Get more from your English classes: Why Your Pen Choice Matters
- John Freeman
- Jan 7
- 3 min read
You might be asking, “Does it really matter what pen I use?” The answer is: Yes, it does! Let’s talk about why your pen choice can make a big difference to how well you learn, remember, and organise information.
The Power of Colours – Use More Than One Pen
Bringing just one pen to class is a beginner’s mistake. The real magic happens when you use different colours:
Ø Black or Blue for Main Notes: Use these for your normal notes. They are easy to read and won’t distract you from the important stuff.
Ø Red for Key Points or Corrections: Use red to mark important things the teacher says. Red helps those key points stand out when you look at your notes later.
Ø Green for Examples: Use green for writing examples or practice sentences. This will make it easier to find these examples when you review.
Highlight Like a Pro
Highlighters are your best friend, especially when you review your notes later. But remember, don’t highlight everything! If you do, nothing will stand out. Here’s how to use highlighters the right way:
Ø Yellow for Important Information: Yellow is bright and perfect for highlighting important points or key grammar rules. Use it for the most important parts of your notes.
Ø Pink or Orange for New Vocabulary: Use a specific highlighter for new words. This way, when you look at your notes, the new vocab will catch your eye.
Ø Green or Blue for Grammar: Use calming colours like green or blue for grammar rules. This makes it easy to focus on structure.
Your goal is to make your notes helpful for later. The colours will help you remember what’s important and make your notes more interesting to read.
Pens Over Pencils – Why You Should Always Use a Pen
Let’s talk about pencils. Some learners like to use pencils because they can erase mistakes. But in class, pencils aren’t a good idea. They are often too light, smudge easily, and can be hard to read later.
Pens are much better. They give you clear, strong writing that is easy to read and stays on the page. Writing with a pen also feels more permanent—it makes you feel like what you’re writing really matters (and it does!).
Keep Your Pen in Your Hand
Here’s a secret for staying focused: Always keep your pen in your hand. This small habit helps keep your brain ready for learning. When your pen is in your hand, you’re prepared to write down important things, answer questions, or note something you want to ask about later.
It’s like telling your brain, “I’m ready to work!” It keeps you engaged and focused throughout the lesson.
The Perfect Pen Set-Up for Class
What’s the best pen set-up for class? Here’s what you should bring:
Ø Black or Blue Pen: Your main pen for writing notes.
Ø Green Pen: For writing examples or extra notes.
Ø Highlighters: At least two colours – yellow for important points and another for vocab or grammar.
The Payoff – Supercharged Learning
Using the right pens isn’t just about making your notes look nice. It helps your brain process and remember information better.
Remember: You don’t take notes for today, you take notes for the future! When you review later, the different colours and highlights will make it easier to find what you need and recall what you learned.
An extract from: How to be a great English Language learner. John Freeman
As an English language coach, part of my role is to help you be a better learner.
