Note taking is one of the most important skills a college student needs to succeed in their college career, and it’s a skill that easily transfers over to a career path. Note taking teaches us to focus our attention, sift through multiple details, and select the important information. It also pushes us to understand the main concept and put it down in our own words. Finally, notes help with long-term retention and are great resources for later study.

As a multilingual writer, note taking will not only improve the skills already mentioned, but it will also sharpen your critical thinking skills, quicken your writing, and improve your multitasking. Understandably, this is no small task. To help you become a better note taker, find below some guides and videos that walk you through the foundations of note taking. Not all strategies work for all people, so find the one that works best for you!

Note taking isn’t only writing down what your teacher says. It also includes what you do before and after class. Before class begins, refresh your memory by reading last week’s notes and see if you have any unanswered questions. Also preview your readings as the concepts explored there will likely be covered in lecture. After class, review your notes and fill in any missing information. Use your notes as study guide material. You can also use your notes to prepare to visit your professor during their office hours if you need to discuss anything from class.

This handout from the University of North Carolina dives into deeper detail while also providing tips on how to take notes during class.