learn
The first and most important step is to clearly identify the specific subject or skill you would like to learn. Do you want to learn a language? Work out how to use Photoshop? Be proficient at how to operate an online business?
Tip: I suggest making a short list of things you wish to learn and prioritizing them for your own reference.
2. Establish a Plan and Learning Schedule
You need to manage your time wisely. Make a daily or weekly study schedule that you can stick too. Self-learning requires organization and discipline.
Example Schedule
Days: Monday to Friday
Time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Topic: Learning Python Programming
3. Use Online Materials
Take advantage of the huge amount of completely free and paid stuff that we have available online — lots of videos, free/paid books, blogs, courses, forums. Resources like:
YouTube
Coursera
Udemy
Khan Academy
OpenAI Learn
…. have tons of high-quality learning content for almost any subject.
Pro tip: If you can do your learning in English this would provide you with much more resources.
4. Be Active – Don’t Just Read or Watch
Don’t just passively learn. Take notes, review frequently, take quizzes, and use what you have learned. The more you engage with the content the more you remember.
Example: If you are learning English, practice talking with AI assistants, read books, watch movies, or simply talk to your friends in English!
5. Do Regular Self-Assessments
At the end of each week ask yourself a few questions:
What did I learn this week?
What do I still need to learn/understand?
Am I on target with my goals?
Is there anything I need to change or adjust?
Doing this will keep you focused and allow you to correct issues early.
6. Find Online Communities
Although you’re learning alone, online communities, such as:
Reddit learning threads
Facebook learning groups
WhatsApp/Telegram study groups
Discord study servers
should not be neglected. There are lots of groups out there that can provide you motivation, feedback, and extra study materials from people on the same journey.
Conclusion
Self-learning can be a very rewarding journey, and it takes motivation, patience, and planning. We live in a world where learning is no longer relegated to classrooms – anyone can learn anything from anywhere. If you are determined to grow, you can be both the teacher and the learner!
Bonus Tip:
“Anyone can learn anything – so long as they put in the time and the effort.”
