Education Fallacy #1 : Practise Makes Perfect

My post today might just shock you because it challenges you to question the advice "Practise Makes Perfect".

I know, I know. You have heard this advice many times over, from different people, at different times in your life.

And if all of them say the same thing, then it should be right, right?

Well, sorry to disappoint you. Practise does NOT make you perfect.

In fact, it can do you more harm than good because IF YOU ARE PRACTISING THE WRONG THING, THEN YOU'LL ONLY END UP BEING PERFECT IN DOING THE WRONG THING!

Common sense, isn't it?

But as one of my ex-student rightly pointed out to me so many years ago, common sense is not so common after all.

That's why people tend to accept such advice at face value without thinking further to the validity of the advice.

So, what has this got to do with studying Physics (or Math for that matter)? After all, these two subjects require lots of practise, right?

Yes, they DO require lots of practise; BUT you've gotta PRACTISE RIGHT!

Because practising wrongly will not yield you the desired results. After all, insanity is in doing the wrong things again and again, and yet expecting to get the right results.

Remember, activity does not equate to productivity. You could be busy day in and day out practising your Physics or Math and yet fail to achieve the results you deeply desire.

So, what's the best way to overcome this, you may ask?

My advice ... seek the help of others who have gone the path before you.

If they had been successful, it means they have studied and practised their Physics correctly.

And the next time some kind soul tries to give you what they deemed as good advice, take a step back. And evaluate the soundness of their good advice.

Until my next post, God bless and remember ... Correct Practice Makes Perfect Results.


Gideon Goh

What The HEADHUNTERS Taught Me

I was away to Kuching, Sarawak from 9th June to 14th June 2010 for a short family holiday.

Now, for those of you who have some knowledge of geography, Sarawak is one of the eastern Malaysian state. The other being Sabah.

These two Malaysian states share the island of Borneo with two other countries; Brunei Darusalem and Kalimantan (Indonesia).

What is fascinating about Borneo is that it has always been known to be the Home Of The Headhunters. (Don't worry, they no longer practise headhunting today.)

For centuries past, many of the indigenious tribes (collectivelly called as Dayaks) practise headhunting as part of their rich culture.

Gross as it may sound, headhunting is symbolic of their transition from boyhood to manhood. To being a warrior.

And when they go to war, they are expected to return with the heads of their enemies if they are victorious. Conversely, they'll lose their heads if defeated by their enemies.

Now, you may ask, what have all this talk about headhunting got to do with Physics tuition (or being a student for that matter).

Reread the earlier two sentences again (the ones in bold). Let it slowly sink in deep into you.

Losing one's head in battle is never a glorious thing. So when the Dayaks go to war, they go all out not only to preserve their heads, but to claim their enemies' heads as trophies.

In this regard, if you want to excel in your studies, you MUST go ALL OUT for it. Half-hearted efforts yield you nothing. You'll only "lose your head" (i.e. fail the subject) to the examiners.

Treat all tests and exams as your "battleground". When you enter the exam hall, you're "at war" with the examiners.

And the outcome is that either you "claim a head" (i.e. doing well for the subject) or you "lose your head" (i.e. doing badly for the subject).

You must possess a deep hunger in you to want to excel in your subjects. A "killer instinct" called the "eye of the tiger".

When you enter the exam hall, you are ready to do battle, to "slaughter" the exam paper. And not to be slaughtered.

And in order to do that, you'll need to be the consumate "warrior". Your skills and knowledge of the respective subjects that you are studying must be on par or even exceed your compatriots.

Without this "hunger", this "drive", this "killer instinct"; without the "eye of the tiger", dreaming of doing well in your studies is but ... a dream.

A dream that will never be fulfilled.

However, just having this "hunger", this "drive", this "killer instinct" is not enough. You'll need guidance to build your knowledge and hone your skills for "the day of war".

Even the best of warriors have masters to teach them warfare. Masters who were warriors before them.

Just like the world's best atheletes have coaches throughout their sporting career.

If you feel you have need for a coach, a mentor, someone who has gone the path before you and who wishes to help you, never hesitate to ask for help.

He who hesitates loses. But who dares, wins.

Finally, I leave you with a quote from an ancient master himself ...

"Successful warriors win first, then go into battle.

Defeated warriors go into a battle, then hope for a win."

~ Sun Tzu ~

Two simple sentences ... but it made a great difference to my life. And the lives of my students. Will it also make a different to yours ?

Because at the end of the day, every war is won before it is fought. Going into battle is just to claim your trophy.

Have a great "headhunting" day, and may you get many "trophies".

Gideon Goh

What Is Physics Without Tears ?

Greetings and salutations.

Today marks the official launch of my blog Physics Without Tears.

As can be seen just below the blog title are three single words that shall form the motto and purpose of this blog.

"Overcome. Perform. Excel."

Simply put, this blog is a dedicated service to all my current and future tuition students to help them OVERCOME their struggle with Physics, to guide them to PERFORM better for their Physics and finally, to see them EXCEL in Physics.

It is my sincere desire and wish that every student who comes to know of this blog and its associated website benefits from it.

Thank you and all the best to you.