A New Blog...A New Approach

To start with I'd like to be honest and say: I have slipped with writing this blog for a few weeks. So much has happened it has just escaped my mind.

Although regardless of that I now have a bit more to talk about now some time has gone by and we're back from our short break.

So some goals I set myself in my last post were:

1. To pass my maths outcomes
2. To pass history essay exam
3. To research a historical topic that is suitable to study
4. Continuing to study Spanish everyday if possible

• I passed my maths outcomes without too much difficulty
  

• I successfully passed my history essay writing exam and felt confident in the amount of revision I chose to do beforehand.
• I have managed to keep up Spanish revision and exercises very nearly everyday despite being ill, going away on a short trip and looking after my family.

Passing my maths outcomes made me feel relieved, satisfied and also confident that I could achieve something I found really quite hard by facing it head on and spending lots of time on it.

The history essay writing exam showed me how much knowledge I can hold in my head and how much I have taken in. Just by having no notes to refer to, it showed me that the work I was doing was not just due to a good source or two, but how I interpreted it, processed it and came up with my own well rounded view of the details.

I am currently on the verge of deciding what subject to base my historical investigation on. Even just the research of a subject that I would have access to good sources has been a good learning experience. I've learned that I must be quite particular in coming up with a subject I can raise a good question on. More details on what I decided next post.

Studying Spanish often has built my confidence in the language. On the bus on the way to work I read El Pais or listen to Spanish talking exercises. I know that being in Spain alone back in Octubre emersed me in the language. Although here I am obviously surrounded mostly by English I am maintaining a constant effort to surround myself in Spanish as much as possible. I have picked up at least a new word everyday or learned better of improving my structure.
Today we had a great exercise after our reading NAB. We worked in pairs playing a game to memorise the preterite endings. I really felt this was a good exercise and I memorised better because of it.

So next week....

• I will work on my Spanish listening over the weekend in preparation for a practice test.
• I will research the topic my group will formally discuss for Comms on Thursday.
• I will decide on my topic of choice for the history investigation.
• I will try to get enough sleep because I don't have a day off for two weeks and I'm getting run down.
• I'll do my best not to stress about getting a Uni offer. Although I don't have one yet, I can't let myself lose motivation, although it is difficult not to wane for many reasons!