Have you ever practiced doing homework or getting ready for an exam with a close classmate or a so-called “Study buddy?” What a fun, isn’t it?
Years ago we managed to study on the phone, reading aloud the assignments or texts and filling in the exercises. Although it looked more like having fun rather than learning, it eventually paid off. When studying alone, you can easily lose focus, get bored, or feel overwhelmed. This is where a study buddy can make all the difference. So today we’ll find out who is a study buddy, what the criteria are for choosing the right one, and how studying together can turn the tables.
Who is a Study Buddy?
A study buddy is a peer with whom you can read and discuss the same book, listen to a podcast, navigate boring grammar rules, or go together for a morning run. This is a person - a classmate, a friend, or a colleague - who has identical skills, looks for a practicing partner, and shares similar academic goals. You can both collaborate virtually or in person, motivate and keep each other accountable for this cross-functional collaboration. After all, two heads are better than one!
What Makes a Good Study Buddy?
Choosing a study buddy can be challenging. It is important to find someone with the same goals, perceptions, and expectations. A matching schedule is also a plus since you can attend the same class online or offline, arrange a time for joint observation of the material, do assignments, and take quizzes together. The announcement about looking for a study buddy is usually put on a notice board at educational institutions, or you may use special platforms and forums to find a suitable partner for online collaborative learning. But all these are so-called technical issues, which are just a matter of time and skills. There are several more significant points to consider when looking for a study buddy or a study group:
Empathy
This is the ability to stay tuned to the emotions, perspectives, goals, and challenges of others. It makes us go beyond our point of view and consider ourselves as a part of our partner’s success. Empathic buddies don’t hog the blanket but struggle neck and neck through the learning journey, providing mutual support and motivation at all stages.
Patience
Confess that any of you at least once had a feeling of quitting everything and taking up something different. Working in pairs fuels the willingness to investigate, explain, and wait for comprehension. Patience is a major key to avoiding conflicts, whether your study buddy has already proven to be the right person for you or you both have already established trust through communication.
Enthusiasm
This feature is very important, especially in pairs where one is rather calm and even impassive while the other is eager to learn and lead. As you know, opposites attract. Such study buddies complement each other, bringing energy and positivity to study sessions, and taking breaks not to get overwhelmed. Enthusiasm can be contagious and that’s a great benefit.
Self-organization
Being self-organized is crucial in the educational process, especially if we talk about e-learning, where students should possess self-discipline, be ready to set objectives, and achieve them with limited teacher instructions. It is about responsibility and effective time management. If you can confidently characterize yourself as a self-organized person, then you know what to expect from your study buddy.
Benefits of Having a Study Buddy
You may ask quite a pertinent question: Do I need a study buddy if I am comfortable studying alone? Certainly, you don’t! But let’s take a look at some benefits of having a study buddy, and probably, who knows, you’ll give it a try.
Boost Motivation
The right study buddy will encourage you and keep you focused and committed during learning. Commitment leads to enjoyment, which in turn fuels motivation. Another level of engagement in learning is having a study buddy as your mentor or coach who celebrates your success, gives instructions, and comforts you when something goes wrong. Learning is not easy, so the presence of a motivator is important in tough situations.
New Learning Methods
The Internet and AI have turned the education industry on its head by offering multiple online learning platforms, courses, apps, and tools. Having a study buddy who will share knowledge and expertise on the latest innovations based on experience is priceless. For example, you may be struggling with course video and find it difficult to focus on a video lesson due to being a non-native speaker. Here comes your study buddy, who recommends an advanced AI tool by Saima that will automatically adapt to your speed perception and enhance concentration. Or there is an opposite situation where you share, for instance, an amazing STEM app for no more struggling with math. Exposing each other to different study techniques is a great benefit of having a study buddy.
Fill in the Learning Gaps
We all know how hard it is to ensure a smooth learning process if there are comprehension gaps. Filling in the gaps on one’s own can be challenging. A study buddy can offer a different approach or perception that will help you understand difficult topics.
Learning in a Fun Way
Do you remember when we talked about the fun component of studying with your “buddy?” It has been proven that learning material is more effective and easier to remember when it is enjoyable, so incorporating fun into your studies is not a bad thing. Moreover, turning study sessions into engaging and enjoyable experiences is the key to preventing boredom and wasting precious time.
Shared Goals
Like working in groups on a project, studying with a buddy means moving together towards academic achievements. You two can have different ways of learning and retaining the material, so sharing each other's expertise will be valuable for current and future learning sessions.
Time Management
Unfortunately, not every person is capable of meeting deadlines. When there are two of you, your sense of responsibility improves and you expect the same from your learning partner. It is easier to keep each other on track when working in pairs.
Testing Each Other
Sometimes studying hard is not enough to acquire confidence. It is important to have someone to test your skills and preparedness before an exam. Asking each other questions, taking joint quizzes, and giving feedback are essential for reinforcing knowledge.
Study Buddy vs. Study Group
This is a controversial issue and depends on the individual preferences of a learner. Some students are comfortable collaborating in a larger group, while others prefer one-on-one learning sessions. Surveys show that there are usually a couple of members in a study group who dominate, thus putting the rest in the position of observers. Under such circumstances, it is almost impossible to get everyone engaged in a course. Anyway, there are certain disciplines where group work can be more productive, given that each individual is assigned a definite task and forms a link in a chain. Having a study buddy allows one to inherit a more personalized learning approach for both participants based on common goals, skills, and interests, and be more flexible than in the case of a group.
Study Buddy vs. Studying Alone
And another controversial point here! Studying alone is good for those who don’t feel like keeping pace with someone else, who easily get distracted from the presence of another person, and who believe that learning on one’s own is the best method. Such “lone wolves” typically don’t need any motivational aspects that come with a study buddy. With a buddy, you can take on challenges together, share resources, and keep each other accountable. Splitting the study work as a rule makes the learning process less stressful and, at the same time, enhances the sense of responsibility.
What to Consider When Choosing a Study Buddy?
Now that you already have a general idea about what the perfect study buddy looks like, let’s chalk up some details:
Compatibility: Like in any pair, this point is basic. If you share the same interests, study habits, and learning styles, that’s a match made in heaven.
Availability: Since you are supposed to conduct regular study sessions together, the potential study buddy should have an identical occupation schedule.
Attitude: A positive and committed outlook towards academic goals will keep you in tune with each other.
Approach: Approach goes side by side with attitude, adding a seriousness factor to positivity. The more serious the approach you two have towards studying, the greater your chances for success.
Distractibility: Look for someone who isn’t a pawn of social networks or entertainment and won’t get distracted by checking one’s phone. Work hard, play hard!
Skills: Strengths and weaknesses can be used to complement each other, even when both of you have more or less the same level of skills.
Mindset: Last but not least is your mutual willingness to collaborate and support each other.
How to Be a Friend to Study With?
Your study buddy won't necessarily be a friend from your social circle, but you'd better become the kind of friend who will make joint studies twice as much fun. Here are some tips for that:
Study Goals: Clearly define objectives and milestones to show your serious and driven approach.
Competitiveness: Keep each other motivated by staying in healthy competition.
Communication Skills: Having a perfect understanding of your objective is not enough. You need to develop communication skills to be able to express your ideas and concerns and facilitate mutual comprehension.
Ability to Tutor: Not everyone can boast with one’s explanation skills. However, if you are the one who can help others understand difficult concepts, you are a priceless study buddy.
Study Strategies: Share effective study methods you have tried before. Your experience can be very useful for others.
Willingness to Support: Don’t just selfishly march towards your goal. You study together to assist and encourage each other.
How to Conduct Studying with Buddies?
Now that we have figured out how to choose a study buddy and how to be a good study buddy, it’s time to identify the steps for productive studying together:
Choose the Location or Method: Decide if your study sessions will be virtual or in-person, or maybe you may practice both; discuss how your learning session will take place.
Create a Schedule: You already know each other occupancy level, so arrange an agenda for regular study times.
Plan What to Study in Advance: Outline topics and objectives beforehand so as not to waste time. If you have a list of topics, you can distribute them within a certain period before deadlines.
Share Notes and Resources: Exchange study materials and resources, and engage various tools to boost attention span.
Plan Time for Studying and Breaks: Your study routine should be balanced. Don’t overload yourselves with studying, take breaks - your brain needs it.
Communicate: Discuss your progress and challenges. Interaction provides reasonable solutions for various situations.
Agree on Deadlines: Don’t bite off more than you can chew! Your goals must meet timelines.
Test and Assess Each Other: Conduct interactive quizzes or discussions to check how well you have captured the material and to solidify your knowledge.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, when two people come together, they share their unique perspectives, experiences, and strengths. For effective work in a pair, they must seek to understand each other's points of view and adapt to their differences. This process is the foundation of productive teamwork and, ultimately, success. Choose your study buddy wisely based on the tips described above and turn the boring learning process into a knowledge adventure!