HOW TO STUDY FRONT-END (and not die in the process)

Authors: Paula Mara Moreno and Silvia García

Have you been struggling with your front-end lessons? Don’t you know how to study something so technical? Have you read these questions as an TV advertisement? We hope not. But, if your answer was yes to any of the first two queries, please keep reading this post. It will be really helpful for your coding-troubles.

You are not the first student having problems learning a new career. Moreover, if you have studied other kinds of subjects before, and they were not as technical as Front-end this might be more of a challenge, but you can do it! . In this article, we are going to dissect those methods or tips that will help you to undertake and overcome this situation.

The most important point is to have good studying habits. In order to accomplish this, you should start with:

• Planning your study time

First of all, decide when your study hours are going to be. It is forbidden to block all your free time to study and reduce sleeping hours. It is mandatory to reserve some time for breaks, i.e.: 20 minutes of resting after 40 minutes of working hard. Before you sit down and start studying, you should make a list with different items that should be done (later, you will feel really good when you check them) and put them in order. Some tasks should be done first and others could even be additional work (you do it if you have time, but if you don’t, it can be delayed until tomorrow’s session -do not stress, at least not at the beginning of the course!-).

It is recommended to start reviewing the day’s class lesson and finish those exercises that should had been done in class (if you were not able to finish them or you think they could be solved otherwise). After that, move forward and read the next day’s lesson. Be thorough and follow every link and additional documentation given on it. Also, try the things you are learning, it is easier to absorb the knowledge if you put it into practice. Finally, if you have plenty of time, search for additional information or exercises in relation to the new lesson or to those parts that are not your strengths.

And of course:

• Take breaks!

Please, please, please, your health is really important. Take care of yourself. There is life beyond your studies! Apart from the mini-breaks during your study session, you should set aside some free time. This time could be spent resting (like watching a TV show) or with a hobby (playing basketball or with your cat -you decide-). There are two ways to spend your free time, and both should be used:

1. Alone: It is important to have some time for ourselves. A quiet place where we can learn to be alone and entertained at the same time.
2. Socializing: Don’t be a hermit, you will not survive long. Keep in contact with your friends and family, and meet new people that could show you new things!

Nevertheless, when you are confronting a new challenge like this, there will be things that you are not going to be able to solve alone. In those cases:

• Ask to your colleagues (and Saint Google)

Perhaps there is a function that doesn’t work on your code, or a tool that is too tricky to use. First, talk to other students from your course, both of you could learn even more than just solving the original problem. But, if no one had the solution… google it! Summarizing: if you have a problem, do not worry, it is likely that someone else has worried before you and now can help you to overcome it.

• … and talk with your teachers if you are struggling with something

They are your educators for a reason. They have extended experience and know how to guide you better. So, whenever you feel lost and like you should give up, contact them! Every problem has a solution, you only need to see it under the right light.

And last but not least:

• Enjoy what you are studying!

Furthermore, what is really important for learning this (or anything else) is to enjoy it. Associate what you are studying with something to your day-to-day, especially if this is something funny or humorous (something that will make you smile). Sometimes, study groups help a lot, just be careful to choose positive people that will encourage the whole group.

So, if you are still reading this post, you should now have enough tips to handle a course like Adalab’s. Remember, your best allies are the people around you and a good plan of action. And, of course, Saint Google! but some doubts could be a good chance to socialize with your colleagues (hermit = wrong!) so… take it!.

Good luck and good code!