To be a person of culture there are no magic or secret tricks. And there is no single way to be. Knowledge has many facets concerning talent: from reading a book to understanding how to build or create something, to knowing how to manage finances or how to live in communion with nature.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Start Inquiring
Step 1. Be open minded
Learning often questions what we suppose, and the first reaction is to ignore those ideas that conflict with our own. Don't automatically give up on something just because it doesn't fit into your current worldview.
- Try to understand your own prejudices. Prejudices and a tendency to be averse to a certain way of thinking stem from your upbringing - both at home and in society - and form the heart of your creed. Try to recognize that everyone has a point of view derived from how they grew up and from past experiences, and that each is valid in that person's life. Also try to understand that the individual perception of reality is full of preconceptions and does not correspond to reality. One way to mitigate the effects of prejudice is to consciously adopt different points of view and make the counter-prejudices yours.
- By expanding what you know, even the simplest things, you will need to review your opinions and the way you do everything.
- Learn how to be wrong. By learning, you will meet people and situations in which you will be wrong. Treat them as an opportunity to understand.
Step 2. Decide what kind of knowledge you are looking for
Do you want to deeply understand a writing code? Would you like to become a historian specializing in the Middle East Middle Ages? Or do you want to know more in general, from how to fix something in the house to ancient Greece? Any kind of knowledge is valid. It is not just a question of studying at university.
- For generalized knowledge, you will need to focus on scope rather than depth. Read and try. Talk to as many people as possible about as many topics as you can.
- For specific knowledge, however, you will need to focus on the depth of information or the skills you want to acquire. This means reading on the subject, talking about it with experts and doing a lot, a lot of practice.
Step 3. Get out of your safety zone
Learn things that you might never have been interested in. You may discover new hobbies and interests that you didn't think possible.
This means going out. Check around (often at the library or supermarket) or on your city's website. You will have access to various study opportunities: dance lessons, economics, theater, etc. These are all great ways to learn
Step 4. Don't be afraid of making mistakes
This is the best advice when trying to gain more knowledge. You don't know everything, and they will give you even wrong information. Recognizing your mistakes and learning from them will give you a lot of knowledge and help you remember the correct version better.
- Examine where you went wrong and find a solution for the future. This way you will be ready and show that you are taking this desire to know seriously.
- Sometimes you will be wrong, especially in the beginning. This step brings us back to having an open mind. Accept the mistake, learn from it, and keep trying.
Method 2 of 4: Gaining Practical Knowledge
Step 1. Learn how to fix things
This includes arranging appliances around the house, understanding how the machine works or how to replace a window pane, but also knowing how to sew quilts, carve wood and blow glass. Talents like these will help you in life and sometimes even find a job.
- Knowing how to fix is important to anyone. Check your municipality's website or the bulletin boards in the library or shops. There are often free or inexpensive lessons offered by people who can do a lot of things: change the wheel on their bicycle or car, or fix the television.
- If you're only interested in learning the basics, search for DIY books or try a YouTube tutorial. If you know someone who can do what you want, ask him.
- If fixing things is important to you and interests you, find a school in your area and learn.
- See if anyone who has the knowledge you are looking for is interested in having you as an apprentice. Apprenticeship is a great way to fully study what interests you, and it is a possible way to find a job. Careful: it may take a few tries to find someone willing to pick you up, but even if the person you choose doesn't want you, they may still direct you to someone who will welcome you instead.
Step 2. Learn to do tangible things
This can refer to a huge number of things: carving wood, blowing glass, making a quilt, knitting. Being able to show something at the end of your study period is very satisfying and will show you where you have come. Handmade items are a beautiful gift.
- If you go to school, some cities have after school programs to learn how to build objects. See if there are any offers around you.
- In American colleges, for example, there is always at least one art department. Sometimes he offers free lessons, both to students and to people in the community. You can try hearing at the local university.
- Find people who sell the items you want to make. Go to a wool or quilt shop. Find a place that sells blown glass. Ask if they give lessons or if they know someone who offers them. Often those who sell these objects or what it takes to make them, creates them in turn!
Step 3. Get an understanding of the technologies
Technology is all around us. It is important to know how to navigate and use it, and you will need it to gain additional knowledge, so it is important to understand it. A site like TechWeb can help those interested in technology by putting them in contact with other people who share the same interests.
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Learn how to use a PC. There are various types of computers, which work differently. It is best to discuss this with the seller before buying one. PC manufacturers often have numbers to call or sites to go to for tips and tricks on how to get your operating system up and running.
- Some advice for Mac users: the desktop is where you put files, the "Search" helps you find your files, the dock shows the icons of certain applications that are present on your desktop. Here is the basic information to know how to use your PC. The Mac offers tutorials that go beyond the basics.
- A few tips for Windows users: Windows has the "Ease of Access" key in the control panel. By clicking "Find tips for ease of use" your computer will find suitable tips for you.
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Most computer websites have forums where you can post questions and search for answers. Those who manage these forums usually know the product well and have no problem responding.
If you use a PC in the library, you can ask the librarian for help
Step 4. Learn to surf and understand the internet
While similar to the principle of knowing technology, learning the internet is a thing of some magnitude. However, being able to search for relevant information, understand and write your own basic code will allow you to make the most of what you learn.
- Browsing search engines can be difficult. This involves looking for things and making what you put on the internet easy to find. To make your website easy to search, you will need to know how to use HTML (or other code) to optimize it, how to make your site navigation accessible to search engines and make sure you hit the right keywords.
- Knowing the best way to search for something using an engine like Google can be tricky. A few tips: use sites like websitename.com to search for pages on a site, quotes "" to define an exact phrase. If you use ~ example word, the engine will find related terms. Google Scholar can help you find academic articles, GoPubMed is a search engine for medical-scientific results.
- Learn the codes. There are several, so the easiest way is to focus on a specific one and learn it well: HTML, JavaScript, PHP, Python, Ruby, Perl, etc. There are many online tutorials for each. Experiment with different ones and do writing exercises. You can start with Code Academy or w3schools.
Step 5. Learn things that will help you as you grow
This knowledge will be useful to you over time, allowing you to face the challenges of maturity, so you must learn it as a young man.
- Learn the terms for managing your finances. Find out what a budget is and how to set one. Learn what an asset is (something you own) and how debt (money you owe) can burden it. Think about the difference between net income and net income (what you earn after tax). Learn these terms and how to use them to help you make more informed financial decisions in the future.
- Discover the world of taxes. The more you understand, the easier it will be to avoid getting it wrong - which could lead to some problems. There are many different types of taxes: income, property, sales, rates, etc. And all with their own place within the system.
- Make sure you understand what taxes you are entitled to in the state where you live. Even better: find out why they are there and what they are for (for example, in the United States you pay taxes for things like the public school system, roads, bridges, welfare programs; England has health programs … there are differences from country to country). Talk to an expert (even if it will cost you).
Step 6. Set aside everything you learn from home remedies and folklore
Housewives once knew a lot, and embracing out-of-the-ordinary ideas can always come in handy, such as predicting the weather using a tool or treating a cold without medication! Obviously, these are things that don't always work perfectly (but after all, not even meteorologists always guess, right?).
- Learn how to determine time without tools. Pay attention to the clouds: white and tufts imply good weather, dense and dark herald a change for the worse. The red sky indicates humidity in the air, check which side the sky is tinted at dawn, east or west, and you will find out the weather. A halo around the moon indicates rain.
- Learn how to treat a terrible cold with home remedies. Gargle with salt (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water). Aerosol, drink water and stay warm.
Method 3 of 4: Learning from Books
Step 1. Take courses at the university
While they can be expensive, learning directly in school can help you think outside the box and from your own personal experience. It will introduce you to new resources and people who will inspire you to learn. There are ways to study without spending a fortune.
- There are prestigious universities (such as Oxford and Harvard) that offer free online courses for students and non-students, with pre-recorded lessons and access to study texts.
- Many of these courses put course material online. By buying or checking the texts used in the classroom, even non-students can keep up with current trends and continue their education.
- Often museums and universities invite speakers from all over the world for lectures on various topics. Many are open to the public. Check the websites of the places you are interested in. Usually the list of classes is easy to find precisely because universities want people to attend them.
Step 2. Read a lot
Books, newspapers, magazines, websites. You will find a lot of information and different points of view, which will help you broaden your horizons and learn different things.
- Be sure to also read points of view opposite to yours. This will take you out of your safe zone and you may even end up questioning what certainties for you were about a certain topic.
- Reading helps memory and counteracts dementia. Keep your brain active by reading and researching.
- Reading novels is also a good way to learn. Scientists have found that reading certain evocative passages in books stimulates the neurological response of a past experience, bringing to mind smells, sounds, things seen, etc. It's a great way to discover new ways of living. And always remember to get out of your safety zone. He works on books that talk about foreign civilizations, to build empathy and knowledge about the way of life of others.
- There are few classics available for free download. Try sites like Inlibris and ReadPrint to find free books and continue your education.
Step 3. Go to the library
It might sound outdated to you, but libraries are an immense source of knowledge. Not to mention that they are free and give you access to books, newspapers, magazines that otherwise you would not be able to afford.
- Librarians can help you with your research by directing you to books that are suitable for what you want to learn. If you need help figuring out how to do research, especially regarding university texts, ask the staff. Often, librarians can also direct you to other resources that may be of interest to you. Likewise, check out WorldCat - if your local library doesn't have what you're looking for, they can often borrow it from another.
- The public library is free (except for late fees!) And gives you access to a wide range of materials. If something is not available, ask for it! Often, libraries welcome requests from those who frequent them often.
- University libraries are useful for both students and outsiders. Those who work there know how to help with research, giving access to what is needed. If you are a student, ask how to find material on the topic of your interest and get suggestions for other resources. If you are an outsider, most university libraries will check your ID, especially in the evening. Even if you can't take a book out, you can use specific material. These libraries usually have many books on esotericism or in-depth studies on the subjects covered by the faculty in question.
Step 4. Save the new information
Keeping them in mind is important after doing all this work to get them. Memorization helps you learn languages, remember important lists and quotes, as well as dates.
- The key is repetition. Memorizing and remembering means repeating over and over until it comes to your mind while you sleep (it sounds like hyperbole, but many find that by repeating something often, they start dreaming about it).
- Focus on keywords. This is sometimes referred to as the "travel method"; it involves using some words (or numbers) as flags for a journey through the quote, list or speech. Mentally arrange these keywords along a known physical path, such as the road from home to work; writing them can help you. Now, when you go the mental path you choose, you should assign these words. For example: Main Door - I have arrived; Machine - I saw; Parking at work - I am hooked.
- Another good way to memorize something, especially with a language, is to write it down several times until you can recite it with your eyes closed.
Method 4 of 4: Continue the Study
Step 1. Talk to experts
This step is important because it allows you to interact with someone in the area of your choice. You can ask questions and keep a dialogue going.
- Talk to the mechanic at the garage you drive your car to, find who will fix your computer, and get an idea of what he will do to fix it for you.
- Prepare questions in advance or during a lecture at the university, museum or wherever you attend. If they have not yet received an answer, approach the speaker and ask them. Those who intervene are always happy to continue discussing their subject. Be polite and respectful.
- Museums often have a contact number or email address; turn to these for your questions. You may receive an answer very calmly or may not have it at all, but it is easier for them to tell you who to contact who can help you.
- University professors have an email address that you will find on the faculty website. You can try to contact them by explaining your interests in their area of expertise and asking for help. Remember that they are usually very busy people, so don't contact them during the exam period.
- There are internet resources where you can talk to experts and ask them questions on a variety of topics.
Step 2. Always pursue knowledge
Knowledge and learning are a lifelong adventure. Pay attention to the world around you and always find new opportunities to learn. Stay with an open mind and learn from your mistakes so you will know better and more.
Information changes constantly, be it scientific, literary or related to woodworking. Always keep studying
Advice
- Listen instead of talking.
- Practice applying your knowledge. If you don't hold the information in your brain, you won't be able to recall it at the right time.
