My parents always emphasized the importance of learning a second language. "It will make you smarter," they said, "it will make you understand others better," they said. So in the sixth grade I started taking French classes and I’ve stuck with it ever since.

It wasn’t until I began college that I gained an unusual insight. I had been learning new languages, other than French, all along. With each new professor I had, I’ve learned to adapt to their needs, particularities and overall style.

This chameleon way of learning has taught me to adapt to each new environment I am put in. And my knack for language has helped me understand each of theirs. I’ve noticed that each teacher has their own culture in teaching and grading. Some teachers prefer multiple choice, while others are open ended question people. Some don’t mind if you’re late for class while others will automatically examine at your work with a closer eye in order to find every possible point to dock simply because you showed disrespect. Some teachers go over the entire reading each class, making it entirely unnecessary to do on your own, while others have a graded reading quiz after each assignment to assure you do the work. Some teachers simply want their students to do well while others want to challenge their students into learning as much as they possibly can in the short span of a semester. Some teachers test weekly, others test twice. Some know what their saying and teach it well, others know what they’re teaching but lack the ability to transfer the information to their students which leaved us students the task of learning things on our own time. No two teachers are the same, but there are patterns in teaching that I attempt to interpret them in the first few weeks.

Why is this important? Let me just say, I am a perfectionist. I like to do my work, ahead of time and in great depth as to avoid any point reductions. However, in college there is far more work to be done in order to get perfect grades. So learning the language of your professors is crucial in knowing what work is required in getting the best possible grade, and what is simply listed on the syllabus without any real purpose in helping your grade. I’m not say that doing the absolute minimum is the answer. What I’m saying is if a teacher only tests in multiple choice make sure you can recognize the answer listed, and if they test in essays, make sure you memorize the information. And if a teacher is going to have an elaborate lecture and PowerPoint on a fifty page reading you were assigned over the weekend, why read it when you’ll learn everything in class or through taking notes on the PowerPoint? Similarly, why learn an entire chapter is a teacher is only going to test you on the information he or she goes over in class? But say the teacher only goes over part of the information in class and intends to test the class on the entire chapter. That would be a scenario in which you would read the entire chapter. It’s not about learning the minimum, it’s about learning in a smart way. A way that allows you to do well in class and avoid overwhelming yourself. And the best way to do that is by learning their language.